to secure us the land,” Gabe said, and when all three brothers looked at him like he’d just committed a mortal sin by including an outsider in family business, he added, “Or we go it alone, he lists the property, and the DeLucas and Baudouins continue to outbid each other until neither of us can afford it.”
Made sense. Between Abby’s missing dick and the millions he’d stolen, Marc’s money pit of a hotel, and the Pairing project, the DeLucas were low on liquid assets. Plus, Tanner had helped them out before when he didn’t have to, and saved the DeLucas from a major lawsuit. That still didn’t mean Marc felt comfortable bringing an outsider into the family business. Especially when that outsider knew nothing about wine.
“Let’s say we all agree,” Marc said, reminding everyone in the room that even though Gabe ran the company, their parents had set up the trust so that there had to be a majority vote from the siblings in order to go forward with a major decision like this. “What’s in it for you? I didn’t even know you liked wine.”
“I don’t.” He saluted Marc with his beer and a smart-ass grin. “Allergic to tannins.”
“Tanner isn’t interested in the land or the grapes. He wants to be the exclusive builder for DeLuca Wines,” Gabe clarified.
“If I attach myself to your family, it will mean I could lose a good chunk of the town’s business. And since most of the projects I want to take on revolve around wineries and wine caves, I need to know that I’ve got your chunk locked in, exclusively.”
Tanner was right; the second word got out that he’d assisted the DeLucas in swiping the land right out from under old man Charles’s nose, his alliance with their family would guarantee a complete and total blacklist for Tanner Construction from all future Baudouin projects.
Marc leaned forward, rested his elbows on his knees, and said, “Then why help us? You could just sit back, watch our families fight it out, and maintain a healthy distance from the feud.”
“I’ve got my reasons,” Tanner said, taking a pull on his beer. “One of them being I want my company to handle the construction on that new cave you guys are digging on the south property. I know it will be one of the biggest caves in the valley and that you’ve already received bids from two other companies. I help you get Saul’s land, and you help me move into the cave-building space.”
“And the other reason?”
Tanner leaned forward, mimicking Marc’s stance. “None of your damn business.”
“Fine. Let’s talk terms.” As long as it didn’t involve the exchange of a woman, Marc was willing to hear the guy out.
“Tanner’s here.” Abby’s eyes shot to the closed door, and she lowered her voice to a hiss. “In the front room. Drinking with my brothers.”
“I saw.”
“He wants to hire me to teach him piano.” Abby plopped down on the side of the tub as though she’d just imparted world-ending information.
“That bastard.” When Abby didn’t smile, Lexi joined her on the ledge.
Abby had never really dated all that much in high school. Her brothers made sure that any guy who looked interested learned how hard it was to look through a black eye. She had one heartbreak in high school, studied her way through design school, avoiding dating for the most part—until she met Richard. Which made Abby about as experienced with men as Lexi.
“Is that a bad thing?”
Abby blinked. “You have no idea who he is, do you?”
“Um, he’s the hot contractor wanted by every woman in town, and he’s hired you for a private one-on-one.”
“He’s the celebrity judge for the Showdown. His face has been plastered all over town. How can you not know this?”
“Gee, remodeling the bakery and trying to win that catering job has been a little distracting,” Lexi defended. She’d also been a lot distracted by her sexy neighbor.
“And there’s no way he’s getting a private lesson of any kind, because before Tanner tore his shoulder, he played for the Niners,” Abby explained, and when Lexi stared blankly at her she flapped her hands impatiently. “Before that, he played for USC and was one of the best running backs in college history.”
“So you can’t teach him piano because he played football?”
“I can’t be alone with him because, before college, Tanner was the quarterback for Napa High.”
“Get out.” Lexi slapped a hand over her mouth. She knew he looked familiar, but, “No! Way! Hard-Hammer Tanner,