“The what group?” She took a couple of empty jelly jars out of the cupboard. Interesting. She doubted Derek ever did any canning. Recycles.

“It’s the it group for enlightened souls, and we made it in.” Simon clapped his hands together.

“Uh-huh, why don’t you enlighten me, and explain what your joining this group means exactly in regards to this workshop thing? And what did this cost you guys? An exclusive club is never free.”

He sighed and she could tell by the way he fidgeted around, moving like a kid needing to pee, that he was considering telling her a lie. “It was a little expensive. But we had to go through an application process. It’s not like just anyone can get in. It’s like the Harvard of enlightenment teachings.”

She frowned. “Harvard? A little expensive? Like how little?”

“A hundred thousand dollars,” he muttered and lowered his head.

“A hundred thousand dollars! You better have a ticket straight to heaven for that kind of cash. Does your brother know about this?”

“No.” He shrunk back. “I don’t have to tell Derek how or where I spend my money. And don’t you say anything. I only told you because I trust you.”

Ooh, he knew how to get to her. “Tell me, Simon, what do you get for that kind of money? I hope you get a contract stating that it’ll be God himself, not Saint Peter, who’ll be opening the pearly white gates for you. And you get an automatic ‘Go on through’ pass.”

He rolled his eyes. “Please. We don’t follow any one religion. We believe all faiths have validity to them. But I’m so glad you asked about the money, because after I tell you, you’ll see how great all of this is going to be. For the big hundred thou, we get to be with only a handful of other people in our group. We get all of the guru’s books, CDs, and DVDs for free, plus we get to be seated in the first front rows at all of his celebration seminars. That means we get to be seated first and we get our photo taken with him at each event.”

“Ooh, a picture. Impressive.”

“Come on,” he whined. “You haven’t even heard the best part.”

“Do tell.”

“Well, three times a year we get to go on vacation with him to some exciting locale and learn from the master himself.”

“Oh yeah, I can see how that would be the best part.”

He smiled as if he were the cat who swallowed the canary.

She stared at him. “Come on, Simon! You’re kidding. My God! When are you going to see that this guy is simply a master in making money?”

“You are so not hip or fun anymore. Now you’re like Suzy homemaker and I can see it, you’re gonna be a buzz kill from now on. You’ll be all brownies in the afternoons with a glass of milk, and watching soap operas. Your ass’ll get wide and, gawd, just no fun. Domesticated. That’s what you’re becoming.”

“Sounds like me. Actually sounds kind of good. I like brownies.” Except for the expanding backside. That didn’t sound too appealing. “Soap operas, I don’t know about. Reruns of Will & Grace? Maybe.”

“Oh I loved that show. I wish they’d never taken it off TV. See what happens when you settle down? Next thing you’ll be like Debra Messing, baby and all and blah, blah, blah…” He lifted himself up onto the counter and sat on the edge.

Nikki stomped her feet. “Shut up!” Simon went wide-eyed. “Look, I’m only trying to help you see that this guru Sansibaba nut knows how to market and sell his product, which he labels ‘enlightenment.’ That’s crazy. Enlightenment comes from within.”

“I know that. But he’s not what you think. And you know what? It doesn’t matter what you think. The plan for S.E.E. was to go to Bali, but then a typhoon hit and so the winery is what we’ve come up with. You be a good girl and play nice. You don’t have a choice anyway. Since Marco and I are the newest members, we thought it would be good to start off by giving back. You know, paying it forward from the get-go. Everyone will be here next week, and you are going to help me and Marco see that it runs smoothly. Just ask the boss man himself. He said it would be no problema.”

Excuse me? Nikki found herself speechless. Simon never took that tone with her. He could be bitchy-yes. He was always that way and she played right along-it was just Simon. But downright bossy? That was new. “Good, I’m glad we’re in agreement.” He glanced at his watch. “Gotta run. I have a manicure scheduled. I’ll be back at six for a little powwow. I can see the wheels churning, Snow White.” He jumped off the counter. “I know you. You’re already getting on board, aren’t you? That’s what I love about you You’re a regular Pollyanna. Good karma coming your way. Before long you’ll have the domesticated gig down and it’ll be everything you ever dreamed because you are a good person. See you later, love.” He blew a kiss at her, scrambling to get out the front door.

She watched him, unable to grasp the entire reality of what he’d just told her. Next week? Next week this freak show and his cronies were coming to Malveaux Estate? She shook her head and picked a plate up off the counter. Without another thought, she threw it against the wall and watched it shatter into pieces while yelling out, “Simon!” Ollie let out a loud yelp as if he’d been kicked. It wasn’t the dog who was going to get a swift kick in the rear. But Simon was another story.

Derek had gone into the city to personally take care of a larger account that they’d recently had problems with, making him incommunicado all day. He’d called on his drive home, but his cell died right after he said something about being on his way home. Nikki’s irritation had reached a high note after hanging up the phone. By the time Derek got home, she had worked herself into a tizzy.

“Did you tell Simon that I’d help him out with this guru thing he and Marco have going?” Nikki asked as she set aside the onion she’d been chopping. “Because if you did that, well, first of all, what are you thinking letting those two have that, that, guru guy and his entourage here? We can’t have that. Think of all the work. I mean one week, plus I understand this guy is gaining in popularity. We don’t need a bunch of tourists coming in here all at once. We can’t handle that. We don’t have the staff right now.”

Derek had barely closed the door, wine bottle in hand, which he set down on the table. As irritated as she was at him, she couldn’t help noticing his golden looks. Her stomach sank. Don’t pay attention to those blue eyes, wavy blond hair, and that six-pack she knew was under the suit. Don’t even think about it. He had some questions to answer first. Ollie had finally gotten off the couch when he’d heard Derek’s voice and was now stuck to his side. The dog was smart enough to understand Nikki’s state of mind.

Derek walked over to her and placed his hands on her shoulders. “Hi to you, too, and I don’t think I’ll ask how your day was. Should I? I hope you had nothing to do with this.” He glanced down at Ollie, who cocked his head to the side.

“I’m serious. What’s the deal?” She picked the onion back up, but while slicing through it, the knife nicked her thumb. “Dammit!” She pulled the knife back and blood trickled down her hand. Ollie hightailed it back to the couch.

Derek rushed over and looked at her thumb. He quickly grabbed a paper towel from the rack and ran it under cool water, then began dabbing at the injury.

“It’s only a little cut. I wasn’t paying attention.” She tried to yank her hand away from his. She knew she shouldn’t jump to conclusions about him telling Simon that she’d handle the details of the event. But she had and she was kind of grumpy from moving boxes all day, her back now hurting.

He brought her hand to his lips and kissed her thumb, then turned it over and kissed her palm. “Better?”

She looked at him and realized how horrendous she’d just behaved. Man oh man; he was sure easy on the eyes-all blond and rugged-like, and blue-eyed, and sweet and sensitive. Maybe it was time to lose the attitude. “A little. But one right here would make me feel even better.” She pointed to her cheek.