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Duncan moved into the vineyard, silently encouraging her and Harrison to follow. “He went to Linden with our folks this morning. You’re stuck with us for now.”
The brothers fell into step with each other as they entered the vineyard, and Rowan followed a few paces behind, watching as they chatted. Harrison’s directional nods and spare gestures were a stark contrast to his brother’s bolder, more effusive movements. She couldn’t take her eyes off the way his shoulder blades moved under the fabric of his shirt.
Stopping at the end of a row, Duncan asked, “What do you think, Rowan?”
She hadn’t been listening. At all. “Sorry, what?”
Duncan’s mouth curved sideways. “I was asking if you think the trellising system used here is a solid choice.”
Rowan reached out to test the tension on one of the catch wires running between posts. “Well, this is vertical positioning. I assume it’s well suited for these grapes, considering how long the vines have been here. I’m not sure what variety these grapes are, though.”
“Apparently, they sold their crop to the winery down the road. Three Birds Winery, I think it’s called,” Harrison said. “We could find out.”
“Wonder how they’re going to feel about us getting into the wine-making game,” said Duncan.
“There’s plenty of room in this world for good wine,” Rowan said. “It’s not something you buy once, then never again. It might be mutually beneficial for you both, actually. Smaller vineyards tend to have staffing problems, since it’s hard to offer enough work for folks to make a full-time living. You’d both benefit from sharing a field crew.”
The men exchanged a look. “Hadn’t considered that. Thanks.” Duncan kicked the base of a post. “A lot of the posts are in bad shape, and I’m trying to decide if we take them all down and use a different system, or repair what’s here.”
Rowan crumbled a dry leaf in her hand. “Assuming you’re going to keep these vines, I don’t see any reason to change what’s been working for decades.”
Duncan laughed. “I don’t know shit about grapes yet. I know a structural mess when I see one, though.”
Harrison moved closer. “I think what he means is, what if there’s a way that’s better?”
“I’m not a gambler.” Rowan looked up at him, shielding her eyes from the sun with a flat hand. Eye contact with Harrison made her feel strangely buoyant and heavy-limbed all at once. “After you get all this excess weight off the trellises, tighten everything up, and replace the weak pieces, there’s no need to do something entirely new.”
“So, all these dying vines need to be cut away before I can do any of my work, is that what you’re saying?” Duncan asked.
“Well, they’re notdying. They’re very much alive, just ignored for too long.”
“Still need to be cut away though, no?” Duncan pressed.
“Think of it as more of a haircut. They just need some love.”
“I don’t like being held up.” Duncan’s tone was playful, but in that moment, Rowan somehow felt personally responsible for every pending task in the vineyard.
“You worried about job security?” she teased.
That rakish grin again. “Not a concern when it’s your family’s business.”
“Oh, who needs job security when you have nepotism, right?” Rowan smiled.
“Ma is proudly and insistently nepotistic, I’m afraid,” Duncan said.
“How do you know you’ve got the best people for the job if you only hire from within the family?”
Duncan moved close enough to her she had to tip her head back to look him in the eye. “I assume that’s why we’re trying to hireyou. Branching out a bit.”
She enjoyed this kind of game, and Duncan Brady was a comfortable sparring partner. He was a flirt, for sure, but the interaction with him felt low stakes. No subtext, just fun. “Aren’t you scared someone from outside the family would find you to be woefully inadequate, despite the maternal confidence?”
Duncan barked a laugh, then dipped his head downward to peer at her over his sunglasses. “Bradys are rarely found to be lacking, Red.”
“How would you know, if there are never any non-Bradys around to compare to?”
“I’m more than adequate at everything I do.” His voice dropped, suddenly serious.
Rowan believed him. “I should warn you, the last person who called me ‘Red’ got a knee in the balls.”
