Jase broke away and whispered huskily, “Sara, if you keep that up, I’m going to roll that zipper down the back of your dress.”
When she froze, he trailed kisses down her neck and then shook his head. “I like it. A lot. But I think we’re going to have to cool this down if we don’t want to end up naked under the arbor where the guests might come strolling by at any minute.”
Was kissing Jase a mistake if she could get lost so easily?
Jase must have known exactly where her thoughts were heading because he cupped her face in his hands and looked deep into her eyes. “Don’t tell me that was a mistake. Each kiss just tells me that we both want the same thing.”
“What? A fling under a rose arbor?”
He studied her thoughtfully. “That’s what we’re going to have to decide. But not at this moment. Come on. Why don’t I show you the wine cellar?”
“More private than the arbor?” she asked, confused and uncertain where her life was headed.
“Not tonight. The wine cellar’s open for our guests to see. They can come and go from the party, so most likely we’ll have company.”
“A good thing,” she murmured...and he laughed.
Jase didn’t guide Sara inside the house. Rather they took a path aglow with foot lamps and ended up on a level below the first floor in front of a solid wood door.
“This is usually locked. But tonight we’re keeping it open. Hopefully our guests won’t steal the most expensive wines.”
The door creaked as he opened it and they stepped inside. Right away Sara could see this private wine cellar was an amazing space. Exposed beams ran across the ceiling. The walls were gray stone. There were tilted racks upon tilted racks of wine bottles. The temperature was cool but not unpleasantly so, maybe because she’d been so hot after that kiss. As they toured from the end of one row to another, Jase pulled bottles of different kinds of wines, showing her their dates, explaining their value. When they came to the end of a row, Sara heard a babble of voices.
Jase just gave a shrug. “Everyone wants to see what Dad keeps down here.”
That was the first time she’d heard Jase call Ethan Dad. Was it a slip? Maybe he was just afraid to let his fondness for the man show. She wondered if Ethan’s crusty exterior went deeper than that. Was he crusty all the way to his heart? Or was there some marshmallow in there, too? Most people weren’t one extreme or the other, and she’d learned from dealing with all of her patients that most had walls they were afraid to let crumble.
As the group approached their row, Jase mumbled, “I guess my father’s giving this tour himself.”
She soon recognized Ethan’s voice as he explained the layout of the wine cellar. As soon as he turned into their row, he stopped. “I see someone else is taking the tour.”
There was forced joviality in his voice, and Sara knew that was because of her. Was he afraid she’d take Jase away from Raintree? Or was he really afraid she was a manipulative woman who just wanted to share in his son’s success and wealth?
There were three couples with Ethan. As introductions were made and everyone shook hands, Sara realized she’d seen some of them milling about upstairs earlier.
As the men discussed vintages, Mrs. Campbell, the wife of a man who was CEO of a tech company, sidled up to her. “I love your dress. That’s a Carzanne, isn’t it?”
When she’d migrated around cocktail parties with Conrad, sure, she’d noticed pretty dresses. But she hadn’t known what designers did what. What was it about her dress that made it so recognizable?
Mrs. Campbell answered that question for her. “Carzanne usually does the color blocking with the beading across the bodice and checkerboard hem.”
What could Sara say? The tags had been cut out when she’d found the dress at the thrift shop. She simply said, “Every designer’s work is distinctive in some way.”
When she glanced toward Ethan, she saw he’d been listening to their conversation.
“Why don’t we all head upstairs,” Ethan said, including Jase and Sara. “The caterer refilled the food trays. Wine is flowing, and Liam and Tony are going to give a short presentation about all our newest varieties. I wouldn’t want you to miss that.”
“I’ll be along in a few minutes,” Jase said to his father.
Ethan didn’t look as if he approved, but he graciously escorted his guests through another door and up the stairs.
“He obviously wants you to go along,” Sara said.
“He obviously knows I’d rather spend time with you.”
She liked the idea of spending time with Jase. Still, she insisted, “I don’t want to come between you.”