Page 57 of Elite Connections: an LGBTQ Romance Charity Anthology

“Where are we going today?”Blair asks from her seat next to me on the bus. For the first time today, she’s looking at me and not avoiding eye contact.

When she was finally ready, she looked gorgeous in black jeans, a white tee, and a faux leather jacket. If I had a motorcycle, I’d want to throw her on the back and take her for a ride.

God, I can’t remember the last time I’ve acted so lusty.

We rattle down a quiet country road. It’s a postcard-picture of the Italian countryside. Rolling hills. Green trees as far as the eye can see. A villa here and there.

I can’t help but take in the gorgeous landscape with bright blue skies as we drive by. Even more so because Blair is so captivated by it.

“A little place I know.”

“Of course you know a little place.”

“Hey. I’ve never actually been here.”

“Then how do you know about it?”

I smile. “My grandparents.”

The bus slows and pulls down another tree-lined street. A terra-cotta-colored building comes into view. Smaller buildings are in the distance, breaking up the perfectly lined rows of trees. An older man and his wife are waiting for us as we all unload.

“Ciao! Ciao!”

His thick Italian voice shouts at us, beckoning us to him.

“Ciao!” Eden returns his greeting with gusto. “I can’t thank you enough for fitting us in today, Marco.”

He waves her off. “I’m glad you are here. Less wine for me,” he guffaws, patting a wide belly.

“And a special thank you to Raven for connecting us with Marco.” Eden’s eyes find mine in the crowd.

“I’m happy to help.”

“Then let’s drink wine!” Marco claps his hands, leading us into the old building.

“I can’t believe you did all this.” Blair sounds surprised. “Where do you find all the time?”

“I ran into Eden in the lobby, and the other one fell through today because of an issue with the vats. I knew about this place, so I suggested it. No big deal.” I shrug a shoulder. “I had time this morning.”

Blair’s eyes widen.

“You okay?”

“Totally fine.” Her voice goes up an octave before she grabs my arm. “Raven. This is big. Eden looks fucking ecstatic.”

I’m trying not to let that small fact slip into my brain.

Of course I knew how happy she was when I told her I could make this work when I ran into her in the lobby this morning.

The tasting room is everything I remember seeing in pictures.

Wine bottles line one wall. Candles with wax dripping over the edges of bottles sit on each table. Hardwood floors creak beneath our feet. Lines of glasses sit on each table as Marco’s wife directs us each to a seat.

“Ladies, can I join you?” Eden asks as we find a spot near the window.

“Of course. It’d be our pleasure.”

Blair pulls me down next to her, dropping an innocent peck on my cheek. “You’ve got this.”

Her whisper is only for me.

“How are you ladies enjoying Milan so far?” Eden asks, green eyes flitting between the two of us.

“I love it,” Blair answers. “I can’t get over how incredible the Duomo tour was.”

“It’s one of my favorite places in the world.”

Blair sips her wine. “I can see why. Stunning architecture.”

“Did you enjoy it, Raven?” Eden asks, leaning her elbows on the table.

“I’d prefer to see it from the ground.” I laugh.

“Ahh, you’re like my Laney. She hates heights too.”

“She and I would get along well then. Is she here with you today?”

Eden shakes her head. “She had to stay back and get some packing done. We’re selling everything here and wandering.”

“Wow. Where are you going first?” Blair asks.

“Going to spend some time in Budapest before following summer. No need to be cold if we don’t have to.”

“I’m trying to get Raven to take me somewhere warm after this, but real life beckons at home.”

“Make sure she does.” Eden points at me. “There’s always going to be something at home. Make time for travel. And each other.”

“I always do.” I face Blair, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Who wouldn’t with this woman?”

Eden studies both of us with a careful eye. “How did you two meet?”

“We met at a work function,” I answer before Blair can stutter her way through a response.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned about Blair it’s that lying doesn’t exactly come easy to her. While it’s something I would normally be grateful for, it’s not under these circumstances.

“Was it love at first sight?”

“It took awhile for her to win me over,” Blair laughs.

“And here I thought I was the most charming woman you’d ever met,” I say in jest.

“So you think.”

Eden’s eyes are moving between the two of us. It sends an uneasy feeling through me. Every time we’ve been around her, we’ve been nothing but the picture-perfect couple, but her perusal still makes me tense.

“You two are lucky. Enjoy each other while you can.” Eden finishes her glass and stands. “I’m going to go mingle with some of the other guests and let you enjoy your day. It was lovely getting to chat more with both of you.”

“Wow.” Blair turns wide eyes to me. “That couldn’t have gone better.”

I don’t think. I wrap an arm around her shoulders and pull her into a hug. All the nerves fluttering inside calm at her touch.

Being around Eden makes me nervous. I want this company so bad, I don’t know what I’ll do if I don’t get it. But Blair helps calm those nerves. Which is saying something since I’ve never been this desperate to get anything in my life.

“Thank you,” I whisper.

“She’s eating out of the palm of your hand, Raven.”

“God, I hope so.”

Blair pulls back, her cheeks pink. I love seeing her emotions play out on her face. She gulps down another sip of wine.

“How do you know about this winery?” she asks.

The sun is weak in the sky, hiding behind the clouds. This time of year, all of the trees are barren. It’s oddly comforting.

“My grandparents visited. They went on a tour with other seniors and loved it here.”

“And they liked it so much you wanted to come?”

“I wanted to see if it was worth all the fuss.”

“And is it?”

I nod. “It’s one of the reasons I want to buy traveLLin’. This winery? I know we’re welcome because the tour that brought my grandparents here? She runs it with her girlfriend. This is a place I know people like us are welcome. I know what it’s like to not feel that. And I never want people to encounter that.”

“You’re pretty incredible, you know that?”

“I’m not.” I try to brush her off, but she won’t let me.

“Yes you are. Most people would want to buy this just to have another company to add to their roster. But you love it.”

I rest my hand in my chin, taking in this beautiful woman that I never would’ve met had it not been for traveLLin’.

I thought it would be hard to spend time with someone for the next few weeks. The only hard part about it is convincing myself not to fall for Blair.

Because the more time I spend in her company, the harder it is to keep my distance.