#perhapsoneday

She turned to where the sound was coming from, not quite expecting the handsome, dark haired blonde with crimson lips and a decidedly judgmental look on his surprised face. Caroline had had all the judgment she could take right already, narrowing her eyes in his direction.

"Last time I checked, I wasn't trampling anything."

"Well, you are," he shot back. "These are award winning vineyards and not to be disturbed by drunk party guests." She looked at him closely for the first time, trying to ascertain what his problem actually was and trying to ignore that rogue dimple in his left cheek.

"I haven't touched anything."

"Well, maybe not yet but there is that bottle of my shiraz you've been massaging happily with your mouth, love," he purred. Caroline had to try and stop the untoward images he was creating with his words. What exactly was this ass playing at?

"I was desperate, what can I say?" His unamused expression, complete with pursed lips was enough to tell Caroline he wasn't impressed with her joke. "Fine, I've always been a sucker for a full bodied red. I have to say I'm loving the tannins in this drop."

"Oh, so now you're just making fun of me?"

"No, apparently I seem to be complimenting your bloody wine so I figured some of that hostility might have abated by now," she argued, hands on hips. "Are you always this rude to customers?" He reeled backwards and Caroline could tell he was taken aback by her pointed question.

"Only the argumentative ones who tend to roam free after dark without permission," he scowled. "You realise this is my winery?"

"Am I supposed to be scared?"

"Maybe," he offered.

"Well, take my advice and get a guard dog instead," she chuckled. "He's probably going to prove to be a lot scarier than you."

"I can be scary."

"No, you're a grouch, there's a distinct difference," she snapped. "Is there any chance I can go back to my peaceful reverie or are you going to continue invading it..."

"Klaus," he replied simply, Caroline had to lean in to hear his words. "That's my name, although I'm pretty sure you're more interested in throwing a few other choice names my way, love."

"Is that a challenge?"

"If you want, love." Caroline rolled her eyes.

"I'm curious Klaus, do you always guard your crops like a crazy weirdo?"

"I love a good sunset and then you decided to interfere and cause me unwanted grief," he explained. Caroline was beginning to realise that teasing him only made him linger unneccesarily. This was worse than a school reunion interrogation.

"I'll have to remember such prized comments when I leave a review on Trip Advisor," Caroline mumbled. "You know, you're not the only person having a bad night, buddy."

"Oh really?"

"Yes, really," she growled. "Not that I have any intention of telling you about it of course."

"So, why did you mention it?" Caroline shook her head, thinking the exact same thing.

"I was bored."

"I think there was a little more to it," he offered, taking the bottle from her hands slowly before she could take another sip. "Although, I think I'd feel the same way if it was my school reunion." 

"Hey!"

"You've had more than enough, love."

"Oh gee, thanks dad," Caroline growled. "I don't need anymore judgment tonight, trust me."

"I'm not judging, I'm actually trying to save you from embarrasing yourself at your reunion." Klaus offered. "Plus, even though my wine does taste amazing, it isn't always the answer."

"Even red, red wine?" She asked, singing the song title.

"Even red, red wine," he joked. "Although, it wasn't the most cheerful song, I always associated it with a really bad hangover or lost love."

"True that," she murmured knowingly, sitting on the ground, not caring what the dirt would do to her new dress. Obviously he didn't care either taking the spot right next to her. "I don't expect a babysitter, you know."

"What can I say? I just really like getting my hands dirty, love."

"If that's your idea of a really bad pick up line then it's never happening," she shivered, placing her arms across her chest to ward of the chill. Klaus moved forward removing his jacket and placing it softly around her shoulders. Caroline didn't even bother to argue, she was too tired and distracted by just how fitted his navy henley was across his chest.  

"You wish," he chuckled. "I'm actually curious as to why you even came to this reunion in the first place, it's abundantly clear that you don't want to be here."

"I didn't want to come but my friends made me," she scowled.

"Glad to see that peer pressure is still fully intact five years after school," he teased.

"You know, I always imagined my school reunion going differently in my head. I was going to be studying law at Harvard."

"So, what happened to Harvard?" Caroline had no intention of answering that question tonight but the red wine had considerably broken down her defences and given she'd never see him again it didn't seem to matter.

"I was all set to go but my mom got sick," she whispered. "I stayed home so I could look after her and get a job to help pay the medical bills. She was all I had so of course there was no choice even if she did insist I go repeatedly." Had, the use of the past tense still not sitting comfortably after a year.

"I'm fairly certain being able to spend those last few years with your mother trumps Harvard Law anytime. Plus, last time I checked Harvard isn't going anywhere." He didn't fawn all over her like most people did when they found out about her mom and Caroline was surprised by just how comforted she felt with just a few words from a stranger.  

"I'm actually enrolled to study social work at CU in September," she added. "After everything law didn't seem like the right fit."

"Well, I think you need to work on some of those social skills, you know just saying," he teased, earning a whack from her. "That there is case in point. I think they frown on that sort of behaviour in social work."

"You're hilarious, has anyone ever told you that?" She drawled, suddenly finding his close proximity quite distracting given he smelled so good. "Maybe you should have considered a career in stand up comedy and not wine making."

"Then where would you get that Shiraz you like so much?" He asked, gesturing to the bottle. She traced her fingers over the label, thinking just how much she loved the simple artistry of the country setting it depicted.

"That's a gorgeous picture."

"My mother drew that," he shared. "Her dream was to own a winery but it never happened unfortunately."

"She must be pleased that you have this place though." She noticed his face drop slightly. 

"She died a few years ago actually and unfortunately never got to see this place. I figured the least I could do is include a tiny part of her considering she's the one responsible for all of this."

Caroline immediately felt bad going on about her personal circumstances when his were so similar. Maybe that's why he'd been able to comfort her so easily because he knew what she'd been through.

"I think she'd be proud of what you've done here, especially this fine Shiraz."

"Thanks, although you do know I do make other wines." 

"Maybe you could give me my own private tasting sometime?" She asked, knowing it was forward but decided to blame it on the red wine if he declined her offer.