You Had Me at Merlot: Part 2 Read online

  What the hell happened here last night? How did I fall asleep right on him? Was he even still alive, or had I crushed him to death?

  I moved a hand as carefully as I could and held a finger under his nose. Yes, he was breathing. Now the real question … was I wearing underwear?

  Yes. Although my dress had ridden up to my stomach, my knickers were very much in place, even if they were rubbing up against the crotch of his jeans. Okay. So we can’t have done ‘it’. Probably. But we were very close together, so much so that, to be honest, I felt a bit clammy. I used my spare hand, i.e. the one not screaming with pins and needles as it was currently wedged under Jamie’s triceps, to rub my fuzzy teeth until they squeaked with a whimper of cleanness.

  I lifted my head and – oooh – that was a hangover waiting to happen.

  Jamie opened his eyes and met mine. We stared at each other for a moment, my body tense, very aware of it pressing down on his, and suddenly very aware of my full bladder.

  ‘Hello,’ I tested the waters.

  ‘Ciao Bella.’ He cracked a smile. He wasn’t revolted by me; this was a good start.

  ‘How are you?’ Formality is always a good start when lying atop of someone, in their bed, with a big old mind-blank and a rucked-up dress.

  ‘Very well, and yourself?’

  ‘Not too bad. Thank you.’ I peered around his room, searching for conversation or at least a way to say Please could you tell me if your bits were introduced to mine last night. I saw the empty black bottle that had housed the chilli wine that was now thumping about inside my bladder like an angry inmate. ‘That chilli wine … that’s some good stuff you’ve got going on there. Strong.’

  Jamie nodded. ‘But without it, this magical night may never have happened.’

  Oh God.

  ‘Magical … did you have a, um, favourite part?’

  ‘Every inch of your body.’ Jamie inhaled, a lazy smile spreading across his face before he stroked my hair and I struggled not to pee myself in panic. ‘What about you? What was your favourite part?’

  ‘Hahaha, your body is pretty good too, Mister!’ Shit, shit, shit, REMEMBER.

  ‘But as wonderful, as unforgettable as our lovemaking was, it was nothing compared to the honour you did for me afterwards.’

  I had no idea what I did. Did I give him a—

  ‘Thank you, mia Bella, you have made my heart sing.’

  ‘No problem …’ I sat up and he sat up too, wrapping his arms around me.

  ‘Oh Bella, when you said you’d be my wife you made me the happiest man in Italy.’

  Whoa. ‘Your wife?’

  ‘As soon as possible, just like you insisted last night.’ He leapt out of bed and stood in the middle of the room while I frantically adjusted my dress and my life flashed before my eyes. ‘Today I will take you to meet my grandmother!’

  ‘Brilliant.’

  ‘And she will love you.’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘And we will be married!’

  He spread his arms wide, my headache kicked in, my bladder nearly gave up and bile rose in my throat, and all I could say was, ‘GETTING MARRIED IS JUST WHAT I WANTED.’

  Coming next in

  You Had Me at Merlot …

  Elle, determinedly single Elle, isn’t used to waking up next to a boy. And she certainly isn’t used to being engaged. Thanks to all the (delicious) chilli wine she consumed last night, Elle has no idea how she’s managed to get herself into this situation. And as fond as she is of the man lying next to her, and no matter how happy he looks by this turn of events, getting married has never been part of Elle’s plan. No way. All that romance stuff just isn’t for her … right? But the combination of this lovely man, the incredibly romantic Italian countryside and the feel of the early-morning sun on her skin is starting to have an effect on Elle. Maybe, just maybe, she’s not as anti-love as she thought …

  You Had Me at Merlot is the kind of love story that will have you crying with laughter one moment and nodding your head in agreement the next. Full of sultry summer nights, hilarious moments and plenty of wine, it will warm even the most cynical of hearts and have you believing in the magic of romance (and the power of a decent glass of Merlot).

  You Had Me at Merlot: Part 3 is available for pre-order now!