Fall for You

by Angela Verdenius

  “What if I wanted a comic?”

  “What do you want?”

  “I don’t know, I haven’t looked yet.”

  “You came in yesterday and got your comic.”

  “Are you watching me?”

  “Like a bloody hawk.”

  “My Mum says ladies shouldn’t swear.”

  “I’m not a lady.”

  “No, you’re Dee.” Max smiled, an enchanting younger version of Ryder. “That’s what Ryder says. You’re just Dee.”

  She got a funny look on her face, her hands stilling momentarily on the magazines before she pulled a file from beneath the counter and flipped it open to a page of sectioned off areas with names in them. “And he’s just Ryder and you’re just Max. Now you tell Ryder to come in here himself. He knows the drill.”

  “He offered me ten quid to pick up his comics.”

  “You’ve been had then, haven’t you? Go.”

  “Aw, Dee…”

  She narrowed her eyes at him.

  With a huge, exaggerated sigh, Max dragged his feet over to the door, opened it, cast her a woeful look and stepped out onto the footpath.

  Molly looked at her. “You okay?”

  “Sure, why?” Dee smiled brightly.

  “Just…wondering.”

  “You ought to be wondering what you’re going to do next to amuse Kirk.”

  Taking the hint, Molly leaned against the counter. “Why do I have to amuse him?”

  “Yeah.” Del nodded. “Man thinks she’s hot shit, she only has to look at him and he thinks the birds are singing.”

  “I don’t know whether to be touched or horrified,” Molly said.

  Del waggled the lollipop again. “You could take him for a walk and he’d be happy.”

  “You make him sound like a dog.”

  “Loyal to the bone. He’s a male version of Lassie.”

  Molly grinned, reaching over to take a lollipop from the container that Dee kept on the counter beside the till.

  “Don’t forget to pay for that,” Dee said. “I’m not running a free lollipop stand.”

  “It’s only fifty cents,” Del protested.

  “Don’t you have a shop to run?”

  Unwrapping the lollipop, Molly stuck it in her mouth. Yum. Raspberry.

  Right at that moment the door dinged and Kirk walked in. She stopped sucking. God, he looked good in casual clothes, and in uniform he exuded authority.

  He looked at her, smiled, bent down and kissed her forehead. Geez, just her forehead?

  Twirling the lollipop in her mouth by the stick in her fingertips, she wondered what she should do. Say hello? Kiss him back? Del and Dee were openly watching, so she simply smiled up at him. “Hi.”

  “Hi.” Standing close beside her, he laid his hand on her back, switching his gaze to Del then Dee. “Ladies.”

  “And he wonders why he’s so shaggable,” Del drawled.

  Kirk didn’t even blink.

  Feeling just a little awkward, Molly tapped the lollipop against her bottom lip.

  “You’re the law.” Dee pointed at Molly. “She stole a lollipop. I don’t think she intends to pay for it.”

  Kirk’s gaze dropped to where Molly was playing the lollipop around her lips and - holy crap, the gold flecks in his eyes grew brighter. Darker. His hand at her back tightened just a fraction before easing. She stopped playing and pulled the lollipop away. “Um…I was going to pay.”

  “Really?” He looked back at Dee. “How much?”

  “Fifty cents.”

  He dug in his pocket.

  “Cripes!” Horrified, Molly reached for her bag where it rested on the counter. “Goldie, no, really, I can pay-”

  “Trust me, kitten, it’s worth it.” Leaning down, he whispered in her ear so only she could hear, “Seeing that glide past your lips will have me walking with a hard-on for the rest of the day.”

  It was so unexpected, so astonishing, that she could only gape at him. He winked, straightened and handed a dollar coin over to Dee. “Give her another one for tomorrow night.”

  “Big night planned?” Dee arched one brow.

  “Maybe she likes sucking on-” Del squealed. “Geez, Molly! My ankle!”

  Molly glared at her. Cripes, could she be any more obvious?

  As though he hadn’t noticed anything, Kirk looked at Dee. “I met Max. Ryder wants his comics.”

  “What, he’s sending in the law now?”

  “I’m just saying.”

  “Everyone’s ‘just saying’. I’m saying send the big oaf in himself. I’ll make sure he has a plain brown bag so no one notices his fetish with Wonder Woman.”

  “I think he’s into Green Lantern.”

  “Hey, I can’t be responsible for his lifestyle choices.”

  “Can I tell him that?”

  “Word for word.”

  Grinning, he turned to Molly. “I actually came in to see you.”

  “Oh?” Man, she liked the feel of him against her, all warm and strong. And she was discovering a little fetish of her own. A man in uniform was hot. Kirk in uniform was mind-blowing.

  “Fancy a ride out to the creek on my next day off?”

  “On the motorbike?”

  “Yep.”

  “Will you be wearing leather?” She paused. “Did I say that out loud?”

  His eyes crinkled at the corners. “You did, but that’s okay.”

  “I think I may be a little embarrassed.” She popped the lollipop back in her mouth for something to do, realised exactly what she’d done when his gaze dropped to her mouth and darkened again, and quickly pulled it back out.

  Okay, that might not have been a good plan, either, because he simply looked her right in the eyes and there was a decided heat in his.

  Oh boy.

  Molly managed a weak smile. “Motorbike ride. Sure. Count me in.”

  “Great.” He nodded to Dee and Del who were making no effort to even pretend they weren’t watching with big grins on their bloody faces. “Ladies.”

  He just started out the door when Molly called out, “Goldie?”

  “Yeah, kitten?”

  “Oohh, he called her kitten.” Del sagged against the counter.

  Molly ignored her. “Are we still on for tomorrow night?”

  “Absolutely. I’ll be over at seven.” The door closed behind him.

  The silence in the newsagency was deafening. Molly slowly turned her gaze to her friends.

  Yep, still bloody grinning.

  She pointed the lollipop at them. “Don’t say a word.”

  “Here.” Dee pulled a lollipop out of the container and tossed it to her. “You might want this for practice.”

  “Tomorrow night isn’t for that.”

  “What is it for?”

  “We’re playing chess.”

  “What?”

  “I told him I was good at it and he challenged me to a game.”

  “You don’t say,” Del said dryly.

  “What?” Molly looked at her.

  “Nothing.” She winked at Dee. “Gonna be a wild night.”

  “Not everything has to be wild,” Molly retorted.

  “Sure, sure.”

  Dee grinned. “What’s the wager?”

  “No wager. It’s just a few games, a bit of chit chat. You know, just a friendly get together.”

  Dee tossed her another lollipop. “Here, my treat.” Her wink didn’t border on bawdy, it was bawdy.

  Shaking her head, Molly picked her bag and the newspaper. “I’d like to mess my brains up by talking to you a bit more, but I have things to do. Unlike Del, who apparently runs a clothes shop.”

  Leaving her friends laughing, Molly headed to the supermarket. Actually, she was looking forward to tomorrow night. The previous night at the pub had gone well, but she had never been alone with Kirk when it wasn’t intense or there were other people around. So the night should be good, really. It was a chance to chat, to have no one watching, to relax. A
great way to get to known each other properly.

  Man, Goldie was a gentleman. He’d laughed with her over dinner, chatted, slow-danced with her which had her heart just going double-time, not that anyone could blame her. Geez, being pressed up against that tall, muscular body, having those strong arms cradling her so gently had made her feel a little like fragile glass, which was a bit of a hoot because she was anything but fragile.

  And then he’d taken her home, kissed her softly and lingeringly and waited until she’d locked the security screen behind her before he left. No push for sex, no hints, just…well, just Kirk being so sweet.

  She’d have thought maybe he wasn’t as gung-ho on her as he insisted if she hadn’t known he was giving her time to adjust to their relationship. It was in the early days, he was working on gaining her trust, not to mention giving her time to work on trusting herself.

  As she neared the entrance to the supermarket, she became aware of raised voices. Looking around, she spotted the Dawson brothers sitting on the bonnet of their ute. Brand looked the worse for wear, his eyes red rimmed, his face red. Beside him Jason was sitting silently, his gaze on Molly.

  Ugh. Just the way he looked at her, his gaze sliding over her and lingering on her breasts while he licked his lips, had her shuddering inwardly.

  Outwardly, she didn’t show her revulsion, refusing to wilt beneath his gaze. Jason was the first to look away.

  Feeling immensely satisfied, she strode into the supermarket and bought what she needed. Standing in the line at the checkout, she watched idly as the woman ahead of her unpacked her trolley.

  Greying hair pulled into a bun, a once-pretty face lined, the woman was slim and tall. When she glanced at Molly, a fading bruise was evident on her cheek.

  Molly smiled at her.

  The woman smiled back, straightening. “You’re Julia Preston’s niece.”

  “That’s me. Unless I did something wrong, then it’s not.”

  “I’m Lora.”

  “Nice to meet you.” Molly nodded at her cheek. “Run-in with a door?”

  Lora didn’t blink. “I’m a little clumsy at times.”

  “Tell me about it. I got stuck in a window.”

  “Ouch.” Lora turned back to the counter as Will finished totalling her groceries. “Put it on my account."

  Will looked at her. “It’s kind of…” Leaning forward, he spoke quietly in her ear.

  Lora bit her lip.

  Obviously she didn’t have enough money. Molly looked from her own basket to Lora’s packed purchases, then leaned forward to touch Lora on the arm. “I’ll pay.”

  Surprised, Lora looked at her. “Oh, no, I-”

  “You can pay me back later, its okay.”

  “Oh no, really.” Lora shook her head. “It’s kind of you, but-”

  Her words were cut off by Jason pushing his way past Molly to stand at her side. “Problem?”

  “Oh, Jason, it’s okay.” Lora smiled tightly. “The bill is a little overdue, that’s all.”

  “Dad didn’t pay it again?” Scowling, he dug his wallet from his pocket.

  “Honey, please, you don’t-”

  Ignoring her, he fixed a hard look on Will. “What does he owe?”

  Clearly uncomfortable, Will looked from him to Lora. “Look, it doesn’t matter. I’ll add these onto the bill and you can pay it next time, okay?”

  “No, it’s not okay.” A muscle ticked in Jason’s jaw. ‘What’s the old bastard owe now?”

  “Jason, please,” Lora whispered.

  “Its okay, Mum.” Briefly he laid his hand on her shoulder. “Just bloody tell me, Will. I want to get home, not sit here with everyone staring.” His hard gaze swept around at the few customers waiting.

  Everyone looked away.

  He glanced at Molly, but before she could say anything or pretend she hadn’t heard a word, his eyes grew cold and he swung back to Will, digging in his wallet and drawing out his bank card. “Just swipe it and let’s get this done.”

  “Jason, please.” Lora touched his arm. “You’re sav-”

  “Just bloody do it!” Jason shoved the card at Will before giving his mother a gentle push. “Let’s get those things in the car and go home. I’m not in the mood to hang around.”

  Without saying another word, Lora finished loading the trolley and walked out, avoiding everyone’s eyes.

  Trying not to watch as Jason put his card back in the wallet, Molly couldn’t help but glance up when he moved away.

  He looked back at her, eyes still cold with anger, before walking out the door.

  “Hello, love.” Will smiled at her.

  “Hi, Will.” Molly started unpacking the trolley, wanting to ask about Lora but not wanting to pry.

  Lora was the Dawson brothers’ mother. The bruise on her cheek wasn’t from any door, Molly was certain of that. Over the years she’d heard the stories, that Mr Dawson belted his wife, drank most of the money away and didn’t bother with his farm, letting it run to wrack and ruin and barely meeting the payments.

  His sons were the same as him, they lived hard, fought rough, drank and treated women the same as their father. She’d never played with them as a child when she visited, they pretty much kept to themselves, but they were known troublemakers.

  But there was something about the way Jason acted just now. She hadn’t expected him to pay the bill, had expected him to get into a shouting match with Will, had expected things to get ugly.

  Maybe he was just feeling a little mellow today.

  But poor Lora, having to go home to a husband who beat her and two sons who were well on their way to being like their Dad.

  Carrying the bags outside, Molly looked up as a ute passed her. Brand was driving, Jason sitting by the window, Lora between them. Jason looked out briefly at her, anger still in his eyes, before jerking his head back to face the front.

  Man, talk about surly bastards. It wasn’t as if she’d done anything wrong.

  Shaking her head, Molly put the bags in the car and drove home. Once there she unpacked the groceries while Oscar investigated every bag. When she’d put everything away, she started making a sandwich for lunch when the boarding house phone rang.

  Going into the hallway, she picked the receiver up and placed it at her ear. “Hello?”

  There was silence on the other end.

  “Hello? If you’re looking for a room, I’m afraid we’re closed for renovations. If you’d like to leave your phone number we can call you when we’re open again.”

  Whoever was on the other end hung up. Shrugging, Molly placed the receiver back on the phone returned to the kitchen.

  “Either it was a wrong number,” she told Oscar, who was happily chomping on some chicken she’d cut up for him, “or a cranky would-be customer.”

  She spent the rest of the day washing out cupboards and repacking items back onto the shelves. It was late when she finished but she was very satisfied with her progress.

  Molly was asleep almost as soon as her head hit the pillow.

  ~*~

  The roast was almost done, the chocolate cake cooling, and Oscar was full of ‘roo meat. Lying back on the bed, he practically oozed contentment.

  “As well you should.” Molly looked at him in the mirror as she squirted a spritz of perfume on her bodice. “You lead such a hard life I’m surprised we’re not reported to the authorities.”

  The big, grey tom yawned and dropped his head onto the doona.

  “What do you think?” She held up a necklace, a thin gold chain with a small heart on it. “Is it too obvious?”

  Oscar licked his lips.

  “Probably,” she agreed. “Wearing a heart? Really? You’re right. What about this?” She studied the small pearl pendant surrounded by dainty, gold filigree.

  He sighed.

  “I know, isn’t t gorgeous?” Holding it up against her neck, she nodded. “We’ll go with this. Thanks for your excellent input.”

  Standing up, she crosse
d to the full-length mirror and checked herself. Lavender dress, low neckline edged with a fine strip of black lace that showed off a hint of cleavage, cap sleeves with the same black lace, black panel each side of her waist that helped to make it look a lot more slender than it was, and to make it even cuter there was a fine ribbon threaded through the bodice from waist to neckline that gave the girly dress a subtle hint of sexiness. A classic Harley Bentley dress she’d bought on-line from the dressmaker herself. Teamed with low-heeled black pumps and a lavender ribbon holding each side of hair back behind her head, she figured she passed muster. The pearl pendant probably wasn’t really needed, not with the lace. Overkill? Very possibly. With a last minute decision, she took the necklace back off and set it on the dresser.

  Okay, that was a little better. Sometimes less was more and all that stuff.

  Going back into the kitchen, she opened the oven door and checked the roast before taking two glasses and setting them on the table. Hmmm…would Kirk want wine? Beer? Rubbing her chin, she eyed the glasses thoughtfully. Actually, they weren’t even wine glasses, there were none in the house. Should she put them back in the cupboard and wait to hear what he wanted? Cripes, did he even drink wine?

  Flicking a glance at the clock, she figured she’d soon find out. It was almost seven o’clock and one thing Kirk was, was punctual.

  Something sounded on the back veranda, a scraping.

  “Cripes, Goldie, you can come in through the front door, you know,” Molly joked, crossing the kitchen. “Us seeing each other doesn’t mean you’re relegated to the servants’ entrance.” Opening the door, she stepped out when he didn’t immediately appear. The veranda was empty. She looked around, puzzled. “Kirk?”

  All was quiet, only the faint breeze rustling a piece of paper across the yard. Maybe that was what she had heard, the wind stirring something on the veranda.

  Turning to go back in, she saw a post satchel on the wrought iron table. Wondering who had sent her something and why it was on the table instead of the post box, she picked it up and turned it over, looking for the sender’s details. There was no return address.

  The satchel was plastic, not easy to open, so she went back into the kitchen to get a pair of scissors. Just as she was reaching for the drawer, she heard a brisk knock on the front door.

  Now that had to be Kirk. Grinning, she placed the satchel on the far bench to open later, setting it behind a few magazines so that Oscar wouldn’t discover it and try to open it himself.