Mid Week Tease: Wine, Anyone? #MWTease

“Mark is a wonderful employee. Will do anything I ask and he’s extremely…discreet.” Her eyes became serious as she searched my face.

I wasn’t sure what she meant but I felt the need to fill the silence as she stared at me. “I’m sure that’s important in this location. It’s good to have employees you can trust.” I tipped back the rest of my wine and reach for the bottle. Gianna’s hand touched mine.

“I have another bottle I’d like you to try.” She flipped open a wooden lid in the middle of the table I hadn’t noticed until that moment. I leaned forward to catch a glimpse of what was under the small door. A series of buttons and a lever glowed in a neat row. Gianna’s manicured index finger pressed the button closest to her.

“Yes, Miss Luciani.” Mark’s husky voice filled the small room through what must’ve been hidden speakers. His voice was intimate as though he’d whispered it into my ear. I remembered the ear piece he wore and figured he was talking into the microphone.

“Mark, would you bring us that special bottle I chose from the cellar earlier today.” Gianna’s voice was authoritative but friendly.

Mark delayed his response a moment before “of course” rang through the room. Less than a minute later, Mark strode in carrying a deep red bottle with an embossed black label. He stood in the doorway, his eyes on Gianna before shifting to me. “Are you finished with the kitchen viewing?” he asked.

Gianna nodded. “We can open it up later for desert. Why don’t you give us some privacy, Mark.” She leaned back in her chair as he closed the door and moved to the table before he placed the bottle in front of her.

“I trust this is the bottle you requested?” he asked and leaned over her as his fingers found the lever under the lid. A motor purred and a dark wood divider slid across the half wall, blocking the brightly light kitchen from view. The room became quiet as though cut off from the chaos of the busy kitchen. His fingers moved to two other buttons, prompting the lights to dim and a bluesy jazz beat pumped into the room.

Gianna slid the bottle closer and peered at the label. “This is the one.” She and I watched his movements as he slowly lit the candle on the table and reached into his pocket revealing a gleaming silver corkscrew. He easily uncorked the bottle with a plunk sound and poured a small amount into Gianna’s glass. Instead of sliding the tasting to her, he kneeled next to her chair and offered the glass to her mouth. She took it from him and rocked the deep liquid from side to side. “Tess has had a busy day and can use a little Luciani TLC. Would you like to show her our VIP treatment?”

“It would be my pleasure,” he said as they both looked at me which made me even more self-conscious than before.

I wave may hand. “No special treatment is necessary. Really. I’m enjoying every moment,” I said as the heat crept up my neck.

Mark rose to his feet and walked around the table the long way. His eyes never leaving me. He stopped behind my chair.

“I’m glad you’re enjoying it here because I love having you as my special guest tonight. As I explained, Mark is an exceptional employee who possesses exceptional talents.” Her eyes moved to a target over my head and she nodded once. Warm hands rested on my bare shoulders and I froze. I was about to protest when the pads of his thumbs simultaneously rubbed circles into two knots in my shoulders. How the hell he knew my trouble spot with one touch was beyond my comprehension but I any resistance I had the moment before melted away and I couldn’t hold back a sigh as I rocked my head to the side.