We turned onto the last stretch of road from our place and I sighed heavily. For a brief second an image popped into my head of walking through the front door, the scent of roast lamb and vegetables hanging in the air only to find Mum had outdone herself and dinner was ready. Yet it was the double decker chocolate cake in the middle of the table that had my mouth watering. Only, I knew it wasn’t going to be a reality. The reality was much bleaker than that. The house would be empty and cold. Dirty socks would still be lying where they were dumped. On the sink, a dirty coffee mug waiting to be washed. The fridge, slowly but surely emptying out. Dad and I weren’t really big on the grocery shopping thing. I guess that was just another thing that would have to change, otherwise we’d be eating tinned spaghetti for the foreseeable future, and I really hated tinned spaghetti.
“Have you heard from Mum at all?” I don’t know why I asked, and the instant I did, I regretted it seeing the way Dad’s face fell.
“Yeah, this morning.”
“And?”
“She’s in Paris. She’s having a great time. Spending a shit load of money.”
It was weird. Dad could have been bitter about it, he could have been angry, either I would understand, yet for some reason he just sounded bored. “Is she coming back?”
“I guess. Eventually.”
“What the hell does that mean?”
“Jack, I don’t know what your mother wants. She’s happy in Paris. Next week she’s heading to Nice. That’s all I know.”
“Is she at least alone?”
“What are you asking me?” There was some bite to his tone now.
“Fuck it!” I was sick of pussy footing around the subject. I had questions. Questions that needed answers. I wasn’t a kid any more. The answers, while they might hurt, at least I wasn’t living like a damn mushroom in the dark. “Is Mum hanging out with some arrogant French asshole and never coming home?” I felt better as soon as I spat it out.
For a long moment Dad just stared out the windscreen, saying nothing. In the paddock beside us the wheat was dancing on the wind and a few errant kangaroos slept under the massive tree on the hill. “I don’t think so. She’s asked me to come over.”
“What!” Okay, I did not in a million years see that coming. I thought Mum and Dad were done. After all the fighting and after all the horrible things they’d said to and about each other, I was sure we were headed for divorce papers and dividing the assets. Not once did it cross my mind that maybe they just needed a break from each other. In a vague way I knew running a farm like ours was stressful. The size of it alone was enough to make some people baulk at the idea. Hell, I was baulking at the idea and I didn’t really have a choice. People who worked for us, people who’d worked for us for a long ass time, were depending on me pulling my shit together and keeping this going.
“Yeah, I was shocked too.” He chuckled. Asshat actually laughed at me.
“Do-do you want to go?” Seriously, I could not picture my dad in Paris. He was a damn country hick. Don’t get me wrong, most of the time I loved him, but him fitting in in France…nah, I just couldn’t see it. Between his well-worn, dirty work boots he wore everywhere, and the jeans, which I was pretty sure he bought in bulk before I was even born, there was not a chance in hell he wouldn’t stand out like a sore thumb in the fashion capital of the world.
“Yeah, I think I do.”
“Oh.”
“I’m going to head over,” he announced, the decision made.
“When?” I blurted out, unable or maybe unwilling to hide the shock in my voice.
“I’m thinking I’ll head out next Thursday. Is that okay with you?”
How the fuck was I supposed to respond to that? Did I want to see Mum and Dad happy? Of course. Did I see this coming? No freaking way. Was I ready for both my parents to pack up and take off to the other side of the world with pretty much no notice and leave me here? Alone? Fuck no!
“I guess,” I mumbled, digging through my pocket for my phone. “I should let Gage know we’re almost here.”
Dad bit his lip. I knew there was something more he wanted to say but was holding back. I was grateful for his silence. While deep down I knew him going to France and figuring this shit out with Mum, one way or another, was the best thing for everyone, leaving me here on my own, that certainly wasn’t the best thing for me. What the fuck did I know? People were going to ask me shit I had no idea about. I had school. I didn’t even know how to cook. I mean I could throw a steak on the barbeque, but really, who couldn’t? I wanted to ask how long he was going for. I wanted to ask what the hell I was supposed to do. Instead I said nothing and shot a text to Gage, letting him know we’d be home in fifteen minutes. His reply came quickly. I passed the message on to Dad that he’d be leaving shortly before stuffing the phone back in my pocket and went back to my sulking.
When we turned into the drive, it was just as depressing as I expected. The sun was setting over the hill, turning the sky orange and purple. Even though we’d wanted to be home hours ago, once Dad and his buddies got chatting about cattle prices and other boring shit I didn’t care about, it was impossible to get him to shut up. In the end, it was one of the bulls who appeared to be getting cranky and started stomping that got his attention and got us back on track. Our house up ahead looked dark and desolate. Not one light was on and it practically looked abandoned. There were no personal touches at the front door giving any indication that anyone actually lived there. I made a mental note to start kicking my shoes off outside the front step just to bring some life to the place. Mum would kick my ass if I did, but she wasn’t here.
Slowly Dad bounced the truck down the driveway towards the yards behind the house. After five minutes bouncing and grumbling about the potholes that needed to be filled in, he backed up.
Without a word, guys appeared from everywhere ready to help. When it had just been Dad and I, he’d had to rely on me. Together we’d loaded the beasts into the back without any issues. Now we were home, and his men were itching to help, I was nudged out of the way. It didn’t feel good. Instead of arguing about it, I headed around the other side and climbed up onto the fence and watched from here. If they didn’t want my help, fine. They could do it on their own. Didn’t mean I had to go inside and bake a cake like a little woman though.
The first bull came off the truck without incident. If anything, he seemed bored by the whole ordeal. I couldn’t blame him really. The second, he came off okay, but as soon as his hooves hit the dirt, he made a hell of a lot of noise about nothing. The third—the one Dad impulse purchased—he wasn’t playing the game. At least he wasn’t playing the same game everyone else was. By the time his hooves hit the dirt he had one farm hand, Adam, bent over, clutching his stomach where the bastard had head butted him. Another, Jason, was whinging about how the big, heavy ass had stepped on his toe. We’d all been there. It hurt like hell but in the end, it was always our fault, never the bull’s. How the hell were they supposed to know better? When he got into the yard, I noticed some blood on his nose and made a mental note to make sure Gage checked it out. The last thing I needed was a cranky ass bull with an infection.
“They look good,” old man Morris commented as he clapped Dad on the back. Morris had been around longer than I had. He practically ran this place. Well, technically he did, but as time had gotten the better of him, well time and a fight with prostate cancer, Adam had taken over as the main man, but when the shit hit the fan, Morris was always the one they turned to.
“Jack chose those two,” Dad pointed out proudly.
It kinda shocked me to see him actually throwing some credit my way. Not that I was looking for it, but it made me feel like I was important. Like I actually had a clue what went on around here and I wouldn’t run the place into the ground when it was all left to me. I knew that was something that bothered some of the workers, especially Adam. He and I didn’t see eye to eye on much. Actually, come to think of it, I couldn’t think of one thing we a
greed on.
“What about the other?” Morris asked pointing out the cranky bull who had his head stuck in the water trough.
“He was my choice.”
“Of course he was.” Morris chuckled as he clapped Dad on the shoulder before stepping up on the bottom rail of the fence and checking it out.
From my spot I could see the cloud of dust floating up into the air…a dead giveaway Gage had arrived. And when my stomach rumbled, I realised it wasn’t a minute too soon. The sooner he gave these guys the all clear, the sooner I could head inside and find some food. I hoped Mum left some of that pasta sauce in the freezer. I could go for a big bowl right now.
Jumping off the fence, I headed over to meet Gage. Although I’d done my best not to spend too much time thinking about Holly today, she was always there. After the frantic messages last night, I was dying to know what happened. Hopefully it was nothing bad. I don’t know how I’d cope if it was serious. Not after those pictures.
Gage pulled up across the other side of the drive and I jogged over to meet him. “How’s it going?”
“Good. You?”
“I’m fine.” He was grabbing his shit from the backseat and I knew I was running out of time. “How’s Holly?”
“Holly, hey?”
“Yeah?”
“You care about her, don’t you?” he asked, putting me on the spot.
“Well, yeah.” I had nothing to hide. Caring about her didn’t mean shit. She was a nice girl. One I imagined hadn’t had the easiest time. Someone who could use a friend. And for some reason, rightly or wrongly, I felt like I could trust her. Maybe it would come back and bite me on the ass, maybe it wouldn’t, but this was something I was willing to gamble on.
He shut the door gently. “Check the front seat. She probably needs someone to talk to.”
What! Holly was here. Until the moment he said it, I hadn’t noticed he’d been using his body to block my view. Whether it was deliberate or not, I wasn’t sure. But when he stepped around me, I saw her. She had a jacket tucked up under her chin, covering her like a blanket and she was sound asleep. She hadn’t even noticed the car had stopped.
“The drive’s like ten minutes?”
“She’s been in the car for over an hour.”
“Why?”
“Guess you’re about to find out.”
“You don’t know?”
“I have my suspicions, but no. I don’t know why she went out to the truck and fell asleep. Not when she had a perfectly good bed upstairs. Anyhow, I better go see what you brought home.”
“Okay.” I didn’t really know what to say. This day was getting weirder and weirder, and I suddenly got the sinking feeling that it wasn’t over yet. Not by a long shot.
Stumbling around the passenger side, my eyes never once left her. She looked so peaceful as she slept. Like nothing was bothering her. Nothing was hurting her. Part of me didn’t want to wake her and ruin that. Instead of following my gut and letting her sleep, I opened the door carefully. I didn’t know if she was leaning on it or not and it would have been a horrible way to wake up. Fall out of the car ’cause some dumb ass opened the door you were using as a pillow.
Thankfully she didn’t fall out.
“Holly! Holly! Come on, wake up, Princess,” I whispered softly as I peeled back the jacket covering her. Her skin pebbled with goose bumps as it was revealed, and I instantly felt like shit for making her cold. The desire to wrap her up and keep her safe was overwhelming. “Come on,” I tried again, reaching out and touching her elbow lightly.
Whack!
I actually heard the sound it made as her palm connected with my cheek in the slap of the decade. My ears rang and my cheek burned.
“What the fuck?” I screeched like a little girl.
As soon as I did, I regretted it. Not only did every set of eyes over by the yards turn and stare at me, but Holly’s went wide and full of fear.
“Oh my god, Jack! I’m so sorry. I didn’t know. I didn’t know…” She was babbling as fast as she could get the words out. It would have been cute if I wasn’t in so much pain. Man, that girl could cause some damage. With a slap like that, she didn’t need anyone to protect her. And that was from dead to the world, snoring and snorting asleep to slap. She fumbled with her seatbelt, trying to get it undone. Unable to let her struggle, I reached down and took hold of both her hands in one of mine, steadying them.
“Let me.” With quick, nimble fingers, I unsnapped the belt and stepped back, letting her slide from the car.
I wasn’t trying to be an asshole, but when she turned around and grabbed her thongs from the floor, bending her perfect peach-shaped ass in the air, tugging those skin-tight jeans even tighter across her backside, I couldn’t hold back the groan.
Forcing myself to think with the other head, I stepped back and gave her some room. Across the way, Gage was jumping the fence into the yards. Dad was having a hard time deciding whether to watch me or his prize bulls. Making the decision for him, I grabbed Holly’s hand, ignored her shocked expression, and led her towards the house.
“Where are you taking me?” she panted, trying to keep up with my long strides.
I don’t know why I was in such a hurry, I just was. “You’re going to come inside and help me cook dinner.” I hadn’t known I was going to say that, but it sounded like a good excuse. Besides, I was still hungry.
Stepping up the concrete stairs, I kicked off my muddy runners and yanked open the screen door. I had yet to let go of Holly’s hand but now didn’t seem to be the time. Flicking on the lights as we went, we ducked through the laundry, pausing long enough to grab a plastic container filled with Mum’s pasta sauce from the freezer before I led her into the kitchen.
“Make yourself at home,” I invited, trying to lighten the mood.
“Th-thanks.” Holly seemed scattered. Her eyes were darting all over the room and I couldn’t blame her. Sometimes I couldn’t even remember what was in here. When she ventured over towards the fireplace, I saw her trail her fingers over the dusty frames on the mantle. I couldn’t even remember the last time I’d looked at them. They were always just…there.
“That’s Mum and Dad.”
“They look so young.”
“They probably were.” Even though I’d clicked on lamps all through the house and it now looked warm and inviting, something was still missing. Maybe it was the silence. I thought about putting some music on, but quickly shook off the idea. I didn’t want Holly thinking I was going to hit on her. Not that there was anything wrong with her, I mean she was beautiful inside and out even if she didn’t believe it, and she was hotter than hell, but the absolute last thing in the world I wanted was to make her feel uncomfortable.
“Anyway, I need a shower and we need to get the pasta on.”
“Well, why don’t you show me around your kitchen and I’ll cook while you shower?”
“Ah, just like a good little housewife.”
“I’ll give you housewife,” Holly teased, snagging a tea towel from the handle of the oven and whipping my ass with it. For a few seconds we froze exactly where we were and stared at each other. I had no idea what she was thinking and I’d be fucked if I pretended I could read her. Then, like an eruption she dissolved into a fit of giggles. I couldn’t help but follow her lead.
Five minutes later, with my sides aching from laughing so hard, Holly had a pot of water bubbling on the stove and the pasta sauce defrosting. “I’m just going to run upstairs real quick and grab a shower. You right here?”
“Yep!” She smiled at me and I knew I was fucked. Completely and utterly gone. Holly McIntyre could have asked me for the world and I would have given everything I was to make it hers.
It felt so good to laugh and be silly with Jack. I was almost sad when he dashed upstairs, leaving me alone with a boiling pot of water. Stupidly, he assumed I knew what I was doing in a kitchen. I don’t know whether it was because I was female, or he simply hoped I had more of a clue t
han he did. The truth was, I had no fucking idea how to cook. While I’d been away at boarding school, I’d eaten in the cafeteria every night, and when I’d missed meals there, I resorted to microwave noodles and tinned soup. Not exactly a culinary feast. The water started bubbling on the stove and I threw in the bag of pasta he’d left on the bench. It looked like a lot, but what would I know? The microwave pinged and I opened the door. Sticking my finger into the thick red sauce, I hit a frozen bit in the middle. Shutting the door, I put it on for another five minutes and sat down at the bench.
I was flipping through the paper, bored out of my brain, wondering why I’d even bothered to come with Gage. It didn’t take long to remember that it wasn’t so much that I wanted to hang out with Gage or even come to the Reynold’s place as much as it was I needed to get away from home. There was only so many pitying looks and teary eyes one person could handle. And I had well and truly reached my limit.
“Can’t believe they called Mum,” I muttered to myself, flipping the page. I wasn’t really concentrating on the paper, it just felt good to have something to keep my hands busy.
“Your mum’s back?”
Jack startled me and I jumped off the stool, knocking my knee on the corner of the bench. It stung like a bitch and the urge to let loose a long line of expletives was almost too much. Almost.
“Shit, Jack!” I scolded, hopping around on one foot to face him.
I think my jaw hit the floor. If it didn’t, gravity wasn’t working properly.
I knew what it felt like to be wrapped up in Jack’s arms. How protected, how warm he made me feel. But right now the boy, no, no, there was nothing boyish about Jack. He was a man. A very masculine man. One who was right now boiling my blood and dampening my panties. The worst part was he was completely unaware of the affect he was having on me. Well, that and the fact he wasn’t trying. His hair was wet and he was rubbing it with a thick navy towel. Drops of water beaded on his tanned, naked chest, and I watched as they navigated a path through the smattering of dark hair down to the band of his of his deliciously low riding sweatpants.
Fighting Back (Meet the McIntyres Book 3) Page 14
