A Vintage Murder Read online

  “Slow down,” Derek said. “Start from the beginning.”

  “Well, after Nikki left for the airport, Marco and I had a chat about our relationship and how it was time to take it to the next level and have a marriage celebration. I agreed completely, but he wanted one thing from me. One eensyweensy thing.” Simon pinched his thumb and index finger together. “And I couldn’t do it.”

  Marco and Simon had been partners for years. Nikki had met them three years earlier when she’d gone to work for the winery. At first, the two of them had rubbed her the wrong way with their arrogance and brash behavior, but over time they’d grown on her. They’d turned over a new leaf when they’d gone to a New Age, Zen-type camp in Sedona, Arizona, where they’d met a guru named Sansibaba. Nikki was sure the guy was a charlatan, but Simon and Marco had come back with a sense of gratitude and a soft spot for her. Friendship between the three of them had since blossomed, and she now considered them dear friends. She was bothered to hear there was trouble in paradise.

  “I’m afraid to ask,” Derek said. “But what is it that you just could not do?”

  Simon sighed. “I couldn’t give up Gianni or Kenneth.”

  “What? You’re cheating on Marco!” Derek exclaimed. “And with two men? God, what is wrong with you!” A few heads turned.

  Nikki shook her head. “No. I don’t think so.”

  Derek looked from Nikki to Simon and back again. “Someone want to explain?”

  “Gianni Versace and Kenneth Cole. I’m right, aren’t I?” she asked Simon.

  He nodded. “We had this deal that we would give up all designer labels for a year. You know, Marco adores Guru Sansibaba and he’s been doing this life-coaching thing with a woman from the Sansibaba Enlightenment Center, and his life coach suggested that we give up our labels. She felt it would be good for us to detach from what the designers represent.”

  Derek put his head in his hands. Nikki could see his neck turning from red to a sort of magenta color. This was not good. “And what is it that those designers represent?” he growled.

  “Ego, of course. And, I agreed with Marco that I’d do it. But dammit, I’m like a freaking addict. As soon as I said that I wouldn’t do it again, I jumped in the car and went up to that really nice boutique in St. Helena, you know the one I mean, with like all the established designers and the up-and-comers. Place is amazing, and only fifteen minutes from the vineyard. Gotta love it.”

  “Get to the point,” Derek said.

  “Right, but gawd, I almost went into the city to Nieman’s, too. Good thing I didn’t. But anyhoo, I tried to hide all the packages. I was actually using your place to hide them, Nikki, and then Marco caught me going up the stairs and he found all of them. He told me that if he couldn’t trust me with this, then he couldn’t trust me at all. Then, he packed his things and left. I don’t know where he went. He won’t answer my calls, or my e-mails, and I feel so alone. I didn’t know what to do, so I chartered a jet and I came here. To be with family.”

  “Wait a minute. You blew how much to get here? You chartered a jet? And oh shit, oh no . . .” Derek’s head snapped up. “Who is with Ollie?”

  Ollie was Derek’s Rhodesian Ridgeback, a big, caramel-colored dog that Nikki had fallen in love with since joining the Malveaux team. He’d become almost as much her dog as he was Derek’s. For some time it had been a joke between the two of them as to who Ollie’s real owner was.

  “Please, Derek, as if I’d leave the animal on his own. No, he’s with that adorable girl that Nikki hired. The stripper.”

  “Alyssa is not a stripper. Well, not any longer. I hired her because she’s a good woman and smart and she has a child to take care of.”

  “Oh God, Snow White, I am so the last person you need to defend anyone to.”

  Nikki knew he was right. Simon accepted pretty much anyone. She cringed at her new nickname. For the first year they’d called her Goldilocks. She’d been highlighting her hair to fit that Southern California mold for years, but after living up north for some time, she’d gone back to her original darker roots and a new nickname had been born.

  “I think the girl is a sweetheart and she’s great with Ollie. I told her that she and the toddler could stay at your place. Hope that’s okay.”

  Nikki smiled. “Sure. It’s fine.” Her place wasn’t really hers anyway. It was a room at the Malveaux spa and boutique hotel. Her home had been torched by a killer not that long ago and she’d had to move into the hotel.

  “You know what, I’ve about had enough of this nonsense,” Derek said. “You and Marco are freaks. My God, and listening to this Guru Sansibaba—what a crock of shit. This is plain ridiculous, Simon. I suggest you get your ass back on Virgin Atlantic—coach, mind you—because I’m sure you charged that charter to Malveaux, and go find Marco and make up. Quit acting like a woman.”

  Simon turned to Nikki. “Aren’t you insulted by that? Okay, so first off, acting like a gal comes au naturel for me. Second, don’t you think that if I could have found Marco by now, I would have done everything in my power to make up with him?”

  “Why did you come here, Si?” Derek asked. “What did you think Nikki and I could do for you? You spent fifteen hours in a jet. What’s the deal?”

  “I was looking for moral support, brother.” Simon threw down his napkin.

  Uh-oh, time to play referee. Nikki touched Simon’s shoulder. “Now everyone just chill. Okay, this is no big deal. Simon needs us right now.” Simon pouted. “I know how much . . . I mean, we know how much you love Marco.” Simon nodded. “And we love Marco, too. He needs some cooling off time and then I’ll bet everything will work out.”

  “You think?”

  “Yes. Tell you what. I’ll send him an e-mail and see if he responds.”

  “Really? You will?”

  “Of course.”

  Simon glanced at Derek, who said, “Fine, me, too. I’ll try and give him a call, see if he’ll take your sorry ass back. Gianni and Kenneth. Jeez, you guys are plain ridiculous.”

  Simon grinned. “Yes, but you two are the best. I knew you’d come through for me. Now, what do we have planned while we’re here in outback country?”

  “We’re going to a party tonight at the Hahndorf Winery—” Nikki said.

  “We have nothing planned,” Derek interrupted. “Nikki and I have plans. You have to make your own plans.”

  “Right of course. I’m sorry. I’ve bothered you enough.” Simon sipped his wine and leaned back in his chair.

  “Oh for God’s sake. Fine. You can come with us to the party. I’m sure the Hahndorfs won’t mind.”

  Simon set his wine down and clapped his hands. “Thank you, and I promise I won’t be a problem. I will not interfere with your good time. You kids should really get to know each other better.”

  “Simon,” Derek warned.

  “Right. Okay, well, I think I’ll see what I can do about getting my own room.”

  “Good idea. How did you get into our room anyway?” Nikki asked.

  “The maid let me in. I told her that I left my key inside.”

  “Great security,” Derek said.

  “Look at me, do I look like a thief?” Simon stood. “See you two at what, around six or so?”

  “Looking forward to it,” Derek answered, his voice laden in sarcasm.

  They watched Simon walk out of the bar. Derek took Nikki’s hand. “I’m sorry about that.”

  “Please. Don’t be. You know I love him.”

  “Yeah, I’m not sure that I do, though. His timing certainly sucks.”

  She laughed. “You love him, too. You must because you didn’t kill him.”

  “He’s lucky I didn’t.”

  Nikki felt herself further drawn to Derek. He was a softy deep down, and as annoying as Simon could be, Derek had handled everything quite wonderfully. Bet he’d make a great dad. Suddenly Nikki found herself feeling brave. Her hand grazed Derek’s. “Should we go back to the room and finish what we s
tarted?”

  He didn’t answer right away and an uneasy feeling came over her. “No. You know what, I think in a weird way it was a good thing Simon interrupted us.”

  Ooh, she didn’t think she liked the sound of that. “You do?”

  “Yep. Because the first time we’re together should be perfect. That’s what I want for you, and that is what we agreed on from the get-go.” He leaned in and kissed her cheek, then her lips.

  “That seemed pretty perfect.”

  “No. Not in the way it should be.”

  “Okay, so perfect, huh? Wow, what does that entail?” she asked.

  “I guess you’ll just have to wait and see.”

  Chapter 4

  Much to Nikki and Derek’s dismay their hotel was booked solid, along with every other place in town. There was a festival going on, and Simon had no place to go, except for the pull-out couch in their suite. So much for the perfect seduction. Nikki could tell that Derek was brooding, and she wasn’t exactly thrilled, but they couldn’t desert Simon in his time of need. Instead, Nikki shot off an e-mail to Marco in an attempt to locate him, letting him know they were all concerned and that Simon was truly miserable without him.

  Instead of romance in kangaroo country, the three of them took turns getting ready in the bathroom, with Simon taking the longest. With the weather downright chilly in the evenings, as winter was just around the corner, Nikki put on a steel blue cashmere turtleneck sweater and a long, wraparound, cream-colored sweater-coat. The combo looked pretty good with her eyes. For pants she pulled on what she called her skinny jeans, meaning for some reason they seemed to hold in anything that needed to be held in without looking like that was what she’d tried to do.

  “I so hate you,” Simon said when she emerged from the bathroom.

  “What?”

  “Look at you, you little twit. You even look good in a turtleneck. No one makes a turtleneck look sexy, but you pull it off somehow. No wonder my brother is in lust with you. If I wasn’t so gay, I’d be in lust, too.”

  “Funny.” She shook a finger at him.

  When she walked out into the front room, Derek’s eyes brightened. “You look beautiful.”

  “See what I mean.” Simon shook his head.

  “Thank you. Both of you . . . I think.”

  At the Hahndorf Winery, the barbecue looked to be in full swing with several cars parked out front. Nikki prayed to God that the Australian ideal of “casual” was on par with the same term used in the States. She would hate to see everyone else in diamonds and pearls when she’d chosen a turtleneck and jeans, even if Simon was right that she pulled off sexy in them, which she didn’t buy. At least Derek and Simon were also in jeans, and there was no arguing that jeans were definitely sexy on Derek.

  A valet waited to park the car. “Schnazzy,” Simon said, stepping out of the vehicle. “Like you didn’t tell me that this thing was a major shindig.”

  “We were told it was a simple ‘shrimp on the barbie’ kind of deal and to come casual.”

  “Huh. So who all is going to be here? As if I’d know anyone in Australia.” Simon laughed.

  “Shawn Keefer,” Nikki replied.

  “Oh yeah, you are so funny. First you’re a twit in a turtleneck and now you’re a comedienne.”

  “No. I’m not. I’m telling you the truth.”

  “Okay. Funny girl.”

  “She is telling the truth. They’re filming a movie here at the vineyard. That’s why they’re having the party.”

  Simon stopped dead in his tracks. “Stop it. No. Uh-uh. Are you two for real?”

  They nodded in unison.

  “Oh my God, oh my God. Get me a paper bag. I think I’m going to hyperventilate. Shawn Keefer is here? Here?” He pointed to the ground. “Shawn as in People magazine’s sexiest man of 2005? Please, oh God. And you two let me wear this? You said it was a barbecue. Oh no, no, no. I think I’m going to pass out.”

  Derek took his brother by the shoulders. “Get ahold of yourself. First of all, you look fine. And second, Shawn Keefer is not gay. You wouldn’t have a chance with him.”

  “Please. Everyone in Hollywood is gay.”

  Derek rolled his eyes and wrapped an arm around Nikki. “I’ll pretend I don’t know him, if you will.”

  “Deal.”

  “Whatever. I’m gonna meet a movie star. But I will kill the two of you for not telling me to wear something a little more stylish. Do I look okay?” Simon ran his hands through his spiky, bleach blond hair. He was a good-looking man, just like his brother. They both had a kind of David Beckham look about them. Tonight Posh Spice had nothing on her. Nikki smiled. A reality show on her own life might actually be worth watching. There was enough craziness to spread around.

  “You look great. Stunning.”

  “Stunning?” Simon asked. He smoothed down his white linen shirt, unbuttoned his suede jacket, and tugged his 7 For All Mankind jeans down around his hips even farther.

  “Stunning, and you know if you pulled your boxers out now, above the jeans waistband, maybe you could pass for Slim Shady,” Derek said with a sly grin.

  “Oh shut up. At least I have style. What the hell are those anyway? Levi’s? Oh, aren’t you cool.”

  “Boys,” Nikki scolded. “Act like grown men, please. You can go back to sibling rivalry later.”

  Simon smirked and walked on ahead. Live music was coming from the rear of the home.

  “Good to see you, mate,” Liam Hahndorf said, pumping Derek’s hand. “And you, too.” He kissed Nikki on the cheek.

  It was true when people remarked that the Aussies were gracious hosts. Everyone they’d encountered so far had lived up to that.

  Within minutes, flutes of champagne appeared and they were being introduced all around. Simon’s eyes about bugged out when Liam introduced them to Shawn Keefer. Liam had to excuse himself to check on the food and left Nikki and Derek to witness Simon fawning all over the actor.

  “Oh Shawn, I loved you in A Woman to Die For. The chemistry was fabulous between you and Angelina. Just fabulous. You really should’ve won the Oscar for that movie.”

  As much of a fool as Simon was making of himself, the movie star didn’t seem to mind at all. His ego ate it up. Actors didn’t impress Nikki much. She’d spent enough time in Hollywood to learn that many of them were insecure egomaniacs with superiority complexes. Thus, her acting career hadn’t been that difficult to walk away from, especially when she’d found that life could have a hell of a lot more substance.

  “That was a great flick,” Shawn said. “A lot of intense work, you know.”

  He crossed his arms over his tan sweater, which was only a shade darker than his skin. Looked as if Shawn Keefer could give George Hamilton a run for his money at the tanning salon. He reminded Nikki of a pretty-boy Clint Eastwood in his younger years. He even had down the eyebrow cock that Eastwood was notorious for. Nikki wondered if he’d studied Clint.

  “But this movie here,” he continued, “will be phenomenal. You know, you can’t go wrong working with Nathan Cooley. He’s a genius. And Kane . . . man, the guy is awesome. He’s poured so much cash into this thing, and he’s banking on it being huge. We all are. It will be, of course.”

  “Of course.” Simon touched his arm as if they were old friends.

  “Huh.” It was the only word Nikki could muster.

  “What do you mean you don’t have tequila? I want a margarita.” The voice was recognizable from her earlier tantrum—Lucy Swanson.

  “Oh yeah, she’s the only buzz kill in this deal,” Shawn said. “Lucy Swanson. Royal pain in the ass. Chick hasn’t even had a real hit and she thinks she’s Meryl Streep. Little Miss Diva freaked today on the poor animal safari dude, then hunted me down, thinking I’d come to her rescue. God. Come on.”

  “You’re talking about Andy Burrow?” Derek asked.

  “Yeah, man, that dude has some balls.”

  “Right.” Derek leaned into Nikki and whispered, “Would
you like to get something to eat?”

  She nodded. They left Simon to stare and pump mental iron with Shawn Keefer.

  Nikki started to say something about leaving Simon with Shawn, when Miss Diva herself bumped into Derek. As she looked at him with her doe-like hazel eyes, Nikki wanted to slap her for just looking all nubile, and . . . well, pretty damn close to physically perfect. She suddenly felt matronlike in her turtleneck and jeans compared to Lucy Swanson’s down-to-there silky V-neck black dress. The girl had no body fat—zilch—and had to be freezing her ass off. That gave Nikki some comfort. At least she was warm. But the chill didn’t seem to affect Lucy, who smiled coyly at Derek.

  “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t see you standing there,” Lucy said.

  Nikki couldn’t help notice the way Derek looked at Lucy. Okay, probably every man looked at her the way he did—like he was going to start drooling any minute—but still, he was with her, and she couldn’t help feeling a sting from the green-eyed monster.

  “Lucy Swanson, right?” Nikki asked.

  The barely legal actress glanced at Nikki. “Yeah.”

  “I just read about your latest mishap in the Enquirer. What a shame. You poor thing. I can’t believe you had to do community service for what was it, like forty hours?” Derek glared at Nikki and she knew exactly how she sounded—like a jealous old hag.

  “Like whatever. That was so lame, you know. I didn’t do anything wrong. So like I had a few drinks and well, it’s such a lie that I hit that stupid girl.”

  “Bummer,” Nikki said.

  “Like who are you guys? I don’t think I know you two. You’re not from around here. I mean, you have to be American, right?”

  “We’re from Napa Valley,” Derek said.

  “Oh cool. I so love it there. I went up there last year after I finished filming. I needed a battery recharge.”

  More like she needed to dry out, which was hard to do in the land of liquid grape aplenty.

  “You guys hanging with Liam and Grace then?”

  “We have some business with them,” Derek said.

  “Right on. I didn’t catch your names.”