Between the Vines (20 page)

“Is there something I can do?”

“You already have.” She gave him a weak smile. “Thanks. What a baby I am. I'm tired, that's all. It's been a big couple of days.”

Pete longed to wrap his arms around her again. He fought the urge and kept them pinned to his sides. “Where were you going?”

She met his gaze. The sadness had left her eyes. “Out for a walk.” Her chin tilted up. “Then I thought I'd see if Noelene could do with some help at the cellar door.”

“You don't have to do that.”

“I enjoy it.”

Pete studied her closely. In spite of her sudden bravado she looked exhausted.

He felt partly to blame. She'd turned up here looking for Ed and she'd done little but work for them ever since. He assumed Ed was taking care of her but he'd hardly had a lot of time. “Why don't you take the day off, relax? Ed should be back soon.”

Hope lit up her eyes. “Have you heard from him?”

“No. But I'm sure he's not far away.”

She poked at the dirt with the toe of her shoe. “Is it okay for me to stay at the quarters?”

“Of course.”

“I keep out of Antoine's way.”

“I'm sure he doesn't mind sharing. We've had extras there in the past. Anyway he's not likely to complain. We all appreciate the meals you've been making.”

The smile returned to her face. “I've been working on this week's menu.”

“You're a great cook, Taylor.”

This time she chuckled. “I appreciate your vote of confidence.”

“You haven't asked for any money yet.”

“Don't worry, you'll get an itemised account tomorrow night with your meal.”

A breeze flapped the papers on his clipboard.

Taylor gave a little shudder. “I'd better get walking.”

“Enjoy.”

“Thanks, Pete.”

He frowned.

“For the shoulder to cry on. I don't know what came over me. I'm fine now.” She turned on her heel and walked away.

He watched her go. The breeze made the soft fabric of her shirt puff out and fluffed her hair out around her head. He wished he could be walking beside her. He sighed and turned back to his task.

A little while later the crunch of tyres made him look up. Ed's four-wheel drive pulled up near the door.

Pete went to meet him. His brother looked as if he'd been up all night.

“Have you just come from Melbourne?”

“No, left late last night but didn't get far out of Ballarat. Pulled into a parking bay, took ages to go to sleep. Then I didn't wake up till well after sun up.”

“How did you get on?”

“Fine.”

“What was the damage?”

“Damage?”

“At the warehouse.”

“Nothing, that's all good. Barry was worrying over nothing.”

Pete frowned. “Bit of a waste of time.”

“Not entirely. How about we catch up tonight over dinner? My shout. There're a few things we need to discuss.”

Pete didn't like the sound of that. “Why not talk now?”

“You're busy and I've got to check stock. We can relax tonight. Have a proper chat.”

“Taylor might like to see you.”

“I'll call in on her later.”

“She just went past for a walk. She seemed a bit glum. I guess Cass has left and you weren't here. She's probably at the cellar door by now.”

Ed shrugged his shoulders. “She understands we're busy. I can't be holding her hand the whole time.”

“I don't think she expects you to but perhaps a little more
attention–”

Ed smirked. “Are you giving me relationship advice?”

Heat rose in Pete's cheeks.

“Hey.” Ed poked him in the chest playfully with his finger. “You're not making a move on my girl, are you Peter? You know that won't work.”

“You can be a real jerk sometimes, Ed.” Pete spun away and strode back across the shed.

“I'll pick you up.” Ed called after him. “At seven.”

Pete lifted a hand to acknowledge he'd heard. Bugger Ed. They were brothers but sometimes Pete felt extreme dislike for his sibling, especially when he alluded to their relationship with Felicity, as he liked to do from time to time.

It had been two years ago but it still hurt. Ed could be a pig when it came to women. Once more he hoped his brother wouldn't end up hurting Taylor. She was way too nice and way too good for Ed.

Edward turned his four-wheel drive around. Peter could be so irritating but Edward didn't want to cause an argument, not now when he was so close to making this deal. He needed Peter to be on side. He drove back to the cellar door. When he'd come past earlier there'd only been one vehicle out the front, now there were several.

He let himself in the back door. Voices echoed from the front room and amongst them he could make out Noelene's voice and Taylor's softer tone. They sounded busy.

He sniffed his armpit. Not too flash. He'd been in these clothes since he'd left home yesterday morning. He scratched at the growth that covered his jawline. Not really a good appearance for customers. Just as he'd decided he should shower first, Taylor stepped into the room.

She put a hand to her mouth. “Ed, you gave me a fright.”

“Just called in to let you know I'm back.”

She crossed the room and hugged him. “How was your trip?”

“Good but long.” He held her at arms-length. “I'm going to shower then I've got a stock inventory to do. Are you happy here with Noelene?”

“Of course. It's quite busy at the moment.”

“Cass's gone?”

A small frown creased Taylor's brow. “She had to get back early.”

A raised voice could be heard from the cellar door followed by laughter.

Taylor picked up a tray of clean glasses. “I should get back. Can we catch up later?”

“I've got a bit to do.”

“Maybe dinner.”

“I'm out for dinner.”

“Oh.”

“Sorry. I might not see you till tomorrow.”

Noelene stuck her head around the door. “Can't you find them…Oh hello, Edward.”

He nodded. “Noelene.”

“I'll take the glasses.” Noelene reached her hands towards the tray Taylor held.

“No that's okay. Ed has to go.”

Taylor turned and followed the older woman back to the front room.

Edward stared after her. Had she been a bit cool? He'd thought he could wait Taylor out. He fully expected she'd succumb to him eventually but he was getting a bit sick of the chase. He'd thought she was different, worth the wait, but maybe he'd been wrong and she was just a tease. He pursed his lips. Two could play hard to get and then see what happened.

“So what's this dinner about?”

Pete stared at his brother across the small table. Ed lifted his gaze from the paper he'd been perusing. “Let's order first.”

Pete drew in a deep breath and looked back at his menu. They'd only just sat down in the quiet nook at the back of the restaurant but he was eager to find out what Ed's plans were. He didn't want it dragging out over dinner or he wouldn't enjoy the delicious food the place was famous for.

The waiter arrived and explained the specials. They ordered a good bottle of wine from one of their competitors and then the food.

Pete poured them each a glass of water. “Is it something to do with Barry and the distribution?”

“No, that's all good. I told you when I got back from my Sydney trip we've managed to get some of our sauv blanc and our shiraz into another bottle-shop chain.”

Pete pressed his lips together. Getting their wine into chain suppliers wasn't the direction he wanted to go but this time he let it go. It kept Ed happy. “What's up then? What's the secret?”

Ed glanced around. Pete did the same. There were several other diners at tables in the restaurant but he hadn't recognised any of them.

“It's not a secret,” Ed said. “At least not between us. I'd rather we keep it to ourselves for now though, until it's all sorted.”

“Until what is sorted?”

“A new partner.”

“Damn it, Ed, I told you I–”

Ed put up his hand. “Hear me out before you say any more.”

The waiter appeared at Ed's elbow with the wine. He tasted it and nodded. They watched in silence as the waiter poured both their glasses.

As soon as he'd finished Pete pushed against the back of the comfortable chair and folded his arms. “Tell me.”

“Aren't you going to taste the wine? It's good.”

“Ed.” Pete was fed up with his brother's delaying tactics.

“Okay.” Ed put down his glass. “I have a Chinese businessman who is very interested in a partnership.”

“Mr Cheng?”

“Yes. Well Mr Zhu actually. Cheng is his Australian contact.”

“You said that had fallen through.”

Once more Ed put his hand up. “Hear me out.”

Pete took a deep breath. “Okay.”

“I had arranged to meet Mr Zhu in Melbourne but, as you know, his message didn't get through and he came to the winery. I missed meeting him and I didn't have a contact number. I thought the chance had gone but he got Cheng to call me again.”

“Cheng was with him when they came to the cellar door.”

“I met with him yesterday in Melbourne.”

“And?”

“They were impressed with our wine. They're looking for a unique winery like ours to be a part of.”

“A part of.”

“They've agreed to a partnership.”

Pete leaned forward and glared at Ed. “I haven't.”

“You said you'd hear me out.”

Pete pressed his lips firmly together and gave a small nod.

Ed took another sip of his wine. “I offered them twenty-four per cent of my share and twenty-four per cent of yours.”

“Forty-eight per cent!”

“Keep your voice down.” Ed glanced around. “It still gives us the majority share.”

“Only if we vote together.”

“Why wouldn't we?”

“What if you and I don't agree? Your share combined with theirs would shut me out.”

“I have the majority share now.”

“I know. And right now we don't agree.”

Once more the waiter arrived, this time with their food. Pete looked at his lamb dish and his mouth watered in spite of the tension that churned within him. He swirled the deep-red wine in the glass and sniffed. Automatically he took in the lavender and the blackcurrant and the background scents of sage and brown butter. The taste confirmed what his nose had detected. It was all there with the French oak keeping the delicate balance. He was impressed.

They both tasted their food. The lamb and its accompanying jus melted in Pete's mouth. In spite of his brother's bombshell he was enjoying the food.

Once they'd eaten a few more mouthfuls, he put down his cutlery and studied Ed. “I guess you can sell what you like of your share. I can't stop you. But I'm not selling. We pride ourselves on being a family-owned winery, that's our story.”

“We still will be, Peter. Zhu will be a silent partner.”

“We've seen how silent partnerships don't work out.”

“And there are plenty of examples of how well they do.”

Pete sighed. “Why do you want this so badly?”

“I want it for us. You make the wine. It's good wine. We're not doing too badly placing our wines in the market considering we're at the smaller end of the scale but all our eggs are in the Coonawarra basket, so to speak. If we have a bad year here it affects our whole vintage.”

“Our sauv blanc comes from Mount Benson.”

“But we don't own those vines. They sell to us but they could just as easily sell to someone else. I think we should look for land there as well but this vineyard to the north in the Wrattonbully region is ready to go. It's a perfect situation for us.”

“It's not that far away. If things go bad here they probably will there.”

“Not necessarily. You know how different the weather conditions can be just a short distance away. You're the winemaker, Peter, but I'm the business manager. I know this will be good for the future of our business. It's a chance for us to expand.”

Pete studied Ed for a moment. His eyes glittered. Pete hadn't seen him this excited about something in a long time.

“If it's such a good buy why hasn't someone else snapped it up?”

“They might soon.” Ed tapped the table with his finger. “I've put a hold on it.”

“How much has that cost us?”

“Nothing actually. Just an old-fashioned gentleman's agreement.”

Pete let out a snort.

“But they won't hold it for much longer unless we commit.”

Ed took another sip of wine and returned to his food. Pete looked down at his own half-eaten meal. He ate some more. He wasn't against the idea of expanding, just the taking on a partner.

“Are you sure there's no other way to get the money?”

“I've thought of everything. I even had someone lined up to buy the NS18.”

Pete's cutlery clattered to his plate. “You what?”

“If we want this vineyard and you won't come at a partnership it's the only other way. It wouldn't be the amount I need but I hope I can convince the bank–”

“You'd sell the NS18 without consulting me?” The food and wine that Pete had enjoyed turned sour in his stomach.

“No. I'm just saying I've put out some feelers.”

Pete couldn't believe Ed would do something as terrible as selling their special cabernet. The new variety their parents had planted with so much anticipation.

“Do we need Mr Zhu to take up nearly half of our ownership?”

“It's the best option but we could manage on less. Forty per cent. We could sell him twenty each.”

“Our individual shares are still too low. If you're so keen on selling him forty per cent you put up thirty and I'll do ten.”