by Sue MacKay
His grin didn’t falter. ‘You figured I’d be a no-show, huh?’
I hoped you would be. And I hoped you wouldn’t. ‘I forgot to factor in Gemma’s powers of persuasion. No one ignores her.’
‘I won’t hang around for long, Harper. But as I was going past I thought I should at least stop by and say hello.’
No one went past Lowry Bay. Not unless they had something to do in Eastbourne, and she doubted Cody did. ‘If you think you’re…’
The rest of what she had to say was lost in shouts of glee from the children, gazing at the motorbike with excitement in their eyes.
‘Wow. Does it go fast?’
‘Can I have a ride?’
‘I want a motorbike when I get bigger.’
Cody looked bemused for a moment, then he laughed. ‘Yes, it goes fast. I’m Cody, Auntie Harper’s friend.’ Really? Yeah, maybe he was. ‘Who are all of you?’
The eldest boy rushed in with, ‘I’m Levi, he’s Timothy, she’s Mosey and that’s Nosey.’
‘Levi,’ Harper warned. ‘Alice and Greer,’ she told Cody.
‘And I’m Jason, one of Harper’s brothers.’ Jason held his hand out. ‘Glad you dropped by. We owe you a beer or three for what you did on Friday.’ The men shook hands before Jason said, ‘Come and meet the rest of the clan. Hope you can bowl a straight line. Cricket starts shortly. We’re just waiting for a couple of kids from down the road to turn up.’
Cody shrugged out of his heavy jacket.
Harper had to stop from reaching over and rubbing that leather. It would be warm from his body, soft where it had clung to his muscles. Oh, for goodness’ sake, stop it. Maybe she needed a night with a gigolo. A laugh spluttered over her lips. Yeah, right. Way to go, Harper.
Cody glanced at her before telling Jason, ‘I’m only stopping for a few minutes.’
Gemma might’ve been standing over on the deck but she had big ears. ‘You’re here now. There’s no getting away from us until after dinner.’
Cody grinned and flicked his hand to his forehead. ‘Yes, mam. Thank you, mam.’ Then he turned to Harper, and the grin faded. ‘How’s that head? The migraine gone?’
‘Completely. The throat’s not so raw any more either. How about you? No after-effects from dropping on that man?’ Did his hip need checking over? She was a doctor.
‘It must be fine. I mowed lawns and cleaned guttering yesterday.’ There was a twinkle in his eyes, as though challenging her to ask more.
Did he want her to know about his life outside the department? ‘Your place? Or someone else’s?’ Harper picked his jacket up off the bike seat. ‘Don’t leave this in the direct sun.’ Any excuse to hold it against her chest and breathe in the maleness of its wearer.
‘Mine. I bought a house when I got to town. It’s a bit of a doer-upper. Not had a lot of TLC for years, I’d say.’
‘A project, then.’ He hadn’t said where it was, and she wasn’t asking, even when she wanted to know.
‘I’m not much into sports either, except when it comes to playing with kids.’ He shifted his gaze from her to scan the lawn where the guys had put in wickets and mowed a pitch. ‘Looks like your family is really into it. How did you miss those genes?’
‘You’ll have to ask my parents.’
‘They’re here too?’ Suddenly he looked very uncomfortable. ‘There are a lot of you. Maybe I shouldn’t have dropped in.’
‘Hey, no one bites. Come and meet everyone, get it out of the way. Kids, leave that bike alone,’ she told two of the boys. ‘You don’t want to be knocking it off its stand and getting hurt.’
‘There are two helmets,’ one of them noted. ‘Does that mean we can have a ride?’
Cody grimaced. ‘I thought Auntie Harper might go for one with me.’ As an aside, he said, ‘I didn’t think about the kids when I brought it with me.’
Jason called across the lawn. ‘Game’s starting. Cody, you need to shed some clothes, man. It’s too hot to be running after a ball in leathers.’
‘I’ve got shorts and a tee. Where can I change?’ he asked Harper.
Right here would work for her. ‘I’ll take you inside.’
‘Come with me.’ Levi grabbed his hand and began hauling him across to the shed. ‘Only girls get changed in the house.’
‘Glad to know I’m not girlie.’ Cody raised his eyebrows at her.
‘Levi’s aiming for a ride on that bike,’ she retorted with a smile. Definitely not girlie; no way. Not with those muscles, flat abs and that unquestionably male silhouette. Jerking her head around, she pulled her gaze away from him. Phew, it was getting hotter by the second around here.
‘Here, you look like you could do with something cold.’ Gemma handed her a glass beaded with condensation. ‘Thought water was appropriate, given that you’re already half tipsy just watching Cody.’
‘Get away.’ She snatched the glass and gulped half the contents down.
On her other side Megan, her other sister-in-law, waved a full wine glass at the man who had everyone’s attention. ‘He is rather yummy.’
‘Quite different to Harper’s last man. Think I prefer this one,’ Gemma announced.
Harper scowled. ‘Haven’t you two got anything better to do?’
‘What could be better than winding you up?’ Megan grinned. ‘If you couldn’t care less, then nor would we.’
‘Huh.’ Harper couldn’t think of anything to say to shut the two up and not get more stupid comments.
‘Let’s get comfortable under the trees and watch how he is with a ball and bat.’ Megan grabbed her arm and dragged her over to where the kids had set up the outdoor chairs.
Without thinking, Harper said, ‘If he hits the ball a neighbour will be complaining about a broken window. Those are serious muscles in his arms and shoulders.’
‘Knew she’d noticed,’ Gemma quipped. ‘You should’ve seen her all snuggled up to the man’s chest on Friday when he carried her into her apartment. Cute as, I’m telling you. He’s yet to strip down to shorts and tee.’
‘Hottie’ didn’t begin to describe the man. ‘Stop it,’ she spluttered. ‘I’m telling you, I am not interested.’
‘That’s a shame, because I’ve invited him to Levi’s birthday party in a couple of weeks.’
‘You what?’ Harper spun around in her seat so fast she flipped out onto the grass.
Amidst lots of laughter from her sisters-in-law, she was hauled to her feet and pushed back into the chair. ‘Oh, boy, have you got it bad or what?’
‘I have not got it any damned way. You’re out of order inviting Cody again. Don’t ever try pushing me into a relationship. You know the score.’ Anger was replacing her lighter mood, the girls’ idea of fun no longer remotely enjoyable.
Megan reached over with a hug. ‘Just want you to be happy, Harper. You know we don’t mean much by our teasing.’
She bit down on a sharp retort. She loved these girls as much as her own sister, Suzanne, but there were times she could happily bang their heads together. ‘I am happy. A lot happier than when I was married. Okay?’
‘Can’t argue with that. Ready for a wine?’
‘Not today. Want to be on my game at work tomorrow. Oh…’ Harper’s eyes fixed on those hands reaching up for a ball one of the kids had hit into the air as Cody strode onto the lawn. Big hands, strong, and yet she knew how gentle they could be… They snatched the ball out of the air.
Beside her the girls went into shrieks of laughter, but at least they refrained from making any more flippant comments. Suzanne joined them and pressed a glass of low-alcohol wine into her hand. ‘You’ll be fine with that.’
Then Cody glanced over and she felt her insides melt, or what was left of them after the previous meltdown. One look and she was gone. How would she manage to stay sane and sensible at work when he would be around all the time? She might have to talk to George about transferring to night shift. Except she preferred days; she hated the disruption to sleep patterns th
at working all night brought. Her contract was for days except in emergencies, and had been hard fought for, so to change it now would be a backwards step. To change it because of Cody would be dumb.
And if she did nights she wouldn’t be seeing much of this rowdy lot, and that was not about to happen. Her family meant everything to her since she’d never have her own children. She wouldn’t adopt or foster as a single parent. It wasn’t fair on the child. When Darren had told her he’d changed his mind and did want a family, she’d reminded him he’d been agreeable to adopting a child, but somewhere along the way he’d become dead set against that idea. Just another of his promises he’d reneged on. What had she seen in him?
Again she found herself watching Cody. He was chasing down a ball. When he slid into the fence, the kids cheered. He clambered to his feet, a grin splitting his face. He was having fun. No one could fake that look of pure enjoyment.
He’d make a fabulous dad.
Harper’s stomach lurched. No, no, no. She’d known it was wrong to have him join her family today, and yet she’d wanted him here. Now she had the proof of why he couldn’t join them ever again.
‘Where are you going?’ Gemma asked as she stood up.
‘Need my sun hat and some more sunscreen.’ And to put distance between herself and that man turning her carefully organised world upside down, inside out.
*
Cody heaved the ball at the wickets and missed, which won him growls from the kids and applause from the women. All the women except Harper, who seemed intent on something on the grass she was crossing, going towards the house.
What was up? Moments ago she’d been yakking with her sisters and watching his every move. Nearly every move. Don’t get big-headed.
‘Catch it, Cody,’ Jason yelled.
Hell, now he was day-dreaming. Not a good look, especially amongst this lot. Leaping high, he missed the ball. Again.
Levi sidled up to him. ‘You said you could play.’
‘Sorry, buddy. I wasn’t concentrating. I’ll do better from now on, okay?’ He held his hand up to high-five the youngster.
The kid grinned and slapped his hand. ‘You going to take some of us for a ride later?’
He should’ve parked around the corner and walked here. He’d known there were kids here—what boy didn’t want to ride a motorbike sometimes? Not that he minded giving each one of the brat pack a short ride but there were a lot of parents, and even grandparents, who might object for safety reasons. ‘We’ll talk about it later.’
Of course, Levi wouldn’t let him get away with that. ‘As soon as the cricket’s finished?’
‘It might be too late. Isn’t there going to be a barbecue then?’
‘There’ll be time. I’m first.’
Cody nudged him. ‘Your turn to bat. And I haven’t said I’m taking you or any of the others for a ride yet. I have to talk to your folks.’
No one objected as long as helmets were worn, trousers replaced shorts and Cody only drove them around the park at the end of the street.
‘Only if I get a ride afterwards.’ Jason nodded. ‘I’m the birthday boy, after all.’
‘You want to ride passenger or take the bike off on your own?’ Cody asked, not knowing if the guy knew how to ride.
‘I’ll leave you in control, and promise not to hug you too tight,’ he smirked. Then he turned to the women. ‘Any of you want a turn too? Gemma?’
‘Of course I do.’
Cody groaned. That barbecue was going to be hours away at this rate. ‘We’d better get started.’
His new friend, Levi, called, ‘Grandma, do you want a turn?’
‘An enormous motorbike and a good-looking man going begging? Of course I do.’
Harper chuckled beside him. ‘Relax, Cody. She hates sitting in a car when anyone else is driving. You’re safe.’
Everyone laughed, and Cody shook his head. Then made a mistake. ‘You going to give it a whirl, Harper?’
She was going to say no. He could see it in the set of her mouth, the slightly darker gleam in her eyes and the tightening of her body.
‘Don’t wuss out, Harper,’ Jason called. ‘You’ve always wanted to be a biker’s girl.’
Annoyance flared on that beautiful face, but she locked her eyes with his and nodded. ‘Take me to Eastbourne and back.’
‘I’ll do better than that.’ Shut up, Cody. ‘I’ll take you home at the end of the day.’
‘I’ve got my car here.’ She was looking stunned that she’d even agreed to go in the first place.
‘I’ll drop it off at the hospital tomorrow when I go for my scan,’ Suzanne said.
‘Scan?’ Shock froze on Harper’s face. Around them, everyone else was yelling and jumping up and down.
‘You’re pregnant? Yippee’ was the general chorus.
‘We were going to tell you all next weekend, since this is Jason’s birthday, but it sort of slipped out.’ A pink-faced Suzanne leaned into the man who’d just draped his arm over her shoulders. ‘We’ve been waiting until the first twelve weeks were up before saying a word. It’s been so hard to keep quiet.’
‘Especially for you.’ Noah was the first to give his sister a hug and shake his brother-in-law’s hand.
Harper still appeared shell-shocked. Didn’t she want any more nieces and nephews? No, Cody decided, there was more to her reaction than that. That’d be petty and, as far as he’d seen, Harper didn’t do petty. He moved closer to her, not touching, but there for her.
Jason was watching Harper and nodded when he saw what Cody had done.
So what was her problem? When Harper took her turn to hug her sister, she struggled to let go and seemed to hold tighter, harder, longer than anyone else. Did she want a baby too? Was she jealous of her sister—when she didn’t have a man in her life? But then he didn’t know if there was or wasn’t a partner somewhere. Just because she’d come alone to her brother’s party didn’t mean there wasn’t a man out there who was Harper’s other half. A very absent other half. Except she seemed taken with him at times. Now he was really confused.
‘It’s going to be fine.’ Suzanne rubbed Harper’s back and looked helplessly over her shoulder to her brothers.
Jason grabbed Noah as he made to take Harper’s arm. ‘Let’s get the kids back playing cricket for a bit longer. Harper’s going for a ride on that Harley.’
Cody got the message loud and clear, even if Harper hadn’t. When he turned her towards his bike she hesitated and glanced up at him, and then across to her brother.
Jason nodded once. ‘Go blow some cobwebs out of your head, sis, and then Cody can be driven crazy by giving all these kids a short spin around the park.’
Suzanne caught Harper’s hand. ‘Go on, get out of here for a bit. I’m sorry how I blurted it out, but it’s been hard holding it back. It’s so exciting, and—’ She bit off whatever else she’d been going to say.
Harper wrapped her arms around her sister. ‘Don’t you dare be sorry. It’s wonderful news. Really and truly. I’m happy for you both.’
Cody brought the spare helmet across and handed it to her. When she quickly placed it on her head and began fumbling with the straps, he knew she was desperate to get away for a while. ‘Let me.’ He took the straps and did them up tight enough to keep the helmet in place, but not so tight that her skin was scrunched, or made that still-tender throat uncomfortable. Her warm, soft skin was velvet against his fingers.
‘Put these on.’ Gemma handed over a jacket and some track pants to Harper. ‘You’ll freeze otherwise.’
‘Where shall we go?’ she asked quietly, her mind obviously still absorbing her sister’s news.
‘Wait and see.’ He shucked into his jacket, hauled his leather trousers over his shorts, then straddled the bike and waited for her to climb up behind him, before roaring the engine into life.
‘Hold on tight,’ he said over his shoulder, and then drew a sharp breath when she wound her arms around him and laid her face a
gainst his back. He’d taken many people for rides on his bike over the years, quite a few of them women, but not once had he experienced the heat and longing from a pair of arms around his upper body and a face lying tucked in against him as was pouring through him this minute. He mightn’t want Harper White to be anyone special, but he sure as hell seemed to be having trouble keeping her on the same uninvolved level as any other woman he’d known since Sadie.
This was going to be a long ride, even if he only took her to the end of the road—all of three hundred metres. Suddenly he was afraid. Afraid that Harper was sneaking in under his radar, touching him in ways he’d never thought to know again. That couldn’t happen.
‘We going today?’ The sharp question came near his ear and had him revving the engine louder and faster than he’d normally do.
‘Sure thing, doctor,’ he muttered, knowing she’d never hear him over the bike noise.
He took her through the township of Eastbourne and on toward Pencarrow Head, until they were alone apart from the seagulls and the wild shoreline, and then stopped the bike. ‘Let’s stroll along the water’s edge,’ he suggested as the roar of the engine died. He needed a break from those arms still encircling him before he did something they’d both regret. Kissing came to mind. Along with touching.
‘I’d like that.’
She was talking about the walk, right? He turned on the seat and stared at her, sure his thoughts were easy to read and still unable to look away.
Harper sprang off the bike fast, as though she also wanted space between them. ‘Do I leave the helmet with the bike? Or would it be best to carry it in case someone comes along?’
Cody shook his head. ‘I doubt anyone with bad intentions will turn up in the next half hour.’
She slipped the helmet onto the handle bar. ‘You can say that even after what happened on Friday? We never saw Strong coming.’
Of course she was still shaken by that. It’d have been more surprising if she wasn’t. ‘I’ll take a chance on our helmets being here when we get back.’
Harper clambered over rocks to reach the sand, the breeze lifting her hair behind her. Long, shiny hair that made him ache to finger-comb it, made his manhood throb with need.
