Her body trembled on the way out to his car because her feelings for him were growing to the point he was all she could think about. She hurried back to the car and got in. “Where are we going?”
“I’ve ordered us some takeout so you can stay in the car and rest while we eat.”
A soft laugh escaped her lips. “Only someone who has picked grapes before would understand how I feel.”
He started the car and drove them out to the main road into Vence. “It was my first job. I think I was about four when my papa walked me and my five-year-old brother, Etienne, to the vineyard and showed us what to do.”
She turned to him. “Did you live near this one when you were little?”
In the next breath, he said, “Are you going to tell me that after Paul plied you with sour wine, he didn’t tell you who I am?”
Oh, boy. She’d walked right into that one. “No. I was only trying to be discreet. Paul did say you were a Fontesquieu, but the last thing I’ve wanted to do is presume anything and he didn’t go into detail.”
Dominic didn’t respond. Within seconds he turned a corner and pulled up in front of a café. “I’ll be right out. After I get back, you can tell me why you really came to the vineyard for work you don’t need.”
She groaned inwardly. Nathalie wasn’t wrong about his being strongly attracted to her, but it was clear he hadn’t believed her reason for being here.
He soon returned with their food and headed toward the Fontesquieu estate once more. After he pulled to a stop and shut off the engine, he handed her cannelloni, salad and an espresso.
“Thank you, Dominic. This smells and looks delicious.” But her heart was pounding so hard, she feared he could hear it.
He tucked into his meal before turning to her. “Now, how about telling me what newspaper or wine magazine you’re working for undercover?”
Her heart plummeted. “Is that why you showed me around the winery?”
“I took you there because I wanted to be with you, and because I was hungry. But in case you were after a story, I thought I’d show you the inner workings, something not everyone is allowed to see. If you’ve been hired by a newspaper to find out how the migrant workers are treated at the vineyard, I wanted to give you a favorable impression.”
She ate her food, trying to find the right words. Obviously their family had been bothered by infiltrators before. Nathalie couldn’t blame him for being suspicious since she didn’t meet the profile of the normal picker.
“I’m not a spy, Dominic. Your assumptions are understandable, but they would be wrong about me,” she said in a quiet voice. “Is it impossible for you to imagine that I simply want to work here for a few weeks to enjoy a new experience?”
His black eyes bored into hers, reminding her of Alain. “Yes. Our background check proves you’re a full-time pharmacist. If you’re truly not here undercover, why don’t you tell me the truth about why you chose to work at this specific vineyard for a few weeks?”
She finished her espresso. “This is embarrassing.”
“I’m listening.” He’d never taken his eyes off her.
“Three months ago I broke up with a pharmaceutical distributor. We met in graduate school in Nice several years ago and continued to see each other off and on. After Christmas I thought maybe he could be the one. But in time I realized we were wrong for each other.” Guy’s reaction to her being unable to have children had worried her that another man would probably feel the same way. She couldn’t help wondering if the man sitting next to her would reject her for the same reason. “Since I’d already arranged my vacation time for a trip we obviously did not end up taking, I decided to do something different that would bring me a little money, not cost me.”
“Vintners are noted for paying lower wages,” he murmured.
“Nevertheless, I need to save all I can for the future.” Now came the lie. “After passing your vineyard, I saw that you were hiring workers for the three-week harvest and thought it would be a fascinating way for me to spend my vacation from the pharmacy.
“I also believed that working with the soil would be so different, it would be cathartic for me. There’s nothing like a new challenge.” Considering she was doing this for Alain’s sake, she hoped lightning wouldn’t strike her. “But you would have every right to tell me to walk away now.”
“Is that what I’m doing?” he asked in a silky tone.
“No. I’m offering to go.” She didn’t have enough proof he could be Alain’s father to confront him. “If you’ll wait long enough for me to get my backpack, I’ll return the equipment handed to me. The man running the mobile home park will be glad if I give up mine since there’s always a demand for one.” She started to get out.
“Wait—” he said, reaching for her arm. She felt his touch to her toes. “You’re doing an excellent job, according to Gregoire’s nightly reports. Forgive me for jumping to the wrong conclusion about you. It’s just that there’s nothing my grandfather dislikes more than someone who trespasses on the property for ulterior motives.”
“Of course, and you had every right to be suspicious of me when it’s clear I’m not desperate for a job.”
I’m only desperate for answers.
“That’s very generous of you,” he murmured. “Maybe you won’t believe me, but I’m sorry if I’ve offended you. Let’s hope working with the vines might work its magic for you, even if you dislike the taste of wine.” The sudden smile he flashed was enough to reduce her to jelly. “You’re not fired, Nathalie.”
His ability to admit he’d been wrong made her admire him more than he’d ever know, but she was also filled with raw guilt because she hadn’t told him the real reason she’d come. All she needed was a little more information.