Strawberry Wine

by Phillips, Kristy

  Greg could sense her hesitation, and pulled her back in for another kiss before she could ruin the moment. Alli kissed him back with as much fervor as she could muster. It was such a chore trying to get herself excited about being intimate with Greg. She always worried that he could tell she was feigning interest, or that she was imagining he was someone else. It had been a long time since a kiss had ignited her blood the way she knew it could...

  Alli bit into her Red Delicious apple and surveyed the barn with disappointment. Empty. There were a few tools lying here and there, and the pen was only half finished, so she knew he would be back. She just didn’t know when.

  Turning, to go, she stopped short when she heard a familiar bleating. Gus! Gus could usually be found trailing after Jason. Now was no exception. She watched as the two of them walked up the path from the lower field. She drank in his tall, lean frame. She could just make out the square set of his jaw from under his worn Stetson hat. As he got closer, she could see he was quite dusty, and sporting a days growth of stubble. There was a thin stick clamped between his teeth, resting on his full lower lip.

  The brightness of the day outside made the inside of the barn quite dark in comparison. He didn’t see her as he took off his hat and flipped it into the barn. It landed at her feet.

  Ignoring the hat, she continued to watch him as he approached the water trough. The trough stood against the west wall of the barn and came to mid thigh. Without pausing, he took the twig from his mouth and dunked his head into the water. He came up quickly, shaking the excess water from himself like a dog and flipping his black hair back. Gus was quick to follow suit. He put his front legs onto the edge of the trough and took a long drink of water.

  Jason unsnapped the buttons on his shirt and flapped the sides in an effort to get rid of some of the dust, but he didn’t take it off. Ambling into the barn, he bent to pick up his hat, and noticed Alli’s shoes. He smiled to himself, then slowly followed her legs up over the rest of her body, pausing briefly to admire her pert breasts, straining against the material of her tank top, before settling on her face.

  Her eyes were wide with wonder. Her cheeks were a bright pink. Her full lips were parted the tiniest bit.

  “Miss Alli.” He picked up his hat and settled it back on his head. His hair was getting long. It was starting to curl behind his ears.

  It had been a long, hot day of clearing brush in the back fields. The day had been made all the more uncomfortable by his inability to get Alli out of his mind. He couldn’t stop thinking about what it would be like to kiss her. He got the distinct impression that she was thinking the same thing about him.

  Alli didn’t answer him. She stood there, mute, unable to break eye contact. He broke it for her. She followed his gaze to the apple in her hand. He stepped to her, and took the apple. Turning it, he bit directly over the bite she had made. She watched his jaw work as he chewed, then swallowed. A drop of water fell from his hair and landed on his clavicle before trailing down his chest. Timidly, Alli reached out and touched the droplet.

  Instantly she was in his arms. She let out a surprised gasp before looking up into his intense grey eyes. He hesitated a fraction of a second to judge her reaction. Finding her more eager than alarmed, be brought his lips down to hers in a surprisingly soft caress.

  Alli’s heart slammed against her chest. She could feel his doing the same under her palm. His left arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her in closer, and his right hand came up to cup her left cheek. He deepened the kiss.

  Alli was getting light headed as his soft lips moved expertly against her own. He ran his tongue lightly along her bottom lip, urging her to open her mouth for him. When she did, he groaned and slipped his tongue into her mouth. He tasted of apple and mint, uniquely refreshing.

  Alli clung to him tightly, her pulse racing. She could feel the scratch of his beard on her soft skin. It felt as if molten lava was pooling in the pit of her stomach. She pressed herself against the length of him. She became aware of a hardness pressing against her lower abdomen, and her heart sped faster at this proof of his arousal. Seemingly of their own will, her hips ground against him. He moaned again, this time louder. It was enough of a distraction to bring Alli back to reality.

  You are playing with fire! Stop this now.

  Jason felt the change in her immediately. He pulled away, and met her gaze, questioning.

  Alli was panting shallowly. As she stared into his eyes, she almost leaned in to kiss him again, but smartly decided against it. She stumbled backwards instead. Her feet were unsteady, and she was grateful for his supportive arm. When she was sure she wouldn’t embarrass herself falling over, she backed up out of his reach.

  “Alli?” He looked concerned. “Was that ok?”

  OK? Is he kidding? That was perfect. THAT was what a kiss was supposed to be like.

  Suddenly Alli felt itchy. She was flushed and flustered from the kiss. It had been a full on assault on her senses. Her knees became rubbery again just thinking about it. Hives? Could you be getting hives? Leave it to you to be allergic to kissing. Idiot.

  Wanting to leave before any tell tale hives actually broke out on her skin, she gave what she hoped to be a reassuring smile and started heading for the door.

  “It was fine. I just. Wasn’t expecting it I guess. I’m sorry. I should get home.” She narrowly missed tripping over Gus on her way out.

  She left behind a very confused Jason.

  * * * * *

  “You’re sure you’ll be alright for the weekend?” Gran was staring at her with great concern.

  “I’m fine, Gran. It’s just a little poison oak. I’ve had worse.”

  Gran’s eyes bugged out in disbelief. “How could you possibly have had worse? You are covered from head to toe!”

  “Gran, seriously. I get poison oak all the time. Just go! It’s already ruining my weekend, don’t let it ruin yours too.”

  It took a little more convincing, but after setting out a big jar of oatmeal, and a veritable tub of calamine lotion, Gran and Papa left for their weekend get-away.

  Alli piled her hair on top of her head, stripped down to her underwear, and took stock of the rash. It had spread in the night. A large patch covered her left cheek, and trailed down her neck. Her shoulders were covered, along with a nasty swipe originating near her belly button, and wrapping around her torso to her mid back. Her arms and legs had itchy patches here and there, but the most distressing of all the areas were the patches of poison oak between her fingers.

  She growled in frustration.

  Rather than putting clothes over her angry skin, she opted for an old sports bra and her shortest running shorts. Contorting her body in ways that would impress professional circus performers, she managed to apply calamine lotion to the worst of the rash. As she was struggling with the patch on her back, she was startled by a knock at the door.

  “Alli?” Jason’s voice was muffled through the door.

  Panicked, Alli crept over to the entry hall, careful to stay out of the line of sight of the viewing window in the door. With her back against the wall near the door, she answered him.

  “Go away! I can’t see you today.”

  Jason frowned in confusion. “Why? Is something the matter? Open the door.”

  “No! I have poison oak and I don’t want you to see me. Just go away, please.” Alli was starting to itch all over. Jason made her heart race, and the resulting flush was aggravating her poison oak.

  “I don’t believe you.” The window darkened as Jason cupped his hands over the glass in an attempt to peer in.

  “Why on earth would I make something like this up?”

  The porch creaked as Jason shifted his weight. “I think you’re upset about the kiss. I’m sorry I was so forward. It’s not something that needs to ruin our friendship. Let me prove it to you. Come to the auction with me today like we planned. I promise it will be like it never happened.”

  Jason waited for her answer. The si
lence stretched uncomfortably, then a faint answer from inside the house.

  “I’m not upset about the kiss.”

  “Then please open the door, Alli. I need to see your face to believe you.”

  Exasperated, Alli flung open the door.

  “I’m not upset about the kiss. I really am covered in poison oak, and I really didn’t want you to see me this way.”

  Jason stared at her, incredulous. He could see the angry rash under the layer of pink lotion. “What did you do, roll around naked in the bushes?”

  Alli snorted in humiliation. “I’m really sensitive to poison oak. I’m itchy and I look disgusting, and I can’t reach my back-” Her voice cracked on the last word as she stifled a sob.

  “Oh, Alli,” Jason came forward, concern showing on his face. He moved as if to hug her, but stopped short when he realized there was no way to do so without causing her discomfort. He settled for taking her chin between his thumb and fingers, and appraising the rash on her face. “You don’t look disgusting, Alli, you look... uncomfortable. Can I help you get your back?”

  Alli sighed her consent and lead Jason to the kitchen where the tub of calamine lotion sat. She settled herself on a stool, and presented him with her back. He positioned himself on the next stool.

  He was gentle as he applied the lotion to her back with a cotton ball, but firm enough so that it didn’t tickle. Even though Alli felt very exposed, she was grateful for the help.

  “Thank you.” She said when he was finished.

  Jason looked sheepish. “It’s the least I can do. I think it’s my fault you got it in the first place. I was clearing brush along the back fence yesterday before I saw you. I must have been covered in the oil. I’m sorry.”

  “But you don’t have a rash.”

  “I’m kind of immune to the stuff. That’s why I didn’t think to warn you yesterday. Frankly, Alli, I tend to lose my reason when I’m around you.”

  Alli’s heart fluttered erratically.

  “I’m sorry. I’ve made you uncomfortable, again.” His smile was apologetic.

  “You really lay it all out there, don’t you.” She stood to put the calamine lotion away, and put a little space between them.

  “I’ve always found honesty to be the best policy in these situations. I like you Alli, and I’m sorry I gave you poison oak, but I’m not sorry I kissed you.” He stood as well, and hovered behind her, waiting for her to turn around and face him. “I want to kiss you again.”

  Alli was taken aback. “Really? When I look like this?”

  Jason chuckled. “As lovely as I think you are, do you really think I’m so shallow as to only be interested in you for your physical attributes? I think you’re hot, Alli - even covered in pink lotion. But body aside, I think the rest of you is sexy too.”

  Alli’s heart stumbled again.

  He thinks you’re sexy! This beautiful Adonis thinks you’re sexy. He wants to kiss you again.

  No he doesn’t! He wants to kiss the nineteen year old he thinks you are. You could get him in serious trouble, Alli.

  Alli’s guilt worked to slow her racing pulse. She gently pushed Jason away, smiling apologetically. “Sorry. It’s just hard to concentrate on anything but the itching right now. How about we hold off on this conversation until I’m not covered in a wretched rash?”

  Jason stepped back graciously, non-offended. He knew she was just as attracted to him as he was to her. He could wait for her to get more comfortable with the idea.

  “Sounds fair. How about a game of RISK?” He offered, spotting the board game on a living room shelf.

  “You want to hang out with a leper all day?”

  “Not all day. It shouldn’t take me more than an hour to annihilate you. Oh, good - it’s the original version! Make that three hours.”

  As Alli was getting ready for bed that night, she couldn’t help but chuckle, remembering the afternoon. Jason had put up a good strategic fight, but she had ultimately won the game. For all that he was a strong competitor, he was also a gracious loser. He had left after applying another coat of calamine lotion to her back, and promising to bring her a surprise in the morning to atone for the poison oak.

  Alli was waiting at the door when he arrived the next morning. His eyes seemed to light up when he saw her.

  “Good morning, beautiful.”

  Alli rolled her eyes. “Good morning yourself. What did you bring me today? A plague of locusts to go with my rash?”

  Jason laughed, and made a big show of pulling a large herb basket from the back of his truck. It looked to be filled with a bunch of random green leaves. There were no flowers or seeds to speak of.

  “This, my dear,” He raised the basket. “is Wild Peach.”

  Alli looked again. “There are peaches in there?”

  “No. They call it Wild Peach because the leaves kind of look like peach tree leaves. It grows near poison oak, and can be used as a remedy for the rash.”

  Alli smiled at the thoughtful gesture. Then stopped herself before taking the basket from him, and backed up. “Wait. Does that mean you went walking through poison oak again to pick this?”

  “Yes, but I did it last evening, and thoroughly scrubbed every inch of my body. Obviously my clothes are oil free too. I took every precaution.”

  “Oh. Well then, thank you.” She smiled and waved him through the door.

  Alli wrinkled her nose at the steaming tea in her mug. “Yuck. This stuff smells awful.”

  “Don’t smell it. Drink it.” Jason admonished, as he dipped a soft cloth into the remaining tea and began to blot her neck. He blew on the wet area and watched a shiver run down her spine.

  Alli took a sip. “Ugh. Bitter. Can’t I put some honey in it or something?”

  “Sorry, won’t help. You just have to grin and bear it. It’s worth it, I promise!”

  He dipped the cloth into the tea again, and blotted her shoulder this time. “You know, as much as I’m enjoying this, it would probably make more sense for you to just take a bath in it.”

  Alli glanced at the clock. 11:50. Where had the morning gone? Her grandparents would be home soon. If her grandparents saw Jason, they would be very curious to know why a twenty three year old man was anointing their seventeen year old granddaughter with bitter smelling tea.

  “You’re right. I think I will. Why don’t I do that, and you can go home and have some lunch. My grandparents will be home soon, so I’ll be busy hearing about the wonders of time share properties tonight, but if this stink-tea works, how about I meet you at the barn tomorrow?”

  Jason could tell she was agitated about something. Rather than ruffle her feathers further, he said a quick goodbye and went home for the day. He had things he needed to get done anyway. Delightful distraction that Alli was, she made it impossible for him to concentrate on getting any actual work done.

  Alli inhaled the steam from her mug of peppermint tea and luxuriated in the quiet solitude of an empty apartment. As much as she hated to admit it, she already felt at home in Greg’s apartment. Greg had long since given her a drawer in his dresser and a shelf in his medicine cabinet. The pantry was stocked with her preferred foods, and if she wasn’t staying over here, then he was staying with her over at her place. Alli sighed. Maybe officially moving in with Greg wouldn’t be such a big step after all.

  Would spending her life with Greg really be so bad? It would be a comfortable life. She would want for nothing. Well, almost nothing.

  There were certainly worse men than Greg. Sure, he cared too much about appearances and keeping up with the Jones’, but he could be thoughtful too. Alli walked over to the fireplace and studied the new painting. She was surprised Greg remembered the incident at the café. They had gone there for lunch while shopping in the garment district. Alli had spotted the mural immediately. It was a fanciful scene depicting three goats frolicking in a field. The artist had bordered the scene with strawberry vines.

  Alli’s heart had stuttered to a halt, then
started beating again at a rapid pace. She swept the mural for a signature, fully expecting to see a familiar Jason Taylor scrawled in the corner, but she had been disappointed. ‘J. Ogden’ was the artist. Alli had been crushed. Well of course it isn’t his. She had chided herself. Jason painted nudes. Why would he take up painting goats.

  It had been all Alli could do to hide her sudden despair. Greg noticed her interest in the painting and asked a waiter about it. According to the waiter, Jay Ogden was a local artist that frequented the café, and had painted the mural as a thank you to the café owner. Alli pretended to care. She smiled, and nodded, and ordered her lunch, but inside she was a wreck. The many months she had spent trying, and failing, to track Jason down were suddenly fresh in her mind.

  Alli squinted at the corner of the new canvass. Sure enough, J. Ogden was scrawled in a shade slightly darker than the sand of the beach. She turned her attention to the girl in the painting. She was beautiful. The way the light touched the girl’s body made it almost appear to be a photograph. The similarities in painting style were uncanny. She was hesitant to indulge in false hope, but she just couldn’t ignore that persistent feeling niggling at the edge of her conscious mind. She reached for her laptop to Google J. Ogden. “All right, Mr. Ogden.” She murmured. “What’s your deal?”

  * * * * *

  Jason set down his wine glass and smiled politely at Laurel. He had to admit he was pleasantly surprised. Doug had done a good job this time. Doug had been trying to set Jason up with women for as long as Jason cared to remember, but he had seemed to be doubling his efforts of late.

  Laurel had thick black hair and bright blue eyes. She was dressed fashionably, yet demure, and she had a light of intelligence in her eyes that spoke to her extensive education. There was no denying that she was a beautiful woman.