Well…’ Her father cut him short, his breath rasping slightly with the effort. ‘It’s a long story. She came over here from the UK just a fortnight ago.’ He switched his attention to Katie. ‘Let me introduce you,’ he said. ‘Katie, this is Nick Bellini. He and his family own the vineyard next to mine. He’s in partnership with his father and brother.’
Katie frowned. So her father hadn’t even told his friends that he had a daughter. Another small part of her closed down inside. Perhaps she had been hoping for too much. Coming out here might turn out to be the biggest mistake of her life so far.
‘I’m pleased to meet you,’ Katie murmured. She wasn’t expecting him to respond with more than a nod, but he reached for her, taking her hand in his and cupping it between his palms.
‘And I’m more than delighted to meet you, Katie,’ Nick said, his voice taking on a husky, sensual note. ‘I’d no idea Jack was hiding such a treasure.’
Katie felt the heat rise in her cheeks. There was nothing casual about his greeting. The way he was holding her felt very much like a caress and it was thoroughly unsettling. Her alarm system had gone into overdrive at his touch and it was way more than she could handle. As if she hadn’t had enough problems with men.
As soon as it was polite enough to do so, she carefully extricated her hand. Over the last year she had worked hard to build up a shield around herself, had even begun to believe she was immune, and here, in less than two minutes, Nick Bellini had managed to shoot her defences to smithereens.
‘I’ve a feeling I’ve heard the name Bellini somewhere before,’ she murmured. ‘In a newspaper article, I think. I just can’t recall exactly what it was that I read.’
He gave her a wry smile. ‘Let’s hope it was something good.’
He gave his attention back to her father. ‘I was hoping we could get together some time in the next week or two to talk about the vineyards. My father has drawn up some papers, and he’d appreciate it if you would look them over.’
Her father nodded. ‘Yes, he mentioned them to me.’ He waved a hand towards an empty chair. ‘Why don’t you join us, Nick… unless you have business to attend to right now? We’ve only just ordered.’
Katie’s heart gave a disturbing lurch. She stared at him. What was her father thinking?
‘Thank you.’ Nick acknowledged the invitation with a nod. ‘I’d like that, if you’re quite sure I’m not intruding?’
He looked to Katie for an answer, but words stuck in her throat and she had to swallow down the flutter of uncertainty that rose in her. Why on earth had her father made the suggestion? They spent so little time together as it was, and there was so much she wanted to know, so many questions that still had to be answered. She needed to be alone with him, at least until she knew him better.
But what choice did she have? To refuse after Nick had shown his willingness to accept the invitation would be churlish.
Of course, Nick Bellini must have known all that. She nodded briefly, but sent him a glance through narrowed eyes.
He pulled out a chair and sat down, a half-smile playing around his mouth. She had the feeling he knew something of what she was going on in her mind, but if he had any real notion of her qualms he was choosing to ignore them.
‘I came here to see the management about their wine cellar,’ he said. ‘After all, we might be able to tempt them into adding our new Pinot Noir to their collection—not strictly my job, but I like to keep in touch with all the restaurateurs hereabouts.’ He paused as the waitress came to take his order.
‘I’ll have the teriyaki chicken, please, Theresa… with a side salad.’ He gave the girl a careful, assessing look. ‘You’ve done something different with your hair, haven’t you?’ His expression was thoughtful. ‘It looks good. It suits you.’
‘Thank you.’ The girl dimpled, her cheeks flushed with warm colour.
Nick watched her as she walked away, and Katie observed him in the process. Did he respond like that to every woman who came his way? Were they all treated to a sample of his megawatt charm?
‘Pinot Noir is a notoriously difficult wine to get right,’ Jack said. ‘But your father seems to have the Midas touch.’
Nick gave a fleeting smile. ‘The key is to harvest the grapes in the cool of the evening and in the early morning. Then they’re cold soaked before fermentation…and we use the whole berries for that process. Then, to reduce the risk of harsh tannins from the seeds and skins, they’re pressed early.’
Jack nodded. ‘Like I said, your father knows his business. Your vines are looking good again this year. It looks as though you’ll have one of the best seasons yet.’ He poured wine into a glass and passed it to Nick.
‘We’re hoping so.’ Nick held the glass to his lips. ‘Though you don’t do too badly yourself. The Logan name is well respected around here…that’s why we’d really like to make it part of the Bellini company.’
‘It’s a big undertaking.’ Jack’s features were sombre. ‘I’ve worked hard to build up the business over the years. It’s been my life’s work.’
‘Of course.’ Nick tasted the wine, savouring it on his tongue before placing his glass down on the table. ‘I’m sure my father will have taken all that into account.’
Katie frowned. It sounded as though the Bellinis were offering to buy out her father’s company, but as usual Jack Logan was keeping his cards close to his chest. Was he thinking of selling up, or would he try to fend off their attempt at a takeover?
Nick turned towards Katie, as though remembering his manners. ‘I’m sorry to talk shop…I expect this discussion of wine and grapes and company business must be quite boring for you.’
‘Not at all.’ Katie’s expression was sincere. ‘In fact I was really intrigued to learn that my father owns a vineyard, and I was actually hoping that one day soon I might get a chance to see it.’
‘That won’t be a problem,’ Jack murmured. ‘Just as soon as I get over this latest chest infection I’ll take you on a tour. In the meantime, I’m sure Nick would be glad to show you around his place.’
‘I’d be more than happy to do that,’ Nick agreed, his gaze homing in on her. ‘Maybe we could make a date for some time next week?’
‘I… Possibly.’ Katie was reluctant to commit herself to anything. She wasn’t ready for Nick’s full-on magnetism. Didn’t she have enough to contend with right now, without adding to her troubles? ‘I’ll have to see how things work out at the hospital.’
‘The hospital?’
Nick lifted a dark brow and Jack explained helpfully, ‘Katie’s a doctor…a paediatrician. She came out here to get a taste of California life and she’s just settling into a new job.’
‘Oh, I see.’
The waitress arrived with the meals just then, and Katie realised that she was hungry, despite her rest less, slightly agitated frame of mind. Perhaps food would help to calm her down.
She tasted the thinly sliced beef. It was cooked to perfection, and the blend of tomatoes and cheese was sublime. She savoured the food, washing it down with a sip of red wine, and for a moment she was lost in a sweet oasis of serenity.
‘So what was it that prompted you to come out here just now?’ Nick asked. ‘I mean, I guess you must have decided to come and see your father, but what made you choose to do it at this particular point in time?’
The peaceful moment was shattered in an instant. ‘I. It just seemed to be the optimum moment,’ she murmured. ‘My contract back in Shropshire was coming to an end… and I’d heard that my father was ill. I wanted to see how he was doing.’
Nick studied her