by Annie Seaton
Dave wasn’t used to such open generosity. Although he’d loved his job, and had enjoyed every minute of the cut and thrust of the fashion business, it had been pretty much dog eat dog. Everyone was in it for their own benefit. He put his head down and rolled up the white paper that their dinner had been wrapped in. He pushed himself to his feet, and holding out his free hand, he said quietly. ‘Thank you. I’m sorry I snapped so quickly before.’
Sonia slipped her hand into his; it was warm and soft and he tugged it until she was closer to him—or as close as that damned skirt would let her be. ‘I think we need to celebrate with a drink. What do you think?’
‘Sounds good. The local watering hole?’ She nodded towards the pub on the corner.
‘Maybe a quieter bar?’
‘There’s a secluded bar at the back of the arcade just off Campbell Street. Food’s downstairs where the music is, but it’s quiet and intimate upstairs.’ Her face went pink again.
‘Intimate sounds good.’ Dave kept hold of her hand as they crossed the street.
TWO HOURS AND THREE drinks each later, Sonia put her hand to her mouth as Dave caught her in a wide yawn.
‘I must be riveting company,’ he joked. ‘Time to head up the hill, I think. You’ve had a big day. Tea leaf readings, a bike ride, a swim, and a night out on the town.’
Sonia bumped his shoulder as he pulled her to her feet off the stool. ‘You’ve been great company. That’s the most fun I’ve had for ages.’
Once he’d agreed to letting her investigate setting up a show, he’d relaxed and had readily answered her questions. Sonia had learned a lot about his childhood on the farm, and losing both his parents when he’d been in his late teens.
‘Me too,’ she said. But I had Sally . . . and Rosie.’ She’d stared past him for a moment. ‘And Aunt Aggie for a while.’ As usual she said too much and before too long, he knew most of her twenty-five year history.
He held her hand as they strolled up the hill and contentment filled her. Just for one night, she felt good. She wasn’t worried about what she looked like, or who was looking critically at her height or her size.
As they reached the gate, they could hear voices and laughter coming from inside the house. Dave pulled her back as he closed the gate behind them. The moon had just risen and a path of golden light stretched across the water. She opened her lips a little as he pulled her close and slipped his arms around her back. The hoop on her skirt pushed away at the back and he gathered her even closer.
Dave’s voice was soft and his warm breath puffed across her cheek. ‘I’m leaving early in the morning, and I wanted to say thank you now.’
‘Thank you?’ Sonia tipped her head back and looked at him. ‘For what?’
‘For being such a kind and lovely person, and letting me spend a most enjoyable evening with you.’ His lips got closer to her mouth and she closed her eyes. ‘Next time, I’ll take you to a real restaurant and we’ll drink real champagne.’ His voice was low and husky, and his words vibrated against her lips as his mouth touched hers. A spark of mutual need passed between them and her heart pounded against his chest. She leaned against him for a moment and then lifted her head and smiled up at him as he lowered his mouth to hers again. Dave’s lips were gentle and she could feel herself blossoming beneath them. Even though her eyes were closed she could see the soft pink of his aura as he held her close. His energy surrounded her, cocooned her and warmed her. She focused on her breathing and the feel of his skin beneath her hands. Without being aware of what she was doing, Sonia’s hands crept beneath his shirt and her fingers caressed the smooth skin of his back. He deepened the kiss and she opened her lips to welcome him.
Sonia felt beautiful and desirable . . . and wanted.
Chapter 12
The door opened and a beam of light bathed Sonia and Dave in its bright glow. Slowly they pulled apart, but her gaze remained locked on his. This wasn’t the same man who had made wisecracks about her clothes, or the man who had been wallowing in self pity, or the man who had originally knocked back her offer to help him. This was the man that she had fallen in love with after one kiss.
Sonia shook her head and stepped back, and her skin cooled where Dave’s hands had held her close, as he let her go.
No. It couldn’t happen. She wasn’t going to open herself up for any more hurt.
‘Hi, guys.’ Taj ignored the fact that he’d opened the door to a couple in a hot clinch, although his grin was wide. ‘Son, before you go up, Rosie and I wanted to have a quick word.’
‘Go up?’ she thought blankly before she nodded. ‘Oh, yes, Sally told me you wanted a word. I’ll be inside in a few minutes.’
The door closed behind him, and as she looked down, wondering if she had imagined that glorious feeling when Dave had held her, a fleeting shadow caught her eye
‘Oh, quick,’ she yelled. The moment along with the glorious feeling fled in a couple of tiny footsteps.
Dave looked at her, his expression as bemused as hers had been before Taj had opened the door.
‘What?’ he said as Sonia took off down the path to the gate. ‘What’s wrong?’
‘Muggins,’ she screeched as a car went flying past. Sally’s cat had sneaked past Taj’s foot when the front door was open. ‘He got outside. He can’t be out here. He’s an inside cat.’
Dave hurried along behind her and another car zoomed along the road as the cat evaded them zigzagging across the small patch of lawn.
The little rag doll ran along the inside of the brick front fence but all Sally could think of was the gap beneath the wrought iron gate, leading out to the busy road. Even though the house was at the end of a cul de sac, the traffic was busy as drivers used the short road to turn around and head back down past the beach. It was almost a part of the iconic tourist beach drive just like the beach walk they often used.
‘Muggins!’ She leaned down, stretched out and just caught the tip of his tail but he pranced away in the other direction.
Dave looked around at the small enclosed garden. ‘You go and stand near the gate and I’ll catch him when he heads to you.’
Sonia did as he asked and crouched down on the path. She looked at the gap under the gate. If she put her legs across the gap, it blocked the way out. Biting back a giggle, she watched as Muggins led Dave on a merry chase. To the left, to the right, back to the door, and then to the left again. Every time the kitten stopped, Dave lunged and finally with a triumphant cry, he flung himself to the ground in a tackle worthy of Jonathon Thurston. As his hands closed gently around the small kitten, Muggins turned around and sank his sharp little teeth into Dave’s finger and he let go.
‘Ouch that hurt, you little bugger.’
Sonia giggled again as the cat strolled up to her and nonchalantly settled into her lap and began purring. Dave lifted his head and pushed himself up on his arms and stared.
‘He thinks he’s in charge,’ Sonia said with a shrug.
Dave slid over the small space and sat beside her with his back against the brick wall. ‘Obviously,’ he said, sucking on his finger.
Sonia was quiet, not knowing how to act, and thankfully the door opened breaking the silence. Sally ran out, and put her hand to her chest as she hurried up the path. ‘You naughty little puss.’ Sonia held the cat up and after Sally took him, she pushed herself to her feet and looked down at Dave.
‘Thanks for dinner, Dave. It was fun.’ She began to walk along the path to the door conscious of his eyes on her.
She knew she was being a coward, but she didn’t know how to react. He was probably used to casual relationships and casual sex, and had been expecting her to go upstairs with him. Sonia’s experience lately was nonexistent, along with her confidence.
Maybe she could—
No. She shook her head. She didn’t know what to think.
‘Sally have you got a room ready for Dave?’ That would make her intentions clear.
‘Yes, up next to Aunt Aggie’s suite
.’
Sonia stood at the door. ‘I’ll see you in the morning and we’ll talk more about the plan.’
Before he could answer, she fled inside and up the stairs to her room. She’d catch up with Taj tomorrow.
Why did every damn wall in the house look pink?
Or was it the pink glow a product of two auras connecting?
Chapter 13
The sun was streaming through the two glass panels on each side of the front door as Sonia walked down the steps late the next morning. Muggins was lying in a pool of sunshine, looking innocent, but no doubt keeping an eye out for the door to open and provide an escape route to the world outside again. Low conversation filtered in from the kitchen at the back of the huge house, and Sonia strained to hear who was talking, but as soon as she started to listen all fell quiet apart from the clinking of cups and dishes.
She pushed the door open carefully and peeked around, and expelled a sigh of relief—although a tiny bit of disappointment was mixed in there somewhere. Rosie and Sally were stacking the dishwasher and the kids were sitting up at the table eating cereal.
They all looked up as Sonia walked in.
‘You slept late, Son,’ Sally said nudging Rosie. ‘Big night on the town?’
Sonia rolled her eyes. ‘More like a big night chasing that cat of yours.’ She looked around innocently. ‘Where is everyone?’
‘Everyone as in the cute Dave Walker?’ Sally said.
Sonia folded her arms and leaned against the fridge, but she knew her cheeks were pink. ‘No, just everyone,’ she said airily.
‘Taj has gone for a surf, he’ll be back soon, and Sol walked to the car park with Dave,’ Rosie replied as she closed the door of the dishwasher. ‘You want some pancakes?’
Sonia shook her head. ‘No. I’m not hungry, thanks.’
Sally and Rosie looked at each other and then high-fived right in front of Sonia.
‘What’s all that about?’ she asked suspiciously.
‘Not like you to be off your food,’ Rosie said with a smile.
‘I’m not off my food,’ she said crossly. ‘I’m just . . . just not hungry. We had a huge dinner of fish and chips. I’m still full.’
‘Whatever.’ Sally shrugged but she still had a bit of a smirk on her face.
‘Anyway, I’ll just grab a cuppa. I’ve got a lot to do today.’ Sonia opened the fridge and took out the milk.
‘Lots of appointments?’ Sally asked. ‘Mine have dropped right off.’
‘I wish I did,’ Sonia replied as she switched the kettle on. ‘I’ve barely got anything booked for the next week. ‘No. I’m helping Dave organise a fashion show. That’s why I was hoping he was still here.’ She crossed her fingers behind her back. She hadn’t been hoping that at all. Sonia still didn’t know how to react to him after that sweet kiss last night. She was dying to see him again, but at the same time, she didn’t want to see him. ‘I don’t have his mobile number.’
‘Sol’s got it. And his landline at the farm.’ Sally said as she passed a coffee mug to Sonia.
‘When Taj gets back, we wanted to talk to you both together, seeing we didn’t get a chance last night.’ Rosie looked at the sisters.
‘I’ll be around all morning,’ Sally said.
‘Me too.’ Sonia nodded. ‘Just give me a yell. I’ll be making some calls up in my room.’
Sonia took the coffee mug, and headed back to her room, scooping Muggins up in one hand on the way to the staircase.
She looked around at the beautiful cornices and ceiling roses. She was really going to miss this old house. When she came down to talk to Taj and Rosie, she was going to try to convince them to let her stay until it was sold. Although, she thought wryly, it was sure to be snapped up as soon as it hit the market. The beach house had been home to her and Sally for a long time now, and it was going to be hard to move on, especially to the sort of unit she’d be able to afford.
‘THAT’S THE SIX, SONIA,’
‘Thanks, Brigitte. I’ll be in touch when I’ve got more details.’ Sonia ended the call and entered the last of the details on her laptop. Dave should be pleased; she doubted if he’d realised the contacts she still had from the time she’d studied at Ultimo TAFE. The business skills she’d learned there—she grinned, including her business plan—had set her up in her current business.
Plus a wealth of contacts in the fashion industry.
If Sally and Rosie hadn’t wanted to start up the Divine Soul Sisters, she probably would have finished the degree course there. It was a fabulous place to study and Brigitte had just told her it had been named the top fashion school in Australia.
Now with her connections, she had a venue, six models and had already organised the hospitality school to do the catering as a work experience initiative.
She couldn’t wait to tell Dave. Hopefully, it would be part of the solution to his problem. If he sold his stock, and got enough money to get to the interview in Honolulu, he’d be set. All he needed then was for the police to catch the woman who’d taken all his money and helped blacken his name.
Although she wondered if he was worrying too much about that.
Brigitte had almost screamed when Sonia had said she was organising it for Dave Walker.
‘The Dave Walker?’ she’d asked.
‘Um, the only one I know,’ Sonia had replied.
‘The one who’s made it big in Japan?’
‘I think he’s one and the same.’ Sonia remembered the kimono coat that Dave had worn to Christmas lunch.
‘I’ll bend over backwards to do whatever we can. And I’ll get the college on board too. Sonia, you are a gem!’
As she closed her laptop, feeling pretty chuffed, there was a tap on the door, and Rosie poked her head around. ‘Taj is back, and he’s just having a shower. Meet in the kitchen in five?’
‘I’m on my way down now.’
Rosie waited on the landing and they walked down together.
‘I already know what you want to talk to me about,’ Sonia admitted.
‘Yeah, Sally said you’d both discussed it. Don’t worry, Son we’re not going to throw you out on the street. I won’t go into any details; I’ll let Taj tell you what’s happening. I just feel bad.’
Sonia put her arm around Rosie’s shoulder. ‘No need to. We’ve had a pretty good run living in the old house.
Sally and Sol were in the kitchen when they walked in. Taj came in through the laundry door rubbing his long wet curls with a towel.
‘Sol, can you text me Dave’s numbers please.’ Sonia walked behind Sally and pulled out a chair next to her twin.
Sol nodded and Sonia’s phone pinged with an incoming message almost immediately.
‘Thanks.’ She nodded and pulled out her phone. A text would be better at this stage; she still wasn’t very confident talking to Dave. And now that Brigitte had sung his praises so highly, she was feeling a little bit in awe of him too.
Sonia bit her lip as she stared at the text message box.
What to say?
Finally just as Taj sat across from her, and Rosie placed a pot of tea on the table, her fingers flew over the keys.
Great news. Fabulous response. No costs. All we need is a date.
As she pressed send Taj cleared his throat. ‘The time has come.’
‘To talk of many things,’ Sally chimed in with a wide smile.
Sonia smiled at her sister. ‘But not, of shoes — and ships — and sealing-wax —
Of cabbages — and kings —’
Taj frowned and looked at them with a peculiar expression. ‘What?’
They both laughed and Rosie joined in. ‘Don’t worry, darling. It was an Aunt Aggie thing.’
‘And one that was often said around this table,’ Sally added.
‘Okay.’ He cleared his throat again. ‘It’s time that we have to sell the house. I’m sorry, girls, and I know what it means to you all—’ he glanced at Rosie and she reached out and squeezed his hand—�
�but for a few reasons, it has to go.’
Sonia leaned forward. ‘You don’t have to explain anything, Taj. The house belongs to you and Rosie, and it’s yours to sell. Sally and I are just so grateful that we got to live here for such a long time.’
‘And run our business from here too.’
‘Phew.’ Taj wiped his brow. ‘We’ll let you get settled before we put it on the market, so there’s no rush.’ He turned to Sol. ‘When are you starting up at the vet practice at Peats Ridge?’
Sonia’s hopes for a longer interim period fizzled when Sol replied. ‘I got a call this morning. Sooner than I’d thought. Monday week.’
‘But I’m going to stay for a month or so and wind up my business,’ Sally added. ‘If that’s okay?’
‘That’s fine.’ Taj looked very relieved and panic started to build in Sonia’s chest. She had some savings put away, but not a huge amount.
‘Son, if you want, there’s room up at Peat’s Ridge until you find something local.’ Sally glanced up at Sol. ‘We talked about that last night.’
‘No, it’s all good. That’s a bit far away for me’ Sonia hid her fears behind her usual out there bravado. ‘It’s exciting. Finding somewhere new to live. I’m thinking about moving further north.’
Sally frowned. ‘How far north?’
‘Maybe Byron Bay. Maybe even to Brisbane or the Sunshine Coast.’
Rosie’s eyes widened and her bottom lip trembled. ‘You can’t do that.’
Sonia folded her arms and Sally sent her a warning glance. ‘Why not? You’re going back to Hawaii. I’m going to find a nice little place with no clairvoyant in town, and set myself up.’ She smiled. ‘Maybe even a little “tea shoppe” where I do the readings for the customers. You can all come and visit me. I’ll become the local identity.’
Chapter 14
As Dave drove into the driveway and turned the engine off, his phone beeped with an incoming text. He climbed out, grabbed his bag from the back seat and headed for the house.