Sami roared with laughter, slapping him on the shoulder and almost spilling her wine in the process. "Holy shit. Fancy remembering that." She continued to laugh, the sound of her happiness filling the cellar.
"How could I forget? It was such an interesting summation and I have been dying to change your mind when it comes to wine." He grinned and lifted his hand to tuck a stray curl behind her ear. "Have I succeeded?"
A rosy glow settled on Sami's cheeks and she looked at him before turning her gaze back to the glass. "Maybe."
"Well, at least it's a start anyway. I can only improve on that. Come." He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and turned her toward a door. "Let me show you where the really technical stuff happens."
The room they walked into was all stainless steel, glass and white paint. Microscopes and glass beakers were lined up against one wall with charts above them. Mason watched her take everything in before he started to tell her the process of making wine.
"James, who you will no doubt meet shortly, is a semi-retired winemaker and the brains behind the wines themselves. He helped me design this room. It's where the most important work on the farm happens. When the grapes are looking ready we test for sugars first before we pick." He pointed out a small window to the side. "See the steel trough?"
Sami nodded.
"In there is where the grapes are dumped for pressing. They get churned around and the juice is funnelled through this room and these pipes into the vats in the next room. From there it's a case of testing, testing and more testing until James deems it good enough to barrel. Then its patience and time until he tells me we can bottle it."
"Sounds a bit technical."
Sami ran her fingers over the glass beaker sitting on a set of scales, and looked at the figures on the whiteboard.
"Yes and no. I've learnt a lot since we started and there is always more but I love it. Seeing customers come back for more is always a buzz, as is today."
"Are you sure they're not just here for the free food and grog?" She raised an eyebrow at him, a wicked grin on her face.
"Yes. It's by invitation only and most of these people belong to our wine club. All regular buyers you see."
"Except for me."
"Uh, yes. Except for you."
She put her glass down on the counter and crossed her arms, a frown marring her forehead. "I won't change my mind you know."
"I know and I respect your judgement. I've already said I won't ask again and I won't. Your farm, your decision. But we live next door to each other and I believe in getting on with my neighbours. Don't you?" He approached her, resting a hand on the bench either side of her. He gazed into her eyes, intrigued by the hazel lights surrounded by black lashes falling softly on her flushed cheeks.
"I... I've never, um never had neighbours really. Not when we had the farm anyway." She licked her lips and Mason leaned in closer.
"What about when you were in town?"
"Nope. Too many nosy people in town who didn't need to know our business." She lifted her head and sighed.
Mason dropped his head down and touched her mouth softly with his lips. "Do you have any objection getting to know me Sami?"
"Do you promise it's all above board, you don't want anything?" Her breath rolled over his face and he resisted swiping his tongue over her lips.
"Yes I do. I want nothing you aren't prepared to share."
"Um Mason, I have to talk to you. About the other day. I'm sorry I snapped at you about Garth. I know it was irrational of me but I couldn't help it." She grinned self-consciously and he smiled to himself. "I hit out at you because you were there. I didn't thank you for saving my brother's life."
"I wouldn't have expected you to stop and thank me Sami. I have to admit though, the slap took me by surprise."
A flush crept up her cheeks and she ran her tongue over her lips and looked at him. "Yeah. Well, I have a tendency to strike out when I get scared. Sorry."
"Forgiven. Now can we concentrate on us for the rest of the day?"
Chapter 14
Her eyes widened and she sucked in a breath as Mason reached out and nipped her bottom lip with his teeth. The small mewling sound coming from her throat was all the encouragement he needed. He wrapped his arms around her butt and pulled her close as she responded to him.
When her arms crept around his neck, Mason deepened the kiss pushing her back against the stainless steel counter.
"Mason, oh... um, I'm so sorry. I didn't realize." His mother’s flustered voice broke through the fog settling on his brain. He gritted his teeth and opened his eyes, looking straight into the panicked, hazel gaze of Sami. He winked at her before pulling back and turning.
"Mother, how nice to see you. Come and meet Sami, my new neighbour. Sami"— he grabbed her arm and pulled her from behind him to face his mother— "come and say hello to my darling mother."
"Hi, uh its, um nice to meet you." Sami tucked herself in by his side and watched his mother.
"I am so pleased to meet you Sami, so pleased. I hear you have a brother too, is he here?" His mother was putting on the charm and doing her best to be kind to the obviously timid Sami. Mason was a little bit stunned at the change in her. Around him she was a fiery piece of work, but around his mother she seemed as scared as a new foal. How very interesting.
"Yeah, Garth is outside somewhere. I'd better go and see how he's going." She pushed past before Mason could stop her.
"Oh, honey I'm sorry." His mother reached out a hand to pat his arm.
