I drove up the gravel driveway to the winery office and tasting room. I’d been here once before when I visited Marj on the ranch during college. We’d thought it great fun to get to taste all the wines even though neither of us was twenty-one yet.
I parked and walked in. A woman sat behind a small desk, typing on a computer.
“Hi,” I said. “Is…Ryan around today?”
“Yeah, he’s over in the warehouse, tasting wine from some of the barrels. Is he expecting you?”
“No, not really. I’m Jade Roberts, Marjorie’s friend. I’m staying at the ranch for a while until I get settled here. I was wondering if you guys needed any help here around the vineyards. I’m looking for work.”
“You’d have to ask Ryan about that. I don’t really know.”
“Can I just go over and…ask him?”
The woman nodded. “I’m Marion, by the way. Tell him I said to go on over. You can see the warehouse from here.”
“Thanks so much.”
I left the office and walked toward the big warehouse where the barrels were housed. Steel Vineyards was a state-of-the-art establishment, but still I imagined Lucy Ricardo stomping grapes. I let out a giggle. I’d loved Lucy since I discovered the black-and-white reruns when I was a kid. What would grapes feel like between my toes?
I hesitantly opened the door to the warehouse. I had been here before, but I’d forgotten how huge the stainless steel barrels were. The place was spick-and-span spotless. I’d been surprised when I first saw the place several years ago. I had been expecting old wooden barrels. Nope, not for Steel vineyards. Everything up to date and state of the art. Several employees milled about, none of them paying me any mind. I looked around until I saw Ryan over in the corner with a wineglass, taking a sample from one of the barrels.
I gathered my courage and strode over.
“Hi, Ryan.”
He looked up. Same dark eyes as Talon, but not as brooding. “Oh, Jade. Hey, great to see you.
Sorry I haven’t been up to the house.”
“No worries. I’ve only been here a few days. I wanted to come by and say hi.”
“Great. I’m glad you did. Here, you want to taste this with me?”
“Sure.” I nodded. “What is it?”
“It’s my version of a dry rosé made with Grenache, Syrah, and Cinsault. Kind of like a French rosé.” He handed me a glass of the pink liquid.
I took a sip. “Wow, it’s really good.” Here was my chance to impress him. “It’s very fruit forward, raspberries on the nose. But I like the acidity. Makes it feel dry even with the fruitiness.”
Ryan smiled. “Pretty good for an amateur. I’m getting all that plus a little bit of plum, tiny bit of sweet pepper.”
Sweet pepper? Like red bell pepper? I definitely didn’t get that, but I wasn’t about to tell him.
“Oh, yeah, now that you mention it…”
“This will be ready for bottling come fall.” Ryan looked around. “So what have you been up to since you’ve been here?”
“Not a lot. Marj showed me around the city. But until I get my bar results, which won’t happen for a few weeks or so, I can’t get a job practicing law.”
“Just relax, then. We’ve got all kinds of stuff to do around here. You won’t be bored.”
“It’s not being bored I’m worried about. I like to be earning something, and…I was wondering if maybe you could use some help around here. I love wine, and I’d love to learn more about it.”
“Well, we get the busiest around harvest time and bottling time. Both of those happen around the same time in the fall. Bottling goes into the winter sometimes. So there’s not a lot to do around here right now, but I suppose you could always help Marion in the office if you don’t mind busy work.”
“I don’t mind busy work at all. I’ve been doing clerical stuff for my dad for years. I’d love it, but if you don’t need the help…”
His eyes brightened. “Actually, I think Marion would appreciate it very much. And also”—he stroked his chin—“I think I could use you in the tasting room. If you’re truly interested in wine, I could give you a little guidance, and you could run tastings.”
My mouth dropped open. “Really? I would love that.”
“The pay’s not much. Not for someone who’s waiting for a job as a lawyer. Fifteen bucks an hour.
But I could probably get you twenty to thirty hours a week between helping Marion and helping in the tasting room.”