California Dreaming: Four Contemporary Romances

by Casey Dawes

  Did she? Maybe that was the issue — she was always thinking, planning, worrying — her mind never stopped. “Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night and can’t shut my mind off,” she said. “I have to get up and read for a while before I can go back to sleep.”

  “What can keep your mind going so much? Everything seems working well for you.”

  She refocused on his hands wrapped on the steering wheel, a spark of desire running through her, longing to have those strong hands caress her skin and make her forget all her worries.

  “Because when I don’t worry, things happen,” she continued. “Like when I got pregnant with Sarah.”

  “But she is such a wonderful girl — how could worrying about her existence have been useful at all?”

  How indeed? But there were other things she hadn’t worried about — like Joe’s fidelity. Look what had happened. Would worrying have changed anything?

  She shook her head, trying to clear her mind. Thoughts were becoming muddled, beliefs she’d clung to were becoming unraveled.

  Marcos removed one of his hands from the steering wheel and laid it on top of hers. “I will not let you get into trouble, cara.” He smiled. “Well, at least not too much.” His face sobered again. “Can you let go of your fears for this weekend and enjoy what is around us?” He gestured toward rows of vines climbing a hill. “There is life. Bare branches in the winter, to rich fruit in fall … then the cycle again. It is the way of all things. Even humans, cara. We have bad times, our winters, but if we lift our faces to the sun, absorb the rain and put our faith in God, we too will be rich with fruit in the fall.”

  His words took her by surprise. She hadn’t thought about God in a long time. She certainly didn’t rely on faith to get her through the day. Maybe it was something she should change.

  He turned up a long hill to a chateau-style building.

  “Where are we going?” she asked.

  He gestured up the hill. “Champagne. Or as they must call it in America — sparkling wine. It is a great way to start a trip to Napa — sitting on the patio of an elegant building, a glass in your hand, watching the drama of the vineyard.”

  “You really do like what you do, don’t you?”

  “Of course.” He frowned. “Don’t you love your shop and the idea of your lotions?”

  “Yes, but … ”

  “But what?”

  She drew in a deep breath. “I don’t know what will happen. If I fail, I will lose everything and have to start all over again. If I succeed? My life will be very different.”

  He nodded. “Yes. You will need to have more employees, more taxes, more worry … but more fun, too. The first time I saw a stranger drinking my wine in a restaurant, my heart nearly burst. You will know this joy, too, Elizabeth. I do not think you will fail.”

  • • •

  By the time they got to the inn later that afternoon, Elizabeth’s senses were overflowing. They’d visited several of the more famous wineries, Marcos surprising her with a private appointment at one of the cult wineries high in the Mayacamas Mountains.

  Marcos had stopped at a vineyard supply store and discussed vineyard management with the proprietor. Elizabeth had been quickly overwhelmed by the discussion of double-cordon trellising and California sprawl, but tried to pay attention. Would Marcos be as patient with her when she started talking about alpha-hydroxy acids and retinol for her skin care line?

  Lunch had been a selection of cheeses, meats and olives from the Oakville Grocery, enhanced with a small bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon many hours ago. As they drove up the gravel road through a vineyard, her stomach rumbled.

  The rose-colored brick of the inn was warmed by the late-afternoon gloaming, pansies providing welcoming nods with the slight breeze. Elizabeth’s breath hitched. Marcos had chosen a beautiful place to seduce her, if that was his intention.

  She turned to find him looking at her, a grin on his face, as if he knew her thoughts. He handed her out of the car and retrieved their bags from the trunk. She pushed open the door and stepped into a tiled rotunda, curved staircase leading to the upper floors. The inn was as sophisticated and elegant as the man who had brought her here.

  “Welcome!” A tall thin man emerged from the study to their right. “Elizabeth Ladina and Marcos Gramari! I am correct, yes?”

  They nodded, but he continued without pause. “I’m never wrong. Besides … ” He grinned. “You are the only two left to arrive. It’s good to have you all here. I’ll take you up to your rooms and show you where everything is.” He grabbed one of the bags from Marcos and took the stairs two at a time.

  Marcos shrugged and gestured for Elizabeth to follow him.

  The proprietor stopped at a room at the top of the stairs. “Now, Elizabeth, you are here. The Chardonnay Room.” He opened the door and dropped the bag he was carrying on the quilted bed. “Here is the remote for the television.” He glanced at Marcos. “Although I don’t think you will be watching television.” The proprietor rapidly spouted off the other amenities for the room and then popped back out the door.

  “Here is your room, the Pinot Noir Room.” Elizabeth idly waited in the hall as the owner went through the same routine in the next room. When he emerged from the Pinot Noir Room, he said, “DVD library downstairs, port and snacks served from eight on in the living room, breakfast at nine. Any questions?”

  Without waiting for an answer, he said, “Good. I’ll leave you. You have this floor to yourselves. The other guests are in the wing. So … no need to behave yourselves.” He dashed back down the stairs.

  Marcos and Elizabeth looked at each other and burst out laughing.

  He stepped toward her and put his arms around her, pulling her close. “So,” he said. “Are we going to behave ourselves?”

  Her heart ached with indecision. A rash act had upended her life once before. If only she could be sure of him.

  He shook his head. “You are thinking too much again, Elizabeth. Just answer the question without thinking.”

  Impossible. “We are going to behave ourselves,” she said.

  “I’ll have to work on changing that answer,” he said and lowered his mouth to hers.

  She stopped thinking and melted into the kiss. The faint start of his evening beard roughened the skin around her lips, but she embraced the discomfort, the touch of masculinity. His tongue probed and she opened her lips to taste the sweet melon they’d shared for an afternoon snack.

  He pulled her closer and his arms, strengthened by vineyard chores, created a safe haven for her yearnings. Her nipples tightened as her arousal heightened.

  “Ahem.” The proprietor was back. “I’d say, ‘Get a room,’ but you already have two and you’re still in the hall.”

  Marcos and Elizabeth pulled apart and looked at the lanky man standing with a pen and pad in his hand.

  “Any food allergies?” he asked.

  Chapter 19

  The inn boasted a restaurant on the property. Marcos and Elizabeth sat on a small balcony overlooking a waterfall, pool and the setting sun on the vineyard. They both elected to have Coquilles St. Jacques with a Napa Valley Keenan Chardonnay.

  “It is very decadent, this meal,” Marcos said, after plopping the first succulent scallop in his mouth. “It goes well with my dinner partner.” His gaze raked over Elizabeth. She’d surprised him when she’d emerged from her room after their passionate embrace in the hallway had been interrupted. Her hair was up, long pearls dangled from her ears and circled her neck with a soft glow.

  But it was the dress that astounded him the most. The soft gold sheath, what there was of it, was made for seduction, clinging to every curve of Elizabeth’s body. He’d swear she didn’t have a bra on under the garment. The outfit was capped with a pair of elegant stilettos that he suspected had an Italian origin. Th
e soft sent of lemons wafted from her as she moved. Again, he was flattered she’d chosen to wear his perfume.

  It was all he could do to control himself. The outfit screamed “come here.”

  Unfortunately, the caution in her eyes hinted at “go away.”

  She’d been patient all day with his talk of wine and vineyards, now it was time for her.

  “Tell me more about your plans for your lotions,” he asked, taking a sip of his wine.

  She waved a hand. “I’m sure you wouldn’t be interested.”

  He captured the hand in his. “Oh, but I am.”

  Her eyes questioned his, but must have seen his sincerity, because she said, “Okay.”

  He released her.

  “I want to make as safe a line as possible with as many natural ingredients as I can. It’s tricky because preservatives and chemicals sometimes have a purpose that’s hard to reproduce naturally. I figure it’s going to be an evolving process.”

  “Do you have someone to work with?”

  She shook her head. “Not yet. I’m still researching, but I have a line on some good people in the industry who are willing to partner with me.”

  “What about packaging?”

  “It’s important. I have some ideas.”

  “Many people buy wine because of the label, not the taste. I imagine it is the same with cosmetics, no?”

  She nodded and immediately launched into a passionate description of what she had in mind. Marcos listened intently, his attention riveted on the moist lips he’d tasted earlier.

  When she finished, she looked at him expectantly, a wry look on her face. “Aren’t you going to give me your ideas?”

  He cocked his head. “Why should I? You are the expert.”

  She templed her fingers. “Most men would have interrupted me ten minutes ago to let me know what was wrong with my plan.”

  “I am not most men.”

  Some of the guarded look left her eyes. “No, you aren’t.”

  They looked at each other for a long time before resuming their meal. Marcos kept the conversation light — getting her input on their itinerary for the next day. When they were finished, he took her hand and led her back up the stairs.

  “Would you like to come in?” he said, gesturing to his room. “I have a wonderful movie screen.” He touched her lips with his.

  “The DVDs are downstairs,” she answered breathlessly.

  He tasted her lips again. “I’m sure we could create a movie of our own.”

  She stilled.

  Damn. “Or we could go downstairs and watch the movie on the big screen.” He went back to feathering her lips with his. “I hear they have popcorn.”

  “Oh, Marcos.” She leaned into him and he felt wetness drop to his hand. He wrapped one arm around her and cradled her head with the other. “Shhh. It is okay. We can move slowly. You are not ready.”

  She shook her head. “I’m sorry.”

  “No need for that.”

  They stood together until Elizabeth’s soft sobs dissipated. Then she looked up at him. “Thank you.” She gave him a soft lingering kiss before freeing herself from his grasp. “Good night,” she said.

  The click of her door finalized his disappointment.

  • • •

  Marcos tossed and turned, his body aching with desire. By the time he knocked on Elizabeth’s door for breakfast, he was exhausted.

  If her eyes were evidence, so was she.

  “How are you?” he asked as they walked down the stairs. “I am tired. I did not sleep at all. When I did … my dreams were all of you.”

  She smiled. “Yes, I’m tired, too.”

  The breakfast table was laden with eggs, sausages, fruit and homemade pastries. “Coffee?” the solicitous owner asked.

  “Yes. Please,” they both answered.

  “Perhaps we would both sleep better if we did it together,” Marcos suggested after the man was out of earshot.

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” she replied.

  “You do not expect me to give up making love to a beautiful woman without a fight,” he said.

  “I … I … ” Elizabeth sputtered. The waitress placed a cup of steaming coffee in front of her. She grabbed it and took a sip, and hissed out a breath.

  He couldn’t help but chuckle. So much for her seeming nonchalance.

  “Where are you two lovebirds off to today?” The proprietor was back.

  Marcos rattled off a list of wineries. “And we’ll eat out somewhere on the way,” he said at the end.

  “Very nice. Well, you have a nice day. Enjoy your breakfast.” The owner dashed off and buttonholed two more of his guests.

  Marcos and Elizabeth looked at each other and grinned.

  “Sorry I laughed,” Marcos said. “You were trying to be so upright and it seemed funny. Is your mouth okay?”

  “I’ll survive.” She smirked. “But I might be too injured to kiss you again. Maybe a light peck on the lips … but anything else?” She shrugged, and stuck her tongue at him. “Damaged beyond repair.”

  “I see. I will need to find some way to repair your sweet tongue before the day is through.” He leaned closer. “I hear there is some fine wine with healing properties especially made for damsels in distress.”

  “Oh … am I a damsel?”

  “In distress. Most certainly.” He leaned back and studied her. “But … perhaps … if you would consent to give into your more … um … earthly desires, you might find yourself in less distress.”

  Elizabeth’s cheeks burned. “I don’t see how that’s possible.”

  He leaned closer again and whispered in her ear. “Stop thinking so much. Enjoy the ride and see where it leads.” His finger trailed down the bare skin of her arm, causing goosebumps on her arms. He took note of the small pebbles beneath her tee-shirt.

  Marcos turned the conversation to the wineries he wanted to see. Because he was in the business, he’d been able to arrange several private tastings. “You will enjoy these, Elizabeth,” he said. “You will begin to see what I plan to achieve with my wines — the best in all the continents.”

  Elizabeth chuckled. “No chance for anyone else?”

  He smiled ruefully. “Of course there will be others, but I can set a goal only for myself. If I say I will be second best, then that is all I can hope to achieve.” He shook his head. “No. The thing to do is always aim to be the best you can be. And then work very, very hard.”

  “Then I hope you succeed at your goal.” She smiled at him.

  “You have a similar goal … and I know you will achieve it.” He placed his hand on hers. “But like our sleeping habits, our success might be more easily achieved if we worked together instead of continents apart.”

  Her eyes widened. “What are you saying?”

  “I admire you, Elizabeth. You have strong character — see what you have done already with your life.” He lifted his hand to caress her cheek. “And you are beautiful. It is why I cannot refrain from kissing you. All the time I was in Italy, all I could think about was you.”

  “I’m not sure what you mean.”

  “I want to tell you how I feel and I am doing it poorly. I do not want something casual with you, Elizabeth. I want something more. And at the same time, I know my desire would turn your life upside down. Will you think about what I am saying? You are so good at thinking, Elizabeth.” He smiled.

  “More coffee?” The proprietor asked.

  • • •

  As they drove down Silverado Trail, Marcos at the wheel, Elizabeth noted the bare trees, a few bright-hued leaves bravely clutching the branches guided their way. Because the Mediterranean climate was temperate, lush foliage still competed with cyprus and other evergreens that li
ttered the valley, but winter would be here soon. Dominating the view in every direction were rows of vines, some clinging to their green, others giving way to bright foliage of late fall.

  “It is beautiful, is it not?” Marcos asked.

  “Yes, but I’m a little worried about all the vines. They could be so easily wiped out by disease — or what is that bug that kills them?”

  “Grassy-winged sharpshooter.”

  She gestured at the vine-covered valley floor. “If something like that happens, the whole economy is wiped out. There’s no fall-back position.”

  Marcos nodded. “The problem with monoculture.” He glanced over at her. “It is a joy to be with you. You think too much, true.” He grinned. “But you think about important things. Most people would look at the valley and notice it has beauty and commerce. You know enough to ask ‘what if?’” He reached over and squeezed her hand.

  Elizabeth wanted to hug herself with pleasure. Men in her life had never told her she was smart. They’d liked her, even loved her, but they were always giving advice, telling her what she should do, making her feel like she always needed fixing.

  She smiled at Marcos and took in the details of his face. He wasn’t model-handsome, but had the rugged skin and leanness of a man who worked outside. His lips were wreathed in smile wrinkles that extended to the corners of his eyes. This was a man who viewed life as a ripe peach, savoring every bite.

  She could do worse.

  He grinned at her. “Stop thinking so much with your head, cara. We will soon be sampling wine with a well-known winemaker. I want you to think with your tongue. Maybe we can repair the damage from this morning.”

  Elizabeth laughed and relaxed as they drove up the curving driveway to a low-slung slate-rock building, resembling something Frank Lloyd Wright might have created, almost part of the earth it stood on.

  Soon they were seated in a back room with the winemaker and a few people he introduced as his assistants. Clustered near one of the assistants were four unlabeled bottles filled with deep red wine.

  “Today we’re tasting a blend I’ve been working on from the grapes we harvested last year,” the winemaker began. “I’ve varied the amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec.”