Uncorked

by Rebecca Rohman

  “Please don’t be upset with me. I’ve been so worried about you. I needed to see you.”

  He walked toward her.

  Stay where you are before I fall under your spell…

  “You know, Mitch, I’m a big girl. As you can see, I’m fine.”

  “I see that.”

  Flushed, she replied, “You shouldn’t be here.”

  “Why?” he said, a grin teasing his lips. He edged closer. “Because you’re having a hard time being in the same room with me?”

  “Oh, get over yourself. Because one, you weren’t invited, and two, whatever we might have shared is over.” She edged backward, making sure to keep a safe distance between them.

  “You and I both know that’s not true.”

  “You don’t get to make up and break up anytime you feel like it. That’s not how it works.”

  “Chella, I’m sorry about that. I was angry, and I was worried about Emily.”

  “Irrelevant. The truth of the matter is I have no business being in a relationship until this is all over. It’s too risky. Too many people are getting hurt.”

  “Chella…” He stepped toward her.

  “Don’t. Don’t try to convince me otherwise. You have no idea how it feels to watch an innocent child hurt because of bad judgment.”

  “There must be a way we can work around this.”

  “The only way to work around this is to do exactly what I’ve been doing for the last few weeks. Stay away from all of you.”

  “Why don’t I help you finish putting up that tree?”

  “You’re changing the subject.”

  “I am.” He smiled. “I’m happy to be in your presence, and I’d rather be doing something non-confrontational with you.”

  “Where are you staying?”

  “I hadn’t gotten around to that yet. Here, perhaps?”

  “That’s rather presumptuous of you.”

  “You mean you’d send me out in the middle of a blizzard, days before Christmas in Aspen to find somewhere to stay?” he asked with a smirk on his face.

  She took a deep breath, and glared at him, trying hard not to smile. “You’re stressing me out. My night was perfect before you came by and so rudely interrupted me.”

  “Does that mean I can stay?”

  “Fine. Pick any room you like except for the one on the end. That one’s mine.”

  “Thank you. Is it okay if I shower? I’ve been travelling all day.”

  “Do whatever you want. I’ll get you some towels,” she replied, climbing the stairs to the bedroom area. He followed her closely. One false move, and she’d slip right back into his arms.

  “Why’d you get such a big house?”

  “It was one of three that was left. Everything else was booked.”

  “Why did you choose Aspen?”

  “I went to the airport ticket counter and asked for a seat on the next flight to somewhere beautiful. The agent picked here.”

  “I would have never guessed.”

  She opened the linen closet and handed him a set of towels. His hands brushed hers.

  A surge of electricity ran up her arm. She pulled away.

  “I’m going to finish putting up my tree,” she said, quickly walking away. “Enjoy your shower.”

  “Want to join me?”

  She walked away, hiding a smile. Twenty minutes later, he returned to the living room wearing his favorite outfit. Chella did a double-take. She was sure he looked ten times better than the last time she saw him.

  “Aren’t you cold?”

  “No. You’ve generated enough heat in this house to melt all the snow outside.”

  “Ha-ha.”

  “So what can I help you with?”

  “You can put these up near the top since you’re taller than me.” She handed him a box of ornaments while she stood on a ladder working on the other half of the tree. A while later she inspected his handy work.

  “You’re doing a pretty good job of decorating the tree over there.”

  “You like the way I’ve hung my balls?”

  She lost her balance, and fell right into his opened arms.

  “That didn’t come out quite right did it?” he said, looking down at her and laughing.

  She flushed, unsure how to respond.

  “Do you always blush that much when decorating a tree?” he asked, helping her to her feet.

  “I see you put on your funny pants tonight.”

  “If you like, I’d be more than happy to take them off.”

  “Of course you would. Dream on.”

  “I can give you details of everything I do while I dream about you. I can even show you.”

  “Thanks, but no thanks. I have things to do,” she replied, quickly exiting the living room before he could see her smile. They spent the rest of the evening decorating the tree. The storm worsened. At midnight, Chella was ready for sleep.

  “I’m turning in. I’m tired,” Chella said as she finished tidying up the ornament and light boxes.

  “Sleep well. Thanks for letting me a stay here.”

  “You’re welcome,” she replied, smiling. “You got me on a good, sentimental night. If it happens again, I’ll let you sleep out in the cold.

  “You wouldn’t dare.”

  “Don’t push me, Mr. Mariani.”

  “I think I might follow you in. It’s been a long day,” he said, switching off the lamp and walking behind her.

  “Sleep tight.” She led the way up the stairs to the bedrooms, painfully aware of how close he walked behind her. She prayed that he wouldn’t make a move on her. If he did, her defenses might crumble. “The fireplace in your room is either gas or wood burning, so you’re set for heat.”

  “If you join me, I won’t need the fireplace.”

  “Back off, Funny Pants. Go to bed. I’ll see you in the morning,” she said, opening her bedroom door and quickly shutting it behind her.

  A couple hours later, the sound of a breaking branch outside her bedroom window woke her. She looked through the window. All was well except that it was snowing heavily, and it looked like there was close to three feet of snow on the ground. She was thirsty, so she got out of bed and headed to the kitchen to get a glass of water. On the patio, the snow had accumulated to the height of the table.

  She turned around to head back to the room, but was startled when she saw Mitch standing behind her.

  “I didn’t mean to scare you,” he said. “I heard a noise and came to see what it was.”

  “It was a tree… a branch broke off. I came to get a glass of water. You don’t need to worry. This house has an alarm. I’ve activated it.”

  “Good. Are you sure you’re okay?”

  “I am,” she replied, heading past him in the direction of her room. He again followed, but when he reached his bedroom door, he reached for her hand and tugged her close. He kissed her gently on her lips then stepped into his room, closing the door behind him.

  The kiss sent shivers through her body. Her nipples hardened under the oversized sweatshirt she wore. She returned to bed, but was not able to sleep soundly for the rest of the night. She couldn’t stop thinking of the man in the room a few doors down the hall from hers. After a total of three hours of sleep, she gave up and searched the internet for ideas on how to prepare the small turkey she bought the day before.

  By sunrise, she was showered, dressed, and ready to start the day, even if she felt like a walking zombie. The winds had now eased, but the snow still fell lightly across the white-covered terrain. She prepared a fresh pot of coffee, and after fixing herself a cup, she secured her usual seat by the window to take in the view. She thought about Mitch. She wondered if he slept well the previous night, or if it was as difficult for him as it had been for her. The way it looked outside, they’d be inside for days. She realized there wasn’t a vehicle parked outside. How had he gotten there? In the distance, she saw a large, downed tree across the road. Was that the one responsible for the cut on his
face? He said it wasn’t a big deal, but the tree was so big, it had the potential to kill him had it fallen directly on him.

  Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard movement behind her.

  “Good morning. You’re up early,” Mitch said, kissing her on her cheek.

  She was so nervous, she wondered if he could hear the little drummer boy pounding inside her chest.

  “So this is what it looks like during the day.”

  “Beautiful, isn’t it?” she said, scanning the panoramic landscapes.

  “Yeah. I’ve never been here before. It’s great. The skiers will be happy. Do you ski?”

  “Never tried. You?”

  “I used to go with Alec and a few other friends every winter to Washington.”

  “Nice.”

  “I can teach you if you like.”

  “I’ll think about it. I love seeing the snow and the scenery, but the cold scares me.”

  “So what are we doing today?”

  “We?”

  “Yes, we? What were your plans for today?”

  “Well, every year I’m usually at Craig and Maggie’s for dinner, so I’ve never had to cook anything. I bought a small turkey yesterday, but I don’t have a clue on how to fix it.”

  “I can help with that. What else did you get?”

  “Veggies, potatoes, croutons and bread for stuffing. I also got a small ham and ingredients for dessert—oh, and some rice and salad, too.”

  “Were you going to invite all of Pitkin County for dinner?”

  “No,” she chuckled. “I got the smallest size of everything. I wasn’t even certain if I would fix it at all, but I guess now that you’re here, we may as well.”

  “Show me what you got. We can start fixing it and just slip everything in the oven tomorrow.”

  “Sounds great. Do you have any Christmas traditions?”

  “We do, but I don’t mind starting new traditions with you.”

  She blushed, then quickly tore her eyes away from his and headed toward the kitchen.

  “What about you?”

  “When my parents were alive, we always made eggnog. My mom would bake, and we’d make ham sandwiches while we fixed Christmas dinner.”

  “Let’s do it.”

  She smiled at his eagerness.

  They spent most of the day prepping the food for Christmas dinner the following day. By afternoon, Chella was exhausted and went to bed to nap.

  As Chella slept, Mitch came across a finished painting of Morro Bay on an easel. A little girl in a pink sundress walked along the beach as the sun set in the background. Mitch recognized it as the first place they’d ever gone together on Ciao Bella. His gaze drifted down to the signature: C. Noon. On a nearby table sat a palette with some brushes in water.

  Despite being thousands of miles away, Chella had thought about him and his child and painted a scene so similar to that special day. The little girl was Emily—without a doubt—for she wore her favorite dress. The curly tendrils of her brown hair blew in the ocean breeze the same way his daughter’s did. He traced the outline of the little girl, now hardened acrylic, softly with his fingertips. He never knew Chella painted, but being in that environment had obviously inspired her. The painting said so much about what was on her mind and in her heart. His throat constricted.

  He sat on the sofa thinking about Chella. When she answered the door the night before, he knew he had to have her back. Although he did have concerns about Emily, he was certain there must be a way for them to be together, even if it meant he had to keep his life with her and his life with Emily separate for a while. At this point, he was willing to do anything it took to be with her. When he ran into her in the dark kitchen in the middle of the night, it took every ounce of self-control not to pull her into his arms and devour her lips. He knew if he came on too strong, he would risk pushing her away completely. He would have to tread carefully during his stay.

  He was getting off the couch when one of the throw pillows fell to the floor. He picked it up and was about to replace it when he noticed the familiar black stripped fabric of his shirt. He pulled it out and smiled.

  So that’s where you’ve been hiding. It looks like Chella Noon might miss me more than she’s willing to admit.

  The snow had subsided a bit, so he went into the garage to see if there was any equipment to clear it. He found a snow blower, shovel, and a small chainsaw. He cleared the walkways, driveway and patio then took a walk to see if any progress had been made on the tree that fell in front of his rental vehicle the night before.

  Chella looked around the house, but saw no sign of Mitch. She did notice that the patio was clear of snow. She slipped on a coat, went outside, and saw the driveway had been cleared, too. Although she couldn’t see him, she saw tracks headed down the hill. She had no idea what he was up to, but she went into the kitchen to make hot cocoa to warm him when he returned.

  Half an hour later, she heard a vehicle pull up to the house. She looked through the window and saw it was Mitch. She slipped into a coat and opened the front door.

  “Where did this come from?”

  “A tree fell across the road in front of me last night, so I had to leave it parked down the street. I found a small chain saw in the garage, so I was able to clear away enough of the small branches to get by.”

  “Was there any damage?”

  “No. I saw a few of the neighbors down the street. They said we’ll be getting more snow tonight.

  “Let me open the garage door so you can pull in.”

  “Thanks. That would be great.”

  When he returned inside, she smiled and said, “I never knew you could handle manual labor.”

  “Who do you think did all the hard work around the house growing up?”

  “You’re full of surprises.”

  “Do you need any more firewood?”

  “Sure. I’ll help you bring it in.”

  Chella poured cocoa. Mitch walked up behind her, freshly showered, and trailed kisses down her neck. Her knees weakened.

  “Mitch, this is not a good idea.”

  “Why?” he replied, circling his arms around her, cupping her breasts in his palms, and softly caressing them.

  “This will make things too complicated.”

  “It doesn’t have to be complicated. Not anymore. I want you, and I know you want me. Everything else is just details…”

  “But Mi—”

  “No buts. I want to make love to you, right here, right now.”

  Her mind said no, but her body said yes. She turned around to face him and allowed him to slowly, gently part her lips. She sank her fingers into his damp hair. He drew her into his body, deepening their kiss.

  He caressed her body through the thick sweater dress she wore. She returned his kisses, and as his hands roamed over her body, one of her nude images crossed her mind.

  She jolted away.

  “What’s wrong?” Mitch asked.

  She couldn’t answer.

  “Sweetheart, tell me what’s wrong.”

  “It’s nothing,” she said, taking a deep breath. She walked into the living room. He followed. When he caught up to her, he held her hand and directed her behind him toward the sofa.

  “What did I do? One minute you were enjoying it and the next you pulled away.”

  “It’s not you. This is all moving a little too fast, that’s all.”

  “You’re not telling me the truth. You got nervous, almost scared. Tell me what’s wrong.”

  “I had images of their hands all over my body.”

  For a second Mitch was lost, then suddenly he realized she was talking about whoever had drugged her and taken the pictures.

  “I didn’t mean to stir up bad memories or feelings.”

  “It’s not your fault. The images just popped into my mind.”

  “Do you want to talk about it?”

  “I’m not sure what’s worse—knowing or not knowing what happened. Sometimes I wonder how m
any people were there, how many put their hands on my body, how many watched, how many touched. I’m not sure I want to know. I wish I had gone to that dinner with you that night. This never would have happened.”

  “I’m sorry. I wish I could make it all go away.”

  “There’s nothing anyone can do. Let’s watch a movie or something. It’s useless talking about it.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’m here if you change your mind.”

  “Thanks.”

  Mitch underestimated how deeply Chella was affected by the drugging and subsequent photography incident. It bothered him that there was nothing he could do to protect her then, or now that they were possibly in cyber space. This was one time things were completely out of his hands. All he could do at this point was hope that the photos didn’t get out and be there for her in the event that they did.

  “You know what?” Mitch said, getting to his feet. “I might have something that can cheer you up.”

  “What’s that?”

  “I’ll be right back.”

  Mitch returned moments later with two gift boxes in that familiar blue color.

  “What did you do?” she asked curiously.

  “One’s not really a gift, it’s just something I want you to hold onto. Here, open it.”

  She pulled away the white ribbon and carefully opened the box. Inside was a large heart key ring in silver with a set of keys on them. His keys.

  He smiled at her. “I want you to have them. You’ll always have a place you can call home.”

  “I don’t know what to say,” she replied, looking at the keys dangling as she held them up.

  “You don’t have to say anything, just hold onto them. This is the real gift.” He handed her the other box.

  “I got you a gift, but I had it shipped to San Diego.”

  “You don’t have to worry about that.”

  “There’s something else I’d like you to have.” She walked over to her painting and lifted it from the easel.

  “Here. I’d like you to have this.”

  “Thank you. I saw it earlier. You never told me you could paint.”

  “It’s something I used to love in my other life. I’m sure you can find a home for it somewhere.”