very young when he passed.” His grandmother didn’t believe in ignoring basic truths.
Anna glanced down at her hands. “Seventeen.”
She had been young. Alistair thought Oliver had been more involved in her life, but he was often in New York with his other family. In some ways, they had a similar experience. He grew up without his father and often wondered what he was like and why he had made the choices he had. His father wasn’t nearly as wealthy or well-known as Oliver Bolles. Oliver had made a fortune in investment banking while his father gambled away the assets of the vineyard. It wasn’t until the last ten years or so that the family regained and expanded their wealth.
Anna turned to Rose. “I loved the vineyard. Everything about it. The vines go on for miles and miles and then the people that have been with the vineyard forever were so friendly and helpful.”
His grandmother smiled at Anna. “Alistair tells us that you are going to help put together a launch party for a new wine and a harvest celebration.”
“It’s being worked on, but we are considering one of the public gardens on the outskirts of London. It will give the garden a boost in funding and then also provide a beautiful outside venue.”
“It sounds marvelous.”
His grandparents had been slightly nervous when he mentioned bringing Anna over, but they seemed relaxed and at ease.
His grandmother smiled at Anna. “Would you like to see my garden?”
Anna stood. “I’d love to.”
He watched the two of them walk out arm in arm.
His grandfather said, “You’ve made Nan happy. I bet she will talk of little else in the coming week.”
“Anna does get along with people.”
“Are you involved with her?” his granddad asked.
Alistair sat back. “We have a business relationship at the moment and she is holding me to that, but in the future I imagine something more.”
His granddad hesitated and then said, “Don’t trivialize the Bolles legacy. Her father was not a good man.”
Alistair ran a hand through his hair. “She was not raised by Oliver.”
“They say she has his mathematical ability. She probably has his logical thinking and ability with cards.”
Alistair laughed. “Do you know how absurd that sounds? My father and Oliver were from a different generation and did get involved with gambling. I’ve never had the urge to gamble, and from what I can tell neither does Anna.”
His grandfather frowned. “I hope she is nothing like him.”
“Yes, but you have to admit that we are seeing things from the Martin side and maybe not with enough perspective. I’m sure Oliver Bolles had his reasons.”
His grandfather had a distant look and Alistair felt a bit of remorse. He shouldn’t have pushed him. Granddad wanted to remember the good things about his son, not the problems.
His grandmother and Anna returned from the garden, chatting and laughing.
He met Anna’s gaze. “I’m sorry, but we need to head back.”
His grandmother touched his arm. “Are you sure you can’t stay for supper?”
“I’ll invite Anna again, but I need to be in London this evening.”
They all said a hurried goodbye and Alistair led Anna from the cottage. It had been a mistake bringing her to meet them. He didn’t want to disappoint either one of his grandparents. But in truth, he preferred to keep his personal life to himself. They were desperate for him to settle down and while his grandfather held a grudge against Oliver Bolles, his grandmother seemed to adore Anna. But he wasn’t ready to get involved in a serious relationship. If he was inclined to settle down, would he be drawn to Anna Bolles? He craved her physically but he wasn’t sure that would be enough for a long-term relationship.
Chapter 6
The following week, Anna received a text from Alistair cancelling their standing appointment on Wednesday. He was staying in Costa Rica for a few more days, but when he returned on the weekend, he asked to attend an
Anna glanced down at her hands. “Seventeen.”
She had been young. Alistair thought Oliver had been more involved in her life, but he was often in New York with his other family. In some ways, they had a similar experience. He grew up without his father and often wondered what he was like and why he had made the choices he had. His father wasn’t nearly as wealthy or well-known as Oliver Bolles. Oliver had made a fortune in investment banking while his father gambled away the assets of the vineyard. It wasn’t until the last ten years or so that the family regained and expanded their wealth.
Anna turned to Rose. “I loved the vineyard. Everything about it. The vines go on for miles and miles and then the people that have been with the vineyard forever were so friendly and helpful.”
His grandmother smiled at Anna. “Alistair tells us that you are going to help put together a launch party for a new wine and a harvest celebration.”
“It’s being worked on, but we are considering one of the public gardens on the outskirts of London. It will give the garden a boost in funding and then also provide a beautiful outside venue.”
“It sounds marvelous.”
His grandparents had been slightly nervous when he mentioned bringing Anna over, but they seemed relaxed and at ease.
His grandmother smiled at Anna. “Would you like to see my garden?”
Anna stood. “I’d love to.”
He watched the two of them walk out arm in arm.
His grandfather said, “You’ve made Nan happy. I bet she will talk of little else in the coming week.”
“Anna does get along with people.”
“Are you involved with her?” his granddad asked.
Alistair sat back. “We have a business relationship at the moment and she is holding me to that, but in the future I imagine something more.”
His granddad hesitated and then said, “Don’t trivialize the Bolles legacy. Her father was not a good man.”
Alistair ran a hand through his hair. “She was not raised by Oliver.”
“They say she has his mathematical ability. She probably has his logical thinking and ability with cards.”
Alistair laughed. “Do you know how absurd that sounds? My father and Oliver were from a different generation and did get involved with gambling. I’ve never had the urge to gamble, and from what I can tell neither does Anna.”
His grandfather frowned. “I hope she is nothing like him.”
“Yes, but you have to admit that we are seeing things from the Martin side and maybe not with enough perspective. I’m sure Oliver Bolles had his reasons.”
His grandfather had a distant look and Alistair felt a bit of remorse. He shouldn’t have pushed him. Granddad wanted to remember the good things about his son, not the problems.
His grandmother and Anna returned from the garden, chatting and laughing.
He met Anna’s gaze. “I’m sorry, but we need to head back.”
His grandmother touched his arm. “Are you sure you can’t stay for supper?”
“I’ll invite Anna again, but I need to be in London this evening.”
They all said a hurried goodbye and Alistair led Anna from the cottage. It had been a mistake bringing her to meet them. He didn’t want to disappoint either one of his grandparents. But in truth, he preferred to keep his personal life to himself. They were desperate for him to settle down and while his grandfather held a grudge against Oliver Bolles, his grandmother seemed to adore Anna. But he wasn’t ready to get involved in a serious relationship. If he was inclined to settle down, would he be drawn to Anna Bolles? He craved her physically but he wasn’t sure that would be enough for a long-term relationship.
Chapter 6
The following week, Anna received a text from Alistair cancelling their standing appointment on Wednesday. He was staying in Costa Rica for a few more days, but when he returned on the weekend, he asked to attend an
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