Chapter Nineteen

Kyle

The sun beats down on my back as I load up the wheelbarrow with clippings. Thankfully this is the last load I need to take to the burn pile because I've been going since dawn. Laney runs circles around me, while Mutt is investigating something at the end of the row of vines.

"Oi! Mutt!"

He looks up and comes trotting back.

"Good boy," I say, picking up the handles of the barrow and heading between the rows with both dogs following happily behind.

From the corner of my eye I catch sight of a car crawling up the dusty drive. Shielding my eyes, I squint at the approaching Land Rover, its black exterior stark against the dirt driveway. Usually it's trucks and work vehicles stopping by. Curiosity piqued, I leave the wheelbarrow and speed up towards the main house where the car has parked.

As I get closer, the driver's door swings open. A tall figure emerges, silhouetted by the afternoon sun, then he turns and pushes his sunglasses up into his dark hair.

Axel. The breath rushes out of my lungs. Even from a distance, I feel the magnetic pull of his presence. My pulse quickens. Axel? Here?

"Axel!" I call out.

His head snaps around and our eyes lock. Even from a distance, the intensity of his gaze sends a shiver through me. An electric current. In that instant, the rest of the world falls away—the vineyard, the house, everything. It's just him and me.

My pace quickens to a jog and then a full-on sprint, boots pounding against the dusty earth. Axel strides towards me too, a broad grin on his face.

"Kyle." He wraps me in a tight hug the second we reach each other. "God, I missed you."

"I missed you too," I murmur into his shoulder, savouring his familiar scent and solid warmth. "I can't believe you're really here."

We pull back just enough to look at each other, still gripping each other's arms, and I take him in—dark stubble lining his sharp jaw, skin bronzed by the sun, eyes dancing with happiness.

The weeks apart, the long-distance longing, it all comes rushing to the surface. I cup his jaw and pull his mouth to mine in a searing kiss. He makes a soft noise and responds, his lips moving against mine. My Akubra is knocked from my head and drops to the ground as his strong arms wrap around me pulling me flush against his body. I lose myself in his touch, in his taste. He walks me backwards until my body meets the side of the Land Rover. His tongue delves into my mouth and I open for him eagerly. God, how I've missed this.

A pointed cough breaks through the haze of lust. I tear my mouth from Axel's and peek over his shoulder. That's when I notice we have an audience.

A young man who looks strikingly like Axel leans against the Land Rover, an amused smirk on his face. It has to be Rick, although a lot older than the boy I saw in the photograph. And a few paces away stands Sarah, bouncing a gurgling Olivia, on her hip.

"Oops," I whisper sheepishly, resting my forehead on Axel's shoulder. "I may have gotten a bit carried away."

He chuckles as he releases me and slings a casual arm around my shoulders.

"Rick, I want you to meet Kyle, the man I haven't been able to shut up about," Axel says, "and, Kyle, this is my little brother Rick."

"Not so little," Rick replies with an eye roll, but he's grinning. He pushes off the bonnet and extends a hand to me. "Good to finally meet the guy who's made my brother go all dopey."

It's me who goes all dopey at the knowledge Axel has been talking about me. I reach out to take his hand. "It's great to meet you too, Rick. I've heard a lot about you." I already know I'm going to like him. I gesture to Sarah. "And this is my sister-in-law, Sarah. Sarah, meet Axel and Rick."

"Welcome to the vineyard, both of you," Sarah says brightly. "We're so happy to have you here."

"Nice to meet you, Sarah. And who's this little cutie?" Axel leans in, gently tickling Olivia's chin, eliciting a delighted giggle from the baby.

"This is Olivia, and it's nearly time for her lunch. If you'll excuse me, I'll head inside and put the kettle on."

Rick picks up a stick for the dogs. I'm tempted to tell him they'll never leave him alone if he throws it, but I'm too late. He tosses the stick and the endless game of fetch starts.

I turn to Axel. "What brings you to the vineyard?"

He picks up my hat, whacking it against his leg to get off the dust before plonking it on my head, and chuckles. "To see you again."

Duh! What was I thinking? That he stopped in to buy a bottle of wine?

"Well, I'm glad you came," I say, holding his gaze. "I've missed you."

He reaches out, fingers grazing my cheek. I lean into the touch, allowing myself a moment to simply enjoy being close again.

The dogs bark, and I turn at the noise. Rick is grinning from ear to ear. He tosses the stick one last time and the dogs race off.

Eventually, we make our way inside the homestead and to the kitchen, where Olivia sits happily in her highchair as Sarah feeds her sandwiches. As they take seats around the worn wooden table, I busy myself at the counter, firing up the coffeemaker and pulling out mugs. "How do you take it, Rick?" I ask over my shoulder.

"White is great, thanks," he replies. There are shadows beneath his eyes, a certain weariness to his face that seems out of place for his age. He could definitely use some RR.

"One white coffee, coming right up. Axel, black for you, right?"

"You know it." Axel smiles and I feel a silly burst of happiness that I know how he drinks his coffee.

"And tea for you, Sarah," I say, turning back to the coffee machine.

Soon I'm placing steaming mugs and a plate of biscuits on the table, and sliding into the chair next to Axel.

"So, Rick and I decided it was a great idea to take a trip together, get away from the city for a while," Axel says. "I think a break will do us both some good."

"That sounds fun," I say. "Where are you going?"

Axel traces the rim of his mug. "Somewhere quiet. We thought it'd be nice to see some of the countryside."

Rick shifts in his seat, his gaze fixed on the floor, then looks up. "I've been going through a rough patch lately, and Axel suggested a change of scene might be a good idea."

I know how tough he's had it and my heart goes out to him, but I also admire the fact that he's owning his problems.

"I think that's a wonderful idea," Sarah chimes in. "Sometimes, all we need is a little time away to clear our heads and find our footing again."

Rick's shoulders relax, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Axel thought we might do some bushwalking, and some fishing or maybe even some horse riding."

"Oh! You ride?" Sarah asks.

"No." Rick shakes his head. "But I'd like to. At least I think I'd like to. I've never been on a horse."

"We don't have horses here," Sarah says. "We get around the property in the Gator."

"What's a gator?" Axel asks.

Sarah launches into an explanation of the off-road utility vehicles that we use for work, and how we also have a couple of ATVs.

As the conversation flows, I steal glances at Axel, still trying to come to terms with the fact that he's here, sitting at the kitchen table. After we finish our coffee, I put the mugs in the sink then hold my hand out to Axel. "Want to take a walk? I can show you around the vineyard."

He grasps my hand without hesitation. "I'd love that."

"I might stay here if that's okay," Rick says, looking to Sarah for permission.

"Great," she says, "I can make us another cuppa and we can talk more about the horse riding options around here."

We leave Rick and Sarah already deep in conversation, but I've no doubt Rick was trying to give Axel and me some time alone. Yep, I definitely like this guy.

We step out into the brilliant afternoon sunshine. The sprawling rows of vines stretch out before us as we walk down the well-worn path. I point out the orchard and the veggie gardens, the chicken coop, and the barn. I point to where my cottage is behind the main homestead. "That's my place. It's got two bedrooms and everything I need but I eat most of my meals with John and Sarah. It doesn't make sense to cook for one and I like the company."

"You don't want to live there in the main house?"

I chuckle. "God no. This way we all have our privacy when we need it. Plus, they've got the kids so it's not exactly peaceful. I love to escape to my own space."

"Best of both worlds, huh?"

"Exactly."

"Where is John?" Axel asks.

"He's had to go into town. He'll be back around dinner time. I'd love for you to meet him."

"I'd like that too."

As we venture deeper into the vineyard, he asks questions about the work I do. Our hands brush together as we walk and I'm in my element. I try to see it from Axel's point of view—the vines and paddocks, dam and the tree-lined creek, the mountains in the distance, and a blue sky that stretches forever. The sun warms our backs and the earthy scent of the vineyards envelopes us. A cockatoo screeches overhead.

"It's beautiful out here," he remarks. "I see why you love it so much."

I smile. "It's my favourite place in the world. There's something about being out here, surrounded by nature, that just puts everything into perspective. All my worries seem to melt away."

"I can see why."

I touch his arm and he stops walking to look at me. "You know you and Rick are welcome to stay here if you want. We have plenty of room."

"Stay here?"

"Yeah, but you would probably rather stay in a hotel or one of the resorts nearby. That's if you're even planning to stay in the area."

Axel smiles as he shakes his head. "To be honest I had no plans beyond getting out of the city. I'd like to stay but only if you're sure. We wouldn't want to impose."

"You could never impose," I say, squeezing his hand gently. "I want you here. I want to be here for you, and for Rick, in whatever way you need."

Acouple of days later, I find myself sitting beside the creek with Axel, our feet dangling in the cool, crystal-clear water. I lean back, my hands sinking into the soft grass, and let out a contented sigh. It's been amazing having Axel here.

Axel turns to me and smiles. "This place is incredible. I can't remember the last time I felt so at peace."

"It has a way of doing that to people. There's something magical about being surrounded by nature, not a care in the world."

As if hearing my words, a dragonfly skims across the water and lands on a small plant at the water's edge.

"If only you could bottle this feeling," Axel says with a sigh.

I throw a rock into the water and watch the ripples fan out before looking at Axel. "Hey, I've been thinking about Rick and how this place might be good for him."

He nods. "It is good for him. He's been struggling for so long, trying to find his place in the world. It's nice to see him relaxing and having fun. I don't think you're ever going to get your dogs back, if Rick has his way."

"What if…" I hesitate for a moment, wondering if what I'm going to offer is overstepping the bounds. "What if Rick stays here for a few months, working on the farm? It could give him a chance to find his footing."

Axel's eyes widen. "You'd be willing to do that? Have Rick live and work here?"

I nod. "Of course. Everyone deserves a second chance, and I have a feeling the farm could be just what he needs."

Axel's hand finds mine. "I don't know what to say. That's an incredibly generous offer."

"Just say yes."

"I've been worried about what's next for Rick, and it's great to have some options. He's not sure he wants to go back to school, but he doesn't know what else he wants to do. I don't want him hanging around the house aimlessly. You know, idle hands and all that."

"Well, he certainly wouldn't be idle if he was here. There's always so much to do. Hell, he might not even want to hang around."

Axel snorts a laugh. "I think it could be really good for him, being here with you and the family. Having a sense of purpose, of belonging. The more I think about it, the more it feels like the perfect solution."

"It's not entirely selfless," I say. "I think it could be good for the farm, having an extra set of hands around, take some of the load off John and me. Plus, it's nice having company. He can continue to stay in the spare bedroom at the cottage. What do you think?"

"I think it's a brilliant idea."

I grin. "Then it's settled. We'll talk to him about it tonight, see what he thinks."

Axel smiles, a soft smile that makes my heart skip a beat. "I don't know how to thank you."

"You don't have to thank me. This is what you do for the people you care about, for the ones who matter most."

He leans in, pressing a kiss to my lips. "Thank you," he whispers against my mouth. "For being so wonderful, so understanding. For being so willing to help my family."

"I'm just doing what feels right. And having you here, you and Rick… it's been amazing." The words tumble out before I can stop them, my heart taking control. "I wish you could stay longer."

His hand tightens around mine. "I wish I could stay longer too. Being here with you has been a dream come true." He sighs, a hint of sadness creeping into his voice. "But I have to go back. There's a new album, stuff to short out with my support band, and the shit storm with rearranging the tour…"

"I know. Axel, your music, your career… it's a huge part of who you are and I want you to know that I support you, no matter what. I'll be here, cheering you on every step of the way. And if Rick stays here, I'll keep an eye on him so you have one less thing to worry about."

His eyes meet mine, a depth of emotion swirling within them. "Knowing I have your support… it means everything to me. Listen…" He takes a deep breath. "I know this might sound crazy, but the time we've spent together, the bond we share, it's… God, I don't know. It's unlike anything I've experienced before. I know we haven't known each other long, but I think we have something really special."

My heart races at his words. "I feel the same way."

He reaches up, his hand gently cupping my cheek, his thumb brushing against my skin. "I don't want this to end, Kyle. I don't want to lose what we have. I know it won't be easy, with the distance and the demands of our lives, but… I know it's a lot to ask… but would you be willing to try a long-distance relationship? To see where things go?"

My breath catches in my throat. "I'm willing to make it work, no matter the distance. I want to be with you. I believe in us."

A smile spreads across his face. "Fuck that makes me happy. I have no idea how it will work but I'll make sure it does. I'll come and see you whenever I can. Maybe you can visit me in the city, come to a couple of shows."

Laughter bubbles up at his enthusiasm. "God knows what the future holds, but we'll figure it out."

Axel leans in for another kiss and I kiss him back. It's a kiss filled with hope and the promise of love.

We stay like that for a long moment, lost in each other, in the perfect rightness of this moment. The future may be uncertain, but my feelings aren't.

"We should head back," I murmur at last. "Before they send out a search party."

Axel chuckles softly. "Probably wise," he says, standing and offering his hand. "Though I could stay here with you forever."

I grab hold, his fingers lacing through mine as I rise to my feet. "Forever sounds pretty perfect to me."

As we walk back to the house, it feels so right to have him beside me.

"What are you thinking about?" he asks, catching me staring.

"Just…how happy I am," I admit. "How lucky I feel to have you in my life."

Axel stops, turning to face me. "I'm the lucky one," he says softly. "You've given me so much. Made me see things in a new light. Shared your home and family."

"It's only the beginning. We'll make it work," I say as I reach out and tuck a flyaway strand of hair behind his ear. "No matter what it takes."

"I know we will," he says, and it feels like a promise.

As I gaze into his eyes, I imagine what our life together might look like. Weekends at the farm. Trips to the city. Scheduled time squeezed between pruning and harvest, or planned around concerts and tours. Late night phone calls, and FaceTime dates. It won't be easy, but love never is. And what Axel and I have? It's worth fighting for, because at the end of the day, all that matters is that we have each other.