Love's Harvest, page 16
part #1 of A Salmon Run Novel Series
“You actually want to me stand and show you?” Diego wiggled his eyebrows and grinned.
As soon as Diego started his facial acrobatics, Julia burst out laughing. No way could she keep up the sexual banter between the two of them. “Let me finish my wine first, and then I think we should go.”
~
Diego did everything he could to calm down the energy he felt in his body. This woman turned him on as none other had in a long time. If ever. He tried not to imagine her naked and in his arms, but the more he worked at ignoring her, the more her presence invaded his consciousness to the point he could think of nothing or no one else.
It’d been a long time since he felt this happy. He didn’t want to spoil it by saying the wrong thing or acting too crude, so he answered her as simply as he could. “Agreed.”
~
It took James all afternoon and into the evening to allow the effects of the alcohol he’d consumed to calm him down. Duncan and he sat together most of the day in the bar at the Ristorante Sabatini, discussing where they’d failed the day before and what action, if any, they should take next. James wasn’t so much angry as he was panicked. Very few people knew about his gambling issues, not even Gayle. Duncan, being his money man, however, was more aware than James liked.
Little use trying to hide one’s fruitless expenditures from one’s accountant, he thought. Besides, James truly didn’t know where else he could turn.
“God dammit, Duncan. You nearly got my ass thrown in jail, not to mention destroyed my marriage. I should never’ve listened to you. Now the sheriff has her eye out for me, and I’m no closer to taking over that shit winery than I was when Robert was alive.” James threw down his bourbon and motioned to the bartender to fill his glass one last time.
If James was the essence of a man falling apart, Duncan was the epitome of controlled calmness. Yesterday’s activities hadn’t ruffled him in the least. In fact, he was more positive than ever that the ownership of the vineyard and winery land would be James’s before the week was out.
“I told you, James, I have a handle on this. Perhaps I overestimated Julia’s intelligence when I suggested you doctor the deed. Yet I’ve a plan that’s sure to work. It may be a bit dangerous, but I think for whatever danger we may accrue the reward in the end will be worth it.”
James quickly sobered up. “Look, Duncan, I don’t want anyone to get hurt or killed, for that matter. Do you understand?”
“Not even that meddling orchard manager of hers … what’s his name? Gonzales?”
“Let me deal with him. You simply worry about the winery. Understand?” Part of James was glad he had someone like Duncan on his side. Yet another part of him knew Duncan could be perfidious if not carefully monitored.
“Sure, sure, James. I won’t touch the guy. But as long as Gonzales-Martinez is in the picture, I guarantee you’ll never get a red cent out of that winery or its land.”
James knew Duncan was right. Yet as far as he was concerned, a line had to be drawn between mere embezzlement and outright murder. After all, for years he’d represented every kind of criminal possible and knew the difference between those who broke the law because of some desperate need and those who did so merely for the rush.
Unlike Duncan, who was a bad man masquerading under the guise of being a friend, James knew deep down that he, James Montgomery Reynolds, was basically a good man dealing as best he could with a terrible problem. Gambling had him in its clutches and wouldn’t let go.
Over the past year James had gambled away his savings, his children’s education funds, and both his and Gayle’s retirement investments. On top of that, his full-time client load had rapidly diminished as he became more and more unable to keep up his professional obligations and duties. He was flat-ass broke and in danger of losing not only his place of business, but his home and his family.
“I told you, I’ll take care of Martinez,” James sneered. “Your job’s to get me that land and pronto. I don’t care how you do it. I simply don’t want to know about it.”
James slugged down the last ounce of his drink and stood up to leave. Duncan threw cash on the bar to cover the bill. Hell! James could no longer even afford to pay for his own liquor.
As the two of them made their way out of the bar, James caught a glimpse of Julia seated with the very person he felt was responsible for his predicament: Diego Gonzales-Martinez. Quickly he said good bye to Duncan and sauntered in the direction of the Julia’s table.
~
As soon as Julia saw him, she blanched.
Diego immediately grew concerned over Julia’s change of behavior. “What’s the matter, Julia?”
“It’s James, and he’s coming this way.”
Whatever had gone on in Diego’s crotch earlier, by now had completely disappeared. He stood and swiftly turned to hold a wall of defense against what he hoped wouldn’t happen next.
“Good evening, James,” said Julia.
“Maybe it’s a good evening for you, but I find your behavior utterly reprehensible. Robert’s body hasn’t even begun to rot, and here you sit holding hands in public with a man you’re obviously sleeping with. It makes me want to vomit.”
James could hardly stand without wobbling. Both Diego and Julia could smell the strong odor of stale liquor on his breath.
Diego’s first reaction was to put his fist in James’s mouth, but thought better of it as he realized the man was as drunk as a skunk.
“Señor James, we’re merely celebrating the recent first prize our Siegerrebe was awarded by the San Francisco International Wine Awards committee. You should be proud of your brother’s endeavors. After all, this wine’s the result of your family’s years of hard work and talent starting with your father.”
James squinched his face into a grimace as he struggled to stay on his feet. “What do you know about my family, you worthless gigolo? What’s the matter with you, Julia? Did you need to be fucked so badly you brought this Mexican nobody into Robert’s bed?”
James’s voice escalated in volume to where other customers in the restaurant turned their heads in curiosity. Diego was about to grab the man’s arm and escort him out of the building when Julia finally stood up and looked her brother-in-law straight in the eyes.
“You’re drunk, James,” Julia stated in a loud and firm voice. “And you’re making a complete fool out of yourself. If Robert was still alive, he’d be disgusted by your attitude, your language, and your behavior. You need to worry less about Diego and me and concentrate more on salvaging your marriage. Gayle’s a fine woman and in my opinion doesn’t deserve you. Don’t ask me why, but she loves you and knows you’re troubled about something much bigger than what I do with the winery and what kind of relationship I have with Diego. Worry about your own house, James. You owe it to Gayle and your children and no one else.”
~
Adriana, who’d been watching this entire scene from the reservation desk, briskly strode toward the trio. “Is there anything I can do for you, Julia? Call my brother or the sheriff?”
Julia then grabbed her sweater and clutch and put her free hand in Diego’s. “No, but thank you,” Julia said softly. “We were about ready to leave anyway.”
Diego placed the money for the meal in Adriana’s hands. “Thank you for a lovely evening, Señorita Sabatini,” Diego said smoothly. “We’ll be sure to come again soon.”
Diego led Julia out of the restaurant to the applause of those who’d listened in on her words to James. Diego immediately gave Fermin the valet ticket with a tip and asked him to quickly get his car.
Meanwhile, inside the restaurant Adriana did her best to escort the chagrined James out the door. As soon as she placed her hands gently on his arm, he jerked violently away from her.
“You obviously don’t care who it is you serve,” James bellowed. “I’ll not return to this ridiculous place again, you can count on that.” The patrons now laughed and booed at him. James was more angry than embarrassed. “You all make me sick! I hope you get food poisoning and die!” he yelled as he careened toward the restaurant door.
Diego and Julia sped out of the parking lot just in time to deflect James’s continuing vitriol. As soon as James stumbled outside, he felt himself grow dizzy. He pressed his eyes closed as he searched his pants’ pocket for his valet ticket. It wasn’t there.
Fermin, seeing that James needed a taxi more than his car, gingerly limped up him and smiled. “Can I help you, sir?”
“Help me find my fucking car,” James slurred. Seconds later, he blacked out.
~
They’d hardly gotten a block down the road when Julia started to giggle. Any other time in her life and she’d have been mortified by not only James’s behavior but her own. But tonight she felt for the first time in quite a while like she‘d finally broken through her what-will-everyone-think barrier.
True, she’d been initially embarrassed when James came to her table and started in on her. Yet, as soon as the man attacked Diego, Julia felt an overpowering urge to if not pop him one, at least tell him off. Or as Alicia was fond of saying, rip him a new one.
As soon as Diego got behind the wheel of his car, however, he grew silent. It was Julia’s guess that he was probably beating himself up for taking her out so soon after the funeral. She suddenly felt responsible for what the two of them had just gone through. Salmon Run, she told herself, was a small town and the odds of running into her brother-in-law were definitely stacked against them both. She thought about apologizing but instead howled with laughter.
“Oh my gads, Diego. That was one of the craziest things I’ve ever been through in my entire life. Every time I think about that look on James’s face when he saw the two of us together, I lose it!” She laughed so hard, she could hardly catch her breath.
At first Diego snorted as well, but then launched into a series of full-bodied belly laughs which sent Julia even further over the edge. Several times they tried to quit, but each silence seemed to fuel the next onslaught uncontrollable laughter. By the time Diego and Julia reached the winery, they were swimming in a sea of happy tears.
The two of them didn’t settle down until Diego finally pulled the Crestliner up to Julia’s front door and turned off the engine. In the hushed silence which followed Diego opened his door and came around to Julia’s side to help her out. As soon as he pulled her up onto her feet, he took her into his embrace.
She leaned into Diego and pushed her breasts against his chest. She felt his erection against her thigh and longed to feel him inside her. She desperately wanted to invite him in but was unsure as to how to go about it. The hungry part of her wanted to drag him into her house and lock the door behind them—to ravish his body from head to toe.
Instead, the refined business woman within her thought it perhaps best to act more like a lady. Or at the very least allow Diego to make the first move. Julia’s body was making all kinds of demands on her, yet she found it impossible to speak a single word.
Diego laid his cheek against hers and softly spoke into her ear. “Thank you so much for this evening, Julia. You’ve made me feel like a very lucky man.”
He then brushed his lips against her cheek until he made contact with her silent mouth. As soon as his lips met hers, she let out a moan, signaling he was doing things exactly as he should. Diego deepened his kiss, and using all of his mouth, massaged her lips open. Julia gave in, permitting Diego to explore the inside of her mouth with his tongue. As soon as she did, Diego echoed her own sighs and whimpers moan for moan.
~
He wanted her so badly he thought he might explode. Yet so far, Julia hadn’t invited him in, so he pulled his body back only enough to allow her to catch her breath. When nothing was said, Diego smiled, placed his forehead against Julia’s, and tried to catch his own.
“I’d better go, Señora,” he half-whispered in a husky voice. “We don’t need any more gossip than we’ve already ignited.”
She wasn’t going to ask him to come in and Diego was at a loss to know why. He wanted to ask her why but couldn’t find the right words to express his yearning and disappointment.
“I suppose you’re right, she replied. “I had a wonderful evening as well, Diego. Perhaps we can do it again sometime soon.”
Diego hesitantly took in Julia’s formalities. “Of course, Julia. I look forward to spending dinner again with you soon.”
~
Julia felt her heart sink into the pit of her stomach as Diego walked her to the door. Good God, Julia. Can’t you do better than that? ‘Do it again sometime soon?’ What the hell?
Why he didn’t wish to come in was clear. The business at the restaurant with James had no doubt scared him off. What else could it be?
As soon as she put the key in the lock, she turned back one last time, waiting for him to invite himself in. When he didn’t, she stepped inside her house, turned back to smile at warmly, and said, “Good night.”
“Good night, Julia. Sleep well,” he answered and then broke away.
As soon as she closed her door behind her, she felt the same familiar rush of disappointment. She wanted to cry but knew if she did, she’d merely be giving in to James’s treachery. Instead, she changed her clothes, took a warm bath, and slipped into her nightgown. She thought of calling Gayle or even Barbara for support, but decided for both her and Diego’s sakes not to do so.
The less said about this evening the better. At least Diego agreed to his new job title and position at the winery. That was some consolation, for if he wasn’t yet ready to be her partner in bed, at least he was now her partner in business.
Julia found it pointless to try to fall asleep, so she turned to what she always did when restlessness overtook her. She sat at the piano to play whatever her mood demanded. Thinking at first to calm her thoughts by playing the slow movement of Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor, she pulled the sheet music off the shelf and thumbed her way to the appropriate page.
After a dozen measures or so, however, she realized this was no more doing that trick than the two glasses of wine she’d had at dinner. Going back to the shelf, she chose instead the second movement of Alberto Ginastera’s Danzas Argentinas with its lush chords and sonorous melodies. This time when she sat at the piano and opened her music, she smiled. This was precisely what the doctor ordered.
~
There was so much more Diego wanted to say. Hell, so much more he wanted to do. But he didn’t want to rush things. Or put the woman in an uncomfortable situation. But damn! Why did that pendejo have to make a scene at the restaurant when everything up to that point was going so well?
Diego pounded the top of the steering wheel with the heel of his hand as he sped out of Julia’s driveway, careful not to lay tire tracks. Julia leaned against the inside of her front door, listening to Diego fly down the gravel lane and out toward the main road.
~
Duncan D’Angelo was a man with little or no conscience. For him, taking matters into his own hands wasn’t drudgery but rather an emotional high. He took no issue with breaking the law, particularly if he thought he could get away with it. That as much as anything fed the rush he felt of achieving something this risky and this dishonorable. Duncan was exhilarated by his next venture of stealing the winery and vineyard away from the Reynolds woman and earning his cut of the acquisition.
In Duncan’s opinion, James was weak. Not only that, his children were spoiled and his wife a goody-two-shoes. If James was going to do what Duncan wanted him to do, then Duncan needed to keep him broke, half-soused, and scared. Duncan also needed to hire someone to help him carry out his next brainstorm. A smile swept across his face as he recognized the genius of his plan.
He laughed to himself when he thought of James making his own way home from the restaurant. The guy was such a loser, but he was Duncan’s ticket to wealth and freedom from the boring and tedious work of being an accountant. He swung into the parking lot of the local Safeway, pulled his Caddie into a slot as far from the front of the store as he could get, and grabbed his cell phone out of his jacket pocket. As he speed-dialed the number he’d recently added to his list of contacts, Duncan glanced out his car window to make sure he remained unseen. The last thing he needed was for someone to recognize him and put one and one and two and two together.
The phone on the other end of the call rang four times before it was picked up.
“Sí?” a deep voice answered.
“It’s me,” Duncan said. “Are you still interested in what I spoke to you about earlier?”
The voice grunted. “When do you want it done?”
“Tomorrow night would not be too soon. And remember, if anything goes wrong, I don’t know you, and you don’t know me. Understood?”
Duncan was covering as many of his bases as he could. He didn’t trust this guy as far as he could throw him, but the man needed cash and that was something Duncan had plenty of—illegally, of course.
“Whatever,” the voice responded and then the phone went dead.
Duncan grinned as he put his phone back into his jacket pocket. He then got out of his car. He was too far along in his scheme to take any chances. Had someone seen him in the Safeway parking lot, he wanted to make sure he had an excuse for being there, beyond the phone call he’d just made. He continued through the automatic doors and waved at himself on the video screen above as he made his way to the photo center. Reaching into his pants’ pocket, he pulled out a ticket stub and presented it to the clerk.
“Good evening, Mr. D’Angelo,” the high school girl greeted.
“It is indeed, young lady. I’m here to pick up my photos if they’re ready.” He smiled.
While she rummaged through the drawer, Duncan greeted as many people as he could before turning his attention back to the girl. “I’m sorry, Mr. D’Angelo. It doesn’t look like they’re here yet. Would you like me to give you a call when they come in?”
“Oh, nuts!” Duncan did his best to look disappointed. “But no, that’s okay. I’ll check in again later in the week. Have a good night!”
