Page 47 of Bourbon and Bluebells

Ollie smiled. “It’s okay. He’s here.” He pointed out through the window, and Alyssa felt a rush of warmth in her chest when she saw Bentley striding across the tarmac toward the plane. Damn! He really was hot.

As soon as Reaves had the steps down, Ollie gestured for her to go out.

Bentley met her gaze as soon as she exited the plane. Whatever she might have been worrying about evaporated. Just seeing him made her happy. She trotted down the last few steps and flung herself at him when he opened his arms to her.

She buried her face in his neck, and he pressed his lips to her hair and whispered, “I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you, too.” She wanted nothing more than to pull him down for one of his amazing kisses, but she didn’t dare do it with the two pilots hovering there.

Bentley took hold of her hand and grinned at Ollie and Reaves. “Thanks, guys.”

Ollie grinned at him. “It’s our pleasure.” He turned to smile at Alyssa. “And it’s a real pleasure to meet you.”

Reaves handed Bentley her bag and nodded at them. “You guys have a great weekend. A few of us will be at Molly’s tomorrow night, and I think we’re going to Muse afterward.” He winked at Alyssa. “If he tries to keep it too low-key, and you want some fun, drag him out with the rest of us.”

Alyssa had to laugh. She hadn’t known what kind of relationship Bentley would have with his employees. She was happy to see that while they might be employees, they were definitely friends.

Chapter Fifteen

As Bentley led Alyssa up the steps to the house, he had to wonder how it must look to her. It had been a long time since he’d wondered what impression the house – the estate – might make on someone. Come to think of it, it had been a long time since he’d brought anyone back here who didn’t already know him well.

He turned to her when they reached the top of the steps and squeezed her hand. “Are you okay with this?”

She went up on her tiptoes and pressed a quick kiss to his lips. “I wonder how long it’ll take you before you relax enough to stop asking me that.”

He gave her a puzzled smile, and she laughed.

“If you remember, you asked me that at least half a dozen times that first night. And with everything we’ve done since, you keep checking. It’s okay, you know. You can relax.”

He curled his arm around her waist and drew her closer to him, pressing a kiss to her forehead before he said, “I am relaxed. I’m happy. I’m not asking because I’m on edge about it. I’m asking because I want to know whether you’re happy about it too.”

She rested her head against his shoulder, and her eyes seemed to light up from within as she smiled at him. “If that’s what you’re worried about, you’ve got nothing to worry about. I am happy. I’m happy that I get to see you again.”

She turned and looked out over the formal gardens in front of the house and the view of the vines marching away over therolling hills all the way to the horizon. “I’m happy to be here. This place is amazing. It’s beautiful.”

She turned and looked back up at the house, at the huge entry door between the white stone pillars and let out a little laugh. “If you want the whole truth and nothing but the truth, I am a teeny bit intimidated. Not by you,” she added quickly when he started to protest. “If you just described Bentley DuPont on paper, I would be intimidated.” She smiled at him. “But I know you. I know that you’re so much more than that.”

She looked around again. “And maybe I’ll feel that way about this place, too, when I get to know it. But the closest I’ve ever been to anything like your house before is going on a tour of a stately home back in England when I was a kid.”

“I wish I could say something that would magically change things. I wish I could tell you to relax, and that would make it happen. But we both know it doesn’t work like that. All I can do is tell you that once you do get to know this place, there’s nothing intimidating about it.”

He chuckled. “And if you’re going to get to know it, you should probably start by coming inside.”

He was glad that no one appeared to greet them when he led her inside. No one came to take her bag or to ask if they needed anything. It wasn’t like the staff waited on them hand and foot, but they were always around. He was just grateful that wasn’t the first impression Alyssa got of his life here.

As tempted as he was to take her bag up to his room – and give her a welcome they would both remember – he took her to the kitchen instead. Willow had said that she’d be here for a while before she went out this evening.

He was disappointed not to find her and he didn’t want to hang around too long. Instead, he left Alyssa’s bag underneaththe kitchen table. Then, he grabbed the pad from next to the phone and scribbled her a note.

Alyssa raised an eyebrow at him but didn’t ask.

“Willow’s hoping to see you between work and going out. I thought you might like to come for a bit of a walk first, though?”

She nodded happily. “I’d love to go out and look around. It’s so beautiful out there. The vines are amazing, and it’s such a lovely evening, too.”

“Let’s go, then.” He held his hand out to her, and when she took hold of it, he couldn’t help tugging her closer. He closed his arms around her and looked down into her eyes. “I’m glad you’re here.”

“Me too.”

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