Adrenaline

?re late, asshole.”

Shutting the door behind him, he laughed and reached for my hand, giving me a quick shake. “The only person here is you so I’m not late. You try moving your pregnant wife and a son who can’t sit still for five minutes from North Carolina to Texas.”

“Stop being a pussy.”

Emmit dropped into a seat and shook his head. “I fucking can’t wait until you have a baby.” A grin appeared on his face as he let out a dry laugh. “Is it wrong if I start going to bed at night and pray you have triplets and all girls?”

My heart dropped as I pointed to him. “Fucker. Don’t be praying for shit like that!”

The door to the conference room opened and Mr. and Mrs. Russell walked in along with two lawyers. Emmit and I both stood and shook hands all around. As we took a seat, Mrs. Russell gave me a sweet smile.

“So, the two of you want to take over our family vineyard?”

With a nod of our heads, I replied, “Yes, ma’am.”

Mr. Russell leaned back in his chair and looked between the two of us. “Now, Malcolm, you’ve been coming to our place since you were a little boy. I remember you following me around in the barn talking my ear off about how you were going to take over my job and have a much better go at it.”

My face was suddenly hot. “I . . . I forgot about that.”

Mr. Russell smiled. “I haven’t. I also haven’t forgotten the countless times you walked through the vineyard because you said it helped settle your thoughts. You’re comfortable in the environment and I have no doubt you won’t take what my great granddaddy started and continue to make it thrive.”

He turned his attention to Emmit, who promptly squirmed in his seat. “Now you, son, I don’t understand. You enjoy wine?”

Emmit replied, “Yes, sir, very much.”

“I heard you took a trip to Europe to tour some vineyards and spent some time in the hill country touring some newer vineyards.”

“Yes, I did. I enjoyed the trips immensely. It was very educational.”

Mr. Russell nodded his head and looked at his wife before turning his attention back to us. “What are your plans, boys? Are you going to turn it into a tourist trap and have people traipsing all through our family’s beloved home?

Emmit and I both sat up straighter as I spoke first. “No, sir. Not at all. Our intentions are to keep the vineyard as it is, selling to the local wineries. We have no desire to get into the winemaking business, but we would like to expand beyond the vineyard and try new things.”

His eyebrows rose. “Expand?”

Clearing his throat, Emmit said, “The ranch that backs up to the vineyard is rumored to be getting ready to go on the market. Malcolm and I would like to make them an offer and look into staring an olive orchard. My wife loves to cook and is obsessed with olive oil. It would be more of her baby to get that up and running.”

Mrs. Russell smiled. “I love that idea and think it is amazing to see your wife taking such an interest as she is.”

Emmit beamed with pride.

Mr. Russell lifted his hand and his lawyer slid a file over toward our lawyer.

“Everything is as exactly as we agreed upon. The suits here have both looked it over and if you’re both ready, we are ready to sign on the dotted line.”

Emmit and I looked at each other. Who would have imagined that two years ago we were trying to run each other off the racetrack and exchanging insults, and today we’re purchasing a vineyard and another ranch if all works out.

Glancing over to Emmit, he nodded his head as I smiled and looked back at my old friend. “Where do we sign?”

Walking into the kitchen, I smiled at the sight in front of me. Paislie was holding Landon as Clarisse and Adaline were both gathered around the stove cooking something.

I couldn’t pull my eyes away from Paislie as she danced and sang while Landon laughed. I’d never experienced such an overwhelming love before as I looked adoringly at my future.

“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say that was a look of man who sees his future right in front of him.”

Warmth radiated throughout my body as Paislie’s eyes caught mine. When she smiled, I swear the earth shook. “I do believe you’re right on this one, Lewis.”

With a chuckle, he slapped my back and said, “Welcome to my world, buddy.”