A Long Way Home

by Wendy Vella

  “Don’t smack talk me, pretty boy. You concentrate on perfecting your pasta sauce.”

  Hoots of laughter greeted Hope’s words. Newman simply sent her a sizzling look, and called the last play.

  This time Brad was running decoy, Tex had the ball, and Hope was zigzagging all over the place like they’d told her to. She faked, dodged, and went up for the ball. Making the catch, she slammed it down and shrieked.

  “Touchdown!” She danced to the left on her toes, then to the right with her hands in the air, and had to admit it felt good. She’d not done anything frivolous for years.

  “You cheated.”

  “Like hell.” She gave Buster the eye. “You just don’t like losing.”

  “There is that,” he groused.

  “Swim time!”

  Hope watched as the men stripped off various items of clothing and leapt into the water. Annabelle and Branna were seated on a blanket in the shade with Macy, looking at the photos Mikey was showing them on her camera.

  “You coming in?”

  Newman was clad in his undershorts. No more revealing than swim trunks, but teamed with those abs, it was a good look on him. She’d touched a great deal of that body… and more.

  “No, I’m good, thanks.”

  He did the chicken walk again, and Hope ground her teeth.

  “That’s not working on me again!”

  He ignored her and cannonballed into the water, spraying Brad.

  She was hot and sticky. Her face was red, and sweat was running down her back and between her breasts. Her feet carried her closer.

  The men were all messing about like a pack of young kids, so she felt safe to crouch and cup some water. She hadn’t seen him go under, but Newman appeared before her. Grabbing her hand, he pulled her in.

  She surfaced spluttering.

  “Get him, Hope!”

  Branna and Annabelle called out their encouragement. Mikey was in the water being thrown around now.

  The water felt blissful against her heated skin, but she wasn’t telling him that.

  “I said I didn’t want to come in. I don’t have other clothes!”

  “Aww, poor baby.”

  “I’m going around there.” She pointed to a part of the bank that jutted out. Trees hung over the edge, and she’d get some privacy. “So stay here with your Neanderthal buddies while I take off my shorts and dry them out.”

  Newman smiled, so Hope splashed him. She then dived under and swam away. When she was clear of the men, she shimmied out of her shorts and placed them on the bank. Her tank top followed, which left her in a bra and panties. She was concealed here, and while she wasn’t a prude, she also wasn’t used to being nearly naked in front of anyone.

  A tug on her ankle had her shrieking. Newman surfaced beside her. His hair was slicked back and his blue eyes clear.

  “Go away.”

  “I don’t think so.”

  He slid a hand up her leg and cupped her butt, urging her closer, then kissed her.

  Hope tried to resist, she really did. But the man could kiss, and her resistance lasted a second, before she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back. Her legs twined around his waist, and soon she was pretty much plastered to him.

  “This is wrong, Newman.” She eased back and looked at him.

  “I know.”

  He kissed her as his hand cupped her breast, and Hope wanted more.

  “We have to stop, or they’ll come and find us.”

  “I know that too.” He bit gently into the soft skin of her neck, and she sighed. “The problem started when you bent over across from me, and I looked down your top.”

  “I can’t believe you said that.”

  “I was just explaining why I’m so hot for you.”

  “What are you, fourteen?”

  “I feel like it around you.”

  “Newman, this has to stop. We’re like oil and water.”

  “Totally wrong for each other.” He kissed her jaw.

  “I don’t care about labels, and you won’t wear anything without one.”

  “To be fair, most clothes have labels.”

  Hope’s breath hitched as he eased the cup of her bra down, and stroked her nipple.

  “You know what I mean. You’re… well, you’re perfect, and I’m not. I don’t like perfect. In fact, all my life I’ve strived to not achieve it.”

  His hand stilled as he looked at her.

  “Not entirely true. You take perfect photos, and I have to say you’re damn near a straight-A student in bed.”

  His face was inches from hers, lids lowered slightly, lashes spiky. Hope felt it then, the ache in her heart, and realized just how important this man was becoming to her. It was enough to have her moving away.

  “Hope, wait.”

  “No, Newman. This can’t happen again.”

  “I need to tell you something. Something I realized this morning, at about 3:00 a.m., when I woke wanting you.”

  “What?”

  “I didn’t use a condom.”

  Hope literally felt the color drain from her face. How had she not realized that?

  “Are you on the pill?”

  She shook her head. “I was… but now I’m not.”

  He swore under his breath.

  “I… I won’t be pregnant, Newman.”

  “How do you know that?”

  She didn’t know that. “I just think I’m not,” she finished lamely.

  “If you are, then we will deal with what happens together.”

  Her head was spinning, and she couldn’t believe he sounded so calm. Sounded like they’d been in a relationship for years, and this would have happened one day. When in fact they’d ravished each other once!

  “I’ve never lost control and not protected a woman before, and I apologize for that, Hope.”

  “H-how can you sound so calm?”

  “It’s done. We can’t go back, only forward.”

  “D-did you get that off a cereal box?” Her voice rose on the last word.

  “Hope, just calm down, you may not be pregnant.”

  He wasn’t panicking like her. How was that possible, when if she was pregnant, their lives would change beyond recognition?

  “How can you be so calm?”

  “It’s the only way to handle this. I’ll make sure everything is okay if you are pregnant, I promise you, Hope.”

  She realized then that he was handling it the way he always handled everything. Deflecting away from him, and helping her.

  “Stop trying to help me. For once be honest, and say you’re freaking out! Swear, lose control! A child, Newman. Not a dog. This will change our lives, and you can’t fix that.”

  “I don’t want to fix it.” She was pleased to see he didn’t look as calm now. “I’m just saying that I’m there for you.”

  “What about you? Will I be there to help you through this too, or don’t you need my help?”

  He looked shocked at her words, as if no one had ever asked him something like that before.

  “We don’t need to discuss this now.” She couldn’t handle this conversation any longer. Swimming to the bank, she hurried out and pulled on her still wet clothes. She didn’t look at him again.

  “You will tell me.” He grabbed her arm, his fingers biting into her flesh. It was the only indication that he was as unsettled as she was. Strangely, she liked his anger. It was better than the calm surety.

  “I will.”

  She started back to where the others now stood, as a silver sedan pulled up. The man who got out, she recognized instantly. John Finch was in town.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  Hope was working the lunch shift in the Howler three days after Macy’s photo shoot, and trying not to think about what Newman had told her. It had pretty much occupied her thoughts continuously. That was when they weren’t occupied by John Finch.

  Hope realized just one day in of working with him, that he was a true professional. Each ph
oto took time to set up. He demanded excellence, and that showed in his work. Not as tall as his cousin, he had the easy charm, but was quieter like Brad. What surprised Hope was that he was actually interested in her view point. There was very little arrogance in the man.

  She’d remained focused when she was with him, and tried to push aside the worry of whether she was carrying a child or not. But it wasn’t easy. The uncertainty stretched her nerves to breaking point.

  Could there even now be a life forming inside her? She had never factored on having children, at least not at this stage in her life. She had no money or security, and was living with her mother. The thought of a child should terrify her. Strangely, all she could think about was what it would look like.

  “Can you pick up some supplies for me, Hope? The order didn’t come yet, and we need a few things.”

  “No problem.” Taking the list from Noah, Hope headed out the door. The day was as it usually was in Howling this time of year, beautiful. She lifted a hand to Cubby, who was in uniform and talking to a group of teenagers with skateboards in their hands. She wondered if they’d been skating down the street.

  Looking around, she could see no sign of Jay, which was a relief. He’d approached her yesterday, as she and John came out of the trails. How he’d known where they were, she had no idea. He’d then set about charming John, offering his help. Throwing about that easy smile Hope now loathed. John had said he didn’t need another photographer, but had taken Jay’s card anyway.

  She didn’t know what to do about him or Wildlife, but was coming around to the idea of taking the legal action route when John Finch had once again left Howling.

  “I couldn’t believe it when Jay told me you were here. That you’d have the cheek to work with a legend like John Finch.”

  Hope looked at the woman who’d stepped out of a shop to stand in her way.

  Casey Rae Linear was the spoilt youngest daughter of an investment banker. She worked very hard at looking like the rest of the conservationists who worked for Wildlife, but everyone knew she’d got the position because Daddy threw a great deal of money about.

  Her hair was always styled to look messy, but Hope knew she paid a huge amount of money to look that way, because she’d once seen a diary entry with the name of an expensive salon on it. She wore cutoffs and a shirt tied under her breasts, exposing a vast amount of evenly tanned smooth stomach. The clothes, like the rest of her, were expensive, as were the boots on her feet that had been made to look worn.

  “I was born here, Casey. So I have more rights to the place than you or Jay. John Finch respects my work, unlike you, so there’s nothing you can do or say to change that. Leave or stay, I don’t care. But don’t get in my face again.”

  Hope saw the surprise. She’d always been polite around this woman, because she’d been her boss. Now she didn’t have to be.

  “I’ll be speaking to him, or have my father do so. There is no way John Finch should ever have to work with someone like you, and I’ll make sure of it. You have no integrity, and you’re an alcoholic and a drug user. I never trusted you.”

  Hope made herself smile. It was a stretch, but she managed it.

  “Funny, I never liked you either. Spoilt rich bitch, what the hell do you know about conservation, when your father’s Learjet costs more than the entire fund raised for the whooping crane. You’re the fake, Casey, not me.”

  Casey’s mouth opened and shut, but no sound came out.

  “For the record, I didn’t lie, Jay did. Maybe you should watch your back. He may have you in his sights next.”

  “Hope, how you doing today?”

  A large hand settled on her shoulder, then Newman appeared at her side.

  “Introduce me to your friend.”

  “She’s not a friend.”

  “Actually, I got that, but I was being polite.”

  Hope looked up at Newman. He wasn’t smiling, but sending death rays at Casey, who was looking him over like he was stripped naked and posing for a centerfold. Hope didn’t like that look.

  “Don’t be. This is Casey Rae Linear, my old boss.”

  “The one who fired you?”

  Hoped nodded. Newman had seen what was left of Hope in that bar. Seen the mess she’d allowed herself to become after Casey and Jay were done with her.

  “Well now. The gentleman in me wants to shake your hand, Miss Linear, but seeing as Hope’s important to me, I’ll leave that pleasantry.”

  “Oh, well, Hope deserved it,” Casey got out. “She fooled us all, so I’m sure she may be fooling—”

  “I’d keep that thought in your head, if I were you, Miss Linear. Hope’s special to me and this town. I’ve known her since she was a child, and added to that is the fact that I’ve never had a reason to not trust her. You, however, I do.”

  “You don’t know me, why would you mistrust me?” Casey spoke in a soft, sultry voice now. She flung back her curls and stuck out her chest. Hope had seen this particular movement plenty of times when there was a man around and Casey wanted to get him on her side.

  “I’ve had business dealings with your father, Miss Linear.”

  Hope swallowed her smile at Newman’s words. She didn’t need him to stand up for her, but had to admit it felt good.

  “How dare you accuse my father of anything!”

  “I don’t believe I said a word against him,” Newman drawled.

  His hand had moved to Hope’s neck, fingers wrapping around the back. It was a gesture that was more than simple familiarity, and she should nudge him away, but the look in Casey’s eyes stopped her. The woman was shocked that someone seemed to want to be near Hope, and not her. Especially a handsome someone.

  “Y-you inferred my father’s reputation was less than stellar!”

  Casey had always had a flair for the theatrical.

  “But I would never make such a rash accusation without first having all the facts, Miss Linear.”

  Clever devil , Hope thought. She’d never been very good at thinking on her feet, but he’d managed to convey in a few words that Casey had fired Hope without first knowing all the facts.

  The fingers on her neck moved, stroking her skin. Hope refused to react; instead she kept her eyes on Casey. The woman was uncomfortable, and the suspicion that Hope had always had about her and Jay reared its head.

  “Perhaps if you hadn’t been sleeping with him, you may not have believed him so readily.”

  The shock was not outrage at Hope’s insinuation, it was that she’d guessed accurately.

  “Tut tut, Miss Linear. Perhaps the apple did not fall far from the tree.”

  Color filled Casey’s cheeks as she struggled to regain some ground.

  “How dare you insult my father! Hope was seen drinking, and using drugs, and she stole someone’s work. Her dismissal was justified.”

  “But who saw her, and whose work did she steal, Miss Linear? It is Jay Herald’s word against Hope’s. She wished not to pursue legal action against you. But I think in light of what we’ve now learned, she should.”

  “Legal action.” Casey looked like she’d sucked on a lemon. “She has no case, as I have proof of what she is capable of.”

  “Proof supplied by Jay, Casey,” Hope said. “False proof because he drugged my drink and set me up. But seeing as he was sleeping with you and me, it seems your opinion of him is clouded.

  “You’ll never win against me,” Casey said.

  “I don’t know about that, because unlike you and your lover boy, I’ll actually have the truth on my side.”

  “You’re lying!”

  Hope made herself smile. “We’ll see won’t we.” She walked away then, and kept walking until she reached the grocery store. Only then did she draw in a deep, steadying breath.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  She was pregnant. Looking at the little white stick, Hope willed it to change color. It didn’t.

  She’d left it a few more days, hoping the sickness she felt in the mor
nings would pass. It hadn’t. Moaning, she fell onto the toilet seat and put her head between her knees. Dear Christ, what did she do now? She needed air. Suddenly the walls of her mother’s bathroom were closing in on her. Stuffing her feet into her boots, she shouted a goodbye to her mother, who was gardening, then let herself out the front door. Pressing a fist to her chest, she tried to ease the panic inside her.

  She had to tell Newman, and she had to do it now before she chickened out. Walking up the drive she headed right instead of left, which would take her into town. At the end of the street, she found a narrow track that would lead to the trails. Today there was no peace in the solitude that surrounded her.

  At least John had told her that he wouldn’t need her for a few days as he was being flown around the area by Ethan or Brad, looking for other locations.

  “What the hell am I going to do now?”

  “My guess is walk the trails. But then I’m not always right.”

  “Jesus, Faith!” Hope’s heart was thudding so hard it hurt. “What the hell are you doing skulking about here?” Hope looked at her friend’s walking clothes. Anyone looking at her couldn’t help but know what she was doing.

  “Okay, don’t answer that.”

  “You okay, Hope?”

  “Sure, why wouldn’t I be?”

  Faith took a closer look at Hope. “You look a bit odd.”

  “No, I don’t.”

  “No, you do.”

  “Whatever.” Hope waved her words away. “I’m going for a walk.”

  “That’s the outfit for it.” Faith lifted a hand and walked around Hope, then disappeared down the trail she’d just walked up. Looking at herself, Hope realized that maybe her old T-shirt, which came to midthigh and had Oscar the Grouch on the front saying “I’d rather live in a can”, wasn’t usual walking attire.

  “What the hell,” Hope muttered. Her day wasn’t going to plan anyway, and people already thought her weird.

  She walked on, and was soon sweating. Thoughts came and went, but the main two that remained lodged in her head were, she had to tell Newman, and she was keeping this baby.