Page 59 of Work and Play
She takes it and gives me a tremulous smile. “Are you asking me to move in with you?”
“If it means you’ll stay here, with me, then yes.” My voice cracks with emotion.
Ashley stands up, wearing nothing but my shirt, and moves around the room, picking up our clothes.
“Ash?” I ask hoarsely, still waiting for her to reply.
When she faces me, there’s the most brilliant smile on her face. “Come on, boyfriend, you promised me dinner.”
I stand up and walk over to her, cup her face, and kiss her lips.
“Say it again.”
“Say what?” she asks, her eyes dancing.
“You know what.”
“Boyfriend?”
“Yeah,” I kiss her again. “I like that.”
Epilogue
Ashley
Dating a sexy winemaker comes with a few perks. Watching him check on his grapes, backwards ball cap that never fails to make my panties wet? Just one of them.
I walk up to the man of my dreams and wrap my arms around his waist from behind.
“Hi, boyfriend,” I mumble into his shirt. I feel the rumble of his chuckle and he turns around so he can hug me back. For a girl who doesn’t like to hug people, I’m pretty damn sure I’m addicted to hugging him. Heck, I’m addicted to everything about him.
“Hi, girlfriend.” He kisses my head and I lift my chin to face him, and he kisses my lips.
“Everyone will be here soon, I figured I should give you a bit of time to finish sweet-talking your grapes.”
“You tease, but science has shown that giving plants positive attention and talking kindly to them really does help promote healthy growth.”
“Uh huh, and it doesn’t make you look like a crazy plant dad at all.” I shake my head teasingly.
Finn drapes his arm over my shoulder as we slowly make our way to the main building of the winery. The tasting room was finished six months ago in early February. The winery opened and was an instant success. Now it’s late August, and today we’re hosting all of our friends for a tasting because Finn and Pierre are unveiling two of their estate wines. He’s been very secretive about this, not letting me see or taste anything. I don’t know if he’s nervous for some reason, but he shouldn’t be. I’m so proud of him. La Lune Rouge is already making a name for itself on the BC wine scene and the tasting room is booked solid every day.
An hour later, Finn has changed out of his work clothes and ditched the hat, much to my dismay. Still, the whole dressed up sommelier look is equally hot, I must admit.
The tasting room is full of conversation and laughter. Our friends are all here, Pierre’s wife, my father, and even Finn’s parents. It’s the best kind of party, relaxed and fun. Mila has some of her staff from Camille’s here to serve finger foods, and Pierre and Finn hired some people to pour wine.
I make my way over to one corner where the girls are all laughing about something. I join them just in time to hear Serena speak.
“All I’m saying is, I don’t understand why it’s frowned upon for women to have casual sex when it isn’t for men. I need an orgasm on the regular or I get cranky.”
“In my experience, an orgasm was nothing more than a light flush of heat. I suppose the process was enjoyable, but I quite frankly do not see how that could affect your mood so strongly.” Paige nudges her glasses up her nose and takes a sip of her wine, oblivious to the incredulous expressions on our faces.
“That doesn’t sound like much of an orgasm, Paige,” Summer says. “Has it always been like that?”
“Each of the three times my partner and I came together, yes. I found the experience rather anticlimactic.” Paige lifts her shoulders in a dismissive way. No one seems surprised by her lack of experience, so I say nothing. Out of everyone, Paige is still the woman I know the least.
“Oh Paige.” Serena rubs her arm. “Just wait, one day some guy is gonna come and show you what it’s all about. And when he does, we’ll be here waiting to say I told you so.”
Paige opens her mouth to respond, but we’re interrupted by the clink of a glass.
