by Sandy Curtis
So when he’d seen the satisfied smile on Jenna’s face as she looked up to the stars the jealousy that had eaten at him all evening raged to the surface. He’d wanted to make her hurt like he had been hurting. So he’d lied about Caitlin, knew she would be upset to think that Caitlin had fretted for her.
But then she’d tried to comfort him, her compassionate nature not taking revenge on him, and he’d decided to take advantage of that. He wanted her, badly. He ached for her so much it was like having his guts twisted in a permanent knot, not to mention other parts of his anatomy. So he’d tried gentleness, calculating that she would succumb to a tender seduction, knowing he had the advantage of her attraction to him that she’d been unable to conceal.
And he would have continued with it, sensing that tonight she was more vulnerable to his needs, but her cold hand on his face was like a rebuke. Disgusted with himself, ashamed of what he had almost done, but wanting her more acutely than ever, he had told her to go away. He had seen the pain in her lovely eyes, admired the dignity with which she walked away from him, and hated himself like he never had before.
CHAPTER NINE
Tension. So strong it was almost tangible.
Even Caitlin sensed it, looking worriedly from Braden to Jenna as they ate a silent breakfast in the courtyard. Jenna had followed Braden’s lead and responded to his short good morning with a polite nod of her head. She had not slept well and felt like she wanted to crawl into a hole and pull the dirt in over her, but for Caitlin’s sake she made an effort and asked the girl what she’d like to do today.
In response Caitlin walked back inside and returned with a story-book. She pointed to a drawing of a family having a picnic beside a lake. Happy families thought Jenna bitterly. Poor kid doesn’t have much of a hope of that happening today.
“Sorry, Possum,” she told the child, “but today’s Friday, a work day. Uncle Braden might be able to take you on Sunday.”
“What’s wrong with today?” Braden frowned at her. “I see no reason to wait until Sunday if Caitlin wants to go today.”
As the girl flung herself into his arms in delight Jenna glared at him over her head. Was he deliberately trying to make her appear heartless to Caitlin? She couldn’t understand him. And spending a whole day pretending to be a happy family was too much to contemplate after the way he had behaved last night. She stood up.
“I’ll pack you a picnic lunch.” She couldn’t bring herself to look at either of them. She knew Caitlin would be disappointed if she didn’t go but she was sure Braden would be triumphant at having driven her away again. A small hand grabbed her arm as she turned to walk away. To her dismay she saw tears welling up in Caitlin’s eyes. The girl pulled her back to the book lying open on the table and pointed at the woman in the drawing, then at Jenna.
“I think she’s telling you that you have to come, Jenna.” Braden’s tone was neutral. Jenna glanced at him. His expression was as bland as his voice. What did he want of her? Couldn’t he just let her look after Caitlin and leave her alone? She looked from his carefully controlled features to Caitlin’s open, pleading look. She really didn’t have much choice, did she.
“I’ll pack enough for three,” she said quietly.
Braden held the car door open for Jenna. She was just about to get in when he laid a restraining hand on her arm. She flinched as though burned. He quickly removed his hand. He started to say something, then shook his head. Suddenly he thrust his hand towards her.
“Truce?”
It was a far cry from an apology, and an even further one from an explanation of his behaviour of the night before, but it looked as though it was the best she would get. If only she didn’t love him. If only she didn’t want, no, need, him so badly, she could have turned her back and continued on with the cold war he had started. But it wasn’t in her nature. She was a softie, a forgiver, a peacemaker in spite of her quick temper and fiery spirit. She had never been able to hold a grudge, nor even want to.
She took his large hand in her slender one and shook firmly, willing herself to ignore the crackles of electricity that coursed through her body at the contact. One quick look into his eyes told her that he hadn’t been able to ignore them. The gleam was back, and she cursed herself for being so transparent.
"I thought we might go to Underwater World before we go on our picnic," Braden announced as they drove out onto the road.
Caitlin’s sharp little intake of breath and quick clap of her hands told Jenna how delighted she was at this prospect.
"Is it very big? Will we have enough time?" Jenna asked.
"We'll have enough time to see through Underwater World," Braden explained "but we won't be able to go through The Wharf this time, it's too big. There's great shopping there - clothes, gemstones, antiques - we'll come again so you can buy some souvenirs."
His friendly tone surprised her, but he had asked for a truce, hadn't he.
It wasn't long before they came to Mooloolaba.
“Sundays are far too busy here,” he said meaningfully to Jenna as he drove into the car park close to Underwater World. There was already a fair crowd in evidence so Jenna could see why he would have been reluctant to bring Caitlin here on a busier day. Although she was far more relaxed about being in public, a more crowded situation would be very daunting for her. Her leg had improved tremendously but she still limped and tired fairly easily.
Jenna was pleased at Braden’s thoughtfulness, but not surprised. Where Caitlin was concerned, she couldn’t fault him. It was only in his behaviour towards her that he created such devastating confusion.
Braden purchased their tickets and soon they found themselves in another world. At the “Touch and Feel” Lagoon Caitlin’s small fingers delicately brushed over the many sea creatures in the pool. Her face lit up with delight and at her insistent motion Jenna and Braden joined her in exploring the variety of surfaces on the undersea creatures.
Remembering her agreement to a truce Jenna did her best not to avoid Braden, although she directed most of her attention to Caitlin. She watched though, as he picked up a seacucumber for Caitlin to stroke. His hands were large, with surprisingly long fingers, and they deftly turned the creature over for Caitlin’s inspection. Her fingers stroked, her eyes widened, and a delighted grin split her face as she looked up at Braden. His answering smile tore at Jenna’s heart. She ached for the love he gave so freely to Caitlin and withheld from her.
Then his eyes sought hers, and one eyebrow quirked upwards as though asking her to join in, and her love for him flooded through her veins and washed into her eyes and she found herself smiling back.
Caitlin must have sensed the lessening in the tension between them. She drew them both into the circle of her wonder, her delightful childish joy in all she saw. As that joy communicated itself to them they found themselves sharing looks, laughter, and curiosity like friends who were comfortable with one another.
This was especially so when they went into the amazing transparent underwater tunnel beneath an enormous pool filled with sharks, stingrays, and thousands of colourful fish. Half the floor of the tunnel was stationery, the other half slowly moved around through the tunnel.
“Caitlin, look!” Jenna cried as a large shark, its cold merciless eye never moving, nosed into the transparent wall and opened its mouth wide in a terrifying display of razor sharp teeth. Braden had Caitlin on his hip, his left arm securing her close to him, and his right arm came down gently on Jenna’s shoulders as he stepped closer. She gasped at the sudden pounding of her heart his touch evoked. She glanced up to his face, but he was watching the shark.
“How would you like to have to clean all those teeth every night, Caitlin?” he asked.
Caitlin pulled a face, then smiled at Jenna. Jenna relaxed, letting herself enjoy the wonderful sensations Braden’s touch brought, even though he seemed oblivious to it. His hand remained on her shoulder as they continued on through the tunnel, and as they reached the end of the tunnel he removed i
t to put Caitlin down and she felt a sharp sense of loss.
The seal show had Caitlin hopping up and down on her seat with delight. Braden and Jenna sat on either side of her, and their eyes kept meeting over the moving dark head. The electricity would crackle between them, but something far deeper seemed to be happening, a connection, a contact, that couldn’t be explained but filled her with tentative hope.
For the rest of the morning she was acutely aware of every nuance in his walk, his mannerisms. She watched the crinkling at the corners of his eyes as he smiled at Caitlin; the sub-conscious tautening in his lean, tough frame as a crocodile’s swift movement made Caitlin grasp at him and he instinctively swung her up in a protective gesture; the endearing way one stray curl would escape onto his forehead and he would brush it back with an impatient flip of his hand.
By the time Braden reminded them that it was well after midday and they still had to drive to the picnic spot, Jenna had tucked all these memories into a special part of her heart, to be brought out when she was lying in her lonely bed and needed the comfort of his presence.
There was a more relaxed atmosphere in the car as they drove west from Mooloolaba. Braden took the motorway back to the main highway then turned west up a steep mountain road.
Jenna looked through the gaps in the roadside bush as they wound their way upwards. Farms, orchards and bush scattered over the hills and valleys of the coastal plain in a spectacular, panoramic arc of light, dark, and olive greens. The Pacific Ocean glistened blue on the horizon.
The harsh greens of the bush were a stark contrast to England’s softer shades and the pungent smell of eucalyptus and the constant drone of cicadas engulfed her in a wave of nostalgia. She had enjoyed her travels in the other continents but she had never lost her yearning for the unique environment of her own country.
They finally swung onto the Maleny-Montville Road, running along the escarpment of the Blackall Range. Now each twist of the road revealed sweeping views on both sides - fat dairy cattle grazing on lush green grass, avocado and other varied orchards. Just as they entered the village of Montville Braden swung west once again and they began a steep descent through heavily timbered slopes.
As the road levelled out and a wide expanse of blue water lay before them Braden turned to Caitlin with a smile.
“Baroon Pocket Dam, Caitlin. Will this do for our picnic?”
She nodded eagerly. With its grassy slopes and sand and gravel foreshore it was very like her storybook setting.
Braden parked under a shady tree. He took the picnic basket, cooler bag, cushions and a rug from the car and arranged them on the soft grass.
“Caitlin’s gone exploring, Braden, I’d better go after her,” Jenna called as she hurried after the little figure moving towards the water’s edge.
When she reached Caitlin the child was stretching out her hand to some water lilies clustered close to the bank. The bottom dropped off more steeply at this point but it was difficult to tell just how deep it was.
“It’s a bit too far for you, Possum. I’ll get one for you.” Jenna kicked off her sandals and walked into the cool water. She was glad she had worn shorts because it was deeper than it appeared. She leaned forward to pick up one of the lilies. Her foot slipped on a mossy rock and she overbalanced.
Cold mountain water. She gasped with the shock of it, and scrabbled to get a footing on the slippery rocks. As she regained her balance and looked down in dismay at her dripping blouse and shorts Braden’s laughter echoed across the water.
As he walked to the water's edge his laughter subsided, but a grin still lingered as he bent forward and offered his hand to Jenna. She looked down at herself again and couldn't stop her answering smile. She really did look like a drowned rat. She could understand Braden’s laughter.
She grasped his hand. She didn’t know then if the devil gave her a nudge or if it was a genuine slip, but her feet shot out from under her and Braden, taken by surprise, lost his footing and tumbled into the water.
Now there were two drowned rats. Only this one rose with a tiny water lily dangling incongruously from one ear.
Jenna bit back her laughter, but her green eyes sparkled with it, her breasts shook with it, and she knew she couldn’t suppress it much longer. Braden gazed daggers at her. Then a tiny crinkling appeared at the corners of his eyes. His lips started to twitch. A deep throaty chuckle rumbled out and joined hers as they stood in the waist-deep water and looked at each other, uninhibited joy in their eyes.
“You look funny, Uncle Braden.”
Their heads swung in unison towards Caitlin. She was hunched over, hands loose over her mouth, eyes bright. In amazement they realised she was giggling. And she had spoken. Soft, whispery words, but words just the same.
Jenna looked at Braden, saw the amazement on his face, saw his mouth start to form the words of astonished elation that would alert Caitlin to the fact that what she had just done was so extraordinary, so wonderful.
She realized that if Braden over-reacted to what Caitlin had just accomplished, if he over-emphasized the importance of her speaking again she might panic and revert into her silent world. It was imperative that they treat her in as normal a manner as possible. But Braden started to speak.
She did the only thing she could think of to stop him.
She kissed him.
CHAPTER TEN
As a method of silencing him it was very effective. Too effective. What started as a diversion, a distraction from his response to Caitlin’s recovered speech, turned into the sweetest, most tender kiss she had ever experienced.
Braden reacted to her unexpected offering with all the fragile tenderness of a man presented with a second chance at life who was only brave enough to tentatively take what could be too delicate and tenuous to be real.
His lips were soft, warm and gentle on hers, his hand light as a breath on her cheek. Her own hands pressed against the broad expanse of his chest and they reverberated to the swift thudding of his heart. The wetness of her clothing, the shrill song of swooping birds, the breeze rustling the eucalyptus leaves, all receded to nothing as sheer bliss invaded every particle of her being. An eternity seemed to pass. An eternity of such moving tenderness that, as Caitlin’s giggle drew them reluctantly apart, Jenna couldn’t tell if the moisture on her cheeks was dam water or tears.
“Jenna ...” Braden’s voice was husky, his hand fallen to her arm, trembling slightly as it brushed down to her fingers. His black hair, curled and unruly from the fresh water, tumbled into his eyes, eyes that held hers in such a swirling array of emotions that her breath caught in her throat.
“Uncle Braden’s all wet like you, Jinx.”
Braden turned around to Caitlin, and Jenna forestalled him again.
“Not as wet as you’ll be, Possum, if you don’t win the race back to the car,” she said as she splashed water at the child and started to walk out of the water. Braden stepped up onto the bank before her and again offered his hand.
This time he was ready for her and he pulled her up swiftly, drawing her so close to him that only their clasped hands separated them. Again that crackling sexual tension sparked between them, unnerving Jenna with the sudden melting of her limbs and the deep pounding of her heart through her body.
Braden seemed about to speak but Caitlin called to them and together they followed her as she ran back to the car. Quickly, quietly, Jenna explained to Braden how important it was not to make a big issue out of Caitlin’s speech returning.
“I won!” Caitlin cried as she tumbled onto the rug.
“No,” Braden said quietly, “I think we all did today.”
Braden had a spare pair of shorts and a shirt in the car. He gave the shirt to Jenna and they changed in the amenities block. The shirt was pale blue with a fine dark blue stripe and came half-way to her knees. She felt a little self-conscious dressed only in the shirt and her satin briefs as they spread their wet clothes on the grass to dry in the hot sun.
She fe
lt Braden’s gaze on her as she knelt back on the rug and tried to smooth the shirt down her long legs.
“I never knew that shirt could look so good,” he grinned.
Jenna tried to hide the blush of pleasure his words brought and busied herself placing chicken and salad on crunchy bread rolls. He kept looking at her, the same grin on his face, and she fumbled so much with the rolls she finally asked him to pour some drinks so he would be otherwise occupied.
Caitlin chatted gaily through lunch, her conversation a litany of “Did you see...” about Underwater World. Jenna was amazed. It was as though a dam had burst and the torrent of words was connecting her with the world again.
Jenna poured coffee from a thermos flask and cut apple danish into slices. After Caitlin finished her danish her flow of words ceased, and, yawning, she lay down on the rug. Within a minute her eyes had closed in the deep, easy sleep of tired children.
Jenna and Braden sat quietly, drinking their coffee. Sun sparkled on the deep blue water, the surrounding hills shrouded in dark green bush. Only the sounds of birds singing and the slight rustle of breeze through the tree-tops broke the silence. So peaceful. Jenna’s eyes closed. Her lack of sleep from the night before was starting to catch up with her.
The cup was gently taken from her hand. Her head jerked up. Braden was putting the cups in the basket. He placed a cushion on the rug.
“You’re tired. Lie down,” he ordered. The gruffness of the order was belied by the gentleness in his eyes. He was right. She was tired. Perhaps it wouldn’t hurt to relax for a minute. After all, they couldn’t go anywhere until their clothes dried. She settled back on the cushion and closed her eyes.
Cutting off one of her senses only helped to heighten the others. Braden was sitting beside her. She could hear his deep rhythmic breathing, the soft swish of skin on skin as he brushed something from his shoulder; smell the warm masculine scent of him, the fresh, clean sharpness of the dam water on his skin.
