Her ponytail swished as she shook her head. “You don’t have to—”
“I wouldn’t mind some company. I’d love to hear about the town, if you have time. You’re local?”
“What gave it away?” Alexis laughed and her face softened even more. Her skin was pale, as expected in the winter, with a hint of freckles peppering her nose. He could imagine them coming out full and strong in the summer. Her hands gave her away as a working woman, and for some odd reason he wanted to get to know her more.
“Your accent?” He couldn’t pin down the reason why. Maybe it was because she seemed so...fresh. So clean. So...real. There wasn’t a fakeness about her like he’d witnessed too many times on women. Alexis gave off a vibe as if she didn’t care what the world thought of her, but not in a rebel kind of way. It was more of a pureness. She was refreshing after all he’d been through back in California.
“Nice try.” Alexis pulled out the seat across from him and thanked Priscilla when she set a cup of coffee in front of her. She left them alone, another quiet giggle escaping her lips as she walked away.
“Like you said, not many tourists about now, and Priscilla knew you by name, as well as your usual order.”
“Observant. I like that.”
Ben grinned and sipped his coffee. He debated telling her why he was here, but didn’t want to reveal any secrets if Shane didn’t want the community, or possibly his neighboring wineries, to know about his financial troubles.
“So what is it that you do, Alexis?”
“My family owns Coastal Vines. I help run the place.”
Ben choked on his coffee. The daughter Shane had warned him about. The one who wanted nothing to do with an expansion.
“You okay?”
“Yup. Wrong pipe.” He banged his fist on his chest and sighed in relief when their food came out. It would serve as a distraction while he thought up a temporary story to feed Alexis.
“It’s mostly lobsters and blueberries around here. And the best ocean views in the state. You’ll have to come back in July. This place gets packed. Nothing compared to Rockland or the other big cities. Just enough, you know?”
“I bet that draws a big crowd to your winery.” His throat grew thick as he hedged for information.
“Yeah, it’s our busiest selling season. We have a limited harvest in the fall but it’s worth it. Best job in the world.”
“What is it that you do there?” He knew but he enjoyed how her eyes lit up like a Christmas tree when she talked about her winery.
“Uh, everything.” Alexis bit into her bacon and moaned. “I could live on bacon, coffee, and wine. Cheese would be nice, too.”
If that’s how the woman ate on a regular basis she had to work like a horse to stay so trim. He appreciated her love of food and drink. Again, the open honesty about Alexis was refreshing.
“Know anything about wines?”
“A bit.”
“Let me guess. You’re a beer man, and only pick up a bottle of red to impress a woman.”
“You’re stereotyping me?” he teased.
“You don’t look like a wine drinker.”
“And what exactly does a wine drinker look like?” Intrigued by the adorable woman across from him, he slid his plate to the side and rested his elbows on the table. His mother would be ashamed at his poor table manners, but he didn’t think anyone at the Sunrise Diner would be aghast.
“Older.”
“I’m over twenty-one.”
“I don’t doubt that. Most of our visitors are graying. Retirees. Or nearing it. You don’t find many men in their twenties or thirties sipping on wine unless they’re on a date trying to impress a woman.”
“Interesting.”
“You’ve got more of a rugged look. Marlboro Man minus the cigarettes. You don’t smoke, do you?”
“I’ve had three cigars in my life. One the night before my sister married. Another when my niece was born, and the third when I started my own company.”
“Congratulations. On all three accounts. What is it you do?”
“I’d like to hear more about your stereotype.”
Alexis scooped the rest of her eggs in her mouth and chewed, then swallowed. She ran her tongue across her teeth and took a sip of coffee before continuing. He liked how comfortable she seemed around him. He studied her as he ate, hoping she’d continue with their playful and snippy conversation.
“It’s the five o’clock shadow and tanned thing you have going on.”
He ran his hand across his stubble. “I’ve been traveling.”
“And drinking beer. IPA? We have a few breweries in Maine. I can give you some names if you’d like. Dark or pale ale? I’d say dark. You have that dark, mysterious thing going on.”
Ben tipped his head back and laughed. Alexis Le Blanc was a breath of fresh air. She held her own, spoke her mind, and wasn’t afraid to let her hair down, figuratively. He imagined what it would look like down, swirled around her shoulders. On his pillow.
“I like my beer pale and my wine robust.”
“Robust? Hmm, maybe you do know your wine.”
“Care to put me to the test?”
She leaned forward, excitement dancing in her chocolate eyes. “Sure. What is a—”
“A real test. Dinner tonight.”
Alexis shot back in her chair and jerked her head back. “I’m not following.”
“Dinner. We each bring a bottle of wine and cover up the label. See if we can identify the flavors and essence.”
“I’m not inviting you to my house. I don’t even know your name.”
“Ben.” He wouldn’t exactly call what was happening between them flirting, but he’d like to see where this would lead.
She crossed her arms, relaxing into her chair and pursed her lips. “Well, then, Ben, even though I hardly know you, let me tell you where I live so you can kidnap, butcher, and bury me in a shallow grave.”
“Ground’s too cold to dig a hole, and I’m not a fan of blood. Gives me the willies.” He held his mug up for a refill and Priscilla hustled over, topping both their coffees. Alexis did that thing again, sliding her tongue across her teeth, and studied him. He stared back and sipped his coffee, nearly burning his tongue. “Damn, that’s hot.”
“You didn’t ask for iced coffee.”
He could see the wheels spinning in Alexis’s head. She wanted to accept the challenge, he knew, and held back a victorious smile when she gave in.
“Fish on the Wharf has BYOB. I’ll meet you there tonight at seven. Loser pays the tab.”
Ben pulled out enough bills to cover both their bills and tucked them under his plate. “I accept your challenge.”
You can download At First Blush here!
Enjoy.
Also by Marianne Rice
A Well Paired Novel
At First Blush
Where There's Hope
What Makes Us Stronger
Here With You
Finding Our Way Back
All of You
A Wilton Hills Christmas
Marshmallows & Mistletoe
Cocoa & Carols
The McKay-Tucker Men
False Start
False Hope
False Impressions
Standalone
Smoke & Pearls
About the Author
Marianne Rice writes contemporary romantic fiction set in small New England towns. She loves high heels, reading romance, scarfing down dark chocolate, gulping wine, and Chris Hemsworth. Oh, and her husband and three children. You can follow her all over social media, and keep up to tabs with her latest releases on her website: www.mariannerice.com
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All of You (A Well Paired Novel Book 7) Page 27
