Theo felt sorry for the son, Flynn. He’d tried to take him under his wing and give him support. It could have been a mutually agreeable opportunity: Theo could help Flynn to build up the winery and, once it was Flynn’s, he would look favourably on Theo as a benefactor. Levallier Dell would be the crowning glory of the River Dynasty estate, that stretched along the river on either side. It would be the final piece in a puzzle of prime land that Theo had been accumulating for years.

Unfortunately, Flynn wasn’t so easily influenced. He was his own man; a trait Theo had to admit he admired. He lifted his cap and ran his fingers through his hair. It was still thick, despite his seventy-six years. He shook his head. Young Levallier planned to expand on his own. Theo wasn’t sure that he had the business knowledge or the money to do it and Flynn had the added disadvantage of Euan, who still believed he was running a cottage industry from the eighties.

A tooting car horn interrupted the still morning. Theo looked up. His face broke into a benevolent smile as he watched the red sports car sweep down the road towards the house. Katerina had arrived. He hadn’t seen his precious granddaughter for over a year and that had not been here but in Melbourne. She’d been there when he’d flown over for meetings and he’d taken her out for dinner. It was good that she’d come home.

He gave one last look towards the workers, and beyond them to the Levallier winery. His smile broadened. There was more than one way to skin a cat, he thought. And he strode towards the house.

Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2

The luggage was late appearing and after she’d checked her phone and texted her mother to let her know they’d landed safely, Keely perused the tourist information while she waited. The airport brochure stand was packed full of invitations for things to do in Perth and beyond. She reached for a pamphlet and felt a lump under her toe.

“Sorry,” she said as the young man next to her yanked his foot away. She stepped back quickly and bumped into someone behind her.

“Sorry,” she wailed again and clutched her bag, trying to make herself smaller.

“No harm done.”

She turned to look at the smiling face of the dark-haired young man whose toes she’d squashed. He passed her the brochure she’d been reaching for.

She recognised him as one of the group who’d been seated near her on the flight.

“You planning on doing some sky diving?”

She glanced down at the pamphlet he’d given her and was stunned to see that was indeed what it was for.

“Oh no. I have enough trouble flying in a plane let alone jumping out of one. I wanted the one on river cruises.”