By the time he jumped the back fence and entered his own house, he knew one thing for certain. He needed a cold shower. And Lori Mackay was hot.
Okay, two things.
And he was going to have her.
Make that three things.
She was his.
Hell, might as well make that four. In for a penny, in for a pound.
~*~
Lying in the bed, Lori listened to Matt’s footsteps fade away and the sound of the kitchen door closing. For several seconds she stared up at the ceiling before laying one arm across her eyes and groaning.
Oh cripes, she’d nearly done it, nearly disgraced herself! One look from his eyes, one delicious episode of leaning against Matt’s body, feeling the strength and heat, and she had been ready to - no!
Biting her lip, she rolled onto her side and cradled Minx close in her arms. Minx snuggled in, purring, her wise old eyes looking up at Lori before she put her head down and went to sleep.
Lori wished it was so easy. Her ankle ached and she swore she could still feel his fingers on her skin, those long fingers tracing across her as he wrapped her ankle deftly, his every movement deliberate and sure.
He’d been so caring, so strong, supporting her even when she protested. No man had ever done that with her, been dominant…She gave a delicious shiver. Okay, he had been just doing his job, tending his neighbour’s injuries. In fact, she and Ali were more than just his neighbours, more like friends in a way, but for her part it was a cautious friendship. She just didn’t feel relaxed around him, her nerves on tenterhooks, so very aware of his every movement, his every look.
For just a minute there, when he’d looked down at her as he’d steadied her against his body, she’d thought she’d seen something in his eyes, but it had to be a mistake. No man had ever looked at her with anything but friendliness, so it wouldn’t be any different with Matt.
But for just a brief second…
Sighing, she pulled the doona around her shoulders. Reality might suck but she sure could fantasize about it. Fantasize about Matt looking at her with more than curiosity, more than friendly concern. She could fantasize that he looked at her just the way she thought he had - with heat.
Closing her eyes, she tucked Minx closer and the old cat stretched, purred, and snuggled in once more.
“At least I’ve got you, Minxie.” Lori dropped a kiss on her head and relaxed, closing her eyes once more and smiling.
Matt had kissed her forehead. She was sure it could be so much more in her dreams. It was the closest she was ever going to get to her real desires.
Desires she’d kept secret since that one ill-fated night that she’d sworn to never again repeat.
When she next awoke, the sun was low in the sky and she checked her wristwatch. Five o’clock. Time to get up and shower, wake to face the day - or the night, as such. At least half the night. Normally she’d have gotten up earlier, but it had been so cosy in the bed.
Getting up wasn’t as easy, the pain of her foot landing on the floor a strong reminder. Trying to keep the weight off her foot, she limped to the bathroom to shower, choosing to get back into her nightie and dressing gown. Seeing as how she’d be back in her night clothes within a few hours, it seemed a waste of time to change into day clothes. Time enough for that tomorrow.
When the doorbell rang, her heart leaped. Matt? Had he come to check on her? Biting her lip, she looked down at her nightie, hurriedly buttoning up the dressing gown, cursing as she thought that she should have gotten dressed after all. She’d forgotten that he’d said he’d check on her.
Limping to the front door, she opened it to find Tracy standing on the doorstep, a DVD in one hand and a bag of something delicious smelling in the other.
“Hi,” Tracy said. “I come bearing food and entertainment for the wounded warrior.”
“I don’t know about the warrior part.” Lori moved back to allow her friend entry. “But the wounded part is spot on.”
Walking past her, Tracy waved the DVD. “Romance night.”
Lori groaned. “Seriously?” She started to close the door.
“Of course. It’s the latest.” Tracy disappeared into the kitchen.
“Not into romance?” a deep voice asked just as the door almost clicked shut.
There was no mistaking that voice, the tone went through her like warm molasses. Lori pulled the door open to find Matt standing on the veranda holding a container from which a delicious smell drifted.
Self-conscious about her attire, which was ridiculous seeing as how he’d already had the dubious pleasure of seeing her in it already, Lori folded her arms across her chest and smiled. “Hi, Matt.”
“Romance?” he prodded, his eyebrows raised.
“In movies, no.” She shook her head. “How are the cats?”
“Well, the vase didn’t survive a second shot on the floor. It’s in the bin.” His gaze wandered over her and when he lifted his lashes his dark eyes locked on hers, the warmth in the depths making her breath catch. “How’s the ankle?”
“Oh - um - fine. Fine.” She eased her weight off the throbbing foot. “Well, sore, but okay.”
“Don’t forget to ice it.” He glanced past her briefly. “I see you have a visitor so I’ll let you go. Here.” Abruptly, he thrust the container at her.
Taking it in one hand, she felt the warmth. “Did you cook something?”
“A roast. I put some in there for you so you didn’t have to cook anything.” He smiled, charming little wrinkles appearing at the corners of his eyes. “But I see your friend had the same idea.”
“That’s what friends are for!” Tracy called out and Lori glanced back to see her friend grin widely before disappearing back into the kitchen.
Lori turned back to Matt. “Thanks for the roast. I will eat it, I promise.”
“You don’t have to eat it tonight, it’ll keep.”
Oh God, did he think she would actually eat two dinners? Mortified, she stammered, “I-I wouldn’t eat it tonight, not as well. I’m not that hungry.” That sounded even worse. “I mean, I don’t eat two dinners normally. I mean ever. I don’t eat two dinners ever. I-” Her words were stopped by one long finger laying gently against her lips.
Matt smiled slightly. “I know.”
And then it happened. She opened her mouth to say something and the tip of her tongue brushed against his finger. He jerked it back as though she’d scalded him, his eyes suddenly dark, searching, seeming to pierce through and into her, baring her dirty little secrets to his scrutiny
Mortified - an emotion that was fast becoming the norm around him - Lori jerked back, stammering, “Thanks for the food. I-I have to go. Goodbye!” She almost slammed the door shut.
Oh God. She slumped against the door, bringing her free hand up to slap against her forehead. What had she done? How could she have been so stupid? She’d licked his finger, she hadn’t meant to, but it had just happened and - stupid stupid stupid!
“Keep banging your forehead like that and you’ll have a headache,” Tracey informed her.
Lifting her head, Lori saw her friend watching her with a touch of concern. “I’m fine.”
“Of course you are, because smacking yourself around is the very definition of ‘fine’.”
“Just a thought.”
“So bad you had to smack it?” A little gleam entered her eyes. “Care to share?”
“It’s a boring thought.” Lori straightened. “Matt brought me tea.”
“Ah, the gallant knight rides to the rescue once more.”
Lori’s eyes narrowed. “What do you mean ‘once more’?”
“Shirley, who lives behind you, saw you fall in the backyard but before she could come and help, Matt was over that fence and lifting you up in his arms-”
Lori gave an inelegant snort.
“And brought you inside,” Tracey continued, unperturbed.
“And Shirley told you this?”
“No, she told Mrs Hubble,
who told Old Man Parker, who told me.”
“Great.” With a sigh, Lori limped down the hallway.
Entering the kitchen, she saw Tracey going out the back door with Minx beside her. Minx looked back at Lori, who limped over to the back door and leaned against it, watching as her friend took Minx out into the garden.
“Honestly, “said Tracey, “this cat rules your life.”
“Glad you don’t let her do the same to you,” Lori replied dryly.
“Cats should have a place and she knows her’s around me. By the way, I brought extra chicken because I know she likes it.” At Lori’s grin, she added defensively, “It stops her hassling us while we’re eating and watching a passion-strewn movie.”
“’Course it does.”
Once back inside, Tracey divided up the chicken and salad while Lori cut the extra piece up for Minx, then they went to the lounge, Tracy carrying both plates and ensuring that Lori was settled before returning to the kitchen for the cold drinks.
Once seated beside each other on the sofa, Tracey put the DVD on pause before it had even started properly. “By the way, hope you didn’t have other plans for tonight.”
“Nope.” Lori shook her head.
“Not with…” Tracey winked. “Matt?”
“Matt? No, of course not.”
“You’re blushing.”
“Do you want that DVD shoved where the sun don’t shine?”
“Not particularly.”
“Then change the subject.”
Tracey rolled her eyes. “Fine.” Taking a mouthful of chicken, she started the DVD again, only to pause it during the previews. “By the way-”
“I get the shivers as soon as you say that,” Lori informed her.
“Ha ha. By the way, I saw Tommy.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah. Odd to see him driving down your street. He doesn’t live near here, does he?”
Lori frowned. “No.”
“I saw him driving slowly past your house, he seemed to be looking over here.” Tracey forked up salad and chewed thoughtfully. “Odd bloke sometimes.”
“Yeah,” Lori said slowly. “Odd.”
“Something’s going on with him.” Tracey nodded. “We’ve all noticed it.”
“Mm.”
Tracey looked sideways at her. “Do you know what it is?”
Lori shook her head.
“Yeah, well, whatever it is, he’s really moody lately. I mean, he’s always been the quiet type but he’s bordering on outright rude sometimes. He’s lucky he’s the only café in town or he’d be out of business.”
“Oh, he’s not that bad,” Lori said.
“Okay.” Tracy stared at the screen for several seconds in silence before mumbling, “Wonder why he was in your street driving so slow and looking at your house.”
A little unnerved but hiding it, Lori shrugged.
“Are you two having it on?” Tracey demanded.
Lori choked, coughing and hurriedly dropping the plate onto the coffee table.
Tracey pounded her back. “Because you’d tell me, right?”
Leaning away from her friend, Lori coughed and wheezed. “Stop!”
“Here.” Tracy thrust the glass of soft drink at her. “Drink.”
Obeying, Lori took several mouthfuls, drawing painful breaths and still wheezing afterward. “Cripes, Tracy! Are you trying to kill me?”
“Hey, I’m just asking a question. You’re the one that choked.” Tracy was completely unrepentant. “So, are you and Tommy having a fling?”
“No! Shit, Tracy, no.” Wiping her mouth with a serviette, Lori took several deep breaths. “No, I don’t know what’s wrong with Tommy, no, I’m not having it on with him, and no. Just no.”
After staring at her for several seconds, Tracy finally nodded. “Okay, I believe you.”
“Thanks. Really.” Lori picked up her plate. “And don’t ever try to kill me again by springing something like that on me when my mouth is full.”
“Sure.” Tracy pressed the play button on the hand control and the DVD resumed playing.
Relieved, Lori rested her bandaged ankle on the coffee table and resumed eating. Only her mind wasn’t on the movie, but on Tommy. Why was he driving slowly along her street? Was he watching her house? And why? It was an extremely unsettling thought, especially combined with the way he had looked at her yesterday morning when she’d been broken down on the side of the road.
She thought about him. Tommy was a big bloke, tall, muscled, and intensely private, but there had been a definite change in him lately. It didn’t answer her question of why he was on her street.
Heck, maybe he was just driving past, looking at the houses.
Nah, that wasn’t Tommy. He didn’t do things like that. A prickle of unease went through her. What was he up to, and why did she have the weird feeling that it might involve her?
“So,” said Tracy, “Are you having it on with Matt instead?”
This time the mouthful of chicken sprayed right across the table as Lori went into another choking fit.
“Geez.” Tracy pounded her back. “I was just asking. Talk about drama.”
“You,” Lori choked out, “are so dead!”
“Heard that before,” Tracey replied pragmatically. “No doubt will hear it again.”
Chapter 3
Waking early the next morning, Lori observed Minx sitting quietly by the bedroom door. Normally she’d be mewoing but today the old ginger cat sat patiently waiting, seemingly caught up in her own thoughts.
Getting out of the bed, Lori was pleased to find that her ankle didn’t hurt half as bad as the previous day, more a dull ache to remind her to be careful. Walking across to Minx, who lifted her head to watch her, Lori bent down, stroking her head before picking her up gently and snuggling her close, speaking softly as she walked with only a slight limp out into the hall and through the kitchen to the backdoor. Unlocking it, she set Minx down on the floor and followed her out onto the veranda, hugging her arms across her chest as she peered out at the yard.
The sun was up, a warm sheen that touched the flowers and had them lifting their heads to greet the morning. From a few doors up a dog barked and birds chittered in the nearby trees. The chill of the night had been chased away, a reminder that it was slowly turning to autumn but summer still had a tenacious grip on the weather.
Minx walked slowly down the steps and out into the garden, lifting her head to sniff the air before making her way to the garden bed.
Peeking around, Lori didn’t see anyone in Matt’s backyard, so she stepped down into the yard and walked out into the sunshine, breathing in the early morning air. Definitely warmer, but still cool, in the odd way summer going into autumn could sometimes be.
Minx tended to her business, something she’d done for years every morning regardless of the litter tray that sat in the laundry for her use.
As Lori watched her, she was struck anew at how her beloved cat was aging. A little scrawny, a lot thinner, and definitely not as lively as she used to be. In her youth she’d stalk amongst the flowers, catching butterflies, tormenting snails, and bounding through the gardens, delighting in life. Now she sat, her nose up to the sunshine, eyes half closed in contentment.
After a few minutes of her sitting there, Lori called softly, “Finished yet, little old lady?”
Minx flicked her ears, seemed to think about it before slowly getting up and making her way stiffly back to where Lori waited. Scooping her up, Lori took her back inside to give her breakfast and one of the pills she had daily to help with the arthritis. Once Minx was settled with a bowl of food, Lori showered and dressed, ready to face the day. Regardless of a sore ankle, there were chores to do that she’d just have to complete slower than normal.
Relishing the daylight, she cleaned the house. Hanging the washing out on the line was an achievement on its own. Minx perched on the sofa and watched until she fell asleep.
Lori was sweeping the front veranda when sh
e noticed a car go past, a woman watching her through the side window. The car slowed as the driver seemed to hesitate, then it fastened up and drove off.
Weird. Scratching her head, Lori watched the car disappear along the street. It was only when it was followed shortly after by Tommy’s ute that she got that shiver down her spine. Especially because Tommy glanced at her, the expression on his face annoyed before he put his foot on the accelerator.
No sooner had he started to go faster than his brake lights flashed on and he stopped.
Leaning on the broom, Lori watched curiously. What the heck had she ever done to upset him? Her curiosity changed to wariness when his reversal lights came on and he started backing up, his ute coming to a stop right outside her gate. Turning off his engine, he got out and walked up the garden path with a hard expression on his face.
She might have known him all her life but she’d never been friends with him. Sure, a friendly nod, an acknowledgement, a smile and a ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ at the café, maybe a comment about the weather or something on the news, but that was all. To see him advancing, his expression anything but pleasant, was unnerving and Lori took a tighter grip on the broom handle as she stepped back.
“Lori,” Tommy said.
“Tommy,” she returned.
“I need to talk to you.”
“Um, sure.” Still wary, wondering what he was going to say, she gripped the broom handle a little tighter. Tommy was a big bloke, the broom handle rather thin, but it was the best she had, though why the hell she felt she might need protection from him, she’d never know.
Or maybe she would know in a few seconds. Going by the thunder starting to cloud his face as he looked down the street he was pretty angry and getting angrier, if the flashing of his eyes were another indication.
When he swung that angry gaze back to her, she couldn’t stop an involuntary step back.
“You saw me,” he stated bluntly, coming to a stop not far from the veranda steps.
“Saw you?”
“The other morning.”
“I’m not sure-”
“Don’t pretend to not know what I’m talking about,” he said harshly.
Lori blinked.
Lean on Me (The Mackay Sisters) Page 6