Chapter 9
1136 Words
Ines
I sat inside reading a book when I heard a horse coming up the hill.
I looked out the window, half expecting Ma and Pa arriving from their trip to the beach but instead saw Vicente on his horse.
Me heart quickened at the sight of him.
His light brown hair fell in small waves over his eyes and the dark green shirt he had flowed with the wind. The sun glinted off his sun kissed skin and I could imagine how bright and beautiful his eyes looked.
I quickly ran to the mirror in the living room to fix my appearance. My curls were slightly held back by silver pins my father had brought me from Ireland and the cream dress I wore had light pink flowers at the bottom of the skirt. It was a simple stay at home dress, it was nothing out of the ordinary.
I had the impulse to go change into something nicer but I heard a knock on the back door and knew it was too late.
“I saw you at the window Ines! I know you’re here!” Vicente said, and I could hear a smile in his voice.
I held back a groan, not ready to interact with him yet, but slowly made my way to the door.
When I opened it he stood there with his beautiful smile and honey eyes full of humor.
“You know, it’s rather rude to keep a guest waiting at the door.”
But there he went, with the teasing I had slowly started noticing.
“You didn’t even wait a full minute.”
“Call me impatient,” he said.
I smiled but rolled my eyes.
The man was beautiful; I loved him and thought of him constantly. But I recently began to realize how annoying he could be.
And surprisingly, it made me love him more.
I closed the door behind me and stepped outside, causing him to take several steps back.
“You won’t invite me in?”
“I’m home alone.”
“Of course, I understand,” he said, his face turning serious.
Vicente was charming and playful but he was a gentleman nonetheless. His mother and father raised him to be one and I had never seen him act otherwise.
A part of me wondered how he acted in high society. Was he as playful and teasing? Or was he a serious man who slyly flirted with the rich young ladies?
I wanted to not care but once again, curiosity won me over. “How was your trip to the city?”
“It was pleasant, it’s always nice to see my friends there.”
“Like the Viscount and his Viscountess?”
Vicente titled his head to the side. “Yes, how did you know?”
I held back another groan. “Your Ma told mine.”
“Of course she did.”
I didn’t say anything and he continued on. “It was great to see Enrique and Rachel, and their children of course. They’re a delight to be around.”
“You like children?” I asked, rather surprised.
“Of course. I always have.”
I nodded but felt my heart quicken again; his words only fed the dreams I had of him.
“Do you like children Ines?”
“Of course I do.”
“I’m sure you’ll be a great mother someday.”
“Yes, I do hope so.”
“And you’ll have a great husband I’m sure.”
“I hope so. Who knows if I will.”
“Why would you say that? You deserve nothing less.”
“I guess I’m just waiting for him to actually notice me,” I blurted out.
Vicente smiled, “so there is a guy.”
I shook my head, “no. He would have to want me for there to be even a possibility.”
“Who wouldn’t notice you Ines?”
We both looked at one another for a moment; the air seemed to thicken and I couldn’t look away.
His eyes were a pool of rich honey and all I wanted to do was drown in them.
I wanted to drown in him.
The breeze picked up and his brown waves of hair flew around his face, and I could smell the wine off of his skin.
It was so intoxicating; it always lured me in.
Vicente cleared his throat, probably noticing how lost I was as I looked at him.
I felt my face go hot; he began to talk and I knew he was just too nice to point it out.
“So, my Mother said you had a garden emergency. She sent me to help.”
At that I rolled my eyes, and I felt the air going back to normal.
“It’s not a garden problem. I just am really terrible at taking care of flowers.”
Vicente smiled. “Really? Show me.”
I reluctantly led him to the the sad flower pot where dead flowers hung.
Vicente grimaced but he knelt down to observe it.
“You’re right, you’re terrible.”
“I know.”
He reached for dried petals and then turned to look at me with a giant smile.
“You were trying to grow Spanish Bluebells?”
I nod, “they’re my favorite flower.”
“Mine too.”
Again, I looked into his eyes and get lost in them. I was less than a foot away from him and yet I felt like I was too far.
“I can definitely help you,” Vicente said standing. “But I will have to ask for something in return.”
“What is it?”
“I’ll need you to accompany me to a wine tasting at my mother’s house.”
I blinked in confusion. “Wine tasting?”
“We have a new wine in the making and I’d love some feedback.”
“Your parents haven’t mentioned this at all.”
“It’s a private wine tasting.”
“Is it really?”
“Yes. And they don’t know about it, I thought of it on the way here.”
I smiled, he was always a businessman. But I was so confused. “Why me? Why not one of your city friends? Or anyone else!”
Vicente shrugged. “You’re honest. And I trust your opinion.”
I was happy to spend time with him; I always was. But I was still confused.
“I still don’t understand why you want my opinion.”
Vicente sighed and looked at me closely, as if trying to find the right words.
But at the end he just smiled and shrugged. “I’m not exactly sure why either. I just know I do.”
- Writer
