“Weber Vineyards is one of the most modern wineries in southern California,” the tour guide told them as she led them around the inside of the building.“It uses four small batch bladder presses in combination with a high-output continuous press system to produce over a thousand gallons of wine per year.”
The woman then told them about the software that controlled the entire process, from the blending of the grapes to the air pressure used to inflate the rubber bladders that crushed the juice from the fruit.While Darwin found the detailed description interesting, he had to admit it was the table of snacks at the far end of the room.Yeah, there were also dozens of bottles of wine there, too, but seriously, he could do without that.
It was official.The whole vineyard experience was wasted on him.But the food he could handle.
“I’m going to get us something to eat,” he whispered to Katrina.
She smiled and nodded.“Sounds good.”
He was skirting along the wall lined with floor-to-ceiling shiny, stainless steel pressing equipment when he heard two voices in the midst of a heated conversation.They were tucked back among the winery equipment, obviously trying to avoid being overheard.So much for that plan.
“Are you threatening me?”Rhett demanded, his tone hard.
“Not at all,” the other man said.Unfortunately, Darwin couldn’t see who it was.Nor did he recognize the voice.Maybe Silas or Harold?“I’m only saying that trying to back out of the deal we’ve already signed is stupid.I don’t care how much money we’ll make if we aren’t around to spend all that cash.”
It sounded like Rhett and the other men were involved in a shady deal and were now contemplating doing something that’d make them more money, not to mention might get them killed.
His earlier comment about finance being a dangerous business might not be as offhanded as he thought.
Darwin hoped for Katrina and her family’s sake that Rhett didn’t do anything stupid.
Chapter six
“Whatarewelookingfor again?”Darwin asked Katrina as they wandered around the back of the resort, slipping in and out of the nearest row of grape trellises.“Somewhere around searching the golf cart barn and the valet stand, I forgot.”
“A small potted plant with red leaves,” Katrina said with a sigh as she used the flashlight on her cell phone to refer to the clue list they’d been given at the start of the scavenger hunt.That was an hour ago, back when this evening still had the potential to be fun.But whoever came up with this list of clues must be laughing because they’d barely found anything.“The clue is pretty much worthless, though.Look for the plant where it should be, but where you’ll never think to look.”
Darwin made a face.“What the heck does any of that even mean?Maybe we should skip this one and look for the next thing on the list.”
“I have no idea what it means.”Katrina studied the list again, counting the check marks she’d placed beside the items they’d already located and taken pictures of, depressed by how few there were.“As far as skipping this one and moving to the next, I don’t think they’ll be any easier to find.And honestly, I’m not sure I want to try that hard.”
“What, you’re not eager to win that all-expense paid weekend at your family’s resort?”he asked with a chuckle, taking her hand and starting to walk again.
Katrina laughed, leading him off the walkway toward a wooden bench positioned with a view of the rolling hills filled with grape trellises.Well, it would have had a view, if it wasn’t so dark out tonight.“I wouldn’t have minded winning because if we did, I thought we could give the prize to Talia and Lennox.Mostly, I figured we’d have some fun hanging out.”
Darwin took a seat on the bench beside her, one arm coming up to gently wrap around her shoulders.“Hanging out sounds good to me.”
Katrina snuggled a little deeper into his embrace, enjoying the warmth of his body heat as they sat there in the cool evening air.
“When you said we’d be spending the whole week taking part in organized fun and games, I thought you were joking, but after the vineyard tour this morning and the scavenger hunt tonight, I guess you weren’t,” he said softly, leaning back on the bench and gazing at the moon where it was just starting to peek out over the tops of the rolling hills.“It makes me wonder if this is how you see your wedding someday.”
“Definitely not,” she said, part of her wondering if Darwin was asking because he was collecting information for a later date.“I’ve always wanted a small wedding with family and friends.”
He was quiet as he considered that.“Beverly might take a page out of Maria’s book and want you to get married at Legoland.”
“Probably,” Katrina laughed.“You okay with having a wedding at Legoland?”
She didn’t realize what she’d said until the words were out of her mouth.Did she just imply it was a given they were getting married?
But Darwin didn’t even bat an eye.“For sure.Who wouldn’t want to get married there?By the way, was that you proposing?”
Katrina sat there with her jaw hanging open, knowing she looked foolish, but absolutely unable to do anything about it.
“Um,” she finally managed, not helping herself at all.
The way Darwin was looking at her made her think he was genuinely waiting for her to announce she wanted to marry him.
“I’m just messing with you.”Darwin flashed her a sexy grin.“I know this is technically only our second date and that any talk about marriage is more than a little premature.But just so you know, I’m not as terrified as your typical bachelor at the idea of getting married.And I’m not scared to see where this is going with you.”
