I laugh along with them, enjoying their antics, but when Elizabeth says he’s getting up off the barstool, I sneak a peek his way. My heart skips a beat. It’s Rico. He’s leaning oh so casually against the bar, staring directly at me.Shit.
Why the hell did he just show up here? He never responded to a single message I left.
Mabel nudges me with her elbow, mistaking my shock for the good kind. “You should go over there. Introduce yourself. I see the ring on your finger, but you aren’t married yet.”
Oh, the irony. I’m being encouraged to hit on my legal husband, who I’m hoping to divorce, while wearing an engagement ring from my former, not-quite-legal husband, who I’m hoping to actually marry. Recovering, I clear my throat and compose myself.
“You know what, Mabel? I might just do that.”
I crook a finger at Greg, the manager, in the universal “come here” gesture.
One of the ladies pats my arm. “Go get ‘em, tiger. We’ll be waiting for you.”
“Oh, trust me, you’ll like Greg better,” I say. “He’s got a very, very tight backside.”
He comes over and I turn the ladies over into his care. They immediately begin to gush over his handsome dimples and ask him to turn around so they can get a better look at the goods.
I pass one of the servers on my way to the bar. “Go get Dante.Now.”
She nods and quickly rushes off, while I take my time walking to Rico. I don’t want him to see how much he’s unnerved me by being here. I’m also stalling for time, praying that Dante is still in his office right now.
Rico watches me approach with a smug expression. He makes an appreciative clicking sound with his tongue. “Well, well. Look at my sweet Francesca, all professional and fancy.”
I don’t take the bait. I gesture with my arm to the door, hoping I can herd him out of the tasting room. “Let’s talk outside.”
He smiles. “Afraid I’m going to make a scene?”
“We need to speak privately,” I state flatly. “And it’s too loud. We’ll barely be able to hear each other talk.”
“The only sound I need to hear is your pen writing several zeros on the check you’re going to make out to me.” Rico firmly plants himself against the bar, looking smug as shit.
My temples begin to throb. “Please don’t make this difficult. I’m not going to discuss business with you in here.”
Rico opens his mouth but then straightens suddenly, his face falling. I smell Dante’s cologne before I see him, and then I feel the warm reassurance of his hand on my lower back, instantly steadying my shot nerves.
“Is there a problem here?” Dante asks, all menace.
Rico’s eyes bounce from the ring on my hand to Dante’s face and then back to me. “You two are looking cozy. So, I am happy to get out of your hair. Just pay me for my half of the Abbott vineyard. Simple.” With that, he spreads his hands, the shit-eating grin back on his face. “And do not think you are going to stiff me. I expect above market value.”
“What?”I blurt, furious at his impudence.
He takes a slim manila envelope out of his blazer pocket and slaps it into my hand. “I had divorce papers drawn up. I will sign them as soon as I get my check.”
Dante gently takes the envelope from me. But Rico’s not done. He pulls out another piece of paper and opens the trifold. It’s a bill of sale for the Abbott property.
My face flames hot. The muscles in the side of my neck tense and I feel an avalanche of rage crashing down inside me. I’m about to tell him to shove the papers up his profiteering, extortionary ass when Dante reaches for the bill of sale, too.
“I’ll have my lawyers look over the documents and get back to you soon.”
Rico smirks. “You have forty-eight hours.”
Dante coolly tucks the paperwork into the inner pocket of his jacket. “You gain nothing by pressuring me. I’ll make a determination when I’m ready.”
Rico doesn’t respond, just stares hard at us.
“By the way,” Dante adds, leaning close enough to dominate Rico’s personal space, “the next time Frankie calls, you’ll pick up. Because the next time you set foot on my property, you will be escorted out by my very close and personal associates. And they will not be gentle.”
Trying to look nonchalant about Dante’s threat, Rico gives us a carefree salute and saunters toward the exit. On the way, he tosses a wink at my table of old ladies, making them all laugh like they’re forty years younger. Once he’s out the door, they go back to their wine, tittering at being caught ogling Rico.
