Page 14 of Sharing Forever in Hope Creek (Hope Creek #2)

‘Yeah, I realise. What I’m trying to say is that my role in creating this baby was as big as yours and from now on I don’t want you to be on any aspect of this journey alone. I want to support you both—financially, physically and emotionally.’

Her lips twisted. ‘I gather you’re wealthy.’

She was the first woman he’d ever met who didn’t sound very happy about it. ‘Yes.’

Now her lips pressed together more firmly.

Bloody hell! He’d better make sure she didn’t find out exactly how wealthy he was if money was such a turn-off.

‘Is that what made you think I fell pregnant deliberately?’

Oh, brother.

‘It crossed my mind for all of two seconds. It was a reflexive reaction because of what I’d been through with Sasha.’ He slashed his free hand through the air for emphasis. ‘Logic told me it wasn’t the case or you would’ve made sure you knew how to contact me.’

Her shoulders visibly relaxed and her next words were offered in a far less combative tone. ‘Not everyone thinks money is the most important thing in the world.’

‘I know.’ He watched her reaction as he spoke.

‘I don’t know whether you even want to work again, but you’d intimated you weren’t planning to be a mother because your career was important to you and I thought something like this might be the perfect fit for you seeing as you’re already in hospitality? ’

Her face broke slowly into a beautiful smile as she let out a sigh. ‘I’m sorry I overreacted. I don’t want you to think I’m interested in your money.’

‘Believe me, that’s not the impression I have.’

‘Good.’ She nodded. ‘I’ve been wondering what I could do that would let me stay in Hope Creek and thought I’d probably have to travel to Lancaster for work—not that it’s very far but …

Working here at the vineyard sounds perfect.

That’s provided having a personal and professional relationship doesn’t complicate things between us. ’

She had a point. ‘I have a lot of resorts to oversee and the company continues to grow. I want to be involved in ideas to develop the winery, but I’m not planning to have a hands-on role here so I doubt it would be a problem.

I’d put a manager in to oversee the winery, but you could be in charge of the function centre. ’

Her expression fell for a second before she masked her reaction. ‘You’ll still be based in Brisbane?’

‘The company base is in Brisbane, but I can base myself anywhere. Although I’ll need to travel around to various sites, I’ll want to be close to you and the baby.

’ When she made no comment he continued, ‘This vineyard development would only be small in comparison to my other interests. As you’re used to working at the Azure, another option would be for you to go into a managerial role at the golf course resort. ’

‘That’s more the size I’m used to, but small would probably be better given I’d be a working mother and I’ll need to adjust to that.’

‘I do have some plans for extension.’

‘Yes?’

‘I was thinking we might be able to build some cabins around the vineyard and that would make the function centre even more viable. Some people could stay at the vineyard in the cabins for the functions in the cask hall and if there were surplus guests for the functions, they could either stay at Mitch’s pub or we could run a bus between here and the Lancaster resort for them. What do you think?’

‘Oh, yes.’ Enthusiasm radiated from her and her eyes sparkled.

‘That sounds fabulous. And—’ she turned around and surveyed the landscape then pointed to a spot, ‘—that area would be ideal for a purpose-built conference centre and you could—’ She broke off suddenly and looked back at him, her gorgeous brown eyes full of apology.

‘Sorry, my imagination is running riot and I’m getting ahead of myself. ’

Drawn by a force he couldn’t resist, he drew her into his arms. ‘I love your imagination, Callie. I love that, like me, you can see the potential in things and dream big, so don’t hold back on your input.

’ It felt amazing to have someone to dream with—someone who could look at a place like this and who might be able to develop a vision for the future with him.

Of course he’d developed properties with others, but they’d been his employees.

This was different.

This was personal.

He’d never realised how much more exciting it was to dream with someone.

As they stood and regarded each other, he believed they shared an understanding—a mutual recognition of what this place could mean for both of them. Inside Callie, a baby they’d made together was developing and establishing a lasting bond between them.

Was this vineyard something else they could develop together—another bond that could be forged between them?

His heart rate accelerated at the prospect.

‘Really?’ The word was hesitant. ‘You want my input?’

‘Yes. Let’s see what we can make of this together.’

‘Sounds like a partnership.’

He realised she was right, and surprisingly he had no qualms about it. ‘Yes.’

She closed her eyes for a moment. When they reopened, her gaze settled on his mouth.

A kiss to seal the deal?

It was an invitation he had no inclination to resist.

Lowering his head, he closed the distance between them.

He felt her breath feathering against his mouth and saw her long, dark lashes flutter closed as she tilted her head up.

The only reason he hesitated was because he wanted to frame this picture of her in his mind.

He wanted to remember sharing this moment and he wanted to remember her like this.

Beautiful, vivacious, imaginative Callie sharing this dream.

Then he claimed her lips and began a deep, unhurried reacquaintance with them.

God, but she tasted good. He didn’t need a wine tasting when Callie’s kisses were more delicious than the finest vintage and every bit as heady.

Her kisses inflamed him and as she reached up to thread her fingers through his hair and increase the pressure of their kisses, his hunger grew. His need became ravenous and he couldn’t suppress his arousal as her body pressed closely against his.

One of her hands slipped down to run along the muscles bordering the valley of his spine, and her exploration of his body gave him permission to trace over all the feminine curves of hers—the indent of her waist and the flare of her hips. The taut roundness of her bottom.

Their kisses went on and on, Callie making little mewling sounds of satisfaction against his mouth as she used both hands to tug his shirt out of the waistband of his trousers and slide up his back.

‘Oh God!’ he groaned against her mouth as the agony of his longing made him want to lower her to the ground and take her hot and hard right here.

Shit!

Realisation of where they were and what they were doing—what they were in danger of doing—in full view of anyone who might look their way, pulled him up with a start.

Ending their kisses, he took a step backward and reached to take her hands in his.

Each of them breathed hard.

Callie’s features were flushed, her eyes wide with desire, her lush lips slightly swollen from the delicious friction of their kisses.

‘We can’t,’ he groaned out.

‘No, we can’t. Not here,’ she agreed breathlessly.

God, but it was hard to get the next two words out. He heard the regret in his voice. ‘We can’t.’

She closed her eyes and he watched as she sucked in a huge breath then seemed to struggle to get her breathing under control. When she opened them, he saw the raw need in her expression as she confessed raggedly, ‘Please don’t tell me “no” when I want you so much.’

Bloody hell!

The pounding of blood through his erection coupled with the restraint of the denim fabric of his jeans became painful.

Struggling with the situation—trying to resist temptation and telling himself he had to find the strength to stick to his plan of courting her—he couldn’t summon a single coherent thought.

Callie’s small laugh sounded like a half laugh, half sob as she joked, ‘If only those cabins were available right now, we could get ourselves a room!’

He couldn’t laugh. He was in too much agony and wasn’t sure how much longer he could resist her. ‘I don’t want to say no to you.’

‘Then don’t.’ Her doe-brown eyes begged him to reconsider.

‘Last night we made an agreement,’ he rasped. The denial seemed like a self-flagellation, but he had to stand firm.

Her shoulders sagged for a second before they squared again and she drew herself upright.

Afraid that she felt rejected and would distance herself from him, he acknowledged, ‘I don’t want sex to be the foundation of our relationship or the glue that holds it together.’

She sent him a rueful smile. ‘Maybe we need a time limit? We’re on tank water at the homestead, you know. I don’t want Margaret and Jim to have to truck more water in because I’m taking long cold showers!’

He laughed, relieved she could fire a joke back at him. ‘I suspect I’ve already used my quota of cold showers at the farm.’

Her lips twisted with regret before she glanced at her fine silver wristwatch. ‘I guess we’d better head back. Stella will be starting to stress if she can’t see progress being made on her never-ending wedding preparation list.’

They walked back down the hill, bodies close but no longer holding hands.

After having opened her car door he kept his distance while she settled into the passenger seat, then walked around to the driver’s side of the vehicle.

What Callie did to him was …

He looked back fleetingly towards the buildings of the vineyard and his hand stilled on the car door handle. His whole body jerked as though he’d been punched in the solar plexus.

It can’t be.

His eyes widened in disbelief.

Bile burned its way up his throat as his stomach clenched in loathing.

What the hell?

The blond man was wearing sunglasses but he looked Jack’s way and for a second or two he stopped in his tracks. Then he lowered his head and seemed to pick up his pace to disappear around the side of the building.

Jack shook his head and told himself again that he must be mistaken.

The resemblance was strong from this distance, but he hadn’t seen Marcus Covington in years. Besides, he’d only seen the man for a few seconds. His mind had to be playing tricks on him because of the unease he’d felt during his visit today.

The driver’s door was pushed open against his hand from the inside and he registered Callie, leaning across from her seat, having stretched out to open his door for him.

‘Jack? Did you forget something?’

He looked down at Callie, but it was the man he thought he’d seen who superimposed himself in his mind’s eye.

‘What’s wrong, Jack?’

Jack was torn. Part of him wanted to tear after the man like a lunatic to see if it was his arch-nemesis—and to demand what connection he had to Hope Creek Vineyard. The rational side of him ordered that he get into the car and drive calmly away lest Callie think he was a madman.

‘Sorry. I thought I saw someone I knew, but …’ He shrugged and opened the door further so he could get into the driver’s seat. ‘It couldn’t have been him.’

It definitely can’t have been him.

He reasserted the words, willing himself to believe them, yet his unease about the vineyard grew. The vision he’d had of working with Callie to develop the property … The dream of them developing their future here started to blur at the edges. What had seemed clear was now tainted by doubt.

He gave himself a mental shake and, as he started the car, he assured himself that it couldn’t have been the man who’d once vowed he’d see Jack ruined.

Surely his former ‘friend’ and now sworn enemy was still serving time in jail?