Chapter 18
I’ve never been so nervous about going on a date. But this is not just any date. This is my redemption date. The date that should’ve happened that night after graduation. The date I promised her.
Tonight, I’ll be taking Audrey for a picnic at Sunset Valley Point. I picked up burgers and fries from the Golden Grape Diner and got her a bouquet from Vintage Blossom.
I look at my phone. It’s five forty-five. I push my hair back and decide it looks good enough. She’ll probably mess it up later, anyway. She loves running her hands through my hair.
Hell, I hope she messes it up later.
“Ow, mother fu—!” I mutter to myself as I ram my knee into the bed post. A sharp stabbing pain shoots through my leg as I hobble around my room, trying to shake it off. This is nothing compared to Audrey kneeing me in the nuts, though.
Worth it.
I’m a nervous wreck. I want this night to be perfect. It’s the night that I always envisioned happening.
Can’t fuck it up, D.
I limp into the living room and triple check my list.
“Okay, guitar, flowers, sweater for Audrey, blanket, food, wallet, keys,” I mumble. I’m frantically pacing around like a madman, rubbing my palms up and down the sides of my jeans like I can’t get out a stubborn stain.
“Dude, chill the fuck out!” I grumble to myself, my fingers laced behind my neck. I look up at the ceiling and groan. My hands come down to my hips as I let out an exasperated sigh.
“Okay. It’s gonna be perfect. She’s gonna love it. You got this. Don’t be a pussy,” I rally, gathering everything by the door to load into my truck.
The air outside is crisp. The sun is low, but not yet set. The cool breeze instantly calms me and the nerves that were building up shift into pure excitement. I place the food in the back seat and toss everything else into the bed of my truck before hopping into the driver’s seat.
Donovan
Mouse, I’m on my way. See you in 15.
Audrey
I’ll be waiting :)
This time, I’d show up. I wouldn’t keep her waiting. I’d finally get the chance to give her everything.
Fuck, I love this woman.
I grip the steering wheel so tight that I’m vibrating in my seat. Last time I was this stoked, I was eleven. My dad took James and I see the midnight showing of Star Wars: Episode III. This date tops that by a landslide.
I see the winery just over the hill, the long, winding driveway in view. I wonder if I would’ve felt exactly like this ten years ago. Would I be nervous to take her on a first date after our night together? If things went well, would she have let me have her the entire summer? Those questions don’t matter anymore because we have today.
Today and every day after, Audrey is mine.
The giant oak trees lining the driveway cast shadows on my truck in the late afternoon sun as I pull down the road. When the front porch comes into view, all the air empties from my lungs.
Wow.
She’s leaning against a column on the porch, looking like an angel in that white dress. Or maybe more like a minx. The dress hugs every curve, accentuating her hips. I trail my eyes down her feminine legs, appreciating the invention of high heels. She tousles her loose waves over her shoulders, kissed by the sun from our days riding the quads outside. Her hair sparkles in the golden-hour glow. But nothing beats her bright smile. That smile is for me.
I’m inside a time capsule, suddenly eighteen again, picking up the girl of my dreams for a first date. She was beautiful then, and she is beautiful now.
That’s my girl.
I pull up in front of the porch and park the truck, leaving the engine on. She stands poised, looking like a goddess, and my mouth runs drier than the Sahara. I come around the truck with the flowers and run up the porch steps, lifting her up and kissing her hard. I’d been aching for her kiss all day.
Our tongues fight one another and she softly moans into my mouth. My hands cup her backside as I try not to crush the flowers in my grip.
If I could take her right here, right now, I would. But it’s not my call. It’s hers. I’ll wait as long as she needs me to.
She breaks the kiss, and I gently set her back down, our breathing heavy. She rests her forehead on mine and wraps her arms around my neck.
“Baby, you look… God, you look…” I stutter, her effect on me causing me to lose all function.
“You showed up this time,” she hums, kissing me and smiling against my lips.
“I’m sorry I’m ten years late to our first date, Mouse,” I whisper. I bury my face in her neck and breathe in her scent of freshly cut flowers and berries. Her eyes shimmer with wetness.
“It’s okay. This time, you didn’t keep me waiting,” she murmurs, rubbing her nose against mine.
“These are for you.” I unwrap my arms from her waist and give her the flowers I picked from the shop. It’s a combination of lilies and tulips—her and Violet’s favorites. She leans in and smells them, humming in pleasure.
“Donovan, they’re so beautiful. Thank you,” she breathes out. I hold her hand and help her down the steps, opening the passenger door for her. I get a flash of her ass as she climbs in and my dick twitches in my jeans.
Down, boy.
“Are you ready, Mouse?” I ask through her open window.
“I’ve been ready for a decade, baby,” she teases. Her voice, light and airy. She leans over and kisses me before I jog around the front of the truck and slide into the driver’s seat.
She grabs my hand and laces her fingers through mine as we head toward Sunset Valley Point.
Let the redemption date begin.
Sunset Valley Point overlooks all of Oakwood Valley. If you listen close enough, you can hear the rush of the Napa River lapping against the rocks as it flows through the rugged hills. Gallant mountains paint the background in the distance and evergreen forests stretch for miles. It’s like living in the middle of a postcard, but this beauty doesn’t hold a candle compared to the woman next to me.
This is a local spot, so there are usually no tourists on the trail. We don’t need to hike far to find ourselves a quiet, secluded spot in the soft grass to spread out our blanket. The sky fades to an orange hue, highlighting the strands of red in Audrey’s hair. I stare as she gets herself settled. She slips off her heels, showing off her pink painted toenails. That’s new. Never thought painted toe nails could turn me on. She sits with her legs sideways, tucking them just beneath her. Her eyes glow with the sunlight, brightening every delicate feature of her face. It’s surreal to be here with her after dreaming about what our first date would’ve been like in this very spot.
Damn, she’s pretty.
“Are you gonna sit there gawking or what?” she teases, earning a chuckle from me.
“You just…you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. I mean, Jesus. Look at you,” I boast, my eyes caressing her entire body.
Her cheeks flame in that pretty shade of pink that I love as she sinks her teeth into her bottom lip.
“Thank you for the dress,” she coos. “I love it.”
“You’re welcome. It looks perfect on you.” I shift my eyes down and smirk.
“What?” she asks as her eyes and hands skim her dress like she’s spilled something on it.
I bring my gaze back to her and stare. I stare hard. I see her the way I did all those years ago. A love-struck kid who wondered what it was like to be with Audrey Winthrop. The quiet, mysterious girl stuck in a book, in another world.
“Nothing. It’s just—” I scratch the back of my head. “I never thought I’d have another chance, you know? To do this,” I say, lifting my hands up to gesture around me. Her gaze softens as she reaches for my hand.
“I’m never letting you go, Audrey. Never again,” I whisper. Her bright eyes shimmer and a smile so wide forms on her lips, it knocks the air clear out of my lungs.
“Then don’t.”
She tugs my hand and pulls me toward her. Her arms wrap around my neck as we embrace. A long, peaceful embrace. She buries her face in the crook of my neck and holds me there. No words spoken, just a physical exchange of forgiveness and hope.
A loud grumble escapes her stomach as we pull back from our hug. “Let’s eat,” I chuckle under my breath.
“Ooh, what did you bring us?” she beams. I empty the contents of the picnic basket and lay out all the goods in front of her. Her eyes widen and she licks her lips. I eagerly lean forward, nipping at her sexy, pink, pouty lip.
“I brought us burgers and fries from Golden Grape, chocolate-covered strawberries from Sip Savor—thanks to Josie—and a bottle of Pinot Noir, made by yours truly,” I gloat, winking at her. I go to grab the wineglasses from the basket, but they aren’t in there.
“Shit, I forgot the wine glasses,” I stammer. She swipes the bottle from my hand, uncorks it, and takes a sip straight from the opening.
“Don’t need ‘em,” she says playfully. I raise an eyebrow and smirk.
“I like your style, Mouse. Dig in.” I place a box in front of her containing her burger and fries, and when she opens the box, she licks her lips again.
“Baby, if you keep licking those lips like that, I’m gonna give you something else to lick,” I grumble, narrowing my eyes at her.
She bites her bottom lip and grabs the burger, taking a huge bite while rolling her eyes to the back of her head. That gets a hearty laugh out of me.
“So, Isabel had a lot to say about you when I stopped by earlier,” she hums. Her eyebrow quirks up at me as she pops a fry into her mouth. Isabel could never keep her mouth quiet.
“Good things, I hope?” I ask. She finishes chewing and crosses her arms over her chest.
Uh oh.
“You used to stare at me in the cafeteria?” she teases.
Damn it, Isabel.
I scratch the back of my head and let out a defeated sigh. Heat floods my cheeks from embarrassment. She really had to out me like that.
“I would see your nose in a book, lost in your own world. I wondered what it would be like to take a peek into that beautiful head of yours. You always acted like no one else existed. I envied it a bit,” I confess. Her expression stays neutral. Her eyes move to her hands, fidgeting with her fingers.
“Acting like no one existed didn’t really do me any favors, since no one really talked to me in school and everyone thought I was an ice queen.” A hollow laugh slips from her lips. “I always envied you. Everyone loved you. You could hold everyone’s attention with just your smile. I admired your confidence. I didn’t have that,” she admits, her eyes glued on her hands. Her voice is barely above a whisper.
“I remember the Monday after you guys won state, everyone lined the halls cheering and chanting your name,” she recalls as I flow back into that memory with her. Her gaze meets mine, giving me half a grin. “You weren’t cocky or milking the attention. You were humble and kind…you still are,” she whispers.
Can this woman make my heart explode anymore than she already has? It makes my stomach squeeze, knowing she still sees me that way.
“I didn’t care for the attention.” I shrug my shoulders. “I didn’t even ask for it half of the time. When I’d see you in class or at your locker, I only ever wanted your attention.” Another confession. Her face lights up, her eyes gleaming from the setting sun.
“Well, you have it now. All of it,” she murmurs, sealing her admission with a kiss. I gently pull her bottom lip with the pad of my thumb.
Audrey’s eyes twinkle as she readjusts her position. “So, I was thinking,” she says with a tiny smirk. “The estate is too big for Pop. What if I converted it into a BB? We could have people stay there while they visit the winery. We could offer different stay packages, exclusive tasting and tours?” she beams brightly, her cheeks flushed from the excitement. “You and Pop could still run the winery side, and I can do the hospitality side.”
Pride radiates from my chest. Her voice comes alive, and I’m the lucky bastard who gets to hear it. She pours out her dreams like the wine we’re drinking, smooth and full of body.
“I can also bake all the pastries to provide for the guests?” She’s shining so brightly you would think it’s morning and not sunset. “I can make all my favorite recipes and share it with everyone…” She bites her lip and quirks her brow. “I don’t know. Is it too much? Too crazy?”
The happiness swelling in my chest is so much I could burst. With every idea, every thought she has, I see the cracks in her heart fill and heal. The smile plastered on my face could make a star explode with how bright it is.
“Baby, that’s amazing. I love that idea. Noah would go for it. It’s a smart business decision. Other wineries in the area don’t have their own BB. You could be the first to do it,” I say. I love seeing this look of belief in her eyes.
The first time I saw her when she came back home, her eyes were empty. Broken. I’d prayed that I’d see her eyes shine brightly again. Now, as she sits across from me, sharing her dreams, listening to her passion, I’ve never admired her more.
She crawls into my lap and swings her legs on either side. I lean forward, resting my hands on her backside.
“Thank you for believing in me. It means the world,” she murmurs. I tuck a loose strand of her hair behind her ear.
“Of course, Mouse. I’m so proud of you. You make me want to be a better man.” It’s true. I want to give her the world. Her hands come up to my face and her thumbs trace the edges of my jaw.
“Do you like being a winemaker?” she asks, her fingers drag through my hair.
“Assistant winemaker,” I correct, teasing. “And yes. I love it. I went to school for it and learned a lot. I love learning from Noah, though. He’s been an amazing mentor for me.”
She smiles at my comment about her grandfather. He’s the only family she has left, so I know it means a lot to her when people speak highly of him.
“Noah calls Oakwood Valley the ‘Goldilocks Zone.’ It’s not too hot, not too cold, but just right to curate world-class wine. We want to take over the world,” I say proudly. Audrey has a playful look on her face and she inches her lips closer to mine.
“What about me? Am I your Goldilocks?” she purrs. Her lips graze mine and I stare at her perfect pout as her lips slightly part.
“Yeah, Mouse. Just right. Perfect for me.” I nip her bottom lip. “I have another surprise for you,” I blurt out, earning an eye roll.
“Donovan, enough! I can’t handle it!” she whines.
“Roll your eyes at me again and I’ll take you over my knee,” I grumble, squeezing her ass in my palms. She can’t contain her laugh or the flush in her cheeks.
I gently slide her off of my lap and she crosses her arms and rubs them up and down. A cool breeze blows through, rustling the leaves of the tree above us. The last rays of the sun stretch as far as they can go, creating a perfect sunset sky with cotton candy clouds. I hand her my UC Davis crewneck sweater and she puts it on. She looks so sexy in my clothes I have to tame the boner rising in my jeans.
I adjust myself before grabbing my guitar and pulling it out of its case. Audrey grabs a chocolate-covered strawberry and sucks one in her mouth.
“You want a bite?” she coos.
Do I ever.
I open my mouth in invitation. She leans in to feed me and yanks the strawberry away before I can bite, replacing it with her luscious lips and giggling at her master scheme. She tastes like chocolate and sweetness. I slip my tongue into her mouth and groan as she opens for me wantonly. Fuck, she tastes so good. She breaks our kiss and places the strawberry in my mouth, eagerly licking chocolate off the corner of my lip as I enjoy her offering. I put the guitar between us to block any further advances. My dick is straining in these jeans.
She leans back on her hands, my sweater covering the hem of her dress. Her lips are swollen from my kiss with a tinge of red from the strawberries. She looks fucking delicious.
I strum a chord and adjust my capo.
“Are you about to serenade me, baby?” she murmurs coyly. I laugh and strum another chord.
“I heard this song playing over the speakers in the wine tasting room and thought of us. I learned the chords earlier when I had a ten-minute gap,” I boast, proud that my lessons with Josie are paying off in my favor.
She heard me sing at the happy hour and ran away. This time, I want her to really listen to me, so I can express exactly how I feel about her. About us.
She raises an eyebrow and leans back, resting her palms on the blanket while crossing one lean leg over the other, wiggling those pretty painted toes at me.
“You heard a song that made you think of us and learned it in ten minutes to play for me tonight?” she croons.
I grin and nod my head. “Mhmm.”
I lightly strum the melody and she tilts her head, leaning it on one shoulder, listening intently.
Her ears perk and eyes light up. “Oh my god. I love this song Donovan,” she gasps. There’s that smile of hers, setting off a flutter storm in my heart. I play the melody to Heaven, the Jason Aldean version, and she lightly sways her shoulders. I sing softly, lifting my gaze from the guitar strings to look at my girl.
The lyrics match our story exactly. How we were young, wild and free, and nothing would ever come between us. She’s the only one I want in my arms when I fall asleep, and she’s the first face I want to see when I wake up. She’s once in a lifetime.
She’s my heaven.
Her eyes well up and she sits closer to me, her chin resting on my shoulder while I sing and strum. I get a whiff of her strawberry shampoo; her skin smells warm, like cinnamon rolls fresh from the oven. Her hand finds its way under my shirt, the delicate pads of her fingers lightly trace along my abdomen. Gooseflesh erupts throughout my body with her touch.
She trails soft kisses along my jaw, and I turn my head to see her face, singing the words while she holds my gaze. I mean every single word. I want her to know that she’s safe, that no one could ever take her away from me. I’m a simple man. I don’t need much in this life.
All I need is her.
“I love you,” she whispers.
My heart stops beating the second she utters those words. Those three words. They echo in my head over and over until I fall back hard into reality. This is real. I stop mid-song and move my guitar to the side, pulling her back into my lap. The sun sets behind us, giving her an angelic glow as I hold her face in my hands and look into her eyes.
“Say it again,” I whisper back and grin. Her finger grazes over my dimple. She bites her lip to stifle a smile.
“I love you, Donovan King.”
Audrey Winthrop loves me.
She kisses me deep and glides her fingers through my mane. My hands rest on her nape as she grinds herself slowly along my hard length. Our breathing gets more desperate as we devour each other’s mouths. Her soft hands rest on my chest underneath my shirt. Her touch is like lightning, burning me from the inside out.
I move my hands up her dress, cupping her perfect ass. I break the kiss and my eyes widen when I realize she’s not wearing panties.
Fuck. Me.
“Fuck, baby. Are you trying to kill me?” I pant, my arousal growing bigger as my palms explore her bare skin. So soft, like putty in my hands.
She smiles against my lips and grinds her bare heat along my strained cock. I squeeze her ass and guide her against my length, hungry and eager for more.
“Tell me what you want. Say it,” I rasp into her mouth. She playfully bites my bottom lip, her hand slipping between us. She grabs my cock through my jeans and gives it a desperate stroke.
“I want you to take me home and make love to me,” she breathes heavily, her voice thick with need.
“We better leave before I ravage you right here,” I whisper huskily. She gives my cock one last tug before sliding her hand out and kissing me.
We frantically throw everything into the basket and gather our belongings. The sky is dark, but there is still enough light out to see the trail back to the truck. We fly down the path, Audrey squealing as I chase her.
She’s running barefoot in front of me, her dress flying up in the wind, flashing me with glimpses of her bare ass. Our laughs cut through the twilight. We hurry back to the truck, tossing everything into the bed in a haste and racing into our seats.
I need to get my girl naked, like yesterday.