Page 29 of The Very Virile Viking

"I am a farmer. There are many similarities betwixt farmers and grape growers. Both depend on earth, sun, rain, love of the land… luck." He shrugged. "It is what I do."

"You're not an actor?"

"What is an act-whore?"

"Please don't play these games with me."

He gazed at her with absolute sincerity.

"If you aren't an actor, what were you doing on a movie set? Why are you here, then?"

"You… I think." He took one of her hands in his. The sharp contrast between his huge hand and her much smaller one was startling. She should have been repelled, but instead she felt a strange thrill at the difference. "You are the reason I am here in this country."

"I beg your pardon," she squeaked out. Despite all logic and all her best instincts… despite everything she knew about good-looking men and their lines… despite all that, her heart began to beat madly.

"Wait here. I want to show you something." He got up and walked out of the kitchen and into the living room. She was too upset by the idea of his not being an actor even to notice his state of undress. When he came back, he was carrying a small framed photograph that had been sitting on her mantel. "Who is this person?"

She cocked her head to the side. There was an ominous buzzing in her head, and it wasn't due to the wine, either. Something important was about to happen… she just knew it.

"It's my grandmother, Rose. Why do you ask?"

"By your leave, m'lady, she is the one who called me here."

A glass of wine later…

Angela waited till Magnus had gone off to bed again and, bolstered by another glass of wine, she dialed the cordless phone that sat on the table before her.

"Grandma? Sorry to call you so late. Were you asleep?"

"No, honey. The older I get, the more trouble I have sleeping soundly at night."

Angela knew the insomnia was mostly due to her grandmother missing her grandfather, who had been gone these past five years.

"Actually, I was reading in bed. The latest Maeve Binchy." Grandma seemed to catch herself then. With concern in her voice, she asked, "Is something wrong?"

"No, I just wanted to tell you that the movie people will be there next Thursday."

"Ah, that's good. Did Mr. Nolan meet your price?"

"He might go up to seven hundred thousand."

She could hear her grandmother's gasp over the phone line. "You are a wonder woman, Angela. How is that possible?"

"It's complicated. We can discuss the details when I see you in person."

"You're coming with the film people?"

"I'll be there, all right. Actually, that's the real reason I called… and the reason Darrell Nolan is being so accommodating. He wants a favor… from you."

"Uh-oh. I can hear the nervousness in your voice."

"Can I come out to the Blue Dragon tomorrow and stay for a few days—" she started to say, all in a rush.

"Angela! Of course you can come, anytime. Why would you even ask?"

"I wasn't finished."

"Oops, sorry."