“What about the eldest female if she’s the oldest sibling?”
“Not in my archaic family, even if she’s the most qualified.”
“That leaves your sister out. How does she feel about it?”
“I’ll leave that to your imagination.”
“For what it’s worth, I think your family is lucky with you at the helm. Thanks to you they still have their legacy and have survived, even after passing through such a terrible harvest.”
He flicked her a burning glance. “I can’t wait to get you home.”
The impact of those words sent a thrill through her body. “Raoul—the daughter of the man I sat next to tonight, Solange, kept staring at me with hostile eyes. I’m not making it up.”
“I know you’re not.”
Abby struggled to find the right words. “I can only assume she wished she’d been with you tonight.”
They left the hotel for home. “One of these days she’ll find the right man.”
But Solange wanted Raoul.
“What’s going on in your mind?”
“Nothing specific.” Which wasn’t true.
“That’s the first lie you’ve told me. Tell me what’s bothering you.
“Was it accidental that we sat right next to the Godard family?”
“No. The Wine Association plans these regional dinners and they always place the head domaine owners at the same table. It’s a tradition I’d love to see abolished, but it’s not my decision.”
Abby noticed they were headed back to the estate. “Solange’s father gave off an unsettling aura of hostility too.”
“He’s hoping I’ll propose to her. There’s nothing he’d rather see than a marriage between his domaine and ours. I knew which way the wind was blowing a year ago. That’s why he brought her to the dinner tonight. When you and I sat down at the table, he came close to having a coronary.”
“Good heavens—” she cried. “Does everyone have an agenda?”
“Not my grandparents. After we reach the cottage, I’ll explain my reasons.”
Her breath caught. “Do you think that’s a good idea?”
His face closed up. “The entire region is aware that there’s a new woman in my life. An American woman no less, one who knows nothing about vineyards and doesn’t speak French except for a few words like absolument, chasselas and Saint des Saints.”
She lowered her head.
“Now that I’ve gotten my duties out of the way, I’m planning to concentrate on you. You’re the only thing of real importance to me. I don’t want to waste a moment of our precious time together.”
“But to go to your private home—”
“Abby—it must have occurred to you by now that I don’t want you to leave.” He reached for her hand and kissed the palm. The gesture melted her to the core.
“Surely you realize I’m asking you to spend the night with me. I’ve wanted you from the very first moment we met.” I’ve wanted you too, Raoul. “I need to feel you in my arms and hold you. But if you don’t feel that way about me, then I don’t want you to be uncomfortable. All you have to do is tell me.”
Abby was listening. He was the most honorable man she’d ever known. The way his marriage had ended so cruelly had left him grief stricken and she understood his needs.
She had needs too. Abby knew deep in her soul that Raoul would always be the great love of her life. If she gave in to her desires for a night of temporary rapture, it would ruin her for other men. To go back to California and pine for Raoul for the rest of her life was unthinkable. She couldn’t put herself through that kind of hell.
Don’t let it go any further, Abby.