Free All Bottled Up by Christine D'Abo

conversation. She wanted, no, needed to practice her flirting, and the last thing she wanted was to get kicked out for improper behavior.
    “So Bill would bring me to a place like this?” Maybe her choice in men wasn’t so bad after all.
    “No, the island didn’t have anything close to Bill’s standards,” he said, his lips twitching against a smile that threatened to erupt. “I didn’t think you would mind.”
    “No, not at all,” she said then looked at him and frowned. “Exactly what are Bill’s standards then?”
    “Much…lower.” He smiled and flicked his napkin over his lap. “Lovely spot isn’t it?”
    Okay, bad . She would be sure to book the dinner arrangements herself if she ever got 57

    her date with Bill. She returned his smile, not wanting him to think anything was wrong, and mimicked the flicking of her napkin as she set it on her lap.
    “It’s wonderful,” she muttered.
    Their waiter came over and offered them a lovely and almost overwhelming wine list to choose from. Viola picked an Australian Shiraz, Jerod ordered the same. He also ordered a seafood sampler for an appetizer. She would have ordered something as well, but she was preoccupied, fascinated with watching him. The way he spoke, held his head, the confidence that radiated from him—everything. He seemed to be truly enjoying the experience, which was infectious.
    “It’s been so long since I’ve been out in the world in this manner. I’ve forgotten how charming it can be.”
    “It must be shocking every time you pop out how things have changed. I can’t imagine what it would be like,” she said and tugged at the edge of her napkin.
    “Lonely.”
    His smile this time looked more like a wince. Instead of continuing, he picked up a roll and broke it apart. She wanted to console him. She understood loneliness. But when she went to speak, all her sentiments felt naïve and hollow. How could she possibly understand what life would be like stuck in a bottle? Jerod brushed the crumbs from his hands, rested his elbows on the table, and leaned forward, steepling his fingers.
    “I’d best outline your lessons before our food arrives. I want to make sure I have your full attention.”
    “Okay. I’m all yours.”
    She cringed, wishing like hell she hadn’t worded it quite that way. But Jerod either missed, or ignored the comment.
    “There are six lessons. These are critical aspects and you will have to master them all if you hope to win Bill.”
    Viola found herself nodding. She probably would have agreed to garbage collecting at this point. As long as he kept talking with that beautiful voice, he had her undivided attention.
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    “Your lessons will be in the following order—appearance, conversation, attitude, flirting, kissing, and…” his voice trailed off and Viola watched his eyes darken.
    “And?”
    Jerod leaned in, lowering his voice. “And anything else I can think of.” Viola’s stomach flipped from the weight of his suggestion. She couldn’t let him get the better of her, or she didn’t have a hope in hell of surviving his lessons. Leaning back in her seat, she began to play with the neckline of her dress.
    “I think I can handle that.” She accidentally popped open one of the small, silk-covered buttons on the front of her dress. When she saw the muscle in his jaw tighten, she giggled. “How am I doing so far?”
    “Head of your class.” He said the words into his glass before taking a long drink of his wine.
    She was winning this round. Feeling quite smug with herself, she took a sip of her wine before pressing on.
    “So with this meal we’re working on which lesson? Conversation or attitude?”
    “Flirting.”
    Viola began to cough when her wine went down the wrong way. Jerod at least had enough courtesy to wait until she stopped choking before he gloated.
    “Are you okay?” he said with a smug grin on his face.
    “Peachy,” she managed in between coughs.
    “Truth of the matter, your man