You Had Me at Merlot: Part 2 (7 page)

He took my hand and we turned, walking back through the vineyard.

‘Are you drunk?’ I side-eyed him.

‘No. Maybe a little, I’m a bit more used to it than you. Are you?’

‘Drunk in love,’ I sniggered, then let out another enormous and very attractive yawn.

‘Are you tired?’

‘Maybe a little. It’s been just the best day, but very long, and you have a lot of sunshine in Italy. And a lot of wine.’

We stopped at what seemed like a garage, but on entering turned out to be a lovely converted studio. The stone walls had been
painted white and small touches made it homely and warm inside. Jamie switched on a lamp and turned to face me, his face nervous
and apologetic.

‘It’s not much, and it’s not as fancy as your guest room, but it’s mine and it’s away from everything else.’

I ran my hand over a collection of photos of Enzo in little wooden frames, from (still fairly massive) puppy to the huge dog
he was now. ‘I think it’s perfect.’

‘Should I … leave you to …’

‘Can we lie down for just a minute? Do you mind?’ He shook his head, and I wondered if I was crossing the line, or being too
forward. But I genuinely just wanted to rest, just for a moment.

He climbed on to his bed and stretched his arm out for me to lie on. I went to him, and as we lay there I wondered why I’d
left it so long to lie with someone. It felt nice to be this close to another person. Safe, warm, intimate. But also scary,
and I didn’t know what to say any more because all I could think about was his breathing, and my breathing, and how much had
changed in the space of a day.

He sighed, exhaling through his nose, which blew a tuft of my hair up and over my face. Jamie reached over to push it back
and I instinctively nuzzled into his hand, kissing his palm lightly.

‘Elle …’ he said, and I shifted my body up so my face was level with him. I wanted that kiss. Did he want it too?

Suddenly he brought his head up and crushed his lips against mine. I hadn’t kissed anyone for a long time, bar earlier today,
and my body wanted to make up for it. I had the feeling he was the same, from his urgency.

We kissed, our tongues tingling from the chilli, and pressed our bodies together on his bed, and the roaring fire slowed to
softly crackling embers as we melted into it. I hadn’t thought there was a more delicious combination than chilli, wine and
chocolate, but add the fourth ingredient of Jamie’s lips and finally my mouth was in heaven.

My mouth felt like I’d been chewing on cotton. And when I opened my eyes, sticky with yesterday’s mascara and found myself
staring into the T-shirt of Jamie, half of it balled in my mouth, sucked in through a sleep vacuum, I realised this was exactly
what had happened. I lifted my head very slowly from his chest, leaving a trail of dribble on the bunched-up T-shirt. I glanced
up, but he was snoozing like a very attractive baby.

What the hell happened here last night? How did I fall asleep right on him? Was he even still alive, or had I crushed him
to death?

I moved a hand as carefully as I could and held a finger under his nose. Yes, he was breathing. Now the real question … was
I wearing underwear?

Yes. Although my dress had ridden up to my stomach, my knickers were very much in place, even if they were rubbing up against
the crotch of his jeans. Okay. So we can’t have done ‘it’. Probably. But we were very close together, so much so that, to
be honest, I felt a bit clammy. I used my spare hand, i.e. the one not screaming with pins and needles as it was currently
wedged under Jamie’s triceps, to rub my fuzzy teeth until they squeaked with a whimper of cleanness.

I lifted my head and – oooh – that was a hangover waiting to happen.

Jamie opened his eyes and met mine. We stared at each other for a moment, my body tense, very aware of it pressing down on
his, and suddenly very aware of my full bladder.

‘Hello,’ I tested the waters.

‘
Ciao
Bella.’ He cracked a smile. He wasn’t revolted by me; this was a good start.

‘How are you?’ Formality is always a good start when lying atop of someone, in their bed, with a big old mind-blank and a
rucked-up dress.

‘Very well, and yourself?’

‘Not too bad. Thank you.’ I peered around his room, searching for conversation or at least a way to say
Please could you tell me if your bits were introduced to mine last night
. I saw the empty black bottle that had housed the chilli wine that was now thumping about inside my bladder like an angry
inmate. ‘That chilli wine … that’s some good stuff you’ve got going on there. Strong.’

Jamie nodded. ‘But without it, this magical night may never have happened.’

Oh God.

‘Magical … did you have a, um, favourite part?’

‘Every inch of your body.’ Jamie inhaled, a lazy smile spreading across his face before he stroked my hair and I struggled
not to pee myself in panic. ‘What about you? What was your favourite part?’

‘Hahaha, your body is pretty good too, Mister!’
Shit, shit, shit, REMEMBER
.

‘But as wonderful, as unforgettable as our lovemaking was, it was nothing compared to the honour you did for me afterwards.’

I had no idea what I did. Did I give him a—

‘Thank you,
mia Bella
, you have made my heart sing.’

‘No problem …’ I sat up and he sat up too, wrapping his arms around me.

‘Oh Bella, when you said you’d be my wife you made me the happiest man in Italy.’

Whoa. ‘Your wife?’

‘As soon as possible, just like you insisted last night.’ He leapt out of bed and stood in the middle of the room while I
frantically adjusted my dress and my life flashed before my eyes. ‘Today I will take you to meet my grandmother!’

‘Brilliant.’

‘And she will love you.’

‘
Yes
.’

‘And we will be married!’

He spread his arms wide, my headache kicked in, my bladder nearly gave up and bile rose in my throat, and all I could say
was, ‘GETTING MARRIED IS JUST WHAT I WANTED.’

Elle, determinedly single Elle, isn’t used to waking up next to a
boy
. And she certainly isn’t used to being engaged. Thanks to all the (delicious) chilli wine she consumed last night, Elle has
no idea how she’s managed to get herself into this situation. And as fond as she is of the man lying next to her, and no matter
how happy he looks by this turn of events, getting married has never been part of Elle’s plan. No way. All that romance stuff
just isn’t for her … right? But the combination of this lovely man, the incredibly romantic Italian countryside and the feel
of the early-morning sun on her skin is starting to have an effect on Elle. Maybe, just maybe, she’s not as anti-love as she
thought …

You Had Me at Merlot
is the kind of love story that will have you crying with laughter one moment and nodding your head in agreement the next.
Full of sultry summer nights, hilarious moments and plenty of wine, it will warm even the most cynical of hearts and have
you believing in the magic of romance (and the power of a decent glass of Merlot).

You Had Me at Merlot: Part 3
is available for pre-order now!