Under A Harvest Moon

by Joleen James

  She gave him a small smile. "We didn't talk about what she saw, but she kept this silly grin on her face all during breakfast, and she was actually humming. I'd say she liked seeing us together. I didn't have the heart to burst her bubble and remind her that I'm leaving here soon."

  Her words hit him like a bucket of cold water. Of course she wasn't staying on. He didn't want her to, yet to hear her say she'd be leaving didn't sit well with him and he wasn't sure why.

  "I owe you an apology for last night," Danielle said her expression serious now.

  "An apology? No way."

  "No, I'm serious," she said. "I was so needy. I shouldn't have bothered you. My life is such a mess. I don't know what I'm doing. My number one priority is Kaiden, and I need to remember that. It's not the right time to fool around."

  "Fool around?" He arched one brow. "We've fooled around more than once now. We're both divorced. It's okay to fool around. We both know the score." Nico's fingers closed around hers. "And you didn't bother me. Do you know how it made me feel when you came to me last night?" He kissed the back of her hand. "I felt honored."

  He expected her expression to soften, but instead her eyes narrowed. "Why?" she asked.

  "Because I think you're starting to trust me a little." He reached for her hand again, threading his fingers with hers. "Stop fighting me, fighting us." He kissed her hand again. "Let's enjoy our time together."

  "I can't," she said, but she didn't pull away. "I shouldn't. A relationship with you is just one more thing Peter can use against me. If anything, I should be behaving like a nun."

  "You have a right to a love life." He kissed her wrist, then let her go. "Peter can't tell you what to do anymore."

  "You don't know him. He can be ruthless when he wants something."

  "So can I." He locked his stare on her. At last he saw the heat he was looking for, the passion, and he knew she wanted him as much as he wanted her. At this moment, he'd take her however he could get her. He didn't want to think about the future, about the vineyard; he only wanted to feel, to have her in his bed.

  "You're doing it," she said.

  "What?" he asked.

  "Looking at me, the way I always wanted you to."

  "I've always looked at you this way, I was just good at not getting caught," he said.

  "I should go." She stood. "I've let you distract me long enough. I need to find Kaiden and tell him about the visitation."

  Nico rose. "Let me know if you need help with anything."

  "Thanks. I will."

  He watched her go into the house, and then turned, seeing Jacques watching from the barrel storage facility.

  Jacques held up two fingers in the victory sign.

  Victory. Hardly. If Jacques only knew.

  He was in real danger of falling for Danielle. Could he give up the vineyard for her, or could he find a way to have both of them? Did he want a relationship with her, or was his infatuation with her purely sexual?

  Danielle had a lot on her plate right now, and so did he. Maybe the timing wasn't right for them.

  More realistic now, Nico headed for Jacques.

  ***

  A deep melancholy settled in Danielle's bones as she slid behind the wheel of the Jetta. Starting the car, she exited the driveway of Whitney House. She was due to meet Jazzmyn at the pub in fifteen minutes. The last thing she felt like doing was socializing. She felt raw and upset. Once on the highway, Danielle let the day's events play through her mind.

  Kaiden had only been gone a few hours and she missed him terribly. She'd met Peter in Cle Elum, making the custodial transfer. It was one of the hardest things she'd ever had to do.

  Seeing Kaiden's smile for his father eased some of her doubts, but then she'd glanced at Peter, seen the triumph in his cold, mean eyes. At that moment she'd known this visit wasn't about spending time with his son. No, Peter had an ulterior motive. She'd bet on it. He wanted something; to bug her, or to get his hands on a piece of her inheritance.

  Her heart throbbed with sadness at the realization. How could she have married such an awful man? Why hadn't she seen the signs sooner? Had the bad example her parents had set clouded her vision on what a good marriage should be? In so many ways she blamed herself for her divorce. She never should have married Peter in the first place. He'd always cared about number one, about Peter. In a lot of ways, Peter was like her father, controlling, putting his needs ahead of his family. The custody fight wasn't about Kaiden, it was about control. Her heart broke for her son.

  She'd been so lost in thought after dropping Kaiden off, she'd forgotten she was supposed to meet Jazzmyn for dinner at the pub tonight until her friend had called to firm up the time.

  When she was just minutes from the pub the Faith Hill song Breathe came on the radio. Turning up the volume, Danielle took the words to heart -- just breathe. Inhaling, she took a hit of country air deep into her lungs. She released the air, taking the turn off to Sun Grove. She eased the Jetta around the corner, and rolled into town, parking her car in the lot next to the pub.

  Danielle cut the engine. Sun Grove. The town was starting to grow on her despite her efforts to resist the small town charm.

  Exiting the car, she went into the pub. Her eyes adjusted slowly to the dim lighting. She scanned the Friday night crowd, trying to locate Jazzmyn. The tables were filled, all the seats at the bar taken. Laughter surrounded her. Everyone here was having a good time. Maybe a good time was what she needed, something, anything to take her mind off of Kaiden; otherwise thinking about him would drive her crazy.

  "Danielle!"

  Jazzmyn's voice cut through the crowd noise and the Kenny Chesney music blaring from the old fashioned jukebox. Danielle spied Jazzmyn and wound her way through the tables and chairs to her friend, who waved from a booth near the back of the bar.

  "Hi," she said when she reached Jazzmyn. She embraced her friend.

  "Hi, yourself," Jazzmyn said, her smile wide and welcoming. "This is going to be such fun. I've missed you."

  "I've missed you, too," Danielle said. "I don't know if I told you before, but you look great, Jazzy."

  Jazzmyn had always had a flare for playing up her dark coloring. She'd dressed in form-fitting black jeans, and a fuchsia T-shirt that said Rodeo in rhinestones. Danielle envied the fuchsia lipstick Jazzmyn wore, knowing she could never pull off such a bold color with her light skin, hair, and eyes.

  "You're the one who looks good," Jazzmyn said. "You haven't gained a pound since high school. I sure can't say that."

  "Marriage agrees with you," Danielle said. "You look happy."

  "I am." Jazzmyn slid into the booth. "I ordered us a pitcher of Bud Light. Is that okay?"

  "It's perfect," Danielle said. Jazzmyn poured her a beer. "I could use a drink." At Jazzmyn's questioning look, Danielle quickly filled her in on Kaiden's departure.

  "Excuse me for saying so," Jazzmyn said, "but your ex-husband sounds like a louse."

  "You think?" Danielle said with a smile. It felt good to confide in Jazzmyn.

  They laughed.

  She'd missed this connection, never realizing until now that Peter had managed to isolate her from all her girlfriends. Her only close friend was Peter's sister, Cheryl.

  "What about Nico?" Jazzmyn asked. "Any feelings for him still kicking around?"

  Danielle shrugged, not wanting to talk about Nico. "The timing's not right for us. I need to be on my best behavior during the custody battle, and I'm afraid that's what it's going to be, a battle. Besides, I'm not staying in Sun Grove."

  "Danielle," Jazzmyn said with dismay, "why not?"

  "You know how things were with my parents. I don't have many happy memories here."

  "So make some," Jazzmyn said softly. "I saw the way Nico looked at you at the diner. It's the same way he looked at you in high school. I never understood why you two didn't date. Does he know about your father and his mother?"

  "No," Danielle admitted, her thoughts going to the unopened l
etters her father had written. "And I'm not sure I ever want to tell him. He loves the vineyard. He loved my father. He worships him. The truth would destroy everything Nico believes in."

  "But don't you think he has the right to know?" Jazzmyn asked. "I'd want to know if it were me."

  "Really?" Danielle asked. "I wish I didn't know about the affair. You know what they say, ignorance is bliss."

  They continued their conversation, covering everything from old classmates, to births, and even deaths. It was like they'd never been apart, and Danielle knew that no matter what happened with the vineyard, she'd never lose touch with her friend again.

  They were on their second beer when Nico walked in the door with Jacques.

  "Look who's here," Jazzmyn said, waving the men over.

  "No, don't call them," Danielle said, but it was too late.

  Nico waved back, and with Jacques right behind him, they threaded their way through the crowd.

  "What's wrong?" Jazzmyn asked when she noticed the look of upset on Danielle's face.

  "Nothing," Danielle said. "I was just enjoying a break from all things attached to Whitney Vineyards."

  "Sorry," Jazzmyn offered with a sympathetic shrug as the men joined them.

  "Ladies," Nico said as he slipped into the booth next to Danielle. "Jacques, I don't think you've met Jazzmyn. She went to high school with us."

  "A pleasure." Jacques shook Jazzmyn's hand.

  "Same here," Jazzmyn replied. "I've heard a lot about you."

  Jacques took the seat next to Jazzmyn. "Have you?"

  "Around here, everyone knows when a new winemaker comes to town." Jazzmyn proceeded to pepper Jacques with questions about where he'd lived in Europe, where he'd worked.

  "How are you?" Nico asked, the words low.

  "Fine." The waitress plunked two more glasses on the table. Nico picked up the pitcher and filled the glasses.

  "You don't look fine," Nico said. "In fact, you look a little drunk."

  "I am a little drunk." She smiled. She was just drunk enough to know it was dangerous to be with him right now, where the hard edges of her defenses and common sense had been smoothed by beer.

  The Toby Keith song, You Shouldn't Kiss Me Like This, floated from the jukebox.

  "I love this song," Danielle said.

  "Let's dance." Nico scooted out of the booth.

  "No," she said, remembering her earlier vow to stay away from him. A public dance with Nico was the last thing she needed, especially when she felt so much for him.

  "Oh, come on, Danielle," Jazzmyn said. "It's only a dance." She turned to Jacques. "Will you dance with an old married woman?"

  "If you'll dance with an old married man." Jacques smiled.

  At Danielle's look of indecision, Nico said, "It's only a dance. Don't let Peter win." Without giving her another chance to protest, he reached for her hand and pulled her out of the booth and onto the dance floor.

  Jacques and Jazzmyn followed.

  Nico's arm found her waist, the other arm reaching for her hand. Danielle's palm touched his chest, moving up to rest on his left shoulder. She closed her eyes and pretended to listen to the song, when in reality all of her senses tuned into Nico, his scent, the hard press of his body to hers, the feel of his skin as he rubbed his thumb in slow motion against her hand.

  On the surface, she knew they looked like a proper couple, but inside, Danielle let go, her good sense going up in flames. She wanted Nico, beer buzz or no beer buzz. She longed for the freedom to put her arms around him, dig her fingers into his hair, press her mouth against his. Wouldn't that give the town something to talk about?! She suppressed a smile.

  The song ended and they parted. For the next hour, Danielle enjoyed the company at the table, glad for the chance to know Jazzmyn and Jacques better.

  When the waitress asked if they wanted another pitcher of beer, they declined. It was getting late, and although tomorrow was Saturday, Danielle knew Nico would be working. The jury was still out on the fate of the drying grapes.

  "Can I ride home with you?" Danielle asked Nico, as they prepared to leave. "I can't drive. I've had too much to drink."

  "I came with Jacques," Nico said. "I'll drive your car home."

  "Can I offer you a lift, Jazzmyn?" Jacques asked.

  "That would be great," Jazzmyn said. "I'm a little tipsy. I was thinking of calling Mac, but now I don't have to."

  After warm hugs, the two couples split off from one another. Danielle got into the passenger side of the car as Nico climbed behind the wheel. Danielle rolled her window down and let the warm night air into the car. She leaned her head back against the seat and closed her eyes.

  Seattle just didn't smell like Sun Grove. The sweet scent in the air brought her straight home, and to her surprise, she liked that. Was she really a country girl at heart? The thought caught her off guard. She'd spent her adult life as a city girl, but did she really belong there?

  "You okay?" Nico asked.

  "Perfect." She pushed the thoughts from her mind. She didn't want to think about the city, not tonight. "I had a great time. Being with Jazzmyn really took my mind off my problems."

  "I'm glad."

  When they pulled into the driveway, Nico cut the engine.

  Danielle exited the car before he could come around to help her. She swayed on her feet, but Nico was there to steady her. They walked to the base of the porch steps.

  "I think you're a little bit of lightweight when it comes to drinking beer," Nico teased.

  The porch light on Whitney House threw off enough light she could see Nico clearly. His handsomeness went straight to her head. She could look at him forever.

  "I'm a lightweight. I'll admit it." Danielle smiled. "It felt good to relax. It's been an emotional day with Kaiden. I keep trying not to think about him, but it's impossible. He may be ten years old, but he's my baby. I love him so much."

  "I know." Nico's fingers trailed over her cheek, his touch tender. "It's one of the reasons I came looking for you tonight."

  "You came looking for me?" she asked, insanely pleased by his admission.

  "I thought you'd need cheering up."

  "I did."

  He held her stare so long, Danielle glanced away, knowing she couldn't hide her feelings for him. It would be so easy to kiss him, to go home with him. She didn't have any responsibilities tonight. There were no prying eyes here. Lola certainly didn't care. She wanted the two of them together. Maria would be asleep.

  "I should go inside," she said, the words lame and lacking conviction. Her entire body wanted him, didn't want to walk away.

  "Don't go yet." His words were low, packed with enough sensuality Danielle's knees went weak, yet she held back.

  "Don't tempt me, Nico," she said with a sigh. "I'm just drunk enough I'd take you up on your offer."

  His teeth flashed white in the darkness, just before he leaned in to kiss her.

  Danielle's mind went blank as his lips touched hers. His arms wound around her waist. Despite the beer, her senses heightened. She tasted him, but instead of tasting beer, fresh mint met her tongue. His fingers curled into the back of her blouse, as if he couldn't hold her close enough. The stubble on his chin chafed her skin, but she didn't care. She drowned in the kiss, losing herself to him, her hands sliding up under his shirt, skimming across the warm skin of his back.

  "I love kissing you," Nico whispered against her mouth, just before he set her from him. "Go."

  Danielle struggled back to reality. "Go?" She'd been ready to go all right, back to his place.

  "I have a feeling you'll regret it if I take you home," Nico said. "Come morning you're going to remember all the reasons you didn't want to sleep with me."

  Danielle could still see the heat in his eyes, feel it in her own body, but deep inside she knew he was right. Her head wasn't clear.

  She nodded, not trusting herself to speak. Slowly, she started up the steps to Whitney House. On the porch, she turned, not surprise
d to find Nico watching her.

  "Good night," he said, and she could hear the regret in his voice.

  "Good night." She let herself into the house, to the stairs. Sinking down onto the bottom step, she let the events of the day wash over her: giving Kaiden to Peter, the time spent at the pub, Nico's kiss.

  She was doing it again, letting Peter influence her decision. How could she break the cycle? She'd wanted to go home with Nico, and the only thing stopping her was Peter. It was so unfair. She didn't want to give him the satisfaction of knowing he was controlling her actions with fear, even from afar. Although she was willing to admit she didn't have the clearest head tonight, she made a vow that from this point forward, she was going to make her own decisions, Peter be damned. He wasn't her husband anymore. In twelve years of marriage she couldn't remember ever standing up to him.

  Danielle pushed to her feet and gave a silent prayer. She needed strength, had to be strong for Kaiden, and for herself.

  She could do this. She could be a gutsy girl, a woman in control of her life.

  Chapter Ten

  Danielle spent the following morning wandering in the vineyard, checking out the grapes. All preliminary reports indicated that the crop hadn't been damaged by the rain. And while the news was good, she wanted to see for herself, well, that and she'd secretly been hoping to catch a glimpse of Nico.

  He'd been a gentleman last night, his actions touching her heart, making her like him even more. She truly appreciated the fact that he hadn't taken advantage of a slightly inebriated woman, but a part of her still wished he had. Nico made her feel good about herself. He made her feel strong, and she wanted to grab onto that feeling with both hands.

  Danielle let herself into Whitney House by the back door. The kitchen was empty. No sign of Lola or Maria. She did an about face, heading for the door, stopping when she spied the notes pinned to the bulletin board near the phone. Lola and Maria had gone to town for lunch and a movie. The second note said that Kaiden had called and he wanted Danielle to call him back.