Love On The Vine

by Sally Clements

  “I...” Bella couldn’t string two words together as the import of his words sank through the sensuous haze. Didn’t he want her? Her heart twinged a little.

  Etienne grasped her close. Their bodies pressed tight. She rested her head on his chest, feeling it rise and fall rapidly against her cheek. His groan vibrated through her as he stroked her back.

  “I want you,” he said in a deep voice. “But we should go slow. We have plenty of time. The encounter with your father earlier upset you.” His hand loosened from her waist.

  Could she tell him how much she wanted him? If she were braver, she could show him, but the specter of her father and his insufferable rudeness tainted the space between them. She pulled away. “You’re right, it’s too soon.” As the words left her mouth, she wished she could call them back. She’d moved so wantonly in his arms and had acted like a siren on the dance floor. But if they ended up in bed together tonight, tomorrow she’d be awkward when they met. The complete antithesis of the aroused woman of tonight.

  Somehow Etienne had breached all her carefully built defenses, leaving her exposed and vulnerable. Her body still tingled from his caresses, and letting passion sweep her away would have been easy.

  A lesser man wouldn’t have given her a moment to think of what they were doing.

  But Etienne had.

  And part of her hated him for it.

  Chapter Five

  The next morning, Bella pushed open the door of Blooms, setting the bell above the door tinkling.

  Donna turned from arranging newly arrived blooms in the vases clustered in a rainbow display filling the shop’s right wall. “Good morning!” She hurried over with a warm, welcoming smile. “How’s our best customer today?”

  “Well, I’m hardly your best customer!” Bella said with a shake of her head. “But I have come to talk about another order.”

  “Great!” Donna grinned and reached for an order sheet. “What’s the occasion?”

  “A big one. A vintage launch at the St. Clair Durand vineyard.”

  “Wow. Hang on a minute.” Donna went in a dash to the door that opened into the back of the shop. “Krista, any chance you could mind the front of shop for a while?”

  Krista Verrel, one of Donna’s partners in Blooms, rushed in from the workroom, her curls dark against the armful of roses she carried. “Sure.” Her gaze landed on Bella. “Hi, Bella. Great to see you.”

  “Bella wants to talk about an order. I thought I’d take her into the back to discuss it,” Donna said.

  “Okay.” Krista perched on the high stool, and fanned out the roses in front of her on the counter. “I can easily work out here. I’m just arranging Emily Grainger’s monthly bouquet.”

  Donna made Bella a cup of coffee and pushed aside the raft of paperwork on the desk. “I wanted to ask you something anyway.” She leaned forward and rested her elbows on the table. “We’re providing flowers for a party, and I wondered if you might help out.”

  Flowers and parties went together like milk and cookies. And as Blooms was popular with everyone in town, being involved in a co-venture could be really good for business. Bella smiled. “Tell me more.”

  The corner of Donna’s mouth twisted into a half smile. “The thing is—there’s no money in it. Not from the client anyhow. The ladies and I have chipped in to a fund to cover the costs. So there’ll be no profit I’m afraid.” Donna’s words tumbled out in a rush. She took a deep breath and clasped her hands together. “We want to throw a little party for Mrs. McDonald. She’s a resident of Sterling Oaks Nursing Home and has no family to throw her one. Next month, she’s one hundred years old and we feel her birthday shouldn’t go off uncelebrated.”

  At least Grandfather had me to love him. Bella’s eyes prickled at the thought of the old lady facing into the future alone. “I’d be happy to help,” she said. “Count me in.”

  Donna’s eyes shone. “With you on board, the event will be great. And we’ll all help, so the work shouldn’t be too much. Thanks, Bella.” She patted Bella’s hand. “Now, tell me all about this party. What would you like?” She opened her notebook to a pristine white page.

  Bella reached into her bag and pulled out the heavy black sketchbook she used to keep track of all her ideas. “The launch is taking place at the château, on a terrace leading from the conservatory. I’d like you to come out and have a look next week with me.”

  “That’s do-able,” Donna agreed. “I’ll check my schedule later.”

  “I’ve done some sketches. I thought grapes on the vine in the center, with a spray of roses and carnations around the base.” Bella angled the page toward Donna. “I imagined half-height columns, with urns holding the grape vines on top and cascading flowers.”

  “And ivy to soften the line,” Donna added as she pointed to the sketches.

  “Yes, to give the appearance that the arrangements have been there forever, that they’re part of the château.”

  Donna nodded and her dark brown ponytail flicked side to side. “You have an excellent eye for detail, Bella. The plans all sound perfect.”

  Warmth flooded Bella’s chest at Donna’s praise. She always strove for perfection and had never been satisfied with anything less. For the most important commission of her entire career, everything had to be perfect.

  ****

  The sun beat down from a cloudless blue sky.

  Etienne stalked through the ranks of vines, stooping occasionally to examine the ripening grapes, and judge their color and form. Another couple of weeks and they’d be ready for harvest.

  The plaintive cry of a hawk soaring high overhead rent the air, propelling Etienne back through time and place to Provence a year ago. On a day like this one, he’d checked the vines with Elise at his side, head full with the news he wouldn’t inherit the vineyard. As they walked the parched earth, he’d opened his heart and poured out his disappointment at his shattered dreams.

  Elise’s silence should have been a warning.

  Mere weeks elapsed after their breakup before she shone her perfect smile in Vincent’s direction.

  No point in warning Vincent that Elise’s devotion was to the idea of being mistress of the Durand vineyard, rather than to its owner. But Etienne had warned Vincent anyway. And as a result, he’d lost his brother’s precious friendship.

  Etienne closed his eyes against the sun’s glare, regret piercing his chest like a feathered arrow. He loved his brother but there seemed no way back to the happier days of their childhood. Not while Elise stood at Vincent’s side.

  At home, Etienne and his father would stroll through straight rows of vines, deep in conversation. At regular intervals, they’d pause to examine the grapes’ progress. As the sun rose higher, they’d return to the farmhouse. The Durand vineyard was family run. At midday, Etienne and his many cousins gathered to share a simple meal of baguette, cheese, fruit, and wine at the huge tables under the large oak.

  Here in California, the workers on the winery were paid strangers, drafted to complete the pruning in February. The impersonal arrangement lacked heart. Lacked connection.

  Etienne tilted the brim of his wide straw hat up and rubbed at his forehead. All work. No fun. Before yesterday, he hadn’t laughed in months. He shoved his hands into the pockets of his faded jeans, and turned toward the château. Aqua Blanca should be home now. But he still felt like a tourist. The moment he stepped inside, the cool silence of the château enveloped him like a tomb. Margaret wouldn’t be here for hours yet.

  He snatched off his hat, and tossed it carelessly on the table. Then strode to the counter, poured coffee grounds into the cafetiere and added boiling water. Tonight, he wouldn’t stay at home alone, working through figures. As he waited for the coffee to infuse, he fished out his cell phone and punched in a number he knew by heart.

  “Hello?” Bella said.

  Etienne imagined he could hear hesitation in her voice. After last night, how could he blame her for treating him with caution? “Bonjour,
Chérie. Where are you?”

  Raised voices in the background hinted at a buzz of activity.

  “I’m at a caterer’s getting some samples to test for the launch. I thought perhaps I could bring them out to you this morning and get your feedback.”

  Her husky voice sounded so close, she could be in the room with him.

  Last night, he’d walked away rather than become more deeply involved, resulting in a restless night plagued with fevered dreams. He’d cursed himself a thousand times for his decision. Now, just the sound of her voice lit the spark of desire to life anew. They were both consenting adults. Why shouldn’t they explore the passion flaring between them?

  A vision of Bella’s green eyes pierced his memory. She’s not one for a casual affair, she’ll want more. Etienne rejected the thought. He would be straight with her. Explain his aversion to settling down and forever. And let that lead them where it may. “Good. Come on over. We can have the samples for lunch.”

  ****

  Bella climbed out of the car, and reached into the back for the large plastic box of entrées she’d brought from Aqua Blanca Catering. Glancing down, she noticed her hands shake. A cloud of butterflies took flight in her stomach. She felt as nervous as a teenager on a first date. At the sound of a door slamming shut, she twirled around.

  Etienne strode over, took the box from her hands, and placed it carefully on the car hood.

  “Hi.” Her voice escaped as a croak.

  Etienne held up a hand to silence her and stepped so close the subtle woodsy scent of sandalwood and man surrounded her. He stared into her eyes and then slid his hand beneath her hair.

  The touch of his fingers on her nape electrified. Her mouth parted in surprise.

  He pulled her close and kissed her.

  The feel of his body pressed up against hers set her heart pounding like a Latin-jazz drum solo. Her hands snaked up the front of his black tee-shirt and around his neck.

  When he finally edged away, they were both breathing fast.

  He’d slammed the brakes on last night, but they were careening down the hill at full speed now. That was for sure.

  “I spent a restless night dreaming of you,” he murmured. “I couldn’t wait to kiss you.”

  Bella’s heart thumped hard. Etienne filled her thoughts constantly, and she felt a warm flush of relieved satisfaction at his admission he suffered the same affliction. “Well, the wait was worth it.” She couldn’t hold back a grin. “We’re in a bad state, aren’t we?”

  His hands smoothed over her shoulders. “We better taste these entrées before I give up on the idea and taste only you.” He picked up the box and grasped her hand. “Come on. We’re going on a picnic.”

  She’d tracked the path to the lake thousands of times, but now, with Etienne’s hand surrounding hers, the experience seemed fresh and new somehow.

  The water’s surface sparkled with reflected sunlight. A red blanket broke the expanse of forest green grass, with a large wicker basket upon it. A rucksack lay nearby.

  “This is perfect.” Bella’s whispered words cut through the silence. As perfect as the feel of his large hand curling around hers. A gentle breeze lifted her hair, teasing it against her cheek.

  “Sit down.” Etienne sank onto the blanket, grasping her hand to pull her down beside him. He opened the basket and pulled out two narrow crystal flutes and a chilled bottle of Evian water, beaded with condensation. “I have some baguette and local cheeses in here too,” he said. “In case the entrées are not enough to satisfy our hunger.” He paused and connected with her gaze. His eyes burned black. “One of our hungers anyway.”

  Bella swallowed, suppressing the urge to lie on the blanket and pull him down with her. She’d tried seduction yesterday, and her bruised ego couldn’t face another rejection. “Pass over the box.”

  She accepted the box from his outstretched hand, and popped open the top. “If you’re going with the Latin-jazz, you might like to use a selection of local appetizers too, so I’ve brought some tapas. I’ve got figs with mascarpone and goat’s cheese, black bean cakes with sour cream and salsa, gallette of caramelized onion, and little potato pancakes with smoked salmon and cream cheese.”

  Etienne reached in to select a fig and chewed it slowly. “Delicious.” He tried a potato pancake. “Mmmm, try one of these.”

  The look in Etienne’s eyes as he carefully fed her was so erotic her lips tingled with the urge to kiss him again.

  “I knew you were driving, so I thought we’d better avoid alcohol.” He poured effervescent liquid into a crystal flute in a thin stream.

  Regret pierced Bella’s mood. “Yes, I’ll have to go in about an hour. I have things to set up for this evening.” Bella took the glass from his fingers and drank, savoring the tingly bubbles on her tongue. “I’ve another birthday party.”

  Etienne’s mouth tightened and he glanced away.

  For a reckless moment, she thought of asking him to join her, but catering to a boisterous group of teenagers was probably not his idea of an evening out. Besides, she needed to concentrate all her energies on ensuring the party was perfect. Etienne’s presence would be an irresistible distraction.

  “So, no time for a swim?” Etienne gestured to the rucksack. “I brought towels.”

  “I can’t.” Bella’s face reddened. Had he packed swimsuits too? Somehow, she knew he hadn’t. The smooth surface of the water enticed, and a disturbing image sprang to vivid life of their naked bodies in the silken water. She swallowed, and resolutely changed the subject before she weakened. “I’ve had a few ideas about the launch, and about the vineyard as well, to be honest,” Bella fiddled with the stem of her glass. Having any ideas about his vineyard seemed impudent, but she had always been bothered that the vineyard, under her family’s tenure, was so low-key. She swallowed a mouthful of cool water.

  Etienne was silent.

  But his expression was open and interested. Bella pulled in a deep breath.

  “My grandfather was old school,” she said. “He ran the vineyard and produced the wine, but he shied away from any promotional events. He wanted the vineyard to be famous purely for its wines, but these days things are different.”

  “I decided to hold the launch to introduce the wine to a wider public.” Etienne munched on another morsel.

  Bella bit her bottom lip. How would he respond to the ideas swirling insistently in her mind? “We need to introduce not just the wine, but you to a wider audience,” she said. “I have friends in some of the other local wineries, and they’re all dying to meet you. Only a couple of weeks away is September, which here in California is Wine Month. Scheduled are lots of wine-tasting tours, harvest openings, and stomp parties.”

  Etienne’s brow creased. “Stomp parties?”

  Bella gladly seized the opportunity to explain. “Barrels are loaded with grapes, and people climb in to squash them with their feet. It’s great fun. The tourists love it. Maybe tomorrow...” Her words trailed into silence. Was she being too pushy? After all, he hadn’t socialized with any of the other vineyard owners in the months since he’d lived in Aqua Blanca.

  “Tomorrow what?” Etienne leaned closer.

  “I thought you might come with me to meet some of the other owners. We could visit their vineyards and sign up your vineyard as an attraction on the established tours.” Bella’s gaze flickered to his and she held her breath.

  He leaned forward and trailed a feather light kiss over her mouth. “Let’s do it.”

  Heat spread through Bella’s body from the point where their lips met. She pulled away, needing the distance before she tossed away her plans for the afternoon to pull him close and intensify the contact. “Tell me about France.” She reached for her glass again and held it before her like a shield. “You worked in the family vineyard?”

  Etienne’s mouth tightened and his eyes darkened to pitch. “Yes.”

  In the moments of silence that followed, a telling kaleidoscope of expressions flicker
ed over his face. A frown creased between his eyebrows as though reliving unpleasantness. Perhaps, like her, he battled difficult memories of life with his family.

  Just as she’d decided that it might be circumspect to change the subject, Etienne spoke.

  “For years, I expected to inherit the vineyard when my father retired.” With a sudden move, he stood and gazed over the lake. “Until my elder brother Vincent abandoned the world of high finance to claim his birthright.” That said, he turned back and packed the plates back into the picnic basket.

  “So you inherited this vineyard?” Bella asked, hoping he’d reveal more.

  He looked up and held her gaze. “This vineyard and the chance to build it back into one of the best in America is my second chance.”

  And the look of determination blazing in his eyes hinted he had no intention of letting this chance slip through his fingers.

  Chapter Six

  “He said what?” Bella’s legs wobbled and she sank onto the swivel chair, holding the phone tightly against her ear. Surely Sue was mistaken. Her father couldn’t really...

  “He said Etienne stole the château from him,” her friend reiterated calmly. “After your grandfather’s death, John was due to inherit, but because of a legal technicality he lost out.”

  Sue sounded curious.

  “Surely you knew? The news spread like wildfire around Aqua Blanca when Etienne arrived.”

  She hadn’t heard. No-one had brought the issue to her attention. Probably because they felt pity the evil Durands had forced her family out. Over the past few months, she’d been so busy with Celebrate she hadn’t had time to socialize. The venomous lies were so far from the truth, she couldn’t hold back the words spilling from her mouth. “Oh, Sue. I can’t believe my father has been spreading such lies.” She rested her head in her hands.

  No wonder Etienne hadn’t been welcomed into the town. She pulled in a deep breath. “I lived with my grandfather for the last year of his life. He told me the whole story. In the nineties, my father insisted the vineyard be sold. He wanted money, and had no confidence that the vineyard would make it through the bad times. The Durands bought him out. They were even so kind as to insist my grandfather be allowed to remain in his home until he died.”