Free You Had Me at Merlot: Part 2 by Lisa Dickenson Page A

think maybe it was
     okay to think about something else for a couple of weeks. And now with
her
here it’s like there’s a big company code of conduct sign blocking my view of the vineyard.’
    ‘If it’s any consolation, she’s probably thinking exactly the same thing about you being here. Actually, that probably doesn’t
     make you feel any better, does it? Hmm. What if I took all my make-up off? Unveiled the Botox Monster? Would that crack a
     smile?’
    Another hand, heavier and warmer than Laurie’s, gave my shoulder a soft squeeze.
    ‘George, please can you just bugger off – oh!’ I removed my hands from my face to see Jamie crouching down beside me.
    ‘Bugger off yourself.’ He smiled, his eyes full of concern. ‘Was that a friend of yours? Or maybe a long-lost enemy, because
     you didn’t seem very happy to see her.’
    ‘Sort of.’
    ‘Did she hit you on the nose, too?’
    I blinked back the tears; there was no need for Jamie to see that I was a total wet wipe. Absently, I reached for the cuff
     of his shirt and played with it between my fingers as I said, ‘No, she’s … an acquaintance. She works at my company. She nearly
runs
my company. And she’ll probably have me fired if I drink too much wine.’
    ‘She couldn’t do that even if she wanted to,’ said Laurie. ‘And I don’t think she’d even try. I bet she’s up in her room now,
     cringing her head off at the thought of you going back to the office and telling everyone she was here.’
    ‘Laurie, this is Jamie – he’s Sebastian and Sofia’s son.’
    ‘Oh – I didn’t mean any offence. It’s really lovely here, it’s just the stigma that comes with, you know, singles’ holidays.’
    ‘I know.’ Jamie nodded, a hint of sadness in his voice. ‘Nice to meet you, Laurie.’
    ‘Likewise.’ Laurie shot me a tiny look that said,
We have much to talk about
.
    Jamie turned back to me, putting his other warm hand over mine, which was still fiddling with his shirt. ‘Well she’s gone
     for now, and we don’t allow tears at Bella Notte unless they are the kind that come with being incredibly drunk and making
     a show of yourself. If you like, I’ll make sure she has so much wine on this holiday she won’t even remember you were here.’
    I snorted unattractively, which made Laurie snort unattractively at me. Jamie stood up, stretching out his long limbs. ‘I
     really am going now, but I’ll see you both for the winery tour in the morning?’
    ‘Definitely. Thank you, Jamie.’ I watched him go and then turned to Laurie, who was fanning herself with a flatbread.
    ‘
Oh Jamie, thank you for mopping my soggy eyelashes. Thank you for being so absolutely and positively yummy that I’ve forgotten
     all about my no-men rule and remembered that I’m a lady with raging lady-hormones
.’
    ‘Shut up.’ I prodded her with a finger.
    ‘
Oh Jamie, please give me a tour of your winery and also of your body
– oooh, that cow in the pink dress with the eighties hair has finally left Marco alone. Will you be all right now?’
    ‘Yes, go.’ I waved her away and stood up, taking a slow sip of wine and letting it rest on my tongue, its tangy perfume filling
     my mouth. In front of me was a mantelpiece chock-full of chunky wooden frames containing photos of Bella Notte throughout
     its life. There was one in black and white, showing the main building and a gruff, moustached woman standing outside the front.
     Two long rows of vines stretched into the distance, but none of the other outbuildings had been erected. Another was a glimpse
     into the vineyard in what must have been the early eighties, with muted colours and a very tanned and short-shorted Sebastian
     holding a little bronzed boy upside-down by the leg, both laughing their heads off, and the boy’s hands stained with purply-red
     grape juice. A close up of Sofia, probably taken fairly recently,showed the unmistakable gold of the evening sun on her face as she looked away