Just a Kiss: The Single Girls Wine Club (A Wine Country Romance #1) (15 page)

“It looked like they were having a great time together and I had a pretty good view from up there on stage.” She leaned close to Sarah. “Some slow dancing, but nothing down and dirty from what I saw.”

Lulu closed her book. “Gossip, gossip, gossip. Don’t you ladies have other things to do besides talk about other people?”

“I wouldn’t mind talking about you, Lulu,” Sarah teased. “Did you like Uncle Leo?”

“We had a very pleasant time together. Leo Santino is a lovely man, but truth be told, I drank a little more than I should have. I guess I’m not used to being out so late.” Lulu chuckled and stirred her Campari and soda.

Sarah thought of last night’s glimpse of Lulu and Uncle Leo on the hay bales. She studied Lulu’s bosom, pondering exactly how she managed to stash something so big into such a small bra. After all, she wasn’t a very large woman. She steadied her gaze and determined Lulu might be a B cup, if that.

“Are you staring at my breasts?” Lulu shot her a point-blank stare.

“I’m sorry.” Sarah pointed to an invisible stain. “I think you have something on your blouse.” Lulu wiped away a speck of nothing as Sarah thought of all those pictures on Juliet’s computer.

Jamie wanted to throw his hands up over his head and run to his car like a five year old after his day on the Marina Green movie set. He reigned in his excitement long enough to get in the car, start the engine and drive off the lot without making a scene. He couldn’t wait to see Sarah.

He had to really focus on staying within the speed limit on Doyle Drive as he steered away from the twinkling San Francisco skyline. He didn’t notice the magnificence of the Golden Gate Bridge, didn’t review his first day, and didn’t turn his head to glance at the carload of women in the Volvo next to him frantically waving and plastering their phone numbers on their windows. He inched his way in stopped traffic, keeping his eyes on the road and his mind on Sarah.

He waited until he left the Rainbow Tunnel and zoomed down the hill over Sausalito before securing the Bluetooth to his ear.

“You are all I’ve been thinking about,” he said.

“Hmmm, the feeling is mutual,” Sarah purred. “Are you coming back to Napa tonight?”

“Yes, but I could swing by if you have time to see me?”

“Yes, yes,” Sarah said. “Come over.”

Yes. Yes.
She’d cried out just like that last night at the cottage. She had him turned on and ready with just the stroke of her voice. Sarah had an unbelievable way of overpowering him, and he was almost annoyed by it. He wasn’t sure he wanted to be so far in over his head now, constantly thinking about her. Maybe he wouldn’t be able to manage his feelings and give his all to the movie, but he was too far gone to stop seeing her now.

“I’m in San Rafael now, traffic looks good. I’ll be there in forty minutes.”

“Are you hungry?” Sarah asked.

“I’m famished.” He thought of another position to try. They hadn’t made love on the counter of the cottage yet… “I’m dying for another taste. I can still taste you.”

Sarah giggled. “Careful now, you’re driving.”

“I’m multitasking.”

“Well, I hope both hands are on the wheel,” she said. “So you’ve had dinner?”

“Yes, but I haven’t had dessert,” he teased. “That photo you sent? Amazing! You make me crazy…”

Her body drove him out of his mind. Last night it seemed like they’d been with each other before, their bodies knew each other so well. She knew instinctively when and how firm or gentle to touch when he craved it the most. By the sound of her moans, he knew her body as well.

It wasn’t just the sex. There was something about her from the second he saw her. It was nuts to think anything like this could happen so fast. Even the way she looked at him sometimes, like she knew his soul, made his heart race. Her laugh made him smile.

He thought of that Frank Sinatra song about a woman being under his skin. That was exactly how he felt about Sarah. He couldn’t get his mind off her.

Danica was out for the evening, covering a story, and Sarah had asked the other woman to give her and Jamie privacy. Lulu and Juliet were in the living room watching
Magic Mike.

She jumped into Jamie's arms the second he arrived and covered him with all of the kisses she'd been storing all day. When they moved to the kitchen, Sarah handed him the glass of Villa Ragazzi Sangiovese she had ready for him. He kissed her on the nose as a thank you and strolled to the other side of the room.

After pouring a glass for herself, Sarah turned from the counter, and the thought struck her. Jamie stood with his back to her looking out the French doors in Bella Villa’s kitchen. He raised the wine glass and sipped, the muscles in his back moved a little when he swallowed. Such a small thing to notice, and it seemed ridiculous that she’d have such a heady experience now, but Sarah did.

Everything clicked at that moment. It was the instant everyone else talked about. That second you reach into yourself and thank your lucky stars or God, or the alignment of the planets, or whatever it was that brought your soul mate to you.

Thank you. Whoever’s up there in heaven doing this, thank you.
It was the only possible miraculous explanation she could think of.

She hadn’t even realized how dead she’d felt inside until Jamie came, flashing his incredible dimples her way. She thought she’d completely recovered from Robert’s betrayal, but knew now she’d only been monotonously putting one clog in front of the other. She hadn’t been living with joy or elation. Maybe she had feelings of accomplishment sure, but nothing even close to what she felt at this moment.

She ached to run and wrap her arms around him and pick up where they left off this morning.
This man, this beautiful man is in my little life, in my kitchen!
She wanted to scream and yell and shout to the world but held the feeling inside. He opened the door, and she cozied up next to him as they walked outside.

A profusion of candles left burning from Chill Hour lit the patio. She put her wine down and settled into the love seat, snuggling into him.

“Sarah, Sarah,” Jamie said tenderly, tipping her chin to face him. “I just love looking at you. I even love looking at you while you look at me…Isn’t this crazy?”

“No, it’s just how I feel.”

“Now, I don’t have to sneak a stare at you through those blurry windows at the Vine Café. He took a sip from his glass. How many times did you catch me looking at you? Be honest.”

“I don’t think I ever did.” Sarah held a smile back and looked at the moon. “Okay, maybe once or twice…”

“Are you kidding? Any chance I had, I’d steal a peek just to get a glimpse of you rolling dough, or frosting a cake. I love how your eyes get a little squinty, and you pout that cute little lip.” Jamie ran his thumb across her mouth. “You are so into what you do. Concentrating so hard on making everything perfect, no wonder you never saw me. It’s a beautiful thing to watch you.”

Sarah breathed a long blissful sigh letting the words sink in.

They gathered the fuzzy blankets left out from earlier and moved to a double chaise lounge for a better view of the stars. Her body dissolved into his under the covers.

“Tell me more about your day.” Sarah did her best to quash the lusty thoughts wreaking havoc in her pelvic region.

“Not great. Semi-nightmare actually.” Jamie sighed. “We only got through a quarter of a scene before Nikki got upset. She didn’t like the revisions of the script and stopped production. Shut the whole thing down. The director had to clear the set, the lights, cameras, crew, everything stopped.” He sighed and turned to Sarah.

“Well, if she doesn’t like the script and doesn’t want to work, why doesn’t she just quit instead of making everyone else miserable? Or why doesn’t the director or producer fire her?” Sarah asked.

“It doesn’t work like that. She’s under contract. She’s obligated to finish the project and has the right of script approval. It’s in her deal.” Jamie tucked his arm underneath her, moving her closer. “Besides, if she finds a way to back out legally, I’m out of a gig.”

“Can’t they hire someone else to be your costar?” Sarah asked.

“The reason I’d be out of the movie is because they hired Nikki first. I am in her contract as her costar. I just don’t know why she can’t discuss things like a professional, a normal person.”

“So she hired you?”

“Not exactly, she got the gig first, and then pitched me to costar. We screen-tested, the producers liked our chemistry, and they hired me, but I got the job initially because she wanted me.”

Sarah turned to her side, adjusting her gaze on Jamie and her mind jettisoned to all of the pictures on Juliet’s computer. The image of Nikki leaning in for a kiss and Jamie’s big dimpled smile immediately came to mind, but she didn’t want to jump to any paranoid conclusions.

“Okay, so you knew each other before. So what, you worked together on another film?” Sarah bit her lip.

“Sure you want to get into this, Sarah? We’re just starting to get to know each other.” He adjusted his position to look at her face. “I don’t want you to get upset.”

“Yes. I want to know. You can tell me,” she said. “How do you know her?”

“It wasn’t work,” he said. “Nikki was the first person I dated after coming out of a long-term relationship.” He paused, examining Sarah. “It didn’t last long. I knew it wasn’t serious, but she—”

“She really likes you.” Sarah drew a long breath.

“That’s all there is to it, Sarah…”

“Complicated.” Sarah exhaled and took a gulp of wine.

The revelation about Nikki changed the vibe of the evening, and they ended on a low bass note. While saying goodnight at the door, Jamie invited her to join him in the city the following night for a sleep-over. Sarah didn’t make any promises.

When she finally crawled under her crisp sheets, she wrestled with Jamie’s invitation, not sure about getting in any deeper with him. Another night in bed next to him would put her out in the deep sea, but, on the other hand, what a way to go. She wondered what other secrets he had. She wanted to trust him, but Jamie had said it himself; they were just getting to know each other.

She flipped her pillow over. He had seemed honest when he’d told her he was crazy about her and genuinely thrilled about the prospect of spending the night with her after work. And she’d never felt the way she did about him with anyone else. Would she be ending their relationship before it had time to grow, by not going to San Francisco to meet him? He’d taken the time to explain he wouldn’t be coming home to Napa very often now that they were filming. His schedule was only going to get busier and he wanted to include her.

She pulled the covers over her head and decided to throw caution to the wind. After all, he hadn’t lied. He’d told her about Nikki when she asked him. He hadn’t wanted to upset her. Meeting him on the set tomorrow would only strengthen their budding relationship.

Stop being so insecure, he wants you.
She’d pack her overnight bag in the morning, ask Manny to cover for her, call Jamie to confirm, and relax.
Act like one of those divas in the magazines and be all light and breezy. Oh me? I’m just dating Jamie Santino, no biggie.

She got out of bed and pulled her blackout shades down hoping it would stop her mind from analyzing the Nikki - Jamie connection. She turned on the overhead fan, waited for its hypnotizing whir and wondered if anyone had invented a white noise contraption to get rid of racing thoughts that just didn’t stop.

The San Francisco skyline took Sarah’s breath away when it came into view as she drove across the Golden Gate Bridge. The city glimmered against a clear crisp cobalt sky. Traffic moved well, and she relaxed a little more in her decision to meet Jamie for a tete-a-tete.

Just a few minutes off the bridge, the Marina Green and the commotion came into view. Enormous trucks, road blocks, and light rigs grabbed her attention before she got close to the famous patch of grass lining the water with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background.

With most of Bay Street blocked to traffic, she parked a few streets away and took her time walking through the posh neighborhood. She tried imagining who lived in the elegant mansions with perfectly manicured gardens. Their second story views looked right over the cars and traffic, and directly to the water.