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She still had trouble believing it was all co equipment It’s old--he’s replaced his system with a state-of-the-art facility that is to die for The crusher is--"
Mia held up her hands "Spare us your ode to the grape crusher The point is, that’s a lot ofa little terrified herself Although it was a good kind of terror--sort of an "I can’t believefour acres of perfect Pinot growing land down by the coast I have barrels on order, grapes co in Two years from now, I’ll haveit"
Mia looked a little dazed Still, she raised her soda can "Wow To Brenna and her new adventure May you only ever sleep with men as sexy as Indiana Jones"
"And Nic," Katie added as she raised her glass "After all, he’s real"
"That’s right" Mia picked up her fork "So, Brenna Ten years after the fact, does our dishy neighbor still get your ht about her recent encounters with Nic and how after less than thirty seconds in his cohts of the past in a very physical way
"There seems to be some attraction," she said cautiously
Mia hooted "So I can tell with my eyes closed"
Katie leaned forward "So it’s still there? The chemistry?"
Brenna nodded unhappily "In a way I wish it weren’t I’h For one thing, I don’t know if the feelings are ht be
"For another," she said, ether That changes everything I can’t sleep with the guy who loaned me a million dollars It would be too weird"
"Good point," Katie said
"What is wrong with you two?" Mia asked "You don’t have to actually have sex with him to enjoy the experience That’s what fantasies are for"
Brenna grinned "Sometimes, Mia, I like the way you think"
Just after sunset Brenna turned into the driveway leading to Wild Sea Ahead of her, a truck pulled to a stop in front of the old building that housed the equipment Nic had loaned her Brenna parked off to the side and cli
Her heart beat fast and she was having trouble catching her breath, but for once her reactions weren’t about being around Nic She was really going to do this--she was about to take the first step on the road toFour Sisters Winery a success
She hurried toward the building and pulled open the wide double doors The inside s along with the dust h s, bathing the ancient equipold Nic had told her he’d had all the machinery scrubbed out, and she’d already checked that everything functioned, so she could get right to work tonight
Reverently she ran her hands over the crusher Excitement flared inside of her For the rest of her life she would remember this moment, she told herself Years froun, she would recall this night
"Where do you want therapes She pointed to the open floor space and helped thee the baskets in roenty minutes later the truck was unloaded and the men left
Brenna stood alone, surrounded by the best Chardonnay grapes she’d been able to purchase The scent of the fruit offered a hint of what could be Possibilities, she thought, picking a grape and biting into it Making as always about possibilities
The grape was firer on her tongue, absorbing the layers of flavors, i the taste in a year and a half when feric
"But first there’s plenty of work," shethe crusher
She worked quickly, then flipped the switch The rapes before they were moved into the presser As the rapes heated toostage, which would be a disaster But the weather was on her side The day had been unseasonably cool, with a fog that never lifted Her grapes were slightly chilled and a little damp
She hurried to the far end of the presser and rapes would settle, allowing sediment to sink to the bottoht
Torapes The process would continue through late Septe of the Cabernet
As the crushed rew stronger Even with the doors open and a slight breeze drifting into the building, the sweet aro
She had just loaded another basket of grapes into the crusher when she heard footsteps on the cement floor Instantly her heartbeat quickened with anticipation Brenna found herself s even before she turned to see who had joined her
"How’s it going?" Nic asked as he walked over to stand next to her "I saw the truck pull in"
She "
He grinned "I thought about bringing chane to celebrate, but that seeht"
"Nervous?" he asked
"A little I’rapes and I know I’ apprehensive"
"Bucking convention is never easy"
"Not to randfather’s voice in rapes"