CHAPTER FOURTEEN
GRIFF
Griff sat in the office of the Adeline Hills Winery, going over the books.
He was shocked by the neglect from his grandfather over the past few months.
Now that Grandad would be recovering for the next few weeks, he couldn’t protest when Griff told him he’d get things in order.
Because Grandad was a proud man, Griff agreed to report to him on a daily basis.
As he ended a call with a supplier who hadn’t been paid on time, Sarita walked into the office carrying a mug of coffee. “Thought you might like a refresh.”
Griff looked up and smiled at the mid-sixties woman who’d been acting as his mother since he’d first come to live at his grandfather’s house.
Her hair had turned a pretty shade of silver, and her skin had weathered a bit, but her face was still beautiful with high cheekbones and large dark eyes that saw more than the surface of someone.
He’d always been fascinated by how she seemed to know what he needed before he did.
“Thanks, Sarita,” he said as she handed the mug to him and then sat in the chair in front of his desk.
“Your grandfather is getting stronger, but he’ll never be the same,” said Sarita. “And he’s talking more and more about finding you a bride. He was deeply disappointed that it didn’t work out with you and Cassandra. But I’m not. She was wrong for you. I knew it the first time I met her.”
“I’ve put the wedding business behind me,” said Griff.
“And I don’t intend to get pushed into anything to try and satisfy my grandfather.
He tells me he doesn’t want to die before knowing the vineyard is in capable hands with me, happily settled with a wife and family.
I tried too hard to make him happy, but it won’t happen again. ”
“I’ve heard that when you’re looking least, romance with find you,” said Sarita.
Griff let out a polite snort. “How many romance books have you been reading lately?”
Sarita chuckled. “Quite a few. I’d like to see you happily settled, too. But I won’t push you into anything.”
“Thank God. I’ve got enough on my hands,” said Griff.
“How’s the winemaker turning out? She’s new to us but not new to the business, and she has her degree in Oenology.” Sarita shook her head. “Who knew there’d be a degree for the study of wine and winemaking?”
“I got my degree in viticulture, the science of growing, cultivation, and harvesting of grapes,” said Griff.
“That’s why the two of you will be competent working together. Your grandfather said Kayla Nielson is a natural with an exceptional ability to know excellent wine when she tastes it. She’s pretty too.” Griff cocked an eyebrow at Sarita, and she laughed. “I’m just saying …”
“As long as she can help me with the winemaking, Pete and I can handle the grapes,” said Griff. “That’s all I’m interested in. It’s the slow time of year for us, and I can get the business side of things under control.”
After Sarita left, Griff stared out the window at the rolling land striped by rows of grapes, relieved he didn’t have to worry about the stress of trying to please his grandfather, Sarita, or anyone else. The last thing he needed was a woman in his life. Period.