“Looks like you and Nick were making up for some lost time.” He winked and then laughed when she scowled. “You don’t look too happy about it.”
“I’m feeling a lot of things about Nick at the moment, but happy isn’t one of them.”
Percy shook his head and made a tsking sound. “I always thought the two of you were made for each other.”
“We were too young.” And Nick had destroyed any hope for a future together.
Percy shrugged. “Maybe, but you two had something special. Sometimes life throws you a second chance. It’s up to you whether you want to leap high enough to catch it.”
“I’m not here for second chances. I don’t know what that kiss was about, but it wasn’t a let’s-pick-up-where-we-left-off kiss.”
Their relationship hadn’t worked in the past, and it wasn’t going to work now. She didn’t want happily-ever-after. Ava dated men who knew it would only be physical—not a relationship. She enjoyed sex and wouldn’t be ashamed of it, but that’s as far as it went.
Firsthand she’d witnessed what a relationship had done to her mother. How her father treated her with no respect. Parading numerous affairs in her mother’s face while she ignored them but let it fester inside.
When they were about to drive past Maggie’s house, she asked Percy to pull into the driveway.
“Nick told me to take you to the house.”
“I’m a big girl, Percy, I can go wherever I like. Thanks for the lift.”
He stopped and she gave him a quick peck on his weathered cheek, got out of the truck, and ran to the veranda.
If Maggie was surprised to find Ava back soaking wet and covered in muddy paw prints, she didn’t show it. She glanced past Ava at Percy’s truck driving away. “Get inside. You’re soaking wet. I thought you were with Nick?”
“He had some things he needed to do.”
With a silent look of skepticism, Maggie ushered her in the house and led her down the hall into a modern, with splashes of country charm, bathroom.
Maggie pulled out two fluffy rose-colored towels from the bathroom vanity and placed them on the rim of the bathtub. “Have a shower and warm up. I’ll find something for you to wear, and I’ll leave the clothes by the door. We’ll have tea in the kitchen when you’re done.” She smiled and closed the door behind her.
Ava once again found herself in someone else’s bathroom looking like a drowned rat and in need of something to wear. She couldn’t recall ever being so disheveled in her life and now in two days she was at her absolute worst.
When she’d finished showering she wrapped a towel around her and gathered the clothes Maggie had left outside the door. She put on the soft denim jeans and secured the loose waistband with the belt Maggie provided. Ava had to forgo her bra and undies as they were too wet to put back on. The navy top was a little snug and pulled across her chest, but there wasn’t much she could do about it.
Ava bundled her clothes together, careful not to drip water on the floor, and went searching for the kitchen. Walking down a hallway, she paused in front of a display of photographs framed in glossy, black timber and arranged neatly in rows along the wall. She recognized the farm. There were photos of animals, flowers, orchard trees budding with spring blossoms and others heavy with fruit. There was even one of Percy shoveling hay from the back of an ute to a herd of hungry cattle.
She looked at a photograph of Nick, his brother Brad, and their father Paul. The three of them had their arms slung over each other’s shoulders, green pastures of the farm in the background. With their faces covered in dust, they looked at each other with laughing smiles. Nick’s lit up face reminded her of a time when he smiled so easily. Now, in the last few hours they’d spent together, he’d been nothing but brooding and unsmiling.
She stared at the next photo. A dilapidated, white gazebo was nestled in a clump of pine trees with wildflowers tangled amongst the tall grass. The black-and-white photo was eerily beautiful. In its former glory, she’d spent many hours sitting in the gazebo with Nick, talking, making out, and eventually making love to him for the first time. It was their place to sneak away from the rest of the world. A knot formed in the pit of her belly at the flaking paint and rotting timber. Now it looked as depleted as their relationship.
With a heavy heart, Ava continued on and found the kitchen. Maggie was getting cups ready for tea.
“Do you have something I can put my wet clothes in?”
“Give them to me. I’ll toss them in the washing machine.” Maggie took them from her.
“No, I don’t want to bother you with them.”
“It’s no bother. I’ll be back in a minute.”
While waiting for Maggie she looked around the kitchen. It was a lot bigger than the old house Nick was living in, with sparkly, new appliances. But the smell was so familiar of the days she’d have tea with Maggie and eat whatever she’d baked that day. Scents of cinnamon and lemon tickled her nose, and nostalgia stirred in her heart.
Maggie returned. “I hope I don’t ruin your clothes. They look too fancy to be washed in a machine.”
Ava waved a hand. “I think they’re already ruined. I doubt you could do worse.”
Maggie laughed, poured the tea, and brought the steaming mugs to the table. “It’s so lovely to see you again. What brings you back?”
Ava took a moment and sipped her tea, so thankful Maggie didn’t hate her for leaving, and gathered her thoughts.
Maggie must have thought Ava didn’t want to answer the question and quickly added, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to be nosy.”
“You’re not being nosy. I’m here to see Bella. I’m on the farm staying with Nick because I broke down in the storm last night and he found me. He was kind enough to offer me a place to stay.” More like didn’t have much choice.
If Maggie had questions as to whether there was anything going on between them again, she didn’t ask. Instead she said, “Your dad will be thrilled to have you home.”
Ava shrugged. She doubted it.
“You’re still not getting along with Bernie?”
“Not exactly.”
Concern lined Maggie’s brow. “I would have hoped after all these years you two could have worked out your differences.”
“Too much has happened.”
Maggie reached out and patted her hand, giving her an understanding smile. She probably noticed Ava was uncomfortable talking about her father, because she changed the subject. “So tell me, what have you been up to all these years?”
“We could be here all night.” Ava laughed, thankful Maggie had let the subject drop.
Leaning back in her chair, Maggie smiled. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Ava told her about starting university straight after leaving Sunland Valley. The years of study and the horrible part-time jobs she had to endure to pay her way. She told Maggie about her friends Jade and Lauren and about their Tuesday night drinks ritual. She could see the pride in Maggie’s face when she told her she’d graduated with high distinctions and was now a partner in a law firm.
“You haven’t mentioned anyone special. Are you seeing anyone?” Maggie asked.
There was no one special in her life. Once she believed Nick was the special person in her life, but she’d been wrong.
“No, I’m not seeing anyone.” She smiled at Maggie to reassure her she was okay with that, then added, “I’m too busy for anything serious.” And basically, never would do serious. But Maggie didn’t need to know that her parents’ train wreck of a marriage twisted her views on relationships and she wanted to avoid them.
She had been at Maggie’s house for over an hour and there’d been no sign of Paul. She hadn’t seen him on the farm either, and wondered if he was away. “How’s Paul? I haven’t seen him around.”
Maggie paled, and she bit her trembling bottom lip. Icy fingers crawled up Ava’s spine, and she wished she’d never asked the question, because now she really didn’t want to know the answer.
&
nbsp; “Nicky didn’t tell you?” Maggie’s voice cracked.
Ava shook her head, not trusting her voice to sound any clearer, and waited with dread for what was to come.
“Paul died almost seven months ago. He had a heart attack. Percy found him in the west paddock, but there was nothing he could do.” Maggie wiped a tear from her cheek.
“Oh, Maggie.” Ava rose from the chair, knelt in front of the grieving woman, and hugged her. “Why did you let me carry on about the stupid things happening in my life? I feel like an insensitive cow.” The sadness of Paul’s death tore at her heart.
Maggie cupped Ava’s face, kissed her on the cheek, and smiled warmly. “Not stupid, Ava, a life to be proud of.”
Ava sat back down. She couldn’t believe Nick never told her about Paul. She wanted to be angry at him for keeping it from her, but she knew talking about the death of his father wouldn’t be easy. He barely spoke to her at all, so he wouldn’t want to talk about something so painful.
“How are you coping?”
“I won’t lie, it’s been tough. I keep expecting him to walk through the door at any minute, dragging mud all over my floors.” Maggie brushed away another tear.
Ava could only imagine how hard it must be for her. Maggie and Paul’s marriage was the real deal. When she’d met Nick’s parents, she’d held on to a small amount of hope that true love really existed. And once thought she might have found it with Nick before things went wrong.
“I’m so sorry. Paul was a wonderful man.” She squeezed Maggie’s hand.
“Thank you,” Maggie said, squeezing back. She shook her head and waved a hand. “Enough depressing talk. We need something stronger to drink than tea. I have a nice bottle of Shiraz we should open.” She rose and rummaged inside a cupboard.
Ava glanced at the digital time on the microwave and laughed. “It’s only eleven in the morning.”
Maggie paused with the bottle in her hand. “It is?” She shrugged. “We can have an early lunch. I have some leftover pasta salad if that’s okay with you?”
“You don’t need to feed me.” Maggie never let her leave with an empty stomach.
“I know I don’t. I want to.” She pointed in the direction she’d left earlier with her wet clothes. “While I get lunch ready, would you mind putting your clothes in the dryer? I heard the washing machine stop.”
“Sure.” Ava went in search of the laundry and put the clothes in the dryer.
Back in the kitchen, Maggie had pasta salad, sliced crusty, thick bread, and wine set on the table.
“This looks delicious.” She sat down, scooped the pasta onto her plate, and buttered a slice of bread.
“Eat up. There’s plenty left over. I made it for Nicky last night, but he never made it to dinner.” She frowned. “He never mentioned it was you he was helping.”
“Honestly, I think he wished he’d never stopped to help.” Ava shrugged. “We’re both a bit touchy around each other.”
Maggie blotted the side of her mouth with a napkin. “I’m not exactly sure what happened between the two of you all those years ago, but I do remember how in love you were. And then all of a sudden you left without uttering a word, leaving poor Nicky heartbroken.”
It was the second time Maggie had mentioned Nick’s broken heart. For Ava to have broken it, he needed to have one to start with. Nothing warm beat in the cold, dark cave in his chest.
Maggie continued. “He hid it well. Then when the rumor circulated about Nicky and Bradley opening a brothel in town, he disguised his hurt with anger.”
Ava knew Maggie was wrong. If he’d been angry, it was because the link to her father’s money left town, not because of a broken heart. He told her himself he never loved her.
“Starting the rumor about the brothel was definitely childish. I never should have done that,” Ava admitted, but at the time it was the only thing she could think of to hit Nick where it hurt. And it wasn’t his heart.
“We all do silly things when we’re hurt. Often lash out at the ones we love the most.” Maggie was always so forgiving. Unlike Nick.
And after ten years, he was still mad. Actually, he only looked mad when he offered her a place to stay; afterward, he’d showed her nothing but cold indifference. Except for when he’d kissed her earlier...there’d been nothing cold and unfeeling about that. She didn’t know why he did it, but she didn’t want to think about it right now, because if she did, she’d remember that when their lips met, heat surged through every nerve of her body. And this wasn’t the time or place to relive it.
They finished their meal and washed the dishes. Maggie gathered the wine glasses and Ava followed her out of the kitchen with the bottle. They entered the hall of pictures. “I absolutely love these photos. Who’s the photographer?”
“I took them.” Maggie blushed at the compliment.
“You did? Maggie, they’re so beautiful. I never knew you were into photography.” Maggie had captured the heart and soul of the farm and the people who worked it beautifully. Ava was impressed.
“Nicky bought me a camera for Christmas a couple of years ago and I went trigger happy.” She laughed. “Everyone was sick of me pointing the camera in their faces, so I took photos of the land and animals because they couldn’t complain. And the farm is always changing and giving me plenty of material to work with.” She smiled lovingly at the photo of Paul with his arms around his two boys. “That was the last photo I took of the three of them together. It’s not often they’re on the farm at the same time. They didn’t even know I’d taken it until I hung it on the wall.”
Ava put her arm around Maggie’s shoulders. “It’s a beautiful shot. You can see so much love.”
“The boys miss him.” Maggie’s voice cracked, and Ava pulled her tighter. She knew the pain of losing a parent. Even though Ava’s mother had battled demons, not realizing the effect it had on her young daughter, she never doubted her love.
To lighten the mood, she said, “Maggie, these photos are good enough to sell. I know a few artsy-fartsy people who would love a bit of rustic chic in their city offices or homes. My best friend Lauren has a homewares shop, and I bet she would love these.” Ava’s eyes were again drawn to the dilapidated gazebo. “I would love to hang one in my place too.”
“I’ve already sold lots of them on eBay.” Maggie grinned.
Ava gasped with surprise. “You have? That’s wonderful!”
“I can’t believe what people are paying for them. I feel a little guilty.”
Ava laughed. “There’s nothing to feel guilty about. You should be so proud of your talent.”
Maggie dipped her head. “It’s only a hobby, but now that I have more time on my hands I thought I’d see how they’d sell.” Her eyes sparkled as she smiled. “Apparently very well.”
They laughed as they continued on into the living room.
Maggie’s house was a big transformation from the modest one where Nick now lived. Each room she’d seen was filled with lush furniture and expensive appliances. All decorated with a contemporary feel and a touch of country charm. It made her happy to see that Paul must have turned the farm into a profitable business. Ava knew there had been a time that they had struggled financially.
“Your house is beautiful. Have you been here long?” she asked.
Maggie refilled their glasses, then tucked her legs up on the couch. “It’s coming onto five years. It was always too big for Paul and me, but Nicky insisted we needed a new house. I thought it was a waste of his money. We were happy with our little cottage.”
Nick’s money? “Nick bought you this house?” How could he afford a house like this? He was still living at his parents’ old one and drove the same truck he did ten years ago.
Just then Nick entered the room, and her eyes collided with his iceberg glare. “Dad paid for the house with years of sweat and blood.”
Chapter 6
Nick should’ve known he wouldn’t find Ava back at the house, and he definitely knew s
he wouldn’t be in the kitchen preparing a three-course meal.
After driving around the farm for longer than necessary, he’d come to the conclusion there wasn’t much he could do in this weather, went back to the house, and found it empty. Only the smell of Ava’s perfume lingered in the air. The same sweet scent that had clung to him all day after he’d kissed her.
Was he insane? He’d wanted to shut that sexy mouth, stop her from dragging up the past. But if he were to be honest, tasting her again was all he could think about, and it was driving him crazy. If Percy hadn’t shown up, would they have taken it further? Ava may have pulled away, but desire shone bright from her eyes.
The interruption was like a splash of ice water in the face. It shook him out of the lust haze he’d been trapped in. He hadn’t been with her twenty-four hours and he was ready to ignore the misery she’d left behind. How could he forget, even for a second, the way she’d screwed him over?
Now seeing her settled comfortably with his mother like she was part of his life again caused a vein to pulse at the side of his head. His fist clenched. She hadn’t just left Nick, she’d left his parents too. And now she thought she could slide right back in? Like hell!
“Nicky, I didn’t hear you come in. Have you finished for the day?” His mother smiled brightly.
“There’s not much more I can do in the rain.” His eyes narrowed at Ava. “What are you doing here? You were supposed to be at the house.”
She glowered back. “I wanted to visit with Maggie.”
The vein in his head throbbed like a jackhammer. Then his gaze dropped to her outfit and another head began to throb. A tight, navy t-shirt stretched across her chest like a second skin, and it was obvious she wasn’t wearing a bra.
“What the hell are you wearing?” he asked.
“Maggie was kind enough to lend me her clothes while mine dried.” She tilted her chin like she was daring him to say something more, but his brain couldn’t form any words.
Probably sensing the tension between them or just noticing the deathly glares they were firing at each other like daggers, his mother rose from the couch and looped her arm through his. “Come in the kitchen and help me make coffee.” And to Ava, she said, “We’ll be back in a few minutes.”
Chasing Trouble Page 5
