It was rare for Red Creek Grove to get an unexpected guest. Nestled away in the countryside, far from any major cities or highways, the winery was left largely undisturbed by the hustle and bustle of the world beyond. Aside from the workers who immaculately cared for the vines, the only people who came to Jessica’s little slice of heaven were the occasional tourist doing some wine-tasting, as well as the truckers shipping up the best wine in the country from the manor’s cellar to stores around the globe, and that was just the way she liked it. Jessica had little use for people these days; a painful divorce, the vapid pettiness of “polite” society and a now-abandoned career in marketing had seen to that. No, life as a recluse certainly had its advantages, and amongst the careful tended vines that were her pride and joy, she felt a sense of peace and fulfillment that nothing in her life had matched.

Of course, that also meant that once her staff went home for the day and she was left alone in the old manor, help would likewise be distant, and as the rough twine settled in place around her wrists, Jessica reflected that, perhaps, the reclusive life did have its disadvantages… “Must you tie me up? I won’t resist, I promise you.”

“Regrettably, I must,” the intruder answered in a surprisingly gentle voice for a man of his size and build, dexterous fingers securing her arms behind her back into a firm boxtie. He was clad in all black-- shirt, pants and balaclava-- so as to better infiltrate the vineyard at night, and the first she had known of his presence was when his gloved hand clamped over her mouth as she readied herself for bed. Shock and the sheer threat his presence posed stifled any thought of resistance before it could be acted upon, and Jessica remained obediently still as more twine began binding her crossed ankles together. “When I do a job, I do it well.”

“Even when you’re doing something illegal?”

“Of course. Professional standards must be upheld. You must know what it’s like to strive for perfection in your craft as a vintner, given how successful your business has become.”

He wasn’t wrong there. Not that Jessica would ever grace the thief by saying so. Instead, she held her tongue, even as another roll of twine, the sort she kept in the vineyard’s tool shed and used to tie up the grapevines, was produced and wrapped beneath her breasts to keep her upper arms pinned at her sides. At thirty-five, Jessica was still a lovely woman more than capable of turning heads, especially in her mid-length blue silk nightgown, hair like burnished copper cascading to the small of her back, her skin gifted with a healthy glow thanks to endless hours spent working outdoors. Green eyes examined her captor cautiously, until at last, curiosity demanded she speak once more. “Why are you doing this to begin with? It’s not like I keep plenty of cash on hand.”

“No, I’m after something far more valuable,” the intruder remarked, cinching a final knot tight. “My employer has asked me to retrieve the first bottle of this year’s vintage. I understand that it’ll fetch a high price.”

“And can your employer simply not buy it off me normally?” asked Jessica. “Considering they can afford to pay you to commit a felony.”

The intruder shrugged. “Who the hell knows with these wealthy types? Maybe he just finds the idea of paying a fair price beneath him; plenty of them do. Still, a job’s a job, and I’d certainly rather avoid hurting you. Where can I find it?”

In answer, Jessica strained and flexed against her bondage, only to let out a sigh of resignation when the twine held fast. “It’s on the table in the study, next to the books on viticulture.” There was no sense in holding out. The thief had been gentle enough so far, but any man capable of breaking into her home and tying her up could do far worse, and there was no sense in risking her life for a single bottle of wine… not when the vines had given up enough in the latest harvest to make hundreds more. “There’s a label right beside it, you can’t miss it.”

“Thank you.” A wad of cloth was gently thrust into Jessica’s mouth, a stray length of twine bound around her head to keep it in place, and Jessica gave a small moan as he gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “Don’t worry, I’ll call the police to come and free you once I’m safely away.”

“Mmmppgghhh…” the redhead grunted in answer, watching him exit the bedroom with wary, uncertain eyes. What did it say about her life that the man who left her a prisoner in her own home was more considerate of her than her ex-husband had ever been? Still, it wouldn’t stop her from tracking him and his mysterious employer down once she was free and safe.

For like her grapes, justice required tending on the vine to come to bloom…