Love Uncorked

by Conner, Jennifer

  Tegan grabbed her clutch purse and headed out to the living room. Laura held Chianti by her collar and sported a large grin as the man turned. Tegan came to a quick stop.

  “Hi. Wow… You look lovely,” August said. His smile carved dimples in his clean shaven cheeks. When he saw what must have been a gawk on her face, he rubbed a hand over his chin. “Decided it was time for the beard to move on.”

  “Yes. I was just a little surprised.” The large bushy facial hair August wore in their first two meetings was gone. The missing beard left behind one of the most handsome faces she’d ever laid eyes on. Carved cheekbones and full lips. He’d brushed his brown hair back off his forehead which showcased his Aero light blue eyes. Paul Newman eyes her mom would say, or Chris Hemsworth’s for her generation.

  Holy cow! Tegan reminded herself to take in a breath.

  “I brought you some eggs. They’re really good,” he said and held out the offering.

  She accepted the box and smiled. “Free-range?”

  “Yeah. Free range,” he answered, as their inside joke hung between them and they both laughed. He said to Laura, “Can you put the eggs in the refrigerator? We better be on our way, Tegan, so we’re not late. I don’t want to make a bad impression with your dad. It was nice to meet you, Laura.”

  Tegan handed off the carton and then lifted her sweater off the hook by the door. He helped her drape it over her shoulders. “Lock up when you leave,” she said as she turned toward Laura, and then mouthed, wow.

  “I’ll say,” Laura muttered under her breath as she shut the door behind them.

  “The parking lot’s packed,” Tegan said, as August pulled his ’67 Ford Bronco into the last open spot.

  “It must be good if there are this many cars out here.” He turned off the engine and then came around to open her door. He took her hand, as she stepped out.

  Once inside, she spotted her parents at the end of a long wooden picnic table with benches. She introduced them to August and then the two of them sat across from her mom and dad.

  “I took the reins and ordered a family platter,” her dad said. “It has a bit of everything. You can order off the menu, but I think you’ll like this. You look like a hard working young man with a big appetite.”

  “Yes, Mr. Taylor, I am and I love barbecue,” August stated. “We have it at least twice a week back home.”

  “Home in Australia?” her mother asked.

  “Adelaide is home,” August answered. He asked if anyone else wanted a beer and then rose to head to the bar.

  “He’s very cute… and polite,” her mother added with a smile.

  When August returned with four beers, her father asked, “Tegan tells me that you work at a vineyard, The Desert Wind Winery.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “What all do you do there?” her father asked as lifted the glass bottle and wiped the mouth with the sleeve of his shirt.

  “Anything that needs to be done to keep the place running and to make the grapes and my father happy.” August grinned as the waitress placed a huge tray on the table with barbeque chicken, ribs and sliced beef. There were also side dishes of coleslaw, corn bread with honey butter and cheesy grit sticks. “This is a feast.”

  “It’s your job the keep the place running? Are you the manager?” her father asked.

  “That title works. My father owns the vineyard. He wanted to branch out and see if there were different opportunities here in the states than in Australia.” August tucked a napkin in his shirt, lifted a baby back rib and bit into it. “This barbeque is ace.”

  “Wait…” Tegan sat her beet bottle solidly on the table. “You’re the owner of the vineyard? The Desert Wind?”

  “Technically, it’s my father’s. He holds fifty-one percent of the stock.”

  “And you hold forty-nine?” Tegan asked.

  August nodded between bites.

  “Well, dig in son.” Her father’s voice boomed out. “I am so glad we met you.”

  “Can you excuse me for a second?” Tegan rushed through the restaurant and into the bathroom. Dropping her clutch on the vanity, she rummaged in her wallet until she found the card August gave her when they first met. She drew it out and held it under the lights from the vanity mirror.

  August Woodley – Co-Owner- The Desert Wind Winery

  She had never flipped the card over and read the other side.

  When she and August arrived back at her house, he walked her to the door.

  “Well that was some evening. Sorry my dad asked you a million questions. He can be full of questions and you know… he only wants the best for his little girl.” She sighed.

  “I hope I didn’t say anything out of line.”

  “No you were great with my dad’s interrogation light shining in your eyes.”

  “I don’t mind. It shows he cares about you. Old-fashion. I like that. Pitty the bloke who takes my little girl out some day. He’ll spend hours answering questions before they ever leave the house. I like your mom and dad, and I hope they liked me. They make me a bit homesick for my own. My parents, especially my dad, are old-fashion too.”

  “My dad found out you owned Desert Wind Winery before I did. I own my own wine shop, I should know who all the vineyard owners are.” Tegan felt her cheeks heat. “I can’t believe that I mistook you for a ranch hand instead of the boss.”

  “I am a ranch hand. I would much rather be a ranch hand than thought of as the boss. I want to work side by side with my employees. No one is better or higher in the ranks than anyone else. This is why I’m a few thousand miles from home. My dad didn’t want his son getting his hands dirty. He spent his life building up the winery in Australia. The day he didn’t need to work the fields, I think was the day he felt he was a success.”

  “I take it you don’t feel the same way?”

  “No, I will never feel that way. If I don’t have my hands on the vines then they don’t feel like my grapes.” He took her hand and rubbed a thumb over her knuckles. “My father was always complaining about me working in the orchard. I finally told him, either send me to your new vineyard in Washington, or I’m walking away.”

  “You feel that strong about it?”

  “I’ll work in the vineyards until they plant me between the rows in the dirt.”

  “I bet the vines would grow like a house on fire over your body.”

  “That’s fine with me.” He chuckled. “In the past few weeks I was missing my family and friends in Australia. But now I’m thinking that maybe there was a reason I came here.”

  “What reason was that?” Tegan’s gaze traveled to his very kissable Aussie mouth.

  “To meet you.” His crystal blue eyes clicked squarely with hers and altered in intensity. He took her chin between his forefinger and thumb and closed the distance between their mouths to kiss her.

  He clutched her waist and tugged her a bit closer. It could have been August’s grasp or maybe it was gravity, because something definitely shifted. Tegan splayed a hand against his chest relieving any doubt that the muscles she’d spied earlier on his bare chest were just as firm under his shirt.

  She let out a little sigh as her breath became his. He came back in for a second round, kissing her until her toes curled inside of her pumps.

  When he finally stepped back, a smile played on his lips.

  “Now that’s what I call an end to a great evening.”

  “Thanks for bringing me eggs.” Tegan took her thumb and brushed a smudge of lipstick off the side of his mouth. “I make a great quiche, or if you are a manly man, and don’t eat quiche, scrambled eggs in a pie crust.”

  “I am a manly man… and I still eat quiche.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “I’d love is you can bring me lunch tomorrow. It will save me from my normal Vegemite. I’d love that. I’ll send Richard on some busybody errands so he won’t be there to make any more inappropriate comments.”

  “Goodnight,” she finally said, though she didn’t really want to s
ay it. When Tegan closed the door, she leaned against it with her eyes closed for a few minutes.

  Wow… they sure taught them how to kiss down under.

  Chapter Seven

  As August quickly worked through his chores in order to join Tegan for lunch or dinner, the week felt like it flew by. It became a routine he looked forward to more every day. As he bounced along on the tractor between the rows of vines, he found himself humming the tune Tegan had hummed right before she left. He was a big, sappy mess… who ate quiche. That’s what he’d become. His mates back home would laugh until their jeans split. He wouldn’t have guessed it either, but he liked this ‘new’ him. Happier. He loved the vineyard, but it was nice to have a vision of a beautiful woman on his mind while he worked.

  August called in a few of the workers and gave them extra hours on their shift so he could have ample time to get ready for the wine dinner. It was nice to have employees he could count on. They were there for him and he paid them well for their efforts. He needed them just as much as they needed him.

  After a shower, he padded back into the bedroom and unzipped the black tuxedo from its plastic bag. He rubbed a thumb over the smooth satin lapel. A few weeks ago he would have cringed at the thought of putting on this penguin suit, but if that meant seeing Tegan in a party dress tonight, so be it. August hoped she’d give him that sexy, appreciative look she gave him on a daily basis when he wore jeans and a t-shirt. She’d look him up, then down, and give him sexy little smile which made his blood boil.

  Would she like him in a tux? It was worth the rental cost to see if he got the same smile.

  They decided to drive separate cars in case one of them had to stay longer. For a surprise, August stopped by the local flower shop and bought Tegan a bouquet of gardenias. The smell reminded him of her. Hours after he’d kissed her goodnight, the sweet fragrance of her perfume was still in his nose. He had the ladies at the shop fill a plastic glass with water and he dropped the flowers and cup in the drink holder of his truck. He’d give them to her after the dinner.

  He had to mix things up with flowers, candy, or coffee and give her a chance to eat all the eggs. Tegan possessed more eggs then she could eat in a month. Every time August saw her, he brought another carton. He didn’t want to be responsible for her raised cholesterol.

  When he came through the door of the Vine Grove Civic Event Center his gaze scanned the already crowded floor. People laughed and clinked wine glasses over a Muddy Waters tune the live blues band played in the corner. He spotted Tegan listening to the music and tapping her fingers against her hip.

  He wove his way through the crowd, came up behind her, and whispered in her ear, “Guess who?”

  “Bradley Cooper?” She said before she turned. Her smile lit her eyes when she spun to face him. It was great to have someone always happy to see you.

  “At least you could have picked an Australian actor like Russell Crowe, Hugh Jackman, or the Hemsworth Brothers you keep talking about.” Her simple black lace cocktail dress showed her bare shoulders and clung to her amazing figure. He swallowed, his mouth dry. “You’re beautiful.” He leaned in and kissed her cheek.

  “Thanks, but I don’t look anywhere as good as you. Wow… you need to be on one of those makeover shows. From bearded, dusty vineyard guy to an Aussie James Bond. I like both, but I like this look… especially.” She grinned and blew him a sultry kiss.

  He couldn’t stop himself, he stepped forward took her hand and tugged her against him. After looking into her gorgeous brown eyes for a long and drawn out moment, he kissed her. His large hands encircled her waist. The soft fabric of her dress was a welcome treat against the rough callouses of his hands. He hoped he didn’t snag anything and he rubbed hands up and down her back.

  Here on the crowded floor, Tegan responded with as much sweetness as eagerness. The kiss didn’t go on nearly as long as he hoped. She stepped back.

  “Why Mr. Woodly, I do believe you are trying to mess up my lipstick,” she kidded. She reached in her clutch for a hand mirror, reapplied the red shade from a silver tube, and smacked her lips. She took a hankie from her purse and leaned close. “That’s where it went. You’re wearing a bit.” She wiped the lipstick from his mouth and then put the folded handkerchief back in her purse.

  He knew he had to mingle with her fellow vineyard owners, but he would have been much happier with a bag of burgers out at the lake, as long as he was with Tegan.

  August scanned the room of the other vendor’s tables until he saw Richard looking glum at the The Desert Wind display. August walked towards him. “Where’s your girlfriend?” he asked. “Didn’t you tell me that she was driving over from Seattle? I thought you said she’d be here with you.”

  “Yeah… she already came and went. We had an argument and she broke up with me. Dumb cow.” He’d been drinking. August would take a pretty accurate guess that the water bottle on Richards’s table was filled with vodka and not mineral water. He’d caught him drunk at the office before, but never at an event of this size. What was he thinking?

  “Why don’t you take off? I’ll man the table and answer question until the dinner starts.” August moved behind the display table and tried not to let his anger and disappointment show.

  “I saw you over there with that woman who came into the office looking for me.” He laughed. “She was a bad kitty in disguise. I had no idea what a hot piece of—”

  “I think it’s time you went home. This is a business function, Richard, and not a frat party. You seem to be forgetting that you are here to represent my winery and you’re drunk.”

  “You telling me I can’t do my job? How would you know, you’re never even in the office.” Richard tried to stand and took an unsteady step back.

  “I’m telling you that I am relieving you for the night. You need to go home. Now.” August reached in the inside pocket of his coat and pulled out his phone. “I’m calling you a cab. You’re not driving home in this shape.”

  Richard glared but didn’t say anything. He grabbed the blue water bottle off the table and took another large gulp before staggering off.

  Tegan gave Richard an odd look as he walked by. She looked over at August way. When she spotted him at the table, she waved her fingers. She excused herself from the conversation and walked over. “What’s up with Richard?”

  “Long story, but he needed to leave.”

  “Can I help?”

  “No, it’s sweet of you to offer, but I have it under control. Go and mingle, and remember to send people over my way if they have questions about the winery.”

  “Will do, cowboy.” She winked and moved back onto the floor.

  August left the table when dinner was announced. He feasted on alder plank salmon and roasted potatoes before duty called him back. Tegan sat with her parents and he sat with a group opening a new upscale restaurant in Spokane. They seemed interested in carrying his line.

  After dinner, people surrounded his table and asked questions about this blend or that year. Which of his wines was his favorite? What did he think of the 2010 vintage? It was kind of fun. He didn’t mind talking about his grapes. As he spoke to an older gentleman, his attention snapped to movement by the door as a man almost took out a waiter with a tray full of empty glasses.

  Richard’s still here? Bloody hell….

  Richard stumbled out the door and into the gardens.

  August ended the conversation and headed out after Richard. Why he hadn’t left an hour ago in the cab he’d called.

  ****

  Tegan sat in the enclosed garden gazebo and took off her shoes. The 50’s pointed toe heels were adorable, but pinched her toes into a twisted torture chamber mess. She rubbed her thumbs into the arch of her foot, leaned back against the structure, and sighed.

  “I thought I saw you out here,” Richard swayed as he stood in the entryway. “Can I have a do over with turning you down on our ‘date’ last week? I had no idea you would look like this in a cocktail dress.
A tail tease for my coc—”

  Tegan cut him off. “What do you want, Richard. I’m here with August and you’re drunk.” She slipped her shoes back on, and stood. “Excuse me.”

  He didn’t move. “Not so quick. You never gave me a chance.”

  “You wouldn’t have had a chance.”

  “You need to know me, baby. I can treat you gooood.”

  “I doubt that.” She looked him in the eye. “Richard. I don’t like you.”

  “What could you possible not like? What does that hick, August, have that I don’t have.”

  “Would you like an itemized list?”

  Richard’s eyes narrowed. “You’re after his money aren’t you? His family’s worth millions.”

  “We’ve never even talked about money. It’s not important to him or to me.” She put a hand on Richard’s chest and tried to move him out of the way.

  “Like I believe you. All women want money. You’re looking for a sugar daddy to float that out-of-date shop you own. So, its money you want?” He reached in a pocket and pulled out his wallet. “Here’s a fifty… how about you give me some of that sweet love you were giving August earlier.” When she didn’t take the crumpled bill, he threw it down on the leaf strewn floor.

  “Let me out.” She looked around. Except for the door where he stood, the gazebo was completely enclosed in heavy vines that she would never be able to power through. She tried to shove him again

  Richard grabbed her. Tegan tried to scream, but he crushed his mouth down on hers. She struggled and heard the lace on the sleeve of her dress rip as he pinned her arms against her sides. Fear spiked inside her as Tegan tried to remember what she’d learned in a self-defense class. If she could wiggle back a few inches.

  At the same moment that she stomped down and ground her heel into Richard’s ankle, his body flew backwards and sprawled on the lawn. August stood in his place.