“No, Gavin. You didn’t,” I say, knowing he must be battling with his emotions like me. The sight of Louis makes me sick.
“I guess I should call them a taxi,” Gavin says, standing up.
As he looks up for taxi service on his phone, I see from the window, Paul throwing up his hands and yelling at his nephew.
A minute later, after Gavin schedules a taxi, Paul and Louis return to the dining room.
Louis’s head hangs low while his uncle forces a smile on his face.
“Look, Gavin and Ivy, I’m truly sorry. Louis told me what really happened last night just now. Please accept my sincere apology.”
I glance at Gavin, not knowing what to say. Gavin’s jaw tightens again. “I cannot forgive him, Paul, but I accept your apology.”
“I understand, thank you,” Paul nods at us, and then he says to Gavin, “Is that the reason you don’t want to sell the vineyard to us?”
Gavin pauses. “It’s part of the reasons,” he says.
Paul smiles. “I’ll tell you what. I’ll offer you twenty million.”
Two million more than the asking price! My eyes widen as I look at Gavin. Although inexperienced, I sense this is a good offer.
Gavin shakes his head. “Paul, thank you for the generous offer. But I have other reasons. As I said, I realized the vineyard meant a lot to me. I won’t sell it to you or anyone else.”
Paul takes a deep breath, pauses for a moment, and nods. “D’accord. I understand.” He puts out a hand for Gavin to shake. “But if you change your mind, please let me know.”
“Sure,” Gavin nods. “I called you a cab earlier, and it’ll arrive shortly.”
“It won’t be necessary,” Paul says. “I’ll cancel my flight. I’ll visit another vineyard. It’s my plan B.”
Gavin doesn’t look surprised. “Very well,” he says, smiling.
Chapter 17
Gavin
After Paul and Louis leave, we decide to stay at the vineyard for one more day. I take Ivy with me for a horseback ride among the fields. Holding her in front of me, I’m thrilled like a young man of twenty. Just a few days ago, I thought I had reached the point of my life where excitement ceased. I was a mountain climber who’d reached the summit and started going downhill. The scenery on my returning path would be familiar and every action stale. All I would do was to stay healthy and safe, and do my job like a machine while life slowly closed its doors.
And yet now. Wow. A new door opens, and a new path presents itself to me. There are endless possibilities ahead, waiting for me to explore. All thanks to Ivy, my angel.
I can’t help but nuzzle her hair, inhaling her delicious scent. As I nibble her ear, she turns to meet my lips with hers, and I groan as I touch her soft, moist flesh. I press my hardened center against her waist as my hand slip from her belly to between her thighs.
She gasps as she wriggles on horseback. “Oh, Gavin. You’d better stop! I’m gonna fall!”
“No, sweetheart,” I assure her. “I won’t let it happen.”
But I put a check on my lust, not wanting to frighten her.
We stop from time to time to check the crops and speak to the workers in the fields.
“Are they picking the grapes already?” Ivy asks me. “Isn’t it too early? The fruits are so tiny!”
“They’re thinning the clusters,” I tell her. “They cut off the clusters to ensure the size and quality of the remaining fruits.”
“Oh,” she says with a nod and a frown. “Isn’t it a waste?”
“Not really. The ones remain will grow larger and sweeter.”
She nods again. “It makes sense. When will the harvest season begin?”
“In about two months,” I say. “We’ll pick the white grapes first, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, etc., starting in the middle of August, and then Merlot, Cabernet and the other red ones in late September.”
“Awesome!” she says with a bright smile. “I’ll be here!”
Her enthusiasm delights me again. It’s all I can do not to kiss her in front of my employees.
On our way back to the stable, I decide I’ll start building a winery right away. I have no reason to postpone the project any longer.
“I wish I majored in viticulture instead!” Ivy comments as we stop in front of the stable.
I get off the horse and then lift her up under her armpits like a baby and set her in front of me. “You don’t need a degree to work for me,” I say as I smooth her hair while gazing into her sparkling blue eyes. “I’ll teach you everything you need to know. How to grow grapes, make wine, taste wine…”
“I can’t wait to get started with everything!” she says as she wraps my neck with her arms and kisses my lips. “You’re so knowledgeable, Gavin. I like it. What else do you plan to teach me?”
I groan, knowing she isn’t talking about any vineyard business anymore. My hand slides to cup her soft bottom through her jeans. “I’ll let you know in just a second, my little temptress.” My voice comes out low and gruff.
She whimpers. “Let’s go back to the chateau,” she whispers.
“Good idea,” I say. “Let me put the horse back to its stall first.”
As soon as I take the holster off the horse and close the door of the stall, I drag her out of the stable, fighting my impulse to push her into an empty stall and fuck her like an animal on the straw bedding. Shit. I’ve gone insane!
The distance from the stable to the chateau never felt so long. I have to stop from time to time to touch her and to kiss her.
The chateau's white walls have never looked more beautiful than the moment they appear in front of us. I fix my eyes on the window at the south end of the second floor and my cock jolts. It was a depressing location to me for many years, but after last night, it’s become my sweet home.
I lean to kiss Ivy’s head, hardly able to contain my excitement. Just before we get to the building, a woman, tall and a bit plump, steps out of the main entrance. My heart flops.
Her hair is cropped into a pixie cut and dyed red, and she’s wearing a dress unfamiliar to me, but it’s her. Diana.
What the hell is she doing here?
Ivy gasps, too, recognizing my ex-wife. She attempts to slip out of my arm, but I grasp her shoulder and press her tight against me.
Diana’s mouth twitches for a smile the moment we stop in front of her. She glances between Ivy and me as if trying to decide the nature of our relationship. It isn’t hard to tell, is it?
Her lips twitch, squeezing a smile. Finally, she focuses her eyes on me. “Hi, Gavin.”
“Hi Diana, what are you doing here?” I say.
Her smile fades. “I’m here to see you. I’ve missed you.”
“Oh, what a surprise,” I say truthfully. She changed her number after our divorce finalized and hasn’t even called once.
“Is that Ivy?” Diana asks as she looks at Ivy haughtily. “Wow, you’re not a little girl anymore.”
“Hi Diana. How are you?” Ivy’s voice sounds squeaky, betraying her nervousness.