Free Ribbon of Steele: A Romance of Suspense by Jq Allan Page A
Authors: Jq Allan
smile.
As he opened the car door for her, she wondered about his plan for their afternoon date.
She settled herself into the luxurious seat of the Mercedes as Mackenzie opened his own door. The car smelled like him. It was a smell of clean and spice and leather, and she quietly took a deep breath to drink him in.
"Ready?", he asked, turning the key in the ignition.
"As I'll ever be," she said. "You're really not telling me where we're going?", she asked coyly.
"Let's just say that it's long overdue," he said with a smile.
What does that mean? At least I know he's not going to introduce me to his parents. God, that's an awful thought Lizzie. Not like I would mind meeting them if they were alive. Wow, I'm glad I didn't say that out loud. What the heck is overdue?
They took a few turns in the city, headed north on the highway, and drove for about twenty minutes before the highway became a country road. Lizzie was totally lost, but was too mesmerized by the beauty around her to care. The rolling hills were a lush green and covered with fruit trees. She remembered their conversation about loving the outdoors and smiled . I guess he was listening.
"Something funny?" He asked with a smile.
"No, just taking this all in," she said. He reached his hand from the wheel and placed it on her leg. His touch sent a spark through her body. She placed her hand on top of his and sat in silence as they drove . Am I in love with him already?
After a few minutes, Mackenzie removed his hand, and turned the car onto a long gravel drive. A large main building was surrounded by several smaller outbuildings. To the left and right, there were rows of grapevines as far as the eye could see. Lizzie suddenly realized that Mackenzie had brought her to a winery. He put the car into park and smiled at Lizzie.
"Ready?" He asked.
Lizzie grinned back . I wonder if he knows how much I want to rip his clothes off right now.
They exited the car and he reached for Lizzie's hand. They walked hand in hand to the main door. Holding hands had a feeling of innocence to it that was in stark contrast to their activities during their dates. She smiled, feeling the warm sun on her cheeks. Just being close to him gave her a a strong sense of warmth and confidence. The winery had a large oak countertop that curved around the length of the large room. Four large archways adorned each corner of the room, each leading to a different part of the winery. Lizzie wondered why Mackenzie had called this date "overdue. " Maybe he just likes wineries.
"Good afternoon and welcome," came a happy voice from behind them. A large woman smiled at them with with rosy cheeks and a toothy grin. Her name badge sai d Margare t an d Lizzie wondered if she might have been sampling a bit of their product.
Margaret rolled into her speech. "Sitting on 1,400 acres of the most fertile farmland in the state, we harvest six different types of grapes and have been a working winery for twenty-six years. You missed our barrel making expo today where our master cooper takes you through the 387 steps he uses to make a complete wine barrel. You can catch the last tour though. It just went out a few minutes ago," said Margaret pointing to one of the large arched doors in the rear of the room. "Or you can take the self guided tour of the grounds."
"Margaret, I think we will give the tour a whirl. Thank you," said Mackenzie in an extremely business like tone as he squeezed Lizzie's hand.
As they passed through the large arch, it opened into a hallway with a few equally spaced oak doors on each side.
"Can I ask you something about...us," Mackenzie asked as they walked down the hallway.
Lizzie's heart almost stopped. She took in a quick breath.
"Do we look like two people who would be interested in a barrel making expo?", he asked, pretending to be serious.
She exhaled and laughed. "Well, you do," she said nudging
As he opened the car door for her, she wondered about his plan for their afternoon date.
She settled herself into the luxurious seat of the Mercedes as Mackenzie opened his own door. The car smelled like him. It was a smell of clean and spice and leather, and she quietly took a deep breath to drink him in.
"Ready?", he asked, turning the key in the ignition.
"As I'll ever be," she said. "You're really not telling me where we're going?", she asked coyly.
"Let's just say that it's long overdue," he said with a smile.
What does that mean? At least I know he's not going to introduce me to his parents. God, that's an awful thought Lizzie. Not like I would mind meeting them if they were alive. Wow, I'm glad I didn't say that out loud. What the heck is overdue?
They took a few turns in the city, headed north on the highway, and drove for about twenty minutes before the highway became a country road. Lizzie was totally lost, but was too mesmerized by the beauty around her to care. The rolling hills were a lush green and covered with fruit trees. She remembered their conversation about loving the outdoors and smiled . I guess he was listening.
"Something funny?" He asked with a smile.
"No, just taking this all in," she said. He reached his hand from the wheel and placed it on her leg. His touch sent a spark through her body. She placed her hand on top of his and sat in silence as they drove . Am I in love with him already?
After a few minutes, Mackenzie removed his hand, and turned the car onto a long gravel drive. A large main building was surrounded by several smaller outbuildings. To the left and right, there were rows of grapevines as far as the eye could see. Lizzie suddenly realized that Mackenzie had brought her to a winery. He put the car into park and smiled at Lizzie.
"Ready?" He asked.
Lizzie grinned back . I wonder if he knows how much I want to rip his clothes off right now.
They exited the car and he reached for Lizzie's hand. They walked hand in hand to the main door. Holding hands had a feeling of innocence to it that was in stark contrast to their activities during their dates. She smiled, feeling the warm sun on her cheeks. Just being close to him gave her a a strong sense of warmth and confidence. The winery had a large oak countertop that curved around the length of the large room. Four large archways adorned each corner of the room, each leading to a different part of the winery. Lizzie wondered why Mackenzie had called this date "overdue. " Maybe he just likes wineries.
"Good afternoon and welcome," came a happy voice from behind them. A large woman smiled at them with with rosy cheeks and a toothy grin. Her name badge sai d Margare t an d Lizzie wondered if she might have been sampling a bit of their product.
Margaret rolled into her speech. "Sitting on 1,400 acres of the most fertile farmland in the state, we harvest six different types of grapes and have been a working winery for twenty-six years. You missed our barrel making expo today where our master cooper takes you through the 387 steps he uses to make a complete wine barrel. You can catch the last tour though. It just went out a few minutes ago," said Margaret pointing to one of the large arched doors in the rear of the room. "Or you can take the self guided tour of the grounds."
"Margaret, I think we will give the tour a whirl. Thank you," said Mackenzie in an extremely business like tone as he squeezed Lizzie's hand.
As they passed through the large arch, it opened into a hallway with a few equally spaced oak doors on each side.
"Can I ask you something about...us," Mackenzie asked as they walked down the hallway.
Lizzie's heart almost stopped. She took in a quick breath.
"Do we look like two people who would be interested in a barrel making expo?", he asked, pretending to be serious.
She exhaled and laughed. "Well, you do," she said nudging
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