“You didn’t.”
“Nah, I didn’t. I’m not that petty.” A self-deprecating grin stretched the corners of her mouth. “But if she’ll have your disorganized ass, I think you two would make a great couple.”
After her proclamation, she pushed away from the counter, crossed the room, and stroked her hand over his jaw. “Gonna miss flirting with you.”
Will laid his hand on her wrist, and pressed his forehead to hers. “No you won’t.”
She laughed and poked his shoulder, not gently enough to be considered flirting, but not hard enough to display hidden temper.
“Am I interrupting?” Ava asked from the other side of the kitchen.
Will’s mouth watered as he caught sight of her. She’d changed her uptight business clothes for a snug, hot pink T-shirt. The colorful, form-fitting tee deepened the blue of her eyes. The jeans she wore kissed every curve, even the one her phone formed, shoved in her back pocket. Flip-flops on her feet revealed whimsical pink polish on her toes. A lightweight jacket dangled from her fingertips and she still wore that god-awful watch.
Good, maybe he’d get the chance to pitch it into the pond. Maybe he could convince her to remove it, and the pretty shirt, and those second-skin jeans.
He stepped back from Penny. “We were just having a good friends’ moment.” His gaze tracked across the room to Ava. A small crease etched her brows.
Penny poked his shoulder again. “You two enjoy your picnic.” She pointed to the wine on the table as she crossed to Ava. “That’s a great red, but if you don’t bring home any leftovers it’s okay. I’ve got a couple bottles at my house. And I don’t have to share.”
She stopped when she came abreast of Ava. Delivering a fast glance and smile over her shoulder, she said, “He’s all yours. My brother and I have reached an understanding of sorts.”
She started through the door and Ava stopped her with a hand on her arm. “Thanks. Maybe someday soon we can share a bottle and figure out if we can be friends.”
Penny nodded. “I’d like that.”
After she left, Will busied himself packing up the hamper. “I don’t know if I should be worried about the two of you getting together without me.”
“Oh, we’re harmless.” Ava laughed, but when she spoke again, her voice seemed to be two parts somber and one part surprised. “I don’t have many women friends, and I think a friendship with Penny might be a good start to fixing that.”
He pulled the blanket from the back of the chair and folded it. “Why don’t you have women friends? I thought all chicks had a gaggle of girls to hang with.”
Ava picked up the cloth napkins he’d tossed on the table and laid them in the basket. She chewed her lip a moment, and Will stared at the sight, utterly fascinated. He wanted to nibble that lush lip, lick it, then sneak by it to spelunk in the sultry cave of her mouth.
“Lifelong habit?” She shrugged. “In high school, it wasn’t like I could have ever invited friends to come over after school for cookies and soda. No studying together, or talking about which boy we wanted to ask us out. Living in the back of a car wasn’t conducive to that kind of girlfriend relationship.”
God, her teenage years must have been painful. “I never considered the impact that kind of reversal of fortune might have on a young girl.”
“I survived. But once we did manage to rent an apartment, it still wasn’t the kind of place I’d invite the hoity-toity girls in my class to visit. That apartment was straight up shabby. Nothing chic about it.” Her tone implied it was two shades shabbier than she let on.
“But it wasn’t mobile.” He laid the blanket in the basket, then nestled the wine on top of the blanket and secured the lid.
She brightened. “Nope, it was most definitely not mobile. Are we about ready? This conversation is a downer. If I’m forced into taking the afternoon off, I want to get going on enjoying every second.” She sent a playful glance in his direction. “Or, we could unpack the new phone I ordered for you and set it up.”
He hefted the basket and grabbed her elbow. “Uh-uh. We’re off for the afternoon.” He herded her out the back door to the drive where he parked the Suburban he usually reserved for trips to town.
Depositing the basket behind her seat, he helped her into the high-rise vehicle. He raced around the hood, digging his keys from his jeans pocket, and climbed in. “One fast stop at the office to let Guin know we’re going.”
She nodded.
While Ava waited outside, Will hurried in for a word with Guin. He immediately bitched, “She’s still wearing that stupid watch.”
Guin smirked. “Of course she is. Tiny steps, Will. She’s taking a weekday afternoon off. That’s huge.”
“I know, but I think I want it all.” And right this minute. He stepped closer to the desk, glancing at the messages she’d neatly stacked on the corner. His easygoing ways might be rubbing off on her, but her time managing ways were infiltrating his life as well. “Anyway, I guess we’re reachable if you need anything.”
“I’ll be here.” Guin indicated the new monitor they’d received at the same time his new smart phone had arrived.
He spared a fast look at the screen. The colorful display caught his attention. “What’s that?”
“Oh, I was just playing with a graphics program that came with the computer. Pretty slick, huh? I can design new signage, or logos, or labels right from here.”
Squinting, he studied the image. She’d taken his cloverleaf logo and manipulated it, until a bunch of grapes rested atop an entire bed of clover. “Clever. It looks more modern, yet still old school, old vine. How did you learn to do that?”
“I am an artist.” Guin sniffed, as if his comment offended her somehow. “There are all kinds of online tutorials for the program. If you can read, you can create.”
“You’re really good. You want to keep playing with it?”
“I wouldn’t mind. I mean, once I get my other work done.”
“Go for it. But no rainbows or pots of gold, got it?”
She laughed, the sound reminding him of Ava. “Got it. I’ll finish the payables this afternoon. They’ll be ready for your review, right on schedule, first thing tomorrow morning.”
Outside, the horn on his truck honked, and she laughed again. “Someone is getting impatient. I guess you exhausted the four minutes she allotted for you to check in with me.”
“We could wind her up, shoot the shit for another two, maybe three.”
She flapped her hands toward the door, shooing him away. “Don’t dare risk that. She might decide taking the afternoon off isn’t advisable. Go have fun.”
Will couldn’t help the smile breaking out over his face. He had a ready partner in crime in his new employee.
With a wave over his shoulder, he returned to the SUV.
Time to get this party started.
Chapter 18
Sunlight dappled through the leaves of the massive oak trees lining the road. Reclining against the buttery-soft leather seat, Avalon let her eyes drift closed, and tipped her face to the window. Light flickered against her lids; red, then yellow, orange, gray and black. Back to red.
I’m relaxed.
It surprised her to catalog her physical state as laid-back. When Will had helped her into the car, she’d tensed. Climbing into the vehicle reminded her of the awful months spent calling a station wagon home. But before she could panic, Will had settled behind the wheel and claimed the fist she had clenched on the armrest. The warmth of his hand on hers melted the tension shivering across her shoulders.
During a brief stop at the office, she’d remained in the car, albeit with the door open and a breeze blowing through the cab. Will had jogged back, hauled his cute butt into the seat, gave her the happy-to-be-playing hooky grin, and shifted into gear.
They’d only been driving for about ten minutes before he turned down the shady gravel road. He’d held her hand the whole time, and she let him. She’d promised him no business this afternoon. That included worrying about stepping over the line with a client. Nope, today she was leaping over that boundary with both feet. She might even click her heels together as she did it.
“Almost there.” Will squeezed her hand.
“Where exactly is ‘there?’”
“My secret fishing hole.” One side of his mouth quirked and he affected a deep southern accent. “Actually, it’s a pond on the northern edge of the vineyard. We’ve been lucky and gotten a fair amount of rain here, so it’s mostly full.”
Avalon quirked a brow. “Do you really fish?”
“Yep. Nothing big in the pond, just some blue gill and carp. And a snapping turtle. I don’t keep anything I catch.”
“Hang on. You spend time tossing a line in the water, wait endless minutes for some poor, stupid fish to take your bait, then you throw it back? Wouldn’t it be more efficient—”
Will pressed his fingers to her mouth. “Uh-uh. Not using the ‘E’ word. Not today.” He stroked his thumb along her bottom lip before removing his hand to navigate over a low bridge.
“But fishing is already a colossal waste of time, and then to throw back what you catch?”
“Colossal? That’s a big word.” He laughed. “I’m not fishing to eat, Ava. I fish to unwind. You shouldn’t knock it until you try it.” There was distinct challenge under his lightly chastising tone.
“How does that work?” She was genuinely curious, and for the first time considered what leisure time must be like. “I can’t fathom standing on a riverbank, tossing a line in the water and then just waiting for things to happen. The anticipation would kill me.”
“Well, it would be more proactive if the fish just jumped onto the shore for you. But there’s the whole breathing out of water issue.” Will looked at her a moment, then pulled under a large pine tree and shoved the gearshift into park. He spun and faced her. Sliding his arm along the back of her seat, he toyed with the ends of her hair, making her glad she’d scraped it back into a ponytail. Companionable silence stretched between them.
He skimmed his knuckles over her jaw. “Don’t you ever just hang out?”
“And do what?”
“Um . . . nothing.”
Suppressing a shudder, she shook her head.
Will barked out a laugh, and leaned forward. Cupping her cheeks, he pressed a hard kiss to her mouth, smiling as he pulled back. “Challenge accepted. The education of Ava starts now.”
“I don’t like the sound of that.” Or do I?
To be honest with herself, she loved the sound of it, but found it scary.
Will’s mouth curved in an evil grin. “Oh, you will.” His heated gaze promised she’d not only like it, but that she’d probably love it.
The ache already throbbing in her sex kicked into a spritely pulse. Her breath shortened as he dropped his warm hand to her thigh and squeezed. She bit her lower lip and he tracked the movement with his gaze. The air in the front seat seemed to condense and crackle electrically between them.
He tightened his fingers briefly before letting her go and leaping from the SUV. The calming breath she pulled into her lungs proved ineffective. Probably because while he rounded the front end his low chuckle, audible through her open window, skated along her nerve endings.
The door popped open, then the one behind her whooshed as well. Avalon stumbled from the front seat, surprised the ground tilted under her feet. Or maybe that was just her senses.
Will grabbed the hamper. “Can you take this? I’ll get the rest. There’s a decent flat spot beneath the tree. Perfect for a nice, relaxing afternoon.”
He pushed the hamper into her numb fingers, then spun her around. His light push at the small of her back launched her toward the spot he’d pointed out. A glance over her shoulder verified he’d remained in place, watching her lurch away from him, his gaze glued to her butt.
Focusing, she evened out her gait and sauntered to a patch of thick green grass under a sycamore tree. His deep groan was almost lost in the sound of the back gate of the SUV lifting. Good, she wasn’t the only affected by the chemistry simmering between them. Recalling the scene in his bedroom, when he’d pressed so hungrily against her, she longed to feel his desire again. To burst into flames in his arms and succumb to the chaotic rambling nerves his presence evoked.
She shouldn’t want him, but she did. It was inconvenient. It would be messy.
And she couldn’t wait.
Her hands shook as she spread out the soft cotton blanket he’d brought. She kicked off her flip-flops, enjoying the cool texture of the grass beneath her bare toes. Will propped two fishing poles against the tree, then caught a corner of the blanket and helped her straighten it.
He dropped to his rump in the center of the large red square and dragged the picnic hamper toward him. While she settled facing him, her feet nudging his thigh, he dug the makings of their feast from the basket.
“I brought some cold pasta salad left over from last night. I’ve got cheese, deli meat, and crackers. And home-baked cookies.”
“Did Penny bring cookies this morning?” Avalon didn’t recall seeing them earlier. But she had been preoccupied with reliving the press of Will’s firm chest against her nipples . . .
“Guin made them last night while you were working in your room. Didn’t you smell them? Deluxe chocolate chip.” He patted his lean gut. “I ate at least six still warm from the oven.”
“Guin bakes?” It was news to Avalon. Frowning in concentration, she tried to recall a single moment when Mom had done something so domestic. So motherly.
Nope, nothing.
“Yeah. They’re delicious. Try one.” He offered the bag to her. When she didn’t snag one immediately, he laughed. “Oh, come on. Live a little. Dessert before dinner is decadent and spontaneous.”
He broke off a corner and scooted toward her. With his hand on her knee, he fed the piece to her, brushing his thumb along her lip. Chocolate melted on her tongue as her core followed suit. She chewed, swallowed. Thought maybe she’d died and gone to heaven. It was the best cookie she’d ever eaten.
She looked to the bag, then back to Will. “More?”
“Someone likes them.” He leaned forward and tongued nonexistent crumbs from her mouth. He’d eaten one as well and the taste lingered on his lips.
He cupped his hands around her neck, stroked his thumbs along her jaw, and prolonged the lip-to-lip contact. Avalon grasped his wrists and held on as he slid his tongue between her lips and explored her mouth. She inched closer to him, losing herself in the feel of his lips, the heat in his fingertips, the pure, delightful taste of him.
Will tugged the elastic securing her ponytail, freeing her hair. A low rumble came from deep in his chest as he skimmed his fingers from scalp to ends, then started over again.
Overhead, a squirrel scampered through the branches and a wren scolded, its typically sweet warble a strident rhythmic chirp, like the second hand of a clock. The sound accentuated the buzz of her watch, alerting her to incoming mail. A message she struggled to ignore. As the seconds ticked away, she tensed under Will’s hands.
He eased back from her. “Knew I should have forbidden you from wearing that watch to a picnic.”
“At least I left my phone at the villa. Old habits die hard.” She released his wrists and pulled free of his hands. Leaning back, she rested her palms on the blanket’s downy softness.
“I’m going to enjoy breaking you of that particular habit.”
“Will, I—”
He pressed his fingers to her lips, then fed her another bite of cookie. “Shh. We’ll go slow.”
&nb
sp; She nodded.
“Are cookies before dinner the only food prohibition you have, or do you not drink before five o’clock?”
“If the wine is good, I’m not opposed.”
He swiped his hand across his brow. “Whew! I was worried I really had my work cut out for me.”
Drawing two plastic wineglasses from the basket, he handed them to her, and dug out a corkscrew. Gripping the bottle between his thighs, he withdrew the cork with practiced motions, then offered it to her.
She traded him glasses and while he poured, raised the red-stained stopper to her nose. Tart cherries, zippy pepper and sweet spice wafted into her senses. “This smells out of this world.” Accepting the half-filled stem, she sipped, coating her tongue with heady flavor.
“I make three different kinds of wine, and this one is easily my favorite.” Will buried his nose in the glass and drew a gusty sniff. “This is my private reserve. We only sell it to a few upscale stores. By keeping its release limited, we’ve managed to create a demand for the product.” His voice rang with pride and satisfaction.
“Smart.” She took another sip and held it on her tongue a moment. The liquid boasted a heat as seductive as Will. She let it trickle down her throat. “What was it like, seeing your wine on the television?”
“It was surreal. One of the actors, Matt Samone, took his wife on a wine tour. Rolling in the Clover was their first stop. They skipped the next two wineries to hang out with me. Before they left, they arranged to have two cases shipped to them each month. Matt shared a couple bottles with his cast mates, and they all fell in love with it. The production company requested permission to show my label on the show. Not that they actually drank the wine on TV, but just having the label there was . . . amazing.” The look in his eyes still reflected his happiness.
Chaos Among the Vines (Romancing the Vine Book 2) Page 15