Chapter 23
Over the next two days, Harper avoided Brookes as much as possible. He spent the majority of the time indoors, working on plastering, painting, and touching up the tiling, while Harper busied herself in the yard. She pulled weeds and cut grass, and pruned shrubs as she admired the vineyard that sloped past the back of the inn and down towards the dam. Mathers Vineyard really was something special. When the sun set, the scene would be magical. She’d have to remember to come down here one afternoon and just enjoy the tranquil view, and when spring hit and the vines started to flower it would be even more spectacular. She’d have to come back to visit at least.
‘Can you give me a hand?”
She turned to see Brookes standing in the doorway.
‘Sure. What is it?’
‘There’s a barrel that’s heavier than anticipated. I’d wait for Pete, but he’s been detained at the cafe, so he probably won’t be able to make it until tomorrow now.’
She followed him into the second building on the property that was the cellar door, where Hugh had run tastings. Wine bottles filled one entire wall behind the bar, sections were labelled with the types — from Tempranillo to Shiraz and Verdelho’s and a few others in between. She pictured the room brightened up with soft acoustic sounds playing in the background as couples or groups wandered in, being wowed by the space and the wine. There’d be laughter and conversation. She smiled at the thought, then brushed it away. She couldn’t get attached to any of this. In five days, she was going to be on the New England Highway heading back towards the city.
‘Are you going to avoid me for the rest of the week?’ Brookes asked.
‘I’m not avoiding you.’
‘Yes, you are. Every time we’re in the same room together for more than three seconds, you run the other way. I won’t touch you if that’s what you want.’
‘It’s been about a minute and I haven’t run the other way.’
‘Harper, if you want to ignore what happened, then…’
‘Let’s just move the barrel.’
‘My point exactly.’
She watched him sigh and turn towards the barrel that was in the way of more wine. He was right, though. She was avoiding him and talking about what had happened. It felt too good, and she had to make sure that it didn’t happen again.
‘Take that side,’ he said.
She did as he asked, focusing her gaze on the floor.
Brookes spoke, ‘Trades are coming in tomorrow morning to help with some of the more technical aspects. They’ll probably be around all day if you want to take a day off.’
‘What about council approvals?’
‘There’s nothing yet that requires any approval. Structurally, the place is sound and besides the wall that we cut out, there’s nothing else that we’re changing. They’ll come in at the end of the week to ensure everything is safe to hold an event and then we should be right.’
‘And if we’re not?’
‘We will be.’
‘How can you be so sure?’
‘This place used to run as a cellar door and bed-and-breakfast. The only reason the inn hasn’t been functional was because Hugh grew ill and then died. There is little to no reason for us not to get approval to host a Christmas in July dinner.’
She didn’t argue with his certainty. She hoped he was right.
‘You’ve done a great job upstairs,’ Brookes said. ‘It’s incredible what a fresh coat of paint can do to a room. The yard is coming up nice too.’
Her arms were hurting from holding the paintbrush, but she’d been pleased with the work. Two days of painting the rooms and she did it. Zoe helped a little, but she was busy with her own stuff. It had been nice to spend a few solid hours together, chatting and laughing. It was almost like she and her sister were getting to know each other again. When she returned to the city, she’d make sure that this time she would stay in touch, call out of the blue just to have a chat.
‘I couldn’t have done it without Zoe. Her artistic skills definitely helped keep the paint within the lines.’
Brookes laughed. ‘I’m sure you could have managed it.’
They moved the barrel, then he reached for a bottle of wine. ‘Want to try one?’
‘It’s a bit early.’
‘It’s after lunchtime.’
‘Brookes.’
‘It’s a glass of wine. We’re in a winery. We’ve worked half the day.’
‘There’s still so much to do.’ She wouldn’t have minded a glass, but that would require spending more alone time with Brookes. She should have gone outside and back to work on the garden, but instead she accepted and he opened the bottle and poured two glasses.
Harper took the glass, swirled it, then sniffed, before putting the liquid to her lips and tasting it. There were hints of vanilla and plum with earthy notes, and the taste lingered on her lips long after she swallowed.
‘Not bad, hey?’
‘Not bad at all.’
‘It will be a good one to serve at the Christmas in July feast,’ Brookes said.
‘Which reminds me, I have to meet with Georgia to discuss the menu options,’ she said. ‘I’ll finish up in the garden and head back to the family estate.’
‘It’s okay to take five minutes to rest, Harper.’
‘We still have a lot that needs doing. Five days isn’t a long time at all. Well, four, given that today is almost over.’
‘We’re grown adults, we can have a drink together.’
‘Brookes, I…’
‘You don’t want to talk about it.’
No, she didn’t want to talk about. She didn’t want to think about it either and yet it consumed her mind, even when she was focusing on other things. Talking with other people helped. That got her mind off it, but as soon as she was alone, the thoughts came rushing back. The touch of his fingertips, his lips on her skin. The heat came rushing back, and the wine wasn’t helping.
‘The wine will go well with duck.’
She noticed the disappointment on his face as she changed the subject. Talking about food was safer and kept her mind off the night she’d spent in his arms. It had felt so good, so why did she still continue resisting him?