“Well, then, you have to make the most of the night you have. Come on, let me introduce you to some people.”
Why not? Liam was Jase’s colleague and seemed genuinely interested in helping her have a good time.
Before, Sara had stood on the fringe of the groups, trying to figure out how she wanted to jump in...if she wanted to jump in. But now Liam swept her right to the center of the action. In the living room, he laid his hand on the small of her back and guided her toward a group of men and women. She knew his hand on her back was simply a courtesy, but it didn’t feel right. She moved ahead, letting it slip off, but not before she spotted Jase. He’d been watching her and Liam cross the room. Though she tried, she couldn’t read his expression and she wondered if he would be spending any time with her tonight.
Before she could give the question more thought, Liam introduced her to a round of guests. One was a food writer for the L.A. Times, another a chef at a five-star restaurant. After a few minutes of conversation that Liam facilitated, the woman who had accompanied the chef looked Sara over. “Beautiful dress. The designer’s Carzanne, isn’t it?”
Designer? Sara really hadn’t kept up with designers. How could the woman tell? Quickly she said, “The dress just seemed right for tonight.”
“That it is. You’ve got a lot of heads turning. Liam’s, of course. But Mr. Cramer’s, too. He hasn’t taken his eyes off you since you walked in.”
Was that true? Had she wowed Jase?
Another couple joined the group and Sara recognized the gentleman. He’d had a sports injury. After arthroscopic surgery, she’d helped him build up his leg muscles again. However, like any health-care professional, she didn’t give away the identity of her clients.
He remembered her, however, and didn’t hesitate to say, “Sara! I never expected to see you here.” He put his arm around his wife. “Margery, this is my physical therapist, the one who got me playing tennis again.”
Suddenly a deep baritone over Sara’s shoulder said, “She’s good at what she does. I should know.”
The group went silent for a minute as Jase stepped into their circle. In a tuxedo, pristine white shirt and black tie, he was absolutely magnificent. So much so, that Sara had to swallow hard as she looked at him. His gaze on her was assessing, admiring, maybe even a little intimate. And maybe she was reading way too much into a look...just because of an errant kiss.
Music had begun on the patio outside the French doors in the dining room. There were tables set up there and couples were going out to the patio to dance.
Jase gazed in that direction for a fraction of a second, and then he held his hand out to her. “How about some fresh air and music?”
Sharing music and a dance with Jase sounded wonderful about now, so she nodded. They made their excuses and Jase led her outside to the patio. He headed to one of the corners, slightly in shadow.
Holding her loosely as they danced, he asked, “So what do you think of Raintree’s soiree?”
Easily she responded, “I think it’s elegant and tasteful, and everyone seems to be enjoying themselves.”
“You included?”
There was a hint of something in Jase’s tone that told her his question was more than conversational. She wasn’t sure exactly what he was asking, but something seemed to be on his mind. “Marissa and I split up when we came in, and I felt out of my element at first.”
“That’s natural when you don’t know anyone. Liam seemed to put you at ease.”
She wasn’t exactly sure what to say to that. After all, he and Liam worked together. So she said, “Liam’s nice. And friendly. He made me feel not so out of place. He introduced himself and then insisted I get to know everyone here.”
“I see,” Jase said, then added, “Some women find him hard to resist.”
“As in plural women?”
“When Liam’s not making wine, he’s an adventurer. He mountain climbs, rock climbs, likes to sample beaches in Croatia and South America.”
“You’re telling me he’s multidimensional,” she said lightly, joking, although Jase’s tone was serious.
“I’m telling you he likes diversity in his adventures and in his women.”
She felt as if Jase was warning her away from Liam. For her sake...or his? “I’ll keep that in mind.” It wasn’t as if Jase could advise her on who she should or shouldn’t see. It wasn’t as if he had any right to say. Not that she’d fall for Liam’s practiced charm and easy conversation.
Jase seemed to accept her response for what it was: a declaration of her independence. But then his hand held hers a little tighter and he pulled her just a little closer. “You look beautiful tonight. Any man here would like to spirit you off to his own private beach or vineyard or whatever.”
Some imp inside her who’d been sleeping for a while urged her to ask, “Including you?”
He must have taken her question as the flirtation she’d meant it to be because he shifted their hands onto his chest and pulled her even closer. His thighs brushed hers as the music played. “I think I made it obvious that I’d like to do that, but we both know there are consequences.”
“To private beaches, not to dancing.”
“There, we think alike.” He bent his head slightly. As she leaned her face closer to his, his jaw grazed her cheek.
Often Jase had a sexy beard stubble from not shaving that day. But tonight he was clean shaven, smelled spicy and musky and was looking at her as if he wanted to swallow her up. As they moved to the rhythm of the music, Sara forgot where she was and remembered only whom she was with. Their bodies leaned into each other naturally as if it were the best place to be. When Jase’s hand played with stray curls at her neck, she trembled.
“You remind me of Cinderella tonight.”
“I will have to leave before midnight. I don’t want to keep Kaitlyn too late, or have Amy miss me too much.”
“She’ll be asleep.”
“Yes, but if she wakes up and I’m not there— I don’t want her to ever think I abandoned her.”
He nodded as if he understood that. Maybe he did understand even better than she did. His foot brushed against hers. “Don’t lose one of those shoes on the way out.”
“You like the heels?” she teased.
“Oh, I like the heels,” he assured her. “You have great legs and they make that obviously clear.”
Jase’s compliment sounded genuine and sincere.
“Marissa loaned me the shoes,” she said, then admitted, “I do feel a little like Cinderella tonight.”
When she tipped her face up to his, Jase was glancing over the guests gathered on the patio. He wrapped his arm around her waist and guided her down the step into one of the gardens. There was an arbor there with climbing roses, shadows and all the sweet scents of summer mingling into a lovely night. It provided privacy and she found she was glad for it. Everything about tonight felt a little dreamlike, including being here with Jase like this. Was he experiencing the same feelings?
He seemed to answer her unspoken question when he said, “I’m glad you came tonight.”
“Did you think I wouldn’t?”
“I thought you might back out at the last minute.”
“Marissa wouldn’t let me.”
“Good for Marissa.” His voice was husky as he again fingered one of the curls dangling along her cheek.
A little nervous, she murmured, “You have responsibilities here tonight.”
“Not at the moment,” he assured her. He hesitated a moment, then confessed, “Ever since we kissed, I’ve been imagining kissing you again.”
He knew she was skittish about getting involved with a man again and he wasn’t pushing. But he was leading her into new territory that both scared and excited her. Talking about their kiss made the idea of doing
it again even more tempting.
“I’ve thought about it a lot. I know neither of us wants to get hurt. I particularly understand that neither of us will find trusting someone easy or simple.”
“But?” she asked shakily.
His thumb slowly traced her lower lip. “But...there’s a bond between us and an attraction that for me began two years ago. The question is—Do I want to fight it? Do you?”
Everything he was saying was so true. And yet tonight, with these Cinderella-type feelings bubbling up inside her, she didn’t want to fight them.
So she simply said, “I’d like you to kiss me again.”
As he circled her with his arms and brought her close, she reached up around his neck. Jase’s kiss had the ability to make her forget who she was as well as where she was. Music from the patio wafted around them as his lips sensually moved over hers, as his kiss intoxicated her more than any of the Raintree wines. When his tongue coaxed her lips apart, she remembered his taste and the masculine possessiveness that characterized the way he kissed. Conrad’s kisses had satisfied them both, but Jase’s kisses promised so much more...filled her with a sense of joy...heated her through and through.
As Jase groaned, angled his mouth, took the kiss deeper, she realized he felt the same way.
A kiss was not just a kiss. Not ever. Not when there was this much passion and desire behind it. Not when there was this much hunger left to be satisfied.
Sara found herself seeking Jase’s heat, not just in the kiss, but elsewhere. She lowered her hands from his neck, reached inside his open tux jacket, exploring the leanness of his waist and then the breadth of his back.
Jase broke away and whispered huskily, “Sara, if you keep that up, I’m going to roll that zipper down the back of your dress.”
When she froze, he trailed kisses down her neck and then shook his head. “I like it. A lot. But I think we’re going to have to cool this down if we don’t want to end up naked under the arbor where the guests might come strolling by at any minute.”
Was kissing Jase a mistake if she could get lost so easily?
Jase must have known exactly where her thoughts were heading because he cupped her face in his hands and looked deep into her eyes. “Don’t tell me that was a mistake. Each kiss just tells me that we both want the same thing.”
“What? A fling under a rose arbor?”
He studied her thoughtfully. “That’s what we’re going to have to decide. But not at this moment. Come on. Why don’t I show you the wine cellar?”
“More private than the arbor?” she asked, confused and uncertain where her life was headed.
“Not tonight. The wine cellar’s open for our guests to see. They can come and go from the party, so most likely we’ll have company.”
“A good thing,” she murmured...and he laughed.
Jase didn’t guide Sara inside the house. Rather they took a path aglow with foot lamps and ended up on a level below the first floor in front of a solid wood door.
“This is usually locked. But tonight we’re keeping it open. Hopefully our guests won’t steal the most expensive wines.”
The door creaked as he opened it and they stepped inside. Right away Sara could see this private wine cellar was an amazing space. Exposed beams ran across the ceiling. The walls were gray stone. There were tilted racks upon tilted racks of wine bottles. The temperature was cool but not unpleasantly so, maybe because she’d been so hot after that kiss. As they toured from the end of one row to another, Jase pulled bottles of different kinds of wines, showing her their dates, explaining their value. When they came to the end of a row, Sara heard a babble of voices.
Jase just gave a shrug. “Everyone wants to see what Dad keeps down here.”
That was the first time she’d heard Jase call Ethan Dad. Was it a slip? Maybe he was just afraid to let his fondness for the man show. She wondered if Ethan’s crusty exterior went deeper than that. Was he crusty all the way to his heart? Or was there some marshmallow in there, too? Most people weren’t one extreme or the other, and she’d learned from dealing with all of her patients that most had walls they were afraid to let crumble.
As the group approached their row, Jase mumbled, “I guess my father’s giving this tour himself.”
She soon recognized Ethan’s voice as he explained the layout of the wine cellar. As soon as he turned into their row, he stopped. “I see someone else is taking the tour.”
There was forced joviality in his voice, and Sara knew that was because of her. Was he afraid she’d take Jase away from Raintree? Or was he really afraid she was a manipulative woman who just wanted to share in his son’s success and wealth?
There were three couples with Ethan. As introductions were made and everyone shook hands, Sara realized she’d seen some of them milling about upstairs earlier.
As the men discussed vintages, Mrs. Campbell, the wife of a man who was CEO of a tech company, sidled up to her. “I love your dress. That’s a Carzanne, isn’t it?”
When she’d migrated around cocktail parties with Conrad, sure, she’d noticed pretty dresses. But she hadn’t known what designers did what. What was it about her dress that made it so recognizable?
Mrs. Campbell answered that question for her. “Carzanne usually does the color blocking with the beading across the bodice and checkerboard hem.”
What could Sara say? The tags had been cut out when she’d found the dress at the thrift shop. She simply said, “Every designer’s work is distinctive in some way.”
When she glanced toward Ethan, she saw he’d been listening to their conversation.
“Why don’t we all head upstairs,” Ethan said, including Jase and Sara. “The caterer refilled the food trays. Wine is flowing, and Liam and Tony are going to give a short presentation about all our newest varieties. I wouldn’t want you to miss that.”
“I’ll be along in a few minutes,” Jase said to his father.
Ethan didn’t look as if he approved, but he graciously escorted his guests through another door and up the stairs.
“He obviously wants you to go along,” Sara said.
“He obviously knows I’d rather spend time with you.”
She liked the idea of spending time with Jase. Still, she insisted, “I don’t want to come between you.”
“There are a lot of things between my father and me. You’re not one of them.”
She heard the sadness in Jase’s voice and wished she could do something about it. “I really should find Marissa. We made a pact not to stay too late. We don’t want to take advantage of Kaitlyn. She’s used to kids in her practice, but handling a four-year-old and a one-year-old for hours at a time could be a bit wearing.”
There was a look in Jase’s eyes that said he wanted to kiss her again. Instead, however, he held out his arm. “Come on, I’ll escort you upstairs. Maybe I can convince you to have a glass of wine before you leave.”
Maybe he could.
* * *
“I heard what Lisa Campbell said. She noticed that dress Sara Stevens was wearing was a Carzanne! He dresses stars on the red carpet.” Jase’s father had confronted him as soon as everyone had left around midnight.
After Jase loosened his tie, he yanked it off. “I’m sure Sara didn’t purchase a Carzanne from the designer. The Mommy Club has been helping her, and my guess is that someone loaned her the dress.”
“Then why didn’t she say that when asked about it?”
“Would you have told someone you were wearing a borrowed suit?”
His father seemed to think about that, then grudgingly admitted, “Maybe not.”
“Marissa loaned her the shoes.”
“You know this how?”
“Sara told me. I made some comment about Cinderella.”
Ethan gave him an odd
look.
“What?” Jase asked.
“Nothing. I just don’t like where you seem to be headed.”
“You said the same thing when I began traveling from one refugee camp to another. Look how that turned out. I won a Pulitzer.” As soon as Jase said it, he knew he shouldn’t have.
“You also almost lost your life.”
His father’s voice held a trace of something Jase hadn’t heard there before, not even when he’d been flown back here from Africa and ended up in a hospital in L.A. His father had been waiting there when Jase had been wheeled in. Back then, he’d been efficient, talking to doctors, making sure Jase had the best care. He’d wanted his son to stay there for in-house rehabilitation. Jase had wanted to be at Raintree again, smell the scent of ripening grapes, feel the cool night air, hear the birds sing.
Thank goodness he’d come back, because he’d met Sara and she’d helped him put his world back on its axis.
In a way, however, so had his father.
Changing the subject, Ethan untied his own tie and let it hang around his neck. “You’re doing a fine job as general manager of Raintree. You know that, don’t you?”
“Profits are up, distribution channels are opening wider and the wine club is growing. So, yes, I can see progress.” He remembered how he’d savored praise from his father in his first years after he’d arrived here. That praise had always seemed to center around work on the vineyard. Ethan appreciated anything that made it thrive.
“Liam has added more life to the wines, too. He’s inventive.” Jase had to give the man his due.
“You were watching him closely tonight. Were you concerned he’d make a pass at one of our married clients?”
“You never know with Liam.”
What Jase had been watching for was Liam putting the moves on Sara. Jealousy gnawed at him at the thought. He had no right to be jealous. Yet Sara had seemed comfortable with Liam when they were talking. An instant connection?
Shedding his tux jacket, Jase tossed it over a chair. “I’m going for a walk.”
Wanted: A Real Family Page 9