Tibby drove them next door. When they pulled up and parked it was beside a host of other cars. Visitors were arriving in droves and Sami looked down at her clothing, grateful she had met Eliza in the store otherwise she would probably have turned up in jeans.
She got out, self consciously holding her hands crossed in front of her.
"Sami." The cry split the air and before she knew what was happening, she was engulfed in a rapturous hug.
"Eliza, hi." She was relieved to see her so soon. It would make going into the party easier. "Hey, this is my brother Garth and this is Tibby who works with us."
"I know Tibby." She gave him a smacking big kiss on the cheek and tucked her arm into his before looking up at Garth. "Hi, Garth. Nice to meet you."
Sami noticed the blush covering her brother’s cheeks and smiled. This was a big deal to him as much as it was to her. Neither of them had actually been out and met people very often and it showed. Perhaps Garth would make some friends here. She hoped so.
"Let's go and get a drink then I can show you both around." Eliza let go of Tibby and grabbed both Sami and Garth pulling them toward the crowd on the lawn. "This way."
"Wow, this place is so cool. I figured it was pretty special listening to Mason talk in the rows the other day but up close, it's pretty awesome," Garth said.
"Oh, you know him already?" Eliza asked.
"Um, no not really. He said I could come over and ask anything I wanted so I met up with him in the paddocks the other day. I'm interested in growing things." Garth coughed and looked over at Sami. She smiled indulgently at him, wondering why he was looking uncomfortable.
"Well, today you are in for a treat. The whole winery is open for everyone to have a look around. Normally you can't go into the 'back room' but today you can have a personal tour." She giggled and called out. "Hey Mason, can I grab you for a minute?"
"You didn't have to attract his attention, he's busy." Sami was horrified when she saw him excuse himself from a couple he was talking to and walked over to them.
"Eliza, I knew you would catch up with Sami and Garth sooner or later. I hope you are going to look after them for me today."
"You know I will but I thought you might like to take Sami and introduce her to a few people while I take Garth over to our bunch." She nudged Sami who stumbled toward Mason.
Fuck it, not again. Sami managed to catch herself before she landed in the arms held out to catch her. "Hi, sorry, my clumsy feet again." Smiling with a serenity she did not feel inside, Sami gazed into the warm liquid eyes watching her. "Um, it's all very pretty here isn't it? You must be very proud of the place."
"Very and it would give me great pleasure to show you around. Garth will be fine with Eliza and her friends. They're a good bunch of kids. Let's start in the cellar with a glass of wine and take it from there." He slipped her arm through his and headed inside the beautiful stone building.
Her sandals clipped across the stone floor and she looked around, amazed at the simplicity of the building. "Oh my. This is beautiful. I'm impressed Mason."
"Thank you, I was thrilled too when I saw the initial drawings. And of course when the building started going up I was like a kid in a candy store, I couldn't wait for it to be finished." He stood and watched Sami spin around looking up at the ceiling and finally let her gaze rest on the wall covered in bottles.
"Holy shit, that is a lot of wine." She looked at him, and slapped her hand over her mouth when another visitor coughed.
* * *
"It certainly is and I'm sure I can tempt you to try at least one glass before I take you on a personal tour. What do you fancy, red or white?" Mason put a hand on the small of her back and pushed her forward to the counter, casting a wink at the older gentleman who obviously disapproved of her language.
"Um, something that won't go straight to my head if you don't mind." She giggled and the sound went straight to his gut. "You know how much I know about wine."
"I suggest a glass of our Verdelho. Soft, fresh and crisp—all at the same time. Sound okay to you?" He picked up a glass and reached for one of the bottles sitting in a bucket full of ice.
"Sure, you're the wine guru, bust one out." She stood with her hands tucked around her waist as Mason poured the pale green gold liquid into a glass before handing it to her.
"Thanks." Their fingers touched and he watched the light shine in her eyes. This was a relationship that held promise in his mind, one he had every intention of coddling until Sami was prepared to admit there was chemistry between them. It was something he wouldn't have thought possible when they first met but now he had seen the fire and passion in her, he wanted to know more.
After the angst of last week he thought it would be an uphill battle to get her to agree to come over but Garth had taken charge and here they were.
Sami raised the glass to her lips, her gaze on Mason's. He took an inward breath when the glass touched her lips and she opened her mouth. Tipping the glass up, she took a small sip and held it in her mouth while he watched. Her eyes closed, she rolled it in her mouth before swallowing.
"Hmmm, clean and crisp. I think I like this one."
"Not too poncy
