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“Wine is a dirty business.” Paige shrugged.
Mitch nodded. “Good thing. Dry off then go stand by the heat vents to warm up.”
“We raided your fridge.” On the floor, surrounded by cousins—some he recognized, some he didn’t—Siobhan held up a plate of cheese and grapes. “I should visit more often.”
The cousin he did remember, Leah, lifted a box of crackers. “These are delicious. They go great with the white cheddar cheese.”
“Where did you get all these varieties of cheeses?” Devlin, the cousin who seemed as much a brother as Paige’s siblings, held up a piece. “And this is great. What is it?”
“That’s either Saint Marcelin goat cheese or brie.” Paige squinted at her cousin. To Daniel it was white and sort of gooey. “There’s a cheese shop in Memorial. We place special orders for French cheeses.”
“I’m with Siobhan,” Devlin’s brother nodded, “we need to visit more often.”
“That or the cheese shop.” Leah grinned.
“Don’t worry.” Her sister Eve walked up with a plate overflowing with cheese, crackers, and he suspected some sort of dry salami. “We saved some for you.”
“Listen…” Siobhan sprang to her feet. “I don’t hear the wind.”
Closest to the front door, Craig unlocked the latch and with Kyle at his side, eased the door open. A moment later it swung fully open. “How about that. Sun’s out.”
Everyone else ran to the door and out onto the cement sidewalk. Left alone inside, Daniel turned to face Paige. “I’m sorry I scared you earlier, but when I saw that tree about to come down and knew your brothers couldn’t hear me and were focused on the grapes…” he shrugged. “I had to let them know.”
Paige raised her finger to his lips. “My grapes, my fault. But I am very glad you’re all right.”
He pulled her into the circle of his arms. “More than all right now.”
“Listen.” She sucked in a deep breath. “I need to say something.”
His thumb caressed her jaw line. “I love you.”
“Yes.” Her eyes flew open wide. “How did you know I was going to say that?”
Chuckling softly, he shook his head. “No. I’m saying, I love you.”
“Oh.” She smothered a smile. “Well, I love you too.”
“Isn’t that nice.” His lips came down on hers and his heart beat a rapid tattoo. Beyond any doubt, he knew for sure, this was where he belonged.
Chapter Sixteen
Cradling a warm mug of hot chocolate, Paige stood outside the tasting room, surveying her vineyard. Her intact vineyard. She owed that to her family. That her family was intact was most definitely thanks to Daniel. Any time she thought of him, she couldn’t help but smile.
Once again, she took in the pristine rows of vines. Yes, a few were a bit sparse of leaves here or there, but their hurried hard work had paid off. The grapes had been saved.
It had taken several days to clean up the horrendous mess that Hurricane Mia had left behind. The netting was gone, along with every evidence that a hurricane had blown by. Fallen branches from what Paige thought had to have been every tree within fifty miles. The massive cypress pine that by mere inches had spared her vines—and Daniel—had been cut and stacked by the rear of the winery. Next winter it would burn in the fireplaces both here and at the ranch. Debris from who-knew-where even included a bicycle or two. She suspected there were a couple of kids in the Houston area who would never again leave their bikes on the front lawn. And lesson learned, a natural gas generator was on order.
There was only one order of business still unresolved. If the old adage,no news is good newsheld true, then Houston would win the bid for the Comets and the man she loved would be here full time. Technically, the future of the hockey team was still up in the air, but a girl could hope.
Daniel’s car pulled into the driveway. A morning routine she’d become accustom to. Even though they spoke every night on the phone, and sent a text every morning, he also brought her coffee, and if she gave any hint of being hungry, breakfast too. Once again a smile curved the edges of her mouth.
A car she didn’t recognize turned into the parking lot just behind him. Her employees were expected to filter in soon, but the tasting room wasn’t due to open for another hour. Her smile gone, she eyed the car with curiosity. Were they with Daniel? Could it be more people from the relocation committee? No, that made no sense. If they went anywhere it would be the ranch.
Parked away from the door, Daniel bounded out of his car. His brows buckled with the same curiosity she had, his head cocked in the direction of the other car. “Expecting early visitors?”
She shrugged and shook her head. “Not that anyone told me.”
Daniel moved in to stand by her, his hands gently on her arms, he leaned over and whispered in her ear, “That kiss I’d been looking forward to all morning is going to have to wait until we don’t have an audience.”
