Page 76 of A Vineyard for Two

‘I saw the ring.’

‘That’s why you left?’

‘It was one of the reasons.’

‘So you didn’t love me. All the years together, that was, what, a lie?’

‘I wasn’t ready, Brookes.’

‘And now?’

‘I…’ she wasn’t sure. She loved him, but she was still resisting.

‘I’m not going to wait forever, Harper.’

‘I left because you wanted a life, a marriage, a family. I don’t know if I can give you that.’

‘Why?’

‘Because…’ she hesitated again. If she said it out loud it would make it real.

‘That’s not an answer.’

‘I like this. I like the freedom. You want two kids, a couple of dogs and a white picket fence. That’s not me, Brookes. It never was and it never will be.’

’No,’ he said. ‘All I want is you.’

‘I’m going to bed,’ she said, putting down her glass. She didn’t want to talk about this, rehash memories that would only cause more pain. She didn’t regret leaving, but that didn’t mean that it didn’t hurt.

As she walked past him, he grabbed her hand and pulled her towards him. She didn’t resist. The touch of his skin against her sent electrical shots through her nerve endings. His fingertips touched her cheek, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear without him taking his eyes from her.

Harper’s stomach did a tumble turn. It was at that moment she knew she should have walked away, but there was no resistance left in her and instead she let his mouth covet hers. His skin felt like fire, warming her up and releasing the tension of the evening. When a moment ago she felt tight and wound up, his kiss pushed it all aside, releasing her from the chains of anxiety and fear. In that moment, it was just them. Everything else ceased to exist. How easy would it be to just let go completely and feel like this forever?

THIRTY-FIVE

Harper opened her eyes, and for a moment, forgot where she was. She wasn’t alone, that was certain. Her body felt relaxed and comforted with a familiar ache between her legs. She turned her head and stared.

Brookes lay beside her, his arm slung across her stomach, his chest rising and falling gently, eyes still closed, a gentle murmur echoing from his lips. She didn’t want to disturb him and so she didn’t move, but remained watching as he slept. She used to do that a lot and forgot how soothing it had been.

A few moments later, still eyes closed, he smiled. ‘I knew you were watching.’

He pulled her to him and pressed his lips against hers. It didn’t take long for them to be rolling around in the sheets together. Afterwards, she followed him into the shower for more. It was only later, when they were dressed and sitting in the kitchen, her stomach grumbling from all the spent morning energy, while he was putting together a hearty breakfast, that they finally spoke.

‘I called the tow truck company to grab your car while you were getting dressed. They’ll probably be here for it by lunchtime. Apparently, it’s a busy morning. Just don’t expect the mechanic to look at it right away.’

‘Hopefully it’s nothing more than a battery exchange.’

‘The oil leak and tyres are an issue too,’ he said, flipping the bacon. ‘Extra crunchy, right?’

‘Thanks, Brookes. Where did the food come from?’ The fridge had been bare the night before.

‘I picked up a few things yesterday. They’d been in the car overnight.’

It was so easy to get into this routine. Together, in the kitchen, in bed, in life. Yet, she was still resisting. No matter how much she wanted this, she knew that staying wasn’t an option. At least now, he knew the truth.

His phone rang. He grabbed it and left the room.

Harper stood up and took over the breakfast. She turned up the heat on the bacon for a few moments. She grabbed a cooled down piece from the plate and threw it to Rover, who caught it mid-air, munched it up and then nudged her leg with his snout in appreciation. She patted him, rinsed her hands, then grabbed the coffeepot and topped up the two cups.