Wine, Tarts & Sex

Twenty-eight

“Sorry about the flash drive, baby,” Roman said, watching Leo’s hired guns walk away down the drive, concerned that they might have detoured to the riding ring at the barn. “I’ll get their license plate number and have them stopped.”

“Like I’m so stupid I only have one.”

Roman spun around. “You’re shittin’ me.”

“Now why would I do that?” Janie said with a smile. “I have two more copies.”

So much for a license plate number, Roman thought, giving her a thumbs-up. “Way to go. You fooled the hell out of me.”

“I knew I couldn’t make it look too easy, or they’d be suspicious. I apologize for putting you and Jake in danger. But I had to make it look real.” She smiled. “After those goons bring their prize back to Leo, I can hardly wait for his gloating phone call.”

“I don’t want to rain on your parade, Janie, but a man like Leo Rolf isn’t going to suffer defeat kindly. You’ll have more visitors once the bad news makes it to New York. I think everyone should clear out for a while.”

Roman nodded. “Jake’s right. Don’t look so surprised, baby. Leo’s life is at stake, and he knows it. Between jail and you, it’s no contest.”

“My aunt has a cabin not too far from here,” Jake said. “No one’s used it for years. It doesn’t have a connection to any of us. We could go there.”

“Sounds good,” Roman said with a done-deal decisiveness. “Then in a few days, we’ll check in with Leo. Boy Scout that I am, I just happen to have my rerouting equipment with me. We can call him from-say-Rio or Tokyo. That should keep him from sending anyone here again.”

“You’re so clever, darling.” Janie gave him an affectionate look. “But could we call him from Paris? Leo knows I adore Paris.”

Roman shrugged. “Wherever. You name it.”

“And you’re a darling, Jake, to offer us safe haven,” Janie said effusively, her spirits high. “I won’t have to worry a second about Matt. Although Leo’s priorities seem to be his bank account first. The awful men weren’t even interested in Matt-thank God! So, let’s see… I’ll quickly check on Matt, then I’ll come back and pack. Oh, dear.” Janie frowned. “What about Liv? She’s not going to want to leave her gardening or… grapes or whatever. She’s out there working from morning to night.”

“We’ll explain. She’ll understand.” Roman shot a look at Jake and grinned. “Or rather, you’ll explain. Here’s where the rubber meets the road. Are you a smooth talker or what? You’d better be, ’cause it’s up to you to convince her.”

For a flashing moment Jake debated saying, None of this is my problem. “I’ll do my best,” he said instead, overcome by a curious sense of right-minded justice. Leo Rolf was long overdue for a smack-down and-what the hell-why not lend a hand?

Roman nodded at Jake. “There’s no doubt in my mind you can do it. Hey, Janie, tell Matt he can go swimming every day,” he said, as she began moving away. His gaze swung to Jake again. “There’s swimming there, right?”

“It’s a spring-fed lake. The swimming’s good.”

“Perfect!” Janie waved. “I’ll be back in a minute. This summer’s turning out to be really, really fun!”

“You gotta give her credit,” Jake murmured as Janie walked away. “She’s not easily intimidated. Even by wiseguys.”

“She’s one tough lady,” Roman agreed proudly. “Leo’s got his hands full this go round.”

“Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy,” Jake sarcastically replied. “Now to talk Liv into leaving. She’s not going to want to.”

“Speaking of leaving, I didn’t think you were coming back.”

“I wasn’t planning to.”

“But?”

“What can I say? Lust trumps logic every time.”

“There’s no women in town?”

Jake made a wry face. “Don’t even go there.”

Roman put up his hands. “Forget I said anything. Bottom line though, we’re in debt to your libidinous urges. It saved our asses.”

“Almost saved your asses. Janie was the one who came through.”

Roman grinned. “She played that little shell game to the hilt, didn’t she? Leo’s gonna be pissed when he finds out he’s got zero for leverage.”

“By the time he figures it out, you’d better have the drawbridge up. He’s one cold-hearted prick.”

“You know him?”

“Nah-but I saw him in action once years ago. I was touring Asian restaurants with some friends. We were at a bar in Bangkok, and there was Leo buying himself a young boy. Since Rolf’s face had been splashed all over the papers back home with his divorce from that Goldman Sachs high flyer, I recognized him. The kid was terrified. It was grim. How in hell can he con so many women into marrying him?”

“It’s his money they’re marrying. Although, I’m not sure about Janie. According to her, he was actually real nice for almost a year.”

“Fucking sociopath.”

“And that’s the good part,” Roman muttered. “He’s corrupt to the core. Not that I can profess to piety or virtue. People don’t hire me to help their grannies cross the street.”

“You changed your mind about taking down Janie, though.”

Roman shrugged. “I probably wasn’t ever planning on following Leo’s instructions. You should see the equipment I brought along.” He smiled. “Need anyone wire-tapped?”

“I wish I did, with an offer like that,” Jake quipped. Then he blew out a breath. “I suppose I’d better go find Liv and give her the bad news.”

“That you’re back or that she has to leave?” Roman looked amused.

“Probably both. And the problem is, I’m not good at kissing ass.”

Roman gave him a sportive look. “Doesn’t it depend on how much you want what you want?”

Jake laughed. “Okay, so I’m gonna kiss ass.”

“Good idea.” Roman’s brows flickered. “Who knows? If you play your cards right, she might reciprocate.”

Jake held up his hands, fingers crossed. “I guess that’s what I’m here for. Mutual, reciprocal fun and games.”

“Best reason in the world to drive this far.” Roman gave Jake a finger-gun salute. “Good luck.”

Twenty-nine

Jake walked to the hill behind the farmhouse to survey the acres of rolling terrain that constituted Liv’s vineyard. The field to the south had three work crews cultivating the grapes, the field to the east was being irrigated by huge sprinklers, the vines to the north at first seemed devoid of workers. Until he caught a glimpse of Liv’s pale hair glistening in the sun.

She and a man in a baseball cap were at the far end of the field hoeing, the rhythmic rise and fall of their hoes evidence of seasoned hands.

It always amazed him that Liv worked the fields like her crews. He didn’t actually know any women who’d take on that degree of physical labor. Not that women chefs in his kitchens weren’t equal to men when it came to diligence and energy, but farm work seemed different somehow, requiring another kind of strength and stamina reminiscent of a simpler life he’d never experienced. All this fresh air and sunshine was far removed from the