by Anne Ashby
“What?” Kirk’s expression was even more bewildered than before. “What’s he on about?”
Her body slumped as her heart plummeted. His onslaught of her feelings had had little impact on him.
Leath looked away. Heat flooded into her face. It was hellish to admit that Robby was right. Kirk didn’t have any true feelings for her.
Pretending to be busy arranging bowls of salad on the table, Leath tried to ignore the spreading pain. In that split second something shrivelled up and died inside her.
She swallowed a groan. There was the whole evening to face. People to entertain. The taste of blood in her mouth sent her tongue to massage across her bottom lip.
She had to get through this. It would be hours before she could sneak away and curl up into a little ball and give in to the disillusionment.
“Leath?”
She looked down at the fingers gripping her arm. Such long, supple fingers. She’d foolishly imagined those fingers doing all sorts of lovely things to...
“Would you mind carrying some of these outside for me?” She hoped her voice was steadier than it sounded to her.
Kirk took the bowls of food she thrust at him but promptly put them right back down onto the table before clasping both her arms to turn her to face him. “What’s going on here, Leath?” he demanded. “I seem to have missed something important.”
“Important? What could be important?” Words whirled around inside her head but Leath couldn’t find which ones to voice. She had to get away from him. Just for a little while until she could compose herself.
Pushing against his chest did as much good as pushing against a thousand-year-old kauri tree. He was firmly embedded in her kitchen floor. Instead of putting distance between them, Leath found her shove had lent her closer. She could feel his breath on her face.
Sucking in the gorgeous woodsy scent of his aftershave Leath allowed her eyelids to droop for a second before she realised what she was doing and shot them open.
“Tell me what your brother thinks I’m doing.” The glimmer in Kirk’s eyes told her he’d now guessed what Robby thought.
Leath felt herself sway as Kirk stepped closer, his gaze dropping to her lips. Ignoring the munted bottom lip, Leath’s tongue slipped out and unconsciously slid across her top lip.
She felt, rather than heard Kirk’s groan. Jamming her hands against his chest again she shoved, desperate to escape the lips so tantalisingly close to hers.
“He thinks you’re trying to seduce me into selling,” she grated between clenched teeth.
Laughter was not the response she expected. She felt it rumbling inside him before he released his hold and fell back against the table. He roared with laughter.
She glared as he tried to regain control of himself. He even had the audacity to make a show of wiping his eyes.
“Oh Leath, Leath, Leath.” He chuckled, shaking his head. “Whatever am I going to do with you?”
He was still chuckling when he picked up the bowls she’d previously given him, leaned over them to plant a very firm kiss on her lips, and made for the door. There he turned and eyeballed her. “But it’s as your brother just pointed out. The land belongs to both of you. If I was going to seduce you for it, I’d have to seduce him, too.”
He made a show of considering the possibility before shaking his head. “Nah, I already know...he’s not my type.”
Uncertain if her legs would keep supporting her, Leath stumbled onto a chair and stared at the empty doorway. The erratic pounding in her chest was making her dizzy. Deep breaths sucked in through her open mouth had no immediate effect.
Trembling fingers reached up to touch her lips. He had kissed her, hadn’t he? She hadn’t just imagined it.
“Grandma and Granddad have arrived.” Tristan raced into the kitchen destroying her indeterminate daydream. “Robby said to tell you he’s lit the barbie. What should I do next?”
It took Leath a moment to focus on her young friend, but he was too excited to allow her any time. “Shall I take these outside?” At her blank nod more bowls were hoisted into his arms and gone.
“Can we help?” Daniel and Olivia appeared in front of her, gazing around with interested eyes.
“Is this really where Granddad was born, Danny?”
“Yep. Grandma said he came early so they didn’t have time to go to the hospital.”
Reminded of the possible emotional confusion the children’s grandfather might be facing was enough to jolt Leath out of her dazed state. She couldn’t stay sitting in here like some dummy. She needed to be outside, helping. And keeping Robby and Kirk apart.
****
Conscious of ensuring their guests from the units continued to enjoy themselves—and hopefully later advertise the place among their friends—Leath was able to avoid any close contact with Kirk. But throughout the barbeque, she felt his gaze on her often and would occasionally catch it with a tentative smile.
The uncertainty of not knowing what was happening between them made her hesitant to single him out. Could she be a notch for Kirk’s bedpost? Or were they a couple on the brink of discovering something amazing? Was this wishful thinking on her part?
As the sun hit the horizon, Leath accepted the thanks of their departing guests as they returned to their units. She’d refused any payment for their meals, insisting their attendance was an “opening special.” But she had blatantly hinted any future referrals to the units would be appreciated. Wishing the two couples goodnight, Leath returned to where the Robson and Buchanan families sat.
Terry was enjoying his visit, thank heavens. His relaxed demeanour as he wandered about showed no sign of distress. After they’d eaten, Leath took the chance of inviting him into the house. Still he showed no sign of concern. With Mary watching, Terry dragged Leath off to show her some of his favourite haunts.
As they walked across the yard, Leath remembered the tracks through the overgrown vegetation and now suspected who had flattened them. Not the local school children, but Terry reliving some of his youth.
As he pointed out things needing doing in the garden, she smiled, wondering how he’d react if she asked for his help. It sounded like he knew a lot about gardening. And let’s face it, she acknowledged, there can’t be anyone on this earth who knows less than me and Robby. Perhaps she’d ask Mary later.
Leath’s breath caught in her throat when they moved around from behind the barn and could see the barbeque area. Kirk and Robby were standing off to one side and were deep in conversation. Tense, Leath tried to hurry Terry forward but his ambling couldn’t be rushed.
Doubting she could reach the men to intervene if their exchange turned physical, she called to Robby. Ignoring his frustrated glare, she waved him to join her.
Her brother eventually stalked over and Leath told the older man, “Robby is really interested in restoring the garden, Terry.” Keeping a straight face in light of Robby’s astonished look, she continued, “Perhaps you could give him some hints.”
Proud of the way Robby hid his annoyance from Terry, Leath grinned as she escaped. She’d found some payback for his tricking her into going to the tip earlier.
Glad of an excuse to ignore Kirk’s beckoning wave, Leath sent him what she hoped was an apologetic smile and slipped onto the seat Mary patted next to her. “Thank you for listening.” Mary nodded toward Terry. “He’s inclined to ramble.”
“I enjoyed his company,” Leath was able to say without hesitation. “He likes gardening?”
Mary nodded, her gaze following her husband. “Even on days when he’s not so good, he enjoys poking around in the garden.”
Her look was almost wistful. “Our garden’s big, but we don’t have much to do. Once the veggies are planted there’s only a bit of weeding, some pruning.” She laughed. “He knows when I try to manufacture something.”
Leath bit her tongue. Dare she ask? Or would Mary think she was imposing, looking for cheap labour? Finally she found the words. “He could help us som
etimes”—she rushed on—“we know nothing about gardening and have never had any inclination to learn. Dad used to love pottering around...”
Leath’s voice faded and her eyes bulged as realisation hit. “My dad loved to garden, just like Penny. It must have been in his genes.” Her laughter was slightly off-key as she added this piece of information to all she’d learnt.
She turned to Mary and found Kirk had positioned a chair right beside her. “I remember people teasing him cos no-one else in the family had any interest in growing things.” She sucked in a deep breath. “Gran used to say she could even kill a plastic pot plant.”
Leath’s gaze wandered across the outlying area, so much tidier than when they’d arrived, but still light years away from being a garden. “I wonder if he ever knew. Whether he knew his real mother loved to work the ground like he did, could grow anything like he could.”
Her voice wobbled. “I wonder if he ever saw this place.” She blinked rapidly. “He’d have loved it. He spent years dreaming up schemes to strike it rich so he could retire onto some acreage and this was just sitting here. It should have been his.”
Leath wasn’t even aware of Kirk jumping up and gripping her shoulders. However the gentle massage of his fingers soon penetrated as their heat spread.
The speculative look on Mary’s face as her gaze flicked from Leath to Kirk and back again caused Leath to burst into speech. Any speech would do. “I’m sorry. Now we know the truth, I’m finding myself wavering closer to anger whenever I think of this whole sorry mess.”
Thankfully the massaging had ceased, but she could still feel the pressure of his hands through her thin shirt. “It seems so unfair, somehow. And most probably totally needless. Why couldn’t Penny have got in touch with us? Why didn’t she get in touch with Dad once he’d grown up?”
“Maybe she did,” Kirk slipped in.
Breath caught in Leath’s throat. “Then that makes me even angrier. Because you’re right, she must have.” She frowned as she looked over her shoulder into Kirk’s concerned face. “Otherwise how did Mum know anything about her?”
“Perhaps your father just told your mother the story, and she found Penny and tried to heal the rift,” Mary said.
“Leath.” Mary leant forward looking earnestly at her. “The Penny I knew was a very selfish, egotistical woman who did exactly what she wanted, with no regard to the feelings of others. I’d put money on her guessing she’d never be the centre of her son’s life, and she couldn’t accept being anything less.”
Mary dropped her gaze. “I’d go so far as suggesting she only willed you this property on her solicitor’s advice. I’d really doubt her having any philanthropic ideals. She’d have hated thinking the government might take it.”
“Mum!” The shocked denial in Kirk’s voice suggested he didn’t accept his parent’s supposition.
Mary’s head shot up and she stared at her son. “Penny Maguire was a nasty piece of work, and Leath shouldn’t get so worked up about her.” Her gaze flicked back to Leath. “You’re lucky never to have known her, Leath. Give up trying to find out anything more.”
Leath clasped her hands to her chest and looked at her new friends, biting her lip. Mary’s pinched expression worried her. “But I need to understand...”
Kirk knelt beside her, enclosing her hands, drawing her gaze to his concerned face. “Something you and Robby have to face, Leath, is you’ll probably never understand.” Blue eyes stared deeply into hers. “Maybe it’s time to accept that and put it behind you. There’s no point in letting it colour your lives.”
It was as if they were alone in the world. No-one else mattered. “But I—”
“I can’t see how you could find out much more. If Penny had kept diaries or anything, you’d have found them by now. If the solicitor had a letter of explanation, he’d have given it to you when he read the will.” His hold tightened. “You have to prepare yourself for never knowing anything more. You need—”
“No! I’m not giving up yet.” Leath jumped up, dislodging Kirk’s hold. “There’s Penny’s brother...he might have offspring who know something. Or our Aunt Amy, she’ll be back in Brisbane in a few more weeks and we can ask her.” Her voice hardened. “I’m not ready to give up yet.”
Kirk slipped an arm around her waist and hugged her to his side. “I’m here to help you any way I can.”
Leath fought with the turmoil rolling around inside her head. Common sense dictated he was right. But she couldn’t give up yet. Not until she’d explored every possible angle.
Kirk’s hold shifted and Leath found herself closer to him. “Don’t push me away,” he growled deep in his throat.
She became aware of the warmth from his body where he’d plastered it against hers. Her arm, her hip, her thigh. One of his legs, bare under his cargo shorts, scorched against her own bare limb. Penny Maguire vanished.
Turning her head, almost in slow motion, heat rose from every part of her body. She felt herself sizzling under the intensity of his blazing eyes.
“Is this a seduction line?” she whispered through parched lips.
An audible gasp to the other side of her reminded Leath they weren’t alone. They weren’t even close to being alone.
Kirk’s touch had addled her brain, again. She’d completely forgotten his mother. His mother was sitting right beside her when she’d all but propositioned him.
Horrified heat burned her neck and face. Her eyes clung to Kirk’s not daring to look elsewhere, definitely not daring to look at his mother. Leath heard Mary stand.
Kirk’s amused expression and dancing eyes did nothing to lessen Leath’s discomfort. She gulped, unable to face the other woman.
After softly clearing her throat, a chuckling Mary suggested she might join her husband.
Leath pushed Kirk aside and buried her head in her hands.
“Don’t be an ostrich.”
Her fingers were pried loose and held. Just as well. She felt like smacking that laughing face. He obviously sensed this and tightened his hold.
“Your hostessing duties are over, let’s get out of here.”
She resisted his tug until she dared to look toward where Mary now wandered with her husband and Robby. As if they felt her gaze, they all chose that moment to turn and look in their direction. Heat climbed up her neck and burned her face. “I can’t just leave.”
Kirk paused. “Okay, we’ll walk along the beach.”
At least they’d be out of Mary’s sight, Leath concurred as she stumbled alongside him. And pretty soon the twilight would turn to dark. Oh, how could she have been so stupid, so loose-lipped in front of his mother? When they reached the sand, Leath jerked her hand from Kirk’s grasp and turned on him.
“Hey, can we come, too?” Tristan appeared beside them, Olivia close behind. Leath slammed her mouth shut.
“No. Buzz off,” their uncle replied. “We want some privacy.”
“Oow.” Tristan skipped out of Kirk’s reach. “We know what you’re doing, don’t we Livvy?”
The confusion on the little girl’s face must mirror her own, Leath decided as she swung around and stalked toward the rocks at the far end of the beach.
Hearing Mary calling the children back only heightened her embarrassment.
“Calm down.” Kirk jogged to her side, grabbed her hand, and pulled her to a stop. “What’s wrong?”
“What’s wrong? You have to ask me what’s wrong?” She couldn’t stop her voice rising until she fairly squeaked the last words. The heat burning her face became fuelled by anger at Kirk’s imprudent words.
She threw off his hold. “Don’t you find it embarrassing your mother...your mother suspects—”
“Why would I be embarrassed?” he frowned. “I’m a grown man. I imagine she expects me to have the normal appetites of any other man.”
“Appetites?” The word escaped as a horrified whisper. Oh God, this was getting worse. Was she the solution to appease his current appetite?
> With acidic bile rising in her throat, she spun and avoiding his reaching hand, darted along the beach.
Within seconds she was dragged to a stop. “What the hell is the matter with you?” Now his frustrated anger was rising to match hers.
“Nothing,” she spat. “Nothing at all.” She turned her head, refusing to look at him and struggled futilely against his hold.
“Are you embarrassed because of what you said in front of Mum?” His astonishment stilled Leath’s efforts to escape his hold.
“Leath?” He shook her slightly. Un-burying her chin from her chest, Leath raised her eyes. His gentle, concerned expression encouraged her to lift her head a little further.
Her heart began to race when his hand cupped her cheek and he brushed his lips across hers. “Why would you be embarrassed?”
Leath swallowed.
“We’re adults. What we do or say has nothing to do with anyone else.”
Leath’s expression must have shown her feelings toward this blasé attitude because he suddenly grinned and drew her closer. His voice rose. “You disagree, don’t you?”
She couldn’t move, couldn’t acknowledge his words because his actions were in complete contrast. The gentleness of his hold, the caress of his hands up and down her arms, the smile she heard in his voice, all belied the casual words he’d just spoken.
He rested his forehead against hers. “Thank God.”
Leath’s eyes widened at the earth-shattering fervour in those breathed words.
“Oh, thank God.” His arms slipped around her and she was enveloped in a hug denying breath into her body. A wriggle alerted him to her predicament and he loosened his hold, throwing back his head to laugh out loud.
“You don’t need to feel embarrassed, Leath. My mother had probably already guessed how I feel about you.”
“I wish I did,” Leath muttered under her breath as he rained soft kisses all over her face.
He laughed again and seemed to gain confidence from her attempt to catch his lips with hers. “We hardly know each other, Leath, but I guessed you were special.”
