pulled
on a T-shirt and jogging shorts after his shower, but it was a halfhearted
effort. If he left, it would just be to escape the pull of Gwen on his thoughts.
He seriously doubted even that would help at this point. She’d been the only
thing on his mind since he’d decided to come on this trip.
Will shook his head but opted not to press Alex further. “Do
you want company? I doubt the others will be up for a while.”
“Sure, let me just absorb some of this caffeine first. What’s
on the agenda for today, anyway?”
“Some of us were talking about going to a couple of wineries in
the area. Several do tours and tastings this time of year.”
Alex frowned, despite his general fondness for wine. “What
about Emma and Gwen? Neither can drink.”
Will nodded, thoughtfully sipping his coffee. “I think Emma is
keen on an afternoon tanning and talking to her boyfriend on the phone. I doubt
she gets five minutes of peace and solitude at home the way Pauline and George
hover since the crash.”
“Do you think they’ll follow her to Yale?”
“No.” He smiled. “But I have no doubt she’ll go wild with her
new freedom. Hopefully not at the expense of her grades or her reputation.”
Alex grinned. They both knew Alex had had at least one semester
when he’d toyed with academic probation. Economics and calculus were not nearly
as interesting as playing polo and checking out the latest class of freshman
girls. “What about Gwen?”
Will shrugged. “That’s up to her, I suppose. She could come
with us and just not drink. I think at least one of them also does olive oil and
cheese tastings. And she could enjoy the tours of the gardens and
vineyards.”
Somehow that didn’t sound like Gwen’s cup of tea at all. She’d
put on a brave face yesterday during the long hours of yuppie polo festivities,
politely turning down the caviar and foie gras canapés and blankly staring at
the horses. Following it up with a day of wine tasting was probably too much for
her, especially when she couldn’t benefit from getting pleasantly tipsy in the
process.
Perhaps this was his chance to have some uninterrupted time
with Gwen away from the others. “Maybe I’ll offer to stay with her. She doesn’t
have a car here, so she’s trapped if we all leave.”
“Actually, we have the little Volvo in the garage that stays at
the house. I could leave her the keys.”
Alex supposed that solved the problem of Gwen’s stranding, but
he still didn’t like the idea of her being alone all day. Emma was not likely to
be good company, either. “That isn’t any fun. I’ll skip the wineries and take
her out.”
Will frowned into his coffee mug. “To do what?”
“Maybe I’ll treat her to a massage.”
“From you?”
“No,” Alex chided. “I mean a real one at a day spa. She could
get a pedicure and all that. A little feminine indulgence.”
Will took a sip of his coffee, watching Alex warily. “That’s
very nice of you. Not exactly subtle, though.”
“Can’t I be nice to a pregnant woman who could use some
pampering?”
“Absolutely. But don’t be surprised if Adrienne smells blood in
the water. And even if she doesn’t get suspicious, you and I both know it’s not
the best idea.”
“Of course it’s a terrible idea,” Alex agreed with a grin. It
would be setting himself up for a day alone with Gwen. Sort of. It wasn’t as if
they’d let him in the room with her. He’d likely spend at least half the day in
the waiting room reading emails on his phone. But he couldn’t just walk out and
leave her alone all day after the incredible night they’d spent together.
And he didn’t want to, if he was honest with himself.
Maybe a day out without privacy would cool his desire for her
and let him take a step back, physically, if nothing else. It might also
completely implode in his face and make him feel closer to her than ever, but
what was life without some risk?
Alex set down his empty mug, the caffeine
on a T-shirt and jogging shorts after his shower, but it was a halfhearted
effort. If he left, it would just be to escape the pull of Gwen on his thoughts.
He seriously doubted even that would help at this point. She’d been the only
thing on his mind since he’d decided to come on this trip.
Will shook his head but opted not to press Alex further. “Do
you want company? I doubt the others will be up for a while.”
“Sure, let me just absorb some of this caffeine first. What’s
on the agenda for today, anyway?”
“Some of us were talking about going to a couple of wineries in
the area. Several do tours and tastings this time of year.”
Alex frowned, despite his general fondness for wine. “What
about Emma and Gwen? Neither can drink.”
Will nodded, thoughtfully sipping his coffee. “I think Emma is
keen on an afternoon tanning and talking to her boyfriend on the phone. I doubt
she gets five minutes of peace and solitude at home the way Pauline and George
hover since the crash.”
“Do you think they’ll follow her to Yale?”
“No.” He smiled. “But I have no doubt she’ll go wild with her
new freedom. Hopefully not at the expense of her grades or her reputation.”
Alex grinned. They both knew Alex had had at least one semester
when he’d toyed with academic probation. Economics and calculus were not nearly
as interesting as playing polo and checking out the latest class of freshman
girls. “What about Gwen?”
Will shrugged. “That’s up to her, I suppose. She could come
with us and just not drink. I think at least one of them also does olive oil and
cheese tastings. And she could enjoy the tours of the gardens and
vineyards.”
Somehow that didn’t sound like Gwen’s cup of tea at all. She’d
put on a brave face yesterday during the long hours of yuppie polo festivities,
politely turning down the caviar and foie gras canapés and blankly staring at
the horses. Following it up with a day of wine tasting was probably too much for
her, especially when she couldn’t benefit from getting pleasantly tipsy in the
process.
Perhaps this was his chance to have some uninterrupted time
with Gwen away from the others. “Maybe I’ll offer to stay with her. She doesn’t
have a car here, so she’s trapped if we all leave.”
“Actually, we have the little Volvo in the garage that stays at
the house. I could leave her the keys.”
Alex supposed that solved the problem of Gwen’s stranding, but
he still didn’t like the idea of her being alone all day. Emma was not likely to
be good company, either. “That isn’t any fun. I’ll skip the wineries and take
her out.”
Will frowned into his coffee mug. “To do what?”
“Maybe I’ll treat her to a massage.”
“From you?”
“No,” Alex chided. “I mean a real one at a day spa. She could
get a pedicure and all that. A little feminine indulgence.”
Will took a sip of his coffee, watching Alex warily. “That’s
very nice of you. Not exactly subtle, though.”
“Can’t I be nice to a pregnant woman who could use some
pampering?”
“Absolutely. But don’t be surprised if Adrienne smells blood in
the water. And even if she doesn’t get suspicious, you and I both know it’s not
the best idea.”
“Of course it’s a terrible idea,” Alex agreed with a grin. It
would be setting himself up for a day alone with Gwen. Sort of. It wasn’t as if
they’d let him in the room with her. He’d likely spend at least half the day in
the waiting room reading emails on his phone. But he couldn’t just walk out and
leave her alone all day after the incredible night they’d spent together.
And he didn’t want to, if he was honest with himself.
Maybe a day out without privacy would cool his desire for her
and let him take a step back, physically, if nothing else. It might also
completely implode in his face and make him feel closer to her than ever, but
what was life without some risk?
Alex set down his empty mug, the caffeine
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