Page 83 of A Vineyard for Two

‘It wasn’t like that.’ Not at the beginning, at least.

He leaned back against the wall. ‘How was it then?’

‘A colleague set us up. She thought I was lonely and could use some male company. She knew David to be an eligible bachelor who liked to have a good time. So they arranged for us to meet at the charity function.’

‘So, you went for it.’

‘To shut her up and stop getting her to set me up with random guys.’

‘When did you start investigating him?’

‘It was the real estate company that he was associated with. As soon as I discovered his connection, I broke it off. The relationship was never going to work, that just sped up the inevitable.’

‘Do you think he’s capable of doing something dangerous?’

Everyone was capable at one point or another. She didn’t know him well enough to assume either way. She’d kept David at arm’s length throughout the duration of their relationship and assumed he had done the same. Future talks didn’t happen. They knew what they were to each other — a distraction at the weekend, a moment of pleasure amongst the chaos. Him showing up at the family estate was not usual behaviour. But did that make him dangerous? ‘There’s no way he could know that I was the one investigating the real estate company.’

‘Could he have accessed your laptop while you were in the shower at some point?’

He’d said that through gritted teeth.

‘I don’t leave my electronics lying around open or accessible.’

‘He knows what you do, right?’

‘I try not to talk about my job too much.’

‘He should be looked into.’

‘I can give him a call.’

‘Do that.’

Harper picked up her phone and searched for David’s number. A part of her hoped Brookes was wrong, but another part wondered whether he was right. David seemed harmless, but even the harmless types had a streak. Affection could easily be replaced by anger and desire to hatred.

She pressed the name and waited for the ringing tone. The ringing started in her ear, but her breath caught in her lungs when she also heard the familiar ring tone close by. Pulling the phone away from her ear, she could still hear the faint ringing, and it was coming from somewhere inside the house.

Brooke’s eyes widened, and he put his index finger to his lips. She nodded and followed him out of the kitchen. When they got to the front door, the ringing grew louder. Brookes stopped.

Harper looked past him.

David stood on the veranda, pointing a gun at them.

‘One move and you’re both dead.’

THIRTY-NINE

People say that life flashes before your eyes moments before death. Harper didn’t have any of that. The fear simply intensified within her, as she gripped the phone.

David stepped towards them holding the gun steady.

Harper took a step back, as did Brookes.

‘No one needs to get hurt,’ David said, directing the gun at Brookes.

Leo and Zoe could be back at any moment and walk into the crossfire. The thought only intensified her fear.

‘What do you want?’ Brookes said.