The thought sets my heart racing. It would mean seeing Kyle again, sooner than I dared to hope. The prospect of surprising him, of showing up at his doorstep unannounced and sweeping him off his feet, fills me with a thrill of excitement and nervousness.God, how would Kyle feel about it?
I turn to Rick, barely able to contain my grin. “Hey, I just had a crazy idea. What would you say to taking a road trip?”
Rick raises an eyebrow. “A trip? Where to?”
“To Kyle’s farm. I think it could be good for both of us. A chance to get away from the city, clear our heads, and maybe even have a little adventure.”
“Adventure, huh?” Rick chuckles. “But seriously, you know what? That actually sounds fun. I’m in.”
I clap him on the shoulder, feeling a rush of excitement. I’m taking control and making a bold move towards the future I want.
“Great. We’ll leave first thing in the morning.”
Chapter Nineteen
Kyle
Thesunbeatsdownon my back as I load up the wheelbarrow with clippings. Thankfully this is the last load I need to take to the burn pile because I’ve been going since dawn. Laney runs circles around me, while Mutt is investigating something at the end of the row of vines.
“Oi! Mutt!”
He looks up and comes trotting back.
“Good boy,” I say, picking up the handles of the barrow and heading between the rows with both dogs following happily behind.
From the corner of my eye I catch sight of a car crawling up the dusty drive. Shielding my eyes, I squint at the approaching Land Rover, its black exterior stark against the dirt driveway. Usually it’s trucks and work vehicles stopping by. Curiosity piqued, I leave the wheelbarrow and speed up towards the main house where the car has parked.
As I get closer, the driver’s door swings open. A tall figure emerges, silhouetted by the afternoon sun, then he turns and pushes his sunglasses up into his dark hair.
Axel.The breath rushes out of my lungs. Even from a distance, I feel the magnetic pull of his presence. My pulse quickens.Axel? Here?
“Axel!” I call out.
His head snaps around and our eyes lock. Even from a distance, the intensity of his gaze sends a shiver through me. An electric current. In that instant, the rest of the world falls away—the vineyard, the house, everything. It’s just him and me.
My pace quickens to a jog and then a full-on sprint, boots pounding against the dusty earth. Axel strides towards me too, a broad grin on his face.
“Kyle.” He wraps me in a tight hug the second we reach each other. “God, I missed you.”
“I missed you too,” I murmur into his shoulder, savouring his familiar scent and solid warmth. “I can’t believe you’re really here.”
We pull back just enough to look at each other, still gripping each other’s arms, and I take him in—dark stubble lining his sharp jaw, skin bronzed by the sun, eyes dancing with happiness.
The weeks apart, the long-distance longing, it all comes rushing to the surface. I cup his jaw and pull his mouth to mine in a searing kiss. He makes a soft noise and responds, his lips moving against mine. My Akubra is knocked from my head and drops to the ground as his strong arms wrap around me pulling me flush against his body. I lose myself in his touch, in his taste. He walks me backwards until my body meets the side of the Land Rover. His tongue delves into my mouth and I open for him eagerly.God, how I’ve missed this.
A pointed cough breaks through the haze of lust. I tear my mouth from Axel’s and peek over his shoulder. That’s when I notice we have an audience.
A young man who looks strikingly like Axel leans against the Land Rover, an amused smirk on his face. It has to be Rick, although a lot older than the boy I saw in the photograph. And a few paces away stands Sarah, bouncing a gurgling Olivia, on her hip.
“Oops,” I whisper sheepishly, resting my forehead on Axel’s shoulder. “I may have gotten a bit carried away.”
He chuckles as he releases me and slings a casual arm around my shoulders.
“Rick, I want you to meet Kyle, the man I haven’t been able to shut up about,” Axel says, “and, Kyle, this is my little brother Rick.”
“Not so little,” Rick replies with an eye roll, but he’s grinning. He pushes off the bonnet and extends a hand to me. “Good to finally meet the guy who’s made my brother go all dopey.”
It’s me who goes all dopey at the knowledge Axel has been talking about me. I reach out to take his hand. “It’s great to meet you too, Rick. I’ve heard a lot about you.” I already know I’m going to like him. I gesture to Sarah. “And this is my sister-in-law, Sarah. Sarah, meet Axel and Rick.”
