Wine & Roses (11 page)

“Quite the opposite. You?”

“I was only disappointed that it had to end.” Her smile turned sweetly bashful as colour rose in her cheeks.

Jason propped himself on one elbow, facing her. “It doesn’t have to end.”

“I’ll be gone for three weeks,” she reminded him, referring to the book-signing tour she’d be leaving on in a few days. He’d almost forgotten about it.

“I’ll miss you every moment.” He bent to kiss her shoulder. When he looked up, he saw a crease between her brows, her eyes holding a troubled look. “What is it?”

“Jason, you know I’m nine years older than you,” she said. “Doesn’t that bother you?”

“Why should it?”

“Because … because you’re still a young man. You’ll want a young woman, one who can give you a family.”

So that’s what was bothering her. “Abby, I’m not looking to get married right now. Or anytime soon. After the disaster of my last engagement, I’m in no hurry at all.”

Her frown deepened, and Jason realized at once that his reassurances were misplaced. Oh, hell. He should have talked to her about this before. He’d implied to her that he was falling in love, and it was the truth, but the rest of it … marriage and babies … he just couldn’t think of those things right now. He believed that Abby loved him, too, and he
wanted
her to feel that way. But maybe to her, being in love meant a promise of something permanent. He wasn’t sure he could give her that promise.

“I didn’t mean—”

“It’s fine, Jason.” She smiled stiffly. “I feel the same way. I was married for twenty years. I plan to stay single for a good long while.”

As she shuffled over to swing her legs over the side of the bed, the sheet fell away from her back, the sight of her bare bottom eliciting a stirring of heat in Jason’s groin. Never mind—now wasn’t the time.

Abby froze as her eyes fell on the rose still lying on the nightstand, now wilting. She turned to look at Jason, her gaze intent.

“Do you swear this wasn’t from you?”

“I swear, Abby. Besides, I could hardly have been responsible for the perfume or the lights going out.”

“Someone must be playing a prank on me,” she said, her irritation from the previous evening returning. “Or it was a bunch of weird coincidences.”

“There must be a rational explanation.”

“I’m sure there is.” Still clutching the sheet around herself, Abby stood and headed to the bathroom. “I guess I’ll take a quick shower. You have to get to work.”

After she closed the bathroom door, Jason sat up, his thoughts lingering on the strange occurrences during the night that had faded so far into the background of his consciousness. As the events were happening, he’d almost been ready to believe there really was something supernatural happening. In the light of day, though, it seemed that there must be an earthly explanation for all of it— whatever that might turn out to be.

Chapter Eight

Jason waited until Abby had settled into her chair before taking his own seat at the opposite side of the table.

“I haven’t been here in ages.” She gazed around the restaurant, a small but elegant establishment overlooking the Niagara River. “I hope the salmon is as amazing as it used to be.”

Handing her one of the leather-bound menus, Jason smiled warmly. “I come here for lunch all the time, and I had the salmon last week. It melts in your mouth.”

“Good, then I don’t need to look at the menu,” Abby said brightly, returning his smile.

A waiter arrived at their table momentarily, and as Jason ordered a bottle of Pinot noir, Abby let her gaze settle on the gorgeous man across from her. He looked dapper in a shirt and tie, his customary attire for a day at the winery. As much as she appreciated his neatly put-together appearance, she couldn’t help but indulge a fantasy involving the systematic removal of those clothes. But that would have to wait for a while; in a few hours she’d be off to the airport to catch a flight to Vancouver. She’d been having the time of her life with Jason, and her enthusiasm for this trip was sorely lacking.

“Jason, Abby, how are you?”

Abby looked up to see Lorena Bloom pacing toward their table, beaming a disingenuously broad smile. But then, nothing about Lorena had ever struck Abby as particularly genuine. Nearly sixty, she still dyed her hair jet-black, and there was something odd about the set of her features, likely the result of a few too many surgical alterations—not the least of which involved her ample bosom boosted well above its natural position.

“I saw you at the opera last night,” Lorena went on without waiting for a reply. “I tried to get your attention, but you hurried off so quickly.”

“Sorry we missed you.” Jason cast a brief, knowing glance at Abby, who smothered a grin, remembering how hastily they had left the theatre once they spotted Lorena approaching.

Lorena’s probing gaze settled on Abby. “Abby, you looked absolutely stunning at the hospital fundraiser gala. Was it one of the gowns Colin bought you?”

Abby straightened in irritation, but refused to let Lorena rile her. “No, it was new.”

“Well, it was just the kind of thing he would have
loved
to see you in. It’s still so strange seeing you out and about without him. It hardly seems like a year since we lost Colin.” Lorena let her smile droop, replacing it with a solemn expression. “At these events, I can’t help thinking of him, and how much he would have enjoyed himself. Charity meant so much to him, as you know.”

Abby dipped her chin. “He would’ve been there, for sure.”
But without me,
she added silently.

“Jason, the wine you provided for the event was exquisite,” Lorena went on, turning her attention to him.

“I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

Her thinly plucked brows puckered. “I suppose you’ve heard about Bree and Stephen Blaine, have you?”

“Heard what?”

“About their engagement.”

Jason’s eyebrows lifted only slightly. “No, I hadn’t heard.”

Tilting her head to one side, Lorena bent to pat his hand in consolation. “Oh, dear, I’m sorry to have blurted it out so callously.”

“It’s fine.” His tone betrayed none of the annoyance that must have been building inside him. “I’m happy for them.”

She offered an indulgent nod. “Well, I just thought that after the way she left you, it might be a sore spot.”

“Lovely seeing you, Lorena,” Jason said mildly, his smile tight. Abby could see his temples pulsing, and wondered how long he’d be able to hold his temper.

“Yes, nice to see both of you. Enjoy your lunch.” Recognizing that she’d been dismissed, and satisfied with the discomfort she’d caused, Lorena flounced back to her table to join her husband Sid, who glanced over briefly, appearing perplexed by what had just transpired.

Jason stared down at his menu. “That woman is insufferable,” he muttered.

“Don’t let her get to you,” Abby said quietly. “It’s what she wants.”

“True,” he said, though his jaw remained clenched as the waiter arrived with their wine, filling their glasses before taking their meal orders.

“Did it bother you at all to hear of Brianna’s engagement?” Abby asked, once the waiter had gone.

Jason snatched up his glass, taking a long swallow before answering. “Why should it? If anything I feel sorry for Blaine. He doesn’t know what he’s in for. I should warn him.”

“No, Jason, you shouldn’t,” she said, unsure if he was serious. “He wouldn’t listen to you anyhow. Love can make the most astute of us blind.”

“And stupid,” he added sharply. “That’s the trouble with it, isn’t it?”

Abby blinked at him in surprise. “Do you really mean that?”

Jason drew a deep breath, his tone softening as he met her gaze. “Sorry. No, I don’t mean it. Lorena Bloom just has a way of getting under my skin. Going on about Colin like he was some kind of saint, and implying you should walk around in a black veil for the rest of your life.” Hearing the timbre of his voice begin to rise again, he paused to settle himself. “What Colin Bennett did to my father was callous and malicious, but that was business. The way he treated you, his
wife
—he shouldn’t get off scot free for that.”

“Colin’s dead, he hasn’t gotten away with anything,” Abby reminded him. “Besides, you’re the one who advised me to leave the past where it belongs. If I can forgive Colin, surely you can do the same.”

Jason nodded, offering a conciliatory smile. “You’re right. Let’s forget about Lorena and Colin, and poor old blind Stephen Blaine, and focus on enjoying our lunch.”

“The last one we’ll have together for a while,” Abby added.

“What time do you need to be at the airport?”

“About six-thirty.”

“I can drive you there, if you like,” Jason offered.

“That’s sweet, and I’d love it. But Marguerite has been dropping me off at the airport for years, and she still considers it her duty. I’d hate to disappoint her.”

“Ah yes, dear Marguerite,” he said dryly, his jaw tightening again. “My number one fan.”

“Why do you say that?”

Jason’s shoulders lifted slightly. “I get the impression she doesn’t approve of me.”

Abby tapped her fingers on the table, unsure how to reply. She’d hoped to shield him from Marguerite’s misgivings about him, but obviously he was perceptive enough to discern her friend’s negative feelings.

“It’s nothing personal,” Abby assured him. “She’s always seen herself as my protector, ever since we met at a stuffy cocktail party early in my marriage. I was the new girl in Colin’s social circle, and she resolved to take me under her wing. It can get suffocating at times, but she means well. It’s been a godsend to have someone I can count on to have my back, no matter what.”

Jason nodded his understanding. “I hope you’ll add me to the list of people you can count on.”

“
You
can count on that,” Abby replied, his words warming her. “And it does go both ways.”

“To counting on one another.” He raised his glass.

Lifting her own glass in agreement, Abby couldn’t help recalling the last time they had toasted one another. On that occasion they’d saluted the single life, agreeing that relationships were not worth the trouble. Since then Jason had implied he was falling in love with her—a sentiment that had echoed the stirring in her own heart.

But the comments he’d made the morning after their one night together, and his reaction to the news of Brianna’s engagement, had left Abby with the unsettling sense that counting on him called for a measure of caution.

While the thought of it pressed on her chest like a dull ache, she simply smiled and took a sip from her glass.

* * *

Her boarding pass in hand and her carry-on bag slung over one shoulder, Abby hurried toward the departures gate, Marguerite keeping pace beside her.

“Why are you so gloomy?” Marguerite asked as they walked. “You’ve done a million book-signing tours. And Vancouver is the best place to start—it’ll be gorgeous this time of year. I’m so jealous, I’m tempted to buy a ticket right now and go with you.”

Abby hadn’t realized her manner had betrayed her muddled emotions. “I’m fine. I just have a lot on my mind.”

“Like Jason?”

“Yes, well, of course I’m going to miss him,” she admitted. “We’ve only just gotten close, and now we won’t see each other for five weeks.” It had been difficult saying goodbye to him, the stretch of time before they’d be together again feeling like an eternity.

“Are you afraid he’ll have moved on to someone else by the time you get back?” Marguerite inquired mildly as they reached the security gate, stopping to line up. “Or have taken up with some gorgeous Parisian fashion model during his trip?”

“No, not at all.” Abby refused to feel insecure, despite her friend’s cynical outlook. Being in love with Jason made everything in her day-to-day world seem fresh and full of possibilities. She fell asleep at night excited about the day ahead, and she even looked forward to the daunting task of starting a new novel, knowing he’d be the first to read it.

“I just hope it wasn’t, well, a conquest thing,” Marguerite muttered under her breath.

Abby scowled, questioning whether it had been wise to tell her friend about the night she spent with Jason. Marguerite refused to give up her suspicion of him, no matter how Abby refuted it. Enough was enough. Abby dropped her bag at her feet, turning to face her. “Don’t start in on your theory of revenge against Colin. I know you mean well, but that’s not what this is about. I wish you’d give me some credit for knowing what I’m doing.”

Startled by Abby’s firm tone, Marguerite blinked twice, her expression falling. “I’m sorry, Abby. I’m not being a very supportive friend, am I? But I’m only looking out for you.”

“I know you are.”

“So you’re happy, are you?”

“Yes,” Abby said. “Mostly. It’s just that I wanted to keep things casual with Jason, and it’s turned in to so much more. I have to wonder if it’s worth getting more deeply involved with someone who might never be ready to commit.”