by Mandy Magro
Job done, he double-checked that the fence was as bull-proof as possible with a few firm shoves. Groaning as he stood, he wandered towards the LandCruiser and put the tools in the back. Emma’s distraught expression as she’d told him everything filled his mind again. He hated seeing her so upset, and knew, deep down, none of this was her fault. He should be rejoicing in the fact she hadn’t been the cause of his father’s death, and thankful she’d come to him straight away with what she’d heard. If she’d kept it from him, for whatever reason, that would have been a different story. Annoyed at himself for giving her the silent treatment and feeling like a bastard for holding a grudge, he decided to apologise for his reaction, before Riley’s deb ball tonight. Bad blood between them was the last thing he wanted.
Packing the last of the tools into the tray, the rumble of Emma’s Land Rover grew louder as it climbed the crest. Leaning against the back tray, he watched her drive over to him and climb out, offering her a smile as she did. He could hear the hammer of his heart, caused not only by his need to apologise, but also by how captivating she was. ‘Hey, Em.’
Emma matched his smile. ‘Hey, you, just thought you might like a bit of lunch.’ She passed him a brown paper bag. ‘I guessed you probably haven’t eaten anything yet.’ Her eyes were filled with so much sorrow it split his already broken heart even more.
‘Oh, thanks, you didn’t have to.’ He peeked inside and his mouth instantly watered.
‘Homemade corned beef with tomato, onion and pickles on fresh sourdough – just how you like it.’ She shoved her hands in the pockets of her denim shorts.
‘Sounds like someone after my own heart.’ Questioning his poor choice of words, he quickly laughed off his comment. ‘Is this your idea of trying to win me over?’
‘Maybe, maybe not,’ she said a little guardedly. ‘See it as a peace offering …’ She shrugged. ‘Lame, I know, but I couldn’t think of anything else.’ She looked down at her feet. ‘I’m so sorry I had to be the bearer of bad news, Zane, and I understand you being upset with me.’
‘It’s not your fault, Em.’ He closed the distance and pulled her into his arms. ‘I’m sorry I reacted like I did. I was just shocked, that’s all.’
‘You had every right to be shocked, and mad, and …’ She sniffled against his chest.
‘Please don’t beat yourself up, I’m not mad at you.’
She glanced up at him. ‘So we’re good?’
‘Damn straight we are.’ He hugged her a little tighter.
‘Oh, thank god.’ She released a heavy breath. ‘I know we’ve got some yucky stuff ahead, like having to go to the police so Wattle Acres can be given to its rightful owner …’
‘Oh, and just who might that be?’
She slapped him on the arm. ‘You’re a shit stirrer.’
‘And I’m getting a wooden spoon at Christmas to prove it.’ He chuckled. ‘How cool is it that we’re going to be neighbours?’
She folded her arms. ‘Does this mean you’re going to hang around here now?’
‘Of course it does.’
‘Good.’
‘Just good?’
‘Hmm …’ She smiled softy. ‘How’s about great?’
‘Great works for me.’ He couldn’t help but flirt with her; there was just something about being near her that made his heart and soul fire on all cylinders. ‘So, tonight’s the night then, huh?’
‘For what.’ She looked shocked, her cheeks suddenly a bright shade of red.
A fair idea of what she was thinking, he bit back a laugh. ‘Riley’s deb ball.’
‘Oh, yeah, I’m going to be a blithering mess when I see her all dressed up, I just know it.’
‘I’d say I’ll shed a quiet tear, too.’
‘You will not.’
He chuckled. ‘I reckon I probably will.’
She smiled now, making his heart sing. ‘Are you going to be okay, being near Michael tonight?’
‘I’ll just have to be.’
‘You sure you won’t snap?’
‘Don’t worry, I’m not going to do anything to ruin Riley’s night.’
She bit her lip and nodded. ‘Thanks.’
‘Don’t mention it.’
Changing the subject, she gestured to the paddock with a nod of her head. ‘Ted tried to escape again, did he?’
‘Sure did.’
‘Bad boy,’ she called out, shaking her head as though telling off an unruly child. ‘Thanks for stopping him and fixing up his mess.’
‘Pleasure.’
She looked at her watch. ‘Well, I’ll let you get back to it. I need to get home before the hairdresser and beautician arrive. Riley’s having an up do and her nails and make-up done, and she wants me to get the works too.’ She rolled her eyes. ‘Not that I’m one for all the fuss, but I’ll do it for her sake, just this once.’
‘It’ll be nice for you to be pampered. You’re gonna knock the socks off all the blokes there tonight, I bet.’
‘Oh, stop it,’ she said with a laugh.
‘True shit.’
‘You’re such a charmer, Zane.’
‘I do my best. Thanks for the sanga.’
‘Pleasure.’ Sauntering back to her Land Rover, she gave him a wave. ‘Catch ya.’
‘Oo-roo.’ Zane couldn’t tear his eyes from her butt. What he’d give to grasp it as he made sweet love to her again.
* * *
Emma bit back a fresh flood of tears as she watched Riley emerge from her room; her turquoise ankle-length dress with the lace bodice was perfect. ‘Oh, love, you look …’ She sniffled, wiping an escapee tear. ‘Absolutely stunning. The colour brings out your eyes.’
‘Stop it, Mum, or you’re going to make me cry.’
Not wanting to smudge her mascara, Emma carefully wiped under her eyes with a tissue. ‘Sorry, love, I can’t help it, I’m a big sook.’
‘That makes two of us.’ Riley looked her up and down. ‘That dress is smoking hot, Mum, I’m so glad you ended up buying it.’
‘Thanks, sweetheart, I do love it, but I’m a bit worried what people are going to think of me in it.’
‘Why?’
‘Well, there’s not a lot of it.’ Emma tried to peer over her shoulder at the low-cut back. ‘And the fact I’m not able to wear a bra feels a little risqué.’
‘Just own it, Mum, and to hell with what anyone else thinks. The other mothers will just be jealous that you look so hot and their husbands can’t stop gawking at you.’
Emma rolled her eyes and chuckled. ‘I wouldn’t go that far, but thanks for the vote of confidence.’
‘Anytime.’ Riley cautiously touched the boho-style twist of hair arranged at the nape of her neck. ‘With the amount of bobby pins the hairdresser put in, I reckon I’m going to be finding them for the next two months.’
‘I know …’ Emma touched the barrel curls cascading over her left shoulder. ‘And don’t even get me started on the amount of hairspray she used – the woman almost gassed me to death.’
‘Ha-ha, yeah, she did use a lot, huh?’ The rumble of a V8 made her stop and listen. ‘Sounds like he’s here,’ Riley said a little nervously.
Emma took her by the hands. ‘Deep breaths.’ She smiled. ‘I thought you didn’t like him in that way.’
‘I don’t.’ The look on Riley’s face before she spun away and raced down the stairs told Emma she was lying through her teeth.
Quietly rejoicing, she followed Riley out the front door.
‘Hi, Ms Kensington.’ James Jones blushed from the roots of his copper red hair, all the way through to his freckle-scattered cheeks as he turned his attention to Riley. ‘Wow, Riles, you look, amazing.’
‘Thank you, and you’re looking very handsome in your suit.’
‘Cheers.’ James beamed from ear to ear. ‘I don’t scrub up too bad, huh.’
Running in to get her phone from the entrance table, Emma came back out and held it up. ‘Can I get a photo before you two go?’
‘Yes, you do.’ She smiled. ‘You’ll thank me, one day in the far-flung future, for making you do such a horrid thing.’
Shuffling in beside each other, James seemed to blush even brighter. Emma quickly took a few shots before Riley all but dragged him down the steps. ‘Bye, Mum.’
‘Bye, Ms Kensington,’ James called over his shoulder.
‘Bye,’ Emma said. ‘See you there, you two.’
‘Okay, Mum,’ Riley called out as laughter carried across the lawn.
‘Did you have to go and get this thing jacked up so high?’ Riley said as James opened the door of his beefed-up LandCruiser, and helped her up and in.
Clearly amused, James mumbled something in reply as he closed the door behind her.
‘You know I don’t understand a damn thing when you start talking truck lingo, right?’ Riley called out the window.
Leaning against the verandah rail, Emma waved them off, smiling at their playful banter. They reminded her so much of Zane and her years ago. Young love was so sweet, and they didn’t even know it yet. Hopefully, in their case, history wouldn’t repeat itself and they’d figure it out before it was too late. The deep rumble of the exhaust echoed across the paddocks and through the house as she stepped back inside. Catching her reflection in the hallway mirror she stopped and stared. Although she’d probably spend most of the night checking and double-checking that not too much of her cleavage was showing, the knee-length silky dress did make her feel super sexy. She couldn’t help but wonder what Zane was going to think when he saw her. Should she go over to the cottage and invite him to catch a ride with her? She’d been so nervous when she’d gone up to the top paddock to take him his lunch today, she hadn’t even thought to ask how he was getting there. It made sense, though, that they went together.
Picking up her clutch-bag and keys from the bowl, she gave the bodice of her dress one final tug to make sure everything was staying put, which it was, for now, and then headed out the front door. Tiny leapt to action and went to barrel over to her, but she quickly and firmly told him to stay put. She didn’t want him to come anywhere near her dress as he’d been rolling in something very smelly this afternoon. Skidding to a stop just shy of her, with his tail between his legs, Tiny turned and wandered back to his bed, his head so low to the floor he was almost dragging his bottom lip along it. She laughed and decided that he would be getting a bath tomorrow. Then he could have all the affection he longed for and deserved.
Her heels clip-clopping across the verandah, she caught Zane’s heady scent – a mix of spice, leather and testosterone. Looking up, she felt her jaw drop, but then quickly snapped it shut. Black jeans, an electric blue shirt, jacket, and his going-to-town cowboy boots on, he was absolutely, unequivocally, drool worthy. ‘Oh wow, you look …’ She took a quick breath. ‘Very fetching.’
‘Why thank ya, Em, and you look …’ The tilt of his head and the mischievous smile on his lips let her know he liked what he saw. ‘Breathtaking.’
Her cheeks flamed, and she felt like a teenager beneath his blazing blue eyes. ‘You want to catch a lift with me, seeing as we’re going the same way?’
‘I was just about to offer the same thing.’
‘Great minds think alike.’
‘They most certainly do.’ He reached out and brushed a hand down her arm, leaving a trail of heat. ‘Put your keys away, I’ll drive.’
She hesitated, and then tossed the keys into her bag. ‘Okay, thanks.’
Stepping in front of her, he went to open the passenger door, while she observed the play of his back muscles and the tautness of his sleeves around his biceps. He was so damn yummy.
Flinging the door open, he waved his arm in to welcome her.
She walked past him, noticing how she had emphasised the sway of her hips as she did. He made her feel so womanly, it was entrancing, invigorating. ‘It’s good to see chivalry isn’t dead,’ she purred.
‘Not with me, it’s not, Em.’ He closed the door and leant on the window. ‘I’m old school.’
Oh, how she ached to kiss him, from his desirable lips all the way down to his … stop, she silently screamed as she watched him walk around the front of the four-wheel drive, climb in and then rev it to life.
* * *
So beautiful were the hundreds of hanging snowflakes, fairy lights and wide ribbons of white satin draped from the ceiling that Emma found herself completely enthralled, by them and the fact she was wrapped in the arms of the most handsome and charming man there. In what felt like the blink of an eye, the formalities of the evening were over and she and Zane were arm in arm, dancing beside Riley and James, with Michael giving them the evil eye over the shoulder of his young lover. Not caring what he thought, or the handful of women who were looking at her with envy, and proud of Zane, who had stuck to his word, albeit his hands clenching into fists beneath the table while the three-course meal had been served, she felt on top of the world.
‘Riley seems so happy,’ Zane whispered in her ear.
Emma looked to where James and Riley were gliding around the dance floor. He looked proud as punch holding Riley in his arms. ‘She does, hey.’
Zane’s fingers gently stroked the bare skin of her lower back. ‘They’d make a cute couple.’
His touch doing insane things to her libido, she ached to tear every inch of clothing from him, right here, right now. ‘They would,’ she said. ‘I’ve tried to encourage it, but Riley’s hell bent on them being just friends.’
‘Sounds strangely familiar.’ The look on Zane’s face spoke a thousand words. ‘Speaking of which, let’s get out of here,’ he said with a cheeky grin.
‘Is that your try on a pick-up line?’
‘Maybe.’
‘Well, in that case …’ She moved a little closer to him; the three glasses of red wine she’d enjoyed gave her an edge she normally wouldn’t dare let him see. ‘I’m ready if you are.’
Allowing him to take her by the hand, they hurried towards the back door of the hall and into the privacy of night. Weaving through parked cars and four-wheel drives, they headed to a dark corner of the paddock and finally reached Zane’s LandCruiser parked under a towering gum tree.
Jumping up, she sat on the back tray, her legs swinging to and fro while staring into the starlit sky, feeling soothed, calm … and suddenly rather drunk. ‘There’s nothing quite like a country night sky, huh?’
‘Damn straight, Em.’ Zane remained standing, his perfect arse leaning against the tray beside her and his arms crossed over his chest. ‘Give me this over a city skyline any day.’
‘Ditto,’ she said, as a breeze whipped up, sending a scattering of leaves falling from the tree above. Wrapping her arms around herself she shivered. ‘Far out, it’s cold out here.’
‘Here, this will help keep you warm, you tropical-blooded woman.’ He chuckled, deep and husky, as he took his jacket off and handed it to her. She wrapped it around her shoulders, still shivering. He took her by the hand. ‘Oh, Em, you’re shaking like a leaf,’ he said against her temple as he pulled her to him. ‘Better?’
She nodded. It felt better than better. It felt so right, as if this was exactly where she was supposed to be, and not only for now.
‘Good.’ He pressed her closer, his touch filling her with warmth.
Looking at him from under her fake lashes, ones she couldn’t wait to take off, she offered a small smile, hoping it looked a hell of a lot braver than she felt inside. ‘Thanks, Zane.’
‘What for?’
‘Just being you.’ She cleared her throat, the flutters in her belly going into overdrive. Goddamn it, why couldn’t she find it in herself to tell him the truth right this very second, and not only about her feelings for him?
‘I’m me because of you.’ Capturing her gaze, his hand found the small of her back and urged her even closer. His suggestive smile tempted the dimples that made him appear even more wayward and made her want
him all the more.
‘You’re too sweet.’ She knew it was wrong of her, but how was she meant to resist a man who had such a kind and loving heart beneath his armour? A heart, she truly believed, only she knew held so much love and passion. With trembling fingers, she reached out and traced his lips, ran them over the dark stubble on his chin. ‘I really want to kiss you.’ The words left her lips before she’d had time to stop them.
He gave her a slow, considering gaze. ‘Ditto.’
Her lips tingled and her heart felt as if it were just about to beat its way out of her chest. Silence hanging between them, she drew in a shuddering breath, and then another.
Zane took her hand and gently kissed the tip of each of her fingers, his eyes never leaving hers.
Her voice of reason was screaming to stop. ‘Zane …’
‘Shhhhh …’ His breath was a soft caress against her neck as his hands slid up her back. His fingers tangled in her hair and he brought his lips close to hers.
Her willpower all but disappeared. Wrapping her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist, she closed the gap between them. The moment their lips met, time stumbled, stalled and rewound. He silenced her uncertainties by kissing her, hot and heavy, demanding and possessive, stealing her sense of what was right and wrong. It was as mind-blowing as she remembered, maybe even more so. His kiss caressed her soul and set her heart on fire. She returned it passionately – hard and urgent. Moaning against his hungry mouth she felt his breath catch in his chest as she silently begged him to make love to her. But even as he whispered his longing for her against her lips, while his hand slipped beneath her dress and skated up to tease her nipples, she knew she shouldn’t be doing this. It wasn’t right. It wasn’t fair to him. She had to stop. Now. But how was that even possible when he felt so damn good, so damn right? She was in his arms where she was meant to be. But she didn’t deserve the pleasure of it, of him. Not now. Not ever.
‘Zane, we can’t.’ Somehow she found the strength to pull away, only barely able to drag her lips from his. It took every bit of willpower to lean back and look into his eyes, his baby-blues burning with a desperate, fiery need that rivalled her own.
