When she did his bidding, she could see dark thunderheads gathering in the far distance.
“I believe you. They look ominous.”
“This whole area will be deluged through tomorrow. If you’re not used to the conditions, you could find yourself in real trouble.”
He honestly feared for her safety. She could feel it.
That meant she’d been given another day with him if she wanted it.
Heavens—if she wanted it—
Shifting restlessly, she said, “What about that plot of new vines at your vineyard? Will the storm destroy them?”
His face had lost some color and was close enough that if she lifted her hand she could touch his cheeks and nose and lips with her fingers.
It took every ounce of control to keep her hands to herself.
“Not if I get there first to reinforce them. But I’m going to have to leave now.”
Without saying anything else, he put her cases in her car.
“Let me help you with the vines—” she blurted.
“Out of the question.”
“Why? I’m available. Let’s not waste time. All you have to do is give me a job. I want to learn.”
His sharp intake of breath spoke volumes about the battle going on inside him.
“Please, Luc. I hadn’t planned to stay, but under the circumstances this is one way to repay you for all you’ve done for me.”
“Your generous wine order has more than accomplished that,” he bit out.
“Then I take it you don’t trust me to do a good job, so I guess that’s it. You’d better get going while I check back into the hotel.”
She got in her car, feeling on the verge of tears she didn’t dare let him see.
He stood at the open window. “Rachel—” His voice grated.
“What?”
“Don’t think I’m not grateful for your offer.”
“Then prove it and let me come with you.”
She had no pride left. Her desire to be with him and help him had reduced her to begging for the opportunity.
He muttered something in French she didn’t understand. At the last second when she thought he was going to tell her goodbye she heard,
“Follow me.”
Joy surged through her body until she thought she couldn’t contain it.
The second she saw his tail-lights go on, she started her car and trailed him. Once they reached the road, Luc took off fast, but she was able to keep up because there wasn’t a lot of traffic.
With such an alarming forecast, the locals knew better than to be out in droves.
She’d done it now.
Luc knew she wanted to be with him. Finally Rachel knew he wanted to be with her too. He hadn’t been able to let her go yet either.
If he could see into her psyche right now, he would know she never wanted to leave him.
There was a reason for that—she was in love for the first time in her life. So deeply in love she was in pain.
They took a different, faster route to Ribeauville that wound through the foothills past stone houses, castle ruins, even crucifixes left over from other centuries.
Once they reached his house on the summit, she pulled in next to his Wagoneer and jumped out to get her suitcase from the back. Luc had already unlocked the door to the house.
“I’ll be downstairs,” he called to her.
“As soon as I change, I’ll join you!”
There was no time to lose. Once inside, she found the bathroom down the hall and discarded her dress for jeans and a T-shirt. After putting on her walking shoes, she raced down the stairs.
Luc had already left for the vineyard through the walkout basement. At a quick glance she noted a bedroom, bathroom and laboratory. Her eyes traveled around the storage room. It was full of tools and vintner equipment, including several boxes of stakes.
She picked up a bundle, reached for a twine holder and headed out the door. In a minute she found him on the west side of the house where the young vines had the longest exposure to light.
Though they were supported by a stake already, they would need more bolstering to survive a violent storm.
She noticed he’d already made progress and was halfway down one of the rows.
“Leave those things at the head of the next row, then come and I’ll show you how you can help.”
She hurriedly complied.
“We’ll make faster time if you tie the stake to the vine after I’ve driven it into the soil.”
She nodded, then got down on her knees to see how much twine to cut, and how exactly to tie the vine.
Watching him work was a revelation to her. No indecision. Every movement was precise, perfect. So quick!
Hers on the other hand were slow and clumsy. But he continually praised her for her efforts. Part of her problem was the knowledge that these were his experimental vines. She didn’t want him to lose them.
The next row went a little faster because she’d finally gotten the hang of it. When they came to the end of it, their eyes met.
“I think you’ve been holding out on me, Rachel. I think you’re a vintner’s daughter.”
Before she could countenance it, he pressed a quick kiss to her lips, then moved on to the next row.
Keep praising me like that and I’m your slave for ever, her heart cried.
A little more than halfway through the plot and she heard the rumblings of thunder.
While she’d been concentrating on her job, the wind had picked up. Strong gusts whipped at her hair. Luckily the ribbon kept most of it out of her face.
“Feel that drop in temperature?” he asked.
“Yes. It was hot again this morning.”
“By the time we go inside, I’ll have to turn on the heat.”
Those words sent certain pictures flashing through her mind. The thought of being alone with him in his own house caused her pulse to pound in her ears.
Afraid Luc could hear it, she worked harder and faster, anxious to finish what they’d started. Helping him like this bonded her to him on a new and deeper level.
Soon the smell of rain filled the air. Bits of leaves and debris began to swirl around them. Another crack of thunder sounded much closer this time, causing her to jump.
She looked up to discover the giant thunderheads she’d noticed earlier were upon them. An eerie darkness had settled in.
Her anxious eyes sought Luc, who was putting in the last set of stakes. Reassured by his presence at her side, she kept on cutting twine and tried not to panic.
Suddenly a bolt of lightning shot out of the blackness. She screamed in fright.
“That was too close!” Luc wheeled around gray-faced and picked her up in his arms. She clung to him as he ran toward the house, carrying her as if she were weightless.
By the time they reached the basement door, hail the size of big marbles beat down on them with enough force to really hurt.
Thunder followed them inside. Even when he’d pulled the door closed, it shook the ground so hard she thought they were having an earthquake.
Terrified, she buried her face in his neck. “I—I’ve never been in a storm like this before.”
He gathered her hard against him. “I should never have let you stay out there this long. Forgive me,” he whispered over and over, pressing his lips against her cheek and hair. “I misjudged the speed of the headwinds.”
As he spoke lightning illuminated the room.
“There’s nothing to forgive,” she said, but another tremendous crack of thunder drowned out her words.
She burrowed even closer, needing his strength.
“What kind of a monster am I not to have noticed?” he muttered in self-deprecation. “You risked your life out there for a plot of my damn vines.”
His whole body was shuddering now.
The anguish in his voice and eyes seemed to go much deeper than the situation warranted.
“I wasn’t aware that’s what I was doing,” she teased
, wanting to comfort him. “Don’t forget those damn vines happen to belong to the most celebrated vintner in Alsace.”
She would have said anything to take him out of that dark place the storm had triggered. But nothing seemed to be getting through to him.
“Please listen to me. I could have come inside at any time. You’re not responsible.”
“Of course I am,” he ground out. “Mon Dieu, Rachel. If anything had happened to you—”
“But it didn’t!” she cried, trying with all her power to relieve his pain. “We’re safe and sound. But I must say tying vines is dirty work. If you’ll put me down, I’ll get changed.”
He had no concept of how tightly he’d been holding her.
“Mon Dieu, you’re all right.” He half moaned the words. Slowly he relinquished his hold and released her so she could stand on her own.
But he was still worked up. She could tell by the way he raked an unsteady hand through his hair.
“Feel free to take a shower in the guest bathroom. While you do that, I’ll clean up and then we’ll eat. After all your hard work, you must be starving.”
“As soon as I’m ready, I’ll join you in the kitchen.”
Rachel turned away from him and dashed up the stairs to the bathroom. She’d been in such a hurry before, she hadn’t noticed it led to a room that hadn’t been furnished yet. She turned on the light but nothing happened. The violence of the storm must have knocked out the power. They would have to eat food that didn’t need to be cooked.
Maybe over their meal she could get him to talk about his demons. Something terrible, maybe even tragic, haunted him. If she could ease his suffering a little…
Knowing he was so upset made the pleasure of showering in his brand-new house bittersweet.
After she’d toweled off, she changed back into the same dress she’d been wearing. Once she’d redone her hair with the ribbon and put on fresh lipstick, she hurried past a study with an entertainment center toward the great room she’d seen from the stairs.
On the end wall in the living room he’d built a fire in the stone hearth. A grouping of furniture placed in front of it made the interior incredibly cozy.
The brunt of the storm had moved on. Now there was a steady downpour of rain and the occasional sound of thunder. Rachel wanted to curl up on the couch in his arms and watch the flames that relieved the darkness.
Her gaze darted to the two picture windows framed by red print valences. Both overlooked the steep vineyards below.
She glimpsed a bistro table and two chairs placed in front of the kitchen window. He’d lit a candle so its glow reflected in the glass. The whole atmosphere of the house charmed her.
A few more steps and her heart skipped a beat to see Luc preparing fruit at the counter. He’d changed into a black silk shirt and trousers.
Everything her heart desired was right here… An authentic French country home with an authentic Frenchman so exciting she had trouble believing she wasn’t in the middle of some fantastic dream.
His eyes swept over her, taking in every detail of her face and body until it was difficult to breathe. Miraculously the tension that had held him in its grip earlier seemed to have abated, at least for the time being.
“No one would ever guess you’d been out in the dirt slaving to save my terroir,” he drawled.
“It was worth it even if no vines survived. I have a whole new appreciation for the life of a vintner. While people drink Chartier wines in restaurants all around the world, they don’t have a clue what you go through.”
His eyes glittered. “Fortunately we don’t have storms like this every day, or even every year.”
“Nevertheless these cycles of bad weather have to be devastating for those who can’t afford to lose even one row of grapes.”
“You’re right, of course.”
“Do you think your other vineyards sustained a lot of damage?”
“I’ll know soon enough when my managers have made their assessments.”
She moved closer, embarrassed that she was watching him do all the work while they talked.
“What can I do to help?”
His quick smile made her pulse race. “Grâce à Maman who brought me a house-warming gift, we have food that doesn’t need to be cooked.”
Her eyes darted to the table. “But no wine?”
A deep chuckle came out of him that resonated to her bones. “Hélas, non. Would you believe the master vintner hasn’t had time to stock his own cellar?”
She laughed gently. “This reminds me of an old saying. ‘Water, water everywhere, but none to drink.’ I’m afraid it’s not a very good analogy, but you know what I mean.”
“It’s a very apt description of the situation,” he countered.
“Would you like to eat in here, or in front of the fire?”
“Both,” she declared. At his surprised look she said, “Let’s have the main course in here, and dessert in the other room. I’ll supply it.” Fire flashed from his eyes.
“It’s not what you’re thinking,” she assured him.
“Chocolate, then?” When he was a boy, he must have driven his mother crazy.
“So you’re a chocolate addict.”
“I have several vices.”
“I see. Well, this is something I think you’ll like even better.”
“Then let’s hurry and eat.”
He carried their plates to the table. Rachel sat down on one of the chairs, delighted with the way the seat and back had been woven in strips of white and red.
Everything about his home delighted her. He enchanted her.
She watched him devour several individual-sized quiches before she started out eating a sectioned pear. This was the perfect picnic. Their finger food didn’t require utensils.
When she bit into her pastry, she noticed his penetrating gaze fixed on her. She took another bite.
“The touch of nutmeg is brilliant.”
“You’ve discovered Maman’s secret.” He sounded pleased.
“This is the best quiche Lorraine I’ve ever tasted.”
“Quiche Alsacienne.”
She nodded. “I stand corrected. Tell your mother she could open her own restaurant with food like this. She would put everyone else out of business.”
“Coming from you, that’s no ordinary compliment.”
As soon as they’d finished she got up first and carried their plates to the sink.
“Wait here. I’ll be right back.”
“Don’t take long. I’m an impatient man.”
Feverish with anticipation, she flew to the bathroom. After rummaging in her suitcase, she found what she was after wrapped inside her two sweaters.
She put it behind her back and rejoined him in the kitchen where he was cleaning up.
He shot her a mysterious glance. “What are you hiding?”
“It’s a surprise.”
“If this is a game we’re playing, I’ll warn you now I don’t play fair.”
“You think I don’t know that? But just this once will you please humor me and close your eyes?”
“That’s all I have to do?”
“For now.”
Another low chuckle came out of him. “All right. My eyes are closed. For now,” he added wryly.
She walked around him and drew two glasses from the cupboard. Then she poured some golden Pinot Gris into each of them.
“I’m going to hand you something.”
She pressed a glass into his palm. Their fingers brushed, sending a trail of fire up her arm.
His body stilled. “So the master vintner is now on trial…”
“In a manner of speaking.”
His amusement faded as he lifted the glass and breathed in the bouquet.
“You can stop pretending. I already know that you know what it is.”
Ignoring her comment, he took a swallow and savored it the way she’d done that night at the hotel.
She reached for her own glass and dra
nk from it. Her private salute to the man who’d transformed her into someone she didn’t know anymore.
“I detect a new element.”
“That’s not possible,” she challenged. “It’s the same Tokay from the bottle you were holding when we met in the hotel.”
He opened his eyes and put his empty glass on the counter. To her astonishment he clasped her upper arms.
“I’m never wrong. Let me show you,” he whispered in a husky tone. Pulling her close, he covered her wine-glossed lips with his mouth and slowly coaxed them apart as he sought deeper access.
Once again she was overcome by sensations that made her light-headed. She let out a soft gasp of pleasure and wrapped her arms around his neck, the way she’d wanted to do in the pool.
Through the thin material of her dress, he couldn’t help but feel her heart cannonading his. It rivaled the thunder that had resounded earlier in the electrified atmosphere.
When he finally lifted his mouth, she groaned.
“Have you discovered it yet?”
“What?” she whispered almost incoherently because he was kissing the throbbing pulse at her throat. “The only thing new I can taste is nutmeg.”
His hands roamed over her back, molding her slender curves to his body. “That, and the taste of you,” he said on a shallow breath. “There’s no recipe for this kind of ambrosia.”
Once more he found her mouth in a feverish kiss that went on and on until she lost all sense of time and place. She was on fire for him, matching his desire with her own overpowering need.
She’d had no idea she was capable of this kind of response. But then she’d never been in love before,
“I want you, Rachel,” he murmured against her neck. “I want you so much, I’m in agony.”
A groan escaped her throat. “I want you, too.”
“Do you have any idea how hard it has been to keep my hands off you before now?”
“Yes, because I’ve suffered the same pain since the first night we met. It’s been growing until I haven’t been able to think about anything else. Don’t ever stop loving me like this, Luc.”
“You do know where this is leading.”
Right now his hands and mouth were doing the most incredible things to her.
“Yes,” she murmured against his lips.
He sucked in his breath. “Something tells me you’ve never been intimate with a man before. Am I wrong?
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