Chapter 10

Vince

S wallow? Swallow?

I unceremoniously spat out the wine, but most came down my nose. I coughed violently. Sylvain patted my back and handed me a napkin.

Did he not realise what he'd just said?

God, could I be making more of a fool of myself? But when he told me to swallow and not spit, what did he expect?

"Are you okay, Vince? Did the wine go down the wrong hole?"

Fuck me. That set me off coughing again. Oh, the innuendoes.

Lexi would have had a field day. If only she were here. No, scratch that. I was glad she wasn't. She'd have teased me mercilessly.

I'd placed the glass on the table, but the cloth was a mess. Wine everywhere. Hopefully, it wasn't too expensive, and thank god it hadn't been red.

Finally, I managed to bring myself under control.

"I'm so sorry. I think it must have gone down the wrong way." My eyes watered so much I could barely see. I removed my glasses and wiped my eyes.

"Here. Would you like a glass of water?" Raphael handed it to me.

"Honestly, I'm fine. A little embarrassed, but fine."

"We've all done it. I know I have." Sylvain's hand rested firmly on my back. "As long as you're okay."

I smiled at him. His concern was touching. "I'm fine. Thank you."

His gaze softened. "Do you want to carry on?"

"Of course, yes. We need to choose some great wines for the restaurant."

As long as we didn't talk about spitting and swallowing .

The remainder of the tasting passed with no incident, although I was feeling a little tipsy by the end, and I struggled to keep my thoughts to myself about how bloody good looking Sylvain was and maybe he'd let me swallow and not spit.

I shook my head, attempting to rid myself of the image I'd conjured up.

The one where I was on my knees, Sylvain's dick down my throat.

"Vince? Are you okay? You're looking a little flustered," the object of my fantasy asked, and the image disappeared.

Definitely hot and bothered, horny too.

I might not have ever been with a man, but I'd know what to do when presented with a cock. Hopefully.

"It's the wine. I'm not usually a big drinker. Seems every time I'm in your presence, I'm slightly worse for wear." Please let me not give myself away .

"Well, let's get some meat down you."

I swore Sylvain was saying these things on purpose. How could he not know how suggestive his words were?

I nodded, desperately holding back the snigger that threatened to break free.

"Yep," I squeaked. "Sounds good to me."

Thankfully, Raphael's house was a short walk from the vault, and we sat around a large wooden farmhouse table in his spacious kitchen.

The chunky wooden benches instead of chairs added to the rustic charm of how I'd expected a French farmhouse kitchen to look.

A huge Aga stood against a tiled, white wall. Saucepans, utensils, and bunches of herbs tied with coloured twine hung on racks from the ceiling.

The smell of garlic and fish filled the air.

"Please, please. Sit, both of you." Raphael gestured to a bench, then sat opposite us.

A beautiful woman in a black dress with a pale purple-and-white-checked apron, her long, blonde hair secured with a black ribbon, set several dishes on the table.

"This is my sister, Elodie."

She smiled sweetly and bowed politely.

"She doesn't speak much English, I'm afraid."

Well, we were in France. I couldn't expect everyone to speak English. I was more than happy to try and learn French. Maybe Sylvain could help me.

The food looked and smelt delicious, but I had no idea what kind of fish it was. "Sliced gratin potatoes, fillet of sea bass with a delicate white wine and garlic jus. Made with our wine, of course." Had Raphael read my mind?

I cut a small piece and ate it.

"Wow, this is fantastic." The light sauce tickled my taste buds. Fish wasn't my favourite, but I tucked into the succulent meat with enthusiasm but without looking like I'd not eaten in days.

Thanks to the full cupboards at the villa, I'd eaten better here than I did when home.

"Where are you off to next?" Raphael asked between mouthfuls.

"I thought we could take a drive farther along the coast. There are a few secluded beaches, some hidden gems. I'm showing Vince that we're not all animals."

I didn't think that at all.

Raphael raised an eyebrow.

"Some young thugs thought it was a good idea to mug Vince a few nights ago. They stole his wallet and cash. This is my way of making it up to him."

"You have a beautiful country. The little I've seen of it, anyway." I really loved it.

"It has its attractions." Raphael eyed Sylvain with an expression that left no doubt in my mind they had history.

"As does England," Sylvain said. "It has its own perks."

"You'd know all about that."

"What can I say? I'm well travelled."

"You mean you've been around a bit."

Sylvain shook his head. "You win."

Following their conversation was like following a tennis match, their words going back and forth. It was highly entertaining. I sipped more wine and devoured the amazing food while they continued to outdo the other.

"I'm agreeing with you, just wording it slightly differently."

Sylvain put down his knife and fork and leant his elbows on the rough wooden table.

"What Raphael is trying to say is that I've had a few boyfriends…and girlfriends but have yet to find someone to spend or share the rest of my life with."

"He's looking for something specific. A unicorn, if you will. Looks like he could be single for the rest of his life." Raphael winked at me.

"If he looks hard enough, he may find the right person. I'm a firm believer that there's someone for everyone." Not that I was about to tell him that my someone had found their someone and it wasn't me. "I'm still looking too. I don't need a Prince Charming, although one would be nice."

"Wise words, Vince. I agree completely." Sylvain clinked his water glass with my empty wine glass. How had that happened? But before I could say no, Raphael filled it again.

Sylvain sent him a pointed look with a slight shake of his head, and once again, Raphael shrugged.

Unspoken words I had no hope of translating.

We ate until our plates were empty, save for a few bones. The atmosphere was thick with tension as I glanced between the two warring men.

"The food was wonderful, thank you," I said, breaking the uncomfortable silence.

"It was our pleasure to entertain you."

Elodie sat quietly at one end of the table, not engaging in our conversation.

"Thank you, Elodie. The food was perfect."

"She can't hear you," Sylvain said. "Deaf from birth."

"So how come she heard what Raphael said earlier?" She'd smiled and bowed to him.

"Lip-reading, although they've also developed their special form of sign language. I know a little, but this is nothing like I've seen. Being twins, they have a special bond."

That definitely explained it.

Elodie stood and cleared away the plates, and before Raphael could top up my glass again, I placed my hand over the top.

The alcohol was already dulling my senses. My tongue tingled, and my cheeks felt numb. What would Sylvain think of me? Every time I was with him, I was drunk or working my way up there.

"Let's take a walk through the vineyard and get some fresh air," he said.

Sounded like a great plan.

When I stepped outside, the afternoon sun shone relentlessly, and my baseball cap offered little protection against its burning rays.

Although the meal had been light, the combination of sun, wine, and heat made me drowsy. I wouldn't last long outside.

Sylvain and Raphael walked ahead, talking incessantly in French, arms and hands conveying what words couldn't say.

God, it was hot, and where was water when I needed it?

My knees seemed to have a mind of their own and buckled from underneath me. I slithered to the ground and landed with a bump against a creaky vine.

Five minutes' rest and I'd be good to go. I'd catch up with them in a moment.

"Vince. Wake up, Vince. Jesus, Raphael, why did you have to give him so much wine?"

Vigorous shaking woke me further.

"What? Where's the fire?" I looked into Sylvain's worried face.

"What on earth happened? Did you faint? Are you unwell? Talk to me."

Gentle fingers swept the damp hair from my hot, sweaty brow.

"Give him this." Raphael handed him a flask. Please no more wine.

"It's just water, not wine."

Had I said that out loud?

"Yes, you said it out loud." Sylvain pressed the bottle to my lips and wetted them before allowing me to drink. "Carefully."

I did as he said, relief surging through me as the cool liquid slid down my throat.

I grabbed his hand and encouraged him to give me more.

"Seems like I'm always coming to your rescue. Not quite Prince Charming. Are you feeling all right now?"

He could be my Prince Charming any day. I nodded. Oh god, wrong move. A wave of nausea threatened to bring up the delicious lunch.

"Slowly does it. Can you stand?"

Strong hands I remembered from before took mine and helped me to my feet.

I stumbled and almost lost my footing again. Sylvain's powerful arms surrounded me, holding me up when I couldn't. The scent of wine mingled with a musky fragrance, and it took every ounce of my resolve not to take a deep breath and drink him in as eagerly as I had done with the wine.

He smiled, a subtle lift of his lips.

"Did you sniff me?"

I groaned. I became a bumbling idiot every time. He must think I did nothing but drink and make a fool of myself. Embarrassment shifted to humiliation, and if my legs would have carried me, I'd have been off back to the farmhouse to grab a taxi back to the resort.

With no money, my only option was Sylvain, but once we returned, I'd hide for the rest of my holiday until it was time to go home.

"Can you take me back to the villa, please?" I asked quietly.

"Of course. It's been a long day. Lots of sun and maybe a bit too much wine?"

"You must think I'm terrible." My bottom lip quivered. Tears weren't far, and I put my hands to my face to hide my shame.

"Non. No way. In fact, I think you're incredibly sweet. You're a genuinely nice person."

Nice. The word I hated. A nondescript word for an average person. Why couldn't I be more than nice? Why couldn't I be amazing or sensational or magnificent?

I pulled away from him and tripped over my own feet. I couldn't even storm off with flair.

Why was I so pathetic?

"You're not pathetic."

Had I said that out loud too? What the fuck was it with me talking out loud?

"Yes, you did. I'm sorry. I think it's adorable."

"Adorable, nice, I heard all those words , right before they asked Theo or Lexi out."

"Then those people were stupid."

"No, they just had good taste."

"Don't you dare put yourself down, Vince. Only you can have faith and belief in yourself. If you don't build yourself up, who will?"

He had a point, but right now, I didn't want to hear that. Self-degradation was never far. Years of believing I would be nothing more than ‘nice' had a hand in making me feel that way. And I had no one other than Lexi to tell me I was amazing or sensational or magnificent.

Raphael stood to the side, shuffling his feet and looking anywhere but at me. Outstaying my welcome was another thing I was good at. No wonder I hated going out.

Sylvain released me and, with one hand on my back and the other on my arm, walked me back to the house. Raphael followed close, but giving me some space.

When we arrived at the car, I turned to Raphael, but before I could apologise for my actions, he held up his hand.

"Vince, I want to apologise for today. I was trying to show off, and I probably gave you too much wine. Please know it's not my usual practice, and Sylvain will no doubt scold me for my behaviour, as he should."

He handed me a bag, and I peered inside. Wine. I might have guessed.

"Thank you. That's very kind of you, but you don't need to."

"It's the least I can do. I know you'll have a great couple of days. Sylvain is a wonderful man. You could definitely do worse."

"Oh, we're not—"

He pulled me into another hug, kissing my cheeks, then did the same to Sylvain. With a last wave, he sauntered back to the house, his hands in his pockets, whistling.

"Did I upset him?" I asked.

"No, you didn't. He realised what an arse he'd been and apologised, as he should. Let's get in the car. I'll put the roof up and the air-con on, and we'll take a leisurely drive back to the resort. How does that sound?"

Amazing and sensational and magnificent.