I suck on the grape, feeling awkward as I do. “Yes, you’re right. Delicious.”
“Let’s move on,” Sebastian says.
Mario laughs a little, slapping Sebastian on the back. “I’m the same way.”
“What way is that?”
“Overprotective of my daughter.”
I try not to roll my eyes, because Mario had no problems watching Lucia throw her boobs all over Sebastian. Last night when I went to bed, I couldn’t get the image of the way he stared at me out of my mind. The way he brushed my hair aside. Even how he’s looking at me right now. He licks his lips and I glance away, trying my best to look anywhere else but at Sebastian as we continue our tour of the vineyard.
“This is the tasting room,” Enzo says, as we head inside a wooden structure.
A couple of steps inside the wide space, and I feel like I’ve time traveled. There are a few high-top tables inside with barrels of wine, and a stone wall and iron candelabra add a special aura to this place.
Even though this is a typical winery/vineyard, I can already see the possibilities of the types of events I could run here.
Weddings. Birthdays. Anniversaries. I can see it all so clearly with twinkling lights and red wine flowing into high-priced stem glasses. The place breathes sophistication and class, and my overactive event planning mind conjures up special occasions and other reasons to throw a party.
I know it’s not the reason we’re here, but for some reason I picture it with Sebastian at my side, sipping red wine as I greet guests like a hostess at any extravagant party would.
I shake my head slightly, putting a full stop to the images playing around inside my head.
“Try this. It comes from the same grape as outside.” Enzo spins some wine around in a glass and hands it to me.
“Ok.” I take a sip. Everyone’s eyes are glued on me, and I glance at Sebastian as I hand the glass back to Enzo. “Delicious.”
Sebastian licks his lips, like he can taste the full flavors of the wine on my lips.
“It’s got a bold flavor. A naughty flavor,” Enzo says with a little laugh.
I dart my eyes away from Sebastian’s, smiling along with Enzo’s joke. “I love it.” I’m trying to be a bit flirty with Enzo so I can pump him for information later, but it’s hard with Lucia and her shrill laughter piercing my ears every time Sebastian says something.
She’s so obvious, and I wonder to myself if her flirty antics ever work on other men. I have to believe that Sebastian wants something more in a woman. Something more relatable.
Something more tangible.
Like he wants a woman he can talk to.
A woman who understands him.
Like I do.
I push the thoughts away as Mario smiles. “Tonight, we’ll have a party with some very important guests.”
“Who?” Sebastian asks, stepping away from Lucia and closer to Mario.
“Government officials, local police, and some of the other members in my family.” The way Mario says ‘family’ doesn’t mean actual blood. He’s talking about his crew. The men who work for him running the operation.
Sebastian understands what Mario means as well, and we need to make sure we’re on top of our game to figure out where Oliver is, and what he knows.
We finish the tour, and later in the afternoon, we make it back to the guest house to get ready for the party.
“I’m going to take a shower,” I tell Sebastian.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Sure,” I say, stopping on the first step that leads upstairs.
“I think Enzo is being highly inappropriate with you, and I’m ready to kick his ass.”
“So chivalrous.” I smile, but Sebastian’s not joking. “I’ll be fine.” I rest my hand over his on the banister.
He stares straight through me, like he can read my thoughts. “Go shower. We’ll need to head out in an hour.”
“Always business, no fun.”
He raises a brow and lowers his voice into a seductive husk. “You couldn’t handle my fun.”
The way he says it, the way his gaze drops to my mouth, makes me think he means something more than I did. “What’s your idea of fun? Being bossy?”
“Actually, yes. What’s yours?”
Does he mean in the bedroom? Warmth spreads low in my belly, rising and burning hotter, searing an inside path to my breasts, hardening my nipples. And I’m out of my league. My cheeks heat as he stares at me, waiting on an answer.
“You couldn’t handle it,” I lie. “Maybe Enzo can.”
His eyes narrow, and I head up the stairs, pulse racing, rushing into the bathroom to get ready.
Once I’ve showered, I wrap a white towel around my body and head out the door.
Sebastian is there, leaning against the wall of the hallway, arms crossed over his chest, and I jump a little. “You scared me,” I say to him. “What are you doing?”