The Vintner and the Vixen (Vintage Love Book 1) by Alexia Adams

rewarded with a canine look of love. “I rescued her from animal control. Can you believe someone abandoned her at the side of the road? She’s an excellent guard dog. I didn’t know, however, that she also took on rats. Come meet her.” She grabbed Princess’s collar and motioned Jacques towards her. Although the dog growled, it wasn’t as menacing as before. When he stood only a foot away, Maya stepped forward, put a hand on his shoulder, and kissed his cheek. “There, now she knows you’re a friend.” The dog began to wag its tail seconds before it stuck its nose in his privates, clocking an evident interest in Maya. His breath whooshed out audibly.
    “Sorry, she’s a bit enthusiastic. Can I offer you a drink for coming to my rescue? I take it you heard me scream.”
    “Yes, to both. Are you okay?” He searched her face and body for sign of injury.
    “I’m fine. Princess caught a rat and dropped it in my lap. I didn’t think you’d be able to hear me in the big house. Or were you out for a walk?” This time it was her eyes that searched his body. He looked down as well; aside from the rather evident tenting in the front of his pants, his shirt was mostly unbuttoned and he had grass stains on his knees.
    “I was in the house about to go to bed. But the glass is thin and the French Heritage Society won’t let us replace it. Sound travels rather well.”
    “I’ll have to remember to keep quiet then. And I appreciate your efforts to make me feel less disheveled.” She pulled a couple of flower petals out of his hair. “Just let me finish digging this rat grave and then I’ll get you a drink.”
    “How about I bury the rat? You’re not really dressed for digging.”
    Her light tinkle of laughter didn’t help the situation. “I’ll be on the back terrace when you’re done.”
    ***
    Maya turned at Jacques’s approach. Somehow she’d expected him to come through the house, not around it. He stood on the edge of the terrace, but she couldn’t tell if he was amazed or horrified. Maybe she’d overdone it a bit with the candles. But for a city girl, the country was too damn dark. And it was way too hot inside to sleep, or do anything else for that matter. So she’d lit every candle she could find and set up a little oasis in the backyard, until Princess had brought her unwelcome gift, that is.
    “Are you expecting someone?”
    She glanced around. It did look like a scene out of a seduction. “You never know who may turn up.” Rising from the lounger, she grabbed the bottle of wine and two glasses she’d left on the kitchen counter. “Your granddad brought over some wine. It looks pretty expensive so I was saving it for a special occasion. I guess you’ll do.”
    Jacques took the wine from her hand and examined the label in the flickering candlelight. Standing close, she could smell his spicy aftershave and licked her lips. His eyes followed the movement of her tongue.
    “It’s from our vineyard, one of our best years. However, the value in wine is enjoying the moment when it’s consumed. It’s just a beverage; it’s the people you drink it with that are the real treasure.”
    She swallowed. “I hope you don’t do your own marketing. You’ll never get top dollar for your product with that slogan.”
    “No, I employ a company to market the wines. But it’s the truth. You can have the most expensive wine in the world, but if you drink it alone or with people you don’t particularly like, it’s worthless.”
    “That begs the question, do you think I’m worth it?” She put her hands on her hip and dared him to deny it.
    “Of course you are.” He didn’t even hesitate. Smart man. “Would you like me to teach you to properly taste wine?” He uncorked the bottle with ease and poured two glasses. Just an inch. Maybe he didn’t think she was worth the whole bottle.
    “Why, so you can turn me into a wine snob?”
    “I would never want you to be anything other than what you are