Chapter 8
Chapter 8
Alex
I roll the last barrel into place and fasten it to the rack. Wiping my brow, I stand back and view my work.
Twelve empty receptacles perfectly lined up and ready to be filled.
Not bad at all…
Sophie and I had arrived at the winery extra early this morning because she worried people would see us show up together in her car. Heaven forbid…
"We have to be careful about this, Alex," she'd warned before she'd silenced any of my objections with a hot kiss.
My eyes land on her from across the room. Her back is to me and she's opening a box on the metal counter where we experiment with blending. As my gaze traces over her firm backside, I realize I haven't kissed her since we walked in here this morning.
Time to rectify that…
Grinning, I move behind her and brace my arms on either side, trapping her in my embrace. I hum as her tight little ass cups my hardening cock beautifully. She shivers as my lips brush her earlobe.
"What are you doing, babe?" I croon.
"Checking out the samples my father's assistant sent me." There’s a twist of humor in her voice. "She thought I'd like to know what they're releasing in the spring."
"Huh…and your father is okay with that?"
"Sure. As long as she only sent it to me. If it was anyone else, I'm sure he'd object. But he'd also love nothing more than to rub my nose in what I'm missing out on by being here."
"Nice." I snort. Nothing like the affectionate love of a controlling father. It's no wonder she jumped at the first chance she had to move to the other side of the country. What a total asshole.
Sophie lines up twelve two-ounce sample bottles each labeled with a recipe number and a bar code. She throws me a sly grin over her shoulder. "This is top secret stuff. You sure you want to stay while I check these out? I may have to kill you after we're done."
I chuckle and love the way the sound sends goosebumps down her silky arms. She's so incredibly responsive. I'd love to follow the trail with my lips, but we’re at work. "I'll leave you alone. But first, I came over here for a kiss."
"Alex." Her tone holds a warning as she turns in my arms. "I don't think it's a good idea to do this here."
She’s right, but I still need that kiss. "Just one quick peck, I promise. And then I'll wait until we leave tonight."
"Fine," she huffs, before leaning up to grasp my bottom lip with her teeth. She releases it with a sucking pop. "If it means you let me get back to work."
I swear I may have come in my pants from that single sexy move. This woman has me all twisted up inside, and I can never predict what she'll do next.
"Shit, Soph," I mutter before slanting my mouth over hers. Sensation pours through me, and I lose all track of time as our tongues and lips duel.
Finally I break away and step back. I'm thoroughly satisfied to see she's as breathless as I am. At least I’m not the only one feeling all these intense emotions.
I clear my throat awkwardly before I adjust myself. Her bubbling laughter is infectious and I can't hold back my own chuckle. "Can't help it, babe. You get to me."
"Yeah, well. If it makes you feel any better, I'm really looking forward to tonight now, too."
"Really?" Visions of a quickie in her car begin floating through my mind. She makes me insatiable.
"No," she says firmly, placing her index finger on my lips. "Later, Alex." My pout must be amusing, because she giggles again. "Don't worry. I plan on sucking you off so hard tonight, your eyes are gonna cross."
"Holy shit!" All possibilities of getting sex off my mind now are utterly impossible. I'll be walking around the winery with a perpetual boner.
As if she hasn’t just blown my mind, Sophie turns to the sample bottles and nonchalantly begins writing notes down in a little black book. I take that as a dismissal and with a resigned sigh, I head off in search of something more constructive to do.
It's an hour before lunch, and the tasting room is quiet. I wave to the attendant behind the bar. "Hey, Tony. Need any help back here?"
"Nah, man. I'm just stocking the glasses before the afternoon crowd rolls in. We have a few corporate groups scheduled, so if you wanna come back around two or three, I could use some help then."
I shrug. "I might be available then. Depends on what the boss has for me." I throw my thumb over my shoulder pointing to the fermenting room.
"Oh, hey!" Tony reaches below the counter. "This just came in the mail for Brennen. Would you take this to his office? The door should be unlocked."
My brows shoot up. How the hell did I forget that I needed to check out Brennen's office? My dick gives one final throb in protest as blood finally circulates back to my brain.
That's how you forgot, genius.
"Sure. I can do that." I pick up the package and note the sender: Sapphire Development. My instincts tingle at the company name, especially after all the rumors I’ve heard about money problems. Maybe Brennen is getting offers to buy the winery. Ryan will flip his shit if this is true.
I stroll leisurely to his office and give the door a quick rap with my knuckles. It wouldn't look good if I just barge in and Brennen is sitting at his desk. After several seconds with no answer, I test the knob, and like Tony said, it is unlocked.
Damn, rather than being a fucking mess like I assumed it would be, Brennen’s office looks like it’s been organized by a perfectionist. Everything is in exact order with the desk completely cleared and clean with several efficiently labeled manilla folders sitting in a file sorter.
Good lord. It’s so orderly that it sends a shiver down my spine. I’d bet this office would easily pass a military white glove test. They say a person's desk gives you a good idea of what their brain is like. If that is the case, then Brennen is the ultimate control freak.
I glance over my shoulder, making sure no one is around as I step in and slowly close the door behind me. Just to be safe, I press the lock button on the knob and lean back, wondering where to start first.
My gaze swivels back to the desk. It's a good enough place to begin, even though I have no idea what I’m looking for.
Before I touch anything, I take numerous photos at different angles of the room, then pull out the folders. Making sure addresses and names are visible for Ryan's investigators, I snap more shots as I leaf through the pages, careful not to disrupt the order.
One manilla folder, with Fieldstone Competition scrawled across the top, catches my eye. The papers inside let me know exactly where Brennen is today. He took Sophie's case of wine to Atlanta this morning where it's competing with some of the East Coast's best wineries. I snort a laugh. Sophie's wine will win hands down. In fact, I'd wager her wine could go up against the best Europe could produce.
I take several more photos and carefully set the folder back into place. That's one mystery solved.
I step around the desk, pulling back his chair, and spot a solitary green folder lying in the seat. It's labeled Sapphire Development. I glance back at the box I brought in. Sure enough, it's the same name.
This is interesting…
As I thumb through the contents, I see it's chock-full of official banking statements, financial reports, and legal documents. Well… it certainly looks like I've hit the information jackpot here. I start reading as I snap pictures of the various documents. From what I can tell, Brennen has been working to pay off a floating note on the winery, which wouldn't raise any alarms for any business. It happens every day.
But what isn't normal is the letter from the bank detailing how Sapphire Development, a group owned by Ms. Candace Prescott, bought the loan's note. And there it is, son of a bitch… Brennen has less than ninety days to come up with the money before Ms. Prescott acquires full ownership of the winery.
The letter was dated over two months ago, which means Brennen has less than thirty days to figure out this mess before the family loses their heritage.
Fucking hell!
I snap away quickly as my phone’s camera allows, my mind whirling at the shitstorm the winery is truly in. A developer is about to swoop in and take over if Ryan doesn't act fast enough. The amount owed is ten million dollars plus whatever interest has accrued.
But this explains a lot. Brennen's stress level, the layoffs, the leggy blonde who I'd bet was Ms. Prescott, and the mysterious competition which would provide some revenue when Sophie's wine won.
I rearrange the documents back into the folder in a close enough manner and scan for anything else in the room to add to the jackpot of intel I'd just gathered. Although, I’m fairly certain I'd discovered the root of the entire problem.
With a disgusted sigh, I pull open the door and check for any prying eyes before I shuffle down the hallway and out the winery's back door. I need privacy for the phone call I'm about to make, so I head for the large white gazebo at the back of the property. It sits in the middle of a large pond that's lined with picnic tables, weeping willows, live oaks, and royal palm trees.
I spend several minutes emailing the photos to Ryan as well as a photo I've found on the internet of Candace Prescott, then make the call.
Ryan answers on the second ring. "Yeah? Did you find something?" The man's impatient tone is one of his defining characteristics, but his mood is about to sour dramatically.
"Hey, man. Yeah, you could say I found something. Check your email," I answer. "We have a serious problem on our hands."