A/N: First off, I have to thank you all for the lovely reception of this story and the amazing reviews. I'm sorry I took so long to update it, but it's been a busy week. Secondly, I have to thank my lovely betas lynnsaundersfanfic, a-lady-to-me, and terriejane. You guys are seriously awesome! This is part one of John's and Anna's time at the wedding. I'm already working on part two and hope to have it posted this weekend. Enjoy and please review!
Chapter 4
"Thanks for agreeing to come with me," John said with a simple squeeze of her hand. His eyes briefly flickered over to gaze at her as they made their way down the country road with the top of his car down. The weather was perfect this time of year; it wasn't blistering hot and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. The leaves were just beginning to change color, and being away from the city made one really appreciate the view and all the countryside had to offer. John had never been up this way before, but Anna was somewhat familiar with it, having grown up on a farm when her father was still alive. When he first told her of the location for the wedding, she was practically beaming at the prospect of returning to her old stomping grounds.
The wind moved through her hair, making her look like an unstoppable force. He smiled at her as he considered how gorgeous she looked like this. And then he turned serious as it dawned on him how much he was going to miss her in just a few short weeks. His heart already ached at the prospect of not being able to hop in his car, knowing she was a few minutes up the road. What was he going to do without her for the next year?
John removed his hand to shift the gears of the car. He focused his attentions on the road, but his hand promptly returned to linger on top of hers. "I hate going to these things alone, especially since my mother died," he said casually.
Anna knew it had taken him a long time to get over her loss. She knew he would always miss her of course, but Anna was glad to see he was able to talk about her now without nearly bursting into tears.
"My aunt has taken on the role of pseudo-mother and matchmaker. Every time I come around now, she feels it is her duty to make sure I'm eating enough and that I am closer to settling down with some nice girl," he informed her.
"And are you?" Anna asked.
"Hmmm," John replied as he pursed his lips together.
"Eating enough," she teased.
"Never enough for her standards," he answered back.
"And which aunt is this?"
"Tess," he replied.
"Awww, I've always loved her. Surprised it wasn't your Aunt Miriam," Anna said as she pulled her feet up and extended her legs to rest her feet on the dash.
"Oh she's just as guilty, but Tess is my godmother, so I suppose it's only natural."
"Wonder if she has some more embarrassing baby Bates photos to share," Anna mused aloud.
"Look you don't have to if you don't want to, but would you be alright with pretending we are together? Or at least somewhat interested in one another?" he inquired.
Anna's attention was fully on John in that moment. "What?"
"I don't know if I can take another blind date or setup at this wedding," he said with his eyes still on the road.
Anna hesitated for a second, not sure if she could take the temptation. If she gave her heart even a glimpse at what her life might be like while dating John Bates, even if it was just for show, she might not be able to let him go.
"I'm sorry. It was a stupid favor to ask," John said as he withdrew his hand. He fixed his large bear paws to the ten o'clock and two o'clock positions, clutching at the wheel tensely as he readjusted himself in his chair.
His hair blew wildly in the breeze and his eyes were covered by his sunglasses, but Anna could still see the subtle crinkle in the corner of his eye. She could tell there was regret there, and Anna found that she simply could not say no to him or allow him to feel any shame about his request. "It's fine. I'll do it," Anna said reluctantly. She managed to fool him with her fake smile. "What could it hurt?" The real question she should have been asking wasn't what, but who.
Deep down he knew Anna wouldn't turn down his proposal, but it had meant so much to him that she had accepted. John turned to give her a slightly longer look and brought her hand to his mouth before kissing the back of it. "You're an angel. I owe you."
She tried not to let the way his lips felt against her skin affect her as much as it did, but she failed miserably. Instead, she attempted to return to their earlier conversation. "That's enough of that," Anna quickly brushed off his words. "Back to studying," she said as she held up his study guide. "Once we are there, you are under strict orders not to read your books in my presence."
John chuckled at the way she tried to remain serious. "Yes ma'am."
"I mean it, John. And no more of this calling me 'kid' business," Anna added.
"I thought you liked me calling you that," John said, sounding a little offended.
"I did when I was six," she said. Almost instantly his face fell; she hadn't meant to hurt his feelings. What could she say or do to make things right again? "If we are going to pretend to be a couple, then you can't call me that."
"And what am I to call you then, hmm? Baby? Sweetheart? Darling?" He continued to rattle some more pet names off playfully.
"Just 'Anna' is fine," she responded a little too quickly. Anna didn't want to become too attached to the idea of him calling her something false. She'd never get that sweet voice out of her head.
"Hmmm, not sure how that will go over," John said in a mocking tone. He tried it out. "Just Anna can you hand me my cell phone so I can check the directions for this place?"
"You really are a child sometimes," she said before handing him the phone.
"You said to call you 'Just Anna'," he teased.
Anna rolled her eyes at him.
"Fine, what about, 'Anna Banana'?"
Her jaw set in a hard line as she eyed him seriously. "John," she said with a warning glare.
"So that's a no then?" John put his hands up in defeat. "Alright, solid no. I was just trying it on for size." They drove quietly for a moment longer. "Anna?"
This time his voice was serious, and it took on a tone she was not familiar with. She had never known such love and care could resonate within the way one said her name, but there it was. And she knew that no matter how many times he said it, she would always answer and come running. "Hmm?"
"I really do owe you, sweetheart."
Anna smiled back at him all too easily. Hearing such words roll off his tongue would be the death of her. She blushed under his gaze and returned to helping him study as they continued their journey.
They pulled up to the house where the wedding was to be held, and Anna felt immediately out of place. Although, she wouldn't have called it a house; it was nearly as big as her dormitory. The fanciful exterior made it look like a miniature castle with cobblestone walls covered in ivy. Endless rows of grapevines surrounded the property on three sides and stretched far beyond Anna's line of sight. John's aunt Miriam had married well. Her husband, Andrew, had established one of the most successful vineyards in England. When it came to his daughter's pending nuptials, no expense was to be spared. The house itself was modestly decorated, but John had already told Anna he half expected white doves to be released when Beth walked down the aisle. Both of them looked at the house from the road before he turned into the driveway. "Well, if there was ever a time to turn back on our plans, this is it," he said.
"I said I would, and I meant it," she quickly assured him. Anna checked herself in the mirror as she combed out her hair and applied some lipstick. "Now, just so that we are on the same page, exactly when did we become a couple?"
"Uh, six months ago." He threw out a number that seemed to make sense to him. "Anything longer than that and they'll be questioning us about marriage, and that's just as bad as being set up," he deduced.
Anna shook her head in disagreement as she laughed.
"Anything less than that, and it would seem odd that I'd brought you as my date," he continued.
"Would it really, though?" Anna asked as she pinned her hair back.
John couldn't help but admire her beauty; she looked like a modern day Grace Kelly. She was wearing a knee-length summer dress that had proved to be quite the distraction the whole way up here. It hugged her figure nicely and showed off her legs. The peach fabric complimented her coloring nicely and highlighted her blonde hair. She caught him staring in the reflection of the mirror, and he turned his head before clearing his throat. "Only serious couples attend weddings together," John concluded.
"We aren't a serious couple, and you invited me," Anna argued in a light tone.
"Right. But we've known each other forever. I should think that makes us more committed than a serious couple," he said without realizing the weight of his words.
Anna swallowed the lump in her throat. "Right. Well, best not keep them waiting."
John took this as his cue to pull into the driveway. No sooner did he engage the emergency brake, then his family began smothering them and ushering them inside.
"So…" Tess said in an almost sing-song voice as she nudged John's side.
He cut up the garlic bread and placed it into the serving bowl. "So?" John said back with a hint of sarcasm. He knew what was coming and was surprised she had held off this long.
"How is school?"
The question knocks him off balance, as he had expected her to ask about Anna. "School is going well. I still have another year. I applied for an internship with one of the most prestigious law firms in London, but the competition is fierce, so I'm not getting my hopes up just yet."
"Have a little faith in yourself. It will all pan out the way it's meant to, but I see big things in your future," she said. "Your mother would be so proud of you, John, just as myself and the rest of the family are."
He set the bowl of bread on the table, and his eyes lifted to meet hers. John smiled back at her in thanks. "I just wish she was here to see it all," he added as he paused with his hands resting on his hips.
"She sees it," Tess replied. He began to set the table, and then she started in on him. "Speaking of big things in your future, it's so nice to see Anna again. Any chance there is more than friendship simmering in that pan?"
"We've actually been going out for a while now." The words stung him more than he expected, and not because he was lying to his aunt, but because he was lying to himself.
"Have you?" her eyes lit up, and a smile stretched from ear to ear. She passed John the salad and gave his arm a gentle squeeze, "That's great! She's a lovely girl, and I'm glad you have someone to look after you."
"I suspect she was doing that even before we began dating," John said. He smiled to himself and was about to say something more when the source of his joy entered the room.
"Something smells good," Anna said. She had changed into something more comfortable and her hair was pulled back in a simple ponytail. "Can I help with anything?"
"No. I think we have it all under control. You can go let the rest of the family know that dinner is being served," Tess informed her.
Anna glanced lovingly at John before she walked into the family room to collect the others.
"You be good to her, Johnny. Don't go breaking that girl's heart," she said with a playful lilt.
She sounded and looked so much like his mother. It was all too easy to imagine for a moment that she was there with him, giving him more life advice. "Never," he replied.
The first day was spent in the company of immediate family. Anna was quickly absorbed into their inner circle as if she'd always been a part of their family, and in some ways she had been. She wasn't as familiar with his cousins as she was with his aunts, but they all got along famously. John hadn't been up to the vineyard in years, so he was eager to see what changes they had made and to take Anna on a private tour. They held hands like lovers would, but it wasn't for show. It was simply a natural reaction that the two of them had taken up, one almost immediately seeking out the other's touch in times of distress or triumph. They matched each other's gate, walking in a lackadaisical fashion. After getting to sample some of the wine, the two of them were rather giddy and experiencing a case of the giggles whenever they would bob into each other as they walked.
They made it back to the house undetected and enjoyed the view from the veranda. John hefted himself up onto the stone railing so that he was facing Anna. She came to take a place beside him on the wall overlooking the property, her hands splayed out on either side as she leaned forward. "It's gorgeous here. So peaceful," she noted.
He watched her out of the corner of his eye and saw that far off look, like she was somewhere else. "What are you thinking?" John moved a hand to tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear
"What it must be like to live here? Just picturing myself living in a place like this." There was something wistful about the way she spoke. "Waking up natural to a view like this, taking my tea on this veranda while still wearing my pajamas…"
"The scandal," John remarked. He pretended to be offended.
"I could have my easel set up out here and work on my art." She let out a sigh and looked over at him. Anna covered her face in embarrassment.
"What?"
"It's silly. Me living off an artist's wages and being in a place like this," she filled in.
"I don't think it's silly. I think you can do anything you set your mind to," he said sincerely. "Who's to say you wouldn't make much as an artist? I think, and I'm not just saying this because I love you, but I think one day you'll have your own exhibit at the Louvre, and people will be paying millions of pounds for your artwork."
"Yeah?"
"Absolutely!"
His hand covered hers for a second, and she turned her hand over to weave their fingers together. She was beaming back at him.
"Besides, I'm counting on you to be the successful one. You can help me pay off my student loans when school is all said and done," he joked.
Anna scoffed at his comment, "What are you talking about? You're more likely to make money in your line of work than I am."
"Alright, let's make a deal," John suggested. "Whoever makes it big first has to buy the other a house."
"Like this?" she said, gesturing towards the house.
"Sure. Why not?"
"What would I do with a big house like this all to myself?"
"I'm sure you'll find someone to share it with," he said with confidence.
"There you guys are," Miriam said. "Beth just got back from picking up her dress. Are you two going to play in the cricket match?"
John looked to Anna for approval. She nodded in agreement.
"Sure. We're in."
It had started off innocently enough. A mixture of family members and friends were set to engage in a friendly game of cricket so everyone could get to know one another the day before the wedding. It hadn't taken long for the game to turn competitive. The free wine, provided courtesy of the bride's parents, prior to and during the game probably hadn't helped matters. It was all in good fun of course, but John sensed there would be some bitterness at the celebratory dinner afterwards. Thankfully, he and Anna were on the same team. Still, there was a lot of pressure to win, and they were three points down. It was the last opportunity to score, and they were the final two hitters on their team. Their only chance at winning was for each of them to score a run and bring in John's cousin, Mark, who was already waiting on the other end of the pitch, or for one of them to hit it out of boundary of the field, guaranteeing them six points.
John was set to take his turn when he noticed Anna preparing to hit after him. If she was trying to pretend she knew the first thing about cricket, she was unsuccessful. He looked at her, slightly amused, before heading towards her to help her with the equipment. She looked anxious to be the last one up. "Anna," John said softly as he jogged over to her.
Her eyes rose, and - not for the first time that day - she fully appreciated how good he looked in a pair of beige khakis and a navy blue, fitted polo shirt. His hair had been styled back earlier in the day, but the heat from the summer sun and the running around had caused it to fall loosely into his eye line. John had to keep pushing his hair back, and whenever he did, Anna could have sworn he knew just how much it thrilled her. She bit down on her bottom lip when he ran his hand through it once more after reaching her. The motion caused his biceps and forearms to flex in a way that should have been illegal, as she was certain there wasn't a pure thought running through her mind.
"Here. Let me help you," he offered.
Her breath hitched as her eyes locked onto his, those soft but determined hazel eyes that were a perfect mixture of green, brown, blue, and gold. Anywhere else, it would have been unnatural to find such a sight, and yet they fit together like puzzle pieces that were tailored just for him. She had always had a weakness for those puppy dog eyes, and they would always remain her true North in times of trouble. It was easy to forget the bad cards life had dealt her whenever she looked at them.
John began to raise the helmet over her head and stopped momentarily to kiss her forehead before placing it on her head. "You'll do great, kid," he whispered.
Anna began to correct him, but he interrupted her. "It's just a game. Win or lose, I'll still love you, my darling." He had said it aloud. It was meant for everyone else to hear, to further establish the ruse they were playing at, but it had been no less special to either of them. The two of them were separately convinced it was the only time they would be able to exchange such sentiments.
John began to walk toward the pitch to take his turn, and Anna certainly couldn't let the opportunity pass. "John!" she called out. He stopped and turned to face her. Anna ran up to him and lightly slapped his butt before telling him 'good luck'. As she headed back to her spot with the rest of the team, John stood there with his mouth agape. Had she really just done that in front of his family?
"Come on, John! You've got this!" Miriam cheered as she clapped her hands together.
The sound brought him back to reality, and John took his ready position on the pitch in front of the wicket.
"Mum!" Beth looked slighted. "You're supposed to be rooting for my team."
"I don't take sides," Miriam added. "We're all family. That includes you too, Anna," she was quick to note.
"Don't worry, sweetheart. I'll cheer you on," Beth's fiance, Liam assured.
John tried to focus on the cricket ball that was about to be hurled towards him by the bowler, but all he could seem to think about was Anna. The cricket ball left Liam's hand and bounced off the ground before coming into that sweet spot. Suddenly, all of John's frustrations at the thought of Anna leaving were channeled into hitting that damn ball. With a 'thwack', the bat launched the ball across the field, and John ran like hell to the other end of the pitch, bringing in Mark for another point. It wasn't out of the boundaries of the field like he had hoped, but it was something. The whole field seemed to come to life as both teams and the onlookers rose to their feet to applaud what was sure to be the final play of the game.
Poor Anna looked like a lamb to the slaughter as she mounted the pitch and choked up a little on the bat.
Anna was probably exaggerating it in her mind; she couldn't help but feel that she would be letting John down if she couldn't hit the cricket ball at least once in this game. And then his voice came through above everyone else's. It burrowed in her brain and sent her heart soaring.
"It's all you, love! You've got this!" John cheered her on.
"Move in gang!" Liam instructed. "She hasn't kissed leather all day."
John had to remind himself this was meant to be a friendly game. If Liam wasn't marrying Beth tomorrow, John would have given him a piece of his mind. Instead, he put his energy into encouraging Anna. "Come on, Anna! You can do it!"
Liam took a running start and showed off as he lobbed the ball towards Anna. Just as it had before, it bounced off the ground, and Anna, with closed eyes, swung the bat as hard as she could.
Rather than run, John craned his head back, following the path of the ball over his head. He watched as one of Liam's groomsmen began making a mad dash towards the treeline that marked the edge of the field. John shielded his eyes from the sun with his hand just in time to watch the ball disappear into the green abyss. "We won!" John screamed as he pumped his fists in the air. He removed his helmet and tossed it aside.
"We won?" she asked in disbelief, not quite realizing how they had won.
The rest of the team began to congratulate her, and John had to push his way past them to get to her. Anna practically jumped into his arms when she caught sight of him. He took off her helmet as her legs wrapped around his waist, and without a hint of hesitation, he kissed her fully. One of his hands propped her up just below her bottom, while the other caressed her cheek as she returned the gesture with equal fervor. John wanted to sink into her and let her body mould to his. He could taste a hint of her strawberry-flavored chapstick, and the scent of her lilac perfume hung heavy in the air. Why did she have to taste so damn good? John couldn't help himself; what had meant to be a gesture for show had taken a wrong turn and was becoming an impulse that exceeded want. He craved her like water in a desert, and he'd die before going thirsty again. Her fingers ran up his back like she couldn't get enough of him, her desires soothed by the sensation of combing her fingers through the hair at the nape of his neck. It tickled and thrilled him in a way that he couldn't quite put into words. He leaned his head back into her touch and could think of no other way to voice his pleasure than to squeeze her butt and let out a small, animalistic moan.
"Get a room, you two!" Beth hollered from the side of the field with her arms crossed. She was clearly upset about the focus being shifted from herself and her fiance.
"Alright, John!" One of Liam's groomsmen called from the other side of the field.
The cat calls began as they became the center of attention for his family and friends.
John told himself he'd stop as soon as she pulled away, but the tingling sensation that had settled in the pit of his stomach was too hard to ignore. He didn't know how to let go, and the taste of her was unlike anything he'd experienced. Of course there had been that one time at the lake, but this was different. She had gained experience since then. She was having her way with him this time, and he wasn't afraid to give as good as he got. John went to shift her up a little higher, almost forgetting his place, but when he lifted Anna, she unintentionally rubbed up against his pelvic region. The reaction was involuntary, and he panicked; before John knew it, he had lost his balance, and the two of them fell backwards onto the ground.
"Oh gosh! Are you alright?" she asked. Anna began to rise to evaluate him for any injuries.
"I'm fine. Never better," he assured her. His hand caught her arm, stopping her before she could pull away completely. John propped himself up on his elbows and forearms when he brought her back for one more quick kiss. "You were absolutely brilliant, love," he congratulated her. "I've never been prouder of you."
Anna was grinning from ear to ear. "I'm still not sure how we won."
"You get an automatic six points for hitting the cricket ball out of bounds," he explained.
"Man, I'm better than I thought I was," she said.
"Oh please," he scoffed. John pulled her back down to lay on the grass with him, and she rested her head against his chest.
"That was some kiss, John Bates," Anna muttered under her breath.
"It certainly was," he replied in a low voice.
"Do you think they bought it?" she whispered to him.
John's eyes widened in response, and he was instantly grateful she couldn't see the look on his face. He was sure there was no way he could hide the disappointment that had settled there. John cleared his throat. "Without a doubt."
A/N: I checked online and there are a few successful wineries in the UK. The winery I was picturing while writing this chapter is called Camel Valley in Bodmin, it's in the South and borders the River Camel.
