Blind Tasting 3 (2 page)

“Doctor Becca,” she heard and turned to find Reece Tanner leaning over the booth next to her.

“Hello there Mr. Tanner,” she said and smiled politely.  Becca felt a kick under the table and turned to see Denise with a raised eyebrow.

“Please call me Reece.” He flashed another one of the smiles he’d given earlier in the day that took Becca’s breath away.

“Reece, these are my coworkers from the hospital.” Becca started to introduce them, as she tried to remember their names, but he interrupted her.

“I know these ladies. We all grew up together. It’s a small town, Becca,” he said and winked at her.

Oh Lord, please stop winking and smiling. My heart is broken. I don’t want to think about men.

“Yes, unfortunately we know you too Reece. Now leave this nice woman alone. You do remember you have a pregnant wife at home?” Denise laughed as she commented.

“I’m just being friendly, Denise. Dr. Becca is my new tenant. We met earlier today,” Reece corrected her, but anyone could see his ego had been knocked down a notch, wife or no wife. He tipped his cowboy hat at Becca and slithered back into his booth. She heard male laughter once Reece sat back down.

Denise leaned into Becca. “I’ll have to fill you in about our town’s most un-eligible men,” she said and laughed. Becca wasn’t sure whether to be worried or saddened. But then again, men were the farthest thing from her mind.

Chapter Four

“Bomb? Backdraft?” Captain Sullivan said when he found Chase at his desk back at the fire station.

He looked up and chuckled. “Sorry, sir, it was backdraft. It started as an electrical fire near the theatre curtain, which is probably as old as those wires. One spark and the curtains went up in flames within seconds.” Chase handed his finished report over for the captain’s signature.

“I almost wanted to hear the news of a bomb.” Captain Sullivan laughed as he signed the report.

“Vinegrove remains a quiet and dull little town.” Chase grinned as he grabbed his jacket from the back of the chair and waved goodbye to his captain. Captain Sullivan nodded in agreement, “Nothing too exciting ever happens in Vinegrove.” Chase chuckled on the way out the door. But his captain’s comment was true. Vinegrove sat in the midst of wine country. Its countryside beauty and friendly locals of many generations made it a pretty town. 

Chase was no exception. He’d been born in Country Hospital as his brother before him. His parents grew up in Vinegrove and started dating in high school. Chase believed that was how his life would be, but his high school love dumped him two days before their prom. She’d decided the quarterback was a better choice for her future. She told Chase she didn’t want to spend her life in Vinegrove and was headed to Los Angeles and the city life for college. Chase remembered her words.
It’s better if we part now, Chase. We don’t want the memory of the prom lingering in our thoughts over the years to come. My future is a career and not here.
He knew damn well she wanted out of Vinegrove but her main reason for L.A. was to follow Steve Gamble who’d been drafted to the NFL. It lingered in Chase’s thoughts for years and tore at his heart. He never showed it. He never told anyone about his heartache. Instead, he played the
macho man
and told everyone that he wasn’t ready to settle down with one woman. He wanted many. They were lined up at the door within minutes of the news. He’d created his own reputation and a woman never lasted more than thirty days with him.

Chase wasn’t a quarterback. His passion was fire. The small fire hat his mother gave him when he was five years old, still sat on the shelf in his room. He kept it more so after his mother passed, in memory of her. His brother, Reece, was the brains of the family and managed their family’s properties and investments.

Firefighting and the paperwork only made Chase thirsty for a cold beer. It had been a long day. He smelled the air when he first stepped out of the fire station. It was still heavy with smoke. It drew his attention to the direction to where the theatre once sat. The sky had been filled with black smoke for hours, but it slowly disintegrated to reveal the stars. What remained of the building was deeply charred with a film of greasy soot. Chase knew the mess a fire left with ash, large chunks of debris and water damage from putting out the fire. The work crew was scheduled to start the clean-up at dawn.

Exhausted and with his mind elsewhere, Chase opened the door to the pub and almost knocked a woman over. He reacted quickly and grabbed her. With a mere two inches between them, her scent drove him wild. He had the sudden urge to drop his mouth onto hers and taste her lips. He felt his heart flutter and his pulse increase, something he’d never felt before.  Usually when he held a woman in his arms, the only stimulation was in his pants.

“Whoa there cowboy, you almost knocked me out with that door.” The woman’s hands rose in a protective mode and landed on his chest.

Chase tipped his hat and bowed his head. “Sorry Ma’am,” he said, slightly rattled about what he’d felt. He watched her walk out of the pub then continued inside. He spotted his brother and flagged the waitress for a cold beer.

****

“Remember I mentioned earlier that I’d tell you about the Tanner boys?” Denise leaned in to whisper to Becca.

“That was the other one?” Becca laughed.

“Yep. Chase Tanner is known as the town’s ladies’ man—or he seems to think so. If you’re looking for a good roll in the hay, he’s your man. He will give you a night to remember. But if you’re looking for more commitment than one exciting night, then he’s not your man.” Denise winked at Becca.

“Thanks for the information, Denise, but a man is the last thing I’m looking for,” Becca said sarcastically.

“Oh sorry, I forgot you’re from New York. I don’t think you will find the right woman here in Vinegrove. We like our men,” Denise apologized.

Becca laughed out loud and shook her head. “No, I’m not a lesbian. I used to like men too, until I found my fiancé in bed with my best friend. A man is the farthest thing from my mind right now.” Becca made a long story short.

Denise stepped in and hugged her. “Oh sweetie, that sucks. I wish I could stay longer and chat but five o’clock in the morning comes early.”

Becca suggested it was time to leave. It had been a long day for her unofficial first day at the hospital.  That claw-foot tub awaited her at home.

Chapter Five

Becca felt the warmth of the morning sunbeams on her face. She opened her eyes to see the glorious-filled room of sunlight as it touched the white walls. She fell in love with the room when she saw the picture online. But the picture hadn’t done it justice. Brilliant white walls surrounded the four-poster bed covered with the softest white cotton linen. The comforter that covered her body was at least six inches thick. The mattress gave her the most restful sleep she could remember. She felt lost in the king-sized bed and so cozy, she almost didn’t want to get out of bed. Then she remembered where she was. She smiled, sat up and tossed the over-sized comforter off her body and swung her legs off the bed. She liked the fact that her feet barely touched the floor. Becca stretched and took in the warmth of the sun’s rays.

Her first unofficial day exhausted her. The red-eye flight, the drive and the fire in town, kept her in the emergency room till nine o’clock. Then the jaunt to the pub with her new coworkers made it a twenty-four hour day, not that she wasn’t used to that long of a stretch. 

Becca stood at the window and looked out into the vineyards. The view was spectacular. This was a dream cottage. She felt as though she was inside a country home magazine. She knew her mom would love the cottage when she came to visit. Every room had its own divine beauty and filled her with tranquility. Becca felt certain she’d made the right choice moving there. She felt peace. It was home. She felt ecstatic to be in Vinegrove.

The brisk, but warm breeze, hit her face as she stepped outside of the cottage. It only took twenty minutes to walk to the hospital and she’d still have an hour before her shift. She started the journey anyway and hoped she’d find a coffee shop open. The fresh air she breathed in completely relaxed her by the time she hit the edge of town. She could see the hospital to her left and across from it, the pub she’d visited last night. Then she noticed its sign. She had no idea what it was called. She laughed, thinking it didn’t matter because it was probably the only pub in town. But the sign made her laugh out loud. It read, “The Town Pub.” She also smiled when she noticed the coffee shop. It showed, “Morning Sunshine” with a smiley face.
This town is just so damned cute. I keep falling in love with it the more I see
she thought as she continued her walk to the coffee shop. She hoped they had French vanilla cappuccinos. She’d religiously bought them since college.

“In desperate need of coffee?” was all Becca heard as she opened the door and almost hit the man who asked. She looked up and found the same cowboy hat she’d seen the night before—the one that almost hit her with the pub door. She quickly brought her hand up to her mouth in shock and in remorse. “Oh, I’m sorry. I guess my mind was elsewhere.” Becca suddenly remembered the cowboy was Chase Tanner. She also remembered what Denise told her about him.

He removed his hat and held it over his heart. “May I buy the beautiful lady that coffee she so desperately needs?” The smile that flashed across his face after his question hit Becca like a ton of bricks hitting her heart. She looked up into his eyes and felt speechless. His eyes were so bright, as though looking into glass so clear that her reflection bounced back at her. She took in a quick breath before reality hit her and she blushed. She felt the heat of embarrassment creep into her face when he spoke again.

“I take it the lady is not that desperate for coffee or she likes to buy it herself.  I wonder which one it is.” He smiled again and it made her go weak at the knees.
Snap out of it Becca. He’s a charmer and the town slut. The last thing you want is a man. But damn, a roll-in-the-hay with this cowboy would definitely heal your heart.
She smiled.

“The lady smiles but does not speak. Now I’m really curious.” He tilted his head and waited for an answer.

Becca laughed. “Oh, I speak and I usually do buy my own coffee.” She didn’t mean to sound so ‘New York’ but her defenses were up. She knew she needed to use her mind and not what the rest of her body wanted.

“Are you new to Vinegrove?” he asked as he walked toward the take-out counter with her.

She didn’t look at him, just kept walking. “I am. I just moved from New York.”

“Ah, that explains it.” He chuckled.

“Explains what?” This time she turned and looked at him while she waited for her answer.

“Your beauty.” He winked.

Becca rolled her eyes, “Well now, aren’t you the charmer?”  Becca didn’t need an answer and was saved by the waitress who asked Becca what she would like. Becca ordered her specialty coffee and was so thankful they could make it for her. She paid the waitress and turned to exit the shop. Chase Tanner stood within inches of her. His manly scent of cologne intrigued her senses. His smile played with her hesitation.

“May I join you for coffee, ma’am?” His bashful look almost melted her heart but she stood her ground about not wanting a man.

“Sorry but I have to get to work.” Becca walked around him and straight out the door without a backwards glance. She crossed the street and headed up the hill to the hospital. She felt excited and thrilled about her new life and reminded herself she didn’t need a man to complete it.

It was so quiet most of the day at the hospital that Becca’s shift seemed to linger on, but she didn’t mind. She’d treated a cute little girl named Melissa who fell off her bike and broke her arm. Becca liked that she had the time to spend with Melissa and make it exciting for her to have a pink cast. It wouldn’t have happened in New York. Melissa reached for the pen in Becca’s lab coat pocket. “Dr. Becca, may I call you Dr. Becca? I like that name.”

She was so darned cute that Becca couldn’t resist and nodded in agreement. “Thank you. I’d like that.”

“Dr. Becca, would you sign my cast first?” Melissa handed her the pen with a smile.

“I’d be honored to.” Becca smiled back and took the pen. She looked at Melissa then looked up at Melissa’s mom. “She’s so sweet.”

Melissa’s mom smiled and answered, “That she is. She’s my little princess.”

“A princess with a pink cast,” Melissa added and both women laughed and agreed. Becca was almost sad to see Melissa and her mom leave. They’d been the highlight of her day.

Becca changed at the end of her shift and her hunger made her realize she didn’t have any food in her kitchen. She’d planned to pick up a few things the day before, but then the fire happened. She saw Denise and asked if there was a grocery shop close by. Denise told her where the only one was. Becca felt happy to learn everything was within walking distance. She figured she’d pick up a few things and take her car into town in a couple of days to get more.

On her way home, she walked behind a couple hand-in- hand. It made her think of the times Blake held her hand as they walked through Central Park. Thoughts of him only made her think of him and Janet in bed together. A single tear crept down her cheek. She lifted the bag she carried high enough so she could brush the tear away with the back of her hand. When she reached the end of town and noticed the sign, “Que Syrah Syrah,” It made her smile. Just as the other signs in town gave her comfort, so did this one.

Maybe a nice bottle of Chardonnay is what the doctor should order. It’s the next best thing to a best friend, and it will go well with that gorgeous tub that awaits me at home,
Becca thought and opened the door to the sweetest little wine shop she’d ever seen.

“Good evening. Are you here to sign up for the singles wine-tasting night?”

Becca looked at the sign the woman held that mentioned a bi-weekly wine tasting night for singles.
Oh God! I need to start wearing a sign that says I don’t want a man.
She smiled politely and shook her head.

“No thanks, I’m not into singles meetings or blind dates, or men at all, really.” Then she realized the last time she said she wasn’t into men that it led the person to believe she was a lesbian. “I’m not a lesbian. Don’t get me wrong. There’s nothing wrong with that. I mean…what I’m trying to say is…I like men or used to. I just came out of a relationship with no desire to start another.” Becca took in a deep breath then laughed. “Where the hell are my manners? I’m Dr. Rebecca Miller. I just moved into town. I’d love a nice bottle of Chardonnay to take home and drown my sorrows”. Becca extended her hand to the woman who had to listen to her ramble. The poor woman looked shocked.