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Chapter One
“Find anything today you didn’t see yesterday?”
When Paige Baron took over the family’s interest in a large but failing Texas winery, the best part of the whole deal was Clay, the manager. Bless his heart, he’d done his best to hold the vineyard together for the former owners, but without the proper support, there hadn’t been a chance in hell that he’d be able to keep up, never mind prosper.
“Maybe,” she muttered, giving herself another moment to be sure.
“Do tell?” A man of few words, Clay was as old as the dirt beneath her feet, but worked harder than any two men half his age. Maybe three.
“I’m thinking it’s time.” She’d been staring at a barren strip of land adjacent to Baron property. Shortly after Baron Enterprises had purchased the old vineyard, Paige had been approached by a neighbor looking to make a killing on land no one else wanted. Being a woman, too many made the mistake of thinking she was a pushover. But more important than her gender, she was a Baron. Good business instincts were part of her gene pool. On the other hand, her ability to negotiate came from years of watching her older brothers wheel and deal the family’s fortune from something already impressive into something bordering on obscene.
It had taken a good deal of playing cat and mouse with the arrogant neighbor, but in the end, they’d agreed on a price less outrageous and very reasonable. Every year as she implemented the next stage in her five year plan, she’d survey the land and think, not yet. This morning, when she stood on the veranda outside the new pavilion, her gut shouted at her for the first time. Dragging her gaze away from the untouched land, she looked to the guy who had been her right hand man since day one. “It’s been three years.”
Clay nodded at her. There was no need for her to explain, he knew she was talking about her prize hybrid grape. Or what she hoped would become an award winning new blend for the Baron Winery.
In her mind’s eye she could see the bare acreage covered with rows of delicious plump grapes waiting to be turned into a fine wine. “We could do a limited edition.” That was another thought that had been kicking around in the back of her mind as she considered the wine.
His gaze had drifted to the bare rolling hills. “We could.”
Some days, she really hated that male tendency to barely utter a word. “Or?”
“Noor.” He shook his head and turned once again to face her. “It’s a good plan.”
That’s what she wanted to hear. She trusted her gut more than anything, but a word of encouragement from Clay went a long way when it came to keeping her eye on the prize. “We’ve got multiple new bookings coming up for rather large weddings.”
“Miss Eve’s was a beautiful party.” The older man hadn’t known her sister for much longer than he’d known Paige, but he’d taken a shine to the whole family.
“I think there will be enough in the coffers to plant the new grapes.”
“The French grape?”
She bobbed her head. Years of traveling the French countryside had brought her in contact with a good many vintners. Some more friendly than others. A few, fearing no competition from the young American female, shared their secrets. One in particular, an aging man who made her grandfather look like a spring chicken, and who swore Paige was the spitting image of his long deceased daughter, promised her when the time was right she could bring his cuttings stateside. If all went as she hoped, in a few more years she’d have sturdy vines and then, given a little more time, she could present the world with a new stellar Baron blend. The mere thought gave her goose bumps.
“You very busy?” The Governor’s voice boomed strongly over her shoulder.
Paige swung around and took a few steps forward, enveloping her grandfather in a hug much the way she’d done since she was a little girl. “I’ve always got time for you.”
The old man beamed. “Good. If I could have a few minutes of your time.”
Clay cleared his throat. “I need to check on the new girl in the tasting room.”
The former governor of the great state of Texas sidled up beside Paige. “Rumor has it the Comets are looking to move their franchise.”
Her gaze narrowed as she quickly shifted her thoughts from wine to sports, taking a moment longer to place the name. “Hockey.”
“Yes. NHL.” The older man dipped his chin slightly. “We’ve been working on bringing a farm team to Houston, but if we could land the Comets…”
His words drifted off but Paige could see the twinkle in her grandfather’s eyes. She’d heard many a story of his childhood, spending winter breaks with all his cousins at his grandfather’s home in Colorado. Playing ice hockey on the lake had been one of his fondest memories. No doubt her grandfather could see a Zamboni clearing the ice of their under used stadium in anticipation of a Stanley Cup game as clearly as she could see currently fallow land lined with lush grapes. Her grandfather was a visionary in many ways. He fought hard for his state for many years, and continued to do so for his city, county and state wherever time and money allowed.
“Convincing the northern yankee owners that the Gulf Coast is the perfect spot for relocation won’t be easy.”
“Money talks.” It was one of the first things she’d learned as a Baron. The second thing she’d learned was to use the Baron money for the greater good. Not always an easy task.
“I understand that Daniel Dupree is heading the initial vetting committee.”
“The name sounds familiar.” She couldn’t quite put her finger on it.
“Canadian, played for the Bruins, then the Comets. MVP goalie three Stanley Cups in a row. His career was sidelined when a car accident crushed one leg. They saved the leg, but not his career.”
