Corked by Cabernet Page 4

  “Nice to meet you.” Hayden shook Nikki’s hand.

  Strong, confident handshake.

  “I appreciate you having my father and the S.E.E. members here at Malveaux.”

  “Certainly.”

  “While you two work out the schedule and arrangements, we’ll take Alan and everyone for a tour of the grounds and over to meet with Derek,” Simon said.

  “Can I get some wine first?” A striking young woman with long brown hair and dark brown eyes approached the counter.

  “Sierra,” Alan said with a hint of warning in his voice.

  “What, Daddy?”

  Daddy? The other daughter—Sierra Sansi. Nikki knew there was a son as well, but she didn’t spot him. There was only one other woman with the crew, and Nikki was banking that it was Mrs. Sansi.

  “I think it will be time for a glass of wine when we have our meals. Timing is everything.” Alan looked at his daughter and smiled.

  “I thought it was everything happens at the perfect time,” she said with a hint of sarcasm. “And now is the perfect time for me to have a glass of wine. We are in Napa Valley, for God’s sake. If I want a glass of wine, why should you care? I’m perfect. You’re perfect. We’re all perfect, remember?”

  Whoa, ho, ho. What was this? A little family dysfunction going on with the guru and his grown kid? Might be interesting.

  The pretty, middle-aged woman who looked like her daughters—but a bit rounder and with shorter hair—placed a hand on Sierra’s shoulder. “Of course you’re perfect, as your dad says, but it will be a long day and you’ll need to be available to the attendees. And isn’t it true, Ms. Sands . . .” the woman began as she reached her hand out elegantly. “Sorry, I’m Mrs. Sansi. Call me Lulu.” Nikki nodded and Mrs. Sansi continued, “We do have a lovely train ride trip planned for this evening, isn’t that right? The dinner train, I believe.” Lulu Sansi had a style all her own, with a page boy haircut and a poet blouse that flowed over a long flowered skirt that almost reached the ground, where pretty white sandals with a faux yellow daisy in between each big toe adorned her feet. She wore a half dozen gold and silver bangles on her wrist.

  “We do. The Napa Valley Wine Train. I’m sure we’ll see a beautiful sunset and I promise there will be plenty of wine and fantastic food.”

  Sierra frowned but reluctantly agreed to hold off on drinking any wine. “Okay then.”

  “Thank you,” Alan said. “I think we’ll take that tour with Simon and Marco now. If you and Hayden want to go over the rest of the details together, that would be perfect. I know that my publisher, Rich Higgins, should be arriving shortly, along with my son, Eli.”

  Sierra rolled her eyes. “What? You didn’t tell me that Hayden’s fiancé and Eli were coming. That’s great. Perfect. I can deal with Eli, but Hayden with Rich? God! She’ll be pouring on her holier-than-thou act. Give me a break. Why didn’t you bring the entire family with us, Dad? Yo could have asked Aunt Fran, Uncle Joe, every cousin . . .”

  Simon immediately wrapped his arm through Lulu’s, obviously sensing the tension. “Shall we?”

  Marco strolled up next to Sierra and almost forcefully wrapped his arm through hers. She squirmed, but then received a stern look from her mother and sighed, allowing Marco to lead the way. “Come now, Bellissima, there is so much to see here at the winery. Let me escort you,” Marco cooed.

  That was Marco—full of charm.

  Alan got in behind the group, his hands clasped behind him, chin slightly down, as in either deep concentration, or else distress.

  Hayden turned to Nikki. “Oh yes, this will all be perfect. You have no idea just how perfect this will all be.”

  Nikki didn’t have a clue how to respond. She wasn’t even sure what the woman meant, but she figured that Alan Sansi’s definition of perfect was probably radically different from her own. From what she’d seen and heard so far, this entire event was going to be less than perfect.

  Butter-Sautéed Chicken Breasts in a Creamy Walnut Cilantro Sauce with Nickel and Nickel Chardonnay

  What a buzz kill that Rose Pearlman is! Poor Nikki. She handled her in stride, though. It’s just too bad she didn’t get a bit more time to smooch with her guy before being interrupted by the rude woman. One way to handle rudeness, though—food and wine. Seemed to work like a charm with Mrs. Pearlman. Nice job, Nikki!

  This is a rich and delicious recipe. It’ll please even the most uptight, silly, sour person you know. Pair it with the Nickel and Nickel Chardonnay, which is produced at True Chard Vineyards. It’s a Napa Valley Carneros Chardonnay that is similar to a French white Burgundy. It’s not over-oaked, and is lean and clean with good acids.

  1 cup shelled walnuts, finely chopped

  ¼ tsp salt

  ½ tsp hot paprika

  2 large cloves garlic, peeled and halved

  3 tbsp olive oil

  ¼ cup sun-dried tomatoes

  1 packed cup chopped cilantro

  juice of 1 lemon, or more to taste

  ½ cup half-and-half

  4 chicken breasts (pound flat)

  1 cup flour on a plate

  2-3 tbsp clarified butter (see pork loin recipe for clarifying

  butter)

  In a food processor, grind walnuts with salt and paprika. After walnuts exude their oil and the mixture is pasty, scrape into a small bowl. Crush garlic with a pinch of salt. Heat oil in a skillet over medium-low heat. Add garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, and cilantro and cook, stirring, until oil just begins to sizzle (maybe 2-3 minutes). Add to the walnuts along with the lemon juice and half-and-half.

  Heat frying pan to high with butter. Salt and pepper chicken breasts, dredge in flour, shake off excess, and when the pan is very hot but not burning, place the chicken in and sauté for 1 minute on one side, turn, and sauté on the other side for a minute—the meat is done when just springy to the touch.

  Remove chicken to hot plates and pour sauce over chicken. Grilled asparagus and roasted red potatoes make a nice accompaniment.

  Three

  IT was getting late in the day and Nikki needed to get home and change for dinner on the wine train. Plus, she wanted to see Derek again before he left for New York.

  There were still a few guests who hadn’t checked in, including Alan’s son, Eli. The publisher, Rich Higgins, who was evidently engaged to Hayden, had checked in late.

  “Sorry to get in so late. It was one of those situations where I got caught up at the offices and it took me some extra time to get out here with the traffic and all. I’m sure Hayden is wondering where I’ve been. I’ve tried reaching her, but either her cell is off or she’s busy.” Rich Higgins opened his leather briefcase and set one of Alan’s books on the front desk. “His latest. I’m looking forward to showing it to him.”

  Hayden’s fiancé and also Alan’s publisher was a nice-looking man, probably somewhere in his thirties, with blondish hair, hazel eyes, and a decent build suggesting he worked out. He wore a coat and tie, which threw Nikki off, yet again. The group that had appeared throughout the day didn’t strike her as New Age, feel-good types. Maybe she’d had this Alan Sansi guy wrong all this time? Maybe she’d been worrying for nothing?

  She picked up the book. Living Well in a New Age. “Huh. Great. I should get you settled in. I think the Sansi family may be in their rooms but Alan is meeting with the owner here.”

  “Oh. Was there a problem?”

  “No. They had a scheduled meeting.” Nikki wondered if she shouldn’t have said anything. Maybe Alan wasn’t ready to tell his family or his publisher about his outside interests, like the aromatherapy line. “Where are your offices? Are you in New York?”

  “No. Actually we’re in Santa Barbara. Not too far away. Wine country there, too.”

  “Lots of it,” Nikki agreed. “I’ve got your keys to your room here. The transportation for the wine train will be leaving at six-thirty tonight.”

  “Thanks. Just enough time to get settled and cleaned up. See you tonight
, right? You’ve been working with Hayden on everything?”

  “Yes. I’ll be there.” All she wanted to do was go home and curl up with a book, Derek, and Ollie. But there would be no Derek tonight, and by the time she got home from the event, she doubted even a good book would thrill her.

  Rich nodded his thank-you, rolled his bag out of the lobby, and headed to his room.

  Nikki closed her eyes and shook her head. She needed a break. She wished everyone would hurry up and arrive so she could get started on the evening’s plans. Just then she felt a pair of hands on her shoulders and jumped back.

  “Oh, God, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.” It was Alyssa Pampas. Alyssa had joined the Malveaux team about a year earlier after meeting Nikki in an odd place—a strip bar in San Francisco. Alyssa’s little boy had a heart condition and the young woman worked at the bar to make enough money to support her child while she attended school. She’d helped Nikki put some bad guys in their place and Nikki had taken a liking to her, suggesting she interview for the job at Malveaux as a taster. Alyssa had sailed through the interview and then accepted the winery job, where she more than proved she was skillful at her job and quickly climbed her way to a better position as a supervisor at the hotel and spa.

  “I was lost in thought. I still have quite a bit to do,” Nikki replied.

  “Why don’t I finish checking the guests in for you? I’ve already completed my reports and handled the charity event stuff. You’ll have a late night being ‘on.’ I can do this.”

  “Really? You sure? What about Petie? It’s almost four. Don’t you have to pick him up?” Nikki asked, referring to Alyssa’s three-year-old.

  “No. He’s staying a bit later with the day care. They had a little party for him today and his teacher called and said he’s still playing and wants to stay longer. Kathy has been a lifeline for me. I get pretty tired, you know. She’s really like a grandma for Petie.”

  “I know. She’s a good lady,” Nikki replied. She’d met Alyssa’s day care provider a few times when she’d gone to pick up Petie with her. “But why don’t you go home and rest? I know you’re tired and stressed. You need to take care of yourself.” Nikki laid a hand on her shoulder.

  Alyssa shook her head. “No. Working helps me keep my mind clearer and off of things. Petie and I are so close that I’m realizing we need space once in a while. If we get through this . . .” She choked up.

  “You will get through this. He will get through this. He’s a strong kid, Alyssa.” Petie lived with a heart disease called cardiomyopathy—a disease of the heart muscle where the heart loses its ability to pump blood effectively. He was currently on a heart transplant list, along with two hundred and seventy-five other children under the age of seventeen. Nikki knew the strain it had placed on Alyssa. Petie was sweet, silly, and from everything Nikki had seen of him, a fairly rambunctious and normal three-year-old boy. But everyone at the winery knew that Petie wouldn’t live a long life if he didn’t get the transplant. “You are a strong woman, and if you need anything at all from me or the winery—time off, whatever—you know all you have to do is ask. I would love to have Petie come stay with me and Derek for a weekend so that you can get away. Why don’t you do that?”

  Alyssa smiled even though tears dampened her eyes. “Maybe. Thank you. That might work. I don’t know. I don’t know if I could leave him for a weekend, but maybe a night. I would like to go and visit my sister in Vegas.”

  “Absolutely, and you should. We’re here for you.”

  Alyssa wrapped her arms around Nikki. “Thank you. I’m so glad you’re my friend.”

  “Hey, now. Come on. Why don’t you go sit in the café and have a glass of wine or a cup of tea?”

  “No. Maybe after I’m done here. I like checking people in and meeting them.”

  “You sure? There have been some strange birds walking in here this afternoon,” Nikki warned with a grin.

  “Oh yeah?” Alyssa laughed.

  It was good to see her smile. Alyssa was by far one of the strongest women Nikki had ever known. She’d been through hell and back even before Petie came along and then she found out he was sick. She was a pretty, petite brunette, brown-eyed woman, who had just reached her twenty-fifth birthday. She’d handled quite a lot in her young life and she’d done it with elegance. Nikki admired her and also felt somewhat protective over her—like a mother hen. If given the chance, Nikki figured she’d probably make a decent nurturer. It was something she liked to do, and when Alyssa needed it, she was there for her.

  “Oh yes. These S.E.E. members are, to say the least, interesting.”

  “I’m not surprised considering Simon and Marco are involved.” Alyssa’s comment made them both laugh.

  Nikki gave her the list of those who still needed to be checked in and she started to walk back to Derek’s place—oh yeah—Derek and what was also her casa now. She walked past the rose garden and waterfall that cascaded like slick glass against one of the stone walls of the hotel. Although she’d never been to Italy, she was sure there had to be sites there like the waterfall at Malveaux. It was pretty spectacular. She stopped to take it in for a minute. It was her moment of meditation. Alan Sansi had to be able to appreciate that. She took in a couple of breaths. What was that? Here she was breathing in, listening to the water, and . . . she could hear raised voices. Yes, that’s definitely what they were. One was accented. Asian, maybe? Definitely both males. She peered around the waterfall wall and spotted Alan Sansi, hands on hips, facing an Asian man who had his suitcase in tow. Nikki didn’t recall checking him in. She couldn’t make out the words they were exchanging, but the guru did not look happy. He stood there shaking his head while the other man kept trying to hand him a DVD of some sort. Now this was interesting. No. No. Nikki stopped herself; this was none of her business. Ah, hell, but it was interesting! Alan the guru didn’t strike her as one to argue with anyone. Didn’t the guy just breathe? That seemed to be his prescription. Stress was not on his agenda.

  And then, in a seemingly totally uncharacteristic Sansi move, Alan poked the man in his chest and said loud enough for Nikki to hear, “That is not what this is about, Iwao! I don’t want to see the DVD. It’s none of my business. I don’t want to interfere and I would appreciate it if you did the same. Now leave me and my daughter alone. Take what you have there and get rid of it. Let’s get back to our purpose here. Thank you!” Alan turned on his heel and stormed off toward his room, leaving the Asian man shaking his head and Nikki with her mouth gaping open.

  Okeydokey. None of that made sense at all. Nikki hemmed and hawed before heading toward the man. She stopped as she passed him. “Can I help you, sir?”

  “I am checking in. I am part of S.E.E. group. My name is Iwao Yamimoto.” He bowed.

  “Oh yes, Mr. Yamimoto. I’m Nikki Sands. I manage the winery here and have been involved in scheduling the week for all of the members.” She remembered seeing Mr. Yamimoto on the list, along with a woman’s name—Mizuki, presumably his wife. They were some of the last to check in. She wondered where his wife was. “The front desk is that way.” She pointed. “Just go around the rose garden and in through the large archway.”

  He bowed again. “Thank you very much.”

  She smiled and nodded. It was all she could do not to ask him if there was a problem between him and Mr. Sansi. She literally bit down on her tongue as she turned and watched him head toward the front desk. Hmmm. Leave it alone. None of my business. Oh, boy, that was quite a task to ask of Nosy Nikki. She was aware that people in Napa had coined her with that nickname, but c’mon, it wasn’t as if her curiosity had not been applied toward the good of all mankind. Or at least for the good of those in her neck of the woods.

  To her dismay, Derek wasn’t at home. She looked at the clock. Almost five. He really should have been getting ready for his trip back East. Then she spotted his suitcase packed and ready to go, and it was impossible not to feel sad. How silly. He would be gone for only a few
days, but she didn’t want him gone for even one.

  Ollie was there to greet her, though. He didn’t exactly get up, all one hundred pounds of him too comfortably tucked into Derek’s leather chair to move. The dog raised his head and thumped his tail as best he could with it wedged between his rear and the chair. She walked over and gave him a pat on his head. He replied by closing his eyes and going back to sleep. “Nice to see you, too.”

  She sighed and headed to the shower. After a few minutes of warm water spraying her, she felt a bit refreshed. She slipped into the old standby black dress and stood in front of the mirror, unable to twist off a tube of mascara that was tightly stuck. Time for a new tube. Weren’t you supposed to replace it every couple of months anyway? Not only did she need new mascara, but she realized she probably should’ve bought a dress with some color, some pizzazz, but her old accommodations had burned down several months ago along with all of her belongings. She had stayed in the hotel until Derek proposed living together a couple of weeks ago. Makeup and new clothes hadn’t been on the top of her priority list. Until now.

  Maybe she’d do some shopping next weekend when things would likely have settled down. She thought about calling Isabel and asking her to go. They hadn’t seen each other in a while. Isabel was a good friend who owned a restaurant in Yountville called Grapes. The two of them had been bosom buddies until Nikki started dating Isabel’s brother, Andrés, and then kind of broke his heart. Well, really broke his heart. Nikki had been torn between Andrés and Derek and had eventually followed her heart, which led her to Derek. Isabel claimed to understand. She and Nikki talked, and occasionally did things together still, but it wasn’t like it used to be, and Nikki missed her and the close friendship they’d shared.

  Derek came into the bedroom and shook her out of her thoughts. Many of her things were still in boxes stacked against the white wall. Derek’s room—now hers as she had to constantly remind herself—was white and blue, continuing that Spanish, ranch feel the house had. “Hi. How was the rest of your day?”