Mason took the hand tentatively held out to him. Crouching down on his heels in front of her, he held the hand firmly on her knee, palm up. With a tight grip on the tweezers he took hold of the splinter and pulled.
"Arghh, shit!" She whipped her hand away and jumped up, the curses coming from her mouth easily as she gripped the hand and skipped around the table away from him.
He watched her, amused at her reaction and a little bit taken in with this delightful girl from the outback with the potty mouth who seemed to draw him to her, leaving him wanting to know more.
"It was rather big as far as splinters go but not something I believe requires so much cursing."
"Fine for you, big shot, but it was my bloody hand." Her hazel eyes were filling with unshed tears, and he almost reached out to her.
"And now it's out and should feel much better. Do you know if you have any disinfectant?"
She shrugged her shoulders, tossing her unruly brown hair from her face. "Knock yourself out and have a look."
Smiling to himself, Mason went through cupboards until he found a bottle under the kitchen sink. He poured some into a bowl and took some cotton wool balls from the first aid kit and looked at her.
"What?" She gazed at him with a look of disbelief on her face.
"Sit still and let's get this finished. If you are a good patient, when I'm done I'll delight your taste buds with a glass of my favourite wine."
She raised an eyebrow at him and slowly returned to her chair holding out her hand. Before she could take it back, Mason dabbed it with the cotton ball wiping away the fine trickle of blood staining her palm.
"For cleanliness I think you should keep it covered until tomorrow at least. You will only get it filthy and risk infection otherwise. With the way you react to your own pain, I think it would be a wise move."
Sami sat still while he dressed the wound. Her breath was warm on his face and the slight tremor running through her skin was easily noticeable to him as he held her hand. She was nervous and he didn't think it was the pain factor making her unsettled, at least he hoped it wasn't the case. He could imagine she would be an interesting woman to get to know and the thought appealed to him after spending so much time off the dating circuit to build up his business.
"There, that should do it." He stood up, collected the soiled wipes and found the bin to dispose of them. "I'll get the bottle of wine from the car."
He could hear the hurried conversation behind him when he walked down the steps at the back door. Taking the bottle of wine from the front seat, he slammed the door shut and headed back inside, listening to the two of them talk about him.
"At least be polite, Sami. He is a neighbour and did help you, kind of. We can't go getting everyone offside the first week we are here."
"He is only after the place Garth. He admitted it. If he's being nice it's for his own end and nothing more."
He made sure his footfalls were heavy on the steps to announce his return. "Here we are then. Glasses?"
Sami groaned and shook her head.
Taking it as a 'no idea', Mason looked in the cupboards until Garth pointed him in the direction of the lounge where he found what he wanted in the sideboard. Placing them on the table he held out the bottle of wine for inspection.
"This is one of my favourite drops. The grapes are the first I planted twelve years ago when I started the vineyard so they have a special place in my heart. The ones directly down from your place where I saw you earlier, Sami." He unscrewed the top and sniffed the aroma of the bottle. Taking a glass he half filled it before handing it to her.
She lifted her hand and wrapped her fingers around the stem of the crystal, her gaze flickering up to meet his. Smiling, Mason poured another glass for himself and one for Garth.
"I don't know if Garth should be drinking wine." She glanced quickly at her brother.
"A small sample is not considered drinking as such," Mason said. "This is a taste to let you know what I produce."
"Thanks." Garth took the glass and sniffed the deep red wine, looking back at Mason.
"Swirl the liquid in the glass and sniff, smell the bouquet and tell me what you find."
He watched as Sami did as he asked and waited.
"Wine, I guess." She was acting as he thought she would, negative and blasé but he wasn't put off so easily.
"Take a sip and hold it in your mouth a few seconds before you swallow. Let the flavours roll over your tongue." Mason took a sip and savoured the rich taste of oak and raspberries while watching the myriad of emotions flicking through Sami's hazel eyes.
"It's okay I guess." She took another sip and screwed up her nose while she thought. "Um, maybe kind of fruity."
"Yes, raspberries maybe?"
"Right, raspberries. And something else, kind of woodsy."
"The oak barrels we store it in. Very good, Sami. Here's to having you fall at my feet again soon. It's getting to be rather a lovely habit of yours." He laughed at the scowl on her face. "Sorry, but it's the first time something like that has happened to me."
"Ha ha, bloody ha. Let's laugh at Sami, the challenged chick with no co-ordination from the outback. Drink up and spill your guts, neighbour. I'm going to say no anyway, no matter how much of your favourite wine
