Candy gave her an odd look. “Are you two for real? I wasn’t sure what to expect when I agreed to take on two women, but I’m so glad I did. Both you and Faith have been life savers this summer.”

  Laura blushed at the compliment. “Thanks, but you don’t know how much it means to work at a peaceful spot like this.”

  “Did you have a stressful job before?” Now it was Candy’s turn to blush. “I’m sorry. It’s none of my business.”

  Laura smiled a sad smile. “Stressful? Yes, in a way, but I loved it.” For the first time in days, tears pooled in her eyes. “But that life is over now.”

  Candy touched her briefly on the arm. “I’m sorry, Laura, but I’m glad you’re here.”

  * * *

  Laura bounced out of bed the next morning, eager to do her chores so that she could work on the planters. It would take a few days to get them in shape before she started a watering routine. She piled her hair on top of her head in a loose knot and headed for the staff room. It was going to be a hot day, and she wore a short-sleeved blouse, a pair of khaki shorts and sturdy running shoes. It was many years since she had helped her grandmother in her gardens, but she recalled the simple pleasure of pulling weeds and deadheading. Here in this arid climate, grasses formed the base of the plantings, with hardy annuals adding splashes of colour. She didn’t think she could go too far wrong.

  She was humming to herself when she entered the staff room, but the sound died when she opened the door and three heads turned in her direction.

  “Laura, grab a coffee and come and join us!” Faith motioned her over. “Jason and Bradley were just explaining how they test the grapes for sweetness.”

  Laura took an extra moment to stir cream into her coffee. There was no way she could avoid sitting with the threesome. To do otherwise would be rude.

  “Candy was telling me,” she said, taking the empty chair. She looked briefly at Bradley and then turned to Jason. “It’s called the brix, isn’t it?”

  “Yeah.” Jason’s enthusiasm bubbled over. “Brad and I are going to collect the samples today.”

  Bradley winced at the shortening of his name but Laura didn’t think the other two noticed.

  “Hey, wait a minute.” Jason looked from Laura to Bradley. “Have you guys been introduced?”

  Laura turned her gaze on Bradley. “Not formally, no.”

  “Bradley, meet Laura. Laura, meet Bradley.” Jason sat back, pleased with himself.

  Laura extended a hand. “Laura MacLeod,” she said softly. He took her hand in a brief handshake and something flared in his eyes. Bradley Jamieson, he typed on his BlackBerry. Glad to finally meet you. The corner of his mouth lifted in a smile and Laura clutched her coffee mug tightly to prevent herself from reaching out and touching him. His eyes remained fixed on hers, and she wondered if he were reading her thoughts.

  “You know, I can show you how to abbreviate some of those words if you like.” Faith gestured to the BlackBerry.

  Bradley continued to look at Laura for several beats before turning to Faith. Thanks, but I don’t say much, he typed.

  “Okay, old man. Enough of this idle chit chat.” Jason laughed at his own remark. “Time to get to work.”

  Bradley acknowledged him with a raised eyebrow, then gathered his dishes, nodded to the two women, and was gone.

  Laura watched the door close behind the two men. Something had just happened, but she wasn’t quite sure what. Unless she was mistaken, that look in Bradley’s eyes had been desire. It had reached out and ignited her body in places she’d forgotten existed.

  “Hello! Earth to Laura.” Faith’s voice broke through the fog. She licked her finger, placed it on the table and made a sizzling sound. “You guys need to get a room.”

  “So I didn’t imagine that?” Laura looked at Faith.

  “Are you kidding?” Faith placed a hand over her heart. “I’d die if a man looked at me like that. Absolutely die.” She grinned. “I’ll bet he’s got a hot body.”

  “I wouldn’t know.” Laura managed to keep a straight face. How many times had she wondered about what lay south of his belt? If it matched the top half, it would be hot indeed.

  * * *

  Trellises separated the patios of the guest accommodation, anchored by large terracotta planters. Laura decided to start there. The colourful annuals in these planters required extra care, but she was pleased with the results of her work, and planned to water after her day’s work was done. It was a waste of a precious resource to water in the heat of the day.

  The sun had disappeared behind the hills by the time she was finished in the dining room, but it would be light for another hour. She had discovered a hose in the maintenance shed and was attaching it to the hose bib at the side of the building when a small body came hurtling out of the suite.

  “What’s your name?” She looked up, dropped the hose and backed off. The young boy was the same age and size as Mattie, and had the same blue eyes. She opened her mouth to speak but no sound came out. She took a few more steps backwards, turned, and ran to the maintenance shed, tears streaming down her face. It wasn’t Mattie, she knew that, and yet the shock of seeing the young boy had dislodged the memories she’d suppressed for so long.

  A hand grabbed her arm and she lifted her head, recognizing Bradley through the tears. Gently but firmly he guided her towards the ATV, which was idling nearby. She hadn’t heard him drive up. He indicated that she should sit on the back and she obeyed without thinking, and grabbed onto his waist as he accelerated.

  She scarcely noticed the rows of vines as they sped past. She only knew they were climbing, as she had to hold him firmly so she didn’t slide backwards.

  Dark rock greeted them at the edge of the vineyard and she looked up, wondering what they were doing there. He motioned for her to dismount, and indicated that she should follow.

  The climb was brief, and when they stopped to sit, they were overlooking the valley. Far to the left, Osoyoos Lake glinted like grey slate in the dimming light.

  Bradley handed her a neatly folded cotton handkerchief and sat quietly, looking off into the distance while her tears played out. His silence was exactly what she needed. She dabbed at her eyes and expelled a long breath of air. “Thanks,” she said simply.

  He turned to look at her, eyes sympathetic. Saw you with the kid, he typed.

  “Yeah.” Tears started to flow again and she touched the handkerchief to her eyes. “He reminded me of a kid I knew once.” She looked away. “He died,” she murmured. “I thought I’d gotten over it, but I guess not.” She offered him a wan smile.

  Tough, he typed.

  She looked into his eyes. This man understood. He had known sadness and it still lingered...back there, behind the confident front he presented to the world.

  For a moment Laura wondered if damaged souls could recognize each other, then dismissed the thought as nonsense.

  They sat silently for several minutes while the light faded from the sky. He stood up and offered her his hand. She took it and stood, wavering for a moment on the uneven rock. Energy crackled between them and for a moment she thought he was going to lean forward and kiss her, but he raised a hand to her cheek. The touch was whisper soft and she ached to lean her head into his hand, but he turned away abruptly, his body tense.

  He looked up and she followed his line of sight. He was looking at a jet trail, a streak of silver high in the sky. A moment later she registered the sound, and she realized that he must have heard it a full two seconds before she did.

  “You like airplanes?” she asked.

  He nodded and pantomimed two hands on a steering wheel.

  It took her a moment. “You’re a pilot?” She looked up again at the fading contrail. “What kind of a pilot?”

  Something moved behind his eyes. He took our his BlackBerry. A good one, I hope, he typed.

  Laura laughed. “No, I meant what type of airplanes do you fly?”

  F-18s, plus a few others.

  “That doesn’t mean anything to me. What’s an F-18?”

  He tensed, as though deciding whether to continue the conversation. I’m a fighter pilot, he typed. And they’re called aircraft, not airplanes.

  Laura stepped back. “Have I said something wrong?”

  He shook his head, his eyes softened and he touched her cheek once more. Then he motioned to his watch and pointed to the sky. Darkness had fallen while they were talking.

  They made their way down the rock and to the ATV. The return trip was slower, although the headlight eased their way. Laura slid forward, her breasts crushed against his back. He must have showered after work because he smelled of soap, mingled with that heady aroma of healthy male. She closed her eyes and hung on, her cheek pressed into his back.

  The trip was too short and she came to with a start in front of her cabin. He left the motor idling, jumped off and offered her a hand.

  Okay? he mouthed, searching her face.

  She could only nod, knowing that if she spoke her voice would crack. Thank you, she mouthed back and looked down at their hands, still clasped.

  He gave her hand a gentle squeeze and then released it and climbed back on the ATV. He turned the machine around and paused, giving her one last look before he headed back toward the maintenance shed.

  Laura climbed the incline to the cabins, her mind a jumble of thoughts. Bradley Jamieson had turned out to be a very complicated individual. Complicated and incredibly appealing. But she’d sensed something beneath that cool exterior, and she didn’t know if she was ready to take on someone else’s demons in addition to her own. Because he was troubled...there was no doubt about that. She’d seen enough tormented souls...at the hospital, at rehab and in the mirror to recognize the signs.

  And yet...she sighed. Faith had been right. From the moment they touched, something sizzled between them. But was it an attraction that would flare and burn out, or would it smoulder and burn for years? She wasn’t sure if she was strong enough to find out.

  * * *

  Bradley flopped down on his bed, thankful that Massimo was out again. What was he thinking, dragging her away like that?

  The answer wasn’t hard. He’d seen the pain on her face and had reacted instinctively. Pain mixed with grief, and he’d recognized a kindred spirit.

  Of course there’d been that encounter this morning. When she walked into the staff room wearing shorts, with those long tanned legs that went on forever it had taken every ounce of control he possessed not to become aroused and embarrass himself. And when she’d offered her hand, the connection had been immediate and powerful. She’d felt it too...he recognized the flare in her eyes.

  He’d been observing her around the property, and had been surprised that someone with her looks was doing the most mundane jobs. She was gorgeous, no doubt about it, in spite of what appeared to be an effort to hide her beauty. She wore her long tawny hair up in some sort of a twist, and she never seemed to mind when tendrils escaped and curled around her face. From what he could tell, she was completely without pretence, and committed to whatever type of recovery programme she’d mapped out for herself. Perhaps he’d judged her too soon.

  He thought back to the evening he’d seen her on her patio, tears in her eyes. She’d looked directly at him and in that moment she’d captured a piece of his heart. But his heart wasn’t available. He’d do well to remind himself of that.

  Chapter Ten

  Laura rarely saw Bradley at meals these days. She told herself she didn’t mind, that it was better this way, but she didn’t believe that for a minute. On the positive side, her strength was returning and she began to eye her hiking boots tucked in the back of the closet.

  The hills surrounding the valley called out to be climbed and she consulted the computer in the staff room, studying Google Earth. Beyond the tops of the hills, tucked into remote valleys, a surprising number of small lakes awaited discovery. She studied the surrounding topography, confident that with some preliminary training, she could make the hike.

  In her free evenings after the watering was completed, she walked from her cabin to the spot where Bradley had taken her. It was a steady uphill climb and as far as she could go before losing the light completely. After several trips she smiled to herself, knowing that she would be ready on her next day off.

  Laura’s excitement mounted as Saturday rolled around. The temperature in the valley was forecast to reach 33 degrees Celsius today, which would translate to the high 90s for their American guests. Tomorrow...her day off...was projected to be the same. After breakfast, she checked the computer one last time, using the cursor to trace the route she planned to take. She nodded to herself, confident in her abilities.

  In spite of her building anticipation the day passed quickly. She watered the plants while the guests were eating dinner and waited impatiently for the restaurant to empty so she could start the evening cleanup. One group of men remained at an outside table, swapping golf stories. They were sunburned, and judging by the decibel level of their conversation and the glasses on the table, they’d consumed a fair amount of alcohol.

  “You can go ahead and get started if you like.” Klaus the restaurant manager had expressed his pleasure with her work on various occasions. “They won’t even notice you.”

  “Okay, thanks.” She moved her bucket and mop into the ladies restroom and gave it a quick and thorough cleaning.

  She stepped outside and almost ran into Bradley. He was carrying two flats of bottled water from the downstairs storage area. Their gazes met and the outside world ceased to exist. The canned music, the chatter of the men on the balcony, the murmur of the remaining wait staff all faded into the background.

  His eyes darkened. Hello, he mouthed.

  A curl of desire unwound in the pit of her stomach at that simple word. Oh God, I want this man, said the voice in her head. “Hi,” she said breathlessly, fingers tightening around the mop.

  A glass shattered on the floor, a foreign sound that broke the spell. Bradley’s gaze went instantly to the table of men and Laura turned at the same time. Every sense she possessed told her that something bad was happening.

  She abandoned the bucket and mop and sprinted across the now empty dining room. Bradley strode quickly to the bar and deposited the water, then followed.

  Laura took a deep breath, willing herself to be calm while assessing the situation. One of the men was leaning sideways in his chair, an odd grimace on his face.

  “Gentlemen,” she said, smiling to mask her concern. “Is everything all right?” She was aware of Bradley standing behind her.

  “It’s nothing.” A red-faced man on the far side of the table waved her away. “Jeez, it’s just a glass. We’ll pay for the damage.” He looked at his companions. “Too much sun today, eh fellas?”

  Laura took in the situation at a glance. “Sir,” she said to the man with the grimace. “I’d like you to lie down on the floor.” She indicated an area away from the glass.

  “What is this? Some sort of kinky punishment?” The red-raced man leered at her. “Listen to that, Ken. She wants you on your back. I wouldn’t mind some of that myself.”

  Laura heard Bradley’s sharp intake of breath and gave her head a quick shake. He was restraining himself, and managed to convey with his eyes that he understood.

  “We need to get him lying down” she said, taking the man by one arm. Bradley took the other arm and they manoeuvred him to the floor of the patio.

  Laura looked up and spotted two cell phones on the table. “Call 9-1-1,” she said, her hand on the man’s pulse.

  “Nah, he’s fine.” The red-faced man was becoming belligerent now. “He’s just had too much to drink.”

  “Call 9-1-1” she repeated, her tone fierce. “This man is having a stroke.”

  Bradley picked up one of the phones and shoved it at the man sitting beside Ken. His gesture seemed to break through their drunken stupor and he dialled. She glanced around and saw Bradley headed for the restaurant entrance, preparing to direct the ambulance attendants.

  She loosened the man’s collar and looked around, searching for something to support his head. A stack of table cloths sat on the bar; she grabbed a couple and elevated the man’s head.

  The man called Ken looked up at her, eyes wide with fear.

  “You’re going to be fine,” she reassured him, stroking his forehead. “I promise.”

  In the back of her mind she heard herself saying those exact words to Mattie, but she pushed down the memory. This was different. With clot-busting t-PA, this man could very well recover fully.

  He grasped her hand and she held it, listening for the wail of the ambulance. Moments later she thought she heard it in the distance, and turned to look for Bradley. He was still by the front door, positioned where he could see her, and he nodded, confirming that he heard it too.

  The ambulance attendants would not let her accompany the man to the hospital, so she followed in her car. His friends had insisted on following the ambulance but they were worse than useless, and she wanted to be available to answer any questions.

  “It’s a stroke,” she told the attending ER doctor. She glanced at her watch. “It happened forty seven minutes ago. I was there.”

  “Then he’s well within the window for tPA but we have time for an MRI, just to be sure.” He motioned to the head nurse who wheeled the patient away, then glanced past Laura to the middle-aged golfers milling about near the ER entrance. “Are those his friends?”

  She didn’t turn around. “Yes.”

  He looked away dismissively. “That fat one tried to tell me he was having heat stroke. He’s lucky you were there. You’re a nurse, right?”

  Laura pulled back, surprised. “Yes that’s right but I specialized in paediatrics.”

  “Never mind. You probably saved his life.” He looked at her kindly. “I have to go along to imaging now, but thanks again.” He paused. “I don’t suppose you want to be the one to call his wife?”