Love in the Vineyard (Tavonesi #7)(72)

Natasha blushed like a schoolgirl at the compliment even though it was tendered as a playful jibe at Adrian.

Adrian’s face softened into a smile. “You did an amazing job on this party—as always. Thank you.”

Parker gave a mock bow. “I see your manners have resurfaced.” He tilted his head toward Natasha. “If you find yourself wanting a real man, I’ll be over by the band.”

Adrian punched him on the arm.

“That’s my mallet arm,” Parker said, rubbing at his shoulder.

“Be glad I didn’t aim at your head.”

Parker touched Natasha’s arm. “Did anyone warn you that this one has a temper? I, on the other hand, have a very reliable and steady disposition.”

The band struck up a country-style waltz.

“We have better things to do than stand here and admire your disposition, Parker.”

Parker laughed. “I should hope so.” He waved over his shoulder as he walked off the dance floor.

“You have to forgive him—and the rest of my family. I might as well ask your forgiveness in advance. We’re very—what is the English word?—quirky.”

“Nothing wrong with quirky,” Natasha said, happy that she could be honest about something. Adrian’s tight-knit family stirred all sorts of longings in her. She envied him in so many ways.

Adrian put his hand on the small of her back. The earlier thoughts she’d fought with took a quick back seat as she danced in his arms under the starry night sky.

Though he held her close and they laughed and talked as they danced, she couldn’t kiss him as she wished she might, not in front of all the Casa employees and other guests. She knew from the look in his eyes that he wanted to kiss her too. When Adrian’s father dragged him off to talk to one of the local growers, a sad, sinking feeling settled around her heart as she watched him slip into the crowd. Just before she left the tented dance floor, Adrian’s sister Zoe twirled by in the arms of her fiancé, beaming a smile that had love written all over it. Yearning for a love like theirs was a luxury Natasha couldn’t afford. Not now. Not anytime soon.

She headed off to the barn to collect Tyler and head home. A few steps down the path she heard Adrian laughing with his father and the grower. She turned in the direction of the laughter and saw another lovely woman sidle up to Adrian, flick her hair and beam a bright smile.

Get a grip, Natasha. This was how it would be. He had a vast world to tend to. And she was only a small temporary part of such a world.

She needed to focus on her own life. On the future she wanted to build for Tyler and for herself. And if she didn’t go home and do the exercises the dyslexia counselor had given her, their future would crumble fast. Her heart was the last thing she needed to listen to right then.

But later that evening after she tucked Tyler into bed and began her reading exercises, her stubborn heart sang a song that was impossible to ignore.





Chapter Twenty-One



ADRIAN KNOCKED AT THE DOOR OF HIS FATHER’S study. It wasn’t often Santino called him in for a meeting.

“How is the fruit setting?” Santino asked.

His father knew how the fruit was setting; Adrian had seen him in the vineyard earlier that morning.

“Looks like we’ll have a great yield if the weather cooperates,” Adrian answered. “But you didn’t call me in here to discuss the fruit set.”

His father gestured toward a chair. “I have some financials to go over. Our accountant sent in preliminary reports for the month. There’s thirty thousand dollars missing.”

“Do you suspect Vico?”

Vico Gualdieri had hacked Cody’s credit cards a few months ago. He’d also attacked Zoe and stolen data from Santino. Cody had been in the right place at the right time to save Zoe from real harm, but Vico had escaped. The last they’d heard he was in Russia working for a cybercartel. And Santino’s cover as an international agent had been blown, at least within the family.

“No, this isn’t the work of a pro,” Santino said. “Although the fact that there’s no trace of where the funds went is… suspicious. Or perhaps it’s just a mistake.”

If it were a mistake, Santino wouldn’t have called Adrian into his office. He’d have had the accountant handle the problem and that would’ve been that.

“Have a look.” Santino handed him the report.

Adrian scanned the two-page document and swallowed down his disbelief. “It’s missing from the new native garden account.”

Santino nodded. “You have two new employees in that division, I believe?”

“Only Natasha Raley has access to the accounts,” Adrian said. “The man helping her works in the greenhouse and garden.”

“Natasha.” Santino said her name slowly. “Is that the woman I saw you dancing with last night?”

“Spying on me?”

“Gave it up for lent,” his father said with a laugh.

Adrian knew that once a spy, always a spy, but clearly Santino wanted Adrian to handle this situation. Perhaps because Natasha was involved. And because the accounts for that part of the family business were Adrian’s responsibility.

“I’ll talk to her.”

“She’s a lovely girl,” his father said. “With a rather mysterious background.”