Trendster,” Vanessa said to Danae. “I can take lots of beautiful shots in the vineyard that will fit the lifestyle angle we’re going with for the campaign. That far inland, we won’t have to deal with the fog like out here.”
“But I already made a reservation at a restaurant close to where we’re docking tonight, and I made sure they had a private area so we can have our big strategy session during dinner.”
Vanessa slung her arm around Danae’s shoulders. “Hello. Strategy sessions are always better with wine. Seeing where it grows somehow makes it taste better, too. I’m not sure about the science behind it. Only that it’s true.”
Paige now sat on the deck in the middle of the boat, her gaze focused on her lap. Given that her skin appeared paler than usual, she must be seasick. “I agree,” she said. “Plus with the water getting choppy, I’m ready to take a break from the boat.” Her comment set off a chain reaction until everyone except Danae had spoken in favor of heading to the vineyard.
“If that’s the plan,” Josh said, “I suggest we sail over to the Jade Pond Marina. I can make a quick reservation online, and for a small fee, we can dock and order a couple cars to take us to the vineyard.”
Danae glanced from him to her team, back to him. Clearly she was outnumbered, and he worried he shouldn’t have put her on the spot. He was simply trying to ensure that the Barton Boating Company had a great trip. Not only because he prided himself on getting even the most hesitant to enjoy themselves, but also because they were a big Newport company and it’d be good for his charter business as well.
At long last, Danae gave him a tiny nod, although she couldn’t bring herself to say the words that would mean straying from the itinerary and the reservations she’d made.
Josh returned to the helm to change course.
Like it or not, by the end of this week, Danae was either going to blow a blood vessel or learn to go with the flow.
Chapter Five
Danae and the group walked past a rocking chair that’d been fashioned out of weathered logs and twine, and followed their tour guide into one of the leafy green rows.
The entire place had the rustic atmosphere of a simpler life—one she was struggling to feel, considering the upcoming strategy session.
“The land at Castle Wines Vineyard is protected farmland,” their tour guide said. “You’ll notice we plant from north to south, so that the sun will hit both sides of the rows and produce the best, healthiest grapes possible. Our estate also includes two lakes, one that we use for irrigation…”
Danae hung back from the rest of her team as they continued on with their tour.
The tour that wasn’t on the itinerary. Which was fine. She could improvise.
After she formed a solid strategy.
Her pulse thrummed faster, and she sucked in a lungful of air before gradually letting it out. Part of the reason she’d taken the trouble of reserving a spot for dinner where they’d be guaranteed privacy was because she’d never led a meeting on her own. Since a big part of this trip included proving herself as someone who could take charge, she needed the strategy session to go well. They were a diverse group who rarely agreed, and somehow she was supposed to get them to do just that.
No pressure or anything.
Danae lifted her planner and skimmed the notes she’d jotted down. The top three items were underlined.
Listen better
Consider others’ perspectives
BE A TEAM PLAYER
“You okay?” a deep voice asked from behind her.
“Gah!” exploded out of Danae’s mouth as she jumped, dropping her planner in the process.
She reached for it at the same time Josh did. Their fingers brushed, and a shock tingled up her arm. Josh’s eyes met hers, and she wondered if he’d felt it—did shoes get staticky on grass? She’d thought it was only carpet.
Her beloved planner lay on the ground, its pages exposed. Danae hastily scooped it up. In a lot of ways, having someone see what she’d written in the compact squares and along the margins felt like allowing them to read her diary.
“Sorry,” Josh said as he straightened. “I thought you realized I was here.”
Danae swiped at the dirt and blades of grass stuck to the back cover. “At the vineyard, sure. In my own private row, not so much.”
“Ah, so this is your row.” He flashed her a smile,