6

NIRVANA

Knight Blackwell was only in a formal white shirt, sleeves rolled over his elbows, showing off those huge muscles and veins. He matched it with dark pants but clearly knew he could pull it off effortlessly.

He was massive and taller up-closed, and he looked unbelievably attractive, not to mention his neat quiff cinnamon brown hair, full lips, straight nose, and the dark stubble covering his hard jawline made him look like he was ready to seal the billion-dollar deal for tonight.

I couldn’t call myself petite with my height of five foot and seven inches, but he made me look dainty before him.

“Nirvana.” His expressive green eyes met mine. His voice was pleasing with a husky rumble that he didn’t want anyone to hear. He somehow didn’t look pissed off than this morning, but he wasn’t happy either.

A gasp escaped from my throat. My cheeks burned, realizing he was already standing before me. He was close enough that I could see the flecks of light green in his dark forest-green irises. And he just caught me checking him out.

“Just Vana.” I offered my hand even if he didn’t. I cleared my throat when it somehow dried up. “Nice to finally meet you, Mr. Blackwell.”

He pulled out a hand from his pocket and shook my hand firmly and briefly as if he could get cold or get electrocuted when he held my hand a little longer. I still felt the jolt of electricity in that evanescent moment.

I heard a chuckle, and it definitely came from Kailin.

Disappointed filled my chest. I didn’t know why. I didn’t know this guy, but I felt strange feelings when he was around.

“Knight is fine. Welcome to my humble home.”

“Thank you. Knight.”

“Kaleb.” That was all. He left and went to the head of the dining table.

Kailin and I followed. The guys began occupying the chairs. I sat beside Kailin before the big bad wolf while my heart was still hammering.

I couldn’t help but steal glances at him and everyone around who wasn’t properly introduced besides McKaye, Zander, and Kaleb. The rest were still strangers to me.

The dinner was served with a five-course menu.

“I’m Luka,” said the late twenties guy with darker skin sitting next to my left.

“Vana.” I smiled at him.

“How do you like the vineyards so far?”

“I haven’t been to the vineyards, but I’m excited to see the harvesting, processing, and the tasting room.”

“I can tour you around,” said the dirty blond college boy from this morning.

“Oh. I saw you this morning,” said the college boy, who had a bloody shirt but didn’t look hurt or have bruises on his face anymore.

“I’m West. The handsome of the twins.”

Just a clearing of the throat from Knight felt like a command, silencing everyone.

“We have guests coming over in two days for the tasting. Sometimes we’re short of staff. You can join us and get a commission for every bottle you can sell.” The woman with straight brown hair smiled.

“That sounds fun. Count me in,” I replied excitedly.

“That’s Heartley,” Kailin introduced her to me. “She’s the daughter of our family doctor, Dr. Duncan Shaw.”

“I sent the bottle you asked to Cadogan,” McKaye told Knight, who seemed bored in his chair.

“Thank you, Mac.”

“I received another email from Califf. The distributors like the Cabernet more. That’s the bestsellers, Alpha.”

“Alpha?” I turned to McKaye.

There was a long silence in the dining room before Knight replied, “They call me alpha because I boss them around. I got the name in college.” It suited him.

“I see. Mind if I ask how did you get into the winery business?” I particularly asked Knight, but the dining room went eerily silent again, without a breath or a single sound from the cutlery. “Sorry. I should have gone to the internet and checked the website.”

“This has been a family business for three generations. My grandfather started only ten hectares of vineyard. He only sold his Cabernet in the farmer’s market until a rich buyer tasted his wine. The man offered my grandfather a partnership, but he refused. It wasn’t easy. It took years and years of blood and sweat before the Blackwell Winery came to the local and state markets.”

“That’s beautiful and inspiring.” I smiled warmly. Something deep within my chest lightened up.

“How about you? What’s your story?” Kaleb asked.

“My grandpa owns a small restaurant. Some rich men offered to buy it, particularly the place, but Grandpa refused because of his loyal customers. He said this may mean nothing to them, but for me, this is my life. I sent you to school because of this restaurant, and I will keep this running until the day I die.”

“Wow. He sounds like a good man,” Heartley said.

“He is,” Kailin affirmed.

“Where are your folks from?” Heartley was a sweetheart. She sipped his wine.

“I grew up in the city, but my mother’s side is from Portland.”

“What about your parents?”

I looked at Kaleb. It still hurt a lot, no matter how many years had passed after losing both parents. “They died in a car crash.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry, Vana.” His hand came to my wrist, squeezing a little, but it was gone in an instant as if I burned him until my gaze met with the big bad biker’s green eyes.