Tangled Vines: An Australian Rural Romance by Nicole Flockton Page B

ideas. Slipping from beneath Kyle’s arm, she picked up his t-shirt and put it on. She glanced back at the bed as she walked out of the room to use the bathroom. He seemed to be sleeping peacefully. She worried that the talk of what he’d gone through would cause him nightmares.
    After she used the bathroom, she went to her room, stripped off Kyle’s shirt, and pulled on fresh underwear before donning his shirt again with a pair of shorts and shoes.
    While Kyle slept she would do another quick walk through the vineyard and then prepare something to eat.
    “Where are you going?”
    Jordan gave a little yelp of surprise. “God, Kyle you scared me. I thought you were still sleeping.”
    “I woke up,” he said with a shrug of his shoulders as he walked into the room.
    Jordan’s mouth dried. He’d pulled on some board shorts. His chest was bare and she couldn’t stop herself from walking up to him and placing her hands on said chest. She smoothed her hands up until she clasped them around his neck.
    “I was about to check the vines again, then I was going to come back and get something for breakfast.”
    “Why don’t I come with you and then maybe we can go out to get some breakfast?”
    This was the last thing she ever expected to hear from Kyle. Wanting to go out and walk through the vines. Did it mean he wanted to know more about the grapes and the process of growing them? Did it mean he would consider expanding the amount of vines he had?
    Stop it
. She was getting ahead of herself. He’d only asked to walk with her.
    “Jordan? What are you thinking so hard about?”
    Getting her wayward thoughts under control, she unlocked her fingers behind his neck and took a step back. “Just surprised you wanted to walk through the vines.”
    “I don’t have to if you don’t want me to. I, uh,” he paused and looked up at the ceiling. “I wanted to spend a little more time with you. Find out what you’re doing with the vines.”
    Jordan couldn’t help it. A little bit of hope blossomed to life within her. She’d been working on a business plan to present to Kyle with her expansion ideas. She’d already spoken to a local winery and the winemaker had tentatively agreed to taking her grapes and crushing them for her. He would even let her use his facilities after hours to blend the grapes she wanted. It would cost of course and that was what she wanted to present to Kyle. She’d saved up a bit of money and hoped to see if Kyle would also back her business venture. She still had a bit of work to do on the plan before it was ready to be presented.
    “Sure, I’d love to show you the vines.” She glanced down at his feet. “You might want to put some shoes on.”
    He laughed and leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Give me five minutes.”
    As he walked out the door she called out to him. “A shirt is optional.”
    She could hear his laughter as he walked back to his room.
    With a spring in her step Jordan headed toward the kitchen. She grabbed a bottle of water out of the fridge and took a couple of long swallows. She took a moment to think back over everything that had happened in the last twenty-four hours. From feeling frantic with worry over Kyle to being so angry with him she wanted to hit him. To making love with him. To his opening up and pouring out the tragedy he’d been through. His demeanor seemed lighter today, as if talking to her had helped him.
    “You ready?” Kyle asked as he walked into the room. Jordan suppressed a grin when she saw that he’d put a sleeveless shirt on.
    “Nice compromise,” she joked.
    “Glad you approve. Now dazzle me with your grapes.”
    She laughed and took hold of his hand. “Be prepared to be dazzled.”
    As they walked down another row she stopped and inspected the leaves of one of the vines. It looked like there were a couple of spots on it. Dread filled her. Surely it wasn’t what she thought it was. She squatted down in front of the bush.
    “Is there something