Moonlight and Roses. Jackie Braun

wore it longer than most professional men did. Not quite long enough to pull into a ponytail, but it brushed his shirt’s collar in the back and gave him a slightly dangerous look that was in stark contrast to his otherwise tidy appearance.

      Jaye resisted the urge to fiddle with the end of her braid. “Actually, I didn’t go with my dad that time. I stayed behind to look after things at the vineyard.”

      “That explains it then,” Zack said. “I never forget a face.”

      “I never forget a wine. Your chardonnay was exceptional that year.” It was a relief to return to the subject of grapes. She always felt on firm footing when the discussion centered on business.

      “Yes, Holland’s was,” he said. Again, he seemed to distance himself from taking any credit. “I think Medallion’s has the potential to be even better.”

      “Really?” she asked, too intrigued to act blasé.

      “I wouldn’t have bought this vineyard if I felt otherwise,” he replied.

      The reminder of the winery’s change in ownership tempered her enthusiasm. “I see.”

      “I was disappointed I didn’t get a chance to meet you when I toured Medallion before making my initial offer,” Zack said.

      “I was out of the country at the time.”

      He nodded. “A buying trip. France, I believe your mother told me.”

      “Margaret is my stepmother.” She snapped out the correction. “I was not informed of your visit until well after my return. In fact, I wasn’t informed that the vineyard had changed hands until after the deal was done.”

      He blinked in surprise. “I…I didn’t realize.”

      Jaye saw no point in beating around the bush. “Medallion should have been mine.”

      “But your father didn’t leave it to you.”

      His equally blunt statement had her bristling. “Dad thought he could micromanage a peace treaty between his second wife and me from the grave. He was wrong.”

      “I’m sorry.”

      “I don’t want your pity,” she replied.

      “Actually, that was an expression of sympathy,” he said, making her feel small.

      Jaye paced to the window in an effort to regroup. Her anger, justified as it was, was of no use here. So she moderated her tone and said evenly, “I want the vineyard, Mr. Holland. I’m prepared to offer you what you paid plus a little something extra for your trouble.”

      “Why don’t you call me Zack? And it looks like we have a problem.” He joined her at the window. “I want Medallion, too. I’m not interested in selling.”

      His reply was nothing less than Jaye had expected. After all, she had made the same offer to Margaret without success. Yet the disappointment of hearing him say the words nearly leveled her.

      “Is that going to be an issue for you?” he asked.

      She swallowed her outrage along with a good helping of pride. “I don’t have much choice but to accept that you’ll be the one calling the shots from now on.”

      To her surprise, he laughed out loud. “Gee, that sounds convincing.”

      “I said I would accept it. I didn’t say anything about liking it.”

      “Ah. Thanks for the clarification.”

      While Zack appeared amused, Jaye was dead serious when she said, “I’m very good at my job. I…I would appreciate it if you would allow me to stay on.”

      He nodded. “I’d like that. You know the local people, not to mention the regional quirks of the Great Lakes growing season, far better than I do at this point. I’d like you to manage things.”

      “But I’m the head vintner. Tom Worley manages Medallion’s operation.”

      “Not anymore. He’ll be reassigned or offered a compensation package. Think you can handle it?”

      She bristled at his tone. “There’s not a job at Medallion I haven’t done at one time or another. My father thought it was important to know the business inside and out. He didn’t believe you could be an effective leader without understanding the jobs of the people you were leading.”

      “Is that a subtle barb?” he asked.

      “Of course not.” Before she could censor the thought, she added, “I wasn’t trying to be subtle.”

      She expected him to be annoyed, perhaps angry. Instead he laughed.

      “Do you think I’ve never worked a harvest or shoveled grapes into a crusher?”

      “Have you?” Jaye asked.

      “Yes. But I don’t think I have to work every job to understand its demands or to appreciate the people I pay to perform it.”

      “Fair enough. So, if I’m no longer head vintner, who’ll be in charge of winemaking?” she asked.

      Zack only smiled.

      “You?” Her tone was incredulous, so much so it bordered on insulting.

      “No need to look so shocked. I have some prior experience,” he informed her.

      Jaye wasn’t impressed by his claim. All she could see was that she would have her hands full in the coming months, likely pulling double duty while he dabbled. She cleared her throat. “I believe in being honest.”

      “That’s good to know,” he said slowly.

      “I’ll stay on, managing and assisting with the winemaking when necessary—”

      “You’re already assuming I’ll need your help?”

      “I said I believe in being honest.”

      “Yes, but what about tactful?” he asked wryly.

      “I’ll work on it.”

      “Fair enough,” he replied.

      “As I said, I’ll stay on, but I won’t be doing it for you or even for the paycheck.”

      His eyes narrowed. “Go on.”

      “I’ve got an investment here that goes well beyond money. Your name might be on the deed now, but make no mistake, Mr. Holland—”

      “Zack,” he said, for the first time sounding truly annoyed. “My name is Zack.”

      “Fine. Zack. I want Medallion. And I plan to keep making you fair offers for its sale until you finally accept one. I don’t give up easily.”

      “So I’ve noticed.” Then his expression turned oddly grim. “Do you love it that much?”

      “Love it?” Jaye shook her head, not surprised in the least that someone who could walk away from his family’s land would fail to understand the attachment she had to hers. “This vineyard is everything to me.”

      “Everything? It’s just a place. It’s not…people.”

      “No. It’s more reliable than people.” She hadn’t meant to say that. Thankfully, he didn’t understand her meaning.

      “It’s dirt and vines. It’s real estate, an investment,” he countered, blue eyes glittering like ice.

      “Is that all it is to you?”

      Zack didn’t say anything, although for a moment she thought she saw something contradictory flicker in his expression. Then it was gone.

      “Well, that’s not all it is to me.” She glanced back out the window. Her voice was low, her tone reverent when she added, “My dad and I built Medallion from nothing. It’s…it’s my life.”