“Geez, no.” Ash shook her head. “They’re just friends.”
“She doesn’t have a boyfriend?”
“Nope, and it’s not for lack of men wanting to date her. Granted, the town is small with outlying farms but she’s had admirers. However, Del isn’t ready to settle down, mainly because she’s not met the right man.”
“Maybe she never will.”
“Maybe. She’s always said she won’t settle for second best.”
“Wise woman.”
“Del isn’t afraid of going it alone.” Ash thoughtfully swirled the tea in the cup. “I guess she has everything she needs right here in town. I know I have.”
She looked so content, so happy.
Elissa grinned. “You’ve got a hot firie, what’s not to be happy about? Oh yeah, and his spoiled cat.”
“They keep me busy.”
“Here’s to hot men and spoiled cats.” Laughing, Elissa lifted her cup, tapping it lightly against Ash’s. “You going to fill me in on the wedding plans?”
“I will, but there are still a couple of things I’m sorting out.” Ash rubbed one fingertip on the tabletop. “I want to tell you when it’s all done.”
“Not before? Aw, come on, Ash!”
“Nope.” Her friend held up her hand. “I want you to relax first, unwind, and then I’ll fill you in on everything which I will have finalised by then.”
“By when?” Elissa teased. “Next year?”
“Luckily you’re my best friend or I’d have to hurt you.”
“Ooohhhh, look at me, I’m so scared.” Elissa grinned. “You’re such a perfectionist. Just tell me.”
“You’re such a tightly wound spring,” Ash shot back. “Relax, unwind. I promise to reveal all in a day or two, okay?”
“Okay, okay.” Luckily she knew Ash well enough to understand her wanting to be private until the arrangements had been sorted and sealed.
The afternoon passed swiftly, darkness descending before she knew it. Scott arrived home just as Ash was making gravy for the roast.
Elissa couldn’t help but see the love between them when he placed a hand at Ash’s waist, bending down to kiss her. It was also more than obvious that he wanted to do it a whole lot longer and hotter, but the man had manners.
After a brief kiss, he straightened and looked at Elissa standing at the sink drying some dishes. His smile wreathed his face, made his eyes sparkle. “Hi.”
“Hi right back.” She grinned, unable to help liking him, especially when she saw how gentle he was with Ash, how courteous.
He might not have kissed her as long and hot as he wanted, but his hand at her waist stayed, fingers kneading her just a little, enough to bring a flicker of heat to Ash’s eyes, quickly hidden when she turned in his arm on the pretence of checking the gravy.
Yeah, right. Like no one could see the pink in her cheeks, the knowing grin on Scott’s face as he threw a wink at Elissa while dipping his head to brush a light kiss on Ash’s nape.
“I’m going to shower and change. Tea smells good and I’m starving.”
He cut a fine figure in his fire fighter uniform, tall, handsome, masculine - then he saw Tilly wandering through the doorway and he literally melted right in front of Elissa’s eyes.
“Come here, baby.” Scott scooped the cat up in his arms, cradling her against him on her back, her little paws sticking up in the air as she eyed him. “Who’s daddy’s little girl? Huh? Have you been good?”
Ash threw Elissa a wry look.
Amused, Elissa watched as Scott walked out the room, head tilted down as he crooned sweet things to Tilly, who lay on her back in full expectation of being carted around like a queen and spoken to like a baby.
Once Scott had left, she looked at Ash. “Okay, I get it.”
“I hope so, because you’ll see a lot of it.”
“I bet you spoil her, too.”
“No one can spoil her like Scott.”
“Tough man.”
“Marshmallow heart.”
They both laughed.
The evening passed pleasantly, Elissa retiring to bed feeling content. Right up until her mobile buzzed quietly on the bedside table.
Picking it up, she glanced at the caller, her gut tightening. Answer it? Disregard it? Or turn it off?
The mobile continued buzzing. Jaw tightening, she turned it off.
No doubt she’d pay for that later.
Chapter 2
Mist still hovered above the ground when Elissa stepped out into the pre-dawn darkness. Too dark to walk, but not too dark to stand and wait for lightness to appear.
Leaning against the veranda post, she shivered at the chill in the air. Everything was hushed, not even the birds stirring. She wished she could be the same, fast asleep like the birds, like Ash and Scott were still. Even Tilly hadn’t appeared.
Taking a deep breath, she deliberately blanked her mind, refused to think of anything, just waiting, breathing in the dampness from the low-lying mist, feeling the dampness on her arms.
Maybe she should have put on a light cardigan but once she started walking she’d soon warm up, plus she didn’t feel like going back inside to get it.
Slowly the dark night gave to a dark grey, lightening gradually. A sound of bird twitter came from the distance.
Stretching, she looked around at the garden, the simple lawn, a gum tree in the corner of the front yard, a couple of purple pea bushes growing along the front fence. Simple, country, nothing fancy. The back yard was where Ash put most of her energy - the lawn, the veggie patch, the fruit trees. Not to mention the BBQ area on cement slabs, the wooden table and benches where they enjoyed get-togethers with their friends.
Going down the steps, Elissa followed the footpath along the veranda to the driveway then turned down it to walk along the pressed gravel to the big, open gate. A right and she was on the street. Rolling her shoulders, she tipped her head back, sucked in a deep breath of chill early morning air, and started walking.
Normally she blocked out almost everything except traffic, but this time she had new things to look at - the old-fashioned houses on large blocks of land, some an acre in size, some half acres, the roomy yards, the different gardens. All new, all interesting.
Reaching the end of the street, she turned onto the main road, hesitating while debating which way to go. Into town or out further into the country?
The country called to her but city caution had her turning to walk into the town. Lengthening her stride, she noted the mist swirling around her feet gradually disappearing as the early morning sun peeked over a nearby hill.
Walking past a large block of land with a low colonial-style building set well back on it, she didn’t have to see the sign on the gate proclaiming ‘Gully’s Fall Boarding House’ to know that this was Scott’s mother’s home. It was enchanting to see the roses running along each side of the drive, fanning out to a parking lot on one side, and a garage with ‘private’ marked on the other side. So old world. She wondered if it would be too rude to ask Mrs Preston for a look around the old place.
Entering the inner limits of the town, she passed a couple of empty, locked-up work shops before turning onto the main street.
At the corner, she looked left and right, enjoying the view. The main street she recognised from the postcards and photos Ash had sent her but to actually see it, walk past the old buildings, was magical. She loved old things, loved history, and this town was a lovely mix of old and newer, but not too new. Anything modern had been incorporated in the older buildings, rather than knocking them down for the harsher, blander new buildings that dwelt in the city. Even the small supermarket was housed in an old building.
Everything a small town could want was in the main street, a butcher, baker, bookshop, café, furniture store, newsagent, clothes shop, and service station on one side of the bitumen road, a pub, electrician, estate agent and a park on the other side. From where she stood, she could see a sign directing people to the hospital on a
side road. As Ash had described, next to the park was the police station, a small courthouse, the ambulance station and fire station.
Simon’s a firie. Is he there now, dressed in uniform, ready to go to a fire, to risk his own life to save others? The thought startled her, making her frown. Why was she thinking about him? Guilty conscious, probably. Yeah, she’d have to fix that at some point.
Dragging her thoughts from the redheaded hunk, she studied the street. The bitumen road winding through the street peaked over a hill, around a corner and disappeared from sight in the distance. The main street wasn’t flat, instead rolling and dipping gently. Sections of the footpath had been cut away to make room for several big gum trees that would otherwise grow out of it. The buildings were made of stone and wood, a couple with early twentieth century brick, most of them with bull-nose verandas. Ash had always said that when she first arrived, she’d half expected to see women in long dresses and men riding horses to appear. Elissa silently agreed.
Angle parking was available, but the street was deserted. Everything was so quiet, so peaceful. Early morning sun bathed the road with a touch of warmth, and she sighed, slipping her hands into her pockets as she stood and looked around.
The twenty four hour service station was open but no cars were at the fuel bowsers. A big semi with several dogs behind it was parked at the side, the driver no doubt either snoozing in the sleeping compartment behind the cabin, or eating a very early breakfast in the service station café.
Her stomach rumbled but mindful of the fact that Ash would expect her for breakfast, Elissa decided that a hot cup of tea would do for now, and she quickened her pace.
Passing the shops caught her attention, the display in the dress shop she knew was run by Del, the newsagency Dee owned, and across the street the bookshop beckoned, but she decided to walk on the opposite side of the street on her way back and peek in the window then, see what books were available. Besides, on a Sunday none of the shops were open so there was no hurry.
As she stood near the window of the newsagency, a movement inside caught her attention and she peered closer.
To her surprise a grey kitten pranced along the counter, investigating everything. A tap at the EFTPOST machine, a poke at the cash register, and then it swiped a pen off the bench before peeking over the edge to watch something.
Intrigued, Elissa almost pressed up against the glass to see, amused to find a black kitten scooting across the floor batting the pen around. A little torti and white was valiantly struggling along dragging a feather duster which, while she pulled, her completely torti sister was happily yanking out a feather from the back of the duster, which she immediately began pulling apart with enthusiasm
Totally engrossed, she watched the kittens tumbling and playing mischievously, wondering why on earth Dee would have let them run rampant through her shop. Sweet and little the furry babies might be, but they could cause some damage to the magazines and stock if they set their minds to it.
“Miscreants, the lot of them,” a voice observed from beside her, making her jump violently.
Whirling around, she found herself looking at a blue uniform-clad chest, her head tipping back as her gaze shot upwards to look into calm brown eyes in a face handsome enough to make a woman weak at the knees. The golden-haired cop she recognised instantly from another photo Ash had sent to her. “Kirk?”
He smiled, the corners of his eyes crinkling engagingly. “You have to be Elissa.” He held out his hand. “Sorry I scared you, I didn’t realise you didn’t hear me coming.”
Taking the big hand, she half expected a strong squeeze, but his grip was firm and gentle. “Kittens, they do that to me.”
“Ah.” He looked through the glass window. “Dee will have a fit when she sees them going berko in there.”
“Then Ryder will be without his morning glory,” another deep voice drawled from right behind her. “Although knowing that randy bugger, he’s probably already had it. Twice.”
Oh crap, she knew that voice.
Even as Kirk turned to greet the man behind her, she had to swallow hard, school her features before she could turn slowly to look up at him.
God, if Simon had looked hot in just jeans two months ago, he was just as hot in his fireman uniform - dark blue pants with a reflective silver/white band around each leg, and a short-sleeved dark blue shirt with a badge on each shoulder. The uniform seemed to only emphasise his height, his broad shoulders, and well, hell, she knew exactly how muscular his chest was, his arms, she’d seen it herself.
Her gaze lifted, skimming the strong jaw line, the relaxed mouth, the straight nose and high cheekbones, higher until - crap, she could barely meet his eyes. The steady hazel gaze that looked down at her, not a hint of his thoughts reflected within the depths. His red hair was neatly combed, only a little ruffled by the breeze, but she couldn’t avoid his eyes forever, especially with Kirk watching.
Oh yeah, she could feel his gaze. It was almost as heavy as Simon’s, only in a different way.
Forcing a smile, she finally met Simon’s scrutiny. “Hi.”
Cripes, his eyes actually smiled down at her, totally throwing her equilibrium. She’d expected a narrow-eyed look, a hardness, at the very least an accusation. But no, his eyes were warm, friendly, his smile easy, curving his full lips, cutting a dimple into the side of his mouth that she’d never noticed before but made him appear the easy-going man that Ash had always described him.
Oh God, could it be that he didn’t remember her after all? Had she been mistaken the day before? Had he forgotten her? Was it her own ego that had her thinking he’d recognised her?
“’Morning, Elissa.” His smile deepened. “Watching a storm about to be unleashed?”
Unable to fathom just why the thought of him not remembering her hurt just a little, she replied inanely, “Huh?”
“Ryder’s kittens. No doubt he forgot to shut the door Dee had put in the back of her little kitchenette to stop this kind of thing happening.”
“Again,” Kirk added, “he never learns.”
“I think he just likes the consequences.”
“Dee cursing him out?”
“He loves seeing her go all fiery, sick bastard that he is.”
Elissa watched those masculine lips curve wider. Firm lips, soft lips. Those lips had been pressed to hers, kissed her, tasted her. Did Simon really not remember? Had it meant nothing to him at all? She certainly hadn’t forgotten it.
“Seeing her go all fiery and then pinning her against the wall to -” Kirk stopped abruptly.
The silence caught Elissa’s attention, dragging her troubled thoughts away as she focussed on Kirk’s face. Immediately she guessed why he’d stopped, his comment had been about to get risqué.
He wasn’t blushing, his expression calm, but he simply continued, “He’ll be in strife and love it.”
Simon’s eyes crinkled at the corners, little laughter lines etching out engagingly. “I wouldn’t call getting reamed by Dee a good time.”
“That’s why Ryder’s a sick bastard.”
“No doubt we’ll hear about it.” Simon’s attention slid back down to Elissa. “You’re out early.” His gaze wandered lower, skimmed across her attire, making her suddenly conscious of how she must appear.
A quick, unobtrusive check to make sure her pale pink pants were smudge free, her t-shirt wasn’t creased, her blue sneakers clean. Smoothing her hand across her hair, she felt the bun at the back of her head, the absence of fly-away hair that meant it was securely confined. Nothing out of place. Good. Or bad. She swallowed her irritation. It doesn’t matter. “I’ve been out walking, checking out the sights.”
“This early?” He glanced at his wrist watch. “I’d have thought you’d have slept-in after your journey.”
“Sleep and I aren’t good bed mates.”
“Shame.” There was something in his tone and the way he studied her that made her feel a little unsettled.
She added quick
ly, “I don’t sleep well.”
“Mmm.”
“I tend to get up early.”
“Okay.”
“I walk a lot.” She gave a self-derisive laugh. “Probably don’t look it.” Almost immediately she bit her lip, horrified, her cheeks flushed. Oh God, had she really said that aloud?
“You look fine.” Simon’s gaze simply held hers, nothing of his thoughts revealed.
She’d meant her weight. Did he know she meant her weight? Oh shit, had he picked up on that? Maybe she could make him think she meant something else. “Some people get a little dusty when walking but I manage to -” What? Stay clean? For God’s sake, could she not come up with anything better?
He simply waited while she looked up at him, her usual coolness in the face of derision gone.
Why had it gone? Where had it gone? She didn’t make mistakes, she was always careful, always guarded, yet here she was blurting things out, trying to cover her mistake, making a fool of herself.
Only fools make idiots of themselves. Control at all times.
The words, cold and unfeeling, echoed in her mind, poured through her, had her spine stiffening, the coolness flowing through her as she pasted on a smile, distancing herself from the bumbling idiot she’d started to become as soon as Simon had appeared.
“Enough about me,” she said politely. “You have an early start?”
Simon’s easy-going demeanour didn’t change. “Yep.”
This time she simply looked at him, not talking, waiting.
“Eight o’clock start,” he continued. “But first I have to go feed Arthur.”
“Arthur.”
‘The cat.”
Ah, now she remembered. “The one you went up the tree to rescue.”
“And fell out of the tree while doing so,” Kirk added.
“News travels fast,” Simon commented.
“Especially good news.”
Rather than bridle at that statement, Simon laughed outright.
Fly with Me Page 5
