The Vintner and the Vixen (Vintage Love Book 1) Read Online Free Page A

my job and sold the apartment where Gran-Gran and I lived. I have nothing and no one to go back to.”
    “What about your family?” Charles asked.
    “I haven’t lived with my parents for almost ten years, so we’ve grown apart. My twin brother is married and has his own life…” Her voice trailed off and she took a sip of her wine.
    “Their loss is our gain,” Daniel said.
    Jacques shot him a warning glare, but it only made his brother laugh.
    “When is your next race?” Maya asked Daniel.
    “Not until the middle of August. We’re on summer break for another two weeks.”
    The rest of the meal passed in a discussion of Daniel’s racing career, the upcoming grape harvest, and various other banalities. By the time the serving staff placed the cheese and fruit on the table for the last course, Maya lounged back in her chair, sipping her second glass of wine, looking like she came to dinner every night. At some point she’d kicked off her shoes, and her bare foot had come perilously close to rubbing against his calf on several occasions. Only ten minutes after the meal, he couldn’t remember a single thing he’d eaten.
    “I am sorry, but my age is showing,” Grand-Papa said. “I am tired and must go to bed. Thank you for joining us for dinner, Maya. I hope this is the first of many meals you will share with us. Bon nuit .”
    “I’ll see you to your room, Grand-Papa,” Daniel said. “I’ve got some emails to answer and meetings to set up, so I’ll say good night as well. It was a pleasure to meet you, Maya. As Grand-Papa said, I hope this is just the first meal you share with us. It’s way more enjoyable to stare at you across the table than my old brother.”
    Maya laughed and the sound trickled down Jacques’s spine. She stood and strode around the table, barefoot, and kissed his grandfather on the cheek. “Good night, Charles. Sleep well. Will you come to the cottage, or shall I meet you here for our date tomorrow?”
    Grand-Papa’s eyes had a definite mischievous twinkle as he glanced at Jacques. “Would you come here? It’s such a long walk to the cottage.”
    Since when? It was 100 meters and Grand-Papa walked the gardens daily, plus he had a golf cart for getting around when his knees bothered him. What game was the old man playing now?
    “Do I get a kiss?” Daniel asked.
    “I think you’ve had your quota for the day,” Maya replied. She reached out and wiped off the lipstick stain from under Daniel’s jaw with her thumb.
    Daniel and his grandfather left, and Jacques stared at Maya from across the table. He had to keep her away from his grandfather. Grand-Papa had always had a weakness for beautiful women, as evidenced by the situation they were in now. Jacques wouldn’t allow Maya to take further advantage of his grandfather’s trusting nature. Or his own apparent penchant for sexy redheads either. In answer to Daniel’s earlier observation, no, he wasn’t dead. But that didn’t mean he was going to be ruled by his body.
    “Do you wish something else? A coffee perhaps?” Jacques offered to take his mind off kissing her. He definitely hadn’t had his quota today.
    “No, I’m good. In fact, I’d better get to bed, too.”
    Want company? He managed to stop himself from blurting it out. Maudit , the woman eroded his control.
    “I’ll just get my shoes,” she said as she dropped to her knees.
    “Allow me.” He pulled back his chair and kneeled to find her footwear. They both reached for the same shoe from opposite sides of the table.
    Maya’s laugh reverberated off the underside of the table and did wicked things to his body. “We meet again, Monsieur de Launay,” she said in a seductive tone.
    He pushed both shoes towards her and scooted out from under the table before his control completely snapped.
    “I’ll walk you to the cottage.” His voice was harsh as he wrestled with the desire to push her back under the table, slide the dress from her body, and make love to