A Date With Merlot

Meghan headed out for her daily walk on a cool crisp day in October when she first saw him. The new man moving into her building was so handsome and distinguished, he took her breath away. His body was lithe and muscular without being too muscular. His hair was dark with just the right amount of white frosting the top of his head. His eyes were bluer than the sky on a good day, such as this one. He was definitely as delicious looking as a tall glass of fine wine.

He smiled as he walked past her, heading for the stairs. “Hi”, he said in just the right timbre for her to feel it run through her body like a tickle along her spine. Meghan was far too flustered to respond back so instead she simply beamed in delighted embarrassment. Oh, why can’t I be smoother and more charming around men, she thought as she headed out on her walk. The entire mile around her complex she couldn’t stop berating herself, imagining him in his upstairs apartment painting the walls, his body moving with the roller. She promised herself that next time she’d be more like one of those sexy, seductive women from her romance novels. The one’s who would have been up there painting the walls with him or cuddling up with him and his puppy. Surely a hot guy like him had a puppy or kitten.

Letting her mind get away from her Meghan didn’t even notice him until she was within talking distance. He was bringing a can of paint out of his car. She blushed at how close her thoughts had come to being accurate. I can do this, she thought, approaching him without breaking too many social distancing rules, hoping that her swaying walk was more graceful than awkward. He turned around and noticed her just as she tripped. It would have been a hard fall right on her face if he hadn’t dropped the paint cans, reached out and caught her in his arms.

“Are you okay?” he asked her

“Ummm. Yeah. I’m fine. Thanks.” She stammered, feeling grateful that the paint hadn’t broken, leading to an even more embarrassing apology. “That was really thoughtful of you, catching me like that.”

He flashed her a dazzling smile that lit up his eyes. “Any time”, he said. “I was just headed up to paint my new place. My name is Brian.”

Meghan liked that, an actual introduction. Too many people these days could go for long conversations never knowing each other’s name. She always liked introducing herself but far too often was met with a long silence in place of a returned greeting. “Meghan,” she replied. “My name is Meghan. I’m your downstairs neighbor.” Oh boy. She could have hit herself over the head for the last part. I’m your downstairs neighbor? He saw her walk out her door earlier. Of course he knew she was his downstairs neighbor.

Brian gave a little chuckle, not in an offensive way, more in what Meghan hoped was a ‘she’s cute’ kind of way. “Well, I hope to see you around again soon.” He said as he picked up his cans of paint and headed upstairs. She wanted to ask him on a date so bad but she really wasn’t sure how with how she was always so shy. Then an idea came to her and she decided to not over think it as was her usual habit. She had to do grocery shopping anyway and she had the perfect bottle tucked away in her wine cabinet she had been saving for a special occasion. This would work out great.

Within an hour Meghan stood knocking at Brian’s door with a picnic basket in one hand and a bottle of wine in the other. It was a little tricky knocking with her hands full and yet she still managed a soft rap. After a brief wait Brian answered the door, still in the t-shirt and jeans of earlier, not at all the way her romantic hero fantasy had dressed during her walk earlier. It didn’t matter much though as all thought flew from her head with that fantastic smile he kept directing her way.

“Hi.” Brian said. “This looks interesting. You planning on going on a picnic?” “Uhhh… yes.” Meghan barely managed to respond before collecting herself with a bit more poise. “Actually, I just went shopping and I had this new bottle of merlot to try. I thought, if you want to, maybe you could join me for a bit of a taste testing.” “Like a date?” he asked. “Well, I mean, yeah, I guess.” She said, a little flustered again, but he just kept smiling. Feeling nervous she hurriedly put in “You know, if you want it to be a date. Otherwise it could just be two new neighbors getting acquainted.” He grinned even wider and cut in, “I think I’d like a date.” He backed up just long enough to grab some keys from the kitchen counter before pulling the door to and locking up.

They headed for a clearing in back of the building, setting out a thin blanket that was stashed in the top of the picnic basket and placing the rest of the basket items on the blanket. Meghan had packed all her favorites, extra sharp cheddar, brie, crackers, grapes, strawberries and some utensils for spreading the cheese. The two of them settled on either side of the blanket, not touching but within touching distance. “You don’t mind being this close, do you?” he asked. She got an image in her head from her earlier thoughts and blushed. “No. Of course not.” She told him honestly. “Oh good.” He really sounded relieved.

Brian picked up a cracker with brie to eat. Mmmm. I must have it bad, she thought, he even eats sexy. Certain that she herself couldn’t pull off putting food in her mouth and chewing without looking like a cow Meghan reached for the wine instead. “Have you ever had this brand.” She asked him. “No”, he responded, “What is it?” “Oh, it’s this really unique brand I found online called Bright Cellars.”

Realizing she may have just made herself sound like one of those internet obsessed girls who were always taking selfies Meghan hurriedly put in, “I don’t do everything online. You understand?” “Oh course not.” Brian laughed. “I haven’t even seen you glance at your phone once.” She smiled feeling reassured. “Okay.” She sighed. “So, anyway, I found this unique brand online. You take a quiz and it matches you with your perfect wines. I’m sure our question answers would be different, but you might like this one anyway. It’s a merlot...” “Hold on.” He said on a laugh. “It is a taste testing, right? So why don’t I see if I can taste the flavors for myself?” “Okay.” Meghan was really intrigued now. Obviously Brian was very confident in his wine knowledge.

Meghan poured each of them a small amount in the little plastic wine glasses that came with the picnic basket. Brian held the glass up to his nose to smell it before tasting the wine. “Incredible.” He told her “There are just the right notes of berries, with a smooth yet bold flavor. If I’m not mistaken it has an almost dark chocolate feel at the end. I can see why you like this brand so much.” She smiled. “Yeah. I fibbed about the tasting part. This is actually my favorite Merlot. It’s called Meet Cute. I love curling up with a good book and glass of wine in the evening.” She told him. “I love to read too,” he told, “and so I can see the definite irony in drinking a wine called Meet Cute on this date.” She blushed at that. It hadn’t occurred to her that a wine by that name could describe their meeting earlier in the day.

“So, you love to read. You have great taste in wine and snacks. You are a little clumsy and shy but bold enough to knock on a strangers door. What other amazing things are going on in your life?” Brian asked her with obvious genuine interest. It was odd, all of those nerves had been for nothing. Meghan felt the most comfortable around this practical stranger that she had ever felt with a man who wasn’t related to her. “Oh, I’m a cook.” She told him. “Really?” Brian’s eyes lit up. “I’d love to try some of your food sometime, especially if this picnic is any evidence of how good a sense of taste you have.” It was such a charming thing to say and so clearly hinting at all the good things to come.

Meghan told him all about her life with her cat, her books, and her career in the culinary arts. Brian told her all about his life with, yes he has one, his cat, his career as a writer and his love of cooking. Before they knew it the sky was growing dark and the wine had run dry. The snacks were the only thing barely touched as they had been mostly talking. Time had really flown by and seemed like it could keep flying by if they allowed it. But, as Meghan’s mom had taught her, a good thing didn’t need to be rushed.

“It looks like our day is drawing to an end.” She batted her lashes and smiled to soften the blow. “So it has.” He had gotten a little hoarse staring at her until looking him straight in the eyes made her blush and look away.

The two packed up and walked back to Brian’s door. He paused. “Do you want to come in?” he asked in the same hoarse voice. She laid her hand on his arm gently. “Another time.” He looked a little confused but didn’t say anything. She turned around and just as she started to descend the steps back to her own place she turned her head and said, “Until next time.”

“Tomorrow?” Brian quickly called after her. Meghan flashed her pearly whites in a huge grin. “Tomorrow.”