Chaos Among the Vines (Romancing the Vine Book 2) Read online

  Will ran a hand over his head, lips parted on a harsh exhale. He gripped her wrist and pulled her hand to eye level. “I’d like to pitch this goddamn watch in the trash.”

  Chapter 15

  He’d done it. He’d gotten Ava to release her inhibitions. The woman had come alive in his arms, demanding and taking before he could even give. But the fucking tether to reality she wore on her wrist had jerked them back from the heaven they’d found.

  Will dropped her hand and stepped aside, twisting away from her, breathing evenly and reciting varietals of grapes by their Latin names. He needed a moment to get his unruly body under control. Because right now all he could think about was tossing her over his shoulder, dragging her to his bedroom, and tangling in the blankets with her.

  Had he ever wanted anything so badly? To be buried within the silky heat of her, to have her setting a driving pace as she rode his cock? He’d be willing to bet she’d be aggressive and urgent in her lovemaking. A freak in the sheets. And fuck him, he’d let her lead. Happily.

  “I’m sorry.” Her voice straddled a line between timid and coolly in control again. “That should never have happened.”

  The tone set him on edge. He faced her, tucking his hands in his pockets to keep from reaching for her and reigniting the flame between them. “Why the hell would you be sorry for letting your hair down?”

  She rubbed a forefinger over her lips, as if tracing his kisses. “That was highly unprofessional of me. I rarely lose control.”

  Yeah, he’d gotten that memo. She lifted contrite eyes to meet his gaze.

  He closed the gap between them, but kept his hands to himself. “Ava, I love how you lose control. You need to let your inner anarchist out more often. It’s a totally novel side to you I’d love to see more often.”

  She stepped back, running into the canopy of leaves. “I can’t.” She skirted around him and retrieved the iPad, letting her fingers dance over the touchscreen. Almost as if it calmed her.

  Scraping fingers through his hair, he scoffed, “You can, if you’d just let yourself. You aren’t living hand to mouth anymore. You don’t have to keep everything so structured that you suck all the fun out of life.”

  Her head whipped up, the tablet dangling hazardously from her fingertips. “What do you know about that?”

  Shit! He’d promised Guin he wouldn’t tell Ava she’d let him in on their history. He extended his palm toward her. “The day you arrived, Guin filled me in on your past. I mean the hard times you lived through in high school,” he confessed.

  “God dammit,” she whispered. A storm brewed on her face, her brows deeply creased and her lips thinned to the point of disappearing. He braced his feet apart, preparing to defend Guin.

  “Did she tell you how awful that period of my life was? How I was never sure which parking lot to meet her in after school? Or did she share about my getting called to the office and grilled about the report that I had no residence?” Ava spun away from him, one hand to her temple, rubbing hard. “Any chance she mentioned the stale, rank odor that comes with living in a cramped space and not having nearly enough money to hit the laundromat to wash bedding? Guin used so much citrus scented room spray in the car, I gag to this day when I smell lemons.”

  He stepped behind her and rested his hands on her shoulders. “She wasn’t telling me to embarrass you.”

  She twitched away from his grip. “Well, I am embarrassed. I’ve worked hard to leave that girl behind. I won’t be judged on things I had no control of. I was the child and Guin was supposed to be the parent. But her head was shoved so far into the clouds pursuing her art.” She spat the last sentence out like it was poison.

  He trailed his hand around her waist as he moved in front of her. Ducking his head, he caught her gaze. “Is that why you chose to pursue organizational efficiency, or whatever you call it, when you went to school?”

  “If I can save a business from going under, and help employees avoid a situation where some of them might have to live in their vehicles, then I win.” She dropped her chin to her chest, avoiding his eyes. “They win, I win. I’m always trying to win. To prove something to Guin. A lesson she still can’t seem to grasp.”

  “She told me she’d made similar mistakes, which is why she is with you.”

  Horror filled her widened eyes and she took a hasty step back. “She told you what she’s done?”

  “She mentioned she lost her home again.”

  “And that’s it? Nothing about the circumstances?” Her voice rose sharply.

  “Not really. She mentioned she’d made some mistakes and fallen on hard times.”

  Clutching her throat, she nodded. Her shoulders slumped as though relieved. She glanced away, then back at him with resolve glittering in her eyes. “We should get to work. We’re behind schedule and I want to get your approval and order the new computer hardware.”

  If his head could spin at the rapid change of topic, it would have revolved right off his neck. “That’s it? We aren’t going to discuss you anymore?”

  “Let’s just declare my childhood off limits.” She hugged the tablet against her chest like a freaking shield.

  He’d agree, providing she didn’t declare her present, future, or her body off limits. “Reserving the right to come back to it sometime. Whenever you’re ready to share.”

  The tiniest flicker of a smile accompanied her headshake. “Not going to happen, Will.” But that smile seemed almost a promise of other things to be shared.

  He hoped the promise included a little private time with him.

  “Tabled for the present. Now, how about your tour?” He took her elbow and led her deeper into the vineyard.

  Will spent the next seventy-two minutes guiding her among the vines. As they walked, he explained how half the operation was run as a traditional vineyard, the other half was maintained with strictly organic and sustainable methods. The depth of her questions surprised him. She couldn’t contain her delight when she discovered the Babydoll sheep that functioned like living, breathing weed trimmers.

  “But they’re so little.”

  “They’re miniature, which makes them perfect for grazing under the canopy. Plus, they won’t eat grapevines, or leaves. A win in my book.”

  “What about fungus or disease? Are there organic remedies for them?”

  “In case that ever happens, we’d resort to pesticides or other synthetic treatments. We can’t take chances with those problems.” But it would change his marketing strategy.

  “While I was researching in prep for coming here, I read about a property nearby that lost the entire crop to uh . . . Black Rot. Is that common?”

  She’d found the story about his dad’s spectacular failure? “Not really. That farmer wasn’t paying enough attention to his crop. There’s a ten-day window to discover and contain the disease before it spreads too much.”

  “I read that the best method for eradicating it is to destroy the entire crop. That kind of setback is catastrophic. Did you know him? Did they have to destroy all the vines?”

  The stench of the smoldering fields still burned in his nostrils. “I know him. That was my dad’s vineyard.”

  She gasped. “Oh no! What happened?”

  If she was willing to share her story about a mobile residence, he could certainly reveal his past. “He sits atop a throne of scorched vines and blames everyone else for his failure.”

  “Can he recover?”

  Will shrugged. “He let his crop insurance lapse. Not that it would have covered everything. But he doesn’t have the capital necessary to replant.” Which was why he’d asked Drake to clandestinely check into acquiring Dad’s land. He’d own it and supervise while his father worked it. If the man himself was agreeable. It was the only way it could work. “And until recently, I didn’t
have the cash to help him. Now, with Meg’s theft, I’m not sure I can help. She used to work for him too.”

  “What? How did it happen you hired her?”

  “She’d worked for him for years. When things went tits up for him, I took her on. My business was chugging along pretty nicely, and it was a significant help having someone in the office. Big mistake.”

  “Did she steal from him too?”

  “Don’t know. He doesn’t even know. I ran into him today in town. I told him to check his records, but I’m guessing it’s very likely.”

  “Is that why you were in a bad mood when you came back to the office?” She scratched one of the tiny sheep behind the ears.

  “Yeah. But miraculously, that mood has disappeared.” He reached to stroke the sheep’s head and tangled their fingers together. “Hanging with the relaxed you has been good for me.”

  She allowed the touch for a moment then shied away. “We, uh . . . we should head back. I still need to tour the rest of the operation.” She continued her walk along the vines. The Babydoll lamb trailed after her, as if she were Mary.

  One step forward. This was going to take a well-ordered campaign. And if he put his mind to it, he could make it work. He’d surprise her with his efficiency. Will increased his pace to catch up to her. As he came abreast, the tiny sheep wove in between her long stride, tripping her.

  She stumbled, crying out as she pitched forward, juggling her iPad instead of attempting to brace. Making a grab for her, he flung an arm across her chest, taking her weight as they both pitched toward the ground.

  The wind was knocked out of him as his back hit the soft grass. Ava tumbled on top of him, elbows digging into his shoulders, the tablet smacking him in the forehead as it ripped free of her grasp. Her breath whooshed in his face, her chest flattened against his. And the best part, her legs straddled his hips.

  Every point of contact between them fired brilliantly and he sure as hell wasn’t looking for any kind of extinguisher. Lowering his hands to the small of her back, he let his fingers trail over her tight, sweet ass. His cock jumped behind his zipper, doing a little happy dance that it was in such close proximity to where it felt it belonged. His nuts grew achingly heavy.

  He struggled to catch his breath, not due to the fall to the ground, but thanks to the level of heaven he’d attained by breaking her fall. After initially leaping away, the sheep nosed its way between them, licking Will’s ear.

  “Jesus, get back.” He pushed the sheep’s muzzle away, gratified when the critter moved off to munch on the grass beneath the vines.

  Mirth filled Ava’s eyes, illuminating the dark navy ring around the irises. Her lips formed a perfect O. The sun behind her created a nimbus around her chestnut curls.

  He gave one of them a tug, leaving his other hand on her butt. “I like your hair curly. Every time I see it pulled back into that severe bun you favor, I want to run my fingers through it and set it free.”

  She propped her forearms on his chest, as though content to stay right where she was. Fine by him. A genuine smile graced her lush mouth. “Normally, even when I’m home working, I pull it back. Out here, I don’t know, it just feels right to leave it loose.”

  “Glad you’re comfortable enough to let your hair down around me.” He cupped her nape and urged her forward, lifting his head to meet her halfway.

  Her watch buzzed again, tingling against his chest. She pulled up a second before he could claim her mouth, and scrambled off his body. Son of a bitch. He was going to steal that fucking device and throw it in the pond on the far side of the property. Will dropped his head back to the ground and squeezed his eyes shut, sending stand down instructions to his dick. Might as well save that happy dance for some point in the future. And right then he resolved there would be a future point.

  He opened his eyes and shoved up to a seated position, knees raised and hands dangling between them. Ava grabbed for her iPad and clambered to her feet. The sheep returned to nuzzle his neck and he wrapped one arm around the smelly beast. At least the scent was an effective boner-killer, allowing Will to stand without stark evidence of his thwarted desire.

  “Come on,” he said, gesturing toward the return path to the office. “Our next stop before lunch will be the bottling facility. I think you’ll find a lot of organization necessary there.”

  And Will would have several more hours to spend in her company, To research the sexy woman under the guise of teaching her about the process and learning how she’d help him fill the largest order of his career.

  Chapter 16

  Holy hell! I shouldn’t have let him kiss me.

  So darn unprofessional, but Avalon hadn’t been able to stop herself. Knowing Will was unattached, that Penny wasn’t his girlfriend, or even a friend with benefits, had loosened something deep within her. Something she didn’t even know she possessed. Something resembling the messy, jumbled T-shirt drawer in her bedroom.

  Desire.

  Passion.

  A need so great she ached with it. She squirmed on the mattress, trying to ease residual tingling. She’d barely slept all night, listening to the rain start and stop three different times. Knowing Will was only steps away. And from his reaction, if she crept into his room, the way her body screamed for her to do, he’d pull back the covers and invite her in.

  This wasn’t mere physical need, although there was that. The space between her legs throbbed for want of him, cradled against her hips. Moving with wild abandon inside her. But this need, this ache was more emotional. Her inner chaos was at war with the pragmatic side she normally allowed to rule. Such harum-scarum exerted so much pressure on her, demanding to be set free, to give in to the moment and not worry about the rules, or the process, or time management. Nope, the messy woman below the surface was roaring to get out.

  She shouldn’t give in. Couldn’t give in. She was here to do a job. Twisting onto her side, Avalon drew her knees to her chest. She’d only known him for three weeks. Yet the idea of being free with Will made her heart race and her blood sing.

  Her brain might be trying to block the kiss, but her body still recalled how perfectly they fit together when she’d fallen in the vineyard, and landed on top of him. The warmth of his chest, the sun heating her back, his possessive touch on her butt. The firm, surprising ridge of his erection pressed against her sex.

  Flipping to her back, she closed her eyes. And saw the carnal heat reflected in his in the afternoon sun.

  She had to stop. Sitting up, she knocked her reading glasses off the bed. They clattered against the floor. Through the lacy curtains, the rising sun shone in, glinting off the lenses.

  Three weeks ago, Avalon would have scrambled out of bed and picked them right up. Her skin would crawl at the idea of something out of place, residual angst from years of conditioning to overcome her mother’s distraction and inattention. Things got lost if you didn’t immediately put them in place.

  Three days ago, she’d have stared at them for a New-York-minute, then climbed out of bed to pick them up. And once up, she’d have stayed up and gotten to work.

  Now, she slouched against the pillows and simply looked at the brown, horn-rimmed readers half on the area rug, half off, and shrugged. She didn’t experience her usual overwhelming need for order.

  Avalon bit her lip and pondered this sudden and shocking change. The only thing she could pinpoint was time spent with Will. He jumped topics and tasks with alarming rapidity. Rather than finding his flitting from topic to topic annoying, she was charmed.

  The longer she stared, the more she fought the burgeoning urge to pick the damn cheaters up. It was bad enough she hadn’t stored them in their case last night, but to leave them on the floor merely tempted fate. Tension built between her shoulder blades and her palms began to sweat.

  “Darn it!” Throwing
the quilt and sheet back, she climbed off the bed and picked them up. Gave them a quick polish on the tail of her sleep shirt, and then slipped them into the leatherette case to store them. She spun toward the window, but took a single stuttering step and pivoted back to the bed. Only after she’d straightened the covers and neatly arranged the new throw pillows against the headboard, did she allow herself to cross toward the window.

  The pretty sunrise was a mishmash of colors, as topsy-turvy as her thoughts. She leaned her head against the pane, letting the cool glass center her thoughts, finding her behavior uncharacteristic.

  At some point, during the night, she’d silenced all notifications from her devices. No pinging phone, no buzzing on her wrist. Nothing to disturb her. She glanced over her shoulder and spied the iWatch on the nightstand. She picked it up, and before strapping it back on her wrist, tapped it back to life. Rapid-fire tingles coursed through Avalon’s fingertips as the messages, texts, and alerts fell into place.

  She eased out a frustrated breath. “One night. It was only one night of silence and I missed twenty-six . . . no, twenty-seven messages.”

  From the pit of her stomach, annoyance rose. As a gentle, rain-scented breeze blew through the partially open window, she wondered what it would actually be like to take an entire day off and run away from responsibility. Let someone else take the lead, and just follow along oblivious, the way those tiny sheep had gamboled around her, happy and relaxed. The only pressing item on the animals’ agenda was eating.

  She shook away her silly wishes. Life never happened so easily except for lunatics and Labradors. And Guin. Avalon shivered with the thought of being as happy-go-lucky and irresponsible as her mother. That type of lifestyle had led Guin to a life of crime.