Readers asked for it, and I aim
to please. By a whopping 95% one guy won Nikki's heart. If you
want to wait for the book out next month, don't read any further.
Otherwise, read ahead.
CHAPTER ONE
Nikki Sands could not believe where she was and what she was doing.
But what she really couldn’t believe was with whom she was
doing it. She looked out the car window. The valley was breathtaking,
covered in grape vines, the soil the color of buttered toffee as
the sun cast its morning rays across the landscape. Although she’d
seen plenty of vines working at the Malveaux Winery in Napa, this
was different. She was far away from home.
She couldn’t help but smile. Even inside the car she could
smell the rich soil and the aroma of ripe fruit that hung in the
air. God, it was intoxicating. She breathed in deeply, closing
her eyes. When she opened them again, she shook her head in amazement.
Was it possible that she actually sat smack dab in the middle of
a Monet painting? Because if that was at all possible, this would
be what it would feel like—kind of blurred but completely
serene. Peaceful. Yes that’s where she must be—in the
middle of a painting. The view spread out in front of her: rolling
hills of green set behind a charming village filled with church
spires rising high from ancient stone buildings, and amidst it
all were rows of manicured vineyards. Napa had charm in and of
itself, but this place felt almost as if Nikki had been tossed
back in time to a yesteryear of simplicity combined with rustic
elegance.
The last forty-eight hours had been a whirlwind, and even though
she still had some jet-lag, everything in her world felt right.
Well, almost everything. She knew that on another continent, in
another part of the world, she’d left someone with a broken
heart, and that did not feel good at all. In fact, she knew she’d
have to deal with it, with him sooner than later, or the
guilt would eat her alive. There was a part of her that couldn’t
help feeling like a monster for making the choice she had, but
the logical side—the one not connected to her heart—helped
her realize that by making that choice, she’d actually wound
up sparing him less pain in the long run. The truth was, the relationship
she’d decided not to pursue would’ve never worked.
No matter how hard she would’ve tried to convince herself
that it was right, her heart would’ve belonged to someone
else, and it was that someone else she was now with.
And when the man beside her took her hand and gave it a squeeze,
a surge of electricity shot up from her toes and warmed her entire
body, validating that yes, she’d made the right choice. He
glanced over at her. “I can’t believe you’re
really here with me.” Nikki’s stomach swirled with
a mixture of nerves and something she hadn’t felt in years—passion,
not lust, but real passion. “I really can’t believe
it. I didn’t know if you would come. I’d hoped.” He
pulled the car off to the side of the road.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“This.” He took her face in his hands and kissed her. “Thank
you for being here with me,” Derek said and then kissed her
again.
“There’s no place else I’d rather be,” she
replied.
Derek pulled back onto the road. They were on their way to the
Hahndorf Winery in the Barossa Valley of Australia, to meet with
the owner, Liam Hahndorf, and his wife. Derek’s goal was
to secure a co-op deal with Hahndorf Wines. The popularity of Australian
wines was on the rise in the states. Derek felt they made a great
product, and when Liam Hahndorf had approached Derek, he saw the
potential in the deal.
“Tell me a little bit about Liam Hahndorf,” Nikki
said. “You’ve obviously met him before and you think
he makes a good wine.”
“Yes, he does. He and his wife Grace started the winery
about fifteen years ago and they’ve done well. Liam is a
smart businessman. I’ve met him a few times, and he’s
real personable. The last time I saw him was about six months ago.
He was in L.A. at the same time I was.”
“Oh yeah, when you went there for that big-time celebrity
soiree and didn’t invite me,” she joked.
He shook a finger at her. “Let’s get one thing straight:
I know I should have told you a lot sooner about my feelings. I
didn’t know how you would react. I didn’t know what
you felt.”
How couldn’t he have known? She thought her signals had
been loud and clear, like a neon sign.
“Anyway, you know what I’ve been through in the past,
so as stupid as it might sound, I guess I was apprehensive to hang
my heart out there again.”
 “It doesn’t sound stupid.” Nikki knew all about
Derek’s unlucky-in-love history. He’d married a conniving,
horrid woman who’d totally manipulated him without ever truly
being in love with him. “I just wish you hadn’t taken
so long to get smart, you big dummy.”
“Funny, huh? I like funny women, you know.”
“You do?”
“Oh yeah. What I’d really like is to take you back
to the hotel and have my way with you.”
Oh boy, stomach flip flop right on over, like a pancake on a griddle. “Hmmm.”
He held up a finger. “But business first this morning, and
like we agreed on the plane, the first time will be an all-day
affair.” He winked at her.
Oh yeah, that agreement. That had been her idea. How
stupid had that been? But last night had been kind of sweet. They’d
talked all night aboard the Malveaux jet and cuddled, ate excellent
food and drank champagne. Then, after a bottle of Dom Perignon
and some slow kisses, the topic of sex had come up.
“Wow,” Derek had said after one long swap of the tongue
that made Nikki’s toes curl.
“Yeah, wow.”
He laughed.
“What so funny?” she asked, feeling confused.
“I’m laughing because this is so crazy. You and me.” He
leaned back in the cushy seat.
“Well, yeah, it is a little crazy, but…”
He took her hand. “No I don’t mean crazy in a bad
way.” He shook his head. “I know how your mind works.
I mean crazy in a great way and I was laughing because if our kiss
is any indication of…well, you know…” He wiggled
his eyebrows.
Her face grew hot and all she could do was nod.
“You do want to, don’t you? Make love?”
Of course she did, but things did feel sort of weird. After all,
Derek was her boss and she’d run away with him on the spur
of a moment. Holy cow, this was the craziest thing she’d
ever done in her life. “Yes,” she said tentatively.
“I don’t want to push you, Nikki. I can definitely
book us separate rooms at the hotel.”
“No, no. I want to. I guess when we do, I want it to be
special.”
“Me too.”
So when they’d landed in the middle of the night, exhausted
from travel and emotions, they’d turned in with Derek taking
the sofa in the hotel room and insisting she sleep in the bed.
Although she’d been exhausted, she’d fallen asleep
thinking she sure would have liked having Derek’s warm body
by her side. Suddenly their idea of making their first time extra
special seemed extra stupid, because no matter what, it was going
to be special.
Nikki set the fantasies aside as they pulled up to the Hahndorf
winery. A security guard waved them to a stop at a kiosk. “I
thought this was a mom and pop operation in the middle of nowhere.
What gives?” Nikki asked.
“You got me. It does seem like overkill, and I had no idea
Hahndorf would have security.”
Malveaux was one of the larger and more well-known wineries in
Napa, and they didn’t have a set-up like this. Not even close.
Derek gave the security guard his name. The man glanced down at
a sheet of paper. “Yep. G’day sir. Says here you’re
visiting with the Hahndorfs. Okay then, go straight ahead and over
the small hill there and you’ll see the winery and house.”
Derek thanked the man and drove off.
Unlike Napa Valley, which in May would mean summer was near and
so was picking season, in the Barossa May was the end of autumn.
Winter would arrive in the next month, just as the heat in Napa
started to rise into the nineties.
“What’s that?” Nikki pointed toward the middle
of the vineyard, where several trucks were parked, including a
large semi. There was also a row of motor homes. She squinted to
see if she could get a better look. “I think that’s
a film crew.”
Derek slowed down. “Yeah, it looks that way. You should
know.”
“It’s been a while.” Nikki had once played the
starring role in a one-hit-wonder cop show when she’d pursued
an acting career in L.A. The acting had never taken off, and she’d
discovered she was much better at managing a winery than she could
ever be at playing a detective on TV.
They pulled past the winery, its architecture very chateau-like,
reminiscent of the wineries in France. “Jeez, if that’s
the winery, what must the house look like?”
“Good question. We’re about to find out. I’m
curious what they’re filming out there,” he said. “Maybe
a commercial.”
“I don’t know, it seems like a lot of vehicles for
a commercial.”
At the end of the drive, in an area secluded back behind a row
of gum trees, a house appeared. It wasn’t as opulent as the
chateau. Though still quite large, it looked comfortable, like
an English-style stone cottage.
Derek parked in the circular drive next to a row of expensive
automobiles ranging from the sporty to luxury.
“He must like cars,” she said.
“I’d say someone does.” Derek climbed out, went
around to her side and opened the door for her, taking her hand.
“Such the gentleman.”
“My dad didn’t send me to private school for nothing.
I hated that place, especially the etiquette class.”
“I’d say it paid off nicely.”
“Don’t get used to it. I’m only trying to impress
you.”
“You’re funny too.” They walked up a pathway
lined with flowers and plants that Nikki assumed were native, because
she didn’t recognize them. “Someone keeps a lovely
garden.”
Derek pressed the doorbell. Chimes rang out from the other side
of the door.
Soon a young woman in her early twenties swung the door open.
She had long sandy blonde hair, large hazel eyes, pouty lips and
seemed awfully thin. She wore tight jeans and a low-cut orange
cotton sweater. Nikki thought her pretty in the grunge, Kate Moss
way that had hit heights of popularity back in the late nineties. “Oh,
the film crew is down in the vineyard. You passed them,” she
said in a heavy Aussie accent.
“We’re actually here to see Liam Hahndorf,” Derek
said.
“Oh. Dad!” the girl shrieked. “Some man and
woman are here for you.” She breezed past them, keys in hand.
They watched her get behind the wheel of a Navy blue Aston Martin.
She took off in an apparent hurry.
“Well, well, g’day mate!” A tall gray-haired
gentleman with warm brown eyes and soft wrinkles forming around
them appeared in the doorway. “Oh damn, Hannah. She’s
gone again! Damn girl. She is not a good listener, that one. Oh
boy, Grace won’t be happy about this.”
“I won’t be happy about what?” A middle-aged
woman joined him. Nikki assumed she was the girl’s mother.
They had the same eyes, and the lady was as thin as her daughter.
She also had the same long blonde hair, but hers was pulled back
tightly into a ponytail.
“Goodness, we have forgotten our manners. Grace, this is
my friend Derek Malveaux. I told you he’d be dropping in
with us today for some business. Good to see you.” The men
shook hands. “This is my wife Grace, and that was Hannah,
our terror of a daughter, who blew past you. I’m not sure
how we’ll survive her.” Liam kissed his wife on the
cheek. “Grace here is far more patient with her than I am.”
“Hardly. You spoil the girl something terrible. Nice to
meet you, Derek.”
“And you. This is my girlf… ah, my winery manager
and my assistant, Nikki Sands.”
He’d almost said girlfriend. Girlfriend? Wow. That
had her in a spiral—a delicious spiral. She understood why
he’d used her business title, but she couldn’t wait
until things were more cemented between them and the formalities
could be pushed aside.
“Where are my manners? Come in, you two,” Grace said.
They followed her through the entrance across light hardwood floors
inlaid with another type of wood in a diamond pattern. Maybe walnut,
but it was more reddish than walnut and quite dark. Possibly cherry. “Your
floors are gorgeous, Grace. What type of wood are they?”
“It’s Jarrah wood. Popular wood here in the bush.
Somewhat on the expensive side, but I love it. I redecorated the
house a few years back and couldn’t resist.”
“It’s lovely. The entire house is.”
No joke. The house looked larger on the inside than it had from
outside, and Grace had done a great job of turning the manor into
a cozy home with warm golden colors, family photos, colorful throw
rugs and leather sofas. Everything about the place spoke of wealth
and sophistication, but also of care. For the family it had to
be a nice place to live, because it was definitely a nice place
to visit. Grace led them out to the back, where the gardens spread
out and a lap pool took up a portion of the yard. Behind the pool,
a large patch of grass rolled down to a flowing river. Vast woods
stretched out across the river.
“This is gorgeous,” Nikki said. “What river
is that?”
“That’s the North Para River,” Liam said. “More
of a creek typically, but we had some decent rain this year, so
we have a bit more water than usual, which is good because the
water can be important to the Barossa Valley for viticulture. You
can’t imagine how lucky we feel to have it run right through
the property like this. Good stuff for the vines. Have a seat.
Enjoy the view.”
“Nikki and I were wondering what’s going on here.
When we turned into the vineyard we saw all the activity.”
“Oh yes. Hollywood has come to our village. Our place really,” Liam
replied.
“Hollywood?” Nikki said.
“It’s quite a story. We’ll have to tell you
all about it, but let me grab these contracts for us to go over
first. They’re in my office. I would like to go over some
matters that have come up, Derek. Would you like your assistant
to join us?”
Derek looked at Nikki, who felt that whatever Liam wanted to discuss
with Derek, he wanted to do in private. She’d just met the
man, but she read body language and she knew that Derek likely
sensed that too. She wondered what it was all about. “Uh,
no. Nikki why don’t you visit with Mrs. Hahndorf? We should
be back soon.”
“Of course.” It felt really awkward to have been holding
his hand less than half an hour ago, and now this stilted kind
of weirdness.
“Yes, yes. You two take care of what you need to.” Grace
waved them away. “We’ll head into the kitchen and have
some tea.”
Nikki found Grace to be hospitable, and the tea was warm and soothing.
They made small talk for quite a while. Nikki told her about the
Malveaux winery and Grace began to fill her in on the scene they
saw when they’d entered the winery.
“You wouldn’t believe it. Shawn Keefer is doing
a movie here, with Nathan Cooley directing it.”
“The Shawn Keefer?” Nikki’s jaw dropped.
Shawn Keefer was only Hollywood’s most sought after leading
man, and Nathan Cooley was the kind of director everyone in the
business wanted to work with. He was a genius.
“No kidding. What’s the movie about?”
“I…don’t think I can discuss it. We had to
sign a non-disclosure agreement with the film company.” Grace
lowered her voice and looked pensive.
“Who else is in it?”
“One of those young starlets. The one who is supposedly
so brilliant. But she’s quite a troublemaker, from what the
tabloids say. We’ve even had some paparazzi lurking in our
midst. It’s the pretty redheaded girl. That Lucy Swanson.”
“Oh yes, I’ve heard of her.” Who hadn’t?
Lucy Swanson was a fine actress who’d starred in some successful
films. She was also one of the new breed—if that’s
what they could be called—of Hollywood: young women who spent
too much time partying, getting busted, and then going back for
more. This one hadn’t done any stints in rehab but rumor
was that she needed to, if you believed the tabloids. She
at least supposedly had a work ethic, and that was her main driving
force. It might also be her saving grace. God, Nikki really had
read too many rag mags and watched way too much of E! Entertainment.
“Yes, well I can tell you that she is a wild one. Hannah
has been spending some time with her, and also one of the crew
people. Some good-looking young man, and I’m not crazy about
it. I’m afraid they’re going to get Hannah into trouble.”
Nikki doubted that the girl had any problems getting herself into
trouble. Instead of saying what she thought, she replied, “Really?
Trouble, huh?”
“Out partying at all hours.” Grace shook her head. “Anyway,
tonight we are having an old-fashioned barbecue and the entire
crew is joining us.”
“Including Shawn Keefer?”
Grace nodded and smiled. “He’s quite a cad, that one.
He flirts with all the ladies.”
“I’d read in one of the tabloids that he is a huge
flirt.”
“But he is a dear really, once you get to know him. We’ve
had the actors up for dinner on occasion since they’ve been
on the premises.”
Nikki noticed Grace’s cheeks flush and she wondered if the
woman had a crush on Keefer. Many women around the world did. He
was on par with Brad Pitt and George Clooney in both the looks
and acting categories; definitely a superstar. People loved him,
and considering his stature he did a decent job of lying low and
keeping out of the limelight, except for a few years back, when
he’d gone through a divorce with his actress wife, Fiona.
But from what Nikki recalled when that happened, they had remained
decent to each other, and she’d made out like a bandit in
the settlement. It would be interesting to meet Shawn Keefer.
They talked a bit more about the actors on the vineyard before
Derek and Liam returned. “Ladies, would you like to take
a trip down to where they’re filming? I filled Derek in,
and he said that he’d love to go, especially when he heard
that Andy Burrow was on the set.”
“Andy Burrow, too?” Nikki shot a glance at Derek. “How
great!” Andy worked with all sorts of wildlife. He was eccentric,
quite a character. Nikki knew that Derek loved watching the guy’s
show on the Earth Channel.
“I know. Isn’t that awesome?” Derek sounded
like a kid, but there was also a catch in his voice that Nikki
didn’t recognize.
It was strange, because he sounded excited about meeting Andy,
and Nikki was sure that he would be, but there was something else
there that she couldn’t put her finger on, as if he were
slightly troubled. She wondered if there was a problem with the
business deal.
“Liam says that he’s not in the movie, but they’ve
got a bunch of wild animals they’re working with on the film,
and Andy is on hand with the animals. He brought all of them from
his zoo,” Derek added.
There is was again—an edge, almost fake like. “Sure,
I’m in. Let’s go,” Nikki replied. “This
must be quite a production,” she said as they climbed into
Liam’s golf cart, still curious about what was rattling around
in Derek’s head.
“It is at that,” Liam replied. “Quite a group
too. The producer has put up a lot of money to film it and they’re
looking for one of those big blockbuster movies you watch in America.”
“I personally can’t wait until they’re finished.
They’ve created a bit of havoc for us,” Grace said, “as
much fun as it’s been.” She glanced at Liam. Nikki
couldn’t figure her out. “Did Grace tell you that I
wrote the script?”
No she hadn’t. Now that was strange. She acted as if she
wasn’t even certain what the movie was about. “Uh,
well…”
Grace rubbed Liam’s shoulder. “I didn’t mention
that. I know you don’t like to brag much.” She smiled
at Nikki.
“Since when? I couldn’t be prouder, and having Andy
here is wonderful. You’ll love him.”
Derek looked like a kid in a candy shop, he was so excited. For
him, meeting Andy Burrow was way up there with one of the coolest
things in the world to be able to do. She was excited too, but
also baffled by Grace. “That’s great,” Nikki
replied. “I know what the business is like. It’s not
easy to even get a screenplay read, especially not a first one.
Then to have it made into a movie, no less. You should be proud.”
“Oh this isn’t my first go at it. I have a bunch of
them in the closet. Been writing forever, but never really thought
it would happen, you know. I’m a farm boy at heart. I grow
grapes and we make wine. To have this now makes everything complete.”
“How did you get the idea for the story?” Derek asked.
“That’s a long story in itself,” Liam replied.
“Yes it is. We don’t want to bore you with it,” Grace
said. She looked at her husband. “Do we, Liam?”
“Right. Maybe another time.”
Nikki thought she heard Grace’s voice tighten as she spoke.
A group of people sat around in chairs as they got closer, all
looking pretty bored. The camera crew and extras. Maybe they were
taking a lunch break. It seemed a little early for lunch….
Liam parked the cart just as a horrible scream came from the direction
of the trailers parked on the set.
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