Between the Vines Read online

  “Would you like coffee?”

  She spun and looked straight into that same set of intense blue eyes studying her from under a thatch of thick dark hair swept back from his high forehead. Her heart skipped a beat as his lips turned up in a grin. It was the hunk from behind the bar. Edward with the dreamy eyes from the photo. He was the only guy in the room but he had a presence that would have outshone any others.

  “I’m guessing you’re the desi,” he said. “We’ve got a coffee machine out the back makes a pretty good brew or you might prefer water.”

  His gaze locked with hers and his smile deepened. Taylor blinked to break the spell he’d cast over her.

  “Water would be fine,” she stammered. “Thank you.”

  He moved to the jug and glasses set out on the bar, even though she could have got them herself.

  Cass proposed a ribald toast which brought forth more shrieking from the group as he placed the glass of water in front of her.

  “Edward Starr,” he said. “Had a busy day?”

  “Fairly.” She took a sip from the glass. “Thanks.” She realised he was watching her expectantly. “I’m Taylor Rourke.” She offered her hand across the bar. He took it carefully in his and gave it a squeeze. Her heart hammered in her chest at his touch. What was going on here? She dropped her hand to her side.

  He leaned closer as the voices behind them rose again. “Where are you from?”

  “Adelaide.” Taylor waved a hand to include her friends. “We’re all from Adelaide.”

  “Staying the night?”

  “Two. We drove down today, go home Sunday.”

  “How come you drew the short straw?”

  She stared at him, mesmerised by the depth of blue in his eyes. It was like looking into a deep pond.

  “How did you get to be the designated driver?”

  There was a grin on his face. Had he noticed she was ogling him?

  “I’m the one with the van and I prefer beer.” Taylor grimaced. “Sorry.”

  “Don’t be.” He winked, tapped a finger to his lips and leaned further over the bar. “It takes a lot of beer to make good wine.”

  Taylor puzzled over his words, but didn’t want to appear silly by asking what he meant. Instead, she reached for the water. A waft of his luscious male scent made her hand tremble. She knocked the glass over. “Damn!” She wasn’t usually clumsy. It only ever happened when she first fancied a guy. She gritted her teeth. She wasn’t going there, not on this weekend.

  “Don’t worry.” He had a cloth in his hand immediately. “It’s only water and not my best wine you’re tipping out.”

  “Sorry.” She moved a wine list out of the way as he mopped. Wriggly Creek Wines was written across the top.

  “Do you have a creek?” She was trying desperately to have a sensible conversation.

  “More like an indentation. You may have noticed Coonawarra is flat as far as the eye can see but the ditch across the bottom of our land is called Wriggly Creek. I’d have preferred Starr Wines.” Edward gave a wry smile. “That’s what the old man wanted to call the winery. Mum wouldn’t let him. She thought Wriggly Creek was a better description of the property.”

  His gaze drifted to the noisy group at his bar then flicked back to Taylor. His intense blue eyes focused on her.

  She turned away and took in the cellar door: the creamy sandbagged walls, the polished-wood bar top and the pressed tin that covered the lower walls and sides of the bar. A keg filled one corner, topped with leaflets advertising the wine region. “Nice place you’ve got here.”

  “Mum had a flair for it.” He gave the wooden top one more polish with his cloth. “We haven’t changed much.”

  Taylor wondered at his use of past tense.

  “Why don’t you try some?” He put a wine glass where the water glass had stood. “We have a very good chardonnay. Unless you’d rather a red?”

  “I’m driving.” Once more Taylor looked away from his mesmerising eyes.

  “I’m only giving you a taste. Our chardonnay has done well for us.” He poured a splash into the glass. “You can’t visit Wriggly Creek Wines and not at least have a sip. It’s won two gold medals.”

  Taylor glanced at her friends. They were getting noisier except for Mandy who was looking a little pale.

  “One sip,” she said. “Then I’d better get this crew moving. We left Adelaide this morning and it’s been a long time since we stopped for lunch at Keith. We haven’t checked in yet.”

  She reached for the glass and bumped the stem. She snatched at it just as he did. His hand was warm and steady over hers, sending a tingle up her arm.

  “Just sip it.” He removed his hand.

  She lifted it to her lips. The tang of liquid was crisp on her tongue then flowed smoothly down her throat.

  He watched her closely.

  “Very nice.” She put the glass carefully back on the counter.

  “Only very nice.” He raised an eyebrow. “You’d better take another sip.”

  “Time to go I think, Tales.” Cass tapped her on the shoulder. “Mandy might need a bit of a lie down.”

  Taylor glanced over at the friend she was supposed to share a room with. Mandy leaned back against the wall, eyes closed, a sheen of perspiration coating her white forehead.

  “Back in the van everyone,” Cass called.

  Taylor glanced at Edward. “Sorry to rush off.”

  He placed a hand on her arm and fixed those deep-blue eyes on her again. “Come to the pub for a drink tonight.” Her heart gave an extra thump. Damn, this couldn’t be happening. Not here. Why couldn’t she find a guy like Edward Starr closer to home?

  Before she could answer he dropped his arm, bounded around the counter and wove through the group of cackling women to hold open the door. “Ladies.” He gave a short bow and waved his arm towards the car park.

  “Bye.” Cass put an arm around Mandy as she passed. “Thanks for having us, handsome.”

  The rest of the women traipsed out after her, giggling and batting their eyelashes at Edward. Taylor couldn’t meet his eyes as she brought up the rear.

  “Don’t forget.” He leaned in as she passed through the door. “Pub at eight o’clock. You can walk there. It’s just down the road from where you’re staying.”

  “How do you know which–”

  “Only one motel in town. I’ll be there by eight. I reckon half of this lot will be asleep by then or wishing they were. I’ll shout you a beer.” Once more his face lit with a charming smile.

  “I’ll see how I go, can’t really leave the girls.”

  “You can bring anyone still standing,” he called.

  Taylor dug the keys out of her hip pocket and unlocked the sliding door of the van. She didn’t acknowledge him. She was not going to the pub to drink with a guy she’d only met for five minutes. She hadn’t driven all this way to look for a man. It was a girls-only weekend.

  A harsh heaving sound came from behind her van. Cass stuck her head around and grimaced at her.

  “Mandy’s not too good.”

  Taylor walked to the end of the van just as Mandy heaved again. Something wet landed on Taylor’s bare toes. She looked down. Some of the vomit had splattered her feet and leather sandals.

  “Great,” she groaned.

  Rosie peeped around the other side of the van, one hand clasped over her mouth and nose. “Do you need help?”

  “We’ll manage,” Taylor said.

  “Thanks.” Cass gave Taylor an apologetic look. “I’ll just clean her up and we can get going.”

  Taylor slipped her feet from her sandals. They were her favourites. She used the remains of her water bottle to rinse them and her toes. Thankfully they were close to Penola now. She’d drive the rest of the way barefoot. Being the desi was proving to be a tough job when it was her friends she had to be sensible for. Quite boring in fact. She was looking forward to reaching the motel.

  CHAPTER

  3

 
Taylor opened the motel room door. Cass was there, peering past her into the dim room.

  “How’s she doing?”

  “She’ll live.” Taylor opened the door wider to let her friend in. They both studied Mandy curled up in the foetal position, her face pale against the white pillowcase. “She’s stopped throwing up at least.”

  “Blimey, she’s a quiet little achiever isn’t she? I didn’t realise she’d drunk so much.”

  “She hardly ate any lunch. She’s dieting again.”

  Cass snorted and threw herself into the only chair in the room. Taylor sat on the edge of her bed.

  “Trying to lose a couple more kilos before the wedding,” Taylor added.

  “She’ll have achieved that in one go today. I didn’t see her drink much.”

  “You probably didn’t notice.” Taylor thought back over their day. Cass had consumed quite a bit too but she was a seasoned drinker with more meat on her bones. She’d quickly sobered up once Mandy started vomiting. Besides Rosie, Taylor was the only one in the group who knew her roommate well. “She sampled every wine at every winery.”

  “Didn’t we all?” Cass flopped her arms either side of the chair and stretched out her legs. “What a start to the weekend. The others are talking about going to bed.”

  Taylor looked at her watch. It was only eight-thirty.

  “There’s still some pizza in our room if you want more,” Cass said.

  “No thanks. I had my share and Mandy’s.”

  “How about a drink? I reckon Rosie would be in it. She’s not a piker like the rest. I’ve got all sorts in the esky – wine, beer, Cruisers. Or we could check out the pub.”

  Taylor had an image of a pair of blue eyes and Edward’s face, his charming smile. What time had he said he’d be at the pub?

  “Let’s go out.”

  Cass leapt up. “Great idea.”

  Taylor glanced over at Mandy. “Oh, but I don’t know if I should leave her.”

  “Hello?” Rosie stuck her head around the door.

  “We’re heading to the pub.” Cass let her long hair out of the band holding it, ran her fingers through it and pulled it back into a ponytail. Taylor envied her thick brown locks that always looked tidy no matter what she did.

  “How’s Mandy?” Rosie crossed the room to look at her.

  “She should just sleep it off,” Taylor said. “But I don’t like to leave her.”

  “She hasn’t been sick again, has she?” Rosie asked.

  “Not since we first checked in.” Taylor watched the figure on the bed from the other side of the room. “She’s on her second bottle of water.”

  “I’ll stay with her if you’re worried.” Rosie’s smile was sweet. She was such a kind-hearted person.

  “It’s your weekend,” Taylor said. “You should go with Cass.”

  “I’m happy to stay here. Drinking in pubs has lost its appeal.”

  Cass groaned. “Listen to her. Not even married yet and she’s reaching for the dressing-gown and slippers.”

  “Got to get my rest. Shopping and lunch tomorrow then sightseeing and our fancy dinner in the evening. I want to enjoy it all.”

  Cass groaned again and rolled her eyes. Originally she’d planned a big day and night out clubbing in Adelaide, but Rosie hadn’t wanted that kind of a hen’s party. The suggestion of a weekend with her five closest friends had evolved into this Coonawarra trip.

  Taylor glanced at her watch again.

  “You keep looking at that watch.” Cass studied Taylor closely. “Do you have somewhere else to be?”

  “No…well, not really.”

  “You do.” Cass pounced on her. “You little minx. Where and when did you hook up?”

  “I didn’t hook up with anyone. I’m not looking for a fella – remember?”

  “Yeah, right!” Cass pulled on her arm. “Who is he? Come on, Tales, spit it out.”

  Taylor pursed her lips. Why had she even contemplated the idea of meeting Edward at the pub? She should have just climbed into her PJs and had an early night like the others.

  “Is it the guy from that last place we stopped at?” Rosie’s eyes widened. “Wriggler Creek or whatever it was called. I saw you chatting to the guy behind the bar for a while.”

  “The gorgeous hunk!” Cass screamed.

  “Shhh!” Taylor and Rosie hissed in unison.

  They all glanced at Mandy who turned over to her other side, let out a low groan and continued sleeping.

  “I like your style,” Cass said in a softer voice.

  “I vowed not to rush into anything.”

  “Meeting a guy for a drink isn’t rushing into anything.” Cass’s hands were on her hips. “Unless you’re planning to jump into bed with him, and then it’s just good fortune. Anyway, since when did you make that decision?”

  “Since Larry.”

  “Larry the Loser!” Cass snorted and Rosie gave a giggle.

  Taylor glared at one then the other of her so-called friends.

  “What?” Cass opened her eyes wide trying to give an impression of innocence. “He was not your type. We all knew it wouldn’t last.”

  “Foster was rather nice,” Rosie said.

  “The one before Larry? Are you kidding me?” Cass gave up the pretence. “He still lived with his mother and took her to the movies every Sunday night after she’d cooked his roast dinner.”

  “He always gave me the idea he was working and I believed him.” Taylor had really liked Foster but his mother had been the third person in the relationship. Taylor had found it stifling.

  “Gullible.” Cass shook her head.

  “We’ve all had our share of mistakes,” Rosie said. “Thankfully those days are over for me but you should get back out there, Taylor.”

  “She’s right,” Cass said. “No need to be man-shy just ’cause you’ve dated a few duds.”

  “I vowed to have a break from men after Larry.” Taylor was feeling a bit miffed at her friends for ganging up on her but it was true she’d had her share of ‘duds’ as Cass called them. Her last relationship, with Larry, had ended in a mess when she’d discovered he hadn’t actually left his supposed ex-wife.

  “That was at least six months ago,” Cass said.

  “Go and meet someone new,” Rosie said. “You’re only here for a weekend. Country boys might be a whole lot different.”

  “Come on, girlfriend. Let’s make the most of the babysitter.” Cass tugged at her arm. “Put some colour on those luscious lips and let’s check out the pub. Who knows, the hunk might have a brother.”

  Taylor was about to say he did and thought better of it. What did she know about the other bloke in the picture on the wall beside Edward? He could live in the city, or another country for that matter. She hurried into the little bathroom and dragged a brush through her shoulder-length hair. No matter how often she did it, the fine blonde strands flew every which way. She tugged at the wisps that fell across her face from her part. Still, Edward had already seen her after a day of driving, anything she did now could only be an improvement. She chose a hot pink lipstick, painted her lips, did a final turn in front of the mirror and hurried out after Cass.

  Edward smiled as he saw the blonde head appear round the door then had to suppress a surge of irritation as her solidly built friend followed her into the bar. He had hoped none of the cackling women with Taylor would come with her, even though he’d made the offer.

  He lifted his hand to get their attention. Taylor gave a shy smile when she saw him and made her way over with her friend in tow. He only had eyes for the blonde. He was pretty sure it was her natural colour. He favoured blondes, especially good-lookers like her with decent boobs and hips that filled out her snug shirt and jeans. A simple gold chain hung around her neck. Not lots of jangly jewellery. He raised his gaze to her face as she came to a stop in front of him. And no heavy eye make-up.

  “Sorry we’re late,” Taylor said.

  “Doesn’t matter. How’s your friend
who was a bit green?”

  “Sleeping like a baby now,” the other woman cut in. “I’m Cass.”

  He gave her offered hand a quick shake. “Edward,” he said.

  Cass made a show of looking around him and up and down the bar.

  “No brother?”

  Edward frowned. How did she know Peter?

  “Ignore Cass.” Taylor gave her friend a playful slap on the wrist. “She’s being silly.”

  “Can I buy you ladies a drink?”

  “Thanks, Eddie, I’ll have a Bundy and coke.”

  He turned his lips up in a tight smile. Few people called him Eddie. He’d always hated it. “What about you Taylor? Still hankering for a beer?”

  “Yes, thanks,” she said.

  He paid for the drinks and they’d all taken their first sip when there was a crash of balls dropping on the pool table.

  “My favourite game,” Cass said. “Back in a while.”

  He watched her walk over to where two guys were lining up the balls for a game.

  “Not very subtle, is Cass.”

  Edward turned back to see Taylor watching him with a smile on her lips.

  “Hope you don’t mind. She insisted on coming with me,” she added

  “In case I was Jack the Ripper?”

  “No, she likes to have a good time. Eight-thirty was a bit early for her to turn in.”

  She drained the rest of her glass. The look she gave him held a hint of dare. He’d been right in thinking she was feisty behind the pretty face. He liked a woman who could take care of herself.

  “My shout,” she said. “You up for a shot?”

  Was he? Edward’s grin stretched across his face. “Yes ma’am.” The night was fast improving.

  An hour later they were still at the bar going shot for shot.

  “You like living here?” she asked.

  “There are worse places.”

  “It’s such a different lifestyle.” She turned her back to the bar and leaned on it with both her elbows. He turned to look at what she was taking in. Cass, who hadn’t lost a game since she started playing pool, still had a few guys hanging around keen to take her on. Several other people were propped at tall tables and a small group were playing darts at the other end of the bar.