Taming the Carefree Billionaire - Marie Higgins Page 0,20
remember dating a woman with that color of eyes before.
Both women shook hands with his father before he left. Thomas motioned toward the chairs. “Why don’t we all sit?”
He waited until the women were sitting before he resumed the CEO’s chair, which of course, would one day be his. “So, how can I assist you?”
“First of all,” Joslyn began, “it’s a pleasure to meet both you and your father. I’ve been trying for so long to get an interview with one of you. I really appreciate you taking the time for me.”
Thomas relaxed back in his chair. “I must ask your forgiveness. I should have called you the other day, but my life had gotten so busy, I just couldn’t fit you in my schedule.”
Joslyn laughed, which Thomas found to be too high-pitched, and definitely not spontaneous enough.
“I’m a patient – and very determined – woman, Mr. Powers.”
“I’m sure you are.” He shifted his focus to Morgan. “And what about you? Are you also patient and determined?”
She shrugged. “It depends on what it is that I need to be patient and determined about.”
He chuckled. “What about meeting here and getting pictures for your paper?”
“To be honest, Mr. Powers, I—”
“Please, call me Thomas.”
Her eyes widened and her gaze jumped back and forth between him and her friend. “Umm... all right, Thomas.” She cleared her throat. “Anyway, as I was saying... I wasn’t as determined as Joslyn was to meet you,” she paused briefly as her cheeks flared with color again, “and to see your vineyard,” she added quickly, “only because I had other projects on my plate.”
“That’s fair enough.” He expelled a deep breath. “So, you want to know about the winery’s history, right?”
“Yes,” Joslyn quickly interjected, “if that’s all right with you.”
“I don’t have a problem with that.” Thomas linked his fingers and rested them on the edge of the table. “My great grandfather was the one who had the idea to make wine. He lived here in California. He had missionary friends who brought him the vines from Spain. Between my great grandfather and his two sons, they grew the vines and produced a healthy batch of grapes. When my grandfather, Jethro, was a young boy, the prohibitionists in the 1920s to the 1930s were doing all they could to destroy the vineyards. Luckily, most of our land was saved.”
“Saved?” Joslyn asked.
“Yes. The prohibitionists set fire to our crops at night, and by the time it was detected, it was almost too late.” He looked back at Morgan. She was so much prettier than her coworker.
“Mr. Powers,” Morgan began, “um, I mean Thomas, what did your great grandfather do that helped keep his land safe from these fires?”
He had to admit, the photographer was not only a beauty, but she was a thinker. “My great grandfather had men patrolling the fields all day and all night.”
“I’m sure that must have cost a pretty penny to pay men to do that.”
Thomas chuckled. “I’m sure it did, but I know that most of the men who worked for my great grandfather had wanted to protect the fields, so I’m sure great Gramps didn’t spend too much money on paying his workers.”
“That’s good to know they were dedicated men,” Joslyn quickly said, still giving him a toothy grin.
“Yes, I agree.”
“So, I read on your website that there are two more wineries.” Joslyn sat straighter in her chair, holding her voice recorder.
“You are right. My cousin, Aaron owns the one in Surprise, Arizona. There’s another one in Florida that my uncle owns. My grandfather, Jethro, started three wineries for his three sons. My father and his brother, Lance, are the only two sons alive. When my father is gone, I’ll take complete control over the winery here in California.”
Thomas’ mind couldn’t stop from wandering to Percy and the words that man had instilled in Thomas’ mind about being ready to take over the winery when his father dies. He really hoped his father was in great shape because Thomas didn’t know what he’d do when the old man left this world.
“All right,” Thomas said, clapping his hands once. “Are you two ready for the tour?”
Joslyn’s head bobbed so fast, he wondered if it would roll right off her neck. Morgan, on the other hand, was more laid back. She just didn’t look as thrilled as the other woman.
“Am I allowed to take pictures?” Morgan held up her camera.
He noticed it from the other night, and he was glad that she had gotten it