Read The Passion Price for Free Online Page B
Authors: Miranda Lee
from where the restaurant stood. But there were several new sheds, Jake noted as he whizzed along the road towards the main entrance. Possibly packaging and storage sheds. There was also a large dam that hadnât been there before, no doubt providing irrigation to stop the vines from becoming too stressed during droughts.
The summer heâd picked grapes here sixteen years ago had been very dry and hot, and old-man Mastroianni had talked endlessly about how stressed the vines were from lack of water. Jake had thought the notion that plants could be stressed was funny at the time. Of course, heâd been a complete idiot back then, in more ways than one.
Hopefully, Angelina would give him the opportunity to show her that he was no longer such an idiot.
His heart quickened as he turned into the restaurant car park for the second time that day. An odd happening for Jake. His heart rarely beat faster, except when he was working out or about to address a difficult jury. It rarely beat this fast over a woman.
Was he worried she might say no to him?
Yeah. He had to confess he was.
Now, that was a first.
Â
Angelina knew the moment Jake arrived back in the car park. Sheâd been watching out of the corner ofher eye, and that bright yellow was hard to miss. This time, thankfully, Vivien and Judith were no longer there in the restaurant to make any comments. Theyâd not long left after a very leisurely lunch, planning to have naps in their rooms before returning for dinner. Drinking and eating made up the mainstay of their holiday.
There were only two couples left in the restaurant, lingering over coffee. But they were seated inside. Angelina could sit outside with Jake and Dorothy, and be in no danger of being overheard, or interrupted.
She was taking a few steadying breaths and pretending to tidy up behind the counter when Jake walked in, alone. Momentarily rattled, she restrained herself from commenting till they were seated safely outside, having instructed a highly curious Wilomena to bring them both coffee and carrot cake.
âWhereâs Dorothy?â she asked once they were alone.
Jake took off his sunglasses and relaxed back into his chair with a sigh whilst Angelina fought the temptation to stare at him once more.
âI suspect putting a deposit down on a property up the road,â he replied drily. âA boutique winery which has certainly seen better days. I would have stayed and tried to talk her out of it if I could. But Dorothy is one stubborn woman once she sets her sights on something. And sheâs set her sights on this place. The house, anyway. I left her having a second viewing and finding out the ins and outs of everything. The real-estate agent said heâd drop her off here after they were finished. He said he had to pass by on his way back to Cessnock.â
Angelina tried not to panic at this unexpected development. âIs this houseâ¦umâ¦white, with wide verandas?â
âThatâs the one.â
âGood lord, thatâs Arnoldâs place!â If Dorothy bought Arnoldâs place there was no hope of keeping Alexâs existence a secret. The vineyard community up here was like a small town. Everyone knew everything about everyone.
Her exclamation sent Jakeâs dark brows arching. âYou know the owner?â
âHeâ¦umâ¦he works for me. Heâs my new wine-maker.â
âI thought your father was the wine-maker here,â Jake said with a puzzled frown.
Oh, dear. Impossible now to keep secret that her father was dead. Still, everything was going to come out, sooner or later. She might as well start with the lesser revelation.
âPapa died last year,â Angelina said, and tensed in anticipation of Jakeâs reaction.
He said nothing for several seconds. Perhaps he was mulling over why she hadnât told him about this earlier when she had the chance.
âIâm sorry to hear that,â he said at
The summer heâd picked grapes here sixteen years ago had been very dry and hot, and old-man Mastroianni had talked endlessly about how stressed the vines were from lack of water. Jake had thought the notion that plants could be stressed was funny at the time. Of course, heâd been a complete idiot back then, in more ways than one.
Hopefully, Angelina would give him the opportunity to show her that he was no longer such an idiot.
His heart quickened as he turned into the restaurant car park for the second time that day. An odd happening for Jake. His heart rarely beat faster, except when he was working out or about to address a difficult jury. It rarely beat this fast over a woman.
Was he worried she might say no to him?
Yeah. He had to confess he was.
Now, that was a first.
Â
Angelina knew the moment Jake arrived back in the car park. Sheâd been watching out of the corner ofher eye, and that bright yellow was hard to miss. This time, thankfully, Vivien and Judith were no longer there in the restaurant to make any comments. Theyâd not long left after a very leisurely lunch, planning to have naps in their rooms before returning for dinner. Drinking and eating made up the mainstay of their holiday.
There were only two couples left in the restaurant, lingering over coffee. But they were seated inside. Angelina could sit outside with Jake and Dorothy, and be in no danger of being overheard, or interrupted.
She was taking a few steadying breaths and pretending to tidy up behind the counter when Jake walked in, alone. Momentarily rattled, she restrained herself from commenting till they were seated safely outside, having instructed a highly curious Wilomena to bring them both coffee and carrot cake.
âWhereâs Dorothy?â she asked once they were alone.
Jake took off his sunglasses and relaxed back into his chair with a sigh whilst Angelina fought the temptation to stare at him once more.
âI suspect putting a deposit down on a property up the road,â he replied drily. âA boutique winery which has certainly seen better days. I would have stayed and tried to talk her out of it if I could. But Dorothy is one stubborn woman once she sets her sights on something. And sheâs set her sights on this place. The house, anyway. I left her having a second viewing and finding out the ins and outs of everything. The real-estate agent said heâd drop her off here after they were finished. He said he had to pass by on his way back to Cessnock.â
Angelina tried not to panic at this unexpected development. âIs this houseâ¦umâ¦white, with wide verandas?â
âThatâs the one.â
âGood lord, thatâs Arnoldâs place!â If Dorothy bought Arnoldâs place there was no hope of keeping Alexâs existence a secret. The vineyard community up here was like a small town. Everyone knew everything about everyone.
Her exclamation sent Jakeâs dark brows arching. âYou know the owner?â
âHeâ¦umâ¦he works for me. Heâs my new wine-maker.â
âI thought your father was the wine-maker here,â Jake said with a puzzled frown.
Oh, dear. Impossible now to keep secret that her father was dead. Still, everything was going to come out, sooner or later. She might as well start with the lesser revelation.
âPapa died last year,â Angelina said, and tensed in anticipation of Jakeâs reaction.
He said nothing for several seconds. Perhaps he was mulling over why she hadnât told him about this earlier when she had the chance.
âIâm sorry to hear that,â he said at