She glanced over her bare shoulder. “Wineries?”
He nodded. “There are several in the area. I scheduled a few tastings. I’m hoping I can set up a deal with one of them to provide wines for the B&B. But I can do that another time.”
“No, you won’t,” she told him. “I’ve never been to a winery before.” She twisted until she faced him, resting her chin in her upturned palm, her eyes bright with excitement. “I wonder if I can stomp the grapes like in that episode ofI Love Lucy.I’ve always wanted to do that.”
“Why? It looks messy as hell.”
“True.” She laughed. “But you have to admit, it looks fun.”
“Actually,” Jamal said, capturing her waist and pulling her on top of him, “I can think of something that’swaymore fun than stomping grapes.”
“This. Is.Gorgeous!”
Jamal grinned at Phylicia’s enthusiasm, feeding off the excitement that shone through her bright eyes.
They stood amidst rows of waist-high vines that stretched as far as the eye could see, the warm Arizona sun beating down on them.
“This soil is ideal for producing a sweet, fragrant harvest,” their personal tour guide explained. “This region’s wines are known for their distinct flavor.”
They forayed deeper into the vineyard and were treated to plump, juicy grapes right off the vine. When the tour was done, they were led past the small restaurant and into a private tasting room where several bottles were set up.
Once they were done with their tasting, Jamal talked business with the vineyard’s owner, but he kept an eye on Phylicia as she explored the beautiful woodworking of the intricately carved wine racks.
“Nice work,” he said, coming up behind her.
She ran her hand along the wood. “It is. This took a lot of time.” She looked back at him over her shoulder. “I can make you one like this, you know. Something on a smaller scale to hold your wines at Belle Maison.”
“I may have to take you up on that,” he said. He leaned over and whispered in her ear, “But right now, I have a surprise for you.”
There was a quizzical lift to her brow.
“It’s time to stomp some grapes,” he said.
She gasped. “Are you kidding me?” She pointed toward the door their tour guide had just left through. “But she said regulations prevent the vineyard from using the method.”
Jamal shrugged. “I pulled a few strings.”
The look she graced him with was akin to a kid getting the toy she’d been hoping for on her birthday, and Jamal couldn’t help the way his chest puffed out a bit. He could get used to being the hero.
They were brought into a room filled with huge barrels lining the walls. On an elevated platform stood a wooden tub. Jamal followed Phylicia up the stairs, and after washing her feet with the supplies that were provided, helped her into the tub filled with freshly picked grapes.
“Oh my goodness,” she said. “This feels so weird.”
“Looks pretty sexy to me,” Jamal said, staring at the smooth thighs that peeked from under the dress she held in her hands.
“Aren’t you joining me?” she asked.
“Nah, I’d rather watch.”
She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth as she gingerly took her first couple of steps. “This issoweird,” she said again. “But, um, kind of fun.”
Jamal looked on as her attack on the grapes became more aggressive. The only other time he’d seen Phylicia this uninhibited was when she was painting, and never had he seen her so playful. He loved the way it looked on her. She had so many burdens weighing her down—guilt over her father, worry about her mother’s health, stress from that jerk of an ex who’d left her in near financial ruin. The chance to put a smile on her face was worth the extravagant price he’d paid for this little excursion.
“You don’t know what you’re missing.” She grinned.
“I’ll take your word for it,” Jamal returned as he studied the unbelievably sexy way the delicate muscles in her lean legs flexed with her movements. The hem of her dress brushed her thighs, driving him out of his mind.
After she’d stomped around for nearly twenty minutes, he was finally able to coax her out of the tub. They were shown to a washroom where Phylicia was able to clean her legs and feet. Eventhatwas sexy.
