Page 37 of Out of Bounds
Finest wine? Christ, he didn’t even ask how much it was.
Again, I wonder about his wealth. It’s even more relevant now than when I first thought about it.
“Of course, anything else.”
Ethan looks at me. “Do you want anything else?”
“No, I’m fine.”
The bartender dips his head and saunters away to prepare our drinks.
Ethan sits opposite me but close enough so that out knees are almost touching.
The bartender returns with a decanter, a bucket of ice and some expensive as fuck looking wine. It has an Italian name I wouldn’t even try to pronounce.
When he opens it and pours us two glasses the sweetness tickles my nose. The most delicious wine I ever had was at Shelby’s third wedding. She eloped for the fourth so the only person drinking wine was her.
“Would you like some privacy?” the bartender asks Ethan.
“I would. Come back in half an hour.”
His answer sends a swarm of nerves skating down my spine. The bartender leaves us once more and when Ethan returns his attention to me a smoldering flame darkens his blue gaze to a hue that reminds me of the sky at twilight.
He reaches for one of the long-stemmed wine glasses and hands it to me.
“Drink,” he beckons, and I do.
I take a sip of the dark red liquid and when it hits the back of my throat, I’m completely captivated by the sweet almost honey taste.
“You like?”
“Yeah. This is really good. I’m not going to try to pronounce it.” I chuckle and he looks at my lips.
“Ornellaia Vendemmia d'Artista,” he replies, and I have to admit I’m completely astonished. He sounded completely Italian.
“Do you speak Italian?”
“Yeah?”
“Since when?”
“A long time ago, besides my grandfather is obsessed with Italy. My grandmother was from there. From Tuscany. He’s just bought a vineyard there. Near where they make stuff like this.”
He picks up his glass and raises it like he’s toasting.
“That’s cool. I didn’t know that about you.” It’s crazy I never picked up on the Italian roots well before now but now that he’s mentioned it, I see it straightaway in his jet-black hair, thick eyebrows, and his tanned skin. It’s not olive but he tans really quickly, unlike me who is always on the paler side.
“Drink.”
I take another sip. “Is drinking all we’re going to do?”
“Nope, but this might be the only time I get to drink with you. So, drink more than a sip.”
I down the rest and smile. “Happy now?”
“Yes. Now we can talk.” He returns the smile. “How did you find me?”
“Logan. I thought he would have details of the trip even though he wasn’t going.”
