“I sold my condo.”
“We can find something somewhere else then.”
“That’s my plan. In fact.” He rolled so Alexis lay on top of him, and cupped her butt in his hands. “I’ve been looking at property. I thought we could build our own home.”
“I like that even better. I didn’t think there was much land for sale in San Francisco.” Living in a city wasn’t her first choice, but if she had Ben by her side, she’d manage.
“There isn’t.” A teasing glint danced in his eyes that Alexis found incredibly sexy. “I bought a piece of property close to a vineyard. You can run it and I can help, or you can hire your own staff, and I can focus my hours on Martelli Designs. Either is fine with me.”
“Is it close to your family’s vineyard?”
Ben gathered her hair and held it to one side, stroking her neck with his fingers and shook his head. “About three thousand miles away.”
He lifted his head and kissed at her neck and she melted into his touch, molding her body into his. Three thousand miles. That would be…“Wait. That’s…” She lifted her body so she straddled Ben and leaned her hands on his chest.
“About an eighth of a mile from here. Your father sold your backfields to me. They’re not great for growing, but we can build the house of our dreams up on the hill.”
“My father? He sold…you bought?”
“Yes.” Ben lifted her hands and kissed her fingertips.
“Why would he do that? I thought they were keeping it in the family.”
“I also asked Shane and Claudia for permission to marry you.”
“You did?” Her knees weakened and she would have fallen into a puddle if she wasn’t sitting on top of Ben.
Ben sat up, their chests touching, their hands exploring.
“Sophie and I aren’t leaving Maine. Only to visit my family. With you by our side. I sold part of my business in San Francisco and can set up shop here, working from our home, or I can work full time at Coastal Vines. Whatever we do, we decide together.”
“You sold and bought and moved? What if I said no?” A myriad of emotions swirled around in her head. What had she ever done, what did she have to offer to deserve so much?
“Sophie and I would keep working on you. We’re fighters. You’re too important to me to give up so easily.”
“And arrogant. I picked up on that from day one.”
“No, bella. Day one you loved me. You flirted and teased and we shared a romantic dinner at Willie’s. It was day two when you thought you hated my arrogance.”
“I don’t flirt.”
“Sweetheart.” Ben sucked her lower lip into his mouth. “You flirt.”
“Well, I never used to.”
“I’m more than happy to be your first. And your last.”
“Being married looks good on you.” Lily, looking adorable as always in her denim capris and off the shoulder top, handed Alexis a glass of champagne.
“Thank you.” Alexis took the glass and sipped. They’d called a special Tuesday night pretend book club meeting to welcome her back from her wedding and long weekend in Napa.
“I’m a little disappointed we didn’t get to see you all dolled up. I can’t wait to see the pictures.” Hope sipped from her champagne flute and patted the couch cushion next to her. “Tell me you have pictures on your phone.”
Alexis had wanted to elope, or even marry in front of a justice of the peace at a town hall. Dressing up and having a formal wedding was not something she’d ever dreamed about, but the Martelli family wanted to do something for her and Ben, so she’d agreed to having a small gathering at Martevino after the Labor Day rush.
Since her family didn’t consist of many, her parents flew out to Napa as well, and even Grace joined them for the weekend-long celebration.
It was nice to see her sister, even if they didn’t talk much. They’d grown too distant over the years, the geography between them only making it worse. Alexis longed to have a relationship with her again. Someday. Hopefully sooner rather than later.
Grace was good with Sophie. She’d be the cool aunt, for sure, if only she’d come back home.
“It’s too bad he’s off the market though. Your husband is a total hunk.”
“Mia!” Lily gasped.
“What? It’s true. We can look, even if we can’t touch.”
“I suppose painting him in the nude is off the table now,” Jenna teased.
They laughed, and her friends swooned when they looked at the pictures on Alexis’s phone.
Adrianna and Nora—the elusive sister on the Martelli side who made it home for the wedding as well—took Alexis shopping the night before the wedding and found her a simple white dress and sandals.
She wasn’t entirely uncomfortable wearing it, but was happy to take it off at the end of the night. She’d replaced it with the pink satin lingerie Ben bought her after their first night together.
He’d surprised her by renting a room at a gorgeous villa on the shore where they made love outside on their private balcony under the moonlight. The room had been filled with flowers and candles, the ambiance not something Alexis would have thought she’d ever swoon over.
“Look at her. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Alexis blush before.” Mia held the bottle of champagne over her glass. “Drink more and tell us what you’re thinking about. It’s the wedding night, isn’t it?”
“Mia.” Hope swatted her friend. “You’re embarrassing her.”
“That’s okay.” Alexis laughed. “She’s right. I was totally reminiscing.”
The room erupted in laughter and they spent the next hour sipping champagne and gushing about weddings and babies.
Since it was obvious Alexis hadn’t birthed her new daughter, she told them about adopting her.
“I can’t believe that precious little girl’s birth mother wants nothing to do with her. Better for her, and for you two. I remember holding Delaney for the first time. I wasn’t ready for a baby, but man. When she wrapped her tiny little fingers around mine and wouldn’t let go, she’d also captured my heart.”
“Sophie did the same thing for me as well. And I’m really not a baby person.” Babies had never been on her mind. The first time she held Sophie—even though it was only for a minute—in her tasting room, her heart filled with even more love than she thought capable.
The sweet baby was a piece of Ben, and the pride and love that shone in his eyes was infectious. The first time Sophie wrapped her little fingers around Alexis’s finger, she was a goner. And that smile. That toothless smile that mirrored her father’s. How could she not fall in love?
Parenting was hard, and Ben was a patient teacher, showing her how to change a diaper, how to warm a bottle. He was as easygoing with Alexis as he was with Sophie.
“You’ll need to bring Sophie to the next book meeting,” Hope said.
“I need to go.” Jenna shot out of her seat as if something had severely startled her.
“So soon?” Mia asked. “The party’s just getting started.”
“I…I need to go. Artistic revelation. Gotta go work. Congratulations, Alexis.” She leaned over and hugged Alexis before scurrying off.
“I hope she’s okay,” Lily said.
“Temperamental artists,” Mia teased.
“I miss those days. The baby smell, the cuddles.” Hope, apparently still in babyland, hugged a throw pillow to her chest. “I can’t believe Delaney is almost twelve. Growing up as an only child I said I’d never have just one. I really wish I could have given Delaney a brother or sister.”
“It’s not too late. You’re still young,” Lily said.
“Yeah. If I visit a sperm bank. The men aren’t exactly lining up outside the restaurant for me.”
“Ever think of sparking things up with Ty? He’s around quite a bit.” Alexis couldn’t believe she said that. Must’ve been the champagne.
“Ew. He’s my brother. I don’t want to think about him with Hope. No offense.”
“None taken.” Hope sipped her wine and had a far away look on her face. “Ever think there’s just one perfect person for each of us, and once he’s gone…”
“How much have you had to drink?” Mia took Hope’s empty glass from her. “I sure the hell hope not. Because what are the chances he’s going to come to Crystal Cove, Maine? Besides, why do you think I leave this town to go party and hook up?”
Alexis studied Hope’s somber face and wondered where her true love was. And was he any relation to Delaney?
Good men were hard to find, especially in a small town, and especially if you weren’t looking.
Thankfully Alexis found her true love. Ben and Sophie brought a special love to her life she hadn’t realized was out there. They lit up her life, made the world a brighter place, and all those other gorgeous clichés she read about in those sappy books Hope had made her read.
Alexis played with the simple band around her left finger. Instead of a gaudy diamond he knew she wouldn’t wear, Ben invested the money in a “Bucket List” account. They both came up with five adventures they wanted to do together over the course of their lifetime.
The first one, they already did. Watching the sunrise on the top of Cadillac Mountain on their last morning in Maine before they flew to California to marry.
Thoughtful, caring, kind, loyal, and fun. She found the perfect man for her. The perfect love.
And she wanted her friends to experience the same kind of love.
“He’s out there, Hope. He’ll find you.”
The End.
The idea for my Well Paired series came from my many visits to local wineries in Maine and New Hampshire. The ambiance is incredibly romantic and I couldn’t help but daydream of life on a vineyard. And so, the stories began.
The tasting room and function hall in At First Blush were inspired by Zorvino Winery in Sandown, New Hampshire. If you’ve never been, you’re missing out. My favorites (because I can’t just choose one) are their Strawberry, Mapplez, and Pear wines. Yes, Coastal Vines will be incorporating fruit wines into their repertoire!
Some of the wine blends mentioned in this book come from Flag Hill Winery, also in New Hampshire, and Cellardoor Winery in Lincolnville, Maine. I plan on doing much more extensive wine tasting—eh, research for the rest of the books in this series. You’ll have to keep reading to learn more about New England wines, and the people of Crystal Cove, Maine.
Of course this book couldn’t have happened without my amazing editor. Thank you, Ansley, for making my work shine. Blurb writing is the equivalent to Satan, so thank you, Bella J, for pulling me out of the depths of hell and turning my three-page babble into something that now fits on the back of my book. An artist, I am not. Thank you to Just Write Creations for turning my ideas into a beautiful cover.
And of course, my crazy family. Kids, as you’ve gotten older you’ve given me more time to write. Granted, that’s because you want to be left alone to your own devices: television, iPad, phones, and computers. Still, thank you for letting Mom write. And to my husband. I love your growing addiction to sending flirty texts. Keep them coming, baby. They’ll be finding their way into a book real soon.
And lastly, to my readers. Without you, my writing wouldn’t continue. Thank you for your emails, messages, reviews, and ongoing support.
Marianne Rice writes contemporary romance and women's fiction set in small New England towns. Her heroes are big and strong, yet value family and humor, while her heroines are smart, sexy, sometimes a little bit sassy, and are often battling a strong internal conflict. Together, they deal with real life issues and always, always, find everlasting love. When she’s not writing, Marianne spends her time buying shoes, eating chocolate, chauffeuring her herd of children to their varying sporting events, and when there’s time, relaxing with fancy drinks and romance books.
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At First Blush (A Well Paired Novel Book 1) Page 29