“I’ll take them home with me later. Tasha is out with Philip and Juan and as I’m not invited I have time on my hands. Now let’s get this tour started, Natasha.” With his hand in hers they stood up.
“Lead the way, James.”
Maisie looked at her husband who began to laugh. “I think you might be in trouble with this one son. James!” Jack laughed again as he and Maisie stood together and watched their son leave the house with the young woman he was clearly smitten with.
Jim began a very detailed and concise tour of the vineyard. He talked about the varieties of grapes and what they went on to become and which of his wines she’d drunk and enjoyed. Tasha enjoyed a little tasting session and drank much of the wine before realising she was supposed to spit it out. He even talked about the scientific processes involved as they stood at the brow of a hill allowing them to see the impressive expanse of the vineyard which went straight over her head. Science had never been something she understood and as he talked about chemical reactions she yawned.
“Am I boring you, Natasha?”
“No, but I am very tired, James.” She smiled.
“Then you should dance less and sleep more.” He grinned and looked very cocky.
“But I prefer to dance with you than sleep,” she told him with an arch of her brows.
“Then you should at least sit down.”
Before she knew it, he had taken her hands and swept her legs from under her, gently lowering her to the ground. He sat down next to her and lay back on the grassy hill where she joined him, resting her head on his chest.
“You smell nice.” She inhaled deeply the combination of shower gel, after shave, washing products and Jim’s unique aroma.
“So do you,” he replied as he buried his nose into her hair.
“Your parents seem lovely.”
“I like them, but I’m biased. You were worried they’d think you’re using me?”
“Yes,” she replied in a near whisper.
“They don’t.” He stroked her hair reassuringly. “My mom would have told you bluntly if she had and my dad is yet another victim of your beauty. He was like putty in your hands, honey.”
“And what about you?” She rubbed her hand along his thigh, allowing her touch to climb higher.
“Oh, baby, I am never like putty in your hands.” He grabbed for her hand and moved it to his groin where there was nothing resembling putty.
She moaned as she began to flex her fingers around the hard length she found there before he took her hand in his.
“But we are going to talk, Tasha, so...”
Her text alert sounded, interrupting him.
“Check your phone first.”
“It can wait.” She attempted to dismiss it, just wanting to get through whatever they had to discuss.
“No. Check it first. I want no distractions.”
She took her phone from her bag and saw the message was off Gerry. “It can wait, it’s only Gerry. Probably replying to the pictures I sent him.”
“Read it now,” he almost barked at her impatiently and then softened his words with a single, “please.”
She opened the message and read it then attempted to throw it back in her bag.
“Is he okay?”
She assumed he meant,what does he want and what did he say? And if you don’t tell me you’re hiding something.
“Fine, he’s just seen my message about the painting.”
