Page 28 of Saving Soul

My temper spiked, but I diffused it with a deep breath. “Unfortunately for me, my evening entails a good book and a glass of wine.”

“Adam, why don’t you show Cassidy where we keep the good wine.”

He gaped. “But I just got here.”

“And we have the whole weekend. Plus, I need a nap in preparation for our game of chess later.”

Adam sighed. “Very well.”

“You’re a good boy, Adam.”

I met his gaze and lifted my brow.Not last I checked.

He tipped his head toward the door. “Let’s go.”

Once we were a safe distance from Liam’s room, I turned around. “It okay, Adam. You don’t have to.”

He marched past my solitary stance and down the hall. “Come on.”

I had to jog to catch up with his strides. “Slow down. I’m going to get lost.” I trailed his steps down the staircase, through the dining room, and into the kitchen, wishing I’d scattered breadcrumbs in my wake. There was no way I’d find my way back. Harlow Manor was a labyrinth.

We finally reached a spiral staircase that descended into an ominous dark hole in the floor.

“Are you taking me to the dungeons?”

“Something like that.” Adam chuckled. “Unfortunately, I left my handcuffs at home.”

At the shockingly welcomed visual, Adam flicked on the light switch. “Are you coming?” He peered back as he ran his hand over the handrail. “Don’t forget to hold on.”

I was momentarily stunned by his innuendo before shaking it off and following him into the void below. I took each step with care until I reached the floor of a long, narrow room lined with hundreds of wine bottles. “Holy shit.”

“Wait until you taste one.” He ran his fingers along the dusty bottles. “What year were you born?”

“1991.”

“That’s a good year.”

“How do you know?”

With soft chuckle, Adam ignored my question and pulled out a bottle. He showed me the label printed with my birth year, then grabbed a corkscrew. After opening the bottle, he placed it on a wine-barrel table to aerate.

He slid two large wine glasses from the tiny, purpose-built bar off to the side of the room. “So, you and the doc, eh?”

I rubbed my arms, suddenly aware of the cooler temperature in the room. “I don’t think so. I barely know him.”

He placed the glasses next to the wine bottle, then lifted his gaze to mine. “I didn’t think that mattered.”

My lips pursed as I looked away. “Well, it does…normally.”

Adam grew silent as he poured the wine. “So, how much do you know about wine?”

“Oh, loads. I used to spend my summers working at this little vineyard in the south of France.”

He frowned. “Really?”

“No.” I snorted. “But I’m guessing you did.”

“Well, no…” He cleared his throat. “Not every summer.”