Rays of sunlight cut through the bistro’s bougainvillea-covered pergola, casting a blanket of welcoming warmth over London’s face and arms. She held the ruby-red blend at eye level and swirled it around the blown crystal before tipping the glass to her lips.
“This is divine,” she said, releasing a satisfied sigh as the burst of smoky fruit flavor hit her tongue. She motioned to the expanse of rolling hills that lay before them, with their rows of grapevines stretching into the horizon. “And this view. If I pretend hard enough, I can believe we’re sitting in a vineyard in Tuscany instead of Texas.”
“We can go to Tuscany too,” Drew said.
The lack of teasing in his voice caused London to quickly look over at him to make sure he wasn’t serious.
As if he knew what she was thinking, he said, “Just say the word and we can be on our way to a villa in Arezzo, or on the coast in Cinque Terre. If you think this is nice, just wait until you see the Italian Riviera.”
He winked, and it set off a delicious tingle low in her belly.
Oh, for goodness’ sake.
She was too old for this shit. Tingles were for teens like Nina, experiencing their first brush of attraction. Or for Taylor and Samiah, who’d been bitten by the love bugs that were everywhere these days, sinking their sneaky teeth into unsuspecting asses all over Texas. Tingles were not for busy pediatric surgeons in their final year of residency and who already had a surplus of hassles piling onto their plates.
But there was no other way to describe the sensations Drew sparked within her with a simple, silly wink. Those were definitely tingles and she was unquestionably smitten.
Fine, so maybe she was more than just smitten.
London wondered what he would say if she took him up on his offer.
You’d better not!
Agreeing to a weekend in the Texas Hill Country was one thing. Flying to Italy together was something entirely different. It would catapult this…this…whatever this was between them into a realm she didn’t have the bandwidth to even think about right now.
“Just knowing that I can get a little taste of Tuscany so close to home is good enough for me,” she told him.
No doubt about it, that was disappointment she saw sweep across his face. He had been serious. He was ready to whisk her off to Europe.
And she’d turned him down.
Who turned down a free trip to Italy that promised amazing scenery, fantastic food and wine, and an abundance of toe-curling orgasms? No wonder her mother thought she was a dud. Janette would be ready to disown her if she knew what London had just done.
“Well, maybe we can explore some of the other wineries in the area while I’m still in Texas,” Drew said. “There are dozens more to see.”
“Now that we can do,” she said, tilting her glass toward him before taking another sip of the rich, slightly spicy wine. “Those other wineries had better bring it,” London said. “This one will be hard to beat.”
Their early afternoon visit had begun with a tour of the wine-making facility. The guide, whose enthusiasm about the varietals offered reminded London of an overzealous cheerleader trying too hard to make the varsity squad, explained the wine-making process as they walked among the large stainless steel vats and oak wine barrels. She and Drew were taken to the bottling room, where they watched the bottles whiz by on a conveyor belt before being filled by the automatic dispensers.
London tried hard not to lose her mind when they made it to the aging room. She’d looked upon the thousands of racked wine bottles with the same wonder as a kid visiting Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory.
They were then shown to the tasting room, where they sampled flights of wine, from sweet, crisp whites to deep, earthy reds. Drew suggested they pause their tour and have a light lunch in the bistro instead of heading straight to the vineyards, a plan London had quickly seconded. There was only so much she could expect of the protein bar she’d eaten while packing her clothes this morning.
They’d spent the past half hour grazing on an antipasto platter of meats, cheeses, and olives, along with a goat cheese and grape pizza that was to die for. Between the scrumptious lunch and gorgeous view, it felt as if she’d found a tiny slice of heaven right here in the heart of Texas.
Drew had skipped a glass of wine with lunch, choosing mineral water while London sipped on her Malbec-Syrah blend. As she studied his sun-dappled profile, she realized that she would have no problem enjoying afternoons like this for a long time to come. It still blew her mind to think it, yet she couldn’t deny what had become more than obvious.
She’d fallen hard for Drew fucking Sullivan.
If this wasn’t the most warped twist of fate…
She considered the string of events that had led her to where she now found herself, sitting at a table enjoying a relaxed, cozy lunch with her former high school nemesis. London couldn’t help but think about how easily things could have gone in a different direction.
What if she had done a better job avoiding Drew at their class reunion? Or, what if either of them had skipped the reunion altogether? There was no way she would’ve found herself in Drew’s bed if their first encounter had been that Monday morning meeting where Trident was introduced to the hospital staff.
Now her most pressing question—one she would eventually have to face, no matter how much she wanted to put it off—was what was she going to do about this when his work at County was done?
Wait. What in the hell was she thinking? This situation with Drew was not her most pressing issue. She was on the brink of making a decision that could potentially affect her entire career: remaining at Travis County Hospital once her residency was done, or accepting that fellowship in Chicago and working with her idol. Or maybe following through on one of the other half-dozen fellowships she had been offered.
That was a more pressing issue.
Impressing upon her baby sister the dangers of sending nude photos of herself to boys she wanted to date was a more pressing issue.
Getting a handle on her hypertension so that she didn’t stroke out in the middle of a surgery was a more pressing issue.
When she thought about it, the answer to the Drew Sullivan question should be the easiest out of everything she was currently juggling. He’d already laid it out. A quick flight up to New York for her, or down to Texas for him. Even quicker trips if she landed in Chicago. She could spend her weekends being thoroughly fucked against the wall of his shower while looking out at Central Park. What was tough about that decision?
A server came to their table to remove the remnants of their lunch.
“Can I get you anything else?” the woman asked.
London shook her head. “I think I should take a break from the wine for now.”
“That’s a blasphemous thing to say at a winery, but I understand,” the server said with a smile. “But maybe you can try some of the grapes. They’re best when you pick them from the vine.”
“That sounds like a plan,” Drew said, pushing back his chair. He held a hand out to London. “Are you ready for your stroll through the vineyard, Dr. Kelley?”
She placed her hand in his. “Lead the way, Mr. Sullivan.”
They remained hand in hand as they traveled down the covered walkway that led to the vineyard. Another woman dressed in a maroon polo shirt with the winery’s logo embroidered onto the breast pocket greeted them as they approached the entrance to the fields. She held up a sign with a QR code and instructed them to scan it on their phones in order to download a guide that would explain each type of grape and which wines they were used to produce.
As she and Drew started down the row of Petit Verdot grapes, London tipped her face skyward, relishing the feel of the sun on her skin.
Drew stopped walking.
“What’s wrong?” London asked at the sight of his curious expression.
“You look like a painting,” he said. There was a hint of awe in his voice, layered with a trace of tenderness that set off another round of those tingles low in her belly.
London closed her eyes and tilted her head back again. “Avid Wine Drinker in a Vineyard,” she said with a laugh.
“You think I’m joking?”
When she looked back at Drew, he held his phone out to her, showing her the photo he’d snapped. London’s mouth opened as she stared at the screen. Surrounded by the green leaves that had not been affected by the mild Texas winter, and with the sun’s rays bronzing her skin, it did indeed make for a stunning image.
“Would it weird you out if I got this printed in a poster size?” Drew asked.
“Yes,” London answered.
He huffed out an amused grunt as he slipped his phone in his pocket. “I may still do it. How would you ever find out?”
“I don’t know,” she said, recapturing his hand and continuing their stroll. “Maybe I will visit that fancy New York apartment of yours one day.”
She’d said it teasingly, but immediately sensed a change in the air. There was an undercurrent of seriousness to Drew’s tone as he said, “My door will be open for you, London. Just tell me when you’re ready to walk through it.”
She fought the urge to answer with a wiseass response, recognizing that the instinct had no place here. He’d issued a serious invitation, and it deserved equally serious deliberation.
“The thought of doing that doesn’t unnerve me as much as it did just a couple of weeks ago,” she answered honestly.
The smile that slowly stretched across his face couldn’t be described as anything other than pure, unadulterated pleasure.
“I’ll make sure Trident’s Bombardier is fueled up and at the ready,” he said.
He moved a ringlet of her hair behind her ear and leaned forward, pressing a delicate kiss on her lips. London closed her eyes and gave herself permission to experience all the emotions she’d previously shied away from—fully succumbing to feelings that could no longer be brushed off as simple lust. The depth and breadth of her yearning for Drew should scare her, but all she sensed was contentment as his skillful mouth both teased and tormented her.
He was unhurried, his tongue making slow, thoughtful passes along her lips before gently pushing its way inside. He tasted better than any of the wine she’d sampled today, sweet and spicy and addicting.
London was stunned at how bereft she felt after he finally released her from his kiss. Even though her heart was gradually coming to terms with it, her mind still fought to accept that she could be falling in love with Drew Sullivan.
Because that’s what was happening every second that she was with him. She was slowly, joyously tumbling in love with this man.
Another winery employee walked down the row they were on, greeting them with a quiet “excuse me” and grinning as he moved past them.
“I think we’ve put on enough of a show,” London murmured.
Drew leaned over and whispered against her ear, “This is just a preview. Wait until tonight.”
Tingles. Persistent-ass tingles. They raced through her stomach and lower at an accelerated rate.
Drew entwined their fingers as they continued along the slight trough that had been made by the thousands of footsteps that traveled through this vineyard.
“I’ve been meaning to ask you about that jet you mentioned,” London said.
“Yes, the seats are heated and there is a fully stocked wet bar,” Drew replied.
“That was not my question.” She laughed. “But both are good to know. Actually, I wondered why you don’t have one of your own. The other day you said that you could either use Trident’s or charter one.”
Drew slapped a hand to his chest. “You think less of me because I don’t own a private jet, don’t you? That breaks my heart, Dr. Kelley.”
She nudged him with her shoulder. “Stop it,” she said. “It does surprise me, though. Is it just a rumor among the class of 2007 that you’re worth over a hundred million, or is it true?” She winced. “Ugh. I can’t believe I just asked that. That’s so tacky.” She paused. “But I still want to know.”
Drew’s head flew back with his laugh.
“To answer both of your questions, yes, I am worth about one hundred million dollars. That isn’t all liquid, of course,” he quickly pointed out. “But I’ve done well over the past ten years.”
“I’d say the hell so,” London said. “I honestly thought it was just your fans hyping you up.”
“My fans?”
“Please,” London said. “Our entire class treated you like a rock star from the day you arrived at Barbara Jordan High.”
“Not true,” he said. “It was only after I made that game-winning shot against Anderson High that I attained rock star status.”
“Whatever.” She rolled her eyes. “At least you’ve now earned your spot on that pedestal everyone put you on.” She gave his hand a slight squeeze. “Your mother must have been so proud of you.”
“No one needs to put me up on any pedestals. As for my mom.” He shrugged. “The money didn’t faze her at all. You’ll see what I mean by that when we go to her house tomorrow. She was just fine living a simple life out in the country.”
“I’m not a country girl, by any means,” London said. “But I could definitely use a bit more simplicity in my life right now.” She bumped his shoulder again. “So, what about the plane? Why are you mooching off your company when it comes to how you fly?”
He laughed again. “Honestly, it just isn’t a sensible purchase.”
“Even for someone with your kind of money?”
“A hundred million won’t last forever if you don’t spend it wisely,” he said. “Between the cost of the jet itself, the maintenance, the fuel? It doesn’t make financial sense, especially when Trident’s jet is just fine.” A sheepish grin tilted up the corners of his lips. “I guess my mom and uncle’s frugality has rubbed off on me a bit.”
“Your uncle too?”
He nodded. “I offer to buy him a condo in downtown Dallas at least once a month. And at least once a month, he tells me that he’s just fine in his little two-bedroom, wood-frame house in a working-class neighborhood north of the city. Neither my mom nor Elias expected anything from me—shit, most times I have to fight E over who’s going to pick up the check when we go out to dinner.”
“You don’t have to worry about fighting me,” London said. “You’re more than welcome to always pick up the check.”
“Does that mean you’re finally going to let me take you to dinner?”
She pointed back toward the bistro. “Hey, we just had lunch.”
“Not the same,” Drew said. “We’re going out for dinner when we get back to Austin. A real dinner, at a place with cloth napkins and dishes neither of us can pronounce.”
Now it was her turn to laugh.
“Something tells me that you’ll be just fine going to a place where we actually know what we’re eating,” she said. “You’re refreshingly down to earth for someone with your kind of money.”
“Money shouldn’t change anyone,” Drew said. “Don’t get me wrong, there are some things that I will gladly pay to have done for me—”
“Like grocery shopping.”
“Definitely. I haven’t seen the inside of a grocery store in years. But I also won’t forget my humble beginnings. Even if I do reach the point where I decide to buy my own jet, I won’t forget what it was like to hitchhike from Alabama to Arkansas as a five-year-old with my mom and uncle.”
It was becoming harder for London to reconcile the cocky, most popular boy in school she absolutely despised with the kind, thoughtful man walking alongside her. She was slowly coming to the realization that she’d known hardly anything about Drew. She hadn’t taken the time to get to know him. Once she learned that he’d arrived with an academic record that would put her chances at being the top student at risk, she’d made her own assumptions and decided he was the enemy.
She’d been so unfair to him.
“I’m sorry,” London said.
He shook his head. “Don’t be. The hitchhiking wasn’t that bad. My mom and uncle would tell me that we were going on a fun adventure.”
“No, not about that,” London said. “Although I am sorry you had to endure so much while you were growing up. It couldn’t have been easy, no matter how fun your mom tried to make it for you.”
She stopped walking and turned to face him. “I’m sorry for hating you all these years when you gave me no reason to. Not that you cared how I felt about you all this time, but I’m sorry that I lost out on fifteen years of being your friend. And maybe?” She shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know. Maybe something more.”
“Don’t,” he said. He cupped her jaw in his hand. “Don’t think that it wouldn’t have made a difference to me. London, I would have given anything to have had you as a friend all these years. And to have been more than friends?” He shook his head. “The list of things that I wouldn’t have done to make that happen is so short it’s barely detectable.”
He brought his other hand up to her face and held her steady as he looked into her eyes with an intense stare. “The last fifteen years are over and done. I want to focus on the next fifteen. And the fifteen after that. And the fifteen after that. I’m not asking for more than you’re ready to give, London. I’m just asking that you’ll be open to giving me more than just your body. We don’t have to figure it out yet, but can we both agree that this is more than just a casual hookup?”
“It became more than just a casual hookup when you convinced me to dance with you on the sidewalk,” she said. She tipped her head up and pressed a quick kiss to his lips, then whispered, “I think this means we’re going steady.”
“Finally,” Drew said. “Only took fifteen years.”