"The best grapes I can grow and nothing more." He leaned down and opened the gate between them, nudging his horse through before closing it. Caesar walked over and sniffed her horse, nodding his head in greeting. "Looks like we might have to build up your tolerance to wine."
"Really, a few hours ago I was swearing off the stuff. Well I guess I can give it a go. After all, it would be a shame to live in the Hunter Valley and not try the wine every now and then, wouldn't it?"
"My thoughts exactly. Speaking of which, I have a bottle with me. Care to tether horses somewhere and watch the sunset with me?"
Chapter 17
Sami looked over at him. Saddlebags hung either side of the saddle and she grinned. A man prepared for anything, she liked that about him.
"Sounds like a plan, my friend. Sounds like a plan." She nudged her horse forward and walked until they came to a small rise leading down to an expanse of flat land with two large shade trees looking picture perfect in the afternoon light.
She slid off the horse and hitched the reins out of the way. Mallika moved over to the edge of the path and put her head down to nip a mouthful of grass. She stood contentedly chewing until Caesar pulled up beside her. He nipped at her neck and joined in the grass eating while Mason dropped from his saddle.
He unhooked the saddlebags and sauntered over to where Sami was standing.
"Where would madam like to sit tonight to watch the sun go down?"
She pursed her lips and thought.
"How about right here? It's as good a place as any and doesn't seem to be over busy right now."
Mason winked and walked over closer to the tree before letting the bags slide from his shoulder. Sami watched as he opened one side and took out a blanket laying it on the ground. From the other side he took a bottle of wine and two glasses. He held one up to her, beckoning her over.
"My my, don't you come prepared?"
"My grandfather always told me to be prepared for anything. Why let a nice evening like this go to waste when I can start on your education of my vineyard and its spoils right now?"
Sami laughed and walked over to ease down onto the blanket in front of him. She held her hand out for a glass of wine.
Mason sat down beside her and held his glass up. "Cheers."
"Cheers." She took a sip and nodded her head. "Nice, very nice."
"Verdelho again, since you enjoyed it yesterday. One of my success stories actually."
He looked at Sami and her heart fluttered. It would be so easy to fall for this guy. He was everything she wanted in a man. Smart, funny when the mood took him, caring and devilishly handsome.
She looked down at her hands knowing the flush on her cheeks gave away more than she wanted at this point.
* * *
He leaned in and placed his lips on hers, before brushing across the side of her cheek toward her ear. She shivered under his touch and Mason kissed along the side of her jaw letting the smell of her hair fill his senses.
Sami, the fiery little waif from the outback was well and truly under his skin. If it meant not getting the crop where he wanted it and having a chance to woo her, so be it. Grapes were grapes, but his luck with girls had been abysmal and it looked like lady luck was on his side. If he could convince her he was honest and not using the relationship to increase his land holdings, it would be a great achievement.
His previous relationships had been challenging to say the least. The girl he thought was the love of his life had up and run away with his best friend while he was working his arse off to get the winery up and running. His own fault, he was convinced. If he’d had taken as much notice of her as he did his grapes, they would still be together.
Other women had come and gone, some not as easily as he would like. But it was a small hiccup in the scheme of things. Here he had the chance to make a relationship work with Sami and he wanted to give it everything he had.
She gazed up into his eyes and sighed before reaching up and wrapping her fingers in the hair at the nape of his neck. Leaning in, she kissed him.
Mason's body reacted with a speed that threw him. "Um, we might have to take this a bit slower." He removed her hand from his neck, and took a small step back.
"Why?" Sami looked puzzled until her gaze travelled south to the bulge in his jeans and she laughed. "Oh I see. Well"—she glanced at him with a cheeky grin— "we could always do something about your predicament. I don't mean to come onto you but..."
"I don't want to rush you, Sami. We've only met and I thought you might like to get to know me better before I race you off to bed. Which I plan on doing by the way as soon as you say the word."
"Sure of yourself, aren't you?"
"Yes, I have to admit it, I am. One of my worst traits is the ability to lose myself in my work. Everything else gets forgotten including relationships. Now things are running more smoothly and business is good I can finally get some 'me' time if you know what I mean." He laughed and shook his head before tracing her cheek with his finger. "I've blown a relationship or two with my obsession over the vineyard. I'm hoping I don't blow it with you."
Mason saw hope and a small fire of passion reflected in her eyes and breathed deeply. "Why don't I make you dinner? Then if we
