Coonawarra.â
She tapped her bottle against the neck of his. They both took a swig. She looked out across the vines illuminated in the moonlight. The glistening dark rows spread as far as she could see.
âYour parents arenât here?â
His lack of response drew her attention back to him.
After a pause he said, âThey died.â
âIâm sorry.â
The blue of his eyes darkened. This time it was Ed who looked away. âIt was several years ago. Light plane crash, no survivors.â
âThat must have been tough.â
âWe get by.â
âYou and your brother?â
âPeter. He makes the wine and I sell it.â He took another deep draught of his beer then turned his gaze on her. âWhat about you? Family?â
âMy parents are doctors. They spend most of the year working overseas. Theyâre in Cambodia at the moment. I have a sister. We both travelled a lot. She met an Irishman and has gone to live with him. Weâre a bit fractured really.â Taylor tried to imagine her parents dead like Edâs. She used to miss them so much when they first started working overseas. Now theyâd been absent from her life so often, they were more like good friends than parents. She berated herself inwardly for her lack of emotion. If she was honest she still missed them. Sheâd simply grown used to their absence from her life.
âAnother beer, or would you like something else?â
Edâs question snapped her back to the present. Here she was alone with the most gorgeous guy sheâd met in a while and she was being melancholy.
âIâd like some of that Wriggly Creek wine if you have any.â
âComing right up.â He almost leapt from the couch.
Taylor cut herself some cheese. She could get used to this attention.
He poured two glasses.
She took a sip. Sheâd never thought much about the wine she drank before but she really did enjoy the crisp fruity taste.
âSo this won a medal?â She took another mouthful.
âTwo. Peterâs pedantic about his wine. It pays off.â
âAnd youâre not so fussed?â
âItâs not that. Itâs good wine. Iâm just not as in love with the process as he is. You plant vines, you grow grapes, you turn them into wine, you sell the wine, you make money. If you donât make money thereâs no point in making the wine.â
âThere speaks a businessman.â Taylor chuckled. âMy sister couldnever understand why my parents wouldnât stay home long enough to make some decent money from their profession.â
âSome people are dreamers.â
Taylor took in the rigid set of his jaw. âA few dreams are good.â
âCanât live on dreams. Cold hard cash is what makes the world go round.â
âYes. Iâm often suffering from the lack of it. In fact Iâm not sure how much longer my courier job will last.â
âMaybe you need to get a job that suits your qualifications.â
âManaging a business?â
âDidnât you say you worked for a charity?â
âYes, but it was just a job to me.â
âWhat about starting your own?â
âCharity?â She grinned at him.
He returned the smile. âI was thinking more a business.â
Taylor turned the idea over. It wasnât as if sheâd never thought about it before but nothing grabbed her. âThereâs absolutely nothing I can imagine Iâd like to do.â
âPlenty of businesses need managers.â
âLocked in an office all day.â She tipped her head to one side. âWould I enjoy it?â
âIt would pay better, if moneyâs what you want.â
Taylor looked at her glass then drained the last of it. Was he judging her?
âIâm planning an overseas trip soon,â he said.
âThatâs exciting.â Taylor held out her glass as he refilled it. âWhere are you