Between the Vines

by Tricia Stringer

  “The less who knew the better. There was no need–”

  “I’ll leave you to it then.” She turned away, once more reminded she was of little importance here.

  “Taylor, wait.” He grabbed her hand. His touch was warm on her chilled fingers. “Please don’t go.”

  She looked back at him. He gazed at her with such longing her heart leapt. She turned. He reached for her other hand and gently pulled her towards him. Slowly they moved together. Their lips met. His were warm and soft, gentle and then more insistent. He wrapped his arms around her, his embrace tender but firm. She slid her hands around his back, her fingers felt his warmth and the solid muscles under his shirt.

  He put his hands to her cheeks and gently drew away. Their faces were only centimetres apart. She took in the whiskers that darkened his chin, his lips, his reddened cheeks, his clear blue eyes. They looked back at her with such intensity a shiver ran through her.

  “Are you cold?”

  “No.” She smiled and touched his lips with hers. “Warm as toast.”

  “I’ve wanted to do that since nearly the first day I met you.”

  Taylor drew back a little. Their arms dropped away. “I’m sorry I can’t say the same.” She frowned. Kissing Pete had felt so right but could she trust her judgement? She’d thought Ed was the one such a short time ago. She shook her head slowly. “I’ve stuffed so much up.”

  He leaned in and pressed his lips to hers again. She closed her eyes. No other part of them touched but every part of her responded to his kiss.

  He stopped. Her eyes flew open. Once more he was studying her closely, a smile playing on his lips.

  “This feels good to me.” He kissed her again and once more the shiver went through her. His lips slid over her cheek to her ear and at the same time his arms slid around her. “Tell me when you want me to stop.” His murmur was soft, his breath caressed her ear.

  Taylor wrapped her arms around him again and this time she didn’t let go. Pete backed her towards the wall. Something brushed her neck. She screamed and spun away catching him off-balance. Peter tumbled against the door which flew open behind him. He fell backwards with Taylor on top of him. He gave a groan. She looked at his face just a few centimetres from hers in alarm.

  “Are you all right?”

  “Winded,” he croaked.

  Taylor tried to scrabble off of him. Her knee jerked into him. He groaned and curled away from her.

  “Oh!” Taylor put one hand to her mouth and the other hovered over his back. “I’m so sorry. Are you okay?”

  “Gotta catch my breath.” He stayed in the foetal position while Taylor flooded with embarrassment. Her knee had connected with a very delicate part of him.

  “I’m so sorry.” She bent over him. The gentle pat she gave him on the back seemed so inadequate. “What can I do?”

  He sat himself up resting his forearms on his knees and gave her a deadpan look. “You sure know how to slow things down.”

  “I didn’t mean to…at least it wasn’t my intention to…” She flapped her hand. “You know.”

  “I’ll live.” He got carefully to his feet.

  “Can I make you a cup of tea?”

  “I’d rather a beer.”

  “I don’t think I have any.”

  “I do.” This time there was a gleam in his eye when he looked at her. “Would you like to come to my place?”

  His deep voice had a husky edge to it. Taylor felt a quiver of desire ripple through her.

  “Sure, but–”

  His lips pressed to hers. “Let’s go.”

  Walking quickly they didn’t say a word but each time his arm brushed hers Taylor felt a buzz tingle through her. Once inside his back door he pulled her into his arms and kicked the door shut with his foot. Their hands roamed under their shirts. Taylor could feel the thud of Pete’s heart under her hand and she gasped as he slid his inside her bra.

  Once more he kissed her and slowly walked her backwards, their bodies pressed together. He stopped inside his bedroom door. She had time to notice a big old wardrobe and a double bed. He sat her on the edge of it, then pulled off his jacket.

  Before Taylor could take hers off, he was there doing it for her. She shivered as he slid the jacket down her arms and dropped it to the floor.

  “Cold?”

  “Not a bit.” It was warm in his cottage. She grinned. By the look on his face she would soon be getting even warmer.

  He slipped one hand behind her and tugged her shirt from her jeans, all the time gazing at her with his liquid blue eyes. Just that look sent another shiver through her.

  “Are you sure you’re not cold?” He slid his hands over her bare skin and gently pulled her to him.

  “Positive.” The word was muffled by his lips, warm, soft and insistent on hers. They tumbled back onto his bed. She was very careful where she put her knees. She didn’t want to spoil anything this time.

  CHAPTER

  50

  Edward pulled his four-wheel drive up in front of the quarters. He was actually looking forward to tonight. He’d probably had a lucky escape where Taylor was concerned. At first he’d been annoyed when she’d broken off with him but now he felt a sense of relief. He’d never expected her to follow up on his invitation to come back. Jumping into bed with her might have been fun but as it turned out it could have been awkward

  He hadn’t wanted her to stay on once she’d called it off but she’d been useful in the end and the business plan idea wasn’t a bad one. He and Peter should have made a proper one after their parents had died but somehow time had gone on and things rolled along. He’d even put together most of the information Taylor had asked for. He was sure her plan would match his ideas for Wriggly Creek anyway. Pete would see sense in Edward’s expansion ideas and there’d be no need to follow through with the threat to sell out so there was no harm in Taylor having the financial and marketing information.

  Edward lifted out the box of pizza ingredients and the esky with the beer. Peter would see he could be reasonable and everything would work out fine. Taylor tugged open the inner door as he opened the screen. Her skin glowed and her hair was damp as if she’d just got out of the shower.

  Thankfully, he’d realised she wasn’t his type in spite of her appearance. While Felicity had taken it on the chin and moved on he wasn’t sure things would have been the same with Taylor. The more he got to know her, he saw more a home-and-family-type person in her than the party girl he’d first thought she was.

  “Come in,” she said and stepped back as he lugged his contribution to the evening’s meal through the doorway. “Pete’s not here yet.”

  Edward put his box on the table and the esky on the floor by the fridge. He lifted the papers from the top of the box and offered them to Taylor. “For the business plan.”

  “Thanks, Edward.” She gave him a grateful smile. “Pete’s bringing the rest of his paperwork tonight too. I hope I can work on it over the next few days.” She placed the papers on top of the bookcase next to the laptop. “Can I get you a drink?”

  “I’ve brought beer.”

  “I was hoping someone would. I’m nearly out.”

  They’d just popped the tops of their cans when Peter arrived. Taylor took the items he brought and put them on the table. He also had a bottle of red which he placed in the middle of the table with a flourish.

  “Our new reserve cab sauv to have with our personalised pizza.”

  “Can’t wait to try it.” Taylor’s eyes shone.

  “In the meantime a beer looks good,” he said.

  “In the esky.” Edward sat on the couch.

  Peter and Taylor fiddled around in the kitchen behind him. As he turned, Taylor spoke.

  “How hungry are you?”

  “Not very,” Edward said.

  “Ravenous.” Peter’s voice was louder.

  Taylor chuckled. “Let’s sit for a while, drink our beers and then we can work out what we’re going to make fr
om our pooled ingredients.” She sat in the old armchair.

  Peter took up a position next to Edward on the couch.

  “Everything under control in the winery?” Edward asked.

  “Yes.” Peter took a sip of his beer. “No thanks to you. Haven’t seen you since this morning.”

  “I’ve been busy. Anyway, you’re the one who gave Antoine some time off.”

  “Only two days.” Peter turned away from him to Taylor and lifted his can. “Taylor’s been helping.”

  “And you’re covering for Noelene tomorrow.” Edward raised an eyebrow. “When do you get time off for good behaviour, Taylor?”

  “I guess I haven’t been good.”

  Peter coughed. Taylor’s lips rose higher in a broad grin.

  Edward gave her a closer look but she put her can to her mouth. He watched her throat move up and down as she swallowed.

  “I’ll make sure the stock levels are good,” he said. “You could get busy, being Easter Saturday. I’ll call in but you’ve got our mobile numbers if you need help.”

  “I’ll come over between jobs,” Peter said.

  Edward turned to his brother. “I brought the information for the business plan.”

  Peter studied him a moment as if he was trying to decipher what Edward had said.

  Edward looked away. There was something about the way Peter had stared at him, as if he could see through him.

  “That’s great.” Peter took another swig of his beer. “Mine’s nearly done. Would have been finished but I got caught up this afternoon.”

  Taylor gave a hiccupped splutter.

  “Without Antoine there’s a lot of plunging to be done.”

  Taylor spat beer down the front of her. She leapt to her feet. “How clumsy I am.” She brushed at her jumper and went to the kitchen for a cloth. “I’m hungry all of a sudden.” She started setting out the various containers.

  Peter rose quickly and joined her. “I’ll help you.”

  Edward followed more slowly. Taylor had been right, between them they had a variety of toppings to add to the pizza bases he’d had in his freezer. Once their creations were in the oven, Peter picked up the bottle of red he’d already taken the cork from.

  “Time to try our next reserve cab sauv.”

  Taylor got out glasses and they all took a seat around the table. Edward watched as Peter poured himself a mouthful, sniffed it and took a sip. He smiled. “I think that’s a bloody good drop but I’ll let you two judge for yourselves.” He lifted the bottle and poured them all a glass.

  Edward sniffed his. The blackberry aroma was there with a hint of mint. He tasted and smiled.

  Peter reached across and clapped a hand on his shoulder. “Pretty good, wouldn’t you say?”

  “Well done, little brother.” Edward took another sip. He had to hand it to Peter, he could make wine.

  “What do you think, Taylor?”

  They both looked at her, staring into the contents of her glass. Her cheeks were pink. She shook her head. “I’m sorry.”

  “What’s wrong?” Peter’s face fell.

  “It tastes good to me.”

  “Thank goodness,” Edward’s eyebrows rose. “I was worried we’d have to tip out our reserve cab sauv.”

  “I don’t get all the sniffing and swirling,” she said. “Then you reckon you can taste gooseberries–”

  “Not in the cab sauv.” Peter chuckled.

  “Whatever,” she said. “I just don’t get what you get.”

  “But you like it?” Peter studied her closely.

  Edward noticed the shine in Taylor’s eyes as she gazed back at his brother.

  “It’s delicious.”

  “Then that’s all that matters. Don’t worry about tasting blackberries.” The moment was broken by another of his hearty chuckles.

  Edward glanced from one to the other. What was going on here? It was almost as if there was a hidden conversation between Taylor and Peter that he wasn’t part of.

  “The pizzas smell good.” Taylor stood up to inspect the food in the oven. She got them out and they took turns to cut their own.

  “Tomorrow night we should go out for food,” Edward said once they’d taken a few mouthfuls of pizza.

  “Isn’t Donella doing one of her special cook-ups at the hall?” Peter said.

  “I believe she is.”

  “The woman at the Coonawarra store?” Taylor looked from one of them to the other.

  “Yes,” Peter said. “Every so often she has this big cook-up and the locals go along. It’s a fundraiser for the upkeep of the hall. It’s usually a good night.”

  “Sounds like fun.” Taylor smiled at Peter.

  “It is.” He turned to Edward. “Good idea.”

  Edward nodded. He needed them to be off the property for what he’d organised.

  They finished their pizzas in silence. Edward felt a tension in the air. Maybe it was just him but he thought there was more to it. He lifted his eyes and intercepted a look between Taylor and Peter and suddenly he knew. Something had changed between them. He’d tried to put a stop to any possible relationship but he obviously hadn’t succeeded.

  “Think I’ll call it a night.” He stood up and put his plate on the sink.

  “I’ve got strawberries and ice-cream,” Taylor said.

  “No thanks. I’m going to head home.” He turned to Peter who’d stood up as well. “Do you want me to do some plunging tomorrow?”

  An odd look passed over Peter’s face then he grinned. “Sure. Will you do the second shift?”

  “No problem.” Edward took the remaining beer from his esky and offered it to Taylor. “You keep this.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Night,” they all chorused and Edward let himself out into the cold night. He put the esky in his four-wheel drive and turned on the engine. He sat a moment not closing the door. He looked back at the quarters, where light shone from the chinks in the curtain. He eased himself from the seat and made his way cautiously back to the big window. There were gaps where the curtain didn’t overlap. In the centre of the living area, right where he’d left them, Peter and Taylor were locked in an embrace. He’d been right. He wondered how long they’d been together and he hadn’t noticed. At what point had they started a relationship?

  Pain knifed its way into his chest. He didn’t care for Taylor but neither did he want her to be with Peter. Edward went back to his four-wheel drive and reversed away from the quarters. As he turned his vehicle towards home he slapped the steering wheel and swore loudly at the empty track ahead.

  CHAPTER

  51

  Taylor melted against Peter. Keeping away from him over dinner had been so difficult when all she’d wanted to do was feel his arms around her. Now they were, and his lips were tracing the curve of her neck. She was having trouble concentrating. Her body was reacting to his kisses with a force of its own, just like it had in the shed this afternoon before they’d overbalanced against the door and fallen to the ground.

  A chuckle burbled up inside her.

  His kisses stopped. “What is it?”

  She opened her eyes. “Nothing. I was remembering this afternoon. All that talk about plunging and getting caught up.” The chuckle bubbled out into a warm laugh.

  Pete laughed too. “Obviously I’m not trying hard enough to distract you.”

  Taylor put a hand to her mouth. Pete had taken the brunt of their tumble to the ground. They’d both been covered in dirt and Taylor had a large bruise on her elbow.

  He kept his arms around her waist. “You should have warned me you play rough. I’d have worn some protection.”

  Taylor grinned. “I thought you country boys liked a rough-and-tumble.”

  “That’s in the hay.” He kissed her nose, one cheek and then the other. “You might not have noticed but we don’t have any hay around here.”

  “Plenty of wine though.” She nodded towards the table where they’d left the partly drunk glasses of red. �
��Your new one is good.”

  “Are you trying to divert me with wine?”

  “Not divert.” She smiled. “Just taking it steady. We don’t want another accident.”

  “The couch should be safe enough.” Pete sat.

  “Just a minute.” Taylor collected their glasses, came back and sat beside him. “It’s a shame to not drink your wine now that I’m getting a taste for it.”

  They gazed at each other as they drank. Taylor felt the heat rise inside her. Her attempt to put on the brakes wasn’t working. Pete put down his glass. He took hers and placed it carefully beside his. Then he slid his hands beneath her and eased her onto his lap. He kissed her again.

  “I’d like a follow up with a repeat of what happened after the accident.”

  She looked steadily into his clear blue eyes. The longing she saw there reflected her own. “So would I.” She leaned in and kissed him.

  Taylor laid her head on Pete’s solid chest and listened to the steady beat of his heart and the regular rhythm of his breathing. They were in her little cell of a room on her single bed. She tipped her head slightly and studied his face. There was a hint of first light coming from the window above the bed but she could see no more than his outline. She liked to think he looked content. She knew she was.

  Cass’s voice played in her head. “It’s lust, not love.” Taylor smiled. If that was the case, Peter Starr had performed the best lusting she’d ever experienced. Their first love making yesterday afternoon had been rushed. Last night they’d explored each other’s bodies eagerly, leaving a trail of clothes over her bedroom floor, but with a gentleness too. This time they’d taken it steady and neither of them had wanted to spoil the night with a repeat of their tangle at the shed. Afterwards they’d joked about that. Pete had a warm sense of humour. They’d talked for a long time about all kinds of things before they’d drifted off to sleep, comfortable in each other’s arms.

  He’d thought it best to keep their fledgling relationship to themselves and she’d agreed. She hadn’t told him about Ed’s saying she was just another of Pete’s rescue projects and she wasn’t planning to. She didn’t want to do anything that might upset the tenuous truce there seemed to be between the Starr men.