Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
Juliet
The red floral dress from that little store in Oakridge suited me better than any fancy gown hanging in my closet back in Beverly Hills.
As I stood in front of the mirror in my bedroom, turning slowly to check how I looked from every angle, I felt comfortable in a dress that cost less than a tenth of what I usually spent on any garment.
I'd swept my hair up into a loose ponytail and kept my makeup simple, applying a little mascara and a touch of gloss to add color to my pale pink lips.
Satisfied with the fit of the dress, I slipped on the brown cowboy boots Nate had bought me in Oakridge and took one last look at the woman in the mirror.
This wasn't social butterfly Juliet. This was someone entirely different. I liked her better.
When I got downstairs, everyone was already gathered in the marquee on the lawn.
I'd spent the last few days working with Eileen to make sure everything was perfect.
Warm, amber lights were strung up to form a pathway into the marquee, which was filled with tables groaning under the weight of the food Eileen and I had prepared, aided by an army of volunteers.
I'd been particularly proud of the chili that had simmered on the stove for five hours to allow the flavor to develop. Now I was nervous about it being tasted by some real connoisseurs.
"There she is," Ramon called out the moment I walked in.
He raised his beer bottle in my direction, and a cheer went up from the men around him.
My cheeks heated. In the short time I'd been there, I'd become friendly with several of the workers, bonding over our shared meals and love of Mist Hollow.
It seemed I was far from being the only one enamored with the place.
"That was quite the greeting," I told Ramon as I reached the table and helped myself to a glass of the vineyard's own cabernet sauvignon.
"Well you're one of us now."
I smiled. One of us. I couldn't remember the last time I'd felt like I truly belonged anywhere.
It had happened in such a short space of time.
But as much as I wanted to believe this was home, I harbored anxieties.
The rug could be pulled out from under me at any time.
All Nate had to do was decide protecting me wasn't worth the risk, and I'd be gone.
The fear gnawed at my stomach, but I drowned it with another gulp of wine.
Tonight I was going to let my hair down.
As the music started, my spirits lifted again. A local band, comprising three men with a guitar, a fiddle, and an incredible singing voice, had set up in the corner. Wine in hand, I moved to the edge of the makeshift dance floor at the end of the room to watch as people got up to dance.
Jimmy, from the harvest crew, was first on the floor along with his wife Mara. That surprised me since he came across as shy. He certainly wasn't reserved when it came to his dance moves.
As I admired his form, I became aware of a presence behind me.
"You look good." Nate's voice came from over my left shoulder.
A warmth trickled through me that had nothing to do with the wine I'd drunk.
I turned to find him dressed in dark-blue pants and a white shirt.
It was smarter than his work attire, but with the button at his collar undone and the sleeves rolled up, the outfit was a far cry from the tuxedos I'd seen him in at gala events.
"So do you."
"Yeah, I clean up okay." He spoke as if he didn't routinely wear Brioni suits to business meetings.
We stood together in companionable silence, watching as more couples took to the dance floor.
Since the day Nate spanked me, we hadn't spent much time together.
As the harvest rolled to a close, things had picked up on the vineyard, and he'd worked longer hours than usual.
It had given me a chance to get explore the house a little and to get to know Eileen better.
I sipped my wine, appreciating the smooth texture and rich, deep taste. "This is extraordinary. What is it I'm getting in the finish?" I considered for a moment. "Dark chocolate?"
"You have an excellent palate."
"I've been to a lot of expensive dinners. Had to learn something from all those culinary snobs."
The corner of his mouth lifted. "Wasted on most of them, I'd imagine."
I smiled into my glass. Around us, the energy in the room was shifting as the band moved into something slower and couples drifted together.
I caught a glimpse of Eileen taking to the floor with a silver-haired man in cowboy boots.
At the edge of the room, I saw Ramon watching them, his dark eyes narrowed.
Interesting. I’d file that away for later.
Taking my glass from me, Nate turned and put it on the table closest to him.
"Dance with me." It wasn't so much a request as a command, but I was more than happy to obey. I put my hand in his.
He drew me out into the center of the floor and pulled me close, setting a hand at my waist. Resting my head on his shoulder, I let him lead. He was a great dancer. Of course he was. He attended a lot of formal events.
With practiced ease, he steered us around the other couples.
Normally when I danced, I was tense, thinking about my posture and whether people were judging me.
Right now, I couldn't care less if my steps were uneven.
If anyone here was watching, I doubted it was with the sort of critical eye I was used to from my peers.
"What are you thinking?" Nate asked.
"That I don't remember the last time I enjoyed myself like this."
His arm tightened around my waist. "Me neither."
I lifted my head from Nate's shoulder and stared into his eyes. Everything in the room melted away. The music faded; the people disappeared. I was caught in the moment, and it seemed Nate was too. He's going to kiss me; I thought with absolute certainty.
Then Eileen appeared at his side, breaking the spell.
"Sorry, Nate." She grimaced apologetically. "The band wants to know if they should do another set before they take their break."
Nate blinked once. His expression shifted between exasperation at the interruption and amusement at her poor timing. He smiled at his aunt.
"Ask them to do another set."
"Will do, pet." Eileen rubbed his arm affectionately and disappeared back through the crowd.
"She sure knows how to put a dampener on things," Nate grumbled, his words confirming to me that his mind had been in sync with mine.
He wrapped his arms around me once more as the music picked back up, the tune faster this time.
We danced, whirling around the floor, laughing until we were breathless.
As the band took their break, we moved off to the side and found a seat.
My feet ached, so while Nate went to fetch us more drinks, I peeled off my boots.
Sure, enough there was a patch of red on my heel that would no doubt develop into a nasty blister.
"Not quite your Louboutins, are they?" Nate asked as he handed me a glass of white wine and settled on the seat next to me.
"No, they are not. I'll need to soak my feet tonight, that's for sure."
As I tasted the wine, another delicious blend, I noticed the brown bottle in Nate's hand.
"That's not a very good advertisement for your vineyard," I remarked.
"Nope, but once in a while a cold beer is the only thing that will hit the spot."
"Did you ever consider buying a brewery instead of a vineyard? Craft beer is all the rage these days."
"I actually do own a craft brewery. It's near Leeds, in England." He sipped his beer. "But I prefer the vineyard. I like the smell of the grapes, the feel of them in my hand and nothing can beat the camaraderie during harvest."
"You really love it here."
Nate nodded. "It's close to perfect."
I gulped down another mouthful of wine, giving it less respect than it deserved, and regarded him closely. "So what would make it perfect?"
He didn't answer. Instead he reached out to curve a hand around my cheek. His thumb brushed gently over my skin. As he leaned closer, my heart skipped a beat. He paused for a moment, his eyes searching mine. What was he looking for? Permission? I granted it with a subtle nod.
Nate's hand slid around to cradle the back of my head as he moved in to kiss me. His lips were warm, softer than I would have imagined. The kiss was gentle, lasting only seconds, but when Nate pulled back, his eyes promised that this was only the beginning.