Under A Harvest Moon (24 page)

"Exactly." Nico spun away, back to the truck. "That's what camping is all about, being one with nature. Help me unpack before it gets too dark to see."

Maria had already unloaded most of the truck, showing Nico where she thought the tent should be set up. Danielle sat on a camp chair, provided by Maria, and Nico and the kids worked to erect their night-time shelter.

She'd never camped before, and these conditions seemed more primitive than most, but she held her tongue. The kids and Nico seemed to really be enjoying themselves. Maybe this outing was what they all needed.

The tent popped into place. Danielle peered inside, surprised to find the tent could easily sleep ten people.

"Do you want to set up the sleeping bags while the kids help me with the port-a-potty?" Nico asked.

"The port-a-potty?" Danielle echoed, hoping a port-a-potty didn't look as bad as it sounded.

"You know," Maria said with a giggle, "it's where we pee."

"I get it." Danielle wrinkled her nose. "I hope I can hold it all night."

"Boys don't have to use it," Kaiden said. "We can go anywhere, right Nico?"

Everyone laughed.

They worked together for another thirty minutes, setting up the rest of their camp. Danielle had to admit, Nico knew what he was doing. The tent was set up, the front flaps rolled back, netting at the entrance keeping unwanted bugs out, but allowing fresh air to flow through the tent. Inside, Danielle had rolled out all four bags, hers and Kaiden's on one side of the tent, Nico and Maria's on the other. The few belongings they'd brought were also inside. They couldn't have a fire; it was too dry, but Nico had brought a pop-up picnic table and a battery operated lantern sat in the center.

Way over to the side behind a grouping of large rocks, sat the port-a-potty.

"I'll have to admit," Danielle said with a smile, "everything looks great."

"Let's eat before it gets dark," Nico said, "that's when the real show begins."

"The show?" Danielle asked.

"You'll see." He winked at her.

An answering warmth filled her. The more time she spent with him, the more she liked him. He was such a good man, kind and honest, not to mention a great dad. Too bad she could have no real future with him. Her life was elsewhere, with Kaiden. She didn't want to live in Sun Grove, no matter how tempting Nico made the place. Men came and went. No one knew that better than she did. She needed to stick to her plan, get her money, and make a fresh start. She didn't want to depend on anyone but herself.

Her pep talk over, Danielle opened the cooler and removed the food Lola had packed, finding a variety of sandwiches, chips, a fruit salad, and a thermos of lemonade. There were fat oatmeal cookies for dessert, as well as sweet rolls, cereal and fruit for breakfast.

As she set out the food, Nico unpacked a large box.

"What's that?" she asked.

"My telescope. Astronomy is a hobby of mine."

"Ah," she said, finally understanding. "The show."

"The best you'll ever see." He put the telescope together.

She waited for him to finish before calling the kids to the table to eat. For the first time in a long time, Danielle relaxed. Watching Kaiden and Maria lightened her spirit, made her heart soar.

When they finished the meal, they cleaned everything up before settling into their camp chairs to await the first star. They didn't have to wait long before the first star popped into the sky, at first a tiny burst of light, but it quickly grew in brilliance.

"Tell me something good that happened to you when you lived here as a child," Nico said.

"A good memory?" Danielle searched her mind, surprised to find Kaiden and Maria both watching her, waiting for her to tell them a story. "Let me think." She thought back to the days before her parents used to fight. "My dad used to take me fishing. We'd fish all day, then build a fire and cook the fish. We'd stay until dark, just the two of us. We'd talk all day and my dad would tell stories about his childhood, growing up here at Whitney House. I loved those stories."

She exchanged a glance with Nico, and he smiled. Somehow he'd managed to pluck another good memory from dusty corners of her mind.

"My dad never took me camping," Kaiden said wistfully. "I always wanted to go. It's cool."

"Dad and I love to camp," Maria said. "My mom would never come along though. She doesn't like bugs or dirt."

Nico gave Maria a soft smile. "No, camping isn't your mom's thing."

"I didn't think it was my thing, either," Danielle admitted, "but I'm having a great time."

They took turns telling stories, sharing their favorite memories. It was a bonding evening, a healing evening, and the start of a new beginning for Danielle.

Because for the first time ever, she got a taste of what it was like to have a real family.

***

Nico extinguished the lantern and brought his chair over next to Danielle's. He held her hand. Stars filled the sky, starlight illuminating their makeshift campground.

"They're finally in bed," he said. "I know it's after eleven, but I don't think they'll be going to sleep anytime soon."

"I know," Danielle agreed. "I never expected it to be so light. The starlight illuminates everything. It's magical."

"I know. Being here makes me feel insignificant. There's an entire universe out there, and I'm just a tiny dot."

"I know what you mean."

Danielle's eyes were on the sky. He'd never seen her look so relaxed, and he liked it, wanted her to be like this all the time. They were all here together, safe. Inside the tent, Maria and Kaiden talked softly, the ping from the video game the only sound that didn't belong here.

He'd given them fifteen minutes to play, the video game their only source of light inside the tent. Nico intended to use those fifteen minutes to romance Danielle, out here in the starlight, where the tent walls gave them some privacy.

He leaned close, whispering in her ear, "Are you game for a little necking?"

Danielle whispered back, "I don't think that's going to happen. This is a family vacation."

A family vacation
. Jacques would be so proud of him. He'd romanced Danielle, inserted himself into her life and Kaiden's. Danielle trusted him, but was he worthy of her trust? For him, owning the vineyard was still the ultimate prize. Danielle was a means to an end, yet his physical attraction to her kept getting in the way. They had great chemistry, he couldn't deny that, but was sexual attraction enough to keep them together after the ninety days? Or was it better if they kept things simple, enjoyed their summer fling, then parted ways as planned? It was the only way he would own the vineyard. If she stayed, he'd have to give up his dream. She'd always be the boss, and he wasn't sure he could handle that.

There were no easy answers. For tonight, he just wanted to be with her.

"It's beautiful here," Danielle said. "No one's ever shown me the stars before. I never knew there were so many. It's awesome."

"I'm glad I was the first," he said. "Want another look through the telescope?"

"Sure."

Nico positioned the telescope on the night sky. "Okay. Look."

He stepped aside. Danielle peered down into the telescope. "I don't see it."

"Move a little," he said, his hands bracketing her hips.

She shifted over. "Okay, I see now. What am I looking at?"

"Do you see four bright stars with a fifth star slightly apart from the grouping?"

"Yes."

"That's Delphinius." He moved in behind her, cupping her body with his, the contact electric.

"Why do they twinkle?" she asked.

"Turbulence in the atmosphere." He kissed her neck, his lips grazing her soft skin.

"Fascinating." She tilted her head to give him greater access to her skin.

His arm wound around her waist, his hands roving higher, to her breasts.

Danielle straightened, leaning against him. They didn't speak, but he held her, explored her body in the starlight.

She shivered.

"Cold?" he asked, his hands finding their way under her sweatshirt.

"A little," she said softly.

His hands closed over her breasts. He found the front closure of her bra, and released the clasp, her soft breasts filling his hands.

"How about now?" he asked.

"I think I'm getting warmer."

"I think so, too."

She turned in his embrace.

In the back of his mind he could hear the ping of the video game, hear Maria and Kaiden talking.

He took a risk, and kissed Danielle, his hands slipping up under her sweatshirt, touching the smooth skin of her back.

Her sweetness filled him, made him ache for her. He felt her surrender, wanted to surrender himself, but knowing the kids were nearby kept him from stripping her clothes off and doing all the things to her he longed to do.

"Ohhhh," the kids groaned in unison, signaling the end of the game.

Nico broke the kiss, but not body contact, wanting to hold Danielle for another minute. He pressed his forehead to hers, fighting to get his raging libido under control. Her warm breath mingled with his.

"Dad, are you guys coming to bed?" Maria called from inside the tent.

"On our way." He continued to hold her, caress her back, breathe in her scent.

"We should go to bed," Danielle said with obvious regret.

"My thoughts exactly."

"You know what I mean," she said with a smile.

Nico groaned as she turned out of his embrace.

Inside the tent, the kids had turned on the flashlights, shining the beams of light all over, making it easy for them to find their way inside.

Neither of them bothered to undress. They removed their shoes and crawled into their sleeping bags.

"Good night, everyone," Danielle said in the darkness.

"Good night," Kaiden and Maria echoed.

"Sweet dreams," Danielle replied.

"Good night," Nico said, his body still aching for Danielle. The lights went out.

Man, it was going to be a long, long night.

***

Danielle was forced to use the dreaded port-a-potty for the second time the following morning. Surprisingly, she didn't find the act as bad as she'd feared. At first glance, it looked like a mini toilet only it didn't flush. When everyone had their turn, Nico disposed of the waste -- she didn't know how, and she wasn't about to ask for details.

Right after breakfast, they tore down camp and started for home. Nico wanted to get some work done in the vineyard, and Danielle wanted to contact her attorney about Peter.

On the ride down the mountain, she thought about her time with Nico last night. He'd been wonderful, and she knew that no matter what happened between them, she'd be grateful for last night, one of the most magical nights of her life. Best of all, Kaiden and Maria also carried the wonderful memory. Both kids had needed a little fun, a diversion from the reality of divorce.