“I hope I can meet her.”
“Anytime. I’m sure Joe and Melanie would be happy to introduce you.”
The mention of Joe and Melanie made me think of my earlier phone call with Marjorie. I regarded Ryan, handsome as always in perfect-fitting jeans and a black button-down shirt. He wore cowboy boots. Yes, cowboy boots. I hadn’t seen him looking cowboyish while we were in Jamaica, but wow, he was made for western wear.
He looke
d happy. So happy.
I hoped to God his happiness wasn’t about to be destroyed.
“I opened a bottle of my Rhône blend,” Ryan said. “Would you like a glass?”
“Sure, sounds great.”
I followed him into his kitchen where he poured two glasses and handed one to me.
I swirled it in the glass. “Gorgeous color,” I said.
“This is a younger wine, hence the deep ruby hue.”
I chuckled. “Hence?”
“Would you prefer thus?”
“Neither are words I hear used in everyday conversation. At least not around a bunch of balding cops. Hence my surprise.”
“Do I look like a balding cop to you?”
And I laughed once more. “Definitely not.”
He joined in my mirth and swirled his own glass. “Give it a taste. I want to know what you think. This is Jade’s favorite of my wines.”
I inhaled its fruity fragrance and took a sip. “Mmm. It’s good. Really…” I searched for words. “I don’t know how to say this.”
“What’s the word that came to mind?”
I smiled. “Meaty. But not meaning meat, like beef.”
He smiled back. “Like meaty fresh fruit. A meaty plum, right?”
“Yeah, that’s exactly it. By gum, you are a genius!”
“I’ll take the compliment, but ‘by gum?’”
“Haven’t you seen the original Willy Wonka film, where Violet blows up into a blueberry?”
“About a million years ago.”
“That’s what she says. ‘By gum, it’s gum.’”
He smiled. “You’re pretty adorable.”
“Not quite as adorable as when you said ‘hence,’ but I’ll take it.” I took another sip. “This really is great wine. Which grapes do you use?”
“This is a blend of grenache, syrah, and mourvèdre. Three classic Rhône blend grapes.”
“Mmm. It’s excellent.”