Marsala and Magnolias

by SJ McCoy

  He looked up as Cameron came through the bar. “I’m heading home.”

  “Okay. Have a great weekend.”

  “Thanks. You too.” Cameron smiled at him. “Mary Ellen’s still here.”

  “I know.”

  “How?”

  “Because I asked her to stay and have dinner with me.”

  Cameron chuckled. “Awesome. I hope it goes well.” Cameron’s smile faded, and Antonio turned to follow his gaze to where David Sterling had just taken a seat at the other end of the bar. “I thought he would have left town by now.”

  Antonio frowned. “Me too. I should go out there and find Mary Ellen. I don’t think she’d enjoy running into him.”

  “Too late.” Cameron was looking at the entrance from the terrace where Mary Ellen was standing, frozen in place, staring at David.

  Antonio’s fist clenched at his side as he watched David get up and go to her.

  Cameron put a hand on his arm. “Don’t you think you should give them a minute?”

  “No. If you were waiting for your date to meet you for dinner, would you sit and watch while some other guy made a move on her?” He didn’t wait for Cameron’s reply, but strode toward Mary Ellen, with just one thought running through his mind. That’s the asshole who hurt her. He’s not going to get chance to again.

  “Mary Ellen.” David reached her moments before Antonio. “It’s so good to see you. I hoped I’d run into you before now.”

  Mary Ellen’s face gave nothing away; she wore a polite mask. “It’s been a busy week.”

  “Will you have dinner with me?”

  Antonio held his breath, wondering how she would answer. She noticed him and met his gaze. The mask slipped, and she seemed to be pleading with him to save her. At least, that’s how he read it. He stepped forward and slid his arm around her waist. “Hey, bella. There you are.” He dropped a kiss on top of her head and hugged her into his side. “How was your day, honey?”

  She looked up at him, her eyes wide. She was either angry or shocked. He couldn’t tell which, and it was too late now. He couldn’t help it. He leaned down and dropped a kiss on her lips, before finally acknowledging David. “Hi. You must be Paul? Congratulations.”

  David frowned, and Mary Ellen dug her elbow into his ribs. “No. This is David. David Sterling.”

  Antonio held the guy’s gaze for a moment. He couldn’t tell the guy what he thought of him, but he tried to convey his feeling with the look he gave him. “You’re David? Wow.” He smiled. “I guess all I can say is thank you.”

  “Thank you?” David looked puzzled, and so did Mary Ellen.

  Antonio tightened his arm around Mary Ellen’s waist. “For setting her free so I could find her.”

  David didn’t know what to say to that. He looked at Mary Ellen, then back at Antonio and nodded. “Yeah. It was good to see you again, Mary El.” He turned around and left.

  Antonio kept his arm around Mary Ellen, wondering what kind of reaction he was going to get. She didn’t pull away from him as he looked down into her eyes. Her head was cocked to one side. She looked puzzled but not angry. Best of all, she still hadn’t moved away from him. She felt so good, tucked into his side with her full breast grazing his arm. He didn’t want to explain himself, so instead, he waited for her to speak first.

  “Do you want to tell me what that was all about?”

  He lifted a shoulder and gave her a sheepish grin. “I thought it might be better if he left.”

  She nodded. “Yeah, but was it for your sake or mine?”

  He smiled. “Honestly? Both.”

  She chuckled and nodded. “You’re quite a character, aren’t you?”

  He grinned. “I like to think so.”

  She stepped away from him, and he immediately missed her warmth and wanted to pull her back into his arms. He might have, until he noticed Cameron approaching.

  “I thought you’d gone home?” He tried for the offensive before Cam could ask what the hell was going on.

  Cameron laughed. “What and miss this little show? No way.” He turned to Mary Ellen. “What’s going on?”

  There was a touch of color in her cheeks as she shrugged, but she was smiling. “I have no idea. You’d better ask your cousin that one. I think he sees me as a damsel in distress and just came to my rescue.”

  Cameron chuckled. “And you didn’t want to be rescued?”

  Mary Ellen looked up at Antonio. “I did. I’m very grateful.”

  Antonio breathed a sigh of relief.

  “Good. I’m going home then,” said Cameron. “You guys have fun.”

  Antonio watched him go, then turned back to Mary Ellen. “You heard the man, and he is your boss, you have to do as he says.”

  “What, have fun?” She smiled. “Well, if Cam says I must, then I’d better try.”

  Antonio noticed Rodney hovering and beckoned him over. “Is everything all right?”

  “Yes. Your table is ready whenever you are.”

  “Thanks.” Antonio offered Mary Ellen his arm. “Shall we?”

  She grinned and slipped her arm through his. “I’d love to.”

  ~ ~ ~

  Once they were seated, Mary Ellen looked across the table at Antonio and then looked around the restaurant. She blew out a big sigh and turned to take in the beautiful view. This was Antonio’s table. The best in the house, with the best view of the valley.

  “Is everything okay?”

  She tore her eyes away from the view to look at him and nodded. “Yes. It just seems so strange to be sitting here with you. I mean, this is your table, your wine bar. You’re Mr. Popular. I’m more used to observing this scene than being a part of it.”

  He frowned. “What do you mean?”

  She chuckled. “I don’t know. We’ve known each other for so long, but we’ve never really known each other at all. I’ll be honest, I thought you were an asshole.”

  He put his hand over his heart and gave her a hurt look.

  She laughed. “Don’t. You know exactly what I mean. Don’t you?”

  He nodded. “I’m afraid I do. I’m grateful that now I get the chance to prove to you that that’s not all I am.”

  “You already have. The other night, at Molly’s? Thank you. That was so sweet of you.”

  He nodded. “I’m sorry I overheard, but I had to say something. I could hear how hurt you were. I … I’m sorry.”

  “I’m not. I appreciate it. And thank you for getting rid of him tonight.”

  Antonio smiled. Did he have to keep doing that? He had such a sexy smile. It made her want to skip dinner and get straight to what happened afterward. She couldn’t wait, but at the same time, she wanted to enjoy the whole evening. She wasn’t a fool. She knew it’d just be one night, and she wanted to make the most of every minute with this new Antonio. He was turning out to be a great guy.

  “I told you, it was for my sake as well as yours. I didn’t want him to upset you, and I didn’t want him to hold you up. I want you all to myself.”

  The way he said it sent shivers down her spine. She met his gaze. His big brown eyes bore into hers. Was he thinking the same as she was? Did he want to skip dinner and just get on with it, too? If he did, he was hiding it well. He still looked like he cared, not like he just wanted into her panties. But maybe that was part of his play? Maybe he was such a master at the art of seduction that he got a girl to relax by making her believe he was totally into her? “Well, here I am,” she said brightly. “In all the years we’ve known each other, have we ever had a conversation? I don’t think we have.”

  He shook his head sadly. “When you first came here, you dismissed me, and I’ve been nursing a broken heart ever since.”

  She laughed out loud. “You’re so full of shit!”

  His eyes widened. He did a good job of looking hurt. “I am not.” His lips quirked up a little. “Well, maybe, sometimes, but what I just said? That’s God’s ho
nest truth. When I first laid eyes on you, I thought we were going to have a beautiful friendship.” He waggled his eyebrows, making her laugh again. “But you put me in my place in no uncertain terms.”

  She gave him a puzzled look. “Are you serious?”

  He nodded solemnly. “You don’t remember?”

  “No.”

  He blew out an exaggerated sigh. “She broke my heart, and she doesn’t even recall. We were all up at the big house, Uncle Cole and Aunt Madeleine’s. It was the first time you’d been over there. I asked if you wanted to walk the estate with me and you turned me down.”

  Mary Ellen furrowed her brow as she tried to remember. It came back to her. She’d been talking to Cameron’s father, who was still on the board at the time, when Antonio had asked if she wanted to go for a walk with him. She’d thought he was gorgeous even then, but it didn’t seem right to go sneaking out back with a guy when she’d been invited to a gathering at her new employer’s home. “I’d completely forgotten about that.” She laughed. “But now you mention it, I seem to recall that when I said no, you went for your walk with Elaine from HR.”

  He tried to look contrite, but she could see he was hiding a smile. “I had to do something to distract me from my heartbreak. That’s all I’ve been doing ever since.”

  She shook her head at him. “Don’t. We both know that if I’d said yes, Elaine’s turn would just have been delayed a day or two.”

  He hung his head. She hadn’t expected him to be this playful. She’d expected him to be on a mission, to be charming or whatever was needed to ensure that she would fall into his bed at the end of the night. “If it’s any consolation, I regretted saying no.”

  When he lifted his head, he was grinning. “You did? I believed you never gave me a second thought.”

  “Oh, come on. You’re Antonio Di Giovanni.” What else could she say? She could hardly tell him how much she’d thought about him, or the fact that it was mostly at night, in bed, by herself. She felt her cheeks flush. What would he do with that knowledge? She’d never know because he’d never find out. “Let’s be real here. It’s you who never gave me another thought.”

  “That’s not true. I think about you a lot.”

  It was her turn to grin. “You do?”

  “I do. I’m not going to go into all the details.” He gave her that sexy smile again, and it hit her like a shockwave, making her belly clench. If he was just working his lines, they were having the desired effect. “I wouldn’t want to embarrass either of us, but yes. I think about you.”

  She nodded and looked up with relief when the waiter came to take their order.

  “What changed?” she asked when he was gone.

  “Changed?”

  “You said you think about me. I would never have guessed that. And that’s not like you. You don’t normally leave a woman guessing.”

  He shook his head. His smile was gone. Had she messed up? Was she calling him on his bullshit and he didn’t like it? She hoped not, but she’d started to relax with him. He’d started to feel like a friend, and she was a straight shooter with her friends.

  To her surprise, he reached across the table and took hold of her hand. She let him.

  “Mary Ellen. Do you want to know the truth?”

  She nodded.

  “The truth is I wasn’t ready for a woman like you. I’m not sure I am now, but I’d like to find out.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean … I’ve played the field. I’ve had fun. I’ve done all the meaningless sex. You’re not like that. With you, it would be meaningful. I wasn’t grown up enough before. I think I am now. I’d like to find out. Would you?”

  She stared at him for a long moment, trying to puzzle out what he was talking about. If it was a line, it was a really tacky one. Did women really go for that? Sex with you will be meaningful, so on your back sweetie? Maybe they did. It didn’t do anything for her, though.

  He was still holding her hand, waiting for her to reply. What could she say? Yes, she wanted to sleep with him, but the friendship she’d thought they might be starting here? That was probably out the window if he was feeding her lines like that. She smiled. “I don’t think it’ll be meaningful, but I think it could be fun.”

  He squeezed her hand and let go. Sitting back in his chair, he looked so solemn. “You don’t see me as someone you’d want to date?”

  She laughed. “I didn’t think you dated? At least, not more than once or twice.”

  “I don’t generally.”

  She really wasn’t sure what he was trying to do. She’d wanted to make it clear that yes, she was up for sleeping with him, but he was still trying to feed her lines about dating. “At the risk of blowing it here—cut the crap, okay?”

  “That’s what I’m trying to do. I’m trying to be upfront, no BS, and ask you if there’s a chance of us dating—getting to know each other.”

  It was Mary Ellen’s turn to sit back. “Seriously?”

  He nodded.

  “I thought you just wanted … to … you know.”

  The hint of a smile played on his lips. “Of course I want that. But more than that, I’d like for us to go out, for real. What do you think?”

  Wow. That wasn’t what she’d been expecting. “You and me? Date? For real?”

  He nodded. “For real.”

  “Wow.” She laughed.

  Antonio wasn’t laughing. He was watching her intently. “You think it’s funny?”

  “No. Yes. Oh, God. I don’t know. It’s just so unexpected.”

  “But you’re not saying no?”

  She shook her head.

  He smiled. “Does that mean you’re saying yes?”

  “Yeah. Why not?” Who knew what had come over him that he thought he wanted to go out with her, but yeah, she was up for it. Why not?

  He leaned forward and reached for her hand again. “I won’t disappoint you.”

  She wanted to laugh but bit it back. He never had yet, but he didn’t know the first thing about that.

  ~ ~ ~

  Muse was starting to get crowded by the time they’d eaten. It was Friday night, after all. Antonio wanted this to be special. He didn’t want to stay here and dance with Mary Ellen then take her home. That wouldn’t be special enough. He’d done that too many times with too many women. “Do you want to get out of here?”

  “Okay.” The way she smiled made it plain that she thought he meant the obvious—did she want to go somewhere they could naked. He’d love to, but that wasn’t part of the plan. He was going to wait for that. That would certainly make it special—and different.

  Once they were out on the street, he slung his arm around her shoulders. “Do you want to walk?” He figured they could walk down by the river; that would be romantic.

  He was surprised when she smiled up at him. “Do you have your car here?”

  “Yes. Why?”

  She laughed. “You’ll probably think this is crazy, but I’ve always wanted a ride in your car. I think it’s awesome.”

  He chuckled. “Your wish is my command.” If she wanted to ride in the Maserati, he’d be happy to take her. He knew exactly where they could go, too.

  He opened the door for her to get in and she grinned. “Thanks. This is so cool.”

  He smiled back, happy that she was genuinely interested in the car that he loved so much, but a little disconcerted that she seemed more interested in it than she was in him.

  The evening was still warm, and the breeze ruffled his hair as he took the road out of town. He looked over at Mary Ellen; she wasn’t one of those women who asked him to put the top up. She sat there grinning with her hair blowing wildly around her face. She was amazing.

  Much as he loved his convertible and usually liked the fact that it kept conversation to a minimum, he was glad when he reached the winery.

  She raised an eyebrow at him as they waited for the electronic gate to
open before them. “You brought me to your work?”

  He laughed. “No. I brought you to the place I’m passionate about. I brought you to one of my favorite places in the world.”

  She smiled. “Cool. I didn’t know that about you.”

  That surprised him. As he pulled the car forward, he wondered who she thought he was, if she didn’t know that his wines were his life.

  Chapter Six

  Antonio parked the car in front of a beautiful house. Mary Ellen looked up at it and smiled. She’d never been here before, but she’d seen the house plenty of times on the label of the Di Giovanni wines. “It’s even more beautiful in person.”

  Antonio smiled. “Isn’t it? I love this place.”

  “You don’t live here, do you?” Part of her wanted him to say yes, that he did live here, which meant that his bed was here, and he was taking her to it. Much as she liked that idea, she knew his house was up in the hills; she’d been there a couple of times to his famous parties.

  “No, though I stay here often.”

  Hmm, he must have a bed here, then. Damn. She had to stop thinking about that. It’d happen soon enough, she was sure of it. For now, she should simply enjoy his company. She was starting to understand why everyone did. He wasn’t just charming. He was fun and smart. He was easy company, good company. She could see him becoming a real friend. She liked the idea of dating him—whether it lasted a week or a whole month, she already knew she’d enjoy it.