Between the Vines (38 page)

“Thanks.”

“Night,” they all chorused and Edward let himself out into the cold night. He put the esky in his four-wheel drive and turned on the engine. He sat a moment not closing the door. He looked back at the quarters, where light shone from the chinks in the curtain. He eased himself from the seat and made his way cautiously back to the big window. There were gaps where the curtain didn't overlap. In the centre of the living area, right where he'd left them, Peter and Taylor were locked in an embrace. He'd been right. He wondered how long they'd been together and he
hadn't noticed. At what point had they started a relationship?

Pain knifed its way into his chest. He didn't care for Taylor but neither did he want her to be with Peter. Edward went back to his four-wheel drive and reversed away from the quarters. As he turned his vehicle towards home he slapped the steering wheel and swore loudly at the empty track ahead.

Taylor melted against Peter. Keeping away from him over dinner had been so difficult when all she'd wanted to do was feel his arms around her. Now they were, and his lips were tracing the curve of her neck. She was having trouble concentrating. Her body was reacting to his kisses with a force of its own, just like it had in the shed this afternoon before they'd overbalanced against the door and fallen to the ground.

A chuckle burbled up inside her.

His kisses stopped. “What is it?”

She opened her eyes. “Nothing. I was remembering this afternoon. All that talk about plunging and getting caught up.” The chuckle bubbled out into a warm laugh.

Pete laughed too. “Obviously I'm not trying hard enough to distract you.”

Taylor put a hand to her mouth. Pete had taken the brunt of their tumble to the ground. They'd both been covered in dirt and Taylor had a large bruise on her elbow.

He kept his arms around her waist. “You should have warned me you play rough. I'd have worn some protection.”

Taylor grinned. “I thought you country boys liked a rough-and-tumble.”

“That's in the hay.” He kissed her nose, one cheek and then the other. “You might not have noticed but we don't have any hay around here.”

“Plenty of wine though.” She nodded towards the table where they'd left the partly drunk glasses of red. “Your new one is good.”

“Are you trying to divert me with wine?”

“Not divert.” She smiled. “Just taking it steady. We don't want another accident.”

“The couch should be safe enough.” Pete sat.

“Just a minute.” Taylor collected their glasses, came back and sat beside him. “It's a shame to not drink your wine now that I'm getting a taste for it.”

They gazed at each other as they drank. Taylor felt the heat rise inside her. Her attempt to put on the brakes wasn't working. Pete put down his glass. He took hers and placed it carefully beside his. Then he slid his hands beneath her and eased her onto his lap. He kissed her again.

“I'd like a follow up with a repeat of what happened after the accident.”

She looked steadily into his clear blue eyes. The longing she saw there reflected her own. “So would I.” She leaned in and kissed him.

Taylor laid her head on Pete's solid chest and listened to the steady beat of his heart and the regular rhythm of his breathing. They were in her little cell of a room on her single bed. She tipped her head slightly and studied his face. There was a hint of first light coming from the window above the bed but she could see no more than his outline. She liked to think he looked content. She knew she was.

Cass's voice played in her head. “It's lust, not love.” Taylor smiled. If that was the case, Peter Starr had performed the best lusting she'd ever experienced. Their first love making yesterday afternoon had been rushed. Last night they'd explored each other's bodies eagerly, leaving a trail of clothes over her bedroom floor, but with a gentleness too. This time they'd taken it steady and neither of them had wanted to spoil the night with a repeat of their tangle at the shed. Afterwards they'd joked about that. Pete had a warm sense of humour. They'd talked for a long time about all kinds of things before they'd drifted off to sleep, comfortable in each other's arms.

He'd thought it best to keep their fledgling relationship to
themselves and she'd agreed. She hadn't told him about Ed's saying she was just another of Pete's rescue projects and she wasn't planning to. She didn't want to do anything that might upset the tenuous truce there seemed to be between the Starr men.

Her finger traced the side of his face. She felt the prickles of his day-old beard, the softness of his lips. His mouth opened and sucked the end of her finger.

“Good morning,” she whispered.

“Good morning yourself.” He turned to face her. His kisses roamed down her neck, across her shoulders until she could think of nothing else.

Pete showered and pulled on some fresh clothes. He pictured Taylor's beautiful smile as she'd kissed him goodbye this morning. When they'd finally dragged themselves out of her bed they'd sat side-by-side in the kitchen eating toast and coffee together. He'd had trouble keeping his hands off her. He loved everything about her – her hair, her skin, the way her cheeks went pink when she was embarrassed, the way her eyebrows raised in surprise. He'd studied every little thing she did for so long but now they'd explored each other's bodies he felt as if he knew the real Taylor. It was as if he'd known her forever. They were good together. He hadn't wanted to leave but there was work to do.

They'd have to be careful around Ed for a while. He'd been particularly vicious when he'd thought they'd been together before. Pete hadn't been able to admit his interest in Taylor even to himself back then. Now that he'd taken the next step he wanted to protect what they had together. He didn't want his brother to have the chance to put a damper on what he had with Taylor, not yet.

Pete stepped out his back door, gave a long look towards the quarters then set off to the winery. He wanted to do the first round of plunging for the morning, including the NS18, and be well out of the way before Ed turned up to do the next plunge. The NS18 was
another thing he didn't want Ed to know about for now. Pete had never changed the board in the office. The first lot of cab sauv had been pressed and stored in the tank that said NS18. They'd barrel it next week. Ed hadn't asked what stage in the process the new cab sauv was up to. Pete hoped that meant he'd given up on selling it but he still had a niggle of a doubt.

He unlocked the winery door and went into his office. He wasn't good at keeping secrets. At least over Easter there was no Felicity keeping her sharp eye on things and Noelene wouldn't be back till tomorrow. With any luck he wouldn't cross paths with Ed until dinner tonight and then they'd be with a big group of locals. The NS18 shouldn't even get a mention.

Edward tucked his phone back into his pocket with a smile. At least something was working out. All he had to do was make some excuse why he couldn't go with Peter and Taylor to Coonawarra tonight and he'd be right. They'd probably be happy without his company anyway. In fact they might want to stay home. He'd have to make sure they didn't do that.

He flexed his arms. With Taylor here he hadn't done as much plunging as he usually did. His left arm was being a bit dodgy. At least he'd made the effort to help today and Antoine would be back tomorrow.

Edward checked the time. They'd have to open the cellar door soon and he'd promised to top-up stocks. He jumped in his four-wheel drive and drove along the track past Peter's cottage to the winery. Peter was coming from the round the back of the barrel shed. Edward slowed to a stop and lowered his window.

“Everything okay?” he asked.

“Fine. Just doing the rounds.”

“Whatever floats your boat. I'm going to check stock and make sure the cellar door's ready to go for Taylor.”

“Great. Thanks.”

“Looking forward to Donella's dinner tonight?”

“Yeah.”

Edward had to make sure Peter had no excuse for him and Taylor not to go.

“Taylor's really looking forward to it,” he said. “She's cooked so much for us she'll appreciate someone else's cooking.”

“Yeah.” Peter nodded his head. He looked distracted. “Catch you later.” He went round the back of the four-wheel drive and on to the fermenting shed.

Edward drove on. When he reached the end of the track he saw Felicity's car out the front of the office. She was just coming out the front door. She locked it and gave him a wave. Once more he lowered his window, the passenger side this time.

Felicity paused then she leaned in. “Hello, Edward,” she purred.

“Don't tell me you're working?”

“No, I…I dropped off a little something in the lunchroom. I was going to text you tomorrow. It was going to be a surprise.”

“That's good of you. Sorry to spoil it.”

“Doesn't matter.” She smiled widely, her perfect white teeth a sharp contrast to the bright red lipstick she wore.

He lifted his finger in a wave and drove on. No doubt Noelene would have chocolates tomorrow as well. He should go into town and get something for them. Perhaps later, if there was time. First he had to make sure everything was in place for tonight.

Pete took Taylor's hand as they stepped out into the chilly air. It was wonderful to feel his touch. They'd been so careful all night to act like friends rather than lovers. Ed hadn't come with them so that had made it easier.

No sooner were they inside Peter's ute than he reached across and kissed her. Taylor's lips responded.

When they came up for air Pete took a strand of hair from her face and tucked it carefully behind her ear. “I hadn't thought we'd
stay so late. I've been busting to do this all night.”

“Take my hair out of my eyes?”

“This.”

His lips met hers again. They kissed hungrily this time. Taylor felt a little shiver as he slid his hands inside her shirt; partly because his hands were cold but partly because they felt so wonderful against her skin. She tried to get closer. The console was in her way.

“Arrgh!” Pete growled. “Let's get home.”

“Your place or mine?” Taylor gave him a flirty look.

“Mine. I've got more room and I've changed the sheets.”

“I'm guessing that's a good thing.” Taylor hadn't taken any notice of the state of his sheets last time she was there. She'd been too busy noticing Pete and how well their bodies worked together. She leaned back against her seat and groaned. “That food was fantastic but I wish I hadn't had a second serve of that delicious apple crumble.”

“Donella's famous for her food.”

“There were a lot of people there. I don't know how she did it.”

“I see Howard and Margaret had you bailed up for a while.”

“They wanted to know more about me. I think they were fishing for gossip. Here I am living with three men and what are my intentions?”

“What indeed.” He chuckled. “Margaret has been known to make up what she doesn't know about people.”

Taylor laughed too. “I think I've probably given her enough information to make a good story that could possibly involve Antoine.”

Once more Pete's warm chuckle filled the ute. “We'll find out soon enough, no doubt.”

Taylor looked out at the vines lit by the headlights on either side of the highway. Most of the grapes were gone and many of the leaves had changed colour. During the daytime the scene was full of colour from bright yellow to deep red. It was just over a month
since she'd arrived here looking for Ed. She glanced at Pete. She felt guilty about Ed now. It was a part of her life she'd like to forget and yet it had led her to Peter.

He glanced back at her. “What are you smiling at?”

“You.” She reached across and patted his leg. He took her hand and held it tight.

“It was good to meet a few more people tonight.”

“You do like it here, don't you?” He let go of her hand to change gears.

The lights of the ute illuminated the front of the cellar door as Pete turned off the highway and onto the road leading to the winery.

Taylor wanted to say she loved it, she loved him, but she didn't want to scare him in the first five minutes. “I enjoy the cellar door work the most, although I do like helping you with the plunging.” She gave him a wicked look.

“Let's get you home,” he said.

Pete slowed to a stop in front of the winery gates he'd locked on the way out. Taylor watched him stride to the gate. He stopped when he got there, bent forward as if he was looking at something then swung the gates open. Instead of coming back to the vehicle he stepped into the yard and stared ahead. She was about to get out when he turned and hurried back to the ute.

“What's up?”

“I am sure I locked the gate but the padlock wasn't through the chain. The gate just pushed open.”

Pete drove the ute through and pulled up again. He jumped out leaving his door open. Taylor shivered as the cold night air seeped inside the cab. Finally Pete came back.

“It's secure now.” He moved the ute forward. “Maybe Ed came through after us.”

“Wouldn't he go out his driveway on the other side, save locking gates?”

“Usually. Perhaps I didn't lock it properly.”

“I wonder why he didn't come tonight? He was the one who
suggested it.”

“Got a better offer, he said.” Pete stopped the ute at his front door. “Coming inside?”

Taylor jumped out and rubbed her hands together. “I hope it's warmer.”

“I've got a slow-combustion fire. I left it going.”

They ran up the steps. He put his key in the lock and pushed it open.

Taylor went to step forward but he put out his arm.