Silenced By Syrah Read Free Page B

take notes for Derek about the vineyard, winery, and wines produced at Malveaux, compile them, write them out in text format, and pass them on to Georges, who then took the notes and fit them into the cookbook. It had been a fun project to work on and Nikki had discovered during it that writing was something she enjoyed. She’d had to meet with Georges at his restaurant in the city a few times in regard to the book, and although he’d always been a bit off the wall, he’d also been fun to be around. He always had a mischievous twinkle in his hazel eyes, even when scolding the underlings working for him. Right now that look was directed at Nikki. He licked his thin lips.
    “It is so good to see you, Mademoiselle Nikki,” he said, his French accent rolling off the end of each word.
    She went to shake his hand. He took it and kissed it instead and tucked a piece of salt-and-pepper hair back into his ponytail, revealing a large diamond stud earring. Nikki found him sort of cute in a weird, over-fifty, eccentric, French chef kind of way. Maybe it was the dimples when he smiled, or that twinkle. Whatever it was, even with his offbeat behavior, she thought Georges charming.
    “It is soo difficult to maintain control here. My partner is late. I will kill Baron when I see him. Never have an Irishman as your partner.”
    Nikki had only met Baron O’Grady twice before and he came off as the quintessential Irishman, brogue included.
    “Baron is likely off drinking whiskey on the job,” Georges continued. He waved a hand through the air. “Enough of that, though. Come on, you are here to tell me about the vin and I am here to look at those green eyes of yours. Oui? ”
    No. But whatever. He looked around. “Janie! Where is Janie?”
    A young twentysomething woman walked around the corner. She was petite, pretty, with long blonde hair, huge blue eyes, and freckles dotting her nose that made her look childlike. She came up next to Georges. “I was making sure the escargot you ordered from the city had arrived.”
    “ Oui . You have met my assistant , Janie Creswell. My angel from God.”
    “Oh Georges, don’t lie to Nikki. I am not an angel.”
    Nikki smiled as the two of them laughed at the comment. “Nice to see you again, Janie.”
    Georges said, “You are an angel.”
    Nikki had not figured these two out yet. It was weird because they bantered back and forth and seemed to share a certain intimacy, but he still flirted with every other woman around, and Janie wore an engagement ring.
    “Why don’t we go into the bar and go over the wines for this evening?” Nikki said.
    “ Oui . Janie?”
    “Right behind you,” she replied, notebook in hand.
    Nikki had never seen the girl without a notebook.
    They entered the bar, elegantly painted in Tuscan tones of gold, champagne, sage, and burgundy. Malveaux Estate wines sat on glass shelving behind the bar, reflected in the mirror that covered the rear wall.
    “You tell me about the vin and I tell you more about Georges,” the chef said.
    Nikki tried to laugh. Janie gave Georges a dirty look. “I am only teasing,” Georges said.
    “I’m sorry. He’s incorrigible. I do try to keep him in line,” Janie said.
    “Keep me in line. Blaspheme . I do not need to be kept in line. I am a good boy. Very bon .” He winked at Nikki.
    Okay, robbing the cradle and trying to get two women in his bed.
    “Georges,” an attractive woman seated at one at the end of the bar called out.
    “ Oui , Lauren?”
    “I have some questions. I’m meeting with Rick and we need to ask you a few things before we go forward on some of these campaigns. He’ll be right back; he went to the men’s room.”
    “Is that not why I hire you? To do the job? Get it done. You are the best. I have been told that. I was not lied to, was I?” he snipped. “I do not have time for questions now. Do your job. Oui? ”
    “That’s true, but we are dealing with your money here, and Rick and I need some