Page 37 of Gone With the Wine

“Yum. What can I do?”

“Let’s chop up the veg.” He turns on the oven, then pulls out a couple of plastic cutting sheets.

I move to the sink and wash my hands. “My nails are filthy,” I mutter.

“Here. A nail brush. And you can wash the eggplant and zucchini while you’re there.” He also hands over a yellow squash and a basket of cherry tomatoes, unbothered by my nasty nails. Occupational hazard. If I’m not dirty from the vineyard, I’m stained purple from grape juice.

It’s easy to slice up all the veggies and the sausages. He tosses them with olive oil, salt, garlic, and fresh herbs, and slides the pan into the oven. “That’ll take a while,” he says. “I also bought polenta.”

“I’m impressed.”

“This couldn’t be much easier.”

His modesty turns my heart into a big swollen marshmallow. “You could serve me hot dogs,” I say lightly. “And I wouldn’t turn it down.”

Not if I get to eat it with him.

He picks up the bottle of wine and refills our glasses. “We can go sit down while that cooks.”

I trail him back into the living room. Obviously, the furniture is new. I curl up at one end of a massive charcoal sectional, shifting a cushion to a more comfortable position.

Jansen takes a seat on the other side of the sectional. Jack picks up a toy and brings it to Jansen. He absently grabs it and tugs. They get into a little back and forth, Jack growling ferociously.

“He’s so cute.” I smile at the pup.

“He needs a better name. I just called him Jack because he looks like he’s part Jack Russell.”

“Hmm. How about…Lucky? Because he’s lucky you found him.”

“Hmm.”

“You could name him after a wine. Merlot. Zinny. Pinot.”

“No.”

I grin against the edge of my wine glass. “You come up with something then.”

“Champ. Scout.”

“Ugh. Who’s your favorite hockey player?”

“Besides myself?”

I laugh. “Yes.”

“Mark Messier.”

“Okay, name him Mark.”

“Or Mess.”

I push my lips out. “That seems unfair.”

“Moose. That was Messier’s nickname.”

“I love it!” I sit up straight. “Moose it is!” I look over at the dog, who in no way resembles a moose.

“I like it, too.”

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