Tempt Me, Taste Me, Touch Me

"But she didn't offer anything. And she wouldn't let you touch her, would she?"

"No' he said, finally seeing his own stupidity for what it was.

"I thought it was because she respected the purity of my art, of being my muse'

"But really she was just reeling you in."

He couldn't say anything to that. "I didn't realize what she was doing until she started getting into my business. She had a gift for opening doors, for making men believe her lies. But then she went too far, pushed too hard, reached too high. I wasn't ready for the kind of opportunities she craved. But by then, it was too late. I was already gone."

Vanessa dropped the remaining grapes to the ground and shifted to look him in the eye. "She was wrong about you, Sam. And you were wrong about her too. You never needed her. Not the way she wanted you to think you did. I won't deny that what you created while you were with her was amazing, because it is. But that has everything to do with who you are, and nothing to do with who she is:'

Her words were strong, forceful, but she followed them with a smile, and something inside of him started to crack.

"I'd like to think that I'm the reason you were able to create touch magic today. But even I'm not that arrogant' She raised an eyebrow in a self-mocking way. ''And that's saying something'

The crack grew bigger, and something broke open in his chest.

"Get dressed" he said. "Even though I'm sure spending an entire weekend on a tarp in my vineyard is really blowing your mind, I've decided to be your personal Napa Valley tour guide for the rest of the day." She smiled again and took his hand as he helped her up. He didn't say "thank you" and she didn't say "you're welcome;' but the words were there just the same.

IT WAS A PERFECT AFTERNOON. Maybe it was the delicious wines they tasted at a handful of gorgeous wineries and the blue, clear sky, the light breeze that blew through her hair, so different from the fog in the city. Maybe it was because the ghost of Marissa was finally gone. Or maybe, just maybe, it was because she was falling for Sam.

As the sun dipped behind the mountains, Sam took her to a i five-star restaurant in the east hills, overlooking the valley floor, She'd been to plenty of extravagant, impressive restaurants. She'd been wined and dined from Paris to Rome to New York City. She knew Sam was successful, she figured he could easily afford it, but she was surprised by his choice.

Pleasantly so.

And even though they were still sitting in the valet zone of the parking lot, waiting for one of the young kids to take Sam's keys, tonight felt different. Not her usual five-star date experience. She couldn't help but wonder how different a lifetime with this man would be from everything she'd ever imagined. Her startling thought of a future with Sam made her more crude than normal. "We look like shit' she said as he opened the passenger door of his truck and held out his hand.

"Correction. I look like shit. You look incredible'

She couldn't help but grin at that and had to hand it to the maitre d' for not flinching when they stepped through the doors and into the throng of well-dressed, well-coifed diners. She should have known that Sam would be among friends here-hadn't he known everyone from one side of the valley to the next all day? The restaurant was packed and there were several couples waiting in the bar, but moments later she and Sam were seated at a table in the corner of the balcony, overlooking a glorious sunset falling down on the vines. "You've been a nice surprise;' he said when a bottle of champagne arrived.

She picked up the glass their waiter poured and took a sip, trying to figure out what she should say. She didn't want to give him the wrong impression that she was here to stay. To think she was going to cook his meals and have his babies.

"I don't do relationships' she finally said, deciding that blunt was the only option.

But Sam didn't seem particularly perturbed by her statement.

"I already figured that out:'

"That's one of the things I like about you. You're not an idiot like most men."

"Hey now, go easy on the compliments:'

She grinned. "You get enough already. All day long people have been falling at your feet. And not only the women. I think you could convert most of the guys over to your team if you wanted to'

"Thanks for the confidence in my conversion abilities, but I'll take a rain check on that for now:' "I take it you don't have a publicist?"

He shrugged. "Never seemed to need one:'

"Do you know how many artists there are out there who would kill to be in your shoes? Making a living doing what they love? Getting a name, building recognition without having to shout it from the rooftops?" "I do know. And I know that I'm lucky' "More talent than luck."

"But luck never hurts' he said, and she knew the conversation wasn't about his career anymore. It was about them.

"You've been a nice surprise too:'

One incredible dish after another appeared on the table. They hadn't ordered, but Sam got the best out of everyone; she was certain this had to be the seven-course tasting menu.

"Who was he?" he asked as they dove in and polished off everything put down in front of them. She couldn't help but grin at his daring.

"There's never been a he' she said.

He leaned back in his chair and gave her a look of patent disbelief. "I find that hard to believe. You looking like that. With your brain. Your success' He lowered his voice. "You making love like you do:' She licked her lips, getting wet from nothing more than a six word reminder of how much fun they'd had naked. "I'm not saying I haven't had a good time with a bunch of he's:'

"That wasn't my question;' he muttered.

She felt inordinately pleased. ''Are you jealous of all the other men who've gotten to do me?" she teased. "Sure I am' he said and her heart skipped a beat, shocked that he'd actually admitted it. Shocked that she liked that he cared.

"Oh' was all she could manage right then. ''Anyway' she said, taking a large sip of champagne while she mentally shoved the new, flustered Vanessa off the wooden balcony, "I like my life. I've never wanted to change it for someone else' She looked him in the eyes. "No matter how good he is in bed: "Message coming loud and clear' he said, but he was grinning and she knew he didn't believe her. He thought he was going to be the one to change her mind.

She'd been with men who'd thought that before. That they'd be the one to get her to settle for one c**k for the rest of her life. But she'd never really thought it was possible. Until now.

Sam really was smart, however, and he steered the conversation away from other possible emotional minefields. She learned he'd grown up in the valley, that he'd thought he was going to be a contractor, which explained the big, rough hands she liked so damn much. He told her how surprised everyone was when he'd started painting.