Freya nodded and swallowed as she collected dinner plates and cutlery and followed her sister to the kitchen.
“Hamish is great,” Freya said in hushed tones as they filled the dishwasher. “Mum and Dad really seem to like him.”
Greer peeked over the kitchen counter to where Hamish, her parents, and Justin were deep in conversation. “I hope so. It’ll make it so much easier later.”
“You’re still not going to tell them the plan?”
“No.” Greer retrieved the Turkish doughnut delights from the fridge and removed the lid. “Best they think it was an accident like everyone else.”
“I don’t think they’d judge you. You know how supportive they are.”
“I know and we are so lucky. But it’s what we agreed.”
They returned to the table and dished out the deep-fried dessert.
“I’m not usually allowed such treats,” Mark said as he used his spoon to break open a doughnut. “Hamish, you must come over more regularly.”
Greer laughed with the others, hoping her father truly meant it. If she had her way, Hamish would become part of the family. As father of her child, he would be invited to birthdays, Christmases, and other special occasions. It meant everything to her that her family approved, and judging from this evening, they certainly did.
“Well that seems to have gone well, don’t you think?” Hamish asked as he stepped out the door and started down the stairs.
“You really impressed them. Thanks.” Greer slipped her hand down his arm and linked with his. It was so natural to be holding her hand that it didn’t even occur to him to let go.
He thought back to how Freya and Justin had been. Their happiness was infectious. That’s what true love was supposed to look like. He had never had that with Sloan.
Above them the moon was full and the stars shimmered. The silver light played across Greer’s face and lit up her eyes which shone as bright as two large diamonds. They stopped at Hamish’s car, but he paused. An ache throbbed in his chest, demanding, desperate, and deep as he looked at her.
Greer leaned her body into his, and he slid his hands around her waist, pulling her closer. It felt right. Even as his brain caught up with him, it felt too good to be holding her in his arms. She let out a breathy sound against his mouth, and then she was kissing him—as lost to the moment as he was, as their tongues intertwined in a sensual dance and every last nerve in his body came screaming to life. Wanting her. Wanting more.
She tasted of the spices she’d used in the dessert with hints of rose water and icing sugar. Only Greer could taste this good.
Then she was pulling away. She had made it clear there would be no beneath-the-clothes action until it was baby-making time.
How much longer do I have to wait? Ten days? Time had slowed down.
“Come to my place tomorrow. I’ll turn on the roaster and you can see her in action.” He leaned against his ute, her legs between his.
She purred teasingly, “I can’t wait to see your hot machine in action.”
“I might even let you pour the beans in.” He played along. The banter making him even hotter, more desperate for her.
“And if you’re lucky, I might even bring something for you to nibble on.”
Oh, he’d like to nibble on her, that was for sure.
Greer placed a last peck on his cheek before stepping out of his embrace and walking backwards toward the house. “See you tomorrow.”
As he drove home, he kept on telling himself that he could do this. He could give her what she wanted and not get too attached. Hell, he knew they would both enjoy themselves and he would make sure neither of them ever forgot their time together.
And hopefully at the end she would have what she really wanted.
It would be enough.
It had to be.
Chapter 9
Greer’s heart bounced around her chest as she parked her car in front of Hamish’s house the following afternoon. The memory of his body pressed against hers was still fresh in her memory.
But it was when he stepped outside to meet her, his dark blue T-shirt hugging his toned form and his eyes glinting like a winter eve bonfire that the centre of Greer’s being turned completely on its head.
“Hi.” He walked over to her offering a smile that would bring any person to their knees.
“Hi.” Her hoarse reply drifted on the breeze toward him. She eased up on tiptoe to kiss him on the cheek, but instead caught part of his mouth. She backed off quickly. Flustered, she concentrated on greeting Hercules who sat obediently at his master’s side. “Hello, boy.” Greer laughed and patted the exuberant canine.
“Are you ready to do some roasting?” Hamish asked.
“Sure am.” She followed him inside and watched as he turned on the machine.
“How do you know which beans go well together?”
Hamish scooped a jug of dry green beans from a hessian bag. He inspected them briefly before tipping the contents into a large stainless-steel bowl.
“It took a while and a few fails before I understood the nature of a roasted coffee bean’s flavour and aroma. But then one day, something simply made sense. Now it’s like second nature. Much the way you understand the flavours and textures of food I suppose.”
He continued to explain the origins of the beans he was using as he measured and scooped from two more bags. Finally, he poured the mix into the feed hopper of the machine then waved her over to his desk and tapped on his laptop.
“Here I can adjust the temperature and time.” He pointed to various graphs and numbers.
She studied the screen, only half understanding the intricacies of the process.
“Come and look.” He guided her toward the machine and pointed to a clear viewing screen.
“They’re changing colour.” She gazed at the beans which had turned almost orange.
“It only takes a few minutes of heat exposure for the beans to turn from green to yellow then orange and finally that dark caramel colour.”
They stood watching the coffee beans swirl around, Greer ever-conscious of Hamish’s tall, lean body next to her. Her own body was heating up and she wasn’t sure if it was being caused by the machine in front of her or the man by her side.
When the roasting was done, Greer helped him bag the beans and clean up. “Thanks for showing me that. I have a new appreciation for what you do.”
“I’m glad you enjoyed it.” He smiled that genuine, gorgeous smile of his. “Shall we go upstairs?”
“As long as you promise to make me a cup. The aroma is to die for.”
“What sort of a host would I be if I didn’t make you a cuppa?” He gave her a look that was so smouldering, she practically melted right there.
“And what sort of a guest would I be if I didn’t bring something to go with it?”
His eyes lit up and she thought she heard his stomach growl, but it could have been Herc who was still curled in the corner.
She had definitely been right about winning him over with her desserts, and she knew he was going to fall in love with her Black Forest gâteau. “I’ll get it from my car and meet you upstairs.”
A few minutes later, she had retrieved the dessert from her car fridge and was cutting generous slices of the jam, whipped cream, and cherry-infused chocolate sponge cake while Hamish brewed coffee on the stove.
“Here, try it.” She piled a mouthful of the cake on a fork and held it out for him to taste. He opened his mouth and allowed her to place the delicacy inside. He closed his eyes and savoured it. Her own mouth watered as she watched him enjoy all the sugary sweetness dissolve on his tongue.
He swallowed and opened his lovely dark eyes and fixed them intently on her. “Now it’s your turn.”
She gulped as he took the fork from her and scooped another mouthful. “Do you trust me?” His voice was low and gruff.
She nodded, rendered speechless under his intent gaze.
As he guided the fork toward her, she
opened her mouth but never stopped looking at him, even when his eyes dropped to her mouth and watched as she accepted the food and chewed it gently. The tastes were more vibrant, more satisfying with Hamish watching her his breathing deep. As soon as she’d swallowed, he was reaching for her, scooping her head in his hands and bringing her toward him. She parted her lips and let him sink his tongue deeper into her mouth, stroking against hers.
Her hands travelled to his shoulders, then down his solid arms and across his back. They itched to go lower still.
Behind them the espresso maker started to boil on the stove. Hamish loosened his hold on her shoulders and edged himself away. “Goddamn.” His voice was thick with desire. “You should come with a warning.”
Greer felt a glow of pride. Baby-making with Hamish was going to be so much fun. Maybe they could have a week of practise before the real deal. Then again, she had heard men’s swimmers were better after a time of celibacy.
That is too bad.
Hamish poured two cups and added milk, just the way she liked it, before passing it to her. She took a sip and moaned. “Just perfect.”
He took another mouthful of her dessert and she drank him in—his dark, silky hair, the line of his jaw, the natural curve of his sensual lips, how his close-fitting denim jeans moulded over strong-looking thighs. She couldn’t drag her eyes off him.
“You could stay here,” he said, catching her eyeing him up. “Tonight, I mean.”
She grinned, it would be too easy to say yes. “No, we still have another week.”
He leaned against the kitchen counter and turned serious eyes on her. “Not everything in life has to work out precisely to plan. It’s okay to just go with the flow sometimes.”
Greer didn’t like losing control of anything in her life. No, not at all. That was not something she was prepared to do, in any way, shape, or form—especially for a man. And what was wrong with planning things? “Wait, are you having second thoughts?” Panic clenched her stomach.
He shook his head, his voice suddenly soft. “No, that’s not it. I like you, Greer. I like spending time with you.”
“I like you too.” She placed her hand on his and he moved so their fingers entwined together. It felt so natural being with him and yet also exhilarating.
If only they had met earlier …
Chapter 10
“How are plans for the Cow Cup coming along?” Greer asked her sister as they relaxed on her queen-sized bed. The days seem to have flown by and the baby-making countdown was finally single digits away. No longer did Greer envy her sister’s relationship with Justin—she was too wrapped up in her own cocoon of happiness, waking every morning with a smile on her face and an eager bounce in her step.
Town was abuzz with gossip, everyone talking about Greer and how she had snatched up the recently single coffee roaster. Everything was going to plan.
Except Hamish still hadn’t emailed back the signed contract.
Greer didn’t want to keep pestering him and it was just a signature after all. Maybe he wanted to sign it with her. Make a celebration of it?
She pushed back the notion that he was having second thoughts. Everything he said and did told her he was as keen as she was. So why hadn’t he signed it already?
“Everything is ready for set-up early Saturday morning for an eleven o’clock kick off.” Freya rolled her shoulders. “I really hope it doesn’t rain.”
Greer giggled. “You’ve got the tents just in case. But how funny would it be if it became a tradition? Like how the Maleny show day always ends up being the first cold day of the year and we all get bundled up for the rodeo night.”
“We’re not expecting as many people as at the show. We had to cap ticket sales to one hundred,” Freya explained. “Next year we might be able to go bigger. If this one is a success that is.”
“I know it will be. You’ve been working so hard on this and I’m sure the school will be thrilled.”
Freya, ever the entrepreneur, had come up with the fundraising idea of having a Melbourne Cup-inspired event at Emerald Hills. Except instead of horse racing, it was cow racing. Whichever cow came into the shed first for the afternoon milking was the winner, and whoever bet on that cow would share in the winnings. The whole Montgomery family had loved the idea when Freya and Justin had pitched it late last year, and the town had gotten onboard too. All the profits were going to be given to the local primary school which was in desperate need of renovations.
“Hamish said he’d help set up and anything else you need.” Greer pulled a brush through her hair and eyed her sister’s curious reflection in the mirror.
“So, it’s all going well with him then?”
“Better than I could have hoped.”
“And when do you start trying?” Freya rolled on her stomach and kicked her legs in the air. It reminded Greer of their childhood and late evenings spent just like this sharing tales from the schoolyard.
“I’ve been tracking my cycle and it looks like Wednesday is the optimal time, but to be sure we’re starting on Tuesday.”
“That’s so exciting. I reckon it’ll work first try.”
As much as Greer hoped that too, she didn’t want to get too optimistic. Besides, if Hamish did get her pregnant this month, there wouldn’t be any reason to keep trying, and she was pretty sure she would enjoy having Hamish try to get her pregnant.
“Let’s just work on manifesting it and sending out positive thoughts to the universe,” Freya said.
“You sound like Skye Parker. Have you been going to her workshops?” Greer teased.
“Don’t knock it. Her yoga classes are amazing. How do you think I stay so Zen and chill? I mean, I’m putting on the event of the year in four days and yet I’m here spending time with you because I enjoy your company.”
“And Justin’s out of town and you’re lonely.” Greer picked up a cushion and tossed it at her sister.
“Okay, a little bit of that too.”
Justin had flown down to Melbourne for business, and though a lot of his work was easily managed remotely, there were the odd customers who wanted a face to face and Justin complied, especially when said customer was paying his first-class travel expenses.
“How are things going with you lovebirds?” It was Greer’s turn to pry.
A soft smile crossed her sister’s face. “Yeah we’re good. In fact …”
Greer leaned forward when her sister paused. “What?”
“I didn’t mean to … I wasn’t snooping, but … I decided our cupboards need a bit of a spring clean, and I found a small box between Justin’s T-shirts.”
Greer gasped. “A jewellery box? Did you open it?”
Freya nodded slowly.
“Do you think it’s a …”
Again, she nodded. “What if he proposes? I mean, we’ve talked about getting married eventually and I love him more than I ever thought possible.”
Greer planted both of her hands on Freya’s shoulders. “Are you seriously having doubts?”
Freya shook her head. “It’s just such a big deal, you know? Marriage.”
“You guys live together. You’ve planned a future together. This is the next step,” Greer said, then caught herself. “Usually, for most people.
Freya nodded. “Don’t you ever have doubts about what you’re doing?”
Greer thought for a moment. She wanted a baby more than anything. She couldn’t imagine not being a mother. “I guess I have fears. If I do have a baby, I know it will be hard. I see new parents struggling with sleep deprivation and postnatal depression, and because mum had it, we could too.”
Nina had always been open and honest about her mental health.
“But I know it’ll be worth it.”
“Yeah, you’re right. It’s just cold feet,” said Freya, her eyes brighter and voice more confident.
Greer hugged her. “Did you tell Justin you found the ring box?”
Freya shook her head. “No, I don’t want to ruin t
he surprise.”
“Do you think he’ll do something big?”
Freya laughed. “You know Justin—he knows how to be romantic.”
“Lucky thing.” Greer squeezed her sister’s shoulders. “Will he be home in time for trivia tomorrow night?”
Freya nodded. “Is Hamish coming?”
Greer grinned. “He is. All the town will get to see us together.”
“Ohh! Talk about getting serious!” Freya teased.
“Yep, if anyone had any doubts we were together, seeing us at trivia will squash them.”
“It is a rite of passage after all.”
The girls giggled just like they had years ago and it was as though nothing had changed. Except now they were older and wiser and facing adult decisions with people’s hearts at stake.
Greer desperately hoped Hamish wasn’t about to break her heart and leave her disappointed.
Linc was waiting outside the pub for him when Hamish arrived, a huge grin plastered across his face.
“Well if it ain’t my mate, Lover Boy. You’ve kept yourself scarce this last week or is it that she’s kept you busy?” Linc nudged Hamish with an elbow as he winked.
Hamish stopped and gave Linc his most serious stare. “Don’t talk like that, Linc. I’d appreciate some respect when it comes to Greer. In fact, that’s something you could learn to practice around most women.”
Linc’s cheeks flushed beet red as his gaze went to his boots. “Sorry, mate. Won’t happen again. But tell me, how’s it going with you two?”
Hamish felt the grin spread across his face. While he’d been comfortable settling down with Sloan, he’d never experienced the absolute buzz of excitement and emotion he did with Greer. “It’s good, mate. It’s really good.”
Linc followed Hamish up the steps and to the bar. The pair bought their beers before heading to a table on the verandah where the Montgomerys and their friends always sat.
Greer spotted him and stood to kiss his cheek. His gaze ran over her scrap of a dress and bare legs and arms. Soon it would be too cold for her summer dresses, but Hamish was happy to enjoy every speck of her skin while he could. He slid his arm around to rest on the curve of her back. The warmth of her skin seemed to reach out to him through the thin fabric, tempting him to remove it.
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