Chapter One
“Son of a bitch.” Wyatt Leone clenched his hands as he surveyed the trampled grapevines and broken trellises on the north rim of Leone Estates.
“Who do you think did this?” Chip Hebert, his assistant operations manager, strode over to join him. He bent and picked up a gnawed piece of wood.
“Wild animals would be my guess. It’s not the first time I’ve witnessed this type of destruction.”
Chip shot him a curious glance. “You’ve had trouble before?”
He nodded. Many of the vineyards in the Sonoma Valley had experienced the same problems in recent years. “Ever since we planted this high up in the foothills. Although this is worse than anything I’ve seen before. If it weren’t for all the half-eaten grapes,” Wyatt kicked the partially consumed ground covering. “I’d assume someone did this on purpose.”
The hairs at the nape of his neck bristled as he recalled the meeting he and his father had a few weeks ago with a representative from Quest Enterprises. The San Francisco land development company wanted Leone Estates and Meadowbrook winery, the southern neighboring vineyard, for the high-end resort they planned on building in Glengrove.
No fucking way. Quest could build their resort elsewhere. He had big plans for the vineyard over the next two years that would make his grandmother’s vision a reality. His vision, too. Construction on the new production facility she’d wanted would start in the off season and they’d start bottling his new red blend in the fall.
Nothing and no one would stand in his way.
“Get a team up here right away and see to the repairs. We should be able to salvage most of the harvest.”
“On it.”
Wyatt peered around. Where was Bella? He let out a loud whistle and laughed as the small, furry mixed breed, raced over. Bella reminded him of a small tornado. She had tons of energy and tore through the place with a cloud in her wake. “Come on, girl. Get in.” He opened the truck door. Bella jumped in and scurried over to the passenger side of the bench seat. Turning to Chip, he asked, “You coming?”
Chip shook his head. “I’ll catch a ride back with one of the guys.” He pulled a cell from his shirt pocket, and dialed.
Wyatt jumped into the truck and drove to the outbuilding about a mile from the property line. He might as well test the fire sprinkler system before heading back. He’d have one less building to check tomorrow when he performed the monthly inspection.
He parked in front of the structure, hopped out of the truck, and frowned. The door sat ajar. First the destruction of his vines and now this. His mind jolted back to the meeting with the Quest rep again. Sam Hodges’s words echoed in his mind. I want Leone Estates and I get what I want. Always. Wyatt pushed open the door and stepped in. Rows of wine racks filled more than half the massive space. An old vacuum pump and degassing kit sat in the far corner, and two tall stainless steel coolers stood against the wall next to him. Nothing was out of place or missing. He shook his head. Man, he was losing it. Someone had left the door open the last time they were up here. That was all. Wyatt would speak to Chip later and have him remind the crew to close up properly when they came up here.
The alarm on Wyatt’s watch sounded. Time to get a move on. His meeting with Chuck was in less than an hour and he’d need to drop Bella at home before heading into town. He made his way to the fire safety equipment, and tested the apparatus. Satisfied when everything worked, he reset the system.
Striding to the exit, Wyatt closed and locked the door, then headed out.
###
Wyatt drove down Main Street into the little village of Glengrove nestled between the Russian River and the surrounding hills of the rugged Mayacammas Mountains.
He parked his truck in front of Donovan’s and leaped out. Grabbing his computer bag from the passenger seat, he slung the strap over his shoulder and strode to the entrance. The pub, which opened last winter, was a new client. This was his first meeting with the owner since he’d taken over the sales function for his father a couple of months ago.
Wyatt paused at the door to remove his sunglasses. A woman, in her early thirties he guessed, strolled toward him. She gripped the hand of a little girl. Eyes wide, the child stopped and pointed at Wyatt. The woman stiffened, crossed the street, and continued on. His gut twisted. He dragged a hand through his hair. Shit. He hated going out in public. Hated the reaction people had when he did. Freak, mutant. That’s how people saw him. Still. Countless plastic surgeries over the years had fixed most of the damage to his face and body, but some scars still existed. Steeling himself, he yanked the handle and walked in.
Wyatt waited while his eyes adjusted to the dim interior, then scanned the room, which was loaded with baseball paraphernalia, mostly Yankees in nature. The place wasn’t as big as he’d imagined based on his father’s description. A stage sat in the back of the narrow space, a lengthy traditional glossy wood bar on the right. Booths lined the left side, and tables filled the rest of the free space.
“Well, well, well. Look what the cat dragged in.”
Wyatt turned. A woman with long, straight, blond hair sat tapping her nails on the bar. His chest tightened when he recognized Zoe Richardson, the biggest snob he’d ever known, aside from her pretentious parents. Forcing himself to acknowledge her, he narrowed his gaze. “So nice to see you again.” He couldn’t hide the sarcasm in his voice. “Back in town visiting the parents?” He recalled she had moved to the east coast several years ago with her Wall Street guru husband, but her parents remained here. Generations of Richardsons had lived in Glengrove since the town formed back in the mid-eighteen-hundreds. Along with the Beaumonts, they owned the whole damned town.
“I moved back a couple of weeks ago.”
I, not we. Interesting.
She lifted a glass of white wine in a mock toast.
“Little early to be hitting the vino already, isn’t it?” Hell, it was only eleven in the morning.
She flashed a tight smile. “My my. So witty. Tell me, what’s brought Frankenstein out of the lab today?”
Uptight, pompous bitch. Wyatt held his chin high and forced himself to relax. He wouldn’t let her goad him into a reaction.
A tall, lanky man with bushy gray hair, in faded blue jeans and a Yankees T-shirt, ambled over. “Wyatt Leone?”
He nodded and grasped the older man’s outstretched hand. “You must be Chuck.”
“I am.”
Chuck gawked at Wyatt’s face. Wyatt swallowed hard, and refused to squirm under the scrutiny.
“Let’s sit down over here.” Chuck walked to a table and sat facing the back of the restaurant. “How’s your father?”
Wyatt let out the breath he’d been holding, relieved to focus on other matters. He chuckled and grabbed the chair opposite. “Driving my mother crazy. He’s chomping at the bit to get back to work.”
“He shouldn’t rush things. Take it from someone who knows. I overdid it and wound up back in the hospital after my heart attack.” He nodded when a waitress appeared and placed two menus in front of them. She leaned over and lit the candle in the center of the table.
His heart raced. Sweat poured out of him, and his fingers trembled. Wyatt sucked in a deep breath. It’s a friggin’ candle, for Christ’s sake. It’s not going to explode. He exhaled sharply, and clasped his hands together under the table to stop the shaking.
Chuck eyed him curiously. “You want a bite while we go over the wine inventory?”
Wyatt shook his head. “No thanks. I’m not hungry, but don’t let me stop you.”
Chuck patted the waitress on her behind. He grinned when she swatted his hand away. “Wyatt Leone, my wife, Sarah.”
Wyatt forced a smile and offered a steady hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”
She shook it. Eyes wide, Sarah stared at his face. “Ah…you too.”
“I’ll have a burger and fries, honey.”
Sarah nodded to her husband and left.
Wyatt sighed, and pulled his iPad from his computer bag. He placed it on the table, and called up the inventory spreadsheets.
The front door opened. A burst of light blinded him as someone walked in. A woman, judging by the silhouette, carrying something in her right hand.
“Maddie!” Zoe squealed.
Wyatt’s heart pounded faster than a freight train traveling at top speed. The door closed, and Maddie Scott-Smith came into focus. He stared. Couldn’t take his eyes off her. If possible, she was more beautiful now than the last time he’d seen her. Tall and slender, with curves in all the right places. Her long wavy brown hair had been cut to shoulder length. He liked the new style. It suited her high cheekbones and heart-shaped face.
Maddie turned toward the sound. Her lips curved up. Same smile, too. It could always light up even the gloomiest of days.
“Zoe.” Maddie waved with her free hand.
She came to see Zoe. He should have figured as much. She and Zoe had been best friends since high school. Now that Zoe was back in town…His gut twisted. Fool. He should have known. What an idiot he’d been to believe Maddie was different from any of the other females he’d known, other than his family. The sweet, loving woman who’d sworn his scars didn’t matter never really existed. She’d been a figment of his imagination. The real Maddie had latched on to better prospects the moment they’d come along.
Zoe rushed over and enveloped Maddie in a big hug. “I’m so glad you made it after all. Oh, look at this little angel. I’m so excited to finally meet him.”
Him. She’d had a son. Bryce Beaumont’s boy. A red haze filled his vision. To think he’d almost believed her when she’d come to him and divulged she was pregnant with his child. Like that could ever happen. She was engaged to Bryce, and the sob story about him blackmailing her into it was a load of crap that stunk worse than a skunk. Bryce Beaumont didn’t have to threaten anyone to get them to marry him. Why would he when a parade of women swarmed at his feet? Not to mention the massive trust fund he’d have access to in the near future. Well, at least Wyatt had learned the truth about Maddie before it was too late.
#
Maddie’s pulse soared. She chanced a quick glance at the man who’d caught her attention the moment she stepped in. Holy crap. Wyatt Leone sat large as life at a table a few short feet away. She averted her gaze. Self-conscious about his scars, he hated when people stared at him. Good grief, what was he doing here?
“I know.” Zoe gestured toward Wyatt. “We can go elsewhere if he bothers you.”
Her eyes widened. “B-bother me? Um, why would you say that?” Relax. She doesn’t know about Wyatt and me. Couldn’t. Zoe had lived in New York during the time they’d been together. “It’s not a problem.” Maddie Scott-Smith was made of stronger stuff. She wouldn’t let any man make her run and hide.
Zoe glared at Wyatt, and pointed to his face. “Well, being around him disturbs me.”
“I cannot believe you’d say such a thing,” she whispered. “Wyatt’s not a freak, he’s a human being. Survived an explosion. He can’t help the way he looks and—” Why am I defending him after the way he treated me? His foul accusations had cut her to the core when she’d confessed to being pregnant with their son.
“Oh please.” Zoe rolled her eyes. “I’m not saying anything your grandfather wouldn’t.”
Maddie shuddered. Gramps hated all the Leones, had since Johnny, Wyatt’s granddad, fired him as head vintner from Leone Estates twenty-five years ago. But, he loathed Wyatt with a conviction she didn’t understand. How could Gramps blame him for what happened all those years ago? Wyatt had only been eight when the explosion happened. Her heart ached for the little boy who’d suffered over the years. So much pain. Months in the hospital, countless surgeries, the skin grafts. And the emotional damage… A lump formed in her throat. Some wounds ran too deep to ever heal.
“Better not let George hear you talk that way. He’ll disown you.”
Maddie flinched, a heavy weight settling in her chest. Yes, he would. And that pretty much said it all, didn’t it? Stop it right now.
The hostess appeared and greeted them. “Table for two?”
She glanced at Zoe. “This place has the New York style cheesecake you love.”
Zoe arched a brow. “Is it good?”
Maddie grinned. “Best I’ve ever had.”
“Okay, we’ll stay.”
Maddie nodded to the hostess.
“This way.” The woman led them to a table in the middle of the room.
Zoe sat first, and Maddie pulled out the opposite chair. With a direct view of Wyatt. He peered over at her and then his gaze fell to the carrier in her hand.
That’s right, buddy, look what you gave up. Your beautiful son. Lord, what had she seen in him anyway? She closed her eyes. The caring, tender, loving man he’d been with her had been an illusion, an act he’d put on to get her into his bed. Fool. The real Wyatt Leone was hard as nails, uncompromising, and pig stubborn.
And the sexiest man she’d ever met. That lithe body, and, good Lord, what he could do to her with those big, strong hands and fabulous mouth… No, no, no. She wasn’t interested in Wyatt anymore. No way. No how.
Zoe folded her hands and put them on the table. “Speaking of George, how’s he doing?”
A tear pricked in the corner of Maddie’s eye and she wiped it away. If only she’d known the persistent cough he’d suffered last year was due to the tumor growing inside him. Lung cancer. She couldn’t believe it. Gramps didn’t even smoke. She should never have taken off to San Francisco. How could she have believed she’d be happy there?
“Today was a good day, and he’s still convinced he’ll beat this.” Maddie prayed he would. She couldn’t fathom life without him. Didn’t want to be alone in this world.
“Rumor has it you’ve taken over at the winery now that he’s in the hospital.”
Maddie let out a loud snort. Glengrove thrived on local gossip. “Yes.”
“I’m surprised George didn’t insist on running things from his hospital bed.”
She let out a nervous laugh. He’d done just that, and Maddie had had to beg him to give her this chance. She shook off the resentment lodged in her throat. It wasn’t easy for Gramps to relinquish control. To anyone. He lived and breathed Scott Hill. Had since the day he convinced Grams to buy the rundown parcel of land. And his twenty-odd years of hard work had paid off in spades. His beloved winery produced some of the best wines in the region today.
“I don’t know why you’re bothering. George will never let you take over for good.”
He might if she could prove her worth. Which she’d damned well do. Scott Hill pulsed deep inside her. As necessary for life as the blood that coursed through her veins, and the air she breathed. And Maddie wanted her shot at making the vineyard even more successful. She’d make Gramps proud. “You never know.”
Zoe arched up one brow. “If you say so.”
“I do.” Zoe, and everyone else would see.
“So, how are the wedding plans coming? Bryce is quite a catch. He’ll be worth a pretty penny once he gets access to that gorgeous, magnificent trust fund of his.”
Maddie gasped. When had Zoe become so shallow? She didn’t give a damn about the money. Bryce Beaumont was a Class A jerk, and an ass to boot. Her blood pressure soared every time she contemplated his threats to tell her grandfather about her relationship with Wyatt. If Gramps found out… She started to shake. No. It wouldn’t happen. Wyatt wanted nothing to do with her or Jacob and that was fine. “About the wedding…”
“What about it?”
“There won’t be one.” She’d only agreed to the engagement to keep Bryce silent, and because it had made Gramps happy. How sneaky of the swine to go to her grandfather first, get his blessing, and then threaten her if she didn’t comply. If only Gramps knew the real Bryce he wouldn’t have been as keen on the idea.
“No way! Why not?”
She gave a casual shrug. “It didn’t work out.”
Zoe’s mouth fell open. “The man is smokin’ hot and loaded. What’s to work out?”
Maddie’s eyes widened. “You’re getting divorced, remember? Mr. Sinfully-Gorgeous- Richer-Than-Warren-Buffet cheated on you.”
Zoe grinned. “I’m getting a huge settlement out of the deal.”
Maddie shook her head. What was wrong with the woman? “It’s not about his looks or the money for me. I want to be happy. When I get married, I want it to last.” Had Zoe always been like this? Why hadn’t she ever noticed it before?
Zoe let out an obnoxious tinkling laugh. “Whatever, but I think you’re crazy.”
Jacob snuffled. Maddie shifted her attention to him.
“What about him?” Zoe pointed to the car carrier. “What’s Bryce got to say about the baby?”
“Nothing. Bryce isn’t his father.”
“What?” Zoe shrieked, her eyes bugging out of her head.
Maddie gave a casual shrug. At least she hoped the gesture came across that way. She didn’t want Zoe to notice her unease. Stick as close to the truth as possible. “I was involved with someone before I agreed to the engagement, and he wasn’t interested in being Jacob’s dad.”
Jacob made a little gurgling sound. Maddie glanced at him. He opened his eyes and stared up at her. She smiled. “Hello precious. You didn’t sleep as long as I’d hoped.” She unbuckled the harness and lifted him out.
“Can I hold him, please?” Zoe whispered.
Maddie looked up. Zoe stared at the baby, awe and longing glittering in her gaze. What in the world? She’d never have guessed Zoe liked children based on her self-serving attitude. She handed her son over.
A smile lit Zoe’s gamine face. “Oh, he’s so darned cute. Look at those big brown, I mean green…wait a minute.” Her voice grew louder. “Oh, my gosh. Are his eyes two different colors?”
A cough and sputter filled the air. Maddie jerked her head up to see what had happened. Wyatt’s molten gaze landed on her.
Oh shit. Time to beat a hasty retreat. Maddie glared at him, and then turned back to face Zoe. “Yes. They’re two different colors.” Just like his father’s.