Love in the vineyard

skyline. His mind, however, was elsewhere. The past few years had been a blur of meetings, deals

terrupted his thoughts. "

is eyes narrowi

w firm of Jenkins and As

piqued, he nodde

a middle-aged man wit

to meet you," Mr. Jenkins

y. "Likewise. What b

re to discuss the estate of your

et his great-uncle, but he remembere

ently, leaving behind a substanti

ed forward

vineyard in Tuscany, It

A vineyard? That was th

ly named you as the benefici

hy would his great-unc

tion of the viney

ling. The past few years have been

This could be an opportun

ee the vineyar

for you to travel to Italy. You c

d, his dec

e tomorrow

nvas of rolling hills and golden sunlight. The vineyard

en English. "Welcome, Signor Thompso

Yes, Giovanni.

s stone walls bearing the scars of t

is chance to re

to the vineyard man

, her gaze piercing. "

ded. "And

vineyard manage

piercing green eyes, raven-black h

lot about yo

on turned skeptic

ere to assess the vi

shed. "You're thi

hadn't considered

g all options,"

darkened, he

more complicated th

l, her gaze intense. "Villa Bella Vita isn't

nderstand," he said. "But I nee

her face pale. "Follow

ricacies of grape cultivation and wine production. Ryd

hem, casting long shad

ineyard was palpable, her

rawn to her, despite

ry, the scent of fermen

ned. "This is imp

softening. "Grape harves

as Sophia expertly naviga

inspiring, her know

al skepticism

ineyard was

ed, Sophia led R

d, a warm smil

ed, Signor Thom

growled, anticip

his, a hint of war

or dinner,

ed, his he

was set with fine

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e first course, a

ite, the flavors exp

"Tuscan cuisine is simpl

. "I couldn'

der learning more about Sophia

worked the land

more than a business

iration for

gh exterior to the vu

n, the night air f

ive, his sens

enveloped him, a

elt this wa

cked onto his, a

eart skip

sread the

feeling the

r vibrated w

tered the silence,

muttered, ans

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rong?" So

nched. "Busines

ed, Ryder's

ations, resp

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eyes sear

s hear

dn't

etween his business obligations and the u

the silence. "I'll sh

following her

autiful as its exterior, with ornat

side a door, her h

oom," s

iled. "T

met his, a h

t, Ryder,

eart skip

, Sophia,"

ehind him, Ryder'

ling that his life was ab

omfortable, th

ed, his mind

d, his eyes adjust

, his thoughts c

r the vineyard

y was cap

n the bedside table

p, scrolling t

was still spinning,

jaw cl

gnore his res

by, Ryder's exh

, sleep cl

t streamed thro

efreshed, hi

ly, eager to exp

in the kitchen

?" she

r no

poured

r coffee in comf

. "I'd like to review t

ia n

he document

quickly, Ryder pori

's struggles

r saw po

s eyes

ing of stayin

eart skip

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s face

needs someone li

thoughts

o leave his ol

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expressio

someone?" R

s jaw c

her, Ale

curiosit

e Luca," Soph

.ideas about the

nstincts

d get com