by Annie Seaton
The easy mood between them disappeared. Rosie drained her cup and stood. “Thanks for the tea. When will we expect you?”
“I’ll come after lunch tomorrow, if that suits?”
“What about your...your job? Don’t you have to be somewhere?” She waved her hand. “At some surf competition or something?”
A shadow crossed his face. “No. Not at the moment.” He looked at her curiously. “Who’s we?”
“The other two girls with me at the funeral.” She frowned as his eyes narrowed. “As well as working out of the house, they live there too. The three of us live on the first floor. And don’t worry, we all pay rent into Aggie’s account.”
ROSIE PARKED HER CAR in the garage and hurried to the kitchen. She checked the small white board stuck to the fridge. Sally and Lily had filled in their schedules for the day and both had clients now. She’d be lucky to see them before her own client arrived in a few minutes.
She scrawled a note and stuck it under a glass on the kitchen table. ‘Don’t go anywhere. We need to talk. I finish at seven.’
Her six o’clock was a regular client who liked to chat while she was having her back treated. Rosie hadn’t shared with Taj that she was also a qualified physiotherapist; she’d sensed that he was a skeptic when it came to alternative therapies. Many people were. She’d seen the look on his face when she’d mentioned Reiki and lymphatic massage. Yes, they were new age treatments and had made a huge difference to the health and lives of her clients who were prepared to open their minds.
When Taj met Ocean Lily, his eyes were going to be even wider. She stifled a grin and focused her thoughts on her client as Mrs. March told her about the day she’d spent with her grandchildren.
An hour later, Rosie waited at the door until Mrs. March was safely in her car across the road, before she went back inside and washed the massage oil from her hands. Her back ached, and her wrists were sore. A delicious smell of herbs and tomato sauce met her as she opened the kitchen door.
Sally and Lily were sitting at the table, their iPads propped up in front of them as the pot of sauce bubbled away on the stove.
“Double, double, toil and trouble.” Rosie put on a deep voice.
Sally lifted her head and grinned. “By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes.”
“You’re not wrong there.” Rosie pulled a face and flopped into the third chair.
“So the cards were right?” Lily had dyed her hair and Rosie reached over and lifted a purple plait.
“Cards? You mean the tea leaves?”
“I read the cards at lunchtime. They were the same. Change is in the wind.” Ocean Lily dropped her voice. “So tell us how bad is it?”
Rosie sat back and folded her arms. “Well...it could be worse.”
“Rosie!” Sally tapped her fingers on the table.
“We have a guest coming. Well, technically he’s not a guest, he’s a beneficiary. Like me.”
“A guest? What? Coming to stay here? Why?” Sally was the worrier of her family. “And who?”
“Because Aunt Aggie put it in the will. Three months with Taj Brown as a house guest and then we can do what we want with the house. The problem is I think we may want different outcomes at the end.” She turned to Lily, who looked like the cat that got the cream. “What are you smiling about?”
“I had a dream last night.” Lily nodded sagely. Damn if she could get used to that name. Lily was the last name Sonia reminded you of—lilies were cool and calm, everything that Sonia was not.
“And?”
“All will be well.”
Rosie laughed. “How so? You mean I can forget the pricking of my thumbs?” She lifted both hands and moved both her sore thumbs in a circle.
“Yep. I dreamed he came and stayed here. And he stayed.”
“What do you mean he stayed?”
“I mean, Rosie, all your teenage fantasies came true. He’s going to fall in love with you and it will all work out. You’ll find your happy ever after, live in the house and fill it with little surfers.”
Rosie stood and crossed to the stove and picked up the spoon, giving the sauce a thorough stir before she answered. “No, Sonia—and forget that Lily crap, I can’t get used to it—you know how I feel about relationships and kids.” She stared at her two friends. “After my childhood, you know I don’t believe in love and happy ever after. There’s no such thing. I don’t know what Aggie was thinking about. It’s not going to happen.”
Sonia’s smile got wider and she nodded again. “You’ll see. Trust me. When have I ever been wrong before?”
Rosie picked up the tea towel and laughed as she threw it at Sonia. “This time you will be. And wipe that smug grin off your face.
“You’ll see. You have to trust the cards.” Sonia removed the towel that had landed on her shoulder and folded it neatly on the table in front of her. “They never lie.” She nodded sagely at Rosie. “Trust me, Ocean Lily knows best.” She ducked as Rosie reached for another tea towel.
Chapter 7
Taj arrived with supplies and a peace offering. A huge bunch of flowers and a bottle of wine. He rang the doorbell of the house on the hill before he turned to watch the surfers making the most of the perfect waves. It was a beautiful spring afternoon. A light westerly wind was making the super long, clean groundswell stand up as it rolled in from the southeast. It was unusual for Bondi to have such great waves in the late afternoon; the northeast chop would usually be making conditions unpleasant by now. Taj let out a sigh; and he would have given anything to be out there. One of the hardest things about living here was going to be watching the surfers out there every day. Almost as hard as ignoring the effect that Rosie had on his libido. The last thing he needed was to get involved with her.
His last appointment with the specialist had not been promising. The doctor was talking surgery and only a fifty percent chance that Taj would surf again if he went down the surgery path. The doctor was surprised the injury hadn’t responded to the physiotherapy regime and he was awaiting results of the latest MRI before he decided if surgery was going to fix the problem.
Taj turned away from the hollow beach break as a lone surfer caught the wave and rode it to the shore. His career was most likely over and it was time to think about his future. Money wasn’t a problem but one thing was sure; he wouldn’t be going into the family stock broking firm. Aggie had been loyal to him by leaving him a share of her house and assets; it would be traitorous of him to join the family who had ostracised her as soon as her husband had died. Maybe he’d go into developing real estate on a full time basis. He’d always had a knack of finding good deals.
He turned with a start as the door was flung open and the woman who’d worn the multi- coloured tent at the funeral stood there with a huge smile.
“You must be Taj? Come in, come in.”
He handed her the flowers and held onto the wine. She chatted gaily as he followed her down a long hall leading to the back of the house.
“I’m Lily...or you can call me Sonia, whichever you prefer. Rosie hates Lily, so I guess I can answer to Sonia. Sally and Rosie have appointments so I’ve been keeping an eye out for you. Lovely afternoon isn’t it. So pleased you’re coming to stay, there’s a bit too much estrogen here at times. Although now the footballers are coming every second night, it’s all jock straps and testosterone.”
He opened his mouth to answer but she kept on.
“Rosie told us what you thought we were. What a hoot! Got us mixed up with the old ladies of the night. Not a bad idea. All the money worries would be gone then. But we’d have others, I guess. Other worries that is.” His expression must have changed because she dug him in the ribs and let out a laugh that was almost a cackle. “Don’t worry. Just joking. Now as soon as you’re settled, I want to do a reading.”
“A reading?” Taj knew his voice was faint. A door closed behind him and rescue came in the shape of another woman; not Rosie but obviously the third o
ne who lived here. The other one he’d seen at the service. She held her hand out and took his between both of hers and looked him in the eye.
“Hi, I’m Sally. Welcome to the ‘House on the Hill’. She exuded calm and the tension that prickled at his neck at the thought of a ‘reading’, whatever that was, dissipated.
Taj stood the bottle of wine on the table as she switched the kettle on. Nothing like an Aussie cup of tea to break the ice.
“It’s our morning tea break. Rosie’ll be out soon. She’ll show you your room. Tea?
“Coffee would be great, thanks.”
“Sorry. We don’t have coffee.”
Taj made a note to buy some. He wouldn’t last a day here without coffee. “Tea will be fine. Thanks.”
“What sort? We have plain green, green with mint, apple and cinnamon, chamomile, berry—” The nonstop talkative one who’d answered the door counted them off on her ring bedecked fingers.
“Just plain tea please.” Taj smiled weakly. He wasn’t sure what to call her. This was going to be a very long three months.
“Then we can talk about changing the roster.” She didn’t draw breath between words.
“The roster?”
“Yep, the cooking and stuff. Shopping, cleaning. Pleased you’re here actually. It’ll free us all up a bit. Although Rosie said you’ve got a gammy leg?”
“I’m fine. I can do whatever is needed.” Silently, he was screaming inside... get me out of here.
“Be good to have a man around. You can take the garbage out.”
Is she for real?
A little giggle escaped her lips and she put her hand over them. He joined in with a laugh as he realised she’d been teasing him.
“Are you trying to scare me off? Did Rosie put you up to it?”
“Hello, Taj. Welcome to Aggie’s house on the hill.” The cold voice came from behind him before Sonia could answer.
He spun around as pleasant anticipation disappeared.
“The house on the hill? Is that what you call it?”
ROSIE HAD ALL MORNING to prepare herself for Taj’s arrival. She woke up out of sorts after the little sleep she’d had was broken by dreams of surf and a blue-eyed blond surfer. But the water in her dream had been brown and murky, and she knew how Sonia would interpret that dream.
Trouble ahead. Now trouble with a capital T stood in front of her with a huge smile on his face. Her damned stomach jumped and twitched, and the discomfort travelled even lower as she stared at him, ignoring the strange ache that lodged between her thighs. She took refuge in a bad mood. Damn him, she didn’t care what he thought of her.
“Yes, it’s always been the house on the hill to us... and to the locals. And it will always be Aggie’s house on the hill to me.”
He nodded and kept his eyes fixed on hers and she fought the temptation to straighten her hair, or lick her lips, or move, or something. Anything to stop him looking at me.
Eventually she folded her arms and returned his steady gaze. “So have you brought your gear with you?”
“Not yet, my PA is driving over this afternoon with my luggage and a couple of my boards.”
Pah. His PA. Of course.
He looked around at the room and smiled apologetically. “You’ll have to bear with me, I’ve got nothing personal...like towels and stuff to contribute. I’m used to living out of hotels, not private houses.”
“Of course you are.” She waved a dismissive hand. “We can sort that out.” She turned away, conscious of the other two girls following their conversation. She shot a frown in Sonia’s direction before she turned her attention back to Taj.
“So where is home for you?”
As she watched, he ran a hand through his hair and that sexy, stray lock fell over his forehead again.
“No one place really. I’ve followed the circuit for more than a few years now.”
“But you must have a home base?”
Finally he shrugged casually. “Yeah, I’ve got a couple of properties.”
“Where?” Rosie knew her voice was waspish. So if he had a couple of places, what did he want with Aggie’s house on the hill? Why did he need to live here and get his hands on it? On my home?
As she watched, he squared his broad shoulders. Those gorgeous, tanned shoulders she was more used to seeing bare on the posters on her wall.
“I’ve got a villa up at Airlie Beach, and—” he hesitated.
“And?”
“And a house down at Bell’s Beach...and a small place in California.”
“Three?”
“Actually, I have small farm in North Queensland too.” He lifted his chin as he stared back at her and his challenging expression pushed her buttons a bit more.
Every time he opened his mouth it was easier to harden her heart. Keep it coming, surfer boy.
“So what are you doing here now?” She folded her arms. Damn, she knew she was being unfriendly, but he didn’t need this place. They did. It was their home and their livelihood and relative who appeared out of the woodwork when Aggie was barely cold in her grave. Rosie ignored the gasps that came from Sonia and Sally at her rude tone.
So be it. He hadn’t even brought his luggage in and she’d thrown down the gauntlet. “How about we have this conversation when you’re in a better mood.” Taj’s smile had gone and his eyes were narrow.
It was like being on centre court at the Australian Open. Sonia and Sally’s heads were moving from left to right as each verbal thrust whizzed from one to the other like the spinning tennis ball.
“How about we don’t have it at all? How about you just go back to where you came from?”
Rosie didn’t like the smile that spread over his face as he turned his palms upwards and gave a very French shrug. Trying to be sophisticated, is he?
“Okay. So you want me to leave? You’re quite sure of that?”
She hesitated at the glint in his eye but then stood her ground. “I think it would be better for all concerned, don’t you?”
“No skin off my nose, babe.”
Babe!
Rosie opened her mouth and closed it as she held back the splutter that threatened. An overwhelming feeling of being out of control, the thing she feared most in her life was clawing at her throat. The only way she knew to overcome it, was to come out fighting.
“So you’re happy to move out too?” He quirked an eyebrow as he continued. “You heard what old Dr. Pepper said.”
Sonia interrupted him with a giggle. “Dr. Pepper?”
“Ah, I should say Mr. Pepper. Very confusing. Dr. Pepper Drinks sponsored me once.”
“What?” Rosie planted her hands on her hips. She wasn’t going to let a glimmer of a smile cross her face despite his Dr. Pepper jokes. Bloody inappropriate time to be making jokes. Obviously at her expense. She really could get to dislike this Theodore Brown.
“If we don’t share the house for three months, you know it goes to neither of us. So it’s your choice, babe.”
Sally stepped forward and put a hand on Rosie’s arm. “Calm down, sweets. Take a deep breath.” She turned to her sister. “Lily, will you please take Taj upstairs and show him the two spare rooms. Let him choose whichever he wants. They’re both made up. Rosie, I’ll make you a cup of tea and then we’ll all sit down and have a nice chat.
Rosie swallowed and hid her misery. Taj sent her one last look as he followed Lily out of the kitchen.
“What is your problem?” Sally’s usual calm had disappeared and her voice was the loudest Rosie had ever heard her speak. “Do you want to lose everything?”
Rosie shook her head as warmth flooded her cheeks. “He just makes me feel so...so...”
“So what?” Sally crossed to the sink and filled the kettle. “A cup of chamomile tea for you, my dear.”
“So out of control, Sal, you know. I thought I was in love with that surfer dude for most of my teens. He was my hero. Now here he is in our house, threatening to take everything from us. And he’s not
hing like I thought he was.”
Sally raised both her eyebrows and stared. “And you don’t think you are overreacting a bit?”
“No.” Rosie felt like stamping her foot like she had with Aggie as a confused little eight-year-old, fifteen years ago. “I know what it’s like to be rootless, and have nobody. I don’t want to go there again.” She flopped into the kitchen chair and cradled her head in her arms. A gentle touch on her arm a minute later had her lifting her head as Sally pushed a steaming cup of fragrant tea toward her.
“I knew that was upsetting you. “Sally put her hand on Rosie’s shoulder and she closed her eyes as the calming warmth seeped through her thin shirt. “Sweets, you have to go with the flow. Don’t fight it. You know the universe has a plan for you. This may be the first step to something else. Something better may come of this. Don’t fight it.”
She sat across from Rosie and a cheeky look crossed her face. “Lily read his aura while he was waiting on the front porch and wowsa.” She lifted her hand and fanned herself. “Once you take down this barrier you’ve put up, you’re in for the ride of your life.”
Chapter 8
The sound of a door closing quietly woke Taj just after dawn. To his surprise, he’d slept well. The lull of the waves on the rocks below the house had sent him off to sleep almost as soon as his head hit the pillow. After Sally had calmed things down, he’d headed upstairs with Lily and chosen the front room, and then he’d left the three of them sitting in the kitchen. Doing whatever they did.
Hocus-pocus of some sort. The smell of incense through the house reminded him of the place in the Maldives he’d surfed for a few months. The resort had been a place of supposed soul renewal and inspiration too; not his scene at all. And neither was this house. Tarot cards, herbal teas, Reiki and yoga. He was way out of his comfort zone.
Everywhere he turned there were little gold Buddha statues and silky drapes with inspirational messages on them. Lily had offered to read his cards for him when she’d shown him to his room, and he’d high tailed it out of the house as soon as he could. It was like he’d landed in some sort of crazy house.