Page 39 of Love on the Vine
“What’s up, poulette?” Callie asked.
“He kissed me!” I replied in a fierce whisper.
Callie’s squeal was garbled by the poor connection. I could barely make out what she was saying. “. . . knew it! . . . so into you.”
“You’re breaking up.” Ugh, not now. I needed to talk to her dammit!
“How was it?”
“Hot. I mean, we nearly started a fire.” I told her about the cat, and she cackled.
“That fucking cat! What do you think would have happened if you hadn’t been interrupted?”
I’d asked myself the same thing. “I don’t know. He was very quick to make sure I knew it had all been a big mistake and ran off a list of reasons why nothing could ever happen between us.”
“Okay, that’s a good sign. That means that he’s been thinking about it.”
“If that’s true, then why is so eager to send me off to Lucie?”
“Uh, because he doesn’t want to admit that he’s into you?” Callie and I had dissected the whole Lucie situation after we’d left them at the beach. Callie was convinced that he’d only suggested it because he was afraid his self-control would crumble if he was alone with me.
“The problem is we leave tomorrow for Burgundy. It’ll be awkward.” I nibbled at my thumbnail then ran my finger over my bottom lip like he had earlier. That kiss had been anything but awkward. I’d nearly combusted.
“Or it could be the perfect opportunity to launch Operation Seduction,” argued Callie. “Long hours in the car, late nights in cozy country inns. Ooh, maybe there will only be one bed! Come on, you have to go for it, Liv! Don’t let this become anotherwhat if.”
“You’re right.” I pressed my fingers to my lips again. I swear I could still feel him. “Enough sitting around and waiting.”
Silence.
“Hello? Can you hear me, Cal?” The phone had cut off. Tossing it aside, I rolled over onto my back and stared at the ceiling, imagining Jake’s naked body rising above me.
* * *
The next morning, I was full of nervous energy as I threw on a white linen dress and striped cardigan and swiped on some mascara and lip gloss. Jin had told me not to keep Jake waiting, and at exactly nine a.m., I heard the car engine running in the driveway. I raced out front, dragging my suitcase over the gravel path, afraid that if he’d spent the whole night regretting that kiss, he might leave me behind.
That kiss. It had haunted my dreams. Even now my whole body tingled as I replayed it in my head.
Out front, Jake was loading his suitcase into the trunk of the Aston Martin. Freshly showered in a blue button-down shirt rolled over his forearms and tailored trousers that hugged his ass, he was so damn sexy that my knees wobbled. His hair was damp and curly at the nape, and I wanted to run my fingers through it, press my nose into his warm neck and inhale his cologne. How was I going to play it cool when all I wanted was to climb him like a tree?
My stomach fluttered as I drew nearer, and he stared at me like he was reliving that kiss too. Had his dreams been as erotic as mine? Had he gotten himself off like I had? I could feel the blood rush to my face.
“I was afraid you’d left. I just woke up,” I lied. I’d been up for a while but had been too nervous to make coffee in the house.
He took my suitcase and nodded toward the interior of the car. “There’s a thermos of coffee inside. Black, right?”
“Perfect. Thanks.” A white carton box from the boulangerie had been placed on my seat. I opened it to find a slice of my favorite quiche and atarte citron,and my heart squeezed at the thoughtful gesture. “So we’re taking this car, huh?”
“You sound like you’re afraid we’ll break down somewhere,” he said as he slid into the driver’s seat.
“No, of course not, but I thought we’d be carting boxes of wine around with us. There’s not much trunk space,” I said,inadvertently insulting both his mechanical skills and the size of his car. Maybe not the best start to Operation Seduction.
“We’ll have the orders delivered directly to the container in Marseille. It leaves next week.”
We drove through Moustiers in silence. With the convertible roof up, the space was tight and the air heavy with tension. As if reading my mind, Jake said, “We’ll be on the highway soon. But we can put the roof down later if you want.”
“It’s fine. I prefer not to eat bugs for breakfast anyway.” And now I’d steered the conversation toward insects. Fabulous.
He smiled weakly and stared straight ahead. “I can’t promise I’ll be as much fun as Jin, but I do know more than him, so if you have any questions . . .”
