A Vintage Murder Read Online Free PDF Page B

herself kissing him back just as hard. What the hell, screw the indents from the panty lines. She’d just have to cut out eating two of her favorite foods—bread and cheese. Derek unlocked the door and lightly pushed her onto the bed. He wiggled his brows at her and they started cracking up. Thank God the man had a sense of humor. Nikki wasn’t sure she could handle all that mushy “I love you so much” crap and “your body is amazing,” blah, blah, blah. All the stuff written for soap operas and movies might work on-screen but for her, some good old-fashioned lovemaking—and yes, a sense that she was doing it right—would be just fine.
    Derek had her blouse half unbuttoned as she fumbled with his belt. They were near the throes of passion when they heard the bathroom door open.
    “Well, lookie here, what is going on, you two are doing the nasty.” Simon, Derek’s gay brother, stood in the doorway, toothbrush in hand.
    “What the—” Derek said, lifting himself up.
    “Oh my God!” Nikki squealed and started buttoning her blouse.
    “It’s okay, kids. It’s about time you two got together,” Simon said as he pumped the air back and forth with his hips. Nikki shook her head.
    “Simon, what in the hell are you doing here?” Derek asked.
    “Listen, don’t mind me. It looks like I came at a bad time. I’ll just take a little jaunt around town and come back and fill you in on all of the agony I’ve been through since you both took off.”
    Derek glared at him. “Bullshit. You’ve pretty much spoiled the mood, so I suggest you start talking now.”
    “I’ll order us up some tea,” Nikki said.
    “No tea for me, Snow White. Order me up a bottle of one of those Sauvignon Blancs the Aussies are so famous for.”
    “Make it two bottles,” Derek said.
    “You know, instead of room service, why don’t we take a walk around the village? We’ve already had some wine this afternoon. Coffee might be good,” Nikki added. In such an awkward situation, finding the right thing to say was impossible, so she played the Pollyanna card.
    “Oh no, you two. I don’t want to be a third wheel.”
    “It’s a little late for that,” Derek barked.
    Simon winced. He turned around and walked over to his suitcase, which sat on the verandah. How did they miss seeing it? Lust. That was the answer. They’d been too far gone to notice anything else.
    “I’ll just go. I didn’t know where else to go or who to turn to. You’re my family, but I understand. I know you two want to be alone.” Simon rolled his suitcase over to the door and looked at them with a pitiful downturn at the corners of his lips.
    As he opened the door, Nikki placed her hand on Derek’s shoulder. “We can’t let him go. Simon, come on, let’s all go down, and you can have that glass of wine in the hotel bar.”
    Simon looked at his brother. Derek threw up his hands. “Okay, Drama Queen, you win.”
    Simon hugged him. “Thank you. I’m sorry. I will so make this up to both of you.”
     
     
    Over a few glasses of wine, Simon explained his reason for flying halfway across the world to interrupt what was supposed to be an afternoon delight. “I knew I shouldn’t have done it. I mean, Marco and I did have this agreement and it was just so totally wrong. I can’t blame him for hating me.”
    “Slow down,” Derek said. “Start from the beginning.”
    “Well, after Nikki left for the airport, Marco and I had a chat about our relationship and how it was time to take it to the next level and have a marriage celebration. I agreed completely, but he wanted one thing from me. One eensyweensy thing.” Simon pinched his thumb and index finger together. “And I couldn’t do it.”
    Marco and Simon had been partners for years. Nikki had met them three years earlier when she’d gone to work for the winery. At first, the two of them had rubbed her the wrong way with their arrogance and brash behavior, but over time they’d grown on her. They’d