St. Helena Vineyard Series_Fall Fling

by Stephanie St. Klaire

  “Oh, those are just because. They were bright, and pretty…made me think of…you. I mean…who doesn’t like flowers?” Clay handed her the flowers, his eyes were locked on hers, and his words felt sentimental.

  “Good point. I mean about liking flowers, not the other part.” She was beginning to soften, against her better judgement. Something about this man was trumping her anti man and relationship convictions.

  “I wasn’t sure what you liked so I stopped at the Sweet and Savory and got a little of everything.” He started sifting through the two bags hanging from his other arm. “I have a veggie soup, Panini, some pasta salad thing, and of course dessert.”

  “Dessert?” she asked, looking at the tub of ice cream she was still holding. “What kind of…dessert?”

  “Cheesecake, brownies, and these stuffed croissant things Lexi insisted on.”

  Heather grabbed the bag he was digging through, assuming it was the dessert bag. “Sit. I’ll grab another spoon, and some forks.”

  “Spoons and forks?” he questioned in amusement.

  “Well, yeah. You have some spoon food and fork food…we need both.” He chuckled at her reasoning, and appreciated the sassy sway she added to her hips, as she walked to the kitchen.

  She returned from the kitchen, utensils in hand, sans ice cream – it seemed that she traded the ice cream in for whatever he had in the bag. Nodding to the couch, he took her cue and sat. Though it probably should have felt awkward, the silence between them, it didn’t. She helped him pull each container from the bags, and set every one up on the coffee table before them like their own little indoor picnic.

  “So…” he said, in between bites, “should we talk about this?”

  “About what?” Her elusiveness was just deflection – she knew exactly what he was talking about.

  “Nora…what she said. I don’t know about you, but it definitely had an impact on my day. I wanted to be sure it didn’t interfere with yours. She had no right…” his words trailed off as he tried to gauge her position and what he should say next.

  “You’re right, she didn’t, but she did, so… It really wasn’t a big deal. I got a few side eye glances and glares from dance moms, but that’s about it. Didn’t bother me.” Giving up on the real food, she shifted her focus to the desert boxes, a clear sign that it did indeed bother her.

  “And that’s why you just crumbled brownie all over your cheesecake? Because it didn’t bother you?”

  She looked at the mess she had made in the cheesecake container, then to him. “Sorry, it’s just better this way.”

  He laughed at the innocence in her tone after being busted for hijacking both desserts and destroying them.

  Responding to his raised eyebrow, she scooted closer to him on the couch and stretched the container out in front of her. “Here, you eat out of this side. We’ll come back to that salad later.”

  He indulged, taking a bite and immediately letting out a satisfied sigh. She was right, it was better, but he couldn’t be certain if it was the brownie or her that made it so. They sat in silence, taking turns with the dessert, each taking the occasional glance at the other.

  There was something sweet between them. No conversation to engage in, but still pleasant, and natural. Clay wondered what, if anything, that meant. It was easy, enjoyable, even satisfying. Either Heather was as easy going as they came, or she was just really hungry. Perhaps both.

  “So, you really okay with this?” he asked, breaking their long silence.

  “I mean, yeah. I don’t know what not being okay with it would accomplish. What’s done is done. We were caught, that’s what we get.” Her reply was matter-of-fact and to the point with an unruffled shoulder shrug.

  “What we get? Like this is punishment? You know we did nothing wrong, right? We are two adults, of sound mind, capable of…adulting. Nora isn’t the town mom. She needs to just keep her nose out of everyone’s business.”

  “Adulting? Is that what we did?” she grinned, enjoying his adorable rant. “It may be okay, but hookups aren’t typically considered endearing, so I get it.”

  “Heather…it wasn’t just a hookup.” His eyes were fixed on hers as he searched for the right words to assure her without scaring her away. “You aren’t a hookup kind of girl. You’re better than that. Deserve better than that.”

  “Really? You’ve known me five minutes and you’re so sure about what kind of girl I am and what I deserve?” Her tone was more sarcastic than defensive, maybe even amused. “Is this another one of your attempts at a pick-up line? Because if it is, I’d have to say you’re zero for two, Doc.”

  She shot him a sly grin and mischievous wink before slowly licking her spoon clean in a seductive manner, then her full lips. Was she flirting? Was his attempt to make amends about to earn him a second act?

  “Well, is it working? Because I was trying to fix what happened, but if…” his words were cut short when she quickly straddled his lap, taking his mouth hard.

  Happy to indulge, he replied with roaming hands and gave her all that she asked for, meeting her every move and stroke of her tongue with his own.

  “Maybe…” she said breathless, “we should try it again. Really give the town something to talk about.”

  “Is Nora in your closet over there? How is the town going to know…you know?”

  “Shut up, Doc, and kiss me.”

  So he did. He kissed her and kissed her, amongst other things, eventually picking her up and carrying her to the bed at the other end of her loft apartment. Whereas the night before was edgy, primal, and raw, this night it was soft, sweet, and sensual. They took their time, each giving and receiving equally.

  As the early evening fell to night, Heather and the good doctor found themselves back on the couch, where they had been a number of hours, talking about everything and nothing. Something some might consider more intimate than the deed they had done just before. It was genuine, sincere, and sweet.

  “I better get going,” Clay said, checking his watch, “early morning with the kids at the clinic.”

  A shy smile greeted him, as she teased back, “Funny, me too, only mine will be dancing, not coughing.”

  “Are you sure about that? Mine cough because they were around other coughers…maybe at your studio.”

  “Hey, thanks for the food, it was very thoughtful. I enjoyed…your company.” Her cheeks went crimson, as did his, her reference to company, made clear.

  “Of course. It was my pleasure, you’re good company to keep.” He hadn’t realized the power of those words, one word in particular; keep, until it fell from his lips. Keep seemed simple, innocent, but in this situation it was anything but, and he saw those walls that he had been chiseling away at, go right back up.

  “Uh, Clay. I had a good time, really, you’re a sweet guy, but…”

  “But you aren’t available, relationships aren’t for you, and men are off limits? Did I get it all?” His chuckle was slightly sarcastic and really just a way to guard his own emotions.

  “I’m sorry…” Sorry was all that she could say. There really weren’t any other words for what she was feeling. In a perfect world, with perfect circumstances, and perfect outcomes…Clay would be the kind of guy she would want to have dessert with…often. But, her luck had been anything but good when it came to relationships, and she had learned her lesson. Hard.

  “It’s fine. We talked about this already. I get it…it really was nice though. I mean that.” He had made his way out the front door and stopped just outside on the landing at the top of the stairs to her apartment.

  A quick smile and wink were tossed her way, before he leaned in for a sweet kiss, and said, “Have a good night, twinkle toes.”

  She watched him walk down the steps, and disappear around the corner, while holding her hands to her lips. Twinkle toes, silly, but sweet, and she actually liked it. Her heart ached a bit in that moment, ached for him. She only wished she could throw caution to the wind, take a chance, and see
where things led with the good doctor.

  It was odd to her that she could feel so drawn to someone she had only just met, and consider letting her guard down just one more time to see where the journey took her. As she stood there, in small town USA, alone, she was quickly reminded why she couldn’t. Men were something she just wasn’t good at, and St. Helena wasn’t her forever.

  Good sex and cheesecake…the day didn’t end nearly as shitty as it had started.

  Chapter 6

  Chirping birds and early golden rays usually acted as Heather’s morning wake up call, but today it was a loud knock at her door. Not sure there was truly someone at the door, or just a loud noise mixing with her half slumber, she turned to the clock on her nightstand trying to get a grip on reality as she left her dreamy state behind.

  Another knock, louder and more urgent, confirmed that there was indeed someone there and it wasn’t residual slumber confusing her. It was six thirty in the morning, the sun barely awake itself. Who on earth would knock on her door at this early hour? Another knock convinced her they weren’t going away so she tossed on her robe and made her way across the loft.

  Leaving the chain on the door engaged, she slowly opened it, hoping it wasn’t a crazed lunatic on the other side. It wasn’t until she began to open it that she thought better of it and paused, until she heard his voice.

  “Heather…it’s me. Sorry I woke you.”

  Clay. She quickly slammed the door, turning the deadbolt, and fell into a panic as she checked her appearance in the ornate mirror on the wall next to the door. What on earth was he doing there? And why the hell did her hair look like a dead animal every damn morning, and ugly make up rings settle on her face despite scrubbing her face until it was raw each night.

  She quickly tried to tame her wild locks, and licked her thumb going to work on the black smudges around her eyes. Bad idea, morning breath now caked her face, compliments of the fast spit bath. Her morning was getting worse by the minute and it had only begun.

  Now Clay Walker was standing outside her door at zero dark thirty – this couldn’t be good. Or could it? They did have fun the night before, and the night before that. Maybe he was there for an encore…she could definitely go for that.

  Perhaps he would see past her morning good Lord, what did you get in a fight with, appearance. With one last look in the mirror, and a deep sigh, she gave in and opened the door, plastering on her best early morning, happy to see you, hope you’re still interested in early morning whoopee, smile.

  “Hey, Clay, what are you doing here?” she asked in an almost too chipper voice.

  “Uh…” he looked around, primarily to his left, toward Main Street, before finishing his question, “can I, uh…come in?”

  Looking hard to his left again, he quickly made his way through the doorway as Heather stepped aside. He fished his phone out of his pocket, and began to swipe and tap the screen.

  “So, to what do I owe the…pleasure?” The word pleasure hung on her lips with a breathy tone that she hoped came across as seductive, though it sounded a little groggy to her.

  “We have a problem. I don’t know how the hell she did it, but she did, and it’s out there, and…” Clay ran his hand through his well-kept dark hair in total frustration, realizing he was racing through his words without making any sense at all. “I was careful, I looked before I left, I…didn’t see her. I’m sorry.”

  Heather’s stomach began to turn with each reference to her and the apology that followed. She closed her eyes, releasing a defeated sigh, as a sense of déjà vu rolled over her…it could only be one thing. “Nora?”

  “So you saw it?” his question felt optimistic with the assumption she saw it and was still happy to see him.

  “Nope! But who else could drive a man like you to search me out at this hour full of sorry didn’t see her’s?” her eyebrows jumped with a half assed chuckle and smirk. “Let me see it. Please.”

  He handed her the phone he had been holding, resting his hands on his halfcocked hips, anxiously waiting for her reaction. To his surprise, a sassy grin replaced her look of defeat, and a joyful giggle erupted as she read the Facebook post...

  ‘A late night Rumba for Doctor Walker and Broadway Baby? You know what they say…it takes two to Tango.’

  “You know. She’s funny – witty. If she wasn’t such a trouble making jerk, I’d probably like her,” Heather voiced. “These two pictures aren’t half bad either. Look at us kissing!”

  “You aren’t upset.” A statement, not a question. “I was worried you would be upset after yesterday, and well…everything else.”

  “Clay, I don’t know what getting upset again will accomplish. She clearly has her eye on us now, along with a few others. Ouch, did you see what she said about Molly and Seth? So what, she caught us kissing!” She shrugged her shoulders and handed him his phone.

  “I guess it could be worse. I was worried – it gives the wrong idea…about us. Ya know?”

  She was oddly accepting and almost flattered by the Facebook post aimed at them in an effort to defame. Only the day before, she hung her head in near shame for similar, but today she couldn’t be bothered by it, even laughed at it. A small flicker of hope sat in Clay’s chest that perhaps she was coming around.

  She ran a finger from his collar, down the front of his shirt, stopping at his waist. “And what idea is that?”

  He grabbed her hand, held it in his, and pulled her close so she could feel the effect she had on him. He brushed his lips across her knuckles, and said, “That we are…ya know…that we are together, doing things.”

  “It’s still early Doc. Surely you don’t have any runny noses or stitches to deal with yet.”

  “Given the nature of Nora’s post and what happened yesterday, I’m sure it will be another busy day. The mom mob is likely to be in full swing today.”

  “From your office, to my dance mom bench full of side eye sneers. Stay a while?”

  He liked where this was going, and the new pattern developing. From ending one day fresh from her bed, to starting the next jumping right back in it, he could get used to this. She was quite the muse, charming him from every which way. If only he could get her to let her guard down…he was beginning to really like her, and would take whatever she was willing to share.

  Cutting to the chase, he swept her off her feet and wrapped her around his waist, walking her straight back to where she had just come from, her bed. He took her mouth, and made his intention clear, he was taking his share. Time wasn’t on their side this time, they didn’t have time for slow and sweet, so he got right to work, at quick edgy and downright dirty.

  He’d try to find a way to make it up to her later, spend time working over every inch of her body, giving her every bit of sweet sensual attention she desired and deserved. Her response to his every move told him she was on board with this morning mission. She was responsive, hot, and completely sated a little quicker than he intended, but without leaving either with a single complaint.

  “Well, Doc…I have my stretching done for the morning,” she joked.

  “Thank you.”

  “For?”

  “For giving me something to think about all day while I deal with what is inevitably waiting for me.”

  “Ah, you’re going to think of me, huh? Well, then remember this…” she pulled his head down to hers, and swept his bottom lip with her tongue, until he let her in and she could give him a toe curling kiss that would brand him for days.

  As the morning moved on, so did they, each readying for the day, headed to their commitments. Heather still had an hour yet before her first class of students, but Clay had to leave if he was going to start his patient schedule on time. She saw him to the door, lighter somehow. She felt it, and he noticed it.

  He stepped out, turning to face her for a proper goodbye, as if they hadn’t had one yet. “I didn’t come here expecting…well, that. But thank you. Spending time with you is never disappointing.”

/>   Placing a hand on his cheek, she tilted her head and drank him in. He was handsome, sweet, and said all of the right things. What was better was that it was genuine, one hundred percent sincere. That was something she couldn’t claim to have experienced before with any man.

  A scuffled sound on the pavement below, followed by a disgusted gasp, quickly had their attention. Nora – armed with her cellphone, aimed at them.

  “Let’s give her something good, Doc.” Heather pulled Clay firmly against her body, one arm relaxed around his neck while her other hand snaked through his hair and her leg wrapped halfway around his, sliding it up and down.

  His body went rigid, ever so briefly, before catching on to what she was up to. Willing to indulge, and rather enjoying the show Heather was orchestrating. He would consider the consequences later…maybe.

  Pulling away, Heather ran her hands down Clay’s chest, straightening his shirt, before swiping her thumb across his mouth as if wiping any evidence of their explosive kiss away. A brazen move still left in her, she turned to Nora and gave her a friendly wave with a megawatt smile.

  “Have a good day, Doc,” was all she said before smacking his ass as he turned and walked down the stairs.

  Stopping halfway down, he returned his attention to the sassy vixen at the top. “Go out with me…dinner, tonight.”

  Stunned, Heather inhaled sharply, not sure how to answer. Her mind had been made up just days before, where men were concerned, but now, she was actually reconsidering. He was so tempting, a delicious man that actually appealed to her heart as much as her body. He wasn’t like the others and the look he was offering her, the plea he was making, spoke more to her heart at the moment.

  “I…”

  “Just dinner. Make this,” he waved his hand between Heather and Nora, “worth it. Let’s really give her a show.”

  A mischievous side to Clay Walker was rearing its head and she liked it. What could it hurt? It was just dinner, nothing more…so what if they had a fling. Dinner didn’t require moving in together or obtaining a marriage license. Friends had dinner all of the time and you could never have a friend too many.