with his parents for a week, clearly. My mind raced to get his mind off of it. A good gamer girl always knew how to draw upon her maximized skill set to get things done.
“So how does a Dutch aristocratic family come to own a winery in California? Why not the south of France or something?”
“My grandfather fell in love with northern California when he attended Stanford. He’s the one who acquired the winery. His father helped him buy in, since he was still young and he was a silent partner. He went back to the Netherlands, but wasn’t happy there so brought his wife and children out to California to live here. Father was born in Utrecht but grew up here. He had zero interest in just sitting in the countryside growing grapes. He got out when he could and now he treats it like a side gig. Just one small part of his own vast business empire.”
“Hmm, a real life old school mogul, eh?”
“It’s so predictable, isn’t it?”
My mouth twisted. “That’s not what I was thinking, but you know them and I don’t.” I shrugged.
“I mean… what about them is not a cliché? Father was successful taking his old money and multiplying it as a successful businessman. Mother was a magazine fashion model. They met at some high society event and got married six months later. They had the requisite two children—one of each—and proceeded to live a high society life together. Father treats the people in his life like props and trophies. No one can stand him but everyone pretends to.”
Eek. That was harsh. Lucas’s sexy lips had a curl to them, as if he’d just tasted something horrible and couldn’t get rid of the bitter flavor in his mouth.
I put my hand over his once again, this time curling my fingers around his. “You know, there’s more to family than the people whose house you were born into. There’s the family you are born to and then there’s the family you choose.”
He raised his brows but didn’t look at me, eyes still on the road. My fingers tightened around his. “I know this between us isn’t real. But for the time being, we are for real married. And while we’re married, we’re family. Chosen family, which is more special. And as long as I’m your family, I’ll have your back.”
He said nothing, but I knew he heard me loud and clear when his fingers tightened around mine. He took in a deep breath, let out a long sigh and then swallowed visibly, as if coming to a decision. Then he turned his palm and our fingers laced around each other. He didn’t have to thank me, didn’t have to tell me he appreciated the gesture. His fingers around mine said all of that just as well. Better, in fact.
And hopefully this diluted some nervousness he’d been feeling for the days leading up to today. I assumed that this trip would be the longest amount of time he’d spend in his family’s company throughout the previous six years. Since he’d left his old life behind.
“Same goes for me…” he began in a quiet voice.
“I already know that. You had my back, with my brother. I was very grateful.”
Shortly thereafter, Lucas released my hand to return it to the steering wheel. Then he slowed the car, turning down a single-lane paved road that led toward a set of buildings in the distance. We snaked down the long lane, lined with gorgeous old growth California live oaks. They curved and stooped to shelter the drive with their leafy shadows. But this was no ordinary driveway. It took us a while to even be able to see past the thick dark trunks and the comforting shade to emerge into dazzling sunlight.
Holy shit. The central building was massive and… resembled a palace straight out of the Loire Valley during the French renaissance. I was suddenly glad that I was no longer holding his hand. That would have been some serious sweaty embarrassment on my hands—literally. When I thought he wasn’t looking, I clandestinely wiped my palms across my jeans.
Well here it was, large and complete with a massive circular drive; a towering façade peppered with parapets, friezes and cornices. And a huge white fountain depicting naked Greek gods in full frolic. Massive proof that I’d married way way above my own social and economic class. Not intimidating in the least bit. Nope. Not at all.