“Always, R.J. Always.”
Their exchange seemed strange, almost strained. I was getting the feeling that Jamie wasn’t the most compliant employee, and clearly R.J. was not the best boss. I sat next to R.J. on stools at the bar. After Jamie set two wineglasses in front of us, Susan went behind the bar and Jamie followed her to the other side. He bent his tall, six-foot frame down toward her; I saw her whisper something in his ear. He looked at her cautiously and then she rubbed her hand up and down his back before he leaned over again and kissed her cheek. She patted his back and then left, waving to me as she walked away. There was something very maternal about her behavior toward Jamie. When he turned and headed back toward us, I took in his appearance more closely. He had cleaned up since our encounter on the road. He was wearing a black polo shirt with the R. J. Lawson logo on it and dark Levi’s cuffed over a pair of new-looking Converse. His hair was slicked back. I noticed it was long enough for a little curl of hair to just barely stick out from behind his ears. It drew my eyes to that part of his neck. As he was pouring the first tasting, I glanced up and noticed his eyes were on me.
He shot me a crooked grin. “See something you like?” I shook my head nervously.
R.J.’s cell phone rang. “Put that thing away, man,” Jamie said to R.J., scowling. Oh my god.
“I have to take this,” R.J. said as he got up and walked toward the door.
“Wow, I can’t believe you talk to him like that.”
“He’s kind of on my shit list right now. You know, no raise in a while.” He smiled and then tilted his head toward the wine he had just poured. The small bit of growth on his face couldn’t hide his subtle dimples when he grinned. He was undeniably handsome with his chiseled jawline, but there was also something really adorable about him. He still had a hint of baby face hidden in his rugged good looks.
I reached for the glass. “That’s our 2009 Estate Pinot Noir, the big award winner.” He watched me as I took a sip. When his gaze moved to my mouth, I noticed a tiny smirk play on his lips. “What do you think?”
“It’s amazing, totally decadent and vibrant.” He began nodding and smiling, seemingly thrilled at my satisfaction. “The acidity is perfectly balanced and it has such a full, earthy finish. It’s really fantastic.” He was watching my mouth again.
“I thought you would like it,” he said softly.
The brief moment was intense. It seemed like it would have felt completely normal to lean over and kiss him as a way of thanking him for the wine. I had to do something quick.
“R.J. hit on me like twenty times during the interview. I wish I liked him more because this place is wonderful and this wine is absolutely divine.” That definitely shattered the moment.
Jamie’s eyes went wide and the muscle in his jaw flexed. “He hit on you?”
“Yeah, big time.”
“You’re kidding.”
“Nope.”
“God, what an ass.”
“Yeah.”
“Did you tell Susan?”
“I think she heard him, but anyway, what good would that do?”
“Well, she might be able to straighten him out.” He was wearing a slightly penitent smile but I couldn’t understand why. “I’m really sorry he treated you that way.”
“Don’t worry about it. It’s not your fault.”
He nodded slowly but seemed unconvinced. “What else did you talk about in the interview?” Jamie’s eyebrows were pinched together and his lips were completely flat. I wasn’t quite sure how to answer him. “Did he mention how hard we work here to make this place completely sustainable?”
“Yes, he did,” I said immediately and smiled.
He nodded. “Good, that’s good.”
“He just didn’t tell me much about his personal life. I was trying to find out about the organization in Africa.”
“The organization is great. It’s really grown over the last eight years, and it does a lot of good for people, especially children all over Africa.”
“I guess R.J. might not be so bad after all.” I reached for my glass and took the final sip of wine.
“Let’s move on. What can I give you next—something deeper, more full-bodied?” Somehow I forgot that Jamie was talking about wine. He was leaning forward with his forearms resting on the bar. He looked me right in the eyes so intensely that it felt like he was looking inside of me.
“Huh?” Now I was watching his mouth. He smirked very slightly.
“What would you like to taste next, Katy?”
“Uh, what?” My voice got really high.
“The wine, Katy. The wine,” he said, chuckling.
“Oh, right! Um, actually I’m famished, I think I really need to get to my room and settle in. I should get a bite before I have any more wine, otherwise you’ll have to carry me out of this place.”