Page 33 of House of Desire

“Don’t worry, I’m a professional walking in them.”

“Sounds good. Let’s get started.”

We traipse all around the winery. From the pressing room, the storehouse, and the bottling area. All in all, we probably walk around for about an hour and a half while Amelia talks. The part that’s surprising is Carmen’s engrossment in everything Amelia says. When she’s thinking of a question, she will crinkle her nose and with each crinkle, my interest in her deepens.

“This will be our last stop and then we will head to the tasting room. You can’t use your lighting equipment to record as it can damage the wine.” Amelia directs the last piece to our camera person, who simply nods and stops to take care of whatever adjustments they need to do. “Meet us down there.”

Amelia turns and begins going down the stairs, Carmen behind her, and I bring up the rear.

“This is our rare bottle room. I think you’ll enjoy some of the history in here,” she says as she keys in a code to a locked door at the bottom of the stairs.

Carmen smiles up at me.

“You’re so beautiful,” I tell her. Her face softens and I bend down, pressing my lips against hers in a silent kiss. A kiss that’s just for us.

No cameras.

No audience.

No production.

We separate, but Carmen links our fingers and we make our way into the rare bottle room, the spark of attraction burning even brighter inside my chest. For twenty minutes, I watch Carmen and Amelia discuss the various wines in the room. And then finally, our tour is done.

Despite her shoes and Amelia’s concern, Carmen doesn’t show an ounce of pain as we are led back up the stairs and into the tasting room. Soft music plays through the room.

“We have six beautiful wines for you all to taste today,” she says over her shoulder.

“I don’t think I’ll ever need to know how the grapes are grown and harvested for wine again, but it does give you a new appreciation, doesn’t it?” Carmen asks me.

“I’ll almost feel bad when I drink a glass now, thinking of all the work put into creating every ounce I drink.”

She nods as I pull a seat out from the bar while Amelia pulls down glasses and bottles. Music plays gently in the background while Amelia tells us about our first wine.

Carmen moans at the first sip, the sound drawing all of my attention to her mouth.

“That’s sinfully decadent,” she says, crossing her legs, her dress hiking up her thigh. My mouth waters at the display. “Try it.”

I raise my glass and take a sip, humming in approval. “It’s very good.”

If someone asked me right now what this wine tasted like, I’d be unable to name a single note.

“The last time I was in France, I went to the Champagne region and toured with some girlfriends. It was beautiful. Maybe we should take a trip and visit the winemaking regions,” she suggests. “Do you like to travel?”

“I never really had the opportunity growing up and now, if I travel, it’s more to go visit my family.”

“Family is so important. That’s something I learned early on.” Her voice holds a note of sadness. She busies herself listening to Amelia’s explanation of the second wine.

“Did you learn that while your friend was sick?” I ask. While she mentioned the loss the first night on the show, we haven’t talked about it since.

“His name was Logan and he was only three months younger than me. One of his parents was always at the hospital. My parents took me after school every day, and on the weekends I basically there with him. Our families were friends. We traveled together over the summers. Went to the same parties. He was my brother, for all intents and purposes. And I lost him at thirteen.”

My heart breaks for her loss and the pain I can see written in the lines of her face. It doesn’t matter it’s been more than a decade. She can feel the loss just as acutely now. I take her hand in support and she laces our fingers together.

“I’m so sorry. I can only imagine how hard that was. And that’s when you decided to become a nurse?”

A small blush colors her cheeks.

“That didn’t come until a bit later. My family wanted me to become a doctor. I come from a long line of doctors. Neurosurgeons. Trauma surgeons. If it’s a surgery specialty, someone in my family specializes in it. It was always assumed I’d join the family business, so to speak.”

---