CHAPTER SIX

SUNDAYMORNING,NATHALIE left home earlier than usual to buy groceries. She drove to Vence and put everything in the fridge before reporting to the vineyard.

Dominic must have wondered what was wrong with her to go on about his family. She hadn't been able to help it. If Alain truly was his son, then he belonged to a remarkable man with an amazing history.

Her mother wanted her to give up on this. It was wrong to date Dominic when she was holding back this huge secret that could backfire. Nathalie knew her mother was right, but since he'd admitted he'd been to the Guinguet in the past, that placed him where Antoinette could have met him.

Here she'd been thinking Dominic hadn't been the one involved with her stepsister, but this new information threw her. The one thing she had to do now was find out when he'd been to the bistro. Had he gone there after returning from Paris during one of his visits home? Once she knew if the timing fit, then she'd break her silence.

As soon as four thirty rolled around, she left the vineyard under a semicloudy sky and hurried to her temporary home. She wanted to get there first and make herself presentable.

Relieved that she didn't see his car outside, she rushed in and took a quick shower. After she'd put on a green skirt with a lighter green blouse, she brushed her hair and caught it back with a light green scarf.

He still hadn't come when she started the chicken crepes and prepared a strawberry and cream dessert. By five thirty she started to worry. The thought of him not coming caused her more misery than she should be feeling for this man.

While she was making coffee, she heard a knock on the door. She hadn't heard him drive up. With her adrenaline gushing, she rushed to open it. "Dominic?" she cried.

"I'm afraid not."

Oh!

She'd just come face-to-face with a man who bore such a strong family resemblance to Dominic in looks and coloring it was unbelievable. She reeled and clung to the door.

"MademoiselleFournier?"

"Yes?"

"I'm Etienne Fontesquieu."

She'd already guessed as much and was stunned. He had Alain's eyes too!

"My brother asked me to stop by in person since he couldn't reach you on the phone."

That's right. She'd turned it off so it wouldn't wake Alain this morning. Her body was shaking. "Please, come in."

"I'd better not. I'm getting over a cold." She could hear it. "Dominic wants you to know he's been unaccountably detained and is aware you've gone to a lot of trouble to make dinner." She'd been living for tonight. "He asks your forgiveness and will get in touch with you."

Dominic...

"That's very considerate of you, especially since you're not well."

"I sound worse than I am."

"Please let your brother know I understand. Thank you."

"Thank you for doing such a good job for us. Gregoire tells me you've caught on fast. I'm impressed. Have a good evening."

He turned and walked back to his silver Mercedes. From a distance, his tall, lean silhouette reminded her of Dominic. She let out a troubled sound. Good heavens—had she gotten it wrong and Etienne had been Antoinette's lover?

Nathalie shut the door and sank down on the couch in shock. If she'd met Etienne first, she would have thought he could be Alain's father. At this point she was convinced she'd lost her mind.

After this experience she'd lost her appetite too.

What if Dominic's distrust of her had prompted him to send his brother here to check on her and find out what she was up to? Maybe Etienne didn't trust her either. Once she'd gathered her wits, she put the food in the fridge.

After driving back to La Gaude, she flew into the house. "Maman?"

When there was no answer, she tiptoed to Alain's room. Her mother was looking down at him in the crib. When she saw Nathalie, she put a finger to her lips. Nathalie went back to the living room to wait.

In a minute her mother walked in. "What's wrong? You sounded upset when you called out."

"I am. I met Dominic's brother, Etienne, today." Nathalie launched into the reason why he'd stopped in to see her. "They share an amazing family resemblance. Alain could be Etienne's son."

A small cry came from her mother. "That does it, Nathalie. You've got to give this up. I think you should quit your job at the vineyard before you do something that will cause irreversible damage. You're tampering with other people's lives. It's something that is out of your hands. Don't you see what is happening?"

"Yes." Meeting Etienne had thrown her completely. Worse, she'd fallen for his brother, a man who was still a mystery to her and could have been Nathalie's lover. "But as I told you last night, I learned Dominic had been to the Guinguet several times in the past. I need to find out when. Tomorrow night I'll ask him if he ever met a girl at the bistro named Antoinette."

"He'll demand to know why you want that information."

"At that point I'll tell him that she was my stepsister and died before she told me the name of the man she loved. She'd kept it a secret, and I wanted to know why. Then I'll add that I decided to follow a few clues that led me to the Fontesquieu vineyard."

Her mother's worried expression didn't change.

"Maman,if Dominic continues to deny all knowledge, I'll believe him and ask him if his brother might have known Antoinette. I promise I won't say anything about the baby."

"Nathalie? He's too intelligent not to figure that out."

She folded her arms to her waist. "For Alain's sake I have to find the truth if I can. Do you really wish I would give this up?"

"Yes, but I know you won't and suspect you're more than attracted to Dominic. Am I right?"

She lowered her head. "I'd give anything if I weren't."

"It's going to get worse the longer you keep seeing him."

"I know. But it's a risk I'm still willing to take for Alain's sake. Thanks for supporting me. I love you."

She kissed her mother and went to her bedroom. After putting in a wash, she packed some more clothes and finally went to bed exhausted. The next morning, she left for Vence after having packed her lunch. She also turned on her phone.

Dominic filled her mind to the exclusion of all else. The knowledge that he'd be coming over tonight made it difficult to breathe. Nathalie stopped there first to get her backpack. The walk to the vineyard didn't take long.

She'd just reached the next row to start cutting grapes when her cell phone rang. Her heart leaped when she saw Dominic's name on the caller ID.

She put down the scissors. "Bonjour, monsieur."

"Bonjour, mademoiselle."

His distinctive voice melted her insides.

"Would you please let Nathalie Fournier know I'll be arriving tonight with our dinner? I owe her one after not showing up last evening."He hung up before she could respond.

His call brightened the already beautiful day. She hardly noticed the work she had to do. When she left the vineyard at four thirty, she came close to a run in her excitement to see Dominic again. She'd brought a summery dress in a small floral print on white to wear this evening. Even if he didn't believe her reasons for coming to the vineyard and all this was about to come to an end, she wanted to look her best.

Nathalie had been listening for his distinctive knock that came as she was brushing out her hair. She hurried to open the door. Tonight he wore a silky claret-colored shirt and tan chinos. He carried a grocery bag.

"Well, if it isn't the mysterious monsieur!"

His black eyes were alive. "I hope mademoiselleis ready for coq au vinstraight from the chateau kitchen."

"Hmm. After Guinguet Fontesquieu, do I dare try it?"

His deep laugh rang out to delight her. "I don't know. I'll eat first. If I don't expire, you'll know it's safe. But I need to be invited in."

"You don't need an invitation."

"I'll remember that." He walked through to the kitchen while she shut the door and followed him. His gaze traveled over her. "You look lovely tonight."

You look incredible. "Thank you. I've set the table and the coffee is ready. We can eat whenever you want."

"You know me. I'm hungry now. Let's dig in while it's hot." He pulled the ingredients from the bag and they sat down to enjoy what turned out to be a fabulous meal. "How went another day in the life of our latest coupeuse?"

She laughed. "Backbreaking, as if you didn't know. I'd much rather talk about your day." Hopefully she could ply him with enough questions to learn the truth.

Once again Dominic had to ask himself why Nathalie seemed so interested in his day. "In truth I've been counting the hours to be with you. I'm sorry about yesterday."

"It doesn't matter."

"Of course it does. That's why I asked Etienne to come in my place and make my apologies in person. He texted me around six and told me all was well, adding, ‘She took my breath. How did you manage that, Dom?'"

Heat crept into those beautiful cheeks. "I realized something important had held you up."

"Yesterday I had a phone call from my cousin Raoul. After living in a tumultuous marriage, he's decided it has to end and has asked his wife for a divorce, grace à Dieu. He should never have married her."

"How sad."

"I had to help him with some important business. You have no idea of the turmoil he's been through."

She breathed deeply. "More and more I'm relieved I ended it with Guy. Your cousin's situation reminds me of what I avoided by not marrying him."

Dominic wanted to believe her. He put down his coffee cup. "Raoul is my best friend and always has been. Over the last couple of years I've seen him so unhappy. His wife is making demands. I'm trying to help him. We didn't get back from Nice until ten."

"He's lucky to have you."

"One of these days his nightmare will be over. In the meantime he's rooming with me in my apartment at the chateau."

"Where does your cousin usually live?"

"In the other wing of the chateau."

She blinked. "I know it's massive, but you all live there together?"

His brows lifted. "A horrifying thought, isn't it?"

"Only if you want to be private."

Dominic smiled at her. "That's why I lived in Paris for as long as I did."

"But you came home once in a while."

"Yes, for visits and vacations. If I decide to stay in Vence, then the day is coming when I'll buy my own home. Raoul is planning to do the same thing. It's just as well they're separated until they go to court and a settlement is made."

"I feel terrible for him. Did they love each other before they got married?"

"He'd been seeing her, but hadn't proposed marriage though both their families wanted it desperately. One night he met a girl and overnight fell deeply in love with her, wanting marriage. But then came the news that Sabine was pregnant.

"Raoul had only slept with her once and regretted it before breaking it off with her. But hearing the news about Sabine's pregnancy, he had to end his relationship with the woman he loved. At that point he did the noble thing and married Sabine. Sadly their baby died a month after she was born. He buried his heart with his little girl. Since the funeral there's been an emptiness in him that worries me."

"I can't imagine so much pain."

Their eyes held.

"You're not a Fontesquieu," Dominique murmured.

He noticed her shudder.

"Would you believe Etienne was pressured into his marriage at around the same time? He should have married a girl he was crazy about, but the family didn't consider her good enough to marry and wouldn't hear of it."

She shook her head. "Does that mean he's also on the verge of divorce?"

"It could happen, but they have a little girl, Sophie, to think of."

She pushed herself away from the table to retrieve dessert from the counter.

"I shouldn't have unburdened myself to you. You're far too easy to talk to."

"Please don't say that. Your worries help me forget my own." She brought the two tartes aux pommes to the table and sat down. "I'm curious about something. Since you all live at the chateau, are your offices there too?"

Was it natural curiosity on her part? Even if she had a hidden reason for asking the question, it made him chuckle. "No. Maybe you haven't seen the big modern office building behind the chateau. We each have our own suites."

Her eyes smiled. "But you never really get away from each other. Togetherness has to be the reason your family's business has risen to such heights."

Something was going on in her beautiful head. Nathalie had a charm about her that was tying him in knots. He needed to put distance between them this evening. Whether he discovered her reason for coming to the vineyard or not, he couldn't be around her much longer before he took her in his arms and made endless love to her.

"I've enjoyed tonight more than you know, but I have some business to take care of and need to get going. Let me clear the table first."

"No, no, Dominic. You brought this wonderful food and I've loved it. I'll take care of everything else. Tomorrow evening I'll provide the dinner."

"I'd like that, but I have an even better idea. As your employer, I'm giving you the day off tomorrow to spend it with me. How would you like to cook in the galley on my cruiser? It's docked in Nice. We'll leave in the morning and enjoy a full day and evening on the water together. It's a beautiful sight watching the sun go down over the Mediterranean while we swim and eat." Tomorrow he'd break her down.

His suggestion lit up her whole expression. "That would be incredible."

"Then we'll do it. Don't bother to get groceries. We'll buy them in Nice."

She walked him to the door. "I won't be able to sleep." He'd had close to none since he'd met her. Dominic was besotted by her. "Thank you for everything."

"Pick you up here at eight in the morning. Bring your swimming suit."

"I'll be ready."

He gave her a swift kiss before striding to his car. It took all the self-control he possessed not to crush her against him. Tomorrow everything was going to change.

Nathalie had trouble getting to sleep that night. Dominic's story about what had happened to his cousin had sounded so much like what had happened to Antoinette, it had shaken her. Maybe she was losing it and tried to put it out of her mind.

The next morning her heart pounded out of rhythm when Dominic arrived at eight. He'd dressed in a blue pullover and white cargo pants. It should be a sin for a man to be so devastatingly handsome and marvelous. For today she didn't want to think about anything but being with him, and wished she could thrust her guilt aside. Of course, that wasn't possible.

She'd showered and changed into white shorts and a short-sleeved lavender top. After catching her hair back with a clip, she was ready and walked out the door with her overnight bag. He helped her into the car and they reached Nice in a half hour under a sunny sky. What perfect weather!

She turned to him. "Shall we have steaks tonight?" He'd stopped at a grocery store and they hurried inside to find what they wanted. "The rest we can get in the deli."

He nodded and reached for several baguettes to go with their meals. Before long they left for the pier where he kept his white thirty-foot cruiser with a black stripe. Everything was state of the art. This was a world most people could only dream of. Yet she couldn't forget he'd left it for a decade or longer to pursue the life he'd wanted. As far as she was concerned, he was a Renaissance man.

They both carried a bag along the dock. He got in the cruiser first with the groceries, then helped her in, but didn't let her go. "I've been waiting to do this all the way here. I need to kiss you. Really kiss you."

"Dominic—" Unable to help herself, she threw her arms around his neck hungrily and met that male mouth she'd been longing to taste again. Swept away by rapture, she lost track of time and never wanted to let him go.

Someone let out a loud whistle from another boat that reminded her they weren't alone. She eased herself away from Dominic, whose black eyes were glazed with desire. "I'm taking you to a place where we can be strictly alone." He handed her a life preserver and helped her put it on. "Let's go below and put away the groceries. After I show you around, we'll get going."

He pointed out the bedroom and bathroom on the lower deck. They wanted for nothing. Nathalie hadn't known joy like this in her whole life. To think she'd ever thought of marrying Guy. Being with Dominic had transported her to another dimension of living.

Yet the chateau, the cruiser, all the trappings of a privileged life had nothing to do with how she felt when she was with him. He'd brought her alive. They could be stranded on a desert island with nothing but each other and she would have felt she'd found paradise. That was when she knew for certain she was in love with him.

They went back up on deck, where he undid the ropes and they cast off. "I'd like to take you to a place I love to go when I have time. Have you ever been to Les Calanques de Cassis?"

She shook her head. "Even though I've lived on the French Riviera all my life and went to the university in Nice, I've only heard of them. My friends didn't have boats." The Fontesquieu family lived a different life than 99 percent of the world.

"Then you're in for a fabulous treat. They're magical coastal inlets," he spoke with excitement. "Great cliffs of limestone that form mini fjords with sandy beaches. We'll find one for ourselves."

"I can't wait."

"We'll head there now."

When they'd reached the buoy, he opened the throttle and they sped toward the open sea. She'd had some good times in her life, but nothing like the experience she was having now with a man who was perfect to her.

She walked over to the side to take in the incredible sights along the coast. Soon they were passing Antibes. She wheeled around. "I've been there to see the Picasso museum, but I never saw the town from the water. It's all so breathtaking."

"To be honest, I prefer the sight standing a few feet away from me on those fabulous legs. You're rather breathtaking yourself."

She laughed in delight. "Keep it up, Dominic. Every woman loves to hear flattery like that."

"You're not every woman and it's not flattery."

Nathalie turned away and clung to the side of the boat. No. She was one of the small percent who couldn't have children. The pain of that knowledge had run marrow deep since meeting him.

Before long they passed Cannes with its profusion of glittering yachts and a Mediterranean beach that drew film stars and sheiks from all over.

"I miss you, Nathalie. Come and sit by me."

In an instant she moved to sit across from him and studied his chiseled male features through her sunglasses. There was never a more beautiful man born. "This is heaven for me."

He looked back at her through his own sunglasses. "I'm trying not to think about my life without you in it. The day you applied for work, my world changed."

"So did mine," she answered honestly. "I've been so happy." It frightened her that in coming to the vineyard, she'd met the man who'd changed her life for all time.

Today she selfishly wanted to put every thought out of her head except to enjoy every single second of this precious time with him. Depending on where the conversation led this evening, it might never come again.

"Do you miss the pharmacy?"

What pharmacy? Her mind was so far away from any thoughts except for him, she was a total mass of unassuaged longings only he could satisfy. She smiled. "What do you think?"

He grasped her hand, threading his fingers through hers. "I think I'd like to sail away with you and never come back."

Don't say things like that, Dominic.

It wasn't possible. She couldn't allow herself to imagine a life with him. "That's a tempting thought, but not realistic." She stood up. "I'm going to get us some sodas. I'll be right back."

He watched her leave. Whatever she was keeping from him had made her squirm, but he wasn't worried. Dominic wouldn't let things alone until he'd gotten the truth out of her. There was no way he'd be taking her back until all was exposed.

Two hours later they'd come in sight of Les Calanques. He headed for his favorite channel.

"Oh, Dominic—I've never seen anything so fabulous in my life! It's like entering a canyon of sheer cliffs with a fairy-tale backdrop. The white of the limestone with the blue sky above is out of this world."

He knew she would love it as he drove his boat in and headed for the sandy little beach at the end. It wasn't quite noon yet. Any boaters would probably come out later when it was warmer. For now they had this piece of paradise all to themselves.

After cutting the motor, he laid anchor and looked over at her. She'd already removed her life jacket. "How soon can you be ready for a swim?"

"Right now." She flashed him a smile to die for and took off her clothes to reveal a jade-colored bikini beneath. He came close to having a heart attack before peeling off his own clothes down to his black swimsuit. She beat him to the transom and jumped in the water.

He heard a shriek and laughed. "It'll warm up."

"Now you tell me!"

Dominic dived off the boat and swam under the water, catching her around those fabulous legs. They played for a while until he couldn't take it any longer and dragged her to the warm sand. Pulling her down next to him, he said, "You thought you would get away from me, but I'm telling you right now I'll never let go."

She lay there breathing hard with the sun bringing out the gold threads of her silvery-gold hair. "With those light green eyes, you look like a goddess who has enchanted me."

"This whole day has been one of enchantment."

He plunged his hand into her hair, which had come undone. "I want you, Nathalie. More than any woman I've ever wanted in my life."

"I want you too," she confessed, running her hands over his shoulders. He began to kiss her, starting with her throat, then every feature of her face until he found her mouth. Desire consumed him as she responded with an abandon he could only dream about. They were on fire for each other.

"I can't believe I had to live this long to meet you."

"I know. I feel the same way," she murmured against his lips. "You're too good to be true. I—" She paused because they could both hear voices and laughter. "Oh, no. Someone has found our spot."

Damn. She'd been about to say something that could have been important for his peace of mind. "Come on. Let's swim back to the boat and fix a meal. Hopefully they'll go away after a while."

He helped her to her feet and they ran into the aqua-colored water, anxious to get away from the encroaching world. By the time they'd climbed on board the transom with their bodies free of sand, the other boat had reached the small beach.

"You shower first, Nathalie. I'll get lunch."

"Tonight I'll make dinner." She grabbed her clothes, but he didn't let her go until he'd given her another kiss that made him crave a thousand more. He would need a lifetime and beyond to be with her and still never have enough.

Soon they were at the galley table away from prying eyes, eating a deli salad and rolls. She'd put her shorts and top back on.

"How long have you had this cruiser?"

"I bought it five years ago. It provided me a safe place when I came home for visits."

She cocked her head. "Safe?"

"I needed my space."

"Away from the chateau. Of course."

Nathalie's pulse started to race. This was it. "Was there a special woman in your life, Dominic? Either here or in Paris? You know what I mean."

Tell me the truth,her heart cried. She needed answers now.

His eyes narrowed on her face. "Not enough to get married. No blondes with shimmering hair like yours. The Fontesquieu men haven't had the best luck when it comes to marriage, but I live in hope."

It sounded less and less like he was Alain's father. Her mind shifted to Etienne. What if Alain was his son? The damage that knowledge would do to his already unhappy marriage would be disastrous considering he already had a child.

Whoever had gotten Antoinette pregnant had been the love of her life. But no matter how tragically hers had ended, Nathalie was beginning to realize she didn't have the right to interfere. Her mother had been right. She'd been so obsessed with finding Alain's father, she hadn't considered what new nightmares she could be creating.

Her eyelids smarted. She couldn't keep this up anymore. After she'd finished eating, she got up from the table and took her dishes to the sink.

"Dominic? It's getting busy. Since we no longer have this place to ourselves, why don't we head back to Nice. Somewhere along the way I'll fix dinner and we can watch the sunset. What do you think?"

For an answer, he finished clearing the table. "What's bothering you? Up until a minute ago, we were communicating. Don't tell me it's nothing." He put his hands on her shoulders.

At his touch, she trembled. "This is all moving too fast."

"Fast or not, it's happened," he whispered into her hair. "I don't want what we have to be over. Not ever." He slid his hands down her silky arms before turning her around. "I need you, Nathalie. You're all I can think about."

"Please let me go," she begged, but he didn't listen and found her mouth. "Dominic—"

"You want me too. I know it."

In the next breath, she surrendered to a force she couldn't control. She couldn't get close enough to him. For a few minutes, the world disappeared while they tried to satisfy their hunger. All she knew was ecstasy with this unforgettable man who filled her arms and heart.

But when he started to move her toward his cabin, she found the strength to break free of him and braced herself against the counter. "We can't do this, Dominic." After the passion that had enthralled her, she was in literal pain trying to avoid his touch.

He struggled for breath. "What do you mean?"

"I—I never meant for this to happen," she stammered. "It's all wrong."

"How could it possibly be wrong? We both felt an attraction during the interview. It's been building every second since and you know it. I've never felt this way about another woman in my life! Nathalie? Look at me."

"I can't."

"All along you've been hiding something from me. Tell me what it is."

"I don't dare."

"I knew it!" he bit out, and raked his hands through his hair in frustration. "Why are you so terrified? Help me understand."

"I shouldn't have applied for work at the vineyard. It was a mistake, and now I'm paying for it. Forgive me for the trouble I've caused you. I never meant to hurt you when you've been so wonderful to me."

"What in the hell are you talking about? Have you run away from a husband I don't know about and you're hiding at the vineyard, afraid he'll find you?"

"No!" she cried, shaking her head.

"Are you working for some editor to get information about the family business? You can tell me the truth."

"No! No one is involved but me."

"Involved how?"

"I can't answer that. Would you please let me go, Dominic? I'm begging you."

"Whatever this is, we can fix it."

She backed away from him. "The only solution out of this is for us to stop seeing each other. Let me honor my contract to pick grapes until the harvest is over."

He drew in a harsh breath. "How could I possibly stay away from you now? Deny it all you want, but our feelings for each other aren't going to fade. Before you came into my life, I'd decided this experience would never happen to me. Then you showed up in that tent. I could no more walk away from you for good than stop breathing!"

"Don't say that!" Tears trickled down her cheeks. "You mustn't."

"Why? Let's hear the truth. Are you dying of a disease and don't want to tell me?"

Not a disease, but I can't give a man children.

"I promise it's nothing like that," she cried.

"Bon. I'll drive us back to Nice. But this isn't over."

After cupping her wet face in his hands and kissing her breathless, he left the galley. She heard him race up on deck. Then he was back with her life jacket. He tossed it on a chair, then took off again. In another minute he'd started the motor.

The long journey back was pure agony for her. She cleaned up the galley before going up on deck. He said he didn't want dinner. What she'd done to him was tearing both of them apart.

By evening he'd deposited her at the door of the rental. He didn't try to kiss her again before she went inside. When she heard him drive away, she wanted to die, but there was a reason she hadn't told him the truth tonight.

She still didn't have proof that either brother was Alain's father and didn't dare probe further since she could be wrong and hurt everyone. It didn't matter that she'd had the best reason in the world for doing what she'd done. She'd gone way too far and her feelings for him needed to be cut off for good.

She'd ventured where she shouldn't have and would suffer for having given in to her guilty longing for him. It had to end now before she did damage to two men who had no comprehension of why she'd come to the vineyard to work.

Knowing that she was doing the right thing, she drove back to La Gaude at full speed. When she entered the house still in tears, she found her mom on the phone with Nathalie's tante Patrice, her mother's sister, who lived in Nice with her husband and family. Alain had already been put to bed. Her mother took one look at her and ended the conversation.

"You're so pale, it alarms me. I'm almost afraid to ask what's happened."

Nathalie sank down on the chair. "I spent the whole day with Dominic and had a chance to confront him. But I couldn't do it because I have no proof that either brother was involved with Antoinette. He knows I've been holding back." She wiped more tears off her cheeks.

"I was afraid of this," her mother murmured.

"I'm too involved with him, but it's not too late. If I give up the job in the morning and never see him again, no one but you and I will know anything."

"Does Dominic know you're quitting?"

"No. He'll find out after the fact."

Her mother got to her feet. "I can tell how much he means to you. If he feels the same way—and I suspect he does—he's not going to stay away from you."

"I know him. He'll come to the vineyard tomorrow to get the truth out of me. But I won't be employed there or living in the mobile home."

"Which means he'll come here."

"I hope not, but I'll have to face that moment if it happens. I'm going to go to bed now and get up extra early to take care of what I have to do. Get a good sleep, Maman." She kissed her and hurried to the bedroom, but there'd be little sleep for Nathalie.

She got up at the crack of dawn after a restless night and drove straight to the vineyard, praying there'd be no sign of Dominic. She waited in her car until she saw Gregoire. No one else was there yet. He'd just arrived in his truck. She got out with the equipment she'd been given and ran up to him.

"Gregoire? Forgive me, but an emergency has happened at my home and I can't work here any longer."

He frowned. "I'm sorry."

"So am I. Here are the things I was given to start work." He took the items from her. "You've all been so nice to me. I can't thank you enough for taking me on. I hope you find a replacement without too much trouble. Say goodbye to Paul. He was a great help."

Gregoire gave her a perplexed nod before she ran back to her car and headed for the mobile home. She'd never cleaned things so fast in her life, hoping against hope that Dominic wasn't around and wouldn't see her car. When she'd finished, she drove over to the manager's office and turned in her key.

Once back in her car, she left the vineyard. She'd cried so many tears last night in bed, she didn't know she had any more in her. But she was wrong and could barely see her way home to La Gaude.