As everyone laughed, Ethan pouted at her. ‘Sorry, babe, but I just couldn’t bear to wait a second longer before seeing you again. I’ll go clean up now.’
He retreated, but not before he gave her another big smooch on the lips. It was clear they couldn’t get enough of each other, and although Lawson and Meg were more subtle, the way he looked at her when he greeted her with a quick kiss on the cheek made it obvious they were also mad for each other. Watching these two couples was enough to make Ferg believe in love. Almost. But the fact Tabitha was still so shaken up about Ryder after almost ten years was a helpful reminder just how much of a risk it could be.
Ferg looked away as once again he remembered how her mouth had felt against his. His tongue darted out to lick his lips of his own accord and dammit, he could still taste her. How could his mind and body be in such opposition?
As Lawson went off to shower, Ned looked to Meg, ‘Can I show Mr McDuck my new PlayStation game?’
She hesitated a moment. ‘Go on. But only till your dad and Ethan are ready and only if Fergus doesn’t mind.’
‘I’d love to see your game.’ Ferg couldn’t jump up fast enough and followed Ned into the lounge room, welcoming the opportunity to lose himself in something as simple as a video game. Hopefully racing around a cyber track in a bright green sports car would keep his thoughts from wandering down such unhelpful paths.
Right at this moment Tabitha was glad of Ned’s obsession with video games. It gave her a few minutes reprieve from Fergus.
Oh Lord, she couldn’t believe she’d kissed him.
What on earth had possessed her to kiss him? It was only meant to be a friendly peck on the cheek, but he’d moved his head at the last moment, making it lip action instead. She’d felt sparks crashing into each other from the tip of her toes to the end of her nose, but they were obviously one-sided. She’d just bared her soul to him and he’d only offered to be her fake boyfriend because he’d felt sorry for her. He’d made it more than clear he wasn’t in the market for a relationship and couldn’t have pulled away fast enough. She’d never wished more in her life for a UFO to beam her up far, far away.
And then she’d prolonged the agony by going and asking him to dinner. The poor guy was likely here against his will and there had to be rocks in her head.
She eyed the glass of wine in Kimmy’s hand, wishing like hell she could just have a little sip, but no way was she doing anything to jeopardise the precious life growing inside her. She needed to remember that her baby was the most important thing in the world and she didn’t need anything or anybody else. If she focused on her child and their future together, maybe she could manage to maintain some semblance of normal around Fergus, maybe she could ignore the stupid pregnancy hormones that were obviously wreaking havoc with her normally unflappable common sense.
It was probably a good thing she hadn’t accepted his well-meaning offer—she didn’t need to add any more complications to her life.
‘You and the spunky hunk of teacher seem to be getting along well,’ Meg said, jolting Tab from her thoughts.
She willed her cheeks not to heat. ‘He was visiting Mrs Lord at the hospital. It just felt right to ask him for dinner.’
Meg and Kimmy exchanged knowing smirks, but she ignored them, stood and went to check on the food. They could think what they liked, but if they thought anything was going to happen between her and Fergus, they’d be disappointed. Thankfully, Meg dropped the subject and the three of them got things ready for the return of the boys instead. Tab made gravy, while Meg carved the joint and Kimmy set the table.
When they all sat down to eat, Tab once again thanked the Lord for Ned. Without him, this would feel far too much like a couples dinner. Dishes were piled high with roast beef, crispy potatoes and steamed veggies, and then drowned in gravy. As everyone began to eat, the conversation flowed easily.
‘Will you go back to Perth at the end of your contract here?’ Lawson asked after they’d grilled Fergus on where he’d lived and worked in the city.
‘Hopefully not. I’ve applied for a few more country jobs—one up north in the Pilbara in a remote Aboriginal community.’
The Pilbara? But that was so far away. Tab immediately berated herself for this stupid thought. What would it matter if it were Alaska or Antarctica?
‘Wow, I imagine that will be quite a lifestyle change. Have you always wanted to teach country?’ Kimmy wanted to know.
‘It wasn’t ever anything I put a great deal of thought into, because …’ He hesitated a moment. ‘Well, my life was in Perth, but a few things changed recently and I thought maybe it was a sign to step out of my comfort zone and put myself where I can really make a difference.’
Tab guessed his move had something to do with his ex, but the takeaway from his statement was that he wasn’t staying in Walsh, so she’d be stupid to let her pesky pregnancy hormones latch onto the idea that there could ever be anything between them. Those hormones were turning her brain to mush—if she hadn’t managed to score a guy before now, her luck was hardly going to turn around in her current state.
‘Surely there are children and schools in Perth where you could make a difference too,’ Kimmy argued.
‘Yes.’ Tab saw Fergus’s grip tighten almost imperceptibly around his beer bottle. ‘Of course there are, but it’s slightly easier to fill those teaching positions. What made you decide to go country?’
Kimmy glanced at Ethan. ‘I heard there were a bunch of hot single farmers down here …’ His grin spread wide across his face, then she added, ‘Sadly, I found this one instead.’
Everyone laughed as Ethan pressed a hand to his heart pretending to be wounded, but Tab felt a yearning deep within her. She was usually okay with other people’s public displays of affection and she didn’t begrudge her closest friends and family love, but today, watching Ethan and Kimmy and Lawson and Meg, only reminded her of what she didn’t have.
Of what she’d never have.
Conversation turned to Ethan’s reasons for coming down under and he explained to Fergus how his year backpacking around Australia had turned into almost four and that, although he missed certain things about home, he wasn’t sure he’d ever go back for good.
‘What about you? Are your family all in Perth?’
Tab squirmed a little in her seat, knowing that Fergus didn’t have much family. She’d practically forced him to come to dinner and now everyone was giving him the Spanish Inquisition.
‘There’s only me and my twin sister left,’ he said, then took a long swig of his beer. ‘She’s in Perth.’
Ned had been listening intently while stuffing his face with roast potatoes, but his head snapped up at this statement. ‘You said you didn’t have a sister.’
‘Huh?’ Fergus frowned as all eyes turned to him.
‘When we were all telling each other three things,’ Ned said, sounding more than a little affronted. ‘Remember? Victoria asked you if you had brothers or sisters and you said you had none.’
Fergus lowered his fork to his plate. ‘I … I’m sorry, Ned. Things aren’t great between my sister and me, and I don’t like to talk about her.’
‘Why not? What happened?’
‘Ned, that’s none of your business,’ Lawson chastised, glancing apologetically at Fergus.
‘It’s fine.’ He smiled at Ned but his smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. ‘We had a disagreement and we haven’t spoken to each other since.’
Ned looked like he had more questions, but another sharp look from Lawson had him shutting his mouth again. Tab couldn’t help wondering what could possibly have been so bad as to cause such a rift between Fergus and his only sister. Sure, she and Lawson had the odd disagreement—mostly over stupid stuff like TV shows and whose turn it was to do a chore—but she couldn’t comprehend either of them doing anything that would cause estrangement. And if that ever happened, it would break her heart even more than Ryder O’Connell had.
She had an intense ur
ge to reach across the table and squeeze Fergus’s hand.
‘Would anyone like a second helping?’ she asked, pushing to a stand. Her plate was still half-full but she had to do something to rescue him.
‘Can I have some more potatoes, Aunty Tab?’ Ned asked.
Ethan glanced down at his empty plate. ‘I’ve always got room for seconds.’
‘None for me, thanks.’ Kimmy patted her stomach. ‘I’m saving room for dessert. Is your ice-cream on the menu, again?’
‘Of course.’
The food distraction worked—everyone seemed to get the message that they’d grilled Fergus enough. While they ate far too much ice-cream, they kept to safe topics of conversation such as Carline’s treatment progress, the mural Fergus was painting with the kids at school and possible names for Tab’s baby.
There were all sorts of suggestions—some lovely traditional ones and some so outlandishly ridiculous that they all couldn’t help laughing. It became a bit of a contest as to who could come up with the most bizarre option. As a teacher, Fergus had a number of terrible ones to throw in the mix: Darth, Dorcus, Moonbeam, Cobra and Abcde were just a few of the kids he’d apparently taught.
‘At my last school there was a girl in kindy called Candida.’
‘No way.’ All the adults gasped in unison and Ned wanted to know what was so bad about it.
‘It’s a nasty infection,’ Lawson told him with a smirk as he ruffled his hair. ‘A bit like naming your kid Chicken Pox.’
Ned thought this hilarious and Tab smiled at her brother’s quick thinking. She felt a bit awkward talking baby stuff considering what he and Meg were currently going through, but they seemed as invested in the contest as anyone, and focusing on the baby helped keep her mind off Ryder and her hormones off Fergus.
‘Are you planning on finding out the baby’s gender?’ he asked.
‘I don’t think so.’ She’d given this quite a lot of thought. ‘I like surprises.’
‘Can I play some more PlayStation with Mr McDuck,’ Ned asked, interrupting the conversation, which he was clearly bored with.
‘I don’t think so,’ Lawson said. ‘It’s a school night and past your bed time already.’
‘Aw.’
As Ned groaned, Fergus glanced at his watch. ‘Sorry, mate, I should be getting home anyway, but let me help with the dishes first.’
‘No way.’ Meg would hear of no such thing. ‘You’re a guest in our house, and besides, we have a dishwasher.’
‘It was great to have your company tonight,’ Lawson added as everyone began to stand.
Despite Meg’s objection, Fergus helped carry all the dishes over to the bench, as did Ethan and Kimmy as Lawson took Ned off to bed. Together, the remaining adults cleared the table, loaded the dishwasher and wiped down the surfaces so that Meg and Lawson wouldn’t be left with much to do. Then Kimmy and Ethan, hand in hand, bid everyone goodnight and made a hurried escape to his cottage.
It was no mystery what they were off to do and Tab felt an annoying flush of jealousy. Not of Kimmy getting to be with Ethan, but anyone getting to be with anyone. These pesky pregnancy hormones were really becoming a problem.
‘Thanks again,’ Fergus said to Meg, jolting Tab from her thoughts. ‘Dinner was delicious and I had a great night. The company sure beat that of my cranky feline.’
Meg laughed. ‘This cat sounds like a character, but you’re welcome anytime.’
Tab wasn’t sure whether to linger and make an excuse about waiting to say goodnight to Lawson to avoid the possible awkwardness of going outside alone with Fergus, but in the end Meg made the decision for her.
‘You’ll see Fergus out, won’t you, Tab?’ she said with a devious smile.
Tab hoped Fergus didn’t notice and made a mental note to speak to her sister-in-law later about her misguided matchmaking. Then she pasted a carefree grin on her face as she and the teacher bid a final farewell to Meg and walked out into the night.
‘I’m sorry for all those questions,’ Tab said, feeling the need to say something as they headed to their cars. Her arm swung alongside his, her hand so aware of his only inches away.
‘It’s okay. Your family, Ethan and Kimmy—they’re all impossible not to like. I had a good night. Thanks for inviting me.’
‘No worries,’ she swallowed, her mouth suddenly dry as they stopped in front of her van. ‘As I said, we always have way too much food anyway.’
Ferg nodded as the moon went behind a cloud and light flickered briefly across his face. He looked pensively down at her and the air suddenly felt stifling.
‘What is it?’ she whispered.
His answer, or rather his lips, caught her by surprise. One minute she was berating herself for the stupid fantasy that he might want to kiss her and the next minute he actually was. His hands landed either side of her face, his palms deliciously warm against her skin as his tongue ran along the seam of her lips, nudging her mouth open.
Not that there was much nudging required.
Her mind might have been in shock but her body was on fire. She dropped her bag and reached her hand into his hair, running her fingers through his thick dark locks, anchoring his mouth to hers. He tasted of beer and roast beef and despite the late hour, she could smell a hint of the deodorant he must have sprayed on that morning.
Her senses were in overdrive, every nerve ending in her body buzzing as she kissed him as if her life depended on it. And if the hardness pressing into her belly was anything to go by, it wasn’t just her body affected. The knowledge she’d made him hard had her head spinning and made her want to taste him—not just his mouth, but all over.
Forgetting where they were, Tab slid her hand down his back, loving the feel of his hard muscles beneath his soft T-shirt. He groaned into her mouth as she cupped his butt, pressing him against her and the sound was sweeter than anything she’d ever heard. He was sweeter than anything she’d ever tasted.
And then suddenly it was over.
His hands fell from her face and he stepped back, putting distance between them. ‘I’m sorry, Tabitha.’
Before she could ask what exactly he was apologising for, he yanked his keys out of his pocket, unlocked his car and climbed inside. She jumped at the sound of the door closing, and her heart was still racing, her lips still buzzing, as he drove away.
What the hell?! Tab stood there like a stunned mullet as Fergus’s headlights faded into the distance. Rage filled her body.
‘Oh no you don’t, mister,’ she muttered as she scooped her handbag off the dirt and fished for her keys. He couldn’t just drive off and leave her like that. He didn’t get to kiss her like she’d never been kissed before and then leave her standing alone in the dark, wanting and wondering. That might be how people did things in the city, but country folks were upfront with each other, at least she was.
She might have been able to continue as normal if they’d left things at the almost-kiss they’d shared in the hospital, but he’d just made that impossible.
Chapter Nineteen
Fergus didn’t look back as he hooned down the gravel driveway towards the road that would lead him home. His hands were clenching the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles hurt.
He deserved a bloody medal.
It had taken every ounce of self-control he possessed to break that kiss and walk away when his instincts were screaming at him to yank them both down onto the ground and have his wicked way with her right there in the dirt, only fifty or so metres from her brother’s house. He was still hot and hard and doubted he’d get any sleep that night but he’d done the right thing. Hadn’t he?
This question weighed on his mind as he swerved onto the road. After only a few metres, a light flickered in his rear-view mirror. He knew it would be Tabitha heading back to Rose Hill. Perhaps he should pull over, signal her to stop and try to apologise properly for his monumental stuff-up.
Perhaps he was a coward for deciding not to, but he didn’t trust himself in the d
ark with her and he got the feeling she wouldn’t appreciate his efforts anyway.
The sign to Mrs Lord’s farm loomed close and with a heavy sigh, he slowed his car and turned in. Mrs Norris better not rile him tonight because he wasn’t in the mood.
But the car behind him didn’t continue on.
It turned in right after him—its headlights getting dangerously closer, its driver clearly in a rage. If he didn’t know who was behind the wheel, he’d be freaking out; as it was, he didn’t know whether to slow down or speed up. Tabitha was so close that if he stopped she’d probably ram right into him.
Dread tightened his chest—what the hell was she doing?
His heart pounding, he tried to drive steadily on towards the rickety old carport at the side of the house. The van came to a stop right behind him and as he tentatively climbed out, its door flung open and Tabitha emerged.
The moon gave enough light that he could see her expression as she slammed the door and stormed towards him. Her nostrils flared, her eyes were cold and her lips as flat as a ruler. Every feature on her face radiated fury, and crazily, she looked even more gorgeous than usual.
‘What the hell was that about, Fergus McWilliams?’ The words fired out like gunshots and her chest heaved.
He opened his mouth but didn’t know what to say.
Tabitha had enough words for them both. ‘I’ll tell you what that was, or at least what it felt like. A kiss between two people who are clearly hot for each other. But maybe I’m wrong. Maybe I felt things that you didn’t. Was it a pity kiss? Is that it? You feel sorry for the poor disabled girl and were trying to make her feel better? Well, you failed at that, because I—’
‘You know it wasn’t that,’ he growled, taking a step towards her. How could she even say such a thing? Couldn’t she feel the heat still emanating off him? ‘Being around you was driving me crazy. I’d been fantasising about kissing you all evening. I just couldn’t help myself.’
Something to Talk About (Rose Hill, #2) Page 17
