His desire intensified. He was ready all right, but not for something that involved anyone but them. He stepped closer to her. “We should be going or we’ll be late. But before we do, I think we need to take care of something.”
Whitney looked around the room as if she had forgotten something then back at him with a questioning look on her face.
“I know you said only when necessary but I might need to kiss you tonight in front of the others so I think we should practice. Get that first uncomfortable one out of the way. Settle the nerves, so to speak.” Yeah, like that was going to happen. Nothing about the reaction she was creating in his body was settling.
“I guess we could do that...”
He found Whitney’s lips with his.
They were soft and inviting. Plump and perfect. He pressed more firmly and a shudder went through her. Her fingers gripped his biceps yet she didn’t return his kiss. Tanner pulled back and searched her face. Her eyes were wide and she looked dazed.
“It might be more believable if you kissed me back. Should I try again?” He waited. This he wouldn’t push.
“Yes, please. I think it’s necessary.” Her lips hardly moved as the soft words left them.
Tanner chuckled softly. What little taste of Whitney he’d had made him want more. She lifted her mouth to his. This time he placed his hands on her waist and brought her against him. When her lips stirred, his heart drummed faster. Her hands tightened, fisting in his shirtsleeves.
The kiss was quickly moving away from practice to pleasure.
Seconds later, with one sharp movement Whitney broke away, turning her back to him. “I think that was enough practice. We should go.” She picked up a shawl from the bed and draped it over her arm. The tightly controlled woman had returned.
Their simple kiss had left him rock hard. Staying where they were was more of what Tanner had in mind. But he was a man of his word. He’d promised not to ask her for anything physical. Their kisses might be considered bending the rule but he’d not push further. Nothing about Whitney struck him as someone who didn’t invest emotionally and he certainly wasn’t looking for anything that involved his heart.
“I guess we should.” Even to his own ears he sounded disappointed.
* * *
Tanner’s kisses had been sweet and nonthreatening yet they sure had rocked Whitney’s world. Even now as they walked across the parking area toward the winery she still trembled. She’d been kissed before but none had been as divine as those Tanner had gifted her with. The problem now was that she wanted more, but she wouldn’t let that happen.
She could be in trouble on so many levels. He was her client. He didn’t believe in love. He was looking for a wife. She was nothing like what he wanted. He would break her heart. Of that she was confident. She had to get through this weekend and see to it that they returned to their business relationship.
When she stumbled, Tanner’s hand was on her elbow to steady her instantly. “I’m sorry, Whitney. I promised nothing physical. I shouldn’t have kissed you. It won’t happen again. It’ll be your call from now on.”
Was that statement supposed to make her feel better? It sounded as if he regretted their kisses. Here she was trying to hold herself together while it hadn’t had any effect on him. She couldn’t have him thinking that she was some ninny who fell apart when a man kissed her.
Long ago she’d learned to cover disappointment and hurt. She’d just do it once more. “Not a problem. I won’t hold it against you. It’s no big deal.”
Had she felt his fingers flinch?
“I’m glad you understand.” His hand remained on her arm until they stepped in front of the tasting-room door to the winery. When he let go she felt the loss in more ways than one. That tentative friendship they were building had lost some stones.
“I hope I don’t slip up and say anything wrong,” she whispered.
“Don’t worry about it. Let’s just concentrate on having a nice evening.”
Tanner seemed far too laid-back for someone who was worried about his friends finding out she was actually his matchmaker. She sure wished her nerves weren’t jumping. If it was from Tanner’s kisses or her worry over disappointing him, she couldn’t say.
He held the large curved door open for her to enter. Inside, the lights were turned low, giving the stone-walled space a cozy feel. It reminded her of pictures of a French farmhouse. To one side there was a bar with a full wine rack behind it. To the other side was a small, tastefully arranged shop area where shelves held wine flutes, cork removers and other paraphernalia. An upright, glass-doored cooler containing small packages of meat and cheese was discreetly positioned in a corner.
Sharing the other half of the room was a grouping of café tables and chairs. Each table was covered in a bright yellow cloth with a white dahlia in a vase. They were a pop of sunlight in the otherwise dark area. Greenery and tiny lights were draped above the doors and along the shelves. Whitney was instantly charmed.
“I love this place.” Whitney couldn’t help but be impressed. She glanced at Tanner. He was giving her an indulgent look.
“Has anyone ever told you that you have a beautiful smile?”
“No.”
He held her gaze as he said softly, “They should have because you do.”
Tanner’s voice vibrated through her. Had anyone ever looked at her like that before? Like she was the most special thing in the world?
“I think if you continue to look at me that way I’ll forget my promises,” he said quietly. “Maybe we should join the others? I’ve been told that the Garonne Winery has a remarkable white.”
Whitney didn’t drink much but she was in the mood to enjoy some wine with Tanner. She would not get any ideas where he was concerned. The only reason he was paying this much attention to her was because he was putting on a show. But that kiss had felt real. That moment just now had felt real too. She was going to enjoy this feeling while she could.
He took her hand and wrapped it around his elbow and they walked toward the others gathered near the bar.
Marie met them, her hands out in welcome and a wide smile on her face. “Whitney, you look wonderful. I knew that dress was just the thing for you.” She regarded Tanner. “I hope you told her how beautiful she is.”
He nodded. “I did.”
“Did he?” Marie looked at her.
Whitney smiled up at Tanner. “He did. He was very complimentary.”
Thankfully, Marie didn’t waste any time directing them to the bar. “You must try the white.”
“Tanner said it was good,” Whitney remarked.
Marie smiled with obvious pride. “It’s our first award winner.”
“Then no wonder you’re proud.” Whi
tney watched as the middle-aged man behind the bar dressed in a white shirt, black vest and pants poured the liquid into a glass.
“I must check on our meal. The tour will begin in a few minutes,” Marie said, and whirled away.
The bartender handed Tanner a tall fluted glass and he gave it to her, then took his own. He tapped his glass against hers. “To a nice weekend.”
Their looks held as they took a sip of wine.
“Nice,” Tanner said. “What did you think?”
“I’m not much of a wine connoisseur so I can’t really say.” Once again she was out of her element.
“That’s okay. You either like it or not.”
She paused a moment. Was he talking about more than wine? “I like it.”
Tanner smiled. “Was that so hard?”
“No.”
“Would you like a lesson on how to taste wine?” He made it sound like it was something intimate between them.
“I’m always willing to learn something new.” Had she really said something that flirtatious?
Tanner’s eyes darkened but his grin was an easy one. “That’s good to know. Okay, let me show you. First, you look at it.” He brought his glass up so that it caught the light. “Then swirl it gently so that you can get the bouquet.” Tanner put his nose to the rim.
Whitney followed his lead, doing exactly as he did.
“Next you take a sip in your mouth and swish it around, letting each taste bud have its turn.”
Whitney watched, enthralled, as Tanner’s lips moved against the edge of the glass. Those same lips had just touched hers. She had tasted their fullness and she wanted more.
“Appreciate the richness of it. Then swallow.”
She watched the long length of his neck as he drank. He was making the process a seduction. Heaven help her, he was a temptation she was having a hard time resisting. She no longer needed her wrap in the cool, dark room. It had turned far too warm for her. Tanner had an effect on her like no other male. He wasn’t what she needed but she couldn’t seem to stay away.
His gaze met hers. Tanner asked in a low raspy voice, “Do you still like it?”