“Because my manager is coming and he has a real thing for trespassers. If you’ve been here as often as you say, then he likely knows you by sight. You should go while you still can.”
“I’m glad you take your duties so seriously, Skye Smith.”
She frowned. Why should he be glad? “Protecting the vines is important,” she said with a shake of her head. “And that really doesn’t matter right now. He’ll throw the book at you if he—,”
“Matthieu!” Etienne’s voice barreled towards them, and Skye turned to face him, resenting the man’s intrusion more than she ever had anything in her entire life.
“Thank you for the chance of escape,” he said quietly, just for her ears. “But I think I’ll be okay.”
She frowned, not sure what he meant, but a moment later, Matthieu was stepping forward, extending a hand, switching back to French. “Etienne, it is good to see you again.”
“Thank you for coming,” Etienne responded, his gaze shifting towards Skye, his expression showing he didn’t understand why she was there. There was, evidently, a lot she didn’t understand. Like the fact the man she’d accused of trespassing was known to Etienne—and had in fact come at his invitation.
The two men shook hands, like old friends.
“I was on my way to meet you in the recolte field.”
“Ah, yes,” Matthieu gestured towards Skye. “But you didn’t inform your staff to expect me.”
Etienne frowned. “I never do. Was there a problem?”
Amusement showed in Matthieu’s eyes. “No. I was very pleased with how conscientious Miss Smith was. Trespassers are a major problem, after all.”
“Mon Dieu, do you mean to say—,” Etienne looked at Skye again, utterly confounded. “Miss Smith, is it possible you did not recognize this man?”
She had the strangest feeling that the ground was shaking beneath her feet. She looked from one man to the other, wondering exactly what gigantic faux pas she’d committed now. She focused on Matthieu’s face, trying to look at him objectively, to see if there was anything recognizable in his features and failing. “I—should I?”
Etienne’s laugh, while kindly, was nowhere near as addictive as Matthieu’s. Something rose inside of her. Displeasure. She’d been laughed at enough in her lifetime. She put her hands on her hips, staring at Matthieu. “I don’t see what the joke is.”
“There is no joke,” Matthieu spoke softly, as if he understood how she felt.
“Evidently, you’re wrong.”
“This is Matthieu de Garmeaux,” Etienne said, sobering. “All of this, is his.” Etienne waved a hand over the rolling hills covered in trellises of vines.
Skye’s jaw dropped. Not for a second had it occurred to her that this man might be the owner of the entire estate. And not just this winery. The de Garmeaux family owned the biggest luxury brand holdings in the world. Their handbags were always worn by film stars and supermodels, each one cost an arm and a leg. Their fashion was high end, regularly on the cover of Vogue. Not that Skye cared about any of this, but her two stepsisters did, and it had been impossible to tune them out completely, so she’d picked up enough to knowthat the man standing opposite her, who she’d been fantasizing about kissing only moments ago, was one of the richest men in the world.
“My mistake,” she said, glad when the words came out clipped and curt. “I’m sorry I accused you of trespassing.”
“It was an easy mistake.”
“Apparently not,” she corrected. “I should have recognized you.”
He shook his head. “I’m glad you didn’t.”
Why? If it was five minutes ago, she would have asked the question, but that natural air of sharing was gone. She smiled tersely. “It’s time for me to get back to work, Mr de Garmeaux,” she added, for formality, turning before he could say another word.
She stalked away from the men, wondering at the foolish sting of tears against her eyes. It had been a long time since she’d cried and she sure as hell didn’t intend to start now—not for something so trivial! It was a far better idea to forget that strange interaction had ever taken place. She would forget she’d ever met Matthieu, that she’d ever found him attractive, and certainly that she’d actually thought he might kiss her.