He glanced at the door, did a double take, and his eyebrows rose. A smile spread across his face. Phoebe smiled back, but she didn’t move.
He continued running for a few minutes, but he was obviously conscious of her watching him. Eventually, he slowed the machine, then stopped and jumped down.
Picking up a towel, he walked over to her.
“You look good,” he said, pausing in front of her.
“You’re all sweaty,” she pointed out.
He put his hands on his hips. Jeez, the energy this guy was exuding. He could power the whole of Kerikeri with it.
“You like me being sweaty,” he said. His eyes were so hot she could feel her insides melting.
She lifted her chin. “That was old Phoebe.”
He moved a bit closer to her. The hollow at the base of his throat glistened. “Really,” he said.
She was sooooo tempted to lean forward and touch her tongue there. “Really,” she told him. “I could smell you from Mars. You’re disgusting.” It was a lie—he smelled of hot, healthy male, and the word disgusting was at the opposite end of the spectrum to what she felt. The thought of sliding her hands under his damp T-shirt, of scoring her nails up his glowing back, gave her all kinds of tingles.
He gave a small laugh and looked down at himself. “Yeah, fair enough.” He stepped closer to her to go through the door.
Phoebe didn’t move.
He stopped and looked down at her. He topped her by about six inches, and her heart rate increased as his eyes met hers.
He didn’t say anything. Keeping his amused, hot gaze on hers, he squeezed by her, not bothering to breathe in as his chest brushed her arm, then walked off down the corridor to the bathroom, the towel over his shoulder.
Her lips curving up, Phoebe went into the kitchen to pour herself a cold drink.
Chapter Ten
It was the height of summer, and the weather had turned hot and humid. Sitting in the car before Rafe turned on the air conditioning, Phoebe felt sweat trickling between her breasts. As soon as he turned it on, though, cool air flowed over her, and she blew out a breath and relaxed back in the seat.
“You okay?” he asked, heading the car out onto the main road. “You still look pale.”
“I’m tired.”
“You sure you want to do this now?”
“Yes,” she said, although part of her wished she’d just stayed indoors with Rafe, watching movies, and letting him cook for her. “Did you ring Mum?”
“Yes. They’re looking forward to seeing you.”
Phoebe looked out of the window and didn’t reply. Nerves fluttered in her stomach, not so much at the thought of seeing her mother, but at seeing Bianca and Roberta. She hated that Bianca was upset with her for moving away. They’d never been the sort of sisters who bickered or argued over boys and clothes. They’d been each other’s best friends all the way through school, and she’d been looking forward to going to university together. To think that there was friction between them… jeez. How had she dealt with that? She must have really loved the idea of working at Mackenzie’s if she’d been willing to jeopardize her relationship with her family.
Or maybe Rafe hadn’t given her a choice. She had to remember that.
“Hey.” He picked up her hand and squeezed her fingers. “Don’t worry. It’ll be fine.”
“Is the job at Mackenzie’s really spectacular? I mean, what does it offer me to make me want to leave here?”
He returned his hand to the wheel, navigating the roundabout. “It’s a big company, and the shop in Auckland is huge, right in the middle of Queen Street. Lisa Mackenzie has offered you the position of Marketing Director.”
“Jesus.”
“It’s a big step up for you, especially considering you’re only twenty-six.”
“But… Marketing Director? Does that mean I won’t be sewing anymore?”
“You’ll be in charge of how the company presents itself to its customers. Of organizing whole collections of gowns.”
He was avoiding the question, but she knew she was right.
Marketing Director? What the hell did she know about marketing? What was it they said about promoting to a level of incompetence? Why on earth had she thought she’d enjoy a job like that?
She didn’t say anything else as they drove through the town, and Rafe parked opposite the shop.
He got out of the car and shut his door, then stopped as he obviously realized she wasn’t getting out. When she didn’t move, he walked around to the passenger door, opened it, and leaned on the top as he bent to look at her.
“What’s the matter?” he asked softly.
“I don’t know if I’m ready for this.”
“It’s just a shop, Phoebe. You don’t have to make any decisions or anything yet. Come on. You’ll feel better once you’ve taken this step.” He held out a hand.
Swallowing hard, she took it and let him pull her to her feet, and then lead her across the road.
The door jangled as they entered. The shop was cool, and seemed filled with light and air. Golden bars of sunlight streamed through the high windows to fall across the cream carpet, while a small crystal chandelier in the center filled the room with sparkles of light.
The gowns were hung on long rails that ran down the left wall, with a couple displayed on mannequins at either end. On the far side was a large dressing room filled with mirrors, where a young woman was trying on a dress, turning around to see herself from all sides. Shelves of wedding shoes, tiaras, and other accessories filled part of the wall to the right, but there was also a big opening to the cafe next door, where Phoebe could see half-a-dozen tables and a counter filled with muffins and cakes. The young woman’s friends, in the middle of sipping their lattes, squealed with delight as she walked into the middle of the main room to show off her choice of gown, its beading glittering in the light from the chandelier.
“Phoebe!” Noelle came forward to give her daughter a hug. “Oh, it’s lovely to see you. How are you feeling?”
“I’m okay. A bit tired, but on the mend, I think.”
“Good. You look better.”
“I don’t, but thank you anyway.”
“I was being polite. But you’re still beautiful.” Noelle kissed her temple. “Come on, have a look around.” Noelle led her into the shop and then let her go.
Phoebe walked slowly along the line of wedding dresses, brushing her fingers across the magnificent plastic-coated gowns. She was conscious of her mother and Rafe watching her, but she tried to shut out their breathless anticipation and focus on the quiet beauty of the place.
Her head buzzed. It was as if a movie was playing in the background, a little out of focus, the music too low to make out. The memories were still there; she could see them like ghosts out of the corner of her eye, but they would not come when she called them.
She reached the end of the rail, and stopped in front of a mannequin wearing a glorious dress.
“This is one of ours,” Noelle said softly from beside her.
Phoebe reached out a hand and touched the bodice of the dress. Cut with a sweetheart neckline, it had been embroidered with white flowers all along the edge, which had then been outlined with the tiniest silver beads.
“It’s exquisite. I did this?”
Noelle nodded. “You’re an amazing designer.”
Phoebe looked up, about to answer, but her gaze fell on a doorway to the left of the fitting rooms, and the words died on her lips.
“Go on,” Noelle said.
Phoebe walked across the carpet to the door, opened it, and stepped inside.
It was the workroom Rafe had mentioned, where she and Bianca worked. And indeed, there was Bianca, standing at a large table covered with a roll of cream satin, cutting carefully around a pattern she’d pinned to the fabric.
Like in the shop, sun streamed through the high windows at the back, filling the room with light. Bi
anca had the radio on, and she was singing as she worked. The room felt happy. Phoebe looked to the left and saw another table with a comfortable chair, and shelves filled with numerous trays of beads of different sizes and colors. She didn’t remember sitting there, but she knew that was where she worked.
Or had worked, at least. She was leaving all this for Auckland, for city life, which she’d always hated. It must have taken them years to get the shop looking like it did. They must have all invested so much time and energy. And she was walking away from it.
To her shock, tears filled her eyes.
Bianca looked up at that moment and saw her. Her face lit with a smile, which faded rapidly as Phoebe’s bottom lip trembled.
“Hey.” She put down her scissors and came over, as Noelle and Rafe also spotted her rising emotion.
“Sorry.” Phoebe sat heavily on a chair that Rafe pulled out for her. She took a couple of deep breaths, trying to calm her hammering heart.
“It’s okay. Are you feeling ill?” Bianca tucked a strand of her sister’s hair behind her ear, a gesture that made tears tumble over Phoebe’s lashes at the thought that they had recently argued.
“Aw, sweetheart.” Noelle dropped to her knees and put her arms around her.
Phoebe covered her face with her hands, fighting for control.
“She’s very tired,” Rafe said from behind her, and she felt him slip a hand onto the nape of her neck, under her hair. He brushed the skin there with his thumb, making her shiver. She was filled with all these conflicting emotions and could make sense of none of them. Why was this so hard?
She wiped her cheeks and bit her trembling lip as she looked at her twin. “Rafe said that we quarreled. I’m so sorry.”
Bianca exchanged a glance with their mother and Rafe, her brow furrowing. “Don’t worry about that now,” she said.
“But it upset you. You don’t want me to go. And I hate the thought that we aren’t friends anymore.”
Bianca’s face crumpled, and she threw her arms around her sister. “Of course we’re still friends. Born together, friends forever, remember?”
Phoebe buried her face in Bianca’s shoulder and hugged her tightly. “I don’t know why I made the decision to leave the shop. I wish I could remember so I could understand.”
“Don’t worry about it now,” Bianca whispered. “You just have to concentrate on getting better. Once your memory’s back, we can all talk about it and decide what to do.”
“If it comes back. I don’t know what I’m going to do if it doesn’t.” Her head was starting to pound.
“Come on,” Rafe said firmly. “One step at a time. There’s no point in stressing when you can’t do anything about it.”
Bianca moved back. “Rafe’s right.”
“There’s plenty of time to sort everything out,” Noelle said. “It was lovely of you to call in, but you look very tired. Why don’t you let Rafe take you home and have a rest now?”
Phoebe nodded, sniffing, and wiping her face. Rafe held out a hand, and she let him pull her to her feet. Giving a last, long look at the workroom, she followed him out, back into the shop.
“Is Roberta here?” she asked.
“No, it’s her afternoon off,” Noelle advised. “Libby’s covering her today.”
Rafe led her through into the cafe. The cream walls bore stencils in the shape of wedding bells around the top, and many of the cakes in the cabinet had a wedding theme, with horseshoes, rings, and hearts drawn in icing. It was a great idea, she thought, a place where brides-to-be could come with their bridesmaids while they tried on dresses, or women with their girlfriends who enjoyed watching others preparing for a wedding.
“Phoebe!” A pretty blonde woman came around the counter as they entered the cafe. She walked up to Phoebe, her face alight with pleasure. “Oh, it’s so good to see you.”
“Libby!” Phoebe almost laughed as she realized who it was. “Oh my God, you’ve changed so much!”
Libby looked puzzled, then obviously realized that Phoebe was comparing her to the way she’d been eight years ago. “Oh. Yes, I suppose I have changed a bit.”
“A bit?” Libby had possessed teeth that had stuck out and had been all twisted at different angles, had worn her hair in tight pigtails for most of her school life, and she’d been extremely plump. She looked so different! She’d had her teeth done, and now they were completely neat and straight. Her hair was still long, but knotted up in a messy bun. And although she wasn’t skinny, she’d lost a good bit of her puppy fat, revealing curves that Phoebe was sure would turn men’s heads wherever she went.
“How are you feeling?” Libby asked her.
“Better, but very tired.”
“I’m going to take her home now,” Rafe said.
Libby nodded. “Well, it was lovely to see you. When you’re feeling better, maybe we can catch up over a coffee?”
“Sure,” Phoebe said. She turned to kiss her mother and sister goodbye. “I’ll call you later?”
“If you feel up to it,” Noelle said. She glanced at Rafe, then back at her daughter. “Are you sure you wouldn’t rather come home for a while?”
“Rafe’s taking very good care of me,” she said softly. “Don’t worry.”
“Just give her time,” Noelle said, giving him a warning look. “Don’t go trying anything until she’s ready.”
Phoebe’s face warmed. “Oh my God, Mum! I can’t believe you just said that.”
“I know what he’s like,” Noelle said. “He can’t keep his hands off you.”
“I haven’t even tried to snog her yet,” Rafe said.
Phoebe glanced at him, relieved that he looked amused rather than annoyed. “Let’s go,” she said, sending her mother a cross look. Noelle just raised her eyebrows, unrepentant.
Waving goodbye to them all, Phoebe followed Rafe out into the sunshine and let the door swing shut behind them.
“I’m so sorry,” she said to him as they walked away. “That was embarrassing.”
He shrugged. “She’s right. I can’t keep my hands off you.” He gave her a wry smile.
Phoebe held his gaze for a moment, not sure whether he was joking, but he seemed serious.
He studied her for a moment, then took her hand. “Come with me. I want to show you something before we go home.”
He led her across the road and up a side alley to a large car park. At the end of the car park, he stopped and gestured to a large building—the cinema.
“That’s where we had our first date,” he said.
“They rebuilt it,” she said, surprised.
“Yes, it has several screens now. Come this way.” He led her back through the car park and across the road to the library. A large building in the shape of the bow of a ship, the library stood on the edge of the domain—a huge park. Rafe took her a little way along the edge of the domain to beneath a pohutukawa tree.
He stopped and took her other hand, turning her to face him. “This was where I first kissed you,” he said.
Her eyebrows rose. She looked up into his eyes, her heart racing. He was so handsome; just the thought of kissing him made her feel weak at the knees.
I can’t keep my hands off you, he’d said.
He glanced down at where they were holding hands, interlinking his fingers with hers. “I’m sad that you don’t remember it,” he said.
“Perhaps you should kiss me now,” she suggested, “see if it jogs my memory?”
He didn’t say anything for a moment. Was he wondering if she was serious? Or thinking about what her mother had said, and trying to decide whether he should wait?
The sunlight slanted through the gaps in the leaves, falling on their skin like gold leaf. In the domain, a group of young lads were throwing a rugby ball about; in the children’s playground, a toddler squawked, and a couple of others laughed as they chased each other around the swings. Phoebe felt a flutter of happiness, as if a dozen color
ful butterflies had danced in the air before her. Was that due to visiting the bridal shop? To feeling better? Or to being here, with Rafe, on this beautiful day?
She’d loved this man so much that she’d wanted to marry him. His sultry eyes were still staring into hers, and suddenly she wanted him to kiss her more than anything in the world.
“Please,” she whispered.
His brow furrowed, and then he let go of her hand and lifted his to cup her cheek, brushing her lips with his thumb. He moved a few inches closer to her, sliding his other hand onto her waist. Then he lowered his lips to hers.
She closed her eyes, holding her breath, too nervous to kiss him back. But he didn’t seem to mind. His mouth moved across hers slowly as he took his time to kiss her, his lips gentle, and she drifted away into bliss, conscious of the light morning breeze on her limbs, the dappled sun on her face, and the warm smell of sexy male that sent her senses spinning.
Chapter Eleven
Rafe wanted to wrap his arms around Phoebe, plunge his tongue into her mouth, press up against her, and let loose the passion that always rose inside him whenever he was around this gorgeous, sexy girl.
But he made his kisses small and unthreatening, kept his tongue well out of the way, and just enjoyed being close to her at last.
His heart leapt at the thought that she’d asked him to kiss her. Although initially he’d felt confident that he’d be able to win her back again, she’d been so hesitant to let him in, acting as if they were strangers, and he’d had a few flickers of despair that in her new guise she might have changed so much that she didn’t find him attractive anymore.
True, she was stiff and unyielding, not pushing him away, but not kissing him back either, but he didn’t let that put him off. He’d known her a long time, and felt that he knew her body almost as well as his own. Whenever they’d argued, he’d always been able to tease her out of a bad mood by nuzzling her neck or kissing her, and he put his trust in their past love, hoping that deep within her remained a seed of remembrance that would begin to blossom again when he exposed it to the light.
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