Grape Expectations by Lorraine Bartlett

Author:Lorraine Bartlett
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781940801520
Publisher: Polaris Press

Chapter 6

Dolly had never worked as a waitress, but she had once worked in a fast-food restaurant and understood the concept of getting food to the customer while it was still hot. That hadn’t been a priority with the salad course, but once the entree went out, it was a mad rush for the four waitresses to serve all twenty-five couples. And then came the dessert course. Because she’d helped make them, Dolly found herself watching in tense anticipation, looking for critical remarks or unhappy expressions, but everyone seemed just as enchanted with the blueberry concoctions as she’d been while helping to make them.

And, of course, she paid close attention to the wine flights. As Lucy had hinted, not many of the patrons seemed all that enthused with the Frederick Farm red, but there were a few who complimented the wine, but then whole-heartedly encouraged their glasses to be filled with a more mainstream selection.

And she’d studied Josh’s expression while listening to the criticism, which could have been described as either stoic or unfeeling, something she was pretty sure was not part of his usual countenance. It made her even more desirous of tasting said wine.

The sun was setting as the last of the guests climbed back in their cars and left the farm. It was time to break down the set, rinse the dishes, and pack things away so that the rental firm could pick them up the next day. Josh paid and thanked everyone for their work before the others wandered off to collect their vehicles and go home.

By that time, some thirteen hours after she’d left Blythe Cove Manor, Dolly found herself verging on the brink of exhaustion. The sun had long since sunk into the ocean when at last Josh was ready to again take her back to Blythe Cove Manor, where a soothing shower and then a blessedly comfortable bed awaited her.

But as Josh called to her she remembered his promise.

“You can’t take me back yet. You said if I worked for you I’d get to taste your wine.”

Josh shrugged. “Are you sure you want to? I mean, you saw the reaction from my guests who tried it.”

“So? I can’t stand strawberries, but that doesn’t mean I can’t understand that others could love them.”

He blinked at her.

“You know what I mean,” she said defensively.

“I guess so.”

“So, when do I get to taste it?”

“How about right now?”

Josh set two wineglasses on the dining room table and produced a corkscrew. A wagon wheel light fixture hung low above the table as he took his seat and poured. She’d expected a red and was surprised when a golden stream filled her glass. They clinked glasses and drank.

Dolly wasn’t put off by the taste. It was sweeter than she would have thought. The guests must have all been wine snobs.

Josh was watching her. “Well?”

“I like it.”

He frowned and shook his head.

“I mean it,” Dolly said and took another healthy sip. “I mean, it’s not rot gut.”

For a long moment Josh just stared at her, and then he laughed.

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