Read Passionate Harvest for Free Online

very sensible.”
    Lucy was aware of the undercurrents swirling between them. She knew he would rather she had been able to sell him her shares instead of having her work alongside him at the vineyard for the next twelve months. 
    “Have you always worked in child care?” The question took her by surprise as she’d drifted off momentarily once again in thoughts about her future.
    She nibbled a bit more of her sandwich before answering. “No, I’ve had quite a few different jobs before I ended up working for the tour company.”
    Quite a few was something of an understatement, she’d done everything from sweeping up hair in a hairdressers to filing and secretarial work for an estate agent. She’d travelled and drifted, never settling to anything in particular. The job she had now, managing the children’s club was the longest she’d worked anywhere. Nick and Maggie had been urging her to settle down for quite a while, and hadn’t Maggie said that was why Uncle Nick had written the twelve months condition into his will?
    “Nick’s role in the company involved marketing our produce and liaising with suppliers and distributers.” Dominic leaned his elbows on the table and templed his hands beneath his chin. “My role in the partnership is concerned with the actual production of the wine. We worked together on the site development. Nick was the ideas man. I managed the practicalities of those ideas.”
    “So what will happen now?” Lucy finished the last bite of her lunch. Surely he didn’t think she could take on Nick’s role. There were probably aspects of it that she could tackle but for the last three months the only management skills she’d employed had been used to shepherd groups of under fives to the toilets.
    “If you decide to take up your inheritance then that’s something we would have to work out.” His ice blue gaze locked on her face.
    She pushed away her empty plate. “Well, I’m sure we’d be able to come to some sort of agreement.”
    For an instant she thought she detected a glimmer of amusement. “Yes, there’ll be a lot to discuss.” He permitted himself a smile and Lucy’s heart rate skittered.
    “I should get back to Aunt Maggie’s. I think I need a bath and a change of clothes.” She winced as she stood, the muscles of her thighs had tightened whilst she’d been seated eating her lunch.
    “Perhaps you can come again tomorrow and finish the tour. There’s still a lot for you to see.” He suggested as he carried the empty plates and mugs across to the sink.
    Lucy rubbed the tops of her thighs trying to ease the discomfort. “If you promise there’ll be less walking.”
    “Definitely less, you only have the offices, the restaurant, shop, winery, stores and the courtyard plans still to look at.” He watched, a frown creasing his forehead, as Lucy hobbled to the entrance of the boot room. “Sit down and put on your shoes, I’ll walk across and bring the car round.” He collected his keys and she heard him whistle his dog as he left the cottage.
    She collected the remains of her once lovely canvas wedges from the boot room and put them back on. By the time she’d picked up her dirty top and ruined sweater the crunch of car tyres on the gravel outside told her that Dominic was back.
    “Are you ready to go?” He opened the kitchen door.
    “All set. What have you done with the dog?” She peered warily around him, half expecting Mutley to come bounding towards her again.
    “Don’t worry. He’s in the car, behind his dog guard.” He flashed another one of the smiles that transformed his face and did dangerous things to her heart.
    Lucy heaved herself into his car with a secret sigh of relief. She would be glad to get back to Maggie’s. There was a long soak in the bath calling her name, and maybe once she was immersed in warm sweet-smelling bubbles she would be able to sort out her plans for the future. 
    “I’m sorry about your clothes. Will the marks come out