“Then I saw the way he smiled at you at breakfast. He must really love you after all.”
I’m not sure how to respond, but Marco and his buckskin take off again, so I don’t have to. We don’t stop until we reach the highest hill, where the horses finally get a chance to rest.
From our vantage point, he shows me the lay of the land, explaining the layout of the entire Bellanti property. He goes into the history of each section of the vineyard, which lines were planted when, where the starter vines came from, and how each section produces. I never pegged him as being overly involved in the family business, but the more he talks, the more I realize how invested he is. And how he might just be the cleverest of the Bellanti brothers. He’s sharper than I ever gave him credit for.
Back at the vineyard stables, I spy Charlie’s car coming up the drive. It’s mid-afternoon, so she must be dropping off Livvie. Patting Ytse on the neck, I say, “Let’s give them a little surprise, huh boy?”
I heel him into a gallop and fly down the vine rows. The horse easily hops the ditch and comes to a sliding stop right alongside the gravel drive. Charlie barely rolls to a stop before Livvie jumps out and races toward me. I dismount just in time to catch my sister in a big hug. Ytse tosses his head, but he’s too cool to care about a bunch of squealing women.
Tears well up in Livvie’s eyes. “How did this happen? Where did you find them?”
“Not all of them,” I tell her gently. “Armani’s been working on it. But we have the pregnant mares, Maeije and Avina. And Max.”
Livvie can’t hold back anymore. She bursts into sobs, burying her face in Ytse’s mane. I rub her back in slow circles and Charlie comes over and wraps us all in a group hug. Marco clears his throat softly from behind us. I’d forgotten he was following Ytse and me.
“I’ll take Ytse back to the stable so you all can be together,” he offers.
Livvie whips him a look over her shoulder while wiping her eyes with one hand. “Not on your life! I’m gonna go see Max. Make sure he still remembers me.”
She vaults into the saddle and nudges the big black horse toward the stables. Charlie and I watch as Livvie and Ytse take off, Marco giving chase, Livvie’s laugh floating back to us.
“It’s good to see her like this again,” Charlie says.
I nod. “Is Clayton back yet?”
My sister’s face falls and she shakes her head no. He’s been away a long time.
“It’s settled then,” I tell her. “You’re staying for dinner.”
Before she can argue, I whip out my phone and text Alain to set out an extra plate. Then we get in the car and drive back to the main house. She asks about Dante and our weekend away, and I fill her in on some of the G-rated details.
“You know, he really seems to be trying. He’s actually opening up to me.”
Charlie doesn’t look convinced. “I hope you’re right. But I’ll believe it when I see it.”
“That’s fair,” I concede. Especially since she’s my big sister—no man has ever been good enough for me in Charlie’s eyes. “Do you want to come up to the main house, or can I set you up with some wine? I need to take a quick shower before dinner.”
“How is that even a question? Wine is always the answer.”
We park in the guest lot and I lead her into the tasting room. Armani and Candi are at a table by the big picture windows, apparently still engrossed in conversation. Candi waves in welcome and Charlie heads over to join them.
I motion for a server to send around the house red before heading back to the main house. When I step out of the bathroom wrapped in one of Dante’s robes, I find him in the bedroom changing. He’s mostly undressed, and I take advantage of his bare torso, running my hands and lips all over him. As we start to kiss, quickly going from soft and sweet to hot and heavy, he slides his hands under the robe and palms my ass. I let out a soft moan.
“Dante,” I pant.
“I’d love to keep going with this,” he says between kisses, “but dinner.”
“Fine.” I pull back from him with a melodramatic sigh. “I suppose eating food is a thing.”
We both finish dressing, but I can’t help noticing that Dante looks like he has something on his mind. And even though we don’t have time to get into it right now, I know we have things we need to discuss. Like Rico, for one.
“What’s on your mind?” I ask, turning so he can zip up my light blue dress.
“I was just wondering if you’d heard from your father lately.”
I turn back around and shrug. “He hasn’t been in contact. Not that that’s unusual for him, but…it’s kind of been a while. What about the name I gave you? Any leads on Bregman?”
He frowns. “Armani’s still working on it. No sign of him, as yet. It’s like the guy dropped off the face of the planet without a trace. Which in itself is a red flag.”
