“Bradley?” she said, and looked to the door of her cabin. “Faith could be back any minute.”

  His eyes glittered in the ambient light. He took her hand and led her down to the cabin he shared with Massimo. They entered and he typed on his BlackBerry. Massimo comes home around midnight.

  She looked around the cabin. He had prepared for this. Lit candles flickered softly and music played somewhere in the background. Missed you, he typed. She looked. Every day, he added, with a wry smile.

  “Me, too,” she said, and went into his arms.

  He led her in a few lazy dance steps around the room and then he was kissing her again. Laura’s senses reeled and she pulled back. “Make love to me, Bradley” she whispered, unbuttoning his shirt and leaving a trail of kisses across his chest. “It’s been too long since you were inside me.”

  He undressed her reverently and guided her to the bed, kissing every inch of skin as it was exposed. And then he shed his own clothes and loomed over her, possessing her with his eyes before he entered her. She threw back her head and moved with him in the timeless rhythm of love, reaching the peak of satisfaction moments before he did, then they slid slowly down the other side together, replete in each other’s arms.

  “This is frustrating” she sighed, snuggled in the crook of his arm.

  He pulled back, looked at her with a puzzled expression.

  “No,” she laughed. “I don’t mean frustrating in that way.” She pulled his head down for a quick kiss. “I meant about Massimo coming back at any time.” She glanced toward the door, which he had locked. “I’d like a repeat performance, but I don’t think we have time.”

  He groaned and rolled his eyes on mock horror. How about Sunday at the lake? he typed. We could spend the day.

  “That’s perfect,” she said. “Can you get away?”

  Pretty sure, he typed. I’ll talk to Matt.

  * * *

  He found his friend near the ice wine grapes the next day. “Of course you can take the day off. You work harder than I do around here.” Matt paused. “Going anywhere special?”

  The lake. Bradley pointed up the hill.

  “What is it about that lake?” Matt said, eyeing Bradley curiously. “Isn’t that where you went to find the nurse...the one who took care of the guy with the stroke?”

  Bradley nodded.

  “How did you get up there, by the way?”

  Hiked.

  “That way?” Matt shaded his eyes and looked up the hill. “There’s a much easier way, you know.” He pointed south. “About half a mile down the road there’s a riding stable. We used to rent horses and ride up there.”

  Bradley raised his eyebrows and grabbed his BlackBerry. Sounds interesting.

  “Do you want me to set it up for you? I could call and see if they have a horse for Sunday.” He paused. “You ride, right?”

  Bradley nodded. It had been a few years, but he could manage.

  * * *

  “Has it been three weeks already?” Candy and Laura were sitting on the terrace with a coffee before the lunchtime rush. She studied Laura over the rim of her cup. “Has this been a good experience for you?”

  If only she knew. But Laura knew what Candy was asking. “It’s been great. One of the things they pounded into us at rehab was not to go back into the environment where we got into trouble in the first place.” She looked around. “This is about as far removed from my past as I could imagine.”

  “Matt was against bringing in people fresh out of rehab, and then some of the younger kids went off the rails, so he wasn’t too thrilled when you and Faith showed up, but it’s all worked out.” She eased forward on her chair. “I’ve already asked Faith if she wants to stay beyond the end of next week, but she says her mother’s anxious to have her home for a while. She might come back next year, though. I’ve offered her a position.”

  Laura smiled. “She really took to the place, didn’t she?”

  “What about you? We could use you until the end of October.”

  With the offer out there on the table Laura found that it wasn’t such an easy decision. “Can I let you know after the weekend? I love it here, but I can’t stay forever. I worry that if I stay I’ll just be avoiding making a decision.”

  “Sure, but let me know, okay? I’ll have to find someone to replace you if you leave.”

  * * *

  “Laura.” Faith came looking for her on Saturday. “Candy has a message for you.”

  Laura’s thoughts went to her grandmother. “I hope it isn’t anything bad.”

  “It didn’t sound like it. She says you can find her in her office for the next half hour.”

  The door was wide open and Candy looked up. “Oh, Hi Laura.” She reached across her desk for a spiral bound message book. It contained three messages to a page and a copy that remained in the book. She tore carefully along the perforations and handed it over. “Your friend would like you to call. She sounds nice.”

  It was from Jenna. Laura relaxed. “It’s my best friend. I wonder what she wants.”

  “You’re welcome to use our phone if you like.”

  “No, I have my cell. I just had it turned off while I’m here. I gave my family your number in case of emergency.”

  “Well it didn’t sound like an emergency, so I wouldn’t worry.”

  “Thanks, Candy. I’ll take a few minutes off and call her now if you don’t mind.”

  She went back to her cabin and waited impatiently as the phone rang at the other end.

  “Hi Laura.”

  “How did you know it was me?”

  “Call display, you goof. How are you? How’s it going?”

  “Wonderful. Coming here was the best thing I could have done.”

  “You certainly sound happy.”

  “I am. I’ve met a guy, Jen. He’s working here for the summer.”

  There was a pause at the other end. “Is he from rehab?”

  “Excuse me, Jenna Andersen. I’m from rehab, remember?”

  “Don’t get all touchy. You know what I mean.”

  “Yes, and thank you for caring. He’s actually a former fighter pilot. I’m hoping you get to meet him.”

  “Wow, this sounds serious.” Raised voices could be heard in the background. “Listen, kiddo. Things are hectic around here as usual. Why don’t you tell me about him when you come here?”

  “Ah...I didn’t know I was going there.”

  “Well, that’s what I called about. Drew’s going to Alberta in a couple of weeks to attend a livestock auction and he wants me to go with him. Since you’re due to finish up there at the end of next week I thought maybe you could come and stay with the kids for a couple of days while we’re gone.”

  “And how are my Godchildren?”

  “They’re monsters.” She held the phone away. “Mark, take it easy on your sister.”

  Butterflies took up residence in Laura’s stomach. She hadn’t done very well with the last child she’d encountered, but these were Jenna’s children…her Godchildren. She couldn’t avoid small people for the rest of her life.

  “A couple of days?” She was thinking of Bradley, but she couldn’t refuse her friend. “Okay, when do you want me there?”

  “A week from next Thursday. Is that okay? We’ll leave on Friday and be gone over the weekend. After that, you can either go back to this hunk you’ve found, or stay here. Your choice.”

  By then she hoped to know where things stood between herself and Bradley. “I’ll let you know when I get there.” She smiled into the phone. “Love you, Jenna.”

  “Love you, too. See you soon.”

  * * *

  “You’re not coming with me?” Laura and Bradley were sitting on his patio, watching the colours fade from the sky.

  He shook his head, but there was mischief in his eyes. He reached out and took her hand.

  “You are coming, aren’t you?”

  Wouldn’t miss it, he typed. See you at the top around ten.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Laughter burbled up in Laura’s throat as she tucked her bikini into the backpack. “Don’t know why I’m bothering,” she said aloud. She still didn’t know what Bradley had up his sleeve for today, but she liked surprises. It was good to know he had a playful side, although she had to admit that she knew very little about the man...something she hoped to change during the coming days.

  She arrived at the lake shortly before ten. It was familiar now, and she climbed up onto the rock outcropping and sat overlooking the calm water. If she was to contemplate a future with Bradley, she had to tell him about her past. A light breeze came up suddenly, rippling the surface of the water and she shuddered. Things had been perfect between them so far...much like the still lake waters, but how would he react when she told him about her drug use?

  Movement caught her eye and she looked up to see him making his way toward her. Just the sight of him sent her heart racing, and she stood up with a smile. “Hi,” she said softly, and went into his arms. They stood together, content to breathe in the scent of each other, knowing that they had the whole day ahead of them.

  Bradley reached up and unpinned her hair, his movements slow and sure. Her hair tumbled around her shoulders and down her back. He ran his fingers through it and then cupped her head in his hands and pulled her forward. Just before he kissed her she heard a low hum of approval deep in his throat. She wrapped her arms around his neck and lost herself in the pleasure of his kiss.

  High overhead, an Osprey called. They came apart slowly and looked up. The two young birds were sitting on branches near the nest while the adult Ospreys were circling together, trying to get the young ones to fly. Wow, mouthed Bradley, obviously delighted.

  One of the young birds pushed off. It seemed surprised to learn that its wings would support it, and after a few tentative flaps landed somewhat shakily in a tree farther down the lake. The second one followed and they watched for several minutes, along with the anxious parents.

  “Just think,” said Laura. “We saw them take their very first solo flight.” He was standing behind her, arms encircling her loosely. She turned to face him. “Do you remember your first solo flight?”

  Something moved behind his eyes, but then he smiled and nodded. Why did I bring that up? she asked herself. I so don’t want to spoil this day.

  She gestured toward the lake. “What do you say? Suits or no suits?” It was then she realized that he hadn’t brought a backpack, but he answered with his actions. Within moments, he’d stripped off his clothes and plunged into the cool water. She spread out her beach blanket and towel then undressed slowly, aware that he was watching her every movement. As she stepped out of her lacy thong she heard a sharp intake of breath and he came charging out of the water, picked her up and carried her back to the blanket.

  “You’re wet,” she protested laughingly as he explored her body with hands and mouth. “And guess what” she murmured, as he loomed above her, blotting out the sunlight. “I don’t care a bit.”

  Much later she pinned up her dishevelled hair and they walked hand in hand into the water and swam together, limbs languid from lovemaking. They dried each other off and she looked around again. “Where’s your backpack?” she asked.

  He slipped into his shoes, picked up the blanket and crooked a finger at her. Puzzled, she did as he asked and followed him up and over the small rise above the lake. He led her to a flat area and gestured to a shaded area under a Ponderosa. Several blankets had been laid out, anchored by a cooler and a picnic basket. Music played softly from a portable radio.

  “Bradley!” Laura took it all in and turned to him. “This is perfect.”

  He pulled her once again into his arms and brushed his lips against hers. The gesture brought tears to her eyes. He fumbled for his BlackBerry. You OK?

  “No. Yes.” She gave her head a small shake and looked around. “It’s just that you did all this for me and I don’t deserve it.”

  Yes you do.

  “No, I really don’t.” She looked around again. “Can we sit down?”

  He got her settled, opened the picnic basket and pulled out a thermos. Coffee? He mouthed.

  “I’d love some.”

  He poured coffee into two enamel mugs and they sat there for a moment, looking out over the valley.

  “I guess you know I came here directly out of rehab.”

  He nodded.

  She took a sip from her mug. “I was a nurse.”

  He nodded.

  “You knew?”

  He nodded again.

  She gave a shaky laugh. “Can’t stop people from talking, I suppose.”

  He shrugged, but the look in his eyes encouraged her to keep going.

  “I loved my job.” She pressed her fingertips against her chest and took in a deep breath. “I worked on a paediatric oncology ward and there was this one patient...”

  The story came tumbling out. Mattie, his absent mother, the child’s failing health, the affection she felt for the young boy and that final night when she’d been forced to walk away without the promised story. Tears ran down her face and onto her bikini top, but she scarcely noticed.

  “And as if that wasn’t bad enough, I started taking oxycodone at the suggestion of a friend.” She glanced at him quickly. “Some friend. He was a doctor in the hospital. I was going out with him.”

  A steely look turned his eyes cold.

  “Don’t get me wrong. He didn’t force me to take them. That was my own fault.” She looked off into the distance, reliving that time. “In the beginning, when the pain of Mattie’s death was so sharp I thought my heart would break the drugs made me feel that I could handle anything. They make you feel invincible, you know?”

  He shook his head.

  She grimaced. “No, I guess you don’t. Poor choice of words. Anyway, I went into a self-destructive spiral and it only got worse when I realized that Stew was busy trying to see how many nurses he could have sex with.” She spread her hands. “And so my supervisor at the hospital contacted my family about the problem, I went to rehab and here I am.”

  She sounds like a good person. He showed her the BlackBerry.

  “Who, my supervisor? Yeah, she is. She even came to see me on the Island. I asked her about going back to work eventually and she said that’s not likely.”

  What about your family?

  She looked at the message and smiled. “Ah, well, now that’s the good news. My family is fabulous.” She told him about her father and grandmother. “My mother’s another story, though. When I didn’t want to follow along in the path she’d set out for me, she turned on me and my parents were divorced not long after that.”

  Don’t tell me you blame yourself.

  “I suppose I did for a while, but my father explained to me once that no matter what he or I did, my mother was unlikely to be happy. It was a hard lesson.” She touched his hand. “But I don’t use that as an excuse for what happened to me. Sometimes I think she simply wasn’t cut out to be a parent.”

  He looked sceptical, but made no comment.

  “Now if you want an example of good parents, you should meet my friend Jenna. I’m Godmother to her kids and when she came to the intervention, I was so afraid she was going to tell me I couldn’t be their Godmother anymore.” She stared into her coffee mug. “But she just gave me a hug and told me she loves me.”

  Where does she live?

  “Jen and Drew live on a small ranch up near Williams Lake.” She turned pensive. “They were both orphaned when they were young. I think that’s why they’ve worked so hard to make a happy home for the kids. They have two, Hayley and Mark.”

  His face softened. Sounds nice.

  “It is.” She turned to face him. “I promised to go up next week and stay with the kids for a couple of days. Drew wants to go to a cattle auction in Alberta.”

  Are you coming back?

  She felt a blush creep into her face. “Do you want me to?”

  Yes, he mouthed. He pointed to his chest and then to her. I want you. He reached for her and she went joyfully into his arms. He made love to her slowly, with an intensity that made her forget to breathe. When they finally pulled apart, she lay back and looked up through the branches of the tree to the blue sky beyond. A pinecone tumbled through the branches and landed beside her. She picked it up and pricked her finger on a sharp spike. Is today is like this pinecone? she asked herself. Perfect, but with sharp edges? A shiver of apprehension marched down her spine and she tossed the pinecone away, suddenly afraid of what it might portend.

  Bradley unpacked the picnic hamper. The kitchen had prepared a selection of fruit, cheese and bread, along with two servings of their special crème brulée tucked into a small cooler.

  “This is absolutely decadent” said Laura, breaking through the crust of the crème brulée with a spoon. She couldn’t remember when she’d enjoyed a picnic this much.

  Bradley rinsed their coffee mugs with bottled water and poured the remaining coffee into their cups. He handed her a cup and picked up the BlackBerry. I want you to read something, he typed.

  “Okay.” She drew the word out. “What?”

  He called up something on the BlackBerry, looked at it for a moment, then handed it to her. He’d prepared it ahead of time.

  I think you’ll agree that we’re compatible... she read. She looked up and nodded, smiling into his eyes. ...and I’d like the chance to get to know you better. Would you consider staying at the winery until the end of October? The harvest should be over by that time and it will give us time to get to know one another.

  She looked up again. “I’d like that,” she said simply.

  He reached out and scrolled to the next page.

  I’m not sure what’s in my future. I know you’ve been in rehab and I have a few issues myself that need to be cleared up, but I’m working on them. What do you say? Shall we see where this leads?

  He sat very still, waiting for a reaction.