The Matchmaker's Curse

Chapter 1

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Chapter 1

Kenna

I do love my job. I love the resort and the people who come into the bar. There's always something new going on. Something to celebrate, a promotion, an anniversary, a birthday. Or something to mourn, a loss, a job, a divorce, a friend. Some just want to be left alone and drink, some just want to people watch. And from behind the bar I can see it all.

I get to do all of that every night. My job is about reading people, reading the room and making sure everyone has the time they are looking for. Tonight is no different. Walking into Cellar Run, the bar is full, loud and my staff is busy. Just the way I like it.

Going behind the bar, I wipe down the bar and do a quick inventory of what we have gone through and what I need for the night.

"We're out of the house white and need more mixers for the special. Whatever Raleigh ran on the ads this week worked! Everyone from around the state has come in!" Ray, the day manager informed me.

"That's her job!" And she's damn good at it.

Raleigh Michaels, one of my best friends and favorite people in the world. She has worked for my grandparents since she graduated from college in marketing five years ago and has been an asset from the beginning. She's creative, inventive and inspiring and she doubled the number of guests in the off season in just her first year.

"I'll grab what you need from the back. Guys at the end are drinking rum runners, running a tab on their room. The two women are having dirty martinis, celebrating a divorce, no room and the single guy there is undetermined, just sat down and hasn't ordered."

"Got it. Thanks," tying the black apron around my waist, I continued down the bar to our undetermined single guy. "Hi! What can I get you tonight?"

Pushing up the dark rimmed glasses, he smiled at me and I felt pin pricks on my skin. I had to force myself not to step back but to stay where I was and wait on him. I don't know what it is about him, but something just doesn't feel right about him.

"Hi! Uh, I don't know. It's my first time in. Can you recommend a good wine?" He asked, as if we have any bad ones.

"Do you have a preference, red or white?" I asked hoping he makes this fast.

"Red. Something deep, mysterious, a little tart," he replied as if red was anything but that.

"We have a local wine that is wonderful. Let me get you a taste and let you see for yourself."

Giving myself a moment to pull myself together, I turn my back and fix a small taster of wine. Taking a breath I turned back and with a smile on my face, I passed him the small glass.

"Oh that's lovely. Is that cherry I taste?" He does have taste buds.

"Yes it is. That's a Malbec. It has plum, black cherry and cocoa flavors. It has high tannins, high alcohol and a full body that goes wonderfully with one of our ribeye steaks," I informed him.

I know my wines. You can't live outside of Napa Valley and not know something about it. This is the Mecca of wine country in California. And I have learned everything possible about the growing of the grapes, the fermentation process and how to tell the difference between a Malbec and a Syrah.

I've been to countless tastings, sampled hundreds of wines and each one has a different flavor even those that should have the same profile. Because every crop of grapes has its own unique flavor, it's own distinct characteristics which sets it apart. Just like people are different, so is wine.