Between the Vines (5 page)

“This is our family home. Mum and Dad built it on the only piece of slightly higher ground on the property. The dip we call Wriggly Creek is down behind the house.”

The night air was cool after the warmth of the cabin. Taylor wondered where Ed's parents were. She stayed close to Ed as he led her up some side steps to a verandah. She stopped. Candles in pots flickered along window ledges, from tables and beside chair legs. The air was warmer under the protection of the roof and sides
that were partly enclosed and covered in climbing roses.

“It's so pretty,” she said.

“Mum's doing. I try to maintain it. Have to admit to having a cleaner. I'm not good with the fancy stuff.”

“Like housework.” She grinned and followed him to the chairs.

“Have a seat.”

Taylor snuggled into the soft cushions of the wicker couch. He put an arm on the headrest behind her and leaned in. She took in the rich brown hair swept back from his forehead, his clear blue eyes, his lips–

“Beer or wine?”

One of his eyebrows arched up as he spoke. Taylor was mesmerised.

“Beer…thanks.”

He pulled away and disappeared inside. She shivered and burrowed deeper into the cushions. Edward was one gorgeous guy and she deserved a drink. Once more she'd driven everyone to the restaurant and had only had one pre-dinner drink.

He carried out two beers and a platter of cheeses, olives and crackers, put them on the low table then sat beside her. She felt his weight against her hip as he reached for the beers. He handed her one and tilted his towards her.

“Welcome to Coonawarra.”

She tapped her bottle against the neck of his. They both took a swig. She looked out across the vines illuminated in the moonlight. The glistening dark rows spread as far as she could see.

“Your parents aren't here?”

His lack of response drew her attention back to him.

After a pause he said, “They died.”

“I'm sorry.”

The blue of his eyes darkened. This time it was Ed who looked away. “It was several years ago. Light plane crash, no survivors.”

“That must have been tough.”

“We get by.”

“You and your brother?”

“Peter. He makes the wine and I sell it.” He took another deep draught of his beer then turned his gaze on her. “What about you? Family?”

“My parents are doctors. They spend most of the year working overseas. They're in Cambodia at the moment. I have a sister. We both travelled a lot. She met an Irishman and has gone to live with him. We're a bit fractured really.” Taylor tried to imagine her parents dead like Ed's. She used to miss them so much when they first started working overseas. Now they'd been absent from her life so often, they were more like good friends than parents. She berated herself inwardly for her lack of emotion. If she was honest she still missed them. She'd simply grown used to their absence from her life.

“Another beer, or would you like something else?”

Ed's question snapped her back to the present. Here she was alone with the most gorgeous guy she'd met in a while and she was being melancholy.

“I'd like some of that Wriggly Creek wine if you have any.”

“Coming right up.” He almost leapt from the couch.

Taylor cut herself some cheese. She could get used to this attention.

He poured two glasses.

She took a sip. She'd never thought much about the wine she drank before but she really did enjoy the crisp fruity taste.

“So this won a medal?” She took another mouthful.

“Two. Peter's pedantic about his wine. It pays off.”

“And you're not so fussed?”

“It's not that. It's good wine. I'm just not as in love with the process as he is. You plant vines, you grow grapes, you turn them into wine, you sell the wine, you make money. If you don't make money there's no point in making the wine.”

“There speaks a businessman.” Taylor chuckled. “My sister could
never understand why my parents wouldn't stay home long enough to make some decent money from their profession.”

“Some people are dreamers.”

Taylor took in the rigid set of his jaw. “A few dreams are good.”

“Can't live on dreams. Cold hard cash is what makes the world go round.”

“Yes. I'm often suffering from the lack of it. In fact I'm not sure how much longer my courier job will last.”

“Maybe you need to get a job that suits your qualifications.”

“Managing a business?”

“Didn't you say you worked for a charity?”

“Yes, but it was just a job to me.”

“What about starting your own?”

“Charity?” She grinned at him.

He returned the smile. “I was thinking more a business.”

Taylor turned the idea over. It wasn't as if she'd never thought about it before but nothing grabbed her. “There's absolutely nothing I can imagine I'd like to do.”

“Plenty of businesses need managers.”

“Locked in an office all day.” She tipped her head to one side. “Would I enjoy it?”

“It would pay better, if money's what you want.”

Taylor looked at her glass then drained the last of it. Was he judging her?

“I'm planning an overseas trip soon,” he said.

“That's exciting.” Taylor held out her glass as he refilled it. “Where are you going?”

“China.”

“I'd love to go there. It's a big country. There's so much to see. Do you have an itinerary?”

“The Great Wall.”

“A must.”

“Forbidden City. Haven't decided beyond that.”

They sipped their wine and talked about China. Before long they were having another glass and then another. She told him about her trip around Vietnam and her travels in Europe and her latest courier job. He talked about the local towns, marketing and tourism. They sat side-by-side. It was cosy on the couch, too comfortable, and suddenly she was struggling to keep her eyes open.

It wasn't quite the way she'd planned to spend the evening with Ed although she wasn't sure what she hoped for. He was a nice guy, a bit focused on money but she could overlook that. She stifled a yawn then jumped at the sound of a message from her phone. It was from Mandy. Taylor didn't know whether to be irritated or reassured. She wasn't used to people worrying about her. She sent a quick reply to say she was fine.

“Sorry Ed. I think I should head back to the motel.”

“Uh-oh.” He smirked. “Not the old ‘my friend needs me' trick.”

Taylor pulled away from the arm he had draped loosely across her shoulders.

“What do you mean?”

“Isn't that what you girls do? Send a message so you can escape if the guy's a jerk.”

“Not this girl.” Taylor stood up. She didn't like his mocking tone. “I didn't think you were a jerk but if the cap fits–”

The cold night air bit through her t-shirt. Her knees were like jelly and her head spun. Damn, she'd had too much to drink.

“I'm sorry.” Ed stood. “Now I am being a jerk.” He pulled her into his arms. It was warm there and he smelt so good. Taylor put her head on his shoulder, the fight gone out of her as easily as it had flared.

“We've been so busy talking I haven't kept track of the drinks,” he said. “I shouldn't drive for a while but I've plenty of spare beds if you want to sleep.”

It was not what she wanted. Ed's body wrapped around hers was what she desired but she knew sleep was all she was capable of.
She'd had very little in the last twenty-four hours and the wine had finished her off.

“I've got to be up early,” he said. “I'll wake you and drive you back.”

She didn't resist as he led her inside and showed her into a room with a brass double bed. He flicked on a lamp which cast a cosy glow. She sat. The bed was delightfully soft beneath her. He pulled off her shoes and carefully helped her out of her jacket. Her body was sending all kinds of signals that her blurry brain was trying to stifle. Her eyes opened wide as he brushed her lips with his then he gently pushed her back. Her wayward body burnt with desire. He took the blanket from the rail, spread it over her then stepped back. She could see a look in his eyes, a desire that matched her own.

He moved to the door, keeping his gaze on her.

Taylor waited, wanting him to come back and yet anxious he might.

“I'll wake you in a few hours.” He went through the door and closed it softly behind him.

Taylor stared at the ceiling. Was she relieved or disappointed? She certainly had feelings for Ed but was she prepared to go as far as share his bed? She rolled over and flicked off the light. The bed was so comfortable beneath her. She closed her eyes and imagined herself in Ed's embrace.

“Hey, sleepyhead.”

Taylor's eyelids flew open. Hadn't she just shut them? She turned her head. Ed was standing beside the bed. His wet hair was swept back from his forehead and his jaw was freshly shaven. She dragged her gaze to his hand holding out a glass of water. She could smell coffee.

“There's coffee on the table.” He nodded to the cup steaming under the glow of the lamp beside her. “Bathroom's down the passage to your right. I'm ready when you are.”

She took the glass. He was gone before she could say thanks. She peered at her phone. It was six o'clock. True to his word he'd
woken her and he'd provided coffee. What a guy. Thoughtful, good-looking, not attached. She wondered about that. How had he remained single this long? She'd discovered last night he was just thirty. That made him three years older than her. There had to be a trail of exes.

She sat up, drank the glass of water then took a sip of the coffee. It was freshly brewed, a little too milky but good all the same. She drank it down and made her way to the bathroom. Her face looked washed out in the light from the small fluoro above the mirror. Not that it surprised her. She hadn't even brought a lipstick. She ran her fingers through her hair and fluffed it up, rinsed her mouth and retraced her steps.

Outside she could hear voices. She paused at the front door and pulled her jacket close against the chilly morning air. Someone stood beside Ed. They stopped talking as soon as she pushed open the screen door.

“This is Taylor,” Ed said. “This is my brother Peter.”

“The winemaker.” Taylor held out her hand. Peter looked at it a moment before giving it a shake. Where Ed's hair was straight, long and brown, Peter's was curly, closely cropped and fair but they both shared the same blue eye colour.

“Nice to meet you,” he said.

“I really enjoyed your chardonnay.”

“Thanks.” Peter shifted from foot to foot. “Look, I'll leave you to it. Ed said he was running you back into town.”

“Yes.”

He looked at Ed. “We'll catch up when you get back.” Peter turned hastily and set off along a track in the direction of the winery. Taylor watched as he merged into the pre-dawn gloom. The two brothers were so different.

“Ready to go, Ms Rourke?”

She turned back to Ed.

“Not really but I guess I have to.” The sun cast a pink glow across the horizon. “It's beautiful here.”

Ed took her hand. “Why don't you come back? You said there was nothing keeping you in Adelaide.”

“There isn't but–”

He pulled her to him and kissed her. It was a quick peck at first then he repeated it long and slow. Every nerve tingled as Taylor kissed him back. Damn, he tasted good. Edward Starr was a very good reason to come back.

Taylor thought of nothing else but Ed all the way home. She was vague with her answers to the questions fired at her by her friends.

Cass couldn't believe Taylor had stayed out all night and not shared his bed.

“You missed a great opportunity.”

Rosie and Mandy hadn't said much but the other girls had echoed Cass's words. Taylor had ignored them. Let them think what they like. Ed wasn't a one-night stand. He obviously wasn't that kind of guy. Who knows, if she hadn't been so tired more might have happened between them. He could have taken her to his bed and she would have gone willingly but he didn't. There was certainly some chemistry between them. She'd like to know where it led. Thinking about Ed and the possibilities kept her awake while the girls all dozed on the final stretch back to Adelaide.

She zigzagged through the suburbs dropping everyone off until finally it was just Cass, who lived closest to her, left.

“So are you going to tell me anything about this Ed guy?” Her friend made one last attempt.

Taylor stretched her arms against the steering wheel. She was very tired and yet on full alert.

“I like him,” she said.

“I guessed that. You've had a cheesy grin on your face all weekend. Give me details.”

“None to give.”

“You spent the night at his place!”

“Morning,” Taylor corrected. “We drank good wine, talked and then I slept a few hours in his spare room.”

Cass raised one eyebrow.

“Think what you like,” Taylor said. “That's all there was to it.”

“Are you going to see him again?”

“I may well do.”

“When?”

“After the wedding.”

Anticipation swept away her fatigue. She'd said it out loud. She would definitely go back.

“He's worth seeing again then?”

Taylor smiled at her friend. “Worth a second look,” she said casually but she knew if she went back it would be for more than a look.

Once inside her own door, Taylor leaned against it and closed her eyes. Visions of Ed played in her head. She could feel his hands, warm and rough under her shirt. Heat coursed through her. Come back, soon. They'd been his parting words as they'd dragged their lips apart in the motel car park this morning.