But I’m positive he sees me. Maybe it’s just my wishful thinking, but his eyes never seem to leave me throughout the trip and I feel them watching me in the mirror. What he says next confirms my suspicion, though. “Still remember the place, Ivy?”
“Of course,” I say nervously. “I liked it here.”
“You did.” He chuckled. “I remember you begging your dad to move to the vineyard.”
I laugh embarrassedly. It’s true. I might’ve cried each time I left the place. I can’t believe Gavin still remembers it.
“Louis, wake up!” Paul says to his nephew.
Louis opened his eyes and yawned.
I step out of the car and look around me. The place looks exactly the way I remember it! The same blue hills surrounding it, and the green fields are like carpets extending to as far as I can see, dotted by patches of shimmering lakes.
This is so beautiful. Again I have the wish to stay here forever. “Is the river still here?” I ask. It was my favorite spot.
“Yes. It is,” Gavin answers with a smile.
Paul murmurs his appreciation for the place, impressed not just by the scenery but the size as well. “Magnifique!” he keeps saying.
Even Louis, who’s still yawning, nods as he looks around.
Jose and his wife Debra, who Gavin hires to manage the vineyard, greet us at the entrance of Chateau Blanc. The castle house looks splendid in the golden lights cast by the afternoon sun. It’s a two-story house built in the nineteenth century by the previous property owner, who was actually of French descent. The first floor consists of a large dining room and a tasting room, and the second floor has five bedrooms which are open to visitors.
“Jose will show you to your rooms, gentlemen,” Gavin says to his guests, “You’re all tired. If you wish you could rest for a while. The dinner will be served at five, right here,” he says, pointing at the covered patio next to a small herb garden, where half dozen tables are covered in white cloths.
“Wonderful,” Paul says and follows Jose upstairs.
“See you later,” Louis says to me before he leaves, winking.
“À plus tard,” I respond quickly despite my embarrassment.
Noticing Gavin’s watchful eyes, I turn to him and smile.
His lips press tightly together at first, but soon he relaxes and nods. “Your French seems to have improved tremendously,” he says.
“Thanks to Louis,” I say with a blush. “I practiced with him.”
He doesn’t agree. “You were already good before meeting him.”
“Let me take you to your room,” Debra says to me, reaching for my suitcase.
“No, thanks, Debra. I’ll take care of her,” Gavin says and takes my suitcase from Debra’s hand.
My heart starts to pound the moment I follow Gavin up the winding stairs. Our closeness sets me on fire. His cologne smells good. The smoky, leathery note does something funny to my lady bits.
He opens the door of the room at the south end of the floor and lets me in. It’s spacious and bright, without much furniture besides a large bed and a traditional cherry oak dresser with a mirror on top. Paintings of the vineyard hang on the walls. “Wow,” I say. “So classy.”
He chuckles as he puts down my suitcase next to the dresser. “I hope you don’t mind the antique furniture. I inherited it from the previous owner.”
I shake my head, touching the chiseled frame of the mirror and catching sight of myself. My eyes are bright, and my cheeks are flushing. I look fidgety. “Not at all. I love antiques.”
“You’re rare, Ivy,” he says in a low voice, his eyes flickering.
I shudder. Suddenly the air feels stifling. He’s just an inch away from me, and we’re standing in front of the king-sized bed. The countryside is insanely quiet. I can hear my ears ringing, and I can hear his fast breathing. I fix my eyes on the bed, not daring look at him. “Is this antique, too?” I ask nervously to break the silence.
“No,” he says after a deep breath. “It’s brand new. I ordered it online a year ago but never used it.”
“Oh.” I nod. “It looks classic, with the bedposts and all.”
“I know. Do you like it?”
“Yes,” I say. “It’s roomy.”
My legs feel weak as we keep locking eyes with each other. I have an overwhelming desire to lie down. What if I do that? What would Gavin do?
Gavin swallows as if he reads my indecent thoughts. He looks away suddenly, at the window.
“I hope you like the view, too, Ivy,” he says.
I breathe a sigh of relief and shift my attention to the scenery outside. I walk toward the window and gaze out. I see the entire vineyard within a glance. I gasp as I take in the breathtaking view that looks like a beautiful oil painting. Patches of green vegetation in different shapes are arranged neatly on orange soil, separated by junipers and cypresses. The sky above them is cerulean, while the hills in the distance are an indigo blue.
“It’s so gorgeous!” I whisper. “I wish I were a painter!”
Gavin chuckles. “I’m glad you like it,” he says, coming to stand next to me.
“I love it,” I say. “Where are you staying?”
“At the cottage. Right next to the chateau.”
I’m a bit disappointed. I was hoping he would be right next door.
He must see the expression on my face and misinterprets it because he says, “Not to worry. Jose and Debra will take good care of you. Just let them know what you want.”
I want you. But I can’t tell him that. “Why don’t you stay in the chateau?” I ask. “There are plenty of rooms.”
He pauses. “I moved my stuff to the cottage before I left for the city last time. I used to stay in this room, though.”
“Oh, I see,” I tremble with excitement. I’m in the room he used to stay.
Why did he move out of it? I wonder. Does this room remind him of Diana? I can’t help but let jealousy possess me even though I know Diana seldom stayed at the vineyard.
It’s June, but the cold stone castle house feels chilly. I lean closer to him for warmth unknowingly. My arm touches his, and we tremble at the same time. I hear his breath catch. I have the impulse to cradle his face and kiss him. I want to kiss away the furrow on his brow.
I miss the Gavin with a cheerful smile, who told me everything would be fine, that my mom would be in heaven watching my dad and me, that he would be on my side, too, if I neede him. I want the old Gavin back, not this man with a bitter, resigned look and who clenches his jaw all the time.
But I know better than embarrassing both of us.
I’m just an immature girl in his eyes. So I keep gazing out of the window, noticing that Paul and Louis are taking a walk among the fields.
“I’ll leave you alone to rest,” he says after a long silence between us.
“I don’t need to rest,” I say. “I’m going for a walk. Do you think I still have time?”
He glances at his watch. “Why don’t we wait until after dinner?” he says. “I’ll go with you.”
My heart raps in my chest. “Sure. Thank you.”
After Gavin leaves the room, I drop onto the bed. Not until then do I realize how exhausted I am. I close my eyes but can’t sleep. My mind is still excited by the day’s events. Wanting to share my excitement with someone, I reach for the phone. Kayla isn’t at the restaurant yet, so I call my dad.