Page 76 of The One That I Want

We make small talk about how many restaurants there are in London – aren’t we spoilt for choice? – until the waiter returns and we bear witness to the almost theatrical business of opening and pouring the wine.

When the waiter leaves us, Ewan lifts his tulip-shaped glass, the distinct garnet hue of the wine enticing, and holds it aloft. ‘To new adventures,’ he says.

I’m not sure exactly what he’s referring to, but I appreciate the sentiment. Besides, isn’t that what I’ve been embarking on recently? New adventures, both professionallyandpersonally.

‘To new adventures,’ I echo. We clink glasses and drink, our eyes locked. ‘It’s delicious,’ I say after I’ve swallowed.

‘Mmm,’ he agrees.

‘I wish I had better vocabulary when it comes to wine.’

‘Just say whatever popped into your head as you took that first sip.’

‘It’ll sound silly,’ I say.

‘Try it.’

‘You’re not going to let me off the hook, are you?’

‘Absolutely not. I want to hear what that writer’s brain of yours has to say.’

I laugh. ‘Oh, so no pressure then. This is like that scene inFrench Kisswhere Luc makes Kate describe the wine and she calls it “bold, yet lacking in pretention”, then admits she’s talking about herself.’

‘I haven’t seen it.’

‘I’ve seen it enough for both of us, don’t worry. My best friend, Tiggy, isobsessedwith romcoms – movies, mostly.’

‘Well, ifFrench Kissis about wine, I’d probably like it,’ he says with a wink.

‘Wineisfeatured – and there’s this incredible scene set in the family’s vineyard in France – that’s the scene where he makes her describe the wine – but it’s mostly about finding love in unexpected places.’

Unexpected places like the coffee shop near the office, Greta?I instantly dismiss the thought as ridiculous.

‘Is that right?’ asks Ewan, his mouth curving into a knowing smile. ‘Then I’mdefinitelyputting it on the list.’

Uncertain how to take that, I clear my throat and look away, then grab my wine glass and take another sip.

‘Before you swallow, let it sit on your palate for a moment,’ Ewan says softly. Mesmerised by his gentle command, I do. ‘Now close your eyes.’

I do that too, remembering that Luc tells Kate the same thing in the movie.

‘At the front of the palate,’ he continues, ‘you’ll get the sweetness of the forest fruit. The acidity will hit the middlepalate, on the sides. And it should feel quite smooth in your mouth.’

As he speaks, I take in his words, and they transform into descriptions as if by magic. I swallow and open my eyes to find him watching me.

‘Now describe the wine,’ he says. ‘I promise I won’t laugh.’

‘That’s not a good promise. What if I’m trying to be funny?’

‘Describe the wine,’ he prompts gently, ‘while it’s fresh in your mind.’

I inhale, the residual aroma of the wine flooding my senses. ‘Okay, the first taste was strawberries, warmed by the sun on a summer’s day, but then that transformed into cherries – like a cherry compote, even a hint of Kirsch. And there was also a tartness, like sour cherry, I guess…’

‘And the texture?’

‘Smooth,’ I say with a nod, ‘just like you said.’

‘Any better words for the texture?’ he encourages, and I scour my mental thesaurus.

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