Marina Adair - Autumn in the Vineyard

So Frankie did what Frankie always does; she bucked up and took the brunt of the blow. Walked into that party, tight red dress and enough sex appeal to bring a man to his knees, and took her rightful seat. She had to have been scared to death, knowing that at any moment Charles could walk right in and cut her out of the family business once and for all.

He could have ruined the entire fundraiser. Instead he ruined Frankie’s life.

“What now?” Trey asked and all the guys looked to Nate.

“We’ve got a hearing on Friday with Judge Pricket,” Nate said hating what he was about to say.

He didn’t mind taking down Charles. But taking on Frankie, knowing what he did about her past and what this land must mean to her now, wasn’t something he wanted to do. Ever. But he also didn’t want to let his dad down. Or let his family down. They had a lot of money tied up in this deal, and Frankie would rally. She always did. Plus it was just a business deal, nothing personal, just business.

“Frankie’s dad left her some money when he passed,” he began, knowing exactly how much she had inherited. “If she spent a million on the land, my guess is she’s close to broke.”

“Which helps us how?” Trey asked. “She already owns the land.”

“Yeah,” Nate said. “But Frankie doesn’t plan, she just jumps in. I am betting come Friday, when she realizes she only has half the land and adds up how much a new water tank and pump are going to cost, not to mention the irrigation the land needs, she’ll be open to an offer.”

“You think she’ll sell?” Gabe asked.

“It will be a slam dunk,” Nate said, feeling good about his plan. “What kind of logical person would turn down double profit in less than a week when their only option is to go broke?”

Well, since it looks as though both parties are accounted for and those who aren’t will no doubt be caught up by lunch,” Judge Pricket said, peering over his glasses at the packed courthouse, “Let’s get started.”

“We can’t start without Lucinda,” Nate’s nonna said, her shoes clapping against the marble floors as she waddled down the aisle, waving to just about everyone she passed.

Judge Pricket looked at his watch and scowled. “I’ve got an urgent appointment in thirty minutes.”

Based on the crisp white slacks, matching white polo, and custom carved mallet leaning against the wall behind the judge’s bench, Nate figured his “appointment” was at Meadowood, St. Helena’s premiere members-only club, and that “urgent” appointment was his weekly game of croquet with the mayor. One that had been going on since the man took the bench back when Eisenhower was in office. The judge was in his eighties now.

“Well, you can’t let that poor child sit up there all by herself. Plus, Lucinda is on her way. She didn’t know about the hearing.” ChiChi shot a chiding look at Frankie, who rolled her eyes. “Or she would have rescheduled her mammogram appointment. She should be here in about fifteen minutes.”

Dressed in some fancy pants suit, enough gold to fund the entire city for a year, and sculpted silver hair, Nate’s nonna slid behind the prosecution table, forcing him, all of his brothers, and his lawyer to scoot down to make room.

Frankie, on the other hand, sat in the middle of the defense table, empty chairs on either side, wearing her dark hair pulled up into a ponytail, a pretty blue top and dark jeans—no holes today. Besides the biker boots and motorcycle helmet resting in front of her, she looked more sweet co-ed than smart-ass and—since the table practically swallowed her whole—almost fragile.

Nate refused to acknowledge the small tug in his heart because he knew better. Knew that nothing about Frankie was fragile. She was tougher than most men and would probably skin his nuts for thinking any differently. But, goddamn, she looked so small behind that massive mahogany table. She didn’t even have a lawyer.

She should have one. At least one. Nate had nine. Drew might be the only one present, but the other eight were diligently working on his family’s behalf. Making sure they not only kept their half of the land, but looking for loopholes that would screw Frankie out of hers.

Nate watched her worry her lower lip and frowned. Where were her brothers?

“I’m sorry,” Judge Pricket said to Frankie, not sorry at all. “But between talking to Patsy down at the planning department, Katie Baudouin at the bank, and both Saul and Glow Sorrento, I haven’t had time to use the facilities today, let alone enjoy a meal. This is also the third time I have had this cockamamy claim in my courtroom, so you understand that I am anxious to hear the evidence, make a ruling, and stop wasting more taxpayer dollars on something that should have been taken care of decades ago.”

“Amen,” ChiChi chimed in, giving Nate a quick flick to the ear as though he were the reason that they were all here today, wasting taxpayer dollars.

“It’s all right, your honor. I’m as frustrated as you are about coming here today,” Frankie said. Without looking back to see who was there, Frankie shrugged nonchalantly and, although he couldn’t for the life of him read the expression on her face, there was nothing nonchalant about how hard her throat was working. “Since this isn’t a family situation and I knew what I was getting into when I bought the land, I think I can handle this on my own.”

“I’m glad we are on the same page, Miss Baudouin.” Judge Pricket lowered his glasses and studied her empty table. “I take it you are waiving your right to legal counsel?”

“Yes, your honor,” Frankie said, standing. The judge let out a groan. “I figured this was a pretty straightforward case. I bought the land from Mrs. Sorrento, I talked to her last night and she has no intentions of reneging on the deal, and neither do I, so we are good.”

“Well, since I’m the one who has reviewed all the material, who has been dealing with this land and your two families for over sixty years, and am appointed by the great state of California…” The judge picked up the case file in front of him, the one Gabe and his brothers had spent all night preparing with the help of their legal team, and tossed it aside. “Why don’t you take your seat and let me decide just how good we all are?”

“Um, yes, your honor,” Frankie said. She didn’t look happy.

Welcome to my world , Nate thought.

“You purchased the northern part of Sorrento Ranch from Mrs. Sorrento on the fifth of September. Is this correct?”

“Yes, your honor.”

“And Nathaniel, you and your brothers purchased the south part of the property on the second of September from Saul Sorrento?”

“Yes, sir. Although at the time we were under the impression we were acquiring the entire twenty acres,” Nate said, hoping to get a little sympathy sent their way.

“Yes, and at the time Saul thought he was selling his half of the property to Jackson Tanner, not DeLuca Wines,” Judge Pricket said, sounding like a disappointed principal more than a judge. “Maybe if you’d taken more time doing your homework instead of trying to buy the property under false pretenses, you would have noticed that the land had been split fifteen years ago.”

“Yes, sir.” Nate felt thoroughly scolded.

“You would have also noticed that instead of Saul’s inflated price of seven and a half million”—the entire courtroom went silent and Nate felt as though every eye were on him—“the other property was being offered at—”

Pricket looked down at his notes and laughed. He freaking laughed and Nate sank even lower in his chair. “Frankie, did you really get that land for nine-hundred thousand dollars?”