Page 23 of A Vineyard for Two

Harper turned and faced Brookes. His voice husky, the stubble on his chin at least two days that hardened his face just the way she used to like it. He wore a black T-shirt with his jeans and loafers. He always had a good sense of style leaving the work clothes on the vineyard and making an effort when he went out.

Butterflies ran through her stomach. Why in the world was she paying such close attention to his appearance?

‘Is Leo with you?’ Zoe asked.

‘Getting some drinks. Want a top up?’ Brookes said.

Harper shook her head. ‘I’m okay.’

‘I’ll grab another one. You keep Harper company,’ Zoe said.

Harper wasn’t okay, but she knew that a drink or two more and she wouldn’t be thinking straight. She grabbed the chalk and dusted it on the tip of the cue just to have something to do other than look at Brookes because now the situation was getting more awkward, and she wasn’t sure why she couldn’t just look him in the eye and talk to him just like anyone else.

‘Must be a lineup at the bar,’ Harper said when neither Zoe nor Leo had returned.

‘Want to start without them?’ Brookes suggested.

‘Sure. You break.’

‘Ladies first.’

‘Okay,’ Harper said and positioned herself at the end of the table.

She hit one in, then followed it up with another two before Brookes got a turn.

‘You don’t bother with a warmup, do you?’

‘Lucky few shots.’

‘Oh, I doubt that,’ Brookes said. He got two in and missed the third.

Harper looked around. She couldn’t see Zoe or Leo anywhere. In the far corner, she noticed Lisa, who was staring at them as she talked to someone, and her expression did not look inviting.

When it was her turn to shoot again, she accidentally brushed past Brookes, his skin touching her skin, sending sparks through her. She lost her focus and missed the shot.

‘That’s too bad.’ He got the next few in and when she looked at what was left, he only had the black. At least he wasn’t going to pretend to let her win. That would have been a bruise to the ego.

‘I think we’ve been deserted,’ Harper said when the game was over.

‘Drink?’ he asked.

‘I don’t think I should.’

‘Need a ride home?’

She looked around searching for Zoe.

‘I can get an Uber.’

Brookes raised an eyebrow. ‘This isn’t the city.’

‘Right.’

‘What about Lisa?’

He raised his brows again. ‘What about her?’

‘She’s been trying to get your attention ever since we started playing?’

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