Chapter 3

“I look ridiculous.” I glanced at my reflection in the mirror.

I chose the square softline neck black midi dress since I didn’t have many to choose from. Kailin offered her closet to me, but I bothered her enough.

“Yeah. You look ridiculously hot.” So was she, in her velvet teal midi dress. Kailin had an athletic body. She preferred going to the gym and heavy lifting to my Pilates.

“So, you’re not dating anyone?”

“I told you. My family is traditional when it comes to marriage. So why bother dating if I can’t be with him forever.”

“You dated in college.” I recoated my lips and pressed them together.

“Because I was bored, and I needed dicks.”

That cracked me up. “Really? So these bunch of dicks are off limits?”

“Lower your voice. They can hear you,” she whispered but still smiling.

“Noted. They have superpowers.” I snorted and picked up my phone to check some messages. I got one from Grandpa but nothing from Axell. What was I expecting? We were over. I was not even sure if we could be friends.

Axell was a coward. He could have just told me before I went to the airport, like everyone else would. Instead, he chose the easy way out.

“What are you thinking?”

“My ex.”

“Don’t waste your breath. Axell doesn’t deserve you.” She offered her hand. “Let’s go before my cousin sends a cavalry to drag us downstairs.”

“Your cousin is weird,” I told her honestly, yet she didn’t look offended as I grabbed her hand.

“Yeah. He’s a good guy, but I don’t know why he acted like he forgot his pies in the oven.”

I laughed softly as we headed downstairs. “Maybe he really had pies waiting for him.”

“I told you. He’s not a commitment type of guy, and I never saw him bring women into the vineyards.”

“I bet he hooks up a lot.” I instantly heard chats and murmurs. I wasn’t expecting to see a lot of people. I thought it was just a family dinner with me as a guest.

“Well, he’s a guy with needs.”

I felt a sudden jolt in my chest. “He’s loaded and hot, and he can have any women he wants.”

“Exactly.”

The chatting stopped. The house went silent, except for my own heartbeat. My pulse quickened, and heat spread from my neck to my chest when I saw everyone’s eyes on me. Most were guys in shirts and pants. They all cleaned up well.

“Hi. You must be Nirvana.” The man in his early thirties with tan skin came. He looked like he was important around here, wearing a light blue suit without a tie.

I shook the hand he offered. “You can call me Vana.”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Kaleb with K.”

I smiled. “Nice to meet you, too. Well, Nirvana, like Kurt Cobain, Nirvana.”

“How do you find the Blackwell Vineyards so far?”

“I have yet to take her on a tour around the property. All we did was stay in my room all day, but we will do it tomorrow,” said Kailin.

“You won’t regret it. It’s pretty nice down here. It’s not the same weather in New York, but if you love vines and wines, you came to the right place. How long are you planning to stay? I hope for a few weeks.”

“She will come more often, Kaleb. Trust me.” My best friend patted my back.

“You guys love K, huh? Do you like Keeping Up with the Kardashians?”

Kaleb chuckled. “I prefer Desperate Housewives.”

“Is Knight here?” asked Kailin.

“He’s on his way.” Kaleb took two glasses of wine and gave one to me.

Kailin was already sipping hers. “Try our Merlot. You’re going to love it. I know you like fruits.”

I swirled the dark liquid in the wine glass and took in the rich, fruity flavor before I took a sip. The blackberries, cherries, and red plums flooded my tongue with the hint of vanilla and spice aroma of tobacco, a lingering finish of chocolatey taste.

“Amazing. Three years old?”

“Yes.”

“I just turned twenty-one, but I used to steal my grandpa’s leftover wine. I learned a few things. And I really like the dryness and spiciness of it.”

“You have a good taste, Vana.”

“This is just so good.” I raised the glass at an eye level so I could see the red liquid.

“Knight just arrived. Let’s go to the dining room,” Kailin informed excitedly.

I suddenly felt nervous, which I never felt before. I was the type of person who went with the flow, but right now, I wanted to go back to the room and just drink wine there until I passed out.

The dining room was surprisingly big and elegant, with a long, lengthy table, and the dark red velvety curtains were drawn to the sides. The crystal chandelier hanging low from the ceiling and interesting pieces of antique wood sculptures, particularly a wolf’s head, caught my attention.

Then, the room went silent. The man of the hour walked in, drawing all the attention to him. What was with this guy that caught all my attention and my senses alerted?

Knight Blackwell was only in a formal white shirt, sleeves rolled over his elbows, showing off those huge muscles and veins. He matched it with dark pants but clearly knew he could pull it off effortlessly.

He was massive and taller up-closed, and he looked unbelievably attractive, not to mention his neat quiff cinnamon brown hair, full lips, straight nose, and the dark stubble covering his hard jawline made him look like he was ready to seal the billion-dollar deal for tonight.

I couldn’t call myself petite with my height of five foot and seven inches, but he made me look dainty before him.

“Nirvana.” His expressive green eyes met mine. His voice was pleasing with a husky rumble that he didn’t want anyone to hear. He somehow didn’t look pissed off than this morning, but he wasn’t happy either.

A gasp escaped from my throat. My cheeks burned, realizing he was already standing before me. He was close enough that I could see the flecks of light green in his dark forest-green irises. And he just caught me checking him out.

“Just Vana.” I offered my hand even if he didn’t. I cleared my throat when it somehow dried up. “Nice to finally meet you, Mr. Blackwell.”

He pulled out a hand from his pocket and shook my hand firmly and briefly as if he could get cold or get electrocuted when he held my hand a little longer. I still felt the jolt of electricity in that evanescent moment.

I heard a chuckle, and it definitely came from Kailin.

Disappointment filled my chest. I didn’t know why. I didn’t know this guy, but I felt strange feelings when he was around.

“Knight is fine. Welcome to my humble home.”

“Thank you. Knight.”

“Kaleb.” That was all. He left and went to the head of the dining table.

Kailin and I followed. The guys began occupying the chairs. I sat beside Kailin before the big bad wolf while my heart was still hammering.

I couldn’t help but steal glances at him and everyone around who wasn’t properly introduced besides McKaye, Zander, and Kaleb. The rest were still strangers to me.

The dinner was served with a five-course menu.

“I’m Luka,” said the late twenties guy with darker skin sitting next to my left.

“Vana.” I smiled at him.

“How do you like the vineyards so far?”

“I haven’t been to the vineyards, but I’m excited to see the harvesting, processing, and the tasting room.”

“I can tour you around,” said the dirty blond college boy from this morning.

“Oh. I saw you this morning,” said the college boy, who had a bloody shirt but didn’t look hurt or have bruises on his face anymore.

“I’m West. The handsome of the twins.”

Just a clearing of the throat from Knight felt like a command, silencing everyone.

“We have guests coming over in two days for the tasting. Sometimes we’re short of staff. You can join us and get a commission for every bottle you can sell.” The woman with straight brown hair smiled.

“That sounds fun. Count me in,” I replied excitedly.

“That’s Heartley,” Kailin introduced her to me. “She’s the daughter of our family doctor, Dr. Duncan Shaw.”

“I sent the bottle you asked to Cadogan,” McKaye told Knight, who seemed bored in his chair.

“Thank you, Mac.”

“I received another email from Califf. The distributors like the Cabernet more. That’s the bestsellers, Alpha.”

“Alpha?” I turned to McKaye.

There was a long silence in the dining room before Knight replied, “They call me alpha because I boss them around. I got the name in college.” It suited him.

“I see. Mind if I ask how did you get into the winery business?” I particularly asked Knight, but the dining room went eerily silent again, without a breath or a single sound from the cutlery. “Sorry. I should have gone to the internet and checked the website.”

“This has been a family business for three generations. My grandfather started only ten hectares of vineyard. He only sold his Cabernet in the farmer’s market until a rich buyer tasted his wine. The man offered my grandfather a partnership, but he refused. It wasn’t easy. It took years and years of blood and sweat before the Blackwell Winery came to the local and state markets.”

“That’s beautiful and inspiring.” I smiled warmly. Something deep within my chest lightened up.

“How about you? What’s your story?” Kaleb asked.

“My grandpa owns a small restaurant. Some rich men offered to buy it, particularly the place, but Grandpa refused because of his loyal customers. He said this may mean nothing to them, but for me, this is my life. I sent you to school because of this restaurant, and I will keep this running until the day I die.”

“Wow. He sounds like a good man,” Heartley said.

“He is,” Kailin affirmed.

“Where are your folks from?” Heartley was a sweetheart. She sipped his wine.

“I grew up in the city, but my mother’s side is from Portland.”

“What about your parents?”

I looked at Kaleb. It still hurt a lot, no matter how many years had passed after losing both parents. “They died in a car crash.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry, Vana.” His hand came to my wrist, squeezing a little, but it was gone in an instant as if I burned him until my gaze met with the big bad biker’s green eyes.