by Cathryn Hein
Now the entire Falls knew she was a liar. Business had eased off, but not enough to put the bakery at risk. As Ness so often said, regardless of the people who ran them, the village needed its businesses to keep the community vibrant. If that meant giving patronage to places they’d rather not, then so be it.
Plus the bakery did make the best pies.
Teagan’s hands were sweaty on the wheel as she made her way into the village. She parked the car and took a few moments to breathe. Glancing towards the veterinary clinic’s door, she wondered if she should poke her head in. Get a Bunny no-nonsense pep talk. But Bunny was probably busy with a patient. Or organising her wedding.
There was nothing for it. She opened the door and stepped out. The carpark felt humid and thick. She paused, wishing she’d let Lucas come after all, then scolded herself for her fear. One step at a time, Meredith had advised. Eventually those steps would turn into strides.
She straightened her shoulders and pushed into the shop.
Kathleen Ferguson locked eyes with her. ‘Here for some pies, I take it.’
‘Yes. Two plain, a curry pie, a potato pie, a cheese and bacon, and a couple of sausage rolls.’
Unlike any other time, Kathleen set about filling the order without so much as a ‘do you want sauce?’.
Teagan studied the pastries as she waited. The vanilla slices looked good. She might add a couple to the order for Lucas and Nick. Maybe an apricot tart for herself. Though nothing like Vanessa’s voluptuous figure, much to Lucas’s appreciation, Teagan was developing proper curves. She planned to keep them cultivated.
‘Do you want a plastic bag?’ asked Kathleen.
‘Thanks. I’ll grab a couple of vanilla slices and an apricot tart as well.’
When Kathleen rang up the total she handed over a note and waited for the change.
The old woman hesitated before passing it. ‘I hear your aunt has moved into the old Fowler property with Domenic Ashe.’
‘She has.’ And Ness couldn’t be happier. With its modern Tuscan design, stunning view of the mountains, and large courtyard for entertaining, Ness was in her element. Most of all, with Dom, she’d found the love she’d always sought.
‘Your parents are looking after Falls Farm now.’
‘For the time being.’ They were still tossing that up. Mum missed Levenham, but both had developed a liking for the relative luxury of the farm. Plus someone had to look after Claudia and Mouse, and the other animals. The guilt of preying on Vanessa’s generosity had eased now that Dom had given them both jobs to keep them busy – Mum as a cleaner, Dad working on the grounds. Teagan suspected that in a few months they’d be so entrenched there’d be no move back to South Australia.
‘And you’re at Lucas’s.’
‘I am.’ If the old cow expected more she wasn’t going to get it.
‘You happy?’
Teagan blinked at the intrusive question. The urge to answer ‘none of your business’ was enormous but she bit her tongue. Kathleen Ferguson didn’t matter. What mattered were the people she loved.
She held out her palm and waggled it. ‘Can I have my change please?’
Grudgingly the old lady handed it over. Teagan walked out with her spine straight and a grin of pure accomplishment splitting her face.
Lucas smiled into the back of Teagan’s neck and placed a soft kiss on the fuzzy surface of her skin. At his touch she stretched and rolled over into his arms.
‘Hello,’ she said sleepily.
‘Hello,’ he said, stroking her hair away from her face so he could kiss her properly.
‘What time is it?’
‘About four.’
She smiled and stretched again. ‘We’ve been naughty.’
‘We have.’
She tucked herself in closer under his arm. Her fingers went to his chest to toy with the hairs there. ‘You spoil me.’
‘I hope so.’
‘We should get up.’
‘Probably.’
He kissed her hair again when she didn’t move. Afternoon sex was becoming a habit of theirs, one he wasn’t keen to give up. He’d joked that it was his muse time. That he needed inspiration from Mother Nature’s best achievement before he could create. It was bullshit, of course. He just couldn’t keep his hands off her.
Teagan thought that was funny. She thought a lot of things were funny these days, and each time she laughed or smiled or made a joke his chest would balloon with pride. She had her moments. He could tell when they arrived. Hollowness would drape her face and she’d quieten as her mind condensed around a negative thought. At those times he’d take care to tell her how much he loved her, how special she was, how sexy and clever and gorgeous. How she’d turned his, and everyone else’s, world upside down.
It was happening less and less now. Soon, he hoped, those moments wouldn’t come at all.
‘Lucas?’
‘Mmm?’
‘Are you looking forward to being best man again?’
He considered for a moment. With Dom and Vanessa’s wedding this would be his second best-man gig in a matter of weeks. Bunny’s and Dunks’s nuptials had been casual and fun, but this was a bit special. ‘Yeah, I am.’ He gave her a tickle. ‘I’m especially looking forward to getting down and dirty with the bridesmaid.’
She giggled beneath him, all sexy smooth skin and warmth. His heart began to pound as a thought came over him. He shifted his weight so she was below him and he could look down at her. She was smiling, happy.
‘You know what?’
‘What?’
‘I’d rather be the groom.’
Her mouth parted slowly as understanding dawned.
Apprehension made him clumsy as he tried to cup her face. She searched his eyes, her own wide.
‘Marry me?’
He didn’t need to hear the words to know her answer.
Dear Reader,
I hope you enjoyed Teagan's and Lucas's story and all the weird and wonderful characters that inhabit The Falls. If you'd like to catch up with my other stories, on the following pages are blurbs for my previous four novels, Rocking Horse Hill, Heartland, Heart of the Valley and Promises.
If you'd like to find out more about me and my books, please visit my website. You can also keep up with new releases and gain access to exclusive content, news and giveaways by signing up for my occasional newsletter.
Happy reading!
Cathryn
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
With special thanks to editor Alex Nahlous who went above and beyond the call of duty with her edits, and proved again a delight to work with. To Sarah Fairhall and all the Penguin team for their hard work and for conceiving such a gorgeous cover for The Falls. Many, many thanks also to super agent Clare Forster of Curtis Brown whose wisdom and advice I value highly, and who has proved such a great champion of my work.
To good buddy Rachael Johns whose emails, texts and phone conversations keep me sane. Well, sort of sane. And who is such fun to share the joys and dramas of this strange writing biz with.
Most of all, to Jim. My rock. And a bloody saint for putting up with me!
MICHAEL JOSEPH
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Penguin Books is part of the Penguin Random House group of companies
whose addresses can be found at global.penguinrandomhouse.com.
First published by Penguin Group (Australia), 2015
Text copyright © Cathryn Hein, 2015
The moral right of the author has been asserted
All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.
Co
ver Design by Grace West © Penguin Group (Australia)
Text Design by Grace West © Penguin Group (Australia)
penguin.com.au
ISBN: 978-1-74348-400-5
THE BEGINNING
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