Page 60 of A Vineyard for Two

The next morning, still feeling tired, Harper got up, dressed, had a light meal, and drove into town to see Georgia. Zoe was already there, chatting away with the doctor.

‘You should have said you were coming,’ Harper said once the doctor walked away.

‘I wanted to get in early and run some errands. And you looked like you needed the extra sleep last night.’

‘Thanks. I didn’t sleep much at all.’

‘Brookes definitely laid it into David. The hostility could be cut with a knife.’

‘I don’t think David noticed.’

‘He seems a bit full of himself. Whatever did you see in him?’

‘Long story,’ Harper said, not wanting to get into it. ‘Is Georgia up?’

‘A nurse is with her. Her vitals are improving, and she should be coming home in the next few days. They’ve insisted she stay longer, so she doesn’t exert herself.’

‘Good idea. I assume that was your suggestion.’

‘Let’s keep that between you and me.’

Harper smiled. ‘If it was up to Georgia, she’d be home right now, running circles around everyone. At least she should be okay for the Christmas in July dinner.’

The hospital visit gave Harper some comfort that Georgia was going to be okay. She’d also noticed Zoe with the doctor, who had definitely been flirting. Her sister could use some luck in her love life.

Back at the family estate, Leo had the table set up on the back veranda overlooking the vineyard. Gentle fairy lights hung from the roof, which, once the sun set in a couple of hours, would provide an incandescent glow.

‘Where’s Brookes?’

‘At Mathers Vineyard. He had a call from one of the tradies. Something to do with the plumbing bursting. Don’t worry, it sounds more serious than it is. He should be back within an hour.’

She looked at her watch. They only had a few hours left and now she was not only worried about tonight’s dinner, but Mathers Vineyard too.

TWENTY-NINE

When it was time to greet the guests, she couldn’t help but notice Brookes arrive, dressed in a collared white shirt, the top button undone, the cuffs rolled to just below his elbows. His hair was slicked back and when he walked past her, his cologne awakened all her senses.

‘That’s not one of your brothers, is it?’ David startled her from behind.

‘What?’

‘Brookes, he’s an old flame or something.’

‘What makes you say that?’

‘The way he looks at you. The way you look at him.’

‘It’s ancient history.’

‘Yesterday afternoon, I saw from the window how he grabbed you and practically dragged you to that shed. That was a lover’s quarrel if I’d ever seen one.’

It wasn’t a shed but the cellar door; she wanted to say but didn’t. ‘David,’ she said. ‘Enjoy the dinner, get some rest, and drive back safely tomorrow.’

‘It’s a shame. We could have made it work.’

‘No, we both know it would never work.’

‘You’re probably right. But you can’t blame a man for trying.’