Dying on the Vine by Ann Roberts

Author:Ann Roberts [Roberts, Ann]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781642471229
Publisher: BELLA BOOKS
Published: 2020-04-27T16:00:00+00:00

Two hours later the other four bottles were revealed. Ari was severely buzzed because unlike the Master Sommelier candidates, she hadn’t spit out her wine—and she’d enjoyed that large glass of pinot noir on the patio before her stint as wine pourer. The time had been enlightening, although what she’d learned seemed to have little bearing on the case.

Without a doubt, the person most prepared for the exam was Emily. She’d correctly named the varietal, region, and year produced three times. The other three candidates had each gotten one right, but none of them knew as much as Emily. And apparently she hadn’t known as much as Dion. The multitude of blue binders was most likely the key to his success. Maybe he shared those with her?

As the group packed up to leave, Ari glanced at the wineglasses, used paper cups and spit bucket, feeling obligated to do something with all of it. Peri was the closest and had been the most hospitable, so she touched her arm and asked, “Where does all this go?”

Peri scowled. “I’ll take care of it.” She set her messenger bag aside and scooped up the glasses with one hand.

“Impressive,” Ari said, retrieving the bucket.

“Years of practice.”

She followed Peri into the back kitchen and a large commercial dishwasher. They quickly stacked the glasses, and Ari felt Peri’s eyes on her. “That’s a very interesting group,” she said.

Peri sighed. “That’s one word for it. I’d call it friendship by necessity.” She leaned against the wall and crossed her arms. “None of us would be friends under any other circumstance. But for this, we need each other. I’ve never heard of anyone passing this test alone.”

“What was the deal with Eddie? Why isn’t he taking the test? He says he doesn’t want to but he seemed quite invested in the process.”

“Oh, he is. But like he said, he’s more interested in running a winery than being a somm.”

“Well, I’ve never known a successful businessman who storms out of a room.”

She rolled her eyes. “Eddie and his damn temper tantrums. It was bad enough when he and Mina were carrying on. Thought he was in charge of the whole place.”

“Who ended it?”

“Cleo,” Peri said with a laugh.

Ari said innocently, “So Mina and Cleo have an open relationship?”

“Only to a point. If things get too serious with the third party, either one of them has the right to call it off.” She looked over her shoulder to make sure they were alone. “Frankly, I think Mina’s about had it with Cleo and Emily. She’s going to pull the plug on that one.” Peri shrugged. “Everyone, including myself, has understood that eventually Mina returns to Cleo or Cleo returns to Mina. Eddie struggled with that. That’s about the time he started hanging out with Racy.”

“Who just won the malbec award?”

“Yes, for Respite.”

Ari glanced over her shoulder before she said, “I don’t want to be a traitor, but as someone who loves malbec, is it any good?”

Peri put a hand over her smile.

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