“The grapes have all been picked here,” she observed.
“That’s right. They’ve turned a few days sooner because of the elevation. The terroir you’re working on is one of the last that has to be denuded.”
She shook her head. “There’s so much to learn. Tonight the vines seem to be lined up like soldiers to the horizon. It’s an amazing sight. If I were an artist, I’d like to paint the vineyard the way it looks right now. I love it.”
“I love your descriptions of everything.” The tone in his deep voice filled her with warmth. “This is my favorite spot in the whole vineyard.”
After getting out of the car, she let out a soft cry. “I can see why, Dominic. This landscape is like a little part of heaven.”
/> He grasped her hand as if claiming her. They started walking between two rows of vines. A gentle breeze bathed their bodies. “You know what Louis Pasteur once said. A bottle of wine contains more philosophy than all the books in the world.”
“Fontesquieu wine,” she corrected him. He squeezed her hand a little harder. “I feel horribly guilty that I don’t like the taste of wine.”
“But you like the grapes.” He gave her a meaningful look. “All is forgiven because you appreciate the vineyard housing the limestone and shale soil that feeds the roots.”
A gentle laugh escaped. “Thank you for trying to make me feel better.”
“You mean I didn’t succeed?” he teased.
“You know you did.” He had a captivating way about him.
They kept walking beneath a sky full of stars. As their bodies brushed against each other, she’d never known such rapture in her life. At the end of the row, he moved behind her and put his hands on her shoulders.
“Did you know your hair is the color of starlight?”
She could feel his breath on her temple. “Dominic—” His name came out sounding ragged.
A kiss against her neck opened the portals, releasing her longing for him. She turned in his arms and began to kiss his jaw, relishing the feel of his hard, male body. Their mouths slowly came together, seeking and finding what she’d wanted from the moment she’d sat across from him. This was ecstasy. Never in her life had she known this kind of passion.
When he finally relinquished her mouth with reluctance, he said, “Don’t you know how dangerous it was to come out here with me tonight?”
His question penetrated deep inside to that spot reminding her they wouldn’t be together like this if she weren’t trying to find out if he’d been Antoinette’s lover. For a little while tonight she’d forgotten.
Shocked by how carried away she’d been, she looked up at him. “Thank you for reminding me. Maybe we’d better go back.” Nathalie eased out of his arms and started walking fast, reaching the car first.
He didn’t try to catch up with her. While she was a trembling mass of need, Dominic seemed in perfect control driving them down to the mobile home park. He stopped behind her car and turned to her.
“I won’t be able to see you tomorrow, but I’d like to see you after work Friday evening if you’re free. We’ll go to dinner.”
Friday evening... That would have to be the night she asked him about Antoinette. “I’ll make sure I am.” She got out of the car. “I won’t ever forget tonight’s experience.”
With her heart palpitating out of her chest, she rushed inside. The kiss they’d shared had turned her world upside down. To love a man like him, and have to tell him she couldn’t have his baby...
* * *
After work on Thursday, Nathalie drove to the pizzeria in town and met Paul outside the entrance. They made their way inside and had to wait before being shown a table with menus propped on the red-and-white-checked cloth. She could tell it was a popular place, especially at dinnertime.
After studying the menu, Paul flicked Nathalie a glance. “How do you like your pizza?”
“A little bit of everything except for anchovies.”
“Sounds good to me. Anything else?”
“Coffee.”
A waitress came over for their order and hurried off.
Nathalie eyed Paul. “Wouldn’t it be nice if the Fontesquieu family hired a food catering service that pulled into the vineyard every noon and evening? Think how happy it would make all the workers!”