When I pulled the chair out in the kitchen to sit where I had been when I talked with Pia, Ben took my hand and pulled me into the other room. He motioned for me to sit on the sofa and sat beside me.
“I’m happy you’re staying.”
I smiled. “Me too.”
“When I thought about you leaving, I knew I had to kiss you. I may have gotten carried away, but, Catarina, there has been an intense attraction between us since the moment we met. For me anyway. I sense you feel the same.”
“You know I do,” I said, embarrassment flushing my cheeks.
“It’s been a long day, following an equally long one. We both need rest.”
When I stood, Ben grasped my hand with his. “I want to kiss you, but if I do, I fear I’ll get carried away again.”
“I fear it too.” I pulled my hand from his and walked over to the staircase. “Goodnight, Ben.”
I traipsed up the stairs, wishing he had kissed me again, wishing I’d kissed him. If I had, I’d be in his arms right now—the place I longed to be.
Attending both an all-girls boarding school and college didn’t preclude me from dating, but it didn’t make it any easier. Coupled with the fact that in my tribe of five, one of us was more beautiful than the next, which meant I wasn’t often the one guys went for. Admittedly, I was a bit standoffish, something Penelope had called me out on numerous times.
“If you weren’t such a bitch to them, more guys would ask you out,” she’d said one night after we both had too much to drink. I called her a few choice names back, and the evening ended with neither of us speaking to each other. It all seemed so trivial now, when I missed her, Ava, Aine, and Quinn so much it sometimes felt hard to breathe.
Had I been a bitch to Ben? If it had been Pen with him instead of me, she would’ve had sex with him without giving it
a second thought. She also would have no intention of seeing him again, and if she had, she would’ve played it off like it was no big deal. I couldn’t do that.
I was in bed, tossing and turning, when I heard his footsteps on the stairs. When they stopped outside my door, I held my breath, willing him to come in. After several seconds, he continued down the hallway.
The next morning, when I went downstairs, I found a note from Ben in the kitchen. It said he’d had to leave for a couple of days, something about the article he was writing, but hoped to see me when he returned later in the week.
I was disappointed, of course, especially considering he hadn’t mentioned he’d be leaving last night. It was for the best, though. I needed to focus on my new job in the tasting room. If Ben were around, not only would I be distracted, Pia would continue to push the two of us together.
Not knowing what else to do, I walked up to the winery, hoping I’d find Pia in the office.
“Buongiorno,” she said, coming to the door when I knocked.
“Buongiorno.”
“Did you sleep well, Catarina?”
“I did,” I lied. “Um, I was hoping I could start in the tasting room today. That’s if you still need someone.”
Pia laughed, grabbed my arm, and pulled me inside. “If I still need someone? It was only last night I begged you to stay. Did you think that would change with the dawn of a new day?”
I shook my head. “I just want you to know I appreciate this.”
“Come,” she said, pulling me back outside by the hand. “You and I will work in the tasting room together today.”
By the end of the second day, I was exhausted. My feet hurt, I had a headache, but I couldn’t remember another time in my life when I’d been as happy, even in my discomfort, Pia told me time and again that she and I made a great team. She also said wine sales were triple what they’d been in the week prior.
“You’re so passionate. People are leaving with cases of the vintages you recommend.”
It wasn’t difficult to talk about Valentini wine; I loved it. Sharing the nuances of each vintage was something I could do all day—and had.
Like she had last evening, Pia invited me to join her for dinner, but I begged off. I walked to the casina she’d put me up in and opened the door. I sat down on the two-seat divano, took off my shoes, and rubbed my feet. I tucked my legs under me and rested my head against the arm.
I’d been too busy during the day to think about Ben and too tired at night. Now, though, I wondered again about his abrupt departure. Was it because I’d essentially turned him down? He could rest easy when he returned, I supposed, since I had a place of my own now. I let my eyes drift closed, remembering how good his kisses felt, how much I loved having his hands on me.
When I heard a knock, I sat up, disoriented. I must’ve dozed off. I checked the time, stunned to see two hours had passed.