Passionate Harvest (10 page)

Lucy’s brow raised but she didn’t comment on his remark.

“Are you eating in here, today?” Isabelle called to him from the kitchen.

“Join me if you like.” Lucy gave a small smile.

One look from her made his decision for him. “I’ll take a cheese roll and a coffee please, Isabelle.”

Lucy took a sip of juice. “Isabelle told me she’s interviewing some kids from the catering college later today for the weekend posts.”

“Hopefully it should take the pressure off her.” He glanced around the café. Half the tables were full with people eating and drinking.

“Perhaps we should be offering midweek special trips to some of the church and community groups. We could easily put something together offering a tour with afternoon tea and cakes.” Lucy suggested, following his gaze.

“Hmm, not a bad idea.” Dominic agreed.

Lunch time seemed to pass all too swiftly. He enjoyed her company as she teased him gently about his dog and ideas for the business.

“I should get back to the office. Jo will think I’ve run away.” She finished the last of her juice.

“Thanks for your company. It’s been fun.” He realised it had been a long time since he’d simply shared a meal with a woman without either side having any kind of expectations. Too long, in fact.

“I’ll see you later.” 

He watched her sashay away, his eyes drawn to her swaying hips in the fitted skirt and her tanned bare legs in her black court heels. Damn, he had to get a grip on his imagination.

“Lucy’s very pretty.” Isabelle arrived to collect his plate, a knowing smirk twitching at the corners of her mouth. 

He shook his head as the smile grew wider on her lips. “Stop it, Isabelle.” He knew all too well how quickly gossip could spread around a small workplace. He’d moved away from home to avoid exactly that kind of issue when Jake had married Sasha.

“Merely making an observation. I like Lucy.”

Me too, Dominic thought as he paid Isabelle for his lunch. Perhaps it was time he did something about his attraction to Lucy before he drove himself crazy. She’d certainly responded to his kisses and there was a definite spark between them.

It had been far too long since he’d dated. Nick’s illness and the pressure of work coupled with life in a small community meant he’d avoided forming any relationships for months. It still didn’t mean that dating Lucy was a good idea however.

* * *

Jo looked pointedly at the wall clock when Lucy arrived back in the office. Lucy ignored the hint and continued on her trawl through the files, making notes on questions she needed to ask and some suggestions she planned to make.

She’d enjoyed having lunch with Dominic. He’d surprised her with his sense of humour and his interest in her ideas for the business. Reading through all the files might be tedious but it was certainly helping her to understand how the business worked. Although when she clicked open the contacts list and saw Nick’s typical humorous comments against each name she found herself becoming quite emotional.

Jo was on the phone when Lucy stepped out of the office for a minute. She needed to get some fresh air and take time to allow her emotions to settle down. Coming across Nick’s puns so unexpectedly had bought his loss back all over again.

Her heels crunched across the gravel path as she walked out past the café towards the vines. The sun warmed the skin on her face and she let out a huge breath releasing some of the tension from her neck and shoulders. The air was surprisingly warm after the cool of the office and she wished she didn’t have to go back inside.

In the near distance Dominic and Bob were working together to place a new post at the start of the trail. She shaded her face with her hand to focus. Dominic had stripped to the waist. His shirt hung discarded on another nearby post. She automatically took several more paces along the path so she could see more clearly.

Both men were oblivious to her as she still stood in the lee of the building. The muscles in Dominic’s arms and chest flexed as he fought to get the post into position. A delicious tingle ran along her spine as she remembered when she’d fallen from the gate and the hard walls of his chest had been pressed against her.

She lingered for a few more seconds imagining what it would be like to lie against him like that again, only this time with no barriers between them, skin to skin. Maybe on the dark blue covers of Dominic’s bed. Her face flushing at the thought, she turned away ready to head back inside. A feeling of being observed swept through her as she made her way to the door. Glancing upwards she was just in time to catch a fleeting glimpse of Jo moving away from the window.

The next couple of days followed a similar pattern. Lucy gradually worked her way through all the files and spent time with Jo learning the pattern of the business. Jo however still remained cool towards her even when joining her and Dominic for lunch.

Dominic dropped by the office at closing time on Friday evening as Jo was about to lock up.

“I wondered if I could take you ladies out for a drink to celebrate Lucy’s first week with us?”

Lucy waited for Jo to respond. Butterflies danced in her stomach at the unexpected invitation. All week long things had been building between her and Dominic like a delightful itch that ached to be scratched. He hadn’t kissed her again but every time they were together the air felt charged, like heat before a storm. Her head kept telling her to hold back, but her heart kept urging her to give him a chance. And all the time she was conscious of wanting him.

“That would be nice.” Jo didn’t look as if she thought it would be nice. Her expression suggested she’d rather swallow poison than have a glass of Chardonnay with Lucy at the pub in the village.

The Crown and Feathers was a small popular pub on the outskirts of the village nearest to the vineyard. It had a small dining area in the conservatory and was well used by locals and people from town out for a trip into the countryside. Lucy and Jo drove their own cars there, following Dominic’s 4X4 along the narrow lanes.

Lucy pulled into a space between Jo and Dominic. 

“I need to give Aunt Maggie a quick call to let her know where I am.” Lucy rang her aunt while the others carried on into the pub. She didn’t plan to stay too long as she had some worries about Maggie being alone in the house. The older woman still didn’t seem well and she’d resisted Lucy’s attempts to persuade her to see a doctor.

Maggie assured her she was fine. “Have a nice time, I’m going to sit and watch the TV for a while. It’s good that you’re settling in and making friends at the vineyard. It’s what your uncle would have wanted.”

Lucy tucked her phone back into her bag and went inside to join the others. Isabelle and Bob had also come to meet them. Lucy swallowed the lump that formed in her throat as she raised her glass and thought how much Nick would have enjoyed seeing her now. Maggie had been right about that.

She amused herself by scanning the wine list on the chalk board next to the bar as the others chatted. A thrill ran through her when she recognised that several of their vintages were listed. Her vintages now – well, half hers.

“Have you enjoyed your first week?” Dominic’s voice was low in her ear.

“Yes, it’s been good. I’m learning lots.” She pasted a smile on her face for Jo’s benefit, conscious the other girl was listening to their conversation. 

“Think you’ll be ready to start on some of the sales accounts next week?” Jo asked.

“With your help.” Lucy forced herself to keep smiling.

Isabelle and Bob finished their drinks and made their excuses. Lucy resisted the temptation to bolt down the rest of her wine and follow them. Instead she leaned back against the hard wooden chair and tried to relax. Jo continued to sit opposite her sipping prudishly on her tonic water.

Lucy was conscious of Dominic’s knee brushing against her bare leg where her skirt had ridden up. The rough denim of his jeans warm against her skin. Desire pooled low in her belly as she continued to try and finish her drink without betraying her inner turmoil.

“Thank you so much for welcoming me into the business. It’s been lovely to have this drink together but I really should get off home now.” She placed her glass down firmly on the table. She had to get out of there, away from Jo’s suspicious gaze and the illicit thrill of Dominic’s touch before she made a fool of herself.

“What a shame you have to rush off.” Jo took another minuscule sip from her half-f glass.

A dart of jealousy speared Lucy as she stood ready to leave. It was clear that Jo intended getting some time alone with Dominic.

“I’ll walk with you to your car, there’s something I need to speak to you about before you go.” Dominic put his glass down next to Lucy’s and walked with her out into the evening sunshine.

Lucy’s heart hammered against her ribs as he accompanied her the short distance to her car.

“You had something you wanted to…”

He cut her question off before she could finish, his mouth stealing her words behind the shelter of his car. Lucy moaned against him as he slid his hand beneath her shirt where it met the waistband of her skirt.

“I’ve been wanting to do this for the last half hour. More than the last half hour - the last few days.” His voice sounded ragged in her ear as he kissed the sweet spot below her earlobe sending a pleasurable thrill clean down to her toes.

“Me, too,” she whispered.

She closed her eyes savouring the scent of his body so close to hers as she pressed her lips to the base of his throat. He tasted of salt and sex. He ran the pad of his thumb across her nipple sending a shiver of desire through her body with all the charge of an electric current. The telltale bulge in his jeans told her he felt the same way and she couldn’t resist sliding her hand over his crotch to confirm for herself the hardness of his length.

The slam of a car door on the other side of the car park reminded her of where they were. Reluctantly she pulled back. “I have to go. Jo will wonder where you are.” God, how did he manage to have this effect on her? 

“Have lunch with me tomorrow.” His eyes burned into hers.

She was under no illusions about what that invitation meant. It was more than food that was on the menu.

“I don’t know, I mean.” She nibbled nervously on her lower lip. She shouldn’t get involved with Dominic, they had a business together. If things went wrong then it would be a pretty awful year. At the same time could she go on working beside him with this amount of heat between them and no outlet? She searched his face for an answer.

“Okay.” She heard herself agreeing.

He released her and stroked a long lean finger along the side of her face. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

He turned and strode away back towards the pub. Lucy scrambled into her car, her limbs trembling. What had she agreed to?

She would call him and cancel, she decided as she let herself into Maggie’s house.

“Lucy, you’re back early. I thought you might have stayed for longer.” Her aunt greeted her as she entered the lounge.

“No, it was only a welcome to the firm quick drink.” Lucy kissed her cheek.

Maggie laid aside the gardening catalogue she’d been reading. “Are you settling into work at the vineyard?”

“I think so. There’s a lot to learn but Jo is showing me the ropes in the office and Isabelle is lovely.” Lucy rushed to reassure her friend. She knew Maggie was anxious about the life choices that Nick had forced on her in his will.

“And Dominic?” Maggie asked slyly.

Heat scorched along Lucy’s cheeks.

“You don’t have to answer that if you don’t want to.” Maggie added with a smile.

“Dominic is…” Lucy paused struggling for the right words. “He and I well…” 

“Lucy, love, I can see which way the winds blowing.”

“I didn’t realise I’d been so obvious.”

“It’s nothing you’ve said but more what you haven’t said. Nick thought a lot of Dominic.” Maggie smiled at her.

“I’m not sure it’s a good idea to get involved on a personal level. What if it all goes wrong?” She thought about Christopher and Tenerife. She’d had a taste of that already.

“Then you’re both grown-up’s. I’m sure you’d be able to sort yourselves out. I’ve never known Dominic be interested in anyone ever since he’s been working here. So if you and he have a spark between you it must be something special.”

Lucy wasn’t sure about there being something special between them. More like instant lust. She couldn’t remember the last time a man had made her feel the way Dominic did. Not even Christopher. 

“What if I’m rushing things?”

The older woman sighed. “Who knows? Maybe you are, maybe you aren’t. Sometimes though you have to take a chance or you may end up regretting it for the rest of your life.” 

There was a far away look in Maggie’s eyes as she spoke and Lucy couldn’t help wondering if her aunt spoke from personal experience. She knew Maggie had been engaged in her youth and something had gone wrong. She’d never married, instead she’d come to keep house for Nick when Lucy had been a baby and had stayed there ever since.

* * *

Lucy lay in bed later that night. She’d been debating all evening if she should call Dominic and cancel. She was crazy, she had to be, to even be considering going ahead with meeting him. He hadn’t even said if he expected her to come to his cottage or what time or, was there a protocol to these kind of things? 

She propped herself up on her pillows and studied the blank face of her mobile. To call or not to call? As if her thoughts had influenced the electronic circuitry inside, her phone vibrated signalling an incoming call. She stared at the screen – Dominic.

“Hello.” Perhaps he’d changed his mind. Her feelings fluctuated quickly between hope and crushing disappointment.

“Hi Lucy.” Just the low rumble of his voice made her toes curl with pleasure.

“Is something wrong?” She glanced at the small clock on her beside table. Eleven o’clock.

“Nothing, I wanted to check that you were still okay about tomorrow.”

Now was her chance to say she’d changed her mind and take the get out clause he was offering her.