Fall: a ROCK SOLID romance

by Karina Bliss

  “Okay, let me rephrase the question.” He rejoined the walkers on the promenade, his gaze sweeping the crowds. “Are you considering a Plan B?”

  She tried to deny it, but the lump in her throat was too big. Picking up her beer, she took a big gulp. Seth’s voice said quietly through her cell, “It doesn’t have to be the end of the world. We’ll get through this.”

  He thinks Zee’s voice won’t recover. How could he take it so calmly? Except when she looked down, he was standing with his head bowed and the slow tide of pedestrians diverting around him. Beat up and broken-hearted, just like her. Defeated. Just trying to comfort her.

  Seth didn’t deserve this. None of them did. “It’s not conclusive,” she blurted. “Not yet.”

  He raised his head. “More tests?”

  “Yes.” For me.

  “There’s still hope.” After Elizabeth, she had the most influence on Zander. Unlike Elizabeth, Dimity had no scruples about using it. She couldn’t—wouldn’t—let her boss make such a tragic mistake.

  Seth started walking. “Where are you, Dimity? I need a friend after news like that.”

  Nice try. But she had a nose for sympathy, even at two hundred yards. “You really think I’m going to let you see me all windblown and sunburned in yesterday’s clothes?” She pushed her beer away and reached for the water glass.

  He bypassed the next restaurant without going inside to search and she felt a pang of disappointment that he’d given up, before the penny dropped. “Dammit, I just told you I was sitting outside, didn’t I?”

  Seth grinned. “If you can see me, I must be getting close.”

  Doh. “I’m leaving now.” She stayed where she was. Any movement would only draw his gaze. “Here are my footsteps, clickety-click.”

  “It’s slap-slap if you’re in flip-flops. An idle question. Have you been drinking?” He was at the café next door now, close enough that she could see the pattern on his Vans sneakers—plaid.

  Very, very slowly, she inched to her right so the large planter box on the corner of the deck screened her from view. “I might have had a couple of beers.”

  “Then I definitely can’t leave you to your own devices. God knows who you’ll hit on.”

  She hadn’t thought she had a smile in her. “I’m not exactly irresistible. Tangled ponytail, sweaty clothes, red eyes from cr—squinting in the sun.” She looked at her bare feet in their cheap flip-flops and gingerly wriggled her toes. “My feet are so red they match the nail polish.”

  A shadow fell over the table. “So they do,” he said.

  Now he’d found her, Dimity could admit she’d wanted him to, but she still needed a few seconds to gather her reserves before lifting her head. She’d already exposed too much of herself to this man. But when she looked into his kind eyes, her poker face wobbled.

  Seth pulled her up into a hug and she let him, needing his comfort more than she needed to be seen as strong. Just for a minute. And he wasn’t a guy to hug and tell or view her weakness as anything other than temporary. Even so, she repeated his words from The Comfort Zone. “If you start feeling sorry for me, I’ll have to ditch you.”

  “Feel sorry for the honey badger, are you kidding me?” His arms were strong around her. “I’m protecting my throat.”

  Her arms tightened around his waist. “What if everything we’ve worked for falls apart?”

  “Then we’ll build something new on the foundations.” He pulled away to scan her face. “But it hasn’t fallen yet…has it?”

  She straightened her shoulders. “Not yet.” She had no right to quit without doing everything she could to change Zander’s mind. Too many futures depended on it. “You ready to return to Waiheke?”

  She shook her head. “I don’t want to see Zee until I can be more positive.” Positive I won’t strangle him. Her boss could suffer the fallout for another day or two. Anxiety might help her cause. “I’ll find a hotel.”

  “Forget that, you’re coming home with me.” He picked up her laptop.

  “Because you think I’m all sad and pathetic?” she challenged.

  “No. I need a human shield.”

  That was intriguing. “The reunion isn’t going well?”

  He snorted. “Dad’s still bitter that I ditched the family firm to join Rage and Mum’s so determined for everyone to along that she’s invited Mel and her new fiancé to my surprise party.”

  “Wow, even I can see that’s insensitive.”

  “She thinks because I’ve got a new girlfriend, I must be over Mel.” He gave her a look.

  “Oh,” she said.

  “As in I owe you, Seth, for suggesting this dumb-ass idea?”

  She hesitated.

  “C’mon,” he said. “I need you.”

  It was bullshit. Probably. Still, being useful would give her something to do while she let Zander stew. “Dysfunctional families I can relate to.” She collected her belongings. “Let’s go.”

  “We need to tell Zee and Elizabeth you’re okay.”

  “I’ll do it.” She unblocked their numbers and sent a text to Elizabeth.

  Sorry for earlier. Tell Zee I’ll phone in a day or two when I’ve got my head around it.

  Her boss was a rock once he’d made up his mind about something. After years of bloodying her forehead against his stubbornness, she should have remembered not to go head-to-head with him. If she hadn’t overreacted, she might have been able to interpret his motives. Her next move was to listen more carefully.

  Zee’s underlying fears would lead her to the crack in that rock and show her where to apply the chisel.

  Chapter Nine

  Seth had borrowed his mother’s car, a tiny Honda with surprising zippiness around corners. In the passenger seat beside him, Dimity sorted through her online mail.

  “I guess it’s not worth pointing out local landmarks,” he teased, and she raised her head, her blue eyes curious.

  “You have some?”

  “Hell, yeah. That brick house on the corner? That’s Brian’s. He was my best buddy in Scouts. I stole oranges from Mrs. White’s tree there…” Taking one hand off the wheel, he pointed. “And coming up on your left is my old primary school…better known to you as elementary. See that red roof over the trees? My first band used to practice in that house. Our keyboardist was my music teacher’s son.”

  She was watching him. “Sounds like you spent most of your life living in one square mile.”

  “Ten square miles,” he corrected. “What about you?”

  “My father’s a diplomat and there are two hundred and sixty-five American embassies around the world.” She turned off her screen.

  “And you traveled with them?”

  She nodded. “Until I was ten, I went to international schools, mostly in Asia and Europe. At eleven, my parents sent me home to boarding school. That’s when their marriage fell apart—I wasn’t around to supervise.”

  He started to laugh, saw she wasn’t joking, and sobered. “That’s…probably true.”

  “Uh-huh.” Dimity yawned widely. She looked pretty terrible by her standards, makeup streaked, face sunburned, hair flying in the breeze from her open window. To Seth, she looked endearingly normal. Her bloodshot eyes could be from jet lag, but he suspected not. Whatever news she’d gotten was bad—for a few seconds he’d thought Rage was done, and everything he’d worked so hard for, lost.

  “Tell me the truth,” he said. “Do we still have a job?”

  “It’s going to work out, Seth,” she assured him. “There’s been a hitch affecting how soon Zee can return, and I let it get on top of me—” she gestured to her appearance “—obviously. I’m sorry if I made you think things were hopeless. Truly they’re not.” She might look tired and tear-stained, but there was no doubting the sincerity in her voice.

  “You can have a weak moment like the rest of us,” he said.

  She didn’t look convinced. “The last weak moment I had, we ended up in bed together.”

&n
bsp; It was easier when he was the one trying to be flippant about it. But their hook-up did appear smaller, more manageable, when it was brought into the open and made light of. He didn’t want embarrassment lurking like the bogey man behind their every interaction.

  “Yeah. Let’s not coincide our weak moments,” he said, wishing he could remember what triggered their hook-up. All he could muster was an image of her blue eyes challenging him, and the wild thrill of accepting it.

  He changed the subject. “And you’re not talking to Zander because…?”

  “He annoyed me today. Sometimes he needs a reminder that he’s not the boss of me.”

  Seth laughed, enjoying her. “Tell me more about the places you grew up in, while we stop to buy you sunscreen. You’ll need it while you’re here.”

  The time passed quickly with her quirky stories. She sang him a song in Mandarin, one she’d learned in her Hong Kong crèche, and he glimpsed a shy and studious little girl in her neatly-folded hands and downcast eyes. She was laughing at him trying to learn it as they pulled into his parents’ driveway, but sobered as they entered the house.

  He watched as she touched the duck-head umbrella in the hallstand, stared at his mother’s floral gardening gloves on the hall table, and stopped at every family photo, her hands clasped behind her back and her expression oddly reverent. As a child, whenever Seth had stayed with his late nana, she’d haul his reluctant ass to Sunday Mass. “Respectful fear is all I ask,” Annie would mutter as she herded him into a pew. He saw that expression on Dimity’s face now.

  “It’s just an ordinary house,” he said, puzzled.

  “Exactly.” She closed her eyes and sucked in a lungful of the berry sweetness still lingering in the air from breakfast.

  He recalled her nomadic childhood. Growing up, had she craved my life?

  “I’m in here,” his mother called from the kitchen, and Dimity took another, deeper, breath.

  “She doesn’t bite,” Seth reassured her. “And I texted to tell her you were coming.”

  They found Gayle counting out silverware at the kitchen counter, surrounded by trays of hired glasses and plates. “I don’t know why I thought this party could be a surprise,” she commented, frazzled. “And we don’t have near enough knives and forks. I’ll have to make another run to the hire store.” She smiled at Dimity, leaving her task to hug her. “Welcome to the madhouse.”

  “Um…thank you.” Dimity was clearly flustered and Seth wondered if she’d grown up with much physical affection. “I’m sorry to land myself on—”

  “Don’t say a word, you’re very welcome. Would you like a coffee? I also have some blueberry muffins if you’re hungry.”

  “Thank you, but I’ve eaten. I would appreciate a glass of water.”

  “I’ll get it.” He picked up one of the hire glasses and his mother confiscated it.

  “No, honey, use one of ours, we need to keep these separate. I wish to hell I’d gotten plastic goblets.”

  “Why didn’t you?” Seth filled the glass from the faucet.

  “The environment,” she said glumly. “Don’t you love how protecting it makes work for women?” she said to Dimity. Before she could answer, Gayle eyed her more closely. “You look sunburned—have you been sitting outside? Seth, why didn’t you tell her about the ozone layer?”

  “It’s thinner down here.” He handed Dimity the water glass. “You burn more easily.”

  “Oh.” She stood as if not quite sure where to put herself, and he felt a stab of tenderness. In a nightclub, a boardroom, and backstage at a stadium this woman was mistress of all she surveyed, and yet she was clearly intimidated by his voluble mother’s friendliness. He pulled out a chair for her. “I bought her some sunblock, Ma.”

  “That won’t do her any good now, but don’t worry. I have some aloe vera in the garden.”

  Dimity glanced at him, clearly needing a translation. “It’s a natural balm for sunburn. But you probably want to take a shower before you apply it.”

  “Of course,” Gayle exclaimed. “You’ll want to clean up. And you must be exhausted. I hear your bags have been held up, what an absolute pain for you. I’ve already put extra towels on your bed, Seth.”

  Shit. He met Dimity’s eyes. Neither of them had considered this. “I thought you’d put her in the spare bedroom.”

  His mother laughed. “Honey, I’ve reconciled myself to my kids having sex.”

  “It’s not that. I…snore.” Lame, but the best he could come up with, at short notice. Really should have thought this through.

  “It’s hereditary,” Gayle confided to Dimity. “My side, unfortunately. But I’ve got this fantastic homeopathic remedy, Frank tells me it works a charm.” She registered his disquiet. “Is your snoring really that disruptive, honey? I’ve made up the spare room for Janey and Tom so they don’t have to wake the baby after the party.”

  “The homeopathic remedy sounds great,” Dimity answered, shooting him a cryptic look. “And honestly, I could sleep through an earthquake right now.”

  “Take a nap…both of you,” Gayle suggested.

  Was his mother determined to pimp him out? “I slept plenty on the plane,” Seth said hastily. Not that Dimity had evinced the slightest interest in a repeat performance. Neither of them were. Evincing. Anything. For the sake of their friendship, they’d put that night behind them. He had a sudden, visceral recollection of how her luscious behind felt under his palms. Apple-round. He couldn’t look at her. “I’ll help you with the party stuff, Ma.”

  “I do need a table shifting outside. That reminds me, the aloe vera.” She headed toward the door. “Settle our guest in, honey, and I’ll bring it up.”

  “Thank you,” Dimity said formally. “I appreciate your hospitality.”

  “I look forward to getting to know you,” his mother said.

  “Great.” Dimity actually looked scared. The strangest idea occurred to him—that she was afraid of being found wanting.

  “I’m sorry,” he said, when Gayle was out of earshot. “It didn’t even cross my mind that Mum would put us in the same bed.”

  “Mine either. Guess we’re both jet-lagged.” She stretched out her back, yawned. “What’s more shocking is that the house only has three bedrooms.”

  “I’ll sneak the air mattress up later,” he promised.

  “Seth, I think I can keep my hands off you if we share a bed.”

  “It’s not that.” I can’t want you now I’m set on reconciling with Mel. And why the hell is this suddenly a problem when I’ve had no problem resisting other women? “But thanks for the ego check.” The reminder that he was only a hook-up for her steadied him. “I feel I’ve brought you here under false pretenses.”

  “Yeah, you really lured me in with ‘My family’s dysfunctional.’ Though I guess you did mislead me. At worst, your mom’s eccentric.”

  “I wanted to give you a sanctuary.” He was still annoyed at himself for not anticipating sleeping arrangements. “Instead you get to top and tail on a lumpy double mattress.”

  She batted her eyelashes at him. “You’re so sweet when you take full responsibility.”

  “Don’t, for the love of God, start that again,” he warned, but found himself returning her smile. She was right. He was making too much of this. “C’mon, I’ll show you our room.”

  “So, top and tail,” she mused as they walked upstairs, pausing to check out the family portrait at the top. “Is that like a sixty-niner?”

  Like he needed that mental picture. “You won’t be laughing when my cold hairy feet are on the pillow next to yours.” He opened the door to his room and she hesitated. “And can you stop tiptoeing around as if you’re on hallowed ground…although I guess my female fans would consider this room a shrine.” However uncomfortable he might be having to share a bed, he wanted her to feel at home.

  “Idiot.” That got her over the threshold. “Was this your room when you were a kid?”

  “Yeah, but it’s been re
decorated since then, and the bathroom’s new.” He opened the door to the ensuite. Most of his stuff was in storage, and it was a guest room now. “And what kid is lucky enough to sleep in a king-size bed?”

  “This kid,” Dimity said idly, going to the window. “Which house is your childhood sweetheart’s?”

  “Across the street.” He pointed out the clapboard across the road. “Mel’s parents still live there.”

  “Did you ever sneak her into this room?”

  “Contrary to what Ma implied, she and Dad have never encouraged our sex lives. Mel and I consummated in my car like normal teenagers. Even when we lived together, if we came home, she stayed at her folks and I stayed at mine. You’re in virgin territory.” He grinned at her. “How about you, ever sneak guys into your room?”

  “Security was too tight at boarding school, not that I ever wanted to have sex in a dorm.”

  There was a tap on the door, and his mother poked her head in. “Here’s the aloe vera, and the snoring remedy for Seth.”

  “Thank you,” Dimity said. “Incidentally, the second tray of glasses was missing two. Make sure the rental people don’t charge you for them.”

  “Well, okay,” his mother said, startled.

  He grinned. “We’ll leave you to nap, Honey B.”

  “Oh, Seth?” Dimity waited until his mother was halfway down the stairs. “Thanks for the moral support today. I won’t let you down tonight…with Mel, I mean.”

  “That’s not why I did it.”

  “I know.” She smiled at him. “So if I open your wardrobe will I find a dozen faded plaid shirts?”

  “Feel free to borrow one until your suitcases arrive.” He closed the door on her dismayed face, enjoying the rare satisfaction of having the last word.

  * * *

  When Mel arrived forty minutes into his ‘surprise’ party, Seth was grateful that being famous had taught him how to appear relaxed in the public gaze.

  His ex hadn’t perfected the same skill. She blushed red, then crimson when she spotted him, her sunny smile becoming a self-conscious grimace. Nervously, she smoothed her palms over her trousers, even stumbling as she approached, and Mel never stumbled. The man walking alongside caught her arm to steady her. Her fiancé.