Chapter 5
Rafe
The Harvest
As I arrived at the vineyard, Cal directed me to the north side.
He and his men were working at the south end, and I would take my crew to the top end which had not been started yet.
Allie had offered to bring Rory when they were ready to join us.
I took a quick look around, and noted they had not yet arrived.
“Winston, take a few men down and start with the bottom end, I’ll take the rest with me here on this side, we’ll all meet in the middle.”
Pruning vines was not labor intensive, instead it required precision and finer touch.
A little less force, a little more finesse.
Less like the bright lights that caused stark shadows between the rows and more like the delicate sweet smell of the grapes mingling with the smell and sound of the diesel generator.
My crew and I had been working for a little over an hour when the loud rumble of Allie’s truck got my attention. I checked how far my men were and where I could place the two women. I knew Cal had a head start, and would send the women in my direction.
As expected, the two women walked up to me, still busy in the second row.
Allie gave me a mock salute. “Powers and Doe, reporting for duty.”
I loved that she didn’t make things awkward with Rory's lack of last name, she just moved forward as if nothing was amiss.
I turned toward them to give each of them instructions and my breath stalled.
Allie wore her rain boots and denim dress, like she always did when physical labor was expected from her.
She was cute and the way her husband looked at her, I could tell he appreciated her attire.
But it was the woman next to her who had overridden any thought I was attempting.
Rory wore a pair of yellow rain boots, I was sure she had purchased during her shopping excursion earlier in the day.
Color aside, they were perfectly utilitarian and would be perfect for the work she did on the ranch.
My eyes roamed up, taking in the miles of creamy skin as my gaze moved up her legs.
I swallowed hard as my eyes travelled a little higher and met the frayed hem of those far too short cut offs, over the fitted tank which showcased perfect tits and up to those warm brown eyes.
Our gazes locked for a moment before I looked back down. “Nice boots.”
I lifted my eyes once more to meet hers. Trying and failing not to picture her with those boots wrapped around my hips.
“Thanks.” She smiled. “Allie said they were necessary. Where do you want me?”
In my bed, wrapped around me, was probably not an appropriate response. “Why don’t you start at the other end of this row. Allie, you do the same for Winston on the other end of the field.”
Allie moved to where I directed her, and I showed Rory what to do. “You don’t want to hack and rush, City. We want perfect wine, not grape juice.”
“Do you have a pair of cutters?” She nodded as I pulled a pair out of my pocket and handed it to her.
She went to the other end of the row and worked her way toward me.
With each row we finished, it became more and more obvious she knew what she was doing.
It also didn’t miss my attention the dust on those creamy legs, or the sweat on her chest, highlighting the swells of her breast, like they were the main attraction.
The woman was a distraction I didn’t need. Curves, I could sink my fingers into, eyes I wanted to get lost in. And I didn’t want to think about her mouth. I had imagined that mouth in the shower more times than I care to admit.
“Fuck.” I muttered under my breath. This was not the time nor the place to get hard.
Rory lifted her gaze and frowned at me. We were almost in the middle. “Something the matter, Grouchy? You seem stressed over there.”
“I’m fine.” I didn’t mean for my grunt to be quite so harsh, but the woman had me on edge. And hyper aware.
She rolled her eyes, as if resisting the urge to call me on my bullshit. But what was I going to say? No, I’m having a hard time not picturing you in nothing but those boots. I didn’t have an employee manual, but I didn’t need one to know my thoughts were totally inappropriate.
My eyes drifted to her hands, watching how she snipped at the vines, as if she knew what she was doing. She hadn’t revealed anything about her background, but I knew she was raised in some sort of farming environment. Maybe she had done this before.
“You know how to handle pruning shears?”
She smiled over at me, causing a warmth to spread through my chest and to the rest of my body. “Normally, I need to be a little more careful of thorns. But this isn’t too different from pruning roses.”
“You garden?” Why did the information surprise me so much? I was still expecting the urbanized city girl, instead of the farmer’s daughter she clearly was.
She nodded. “I also cook and bake. Not big on cleaning, cannot sew. I can figure out how to fix most things that don’t require an engine. I can balance your books, I’m not bad on a horse, and in a pinch I can host a party. I’m guessing that last one is not a strength of yours.”
“Absolutely correct.”
I was still staring at her, stuck on how capable she was when she rolled her eyes at me.
“Really.” She let out an exasperated breath. “After all I just told you? You’re not going to give me anything. You’re not going to tell me all about your shortcomings and special talents.”
I narrowed my eyes at her. Her brows were raised with anticipation and I couldn’t resist answering her.
“You’ve been with me for more than a week. I’m sure you’re well aware of all my flaws and shortcomings.”
She smiled. “I know you’re stubborn, and exceptionally grumpy. You have no organizational skills, and you need a constant reminder that I am not going to break. I have yet to see any special talents, though.”
“My special talents are not appropriate to talk about with an employee.”
She let out a bark of laughter as her head fell back and I swore it was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. I wanted more of it. “Grouchy, did you just make a joke? Oh my god, is that a smile?”
“No.” I tried to school my face to get rid of the smirk I knew had formed. But my lips kicked up involuntarily.
Her eyes widened. “It is and you cannot get rid of it. This is the best day ever. I made the mean farmer man smile.”
Watching Rory doing a mini happy dance in the middle of a vineyard rated as one of my favorite things. I would do anything to have it be only me and her.
“Now you’re being ridiculous.”
Still, I loved the silly banter. The only other person I was that free with, was Calvin.
We’d reached the middle, and moved to the next row together, working side by side instead of from opposite ends.
“Anyway. I know you can herd cows and can more than handle yourself on a horse. Do you cook? Clean?”
Answering her seemed like the most natural thing in the world. “I stress clean. And I cook because I need to. Fixing engines is something I do in my spare time. Hate math, but I do love to read.”
“And the wings?” She gestured to my torso. “Your tattoos, I mean.”
“The wings I got for my mom and my brother. The eye on my chest is just symbolic. The compass is for my dad.”
Our conversation carried on for most of the night.
Our words punctuated only by the snip-snip of the shears and rustle of the vines.
We’d stopped for something to eat at around midnight.
The wives of the farmhands had put out a decent spread and there was enough for everyone.
Even some of the men around town who didn’t have much faith in Calvin, came to help.
It was nearly two in the morning when Calvin and his men had finished the south side and joined us in the last bit as we started to approach the centre rows.
Calvin and Allie had ended up in the same row as Rory and I. It was easy to tell we were all getting tired. Calvin and I had slowed down, and the two women spoke even more to keep themselves awake.
Rory continued her questioning, wanting to get to know the other couple as well. Calvin, of course, was more than happy to indulge her.
“Then there's the story of the fence line at the western ridge.” Calvin looked up at me and smiled.
I knew the story well. It was not a time I wanted to repeat, but I was proud of how I handled it.
“What about the fence?” Rory’s frown darted between the two of us. “The one that looks different from the others?”
I was surprised she noticed.
Cal nodded. “That’s the one. Rafe won’t tell you, but we didn’t have two nickels to rub together a few years back, his dad was still around at the time. We built that ridge out of driftwood we hauled back up from the beach. I don’t think our backs have ever recovered.”
“Because wire cost money you didn’t have?” Rory’s face softened. She spoke to Calvin, but her eyes were on me.
Calvin shrugged at her observation. “Because selling the land was not an option. Rafe would rather bleed than sell.”
I swallowed at my friend’s announcement. He wasn’t wrong. I just didn’t realize I was quite so transparent. And I definitely wasn’t sure how I felt about him sharing that bit about me.
Still, it was not the first time we had helped each other during a difficult time, and it wouldn’t be the last. It was why I didn’t think twice about bringing my men and helping with the vines.
It was a little after four in the morning when Calvin cut the last bunch of grapes off the vine. The night had been long, but we managed to do what we set out to do. Ensured the grapes did not spend another day in the heat. Or turn to jam if we harvested during the day
Only once the flood lights were powered down and the last of the men had left, did I give in to the fatigue. I shoved the last metal drum into its space in the barn and walked out to find Cal and Allie talking to Rory.
Calvin gestured to Allie’s truck. “Leave your truck here, we can get it in the morning. I can drive Rory to the cabin, before we head on home.”
“I’ll take Rory.” I stepped into the early morning air, fully aware there wouldn’t be much sleeping in. “It's not a long drive, and I have to pass there anyway.”
Rory frowned, eyes moving between the three of us. “Isn’t the cabin on the other side of the vines? I could walk there.”
“No.” Was she insane? “It’s dark, you’re tired, and probably hungry. I’ll drive you.”
She rolled her eyes, not trying to hide her irritation. “Yay, me.”
After a quick goodbye to Allie and Cal, I helped Rory into my truck. As exhausted as I was, I still couldn’t ignore her legs. Stained with dirt and sweat, they weren’t just sexy, they belonged.
The short drive to the cabin was filled with silence. I looked over to Rory to check if everything was okay. It was rare for the woman to be quiet and I worried something may be the matter. Instead, I found her head back, eyes closed, and mouth open. She looked peaceful. Like she belonged.
Fortunately, the drive was quick and it was one I could do in my sleep. I was not up for anything requiring heavy focus.
I pulled up to the cabin as the first signs of light appeared on the horizon.
“City, we’re here.” I tapped her shoulder, wondering if she was a light sleeper or not.
Slowly, her eyes opened. “That was quick.”
“Do you want me to carry you, or can you walk?” I knew the answer before I even asked the question. Still, it was fun to watch her get annoyed with me.
“Perfectly capable of walking.” Her words were little more than a whispered mumble, but no less adorable.
Once I helped her out of the truck and led her to her door, she was nearly ready to collapse once more.
“City, are you going to need me to tuck you in?”
She glared at me and let herself into the cabin. “Night Grouchy. Or morning, I suppose. I had a great time. Thanks for including me.”
Before I had a chance to answer, the door was closed.
“You’re very welcome, City.” When I didn’t hear the lock click into place, I remembered the first morning when her shout had me barging in. She didn’t lock the door. I banged twice. “Lock the door, City.” Only when the lock clicked in place, did I leave.