Page 77 of Sweet Escape

“And what will you be doing all day?”

He laughs. “I’ve got a lot of work to do, so I’ll be in my office for most of the day, which is far less interesting.”

I’m surprisingly disappointed by that, but it makes sense. Memphis has made it clear from the very beginning that he’s under a lot of stress with work, so it would be silly for me to assume that he’d be able to play hooky.

“All right, well, thanks for the invite. I’ll try to come around maybe ... ten-ish?”

Memphis smirks. “Sounds good.”

Then he slips an arm around my waist and tugs me forward, his mouth dropping to mine in a delicious kiss that is equal parts sensual and surprising.

Sensual, because it’s Memphis, and the way his tongue tangles with mine makes my toes curl.

Surprising, because this is the same man who seemed concerned about the easiness of our kiss on the street after the first time we had sex. As if it was okay within the confines of active intercourse, but not when it’s a sweet moment with nothing but the kiss in mind.

I get it. Kissing while we’re fucking, that’s a battle. A competition for dominance, each of us desperate to squeeze every drop of pleasure out of each other that we can.

This right here, this gentle, tender kiss ... It’s intimate in a different way. Its purpose is affection. Warmth. It communicates a desire for closeness that is more than just getting in and getting off.

I can’t help but lean into it. Revel in it.

In him and the magic of his arms around me.

When he pulls back, his eyes search mine for a long moment before he releases me. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

And when he leaves, I crawl immediately into bed and turn out the light.

Because if it’s dark and I’m tucked away, I don’t have to face the truth.

Riding around on the ATV with Micah is a lot more fun than I thought it would be. I’ve never been a girl who likes roller coasters or thrill seeking of any kind, but as Micah comes to the top of a hill and then our speed accelerates as we go down, curving along the path around the vineyard, I think I finally understand the appeal.

I’m sure any true theme park lover would roll their eyes at me comparing an ATV going thirty miles an hour with a roller coaster, but hey, it’s the best I can do.

We started near the house, first doing a circle of the entire property. I don’t know why, but I never realized how large the vineyard is. Even though Memphis talked about it being eighty acres during our tour last week, I think conceptualizing how large that is in real life wasn’t something I was capable of without this drive around. And the vineyard tour only covers the northeastern part, which makes everything seem really close.

Once he’d given me a full lay of the land, Micah showed me the employee cabins—where Naomi, Edgar, and Wes live, and where the temporary hands’ bunks are set up—along with the equipment sheds and the areas of the property where some of the oldest vines are being dug up and the ground tilled and resoiled.

Now, we’re driving through the middle of the vines, returning to the warehouse after touring where the crew is hard at work de-netting the rows that are going to be harvested.

“So, what do you think?” Micah asks, glancing over at me with a sweet expression once we’ve come to a stop. “You impressed?”

I laugh. “Of course, I’m impressed. This place is amazing.”

He smiles. “Glad to hear that. When Memphis told me to give you the VIP tour, in the middle of the harvest no less, I figured it was pretty important that you be good and dazzled by the end.”

Something sentimental rolls through me.

I warm knowing that, even though Memphis isn’t driving me around the vineyard himself, he still made sure it was a special experience.

“I have to drop off some reports back at the house, so if you give me a few minutes to grab them from inside, I can walk with you over there if you want?”

“That would be great.”

Micah heads inside the warehouse, and I turn, looking out over the vines and the beauty of the scene before me.

Rosewood is a special place. I felt it when I first got here.

But this vineyard is its own brand of extraordinary.

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