A Taste of Romance

by Rhonda Laurel

  She took a sip. “It’s good.”

  “Take another sip. Let it flow over your tongue.”

  “OK.” She took another sip and let it linger before she swallowed it. “I taste a hint of vanilla.”

  “That’s very good.” He smiled.

  She liked talking to him. He had a way of creating a vacuum between the two of them. The rest of the crowd had melted into the background, and it was just the two of them. But it was time to wrap things up. Portia was busy totally ringing up orders, and Marco had just answered another silly question.

  “Everyone, I hope you enjoyed the tasting. Each wine tickled the palette in a different way. So I would say wine depends on the food and the mood. Everything else is up to you.”

  “What about the Kissing Fountain!” someone yelled out again.

  “OK. OK.” He put down the bottle. “Everyone follow me.”

  She wrinkled her nose. “You really know how to get a crowd going.”

  “After you.” He put his hand on the small of her back.

  Trina slowly moved in the direction he was guiding her, all too aware of his big, strong hand on her back. She knew he was probably being polite, showing his good grooming, but it was intimate none the less. They headed outside, across a courtyard, and to a grand fountain.

  “This fountain was originally in the garden of the home in Italy where I grew up. My mother loved it so much. She was heartbroken that she had to leave it behind. My father surprised her for an anniversary by having it moved to the vineyard. My mother was ecstatic. They spent the rest of the day kissing next to it. And since that time, we’ve had some magical moments near this fountain. Some customers have said they had their first kiss or fell in love by this fountain. The legend of its mystical powers was born from a passionate kiss shared between mio madre and padre.”

  Marco nodded as the crowd clapped. She could see he liked sharing that story.

  Out of the corner of her eye, Trina saw the woman who’d been making the lewd remarks on the tour headed Marco’s way. She’d had quite a bit in the tasting room, and it seemed she’d resolved that she was going to get that kiss from Marco by hook or by crook. Her friends, who looked a little hammered too, were egging her on.

  Trina didn’t know what else to do, so she reached up and grabbed Marco by the shoulders to turn him her way and planted a kiss on him. She felt like an idiot for grabbing him like that, until Marco pulled her into his arms and deepened the kiss.

  Marco didn’t know what he’d done to deserve Trina’s impromptu make-out session, but he was grateful all the same. The kiss was as surprising as it was delightful and made him tingle from deep inside. When they finally broke apart, they were both breathless.

  “I’ll never doubt the power of that fountain again,” he said.

  “Marco!” Portia called out as she headed toward them. “Marco, your friend Alex is on the phone in the office. He’s been trying to reach you and Trina for the past hour.”

  He felt his pants pocket. “I left my phone on my desk.”

  Trina winced. “I put mine on silent when we started the tour.”

  “He’s on hold.” Portia waved.

  Marco knew he should get moving and go inside to take the call, but he felt like his feet were bolted to the ground. Trina had just laid a kiss on him that had his body stirring. It was soft, sensual, and something about it just felt right. Like he’d been missing being kissed like that all his life. He looked at Trina, who seemed a little surprised herself.

  “Marco?” Portia said.

  “Oh. Yes. Alex is on the phone.” He turned to Trina. “Alex is probably wondering why you’re not on the road yet.”

  He put his hand on the small of her back and guided her inside to the smaller office behind the fancy half-moon-shaped front desk.

  Marco hit the gray speaker button on the phone. “Alex, my friend. Sorry you had to track me down. I was giving a tour today. Katrina is here with me. I have you on speakerphone.”

  “Hi, Alex,” Trina chimed in. “I was on the tour of the facility, so I turned my phone off.”

  “Sounds like you two have been busy,” Alex replied.

  Marco looked at Trina. “It’s been an interesting morning. So what’s up, Alex?”

  “Bad news. I have a patient who was admitted last night with chest pains. His condition has worsened. Looks like surgery is unavoidable.”

  “I am so sorry to hear that,” Trina said.

  “Trina, I’m going to leave my house keys with my assistant. Peyton and the kids aren’t back from the field trip yet, but feel free to make yourself at home.”

  “Alex, it sounds like I’ll be in the way. Maybe I should just go back to L.A.”

  “Nonsense. It’s just a setback.”

  Trina’s cell phone started ringing. She looked at the display. “It’s my manager. I have to take this.”

  Marco waited until she was out of the room to start talking. “Alex, thanks for the call. It sounds like things are really hectic there. Katrina can stay here with me for another night.”

  “Oh yeah? Katrina. Sounds so formal.”

  “I like the sound of Katrina better,” he said lightly.

  “Grayson has some time off. I could ask him to keep her company.”

  “No. Absolutely not.” His voice raised an octave. “Grayson’s probably busy nipping and tucking some rich, bored socialite or trying to convince the town council to put up a statue of him in the public square.”

  Again, he loved Grayson. He was a great friend, but he was a complete hound when it came to women. He used that handsome rogue doctor angle to his advantage all the time. He would put the moves on Trina as soon as the introductions were over. He had a feeling his friend was trying to gauge his reaction.

  “Are you sure? It sounds like you have your hands full there since you’re short staffed.”

  “Assolutamente. Positive. It’s not a problem. As a matter of fact, I insist.”

  “You insist, eh?”

  “What are you insisting on?” Trina asked from the door.

  He locked eyes with Trina. “I insisted that Alex stop worrying. You can stay here with me again tonight. There’s no need to go to Harper’s Grove only to be alone until Alex is finished with his patient and Peyton and the kids come home.”

  “That’s mighty nice of you, Marco,” Alex mused. “Mighty nice.”

  He detected the undertone. How could he miss it? They’d be having a discussion later.

  “OK, then. I’ll stay another night,” Trina said at the phone. “Alex, thank you so much for checking up on me.”

  “Not a problem. We’re family. What would this world be without family and good friends?”

  Trina laughed. “We’d be in a heap of trouble.”

  “I’m sure everyone will be on their best behavior. I have to scrub up for surgery. I’ll be in touch.”

  With that, Alex ended the call.

  Marco hit the button to disconnect, then looked at Trina. “Looks like we’re stuck together for another night.”

  Tobias popped his head into the office. “Boss, don’t forget I need a case of champagne to stock for that anniversary party tonight.”

  “I’ll be there in a sec.”

  Trina grinned at him. “There’s never a dull moment.”

  “As I am learning. Usually, I spend most of my days in the vineyards, inspecting the grapes. I had no clue there’s so much activity going on.”

  “Sounds like you trust your staff.”

  “I find trust makes for a hospitable work environment. How was your call with your manager?”

  “She finally realized I left Los Angeles, and she’s not happy about it.”

  “She didn’t know you’d left?”

  “I sent a text after I couldn't track her down.”

  “I hope things are good between you too.”

  “She’ll get over it.”

  “Well.” He tapped his knuckles on the desk. “Duty calls. There are a hun
dred things to do before my business meeting tonight.”

  “You mean your date?”

  “No. Genevieve is a business associate. I’ll be having a business dinner with her tonight at the café to discuss supplying my wines to a new restaurant chain.”

  “She couldn’t meet you here during normal business hours?”

  “Something fell through. She asked if I wouldn’t mind if she pushed our meeting to the evening.”

  “And you being the accommodating guy that you are, said yes?”

  He frowned slightly. “Yes. I just want to get it over with so I can get the papers to my attorney if I accept the terms. It could be a lucrative relationship.”

  “I bet,” she murmured.

  “What did you say?”

  “Nothing.” Trina ran a hand through her hair. “What time will you be home?”

  He liked the sound of that. He wouldn’t be going home to an empty house tonight. She would be there, and that made him happy. He would have spent the evening thinking about her. He took it as a good sign that he’d been given more time with her. It had to mean something. But what? Well, they could discuss that kiss by the fountain for starters.

  “As soon as I wrap up things with Genevieve. She can be very chatty, but I don’t intend to indulge her tonight. If you’re up, maybe we can share that glass of chianti. Remember.” He tapped at his temple. “It’s good for clearing the head.”

  “Maybe. I think I’ll grab a bite in the café, then go back to your house and unpack.”

  “Don’t forget to make yourself comfortable. Casa mia è casa tua.”

  “I know what casa means.” She let out a nervous laugh.

  “See. I know you understand me.” He caressed her cheek and walked out.

  He could sense the confidence she’d exuded when they’d shared their kiss was now replaced by something else. Maybe vulnerability? There was no denying they were attracted to each other. But he wanted her to know she’d be safe with him. There were no expectations unless she wanted to pursue it. The kiss was a prelude that was begging to be explored. They would be together one more night. It was just a matter of how far they were each willing to take it.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Trina kicked off her sandals when she entered the house. She’d been too restless when she left Marco at the winery, so she hopped in the convertible and decided to explore the area a bit. There were tons of little boutiques and stores in town, so she parked and strolled the main street where all the walking traffic seemed to be. She stumbled upon a bakery, Tori’s, and decided to pick up a few things. She had a wicked sweet tooth, but she also wanted to say thank you to Marco for such a fun-filled day.

  When she returned to the house, Ingrid was gone, and the house was spotless. She took her suitcases back to the guest room and took out the essentials she’d need for the next day. Now she could take her time and see what other treasures the Renaissance man had. The house was decorated in rich leathers and earth tones. It was clear Marco was nostalgic for his home country. The accented pieces had that Mediterranean flair. The study had ceiling-to-floor bookshelves and reminded her of the study in Seth and Morgan’s penthouse in Philadelphia. She perused the books. He was a curious man, having books on just about every subject. She snagged a book on the history of winemaking from the shelf. Might as well read up on it since she’d be here a few more days.

  It was nice and peaceful here, but she missed home. Had Dana given any more thought to Morgan’s proposal about her role in the bookstore? Had Theresa gotten her veil yet? Did Charisma get the supplies she needed for the bridal shower? If she were home, she’d be flitting from place to place, keeping up with the goings-on of family and friends.

  She went into the kitchen and searched the fridge for something to drink. The fridge was stocked with veggies, fruits, and other things, but the bottle of sparkling pomegranate juice caught her eye. She poured herself a glass and opened the doors that led to the patio. There was a small, intimate area that had a table setting of about four. Beyond that, there was a short walk down a path to an area with a long table that could seat twenty easily, with a grill and decorative furniture obviously meant for entertaining large crowds. There was a fire pit with circular seating around it. She remembered Cassidy and Channing talking about a party Marco threw during one of their visits to Napa. She could almost hear the laughter as she moved around the table. He was probably an awesome host for a big party. She returned to the patio chair near the door, set her drink down on the table, and hunkered down.

  She flipped through the pages of the book, but flashes of her kiss with Marco kept disrupting her thoughts. What had she been thinking? Oh, yeah. She was trying to thwart the evil plot of those scheming tourists to lock lips with him at the magic Kissing Fountain. Why had she felt compelled to stop it?

  She wondered what was going to happen with Marco and Genevieve tonight. Portia had foretold Genevieve’s moves, and it was wild that it was coming true. She hoped he wouldn’t fall for her ploy. But what did she care if he did? Marco was a grown man and what he did was none of her business. But that kiss… She wouldn’t be forgetting that kiss anytime soon.

  Her phone rang. It was Tate. She’d planned on calling him later.

  “Hi, Tate.”

  “Hi, darlin’. One sec.” He moved away from the phone. “OK, boys, jump in that tub. We have a half hour to get you cleaned up before your Mama gets home. I swear I should have just hosed you all down out back.”

  “What’s going on?”

  “The boys have been out digging holes in the backyard again. Thanks to hanging out with their Uncle Chance, they think they’re junior adventurers.”

  Izzy did say the boys loved their Uncle Chance, and he was teaching them cool things about the outdoors. “The positive of all that dirt and fun is that Chance is spending time with his nephews and becoming part of the family.”

  “I suppose.” He sighed. “Enough about me. I called because I heard about your performance snafu. What happened?”

  “I froze up like a popsicle stick in front of the camera.”

  “It happens to the best of us.”

  “It never happens to you.”

  “No, that’s not true. When I first started singing at the Bright Star, I’d need a few swigs of Cal’s liquid courage before I went on stage. The moonshine he makes would make a donkey sing opera.”

  “Oh yeah?” She laughed. She didn’t want to though. She wanted to be super serious, but Tate had a way of lightening the mood. “Maybe I should keep a bottle in my purse.”

  “Perhaps not.”

  “Well, it doesn’t matter. I don’t think I am cut out for this.”

  “Don’t tell me you’re quitting?”

  “No, more like retiring before I go viral for a second time.”

  “There are no quitters in this family. You hit a bump in the road, you’re hardly off course.”

  “I wish it was just me freezing up, but after hanging out with Lana for a week, I’m finding it hard to justify why I would want a life like that. I used to think it would be so exciting. But it’s not. It’s manic. She’s manic. She screams like a child, and her employees are a team of clapping seals who do her bidding.”

  “When you get to the level of fame that Lana has, it becomes a twenty-four-hour job. Many artists become caricatures of themselves trying to live up to an image they project to the public.”

  “Well, I don’t think I’ll have to worry about that anyway.”

  “You don’t know that. You have a great voice. I’m so proud of you and Leigh for sharing your talent with the world. But you both deserve a private life. You’re the conductor of the fame train, and your drive can take it wherever you want to go.”

  “Fame train?”

  “The boys are in a train phase. Leigh and Rafe bought them a train set that I swear could run the length of the ranch.”

  “Ah.” She laughed. “How is Leigh doing?”

  “Great. We’re wrapping up h
er album, and she’s excited about coming to Los Angeles for your album release party.”

  “I appreciate your support. You’ve been a great mentor to me.”

  “It’s what I’m here for.”

  “You better get back to the boys. You’ve spent ten minutes of your time talking to me.”

  “Remember, people will always find something to talk about. But it’s up to you to tune it out and take your career where you want it to go.”

  “How did you survive being in the music business so long?”

  “A thick skin.” He laughed. “So you’re in Napa?”

  “Yes, with Marco at the Paloma Vineyards.”

  “Marco. Of course. Nice guy. Great wine. Izzy loves his Riesling.”

  “He’s been wonderful. I just kind of dropped in on him, and he’s been very accommodating,” she said with a hint of warmth in her voice, which was a big mistake.

  “How accommodating?”

  “Goodbye, Tate,” she replied in a slightly huffy tone. “Give Izzy and the boys my love.”

  She hung up before he could say anything else. Tate was another return call off her list.

  She glanced up when the patio door opened. It was Marco.

  “Hey. What happened? Did your dinner plans change?” She got up and walked into the kitchen.

  “Yes, slightly. Genevieve called again. She’s been so busy today that she asked if we could have a quiet meal here at the house.”

  Trina stilled. This chick was good. “You agreed to that?”

  “Like I said before, this deal has dragged on for over a week. I want to hear her pitch so I can make my decision.” He unbuttoned his shirt cuffs and began to roll them up. “I have to throw something together quick.”

  “Why don’t I help? I can set the table and start the salad. You have some awesome veggies in the fridge, and I make a kick-ass salad.” She opened the fridge.

  “That would be great. The salad bowls and utensils are on the shelf in the island.” He turned to leave, then paused. “Why don’t you join us?”

  “I couldn’t. This is a business meeting, right?” She bit her lip. If he had designs on Genevieve, all he had to do was say the word, and she would skedaddle.