Page 59 of A New Year In The Presidential Suite

“I love this place,” said Griff. “That’s something some people don’t understand. They see the money we make from it, and that’s all they're interested in. Not the work or the challenge of it.”

“Cassandra?” asked Lori, remembering how exhausted and hurt Griff had seemed when they first met.

“Yes. She and a couple of others. My grandparents worked together planting the first of the vines and every year after, even when they hired help. That is what formed this successful vineyard today.”

“And Pete will be part of it?” asked Lori.

“Yes. We’re like brothers, and though I’ll have a majority ownership in it, Pete will own part of the vineyard one day too.”

“He seems likable, though I don’t think his mother cares for his girlfriend,” said Lori.

Griff laughed. “Sarita and a friend of hers have arranged for the friend’s daughter to visit us soon. Sarita is convinced she’s the perfect girl for Pete. She says she knows all about soulmates.”

“Interesting. Sarita seems like a very sensible woman,” said Lori. She liked Sarita’s openness and her devotion to Sam and the vineyard.

Griff smiled. “We’ll see what Cristina is like. She might even arrive here before you leave. Is there any way you can stay longer than next Sunday?”

“I don’t know,” Lori said. “It depends on what’s going on at the school.”

“Well, let’s enjoy this week, and we’ll see what happens,” said Griff. He set down his bottle of beer on the end table and turned to her. “Thanks. I’d better go. We get up early around here.”

He stood and pulled her up beside him. “When you’re ready, ask me to stay,” he said. “I don’t want to ruin anything by rushing you.”

Lori let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. “Thanks for that. I love our connection and want to get to know you better.”

“Me, too,” he said, nuzzling her neck and then giving her a long kiss that told her he wanted to stay as much as she wanted him to.

But she knew tonight wasn’t the night.

She walked him to the door and lifted her face for another kiss. “One more.”

Delighted, he grinned and tugged her to him, lowering his lips to hers, allowing the kiss to linger before they reluctantly pulled apart.

Lori stood in the doorway and watched him walk up the hill, the light from the lantern becoming smaller and smaller.

She closed the door and leaned up against it, reliving the kisses in her mind. This is what she’d been waiting for.

###

The next morning, she prepared for the day, quickly scrambled an egg, and fixed herself a piece of toast and a cup of coffee. She might not be working in the fields today, but she knew she’d be busy.

When she arrived at the house, Griff and Pete were sitting in the kitchen, sipping coffee and discussing paperwork.

Pete winked at her as Griff jumped to his feet. “ ’Morning. I hope you slept well.”

“Thank you. I did,” said Lori. “There’s something about doing physical labor that helps you sleep at night.”

“Have a seat. Do you want some coffee?”

“No, thanks,” Lori said, sitting at the kitchen table.

“Pete and I are reviewing numbers from winery sales,” explained Griff. “There’s room for improvement. Because most of our wine is contracted far ahead of time, we don’t have the volume of wine to sell that others may have. But you and Rosie are right. It’s time to sell a lot more than wine. Rosie is meeting us at the winery.”

“And I’m making sure progress is being made in the fields,” said Pete, rising. “I’ll catch up with you two later on. You'd best let Sam know what’s happening, Griff. And I don’t mean with the winery.” He winked at Lori and left the room.

Lori faced Griff with flaming cheeks. “Was he talking about us?”

“Yeah. I can’t hide anything from him,” said Griff. “But he’s right. I’ve got to be upfront with Grandad. Especially now that he knows about the game Kayla and I have been playing.”