by Kiera Jayne
“Smart thinking, Perie-Ber . . . Perie,” Vaughn stammered
She averted her gaze as a smile fought its way onto her face.
“I don’t know why I keep calling you that,” Vaughn muttered.
“Old habits die hard.”
Their eyes met, burning into one another. Even after all this time, after everything that had happened, Perie wanted him so much it was hard to contain herself. Vaughn had always been a quiet guy who liked to help others and stepped in to stop shit from continuing if it started. A born protector and peacemaker. No wonder he had joined the army. What a perfect fit for him. It was what caused Perie to fall for him back then, and it seemed she still harboured those feelings for him.
Then there were her feelings for Flynn. That man was so much a part of her, and he always would be—Vaughn was right about that. What he didn’t know was how their bond had progressed. How they were closer than ever. How they couldn’t get enough of each other. Even now, at the mere thought of Flynn, need coursed its way through her and an old confusion arose.
Her desire for two men.
Perie felt it when she was younger. But, most of the time, she managed to suppress these strange thoughts she had. Thoughts that she could have it all. She knew it was ridiculous. That wasn’t how things worked, and it was pointless of her to ever entertain the idea that they could.
“Perie?”
Perie looked at Vaughn in a haze.
He narrowed his eyes at her. “Where’d you go?”
“Oh. Sorry, did I zone out?”
“Yeah.” Vaughn laughed. “What were you thinking about?”
“It doesn’t matter,” Perie said quickly as she rubbed her eyes.
“There you are.”
Flynn’s voice made Perie start. She didn’t know why she felt so guilty as she saw him make his way over to them, his third beer for the night in his hand. It looked like she would be driving home.
“Did you ask him, yet?” Flynn asked as he occupied the seat beside Perie’s.
“Not yet.”
Vaughn spun the cardboard drink coaster in his hands. “Ask me what?”
“Perie was wondering if you could help us with the house.”
Perie ‘ummed’ and ‘ahhed’ as Vaughn shot a questioning glance her way. “I mean, you were pretty much spot on about the big job we have ahead of us, and I was thinking . . . if you needed some work . . .. Well, I’d appreciate the extra helping hand. We’d totally pay you! But I know you’re working for your dad and starting up your mowing business, so if you don’t have time, I completely understand . . ..”
Vaughn glanced at Flynn. “She’s babbling.”
“You know what that means,” Flynn said with a smile.
“She really wants me to help,” Vaughn observed.
“Yes, she does,” Flynn confirmed.
Perie scowled at them. Why were they talking about her like she wasn’t there?
“What do you want, Flynn?”
Vaughn’s question was blunt, and it caused Flynn to stop with the beer halfway to his mouth. Flynn’s eyes grew wide. “Ah, yeah. It can’t hurt.”
Vaughn nodded slowly. His mouth narrowed into a thin line before he answered, “Alright, then. When should I rock up?”
“Seven a.m. tomorrow?” Perie suggested.
Vaughn shook his head. “I have some yard maintenance bookings over the next couple of days, and I need to give Dad my notice.”
“Monday, then?” Flynn queried.
“I’ll be there,” Vaughn replied with a nod.
“Are you sure it’ll be alright with your dad?” Flynn asked.
Vaughn smirked. “I’m sure it won’t be. But I’m not officially his employee, so he’ll have to deal with it.”
“Whatever you get paid there, I’m willing to better it. I’ll make this worth your while,” Perie stated.
“Perie, as long as you give me enough to cover my rent and bills, that’s all that matters. I’m not an extravagant man.” Vaughn’s voice dropped an octave as he spoke to her.
A small smile touched Perie’s lips. “Fair enough.”
“I’m off for another drink.” Vaughn got to his feet. “Are you two good?”
“Yeah. I’m driving and I’m cutting him off.” Perie jabbed her thumb in Flynn’s direction.
Flynn frowned. “Oi.”
Vaughn chuckled. “Righto. See you soon.”
Flynn and Perie both stared as the tall, muscular man they both had the hots for as he strode over to the glass door and disappeared inside the bar.
“HOW’D YOU GET ON with your jobs this morning?” Dave asked when Vaughn returned to the shop after lunch.
“Easy enough,” Vaughn replied. “Two small lawns for a single mum and old Sam, then some gardening at the nursing home. Pretty straight forward after Perie’s big job the other day.”
“Are you charging enough? You don’t want to undercharge anyone. You need to think of your overheads.”
Vaughn resisted the urge to roll his eyes at his father. “I’ve got it under control, Dad.”
Dave paused, a frown crossing his wrinkled face. “Wait . . .. Did you say Perie?”
“Yep.”
“That Miller girl? The one who’s some arty-farty person now?”
Vaughn sighed. “She’s not arty-farty.”
“Doesn’t she do that house design stuff?” Dave queried.
Vaughn nodded. “Interior design, yeah.”
“Arty-farty,” Dave confirmed.
“Okay, Dad.” That wasn’t the end of the discussion Vaughn needed to have with his father. How would he break the news that he couldn’t help out around the shop as much anymore? What could he do than simply come out with it? “I’ve been offered some work a little bit out of town, Dad.”
“What kind of work?” Dave asked.
“A house restoration. I know it’s a lot more than yard work, but I could use the money.”
“Fair enough.” Dave turned his back on his son and busied himself with a push mower repair.
That was it? End of discussion? “Are you sure you’ll be alright here without me?”
Dave turned back to him, that dour expression still on his face. “What do you think I did when you were deployed?”
Vaughn wasn’t sure why he felt a stab of hurt at his dad’s words. That was that, then. He clearly wasn’t needed around these parts, which meant he was even more excited to help Perie. At least he knew she wanted him out there.
Vaughn had a spring in his step when he walked home later that afternoon. He felt more positive than he had in a long time. As Vaughn made his way up the driveway, he dug his keys out of his pocket. He started when he noticed someone lurking near the bush by the door. His hands curled into fists, a key sticking out between his fingers. The muscles in his body wound tight like springs . . .. Then the person stepped forward. She pushed her dark, shoulder-length hair behind her ear and smiled up at him.
“Perie!” Vaughn’s body relaxed. Jesus, she ought to be more careful. He could’ve done some proper damage to her.
“Hey, Vaughn.”
Perie pulled him into a hug and the flowery smell of her hair wafted to his nose. “Sorry to drop in unannounced, but you forgot something yesterday.”
“What?” Vaughn asked.
“Your payment.”
Vaughn had completely forgotten about his money on account of being too distracted by Perie and Flynn.
“How much do I owe you?” she asked as she pulled her wallet from her handbag.
Vaughn didn’t feel right about simply taking Perie’s money and seeing her on her way. He indicated his apartment. “Would you like to come in?”
Perie nodded. “Okay.”
Vaughn appreciated the shy smile and blush that crept across Perie’s face. He led them inside. Vaughn saw Perie’s eyes dart all around the room, from the painted brick walls to the threadbare carpet. The way she ran her hand over the couch and tapped her fingertips against the old For
mica tabletop instantly revealed the interior designer inside her.
“It’s not much . . .” Vaughn admitted.
Perie pulled her hand back and flashed him a sheepish grin. “Sorry. Habit. But I could do so much with this room.”
“What would you do?” Vaughn asked out of curiosity.
Perie paused and looked at him in surprise.
“Go on. Tell me,” Vaughn encouraged.
“I’d pull up the carpets and lay down some grey floating floors with underfloor heating. Then I’d put in a low-backed, white, leather lounge, a small glass coffee table, and tie it all together with a brightly colored shag rug.”
Vaughn simply sat on the arm of the lounge and smiled at her. Perie grew self-conscious. “You know your stuff,” Vaughn observed.
“I should hope so. My career depends on it,” Perie responded.
“I’m impressed.”
Perie’s hazel eyes grew wide. “Are you?”
“Yeah. If you can instantly walk into a room and envision improvements within seconds, I can’t begin to imagine what you can do with an entire house. I’m looking forward to working with you.”
A smile lit up Perie’s face. “Thanks.”
“Care to join me for a drink?” Vaughn asked.
Perie narrowed her eyes playfully. “Only if you tell me how much I owe you for the yard work.”
Vaughn chuckled. “A hundred dollars.”
Perie couldn’t believe her ears. “A hundred dollars?”
“Yep.”
Scrunching up her mouth, Perie pulled out three fifty-dollar notes and put them in his hand.
Vaughn pulled one of the fifties off the pile and held it back out to her. “I believe I said a hundred.”
“I think that job was worth one-fifty,” Perie countered.
“I don’t think it was,” Vaughn told her.
“I think you had a jungle to deal with, so I think I owe you more.”
“You don’t owe me anything, Perie,” Vaughn muttered. “Nothing more than a hundred bucks, anyway.”
Perie folded his hand over the money. “Call it a tip. You did an amazing job.”
Vaughn enjoyed the feel of her hand on his. Simply her touch and her lingering gaze were enough for him to accept the money. Perie’s bottom lip fell open as he brushed his thumb across her knuckles. “I’ll get those drinks.”
Perie nodded.
Vaughn got to his feet and went to the kitchenette. With a question in his eyes, he held up a bottle of beer.
“That’ll do,” Perie said.
Vaughn handed her the beer and together, they sat at the tiny, two-person table. An oppressive silence fell between them. Vaughn flashed Perie a small smile as he took a sip from the beer. Where had the flirty, outgoing woman from the other day gone? This shyness was uncharacteristic of her. Mind you, if she could feel the sexual tension between them as much as he could, Vaughn couldn’t exactly blame her. He decided to take the lead. “So, what’s it like being back?”
“I could ask you the same thing,” Perie replied.
“I asked first.”
Perie shrugged. “It’s fine. Not much has changed except for a few more fancy food places. I haven’t been bombarded with sympathy shit . . . but that might be because I’ve been avoiding the main street for the most part.”
“I know what you mean. It’s what happened to me when we lost my mum. Some people would smother me in empty words and others would avoid me, but I could feel their pitying gazes.”
Perie sighed and sent him a pitying gaze before she quickly squeezed her eyes shut. “Sort of like I just did? I’m sorry!”
Vaughn chuckled. “Perie, open those pretties up, girl.”
She opened one of her eyes only a crack and squinted at him.
Vaughn ducked his head. “More.”
Perie slowly lifted her eyelids. Carefully, she said, “I heard about your mother’s cancer. Cancer’s a bitch.” Perie felt tears well up and she dropped her gaze to the tabletop.
Vaughn reached across and squeezed her hand.
Perie squeezed back and sniffled. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay.” Vaughn lifted his hand to brush her tears from her cheeks and she leaned into his touch. His desire to protect her from the harms of the world surged within him. It was a similar instinct he had carried in the army, but when it came to Perie, it had always been tenfold. Even after fourteen years apart, Vaughn would do anything for this woman. Once again, he couldn’t help but think that old habits die hard.
***
The next morning, Perie stood at the edge of the verandah as Vaughn arrived for his first day of work. She was a thousand shades of nervous about him being here again. In an effort to still her nerves, she spent all morning fidgeting and dashing about doing unnecessary things like tidying up what few belongings she had brought with her.
“Hey, Vaughn.” She felt a stupid smile break out on her face despite her attempt to keep her cool.
Vaughn’s returning grin was just as stupid. “Hi, Perie. The stairs look good. Sturdy.”
Perie laughed when he bounced on them. “I did that test, too.”
“Flynn’s talented.”
“He is. But so am I.”
“I’m sure you are.”
Perie’s breathing hitched when he took the last few steps up to her. She noticed his hand rest against the railing within a millimeter of her own.
“Where do we start?” His deep voice washed over her.
“W-What?” Perie muttered.
“Are we beginning with the inside of the house, or the verandah since you’ve got a brand-new set of entrance stairs?”
“The inside first.” Perie backed onto the deck, with Vaughn following closely. “The verandah only needs patching up. It’s a hundred and thirty-year-old ironbark.”
“Holy shit. Definitely something we should restore carefully.” Vaughn inspected the decking.
“I agree. Come in, Vaughn, I’ll give you the tour.”
He followed the petite woman through the entryway and took in the old worn walls. It seemed the wall panels were as sturdy as the verandah. Whoever built this place had certainly wanted it to stand the test of time.
“This is the lounge room, and out there is a big bedroom, and we have the dining room through there. I’m thinking of making that bedroom into a large master bathroom and making this room into a master. Then we can use the dining, kitchen, and family room out here . . .” Perie led Vaughn out to the dining room, “as the main area of the house.”
“That would work well,” Vaughn agreed. “That room in there is northwest facing, so if you installed large windows, you’d be able to capture the afternoon warmth and have a great view while you bathe. Assuming you like baths?”
Perie blushed. “I love them. I’m putting in a claw-foot bath. Early Settler stores have some beautiful ones.”
“There’s none of those out here.”
“I’ve ordered from Brisbane. I’m getting a heap of stuff from there.”
“You’ve got this completely planned right down to the last bolt, don’t you?”
“I always do. Home design is my passion, Vaughn. I’ve built an entire career around it.”
“Show me the rest.”
Perie took him across the family room to the bathroom, laundry, and the three other bedrooms. The mildew on the walls and ugly fittings made Vaughn cringe. Perie had specific ideas for each one. He liked the idea of each room having its own identity and style, yet they would still integrate nicely into the overall tone of the home.
They ended the tour in front of Perie’s laptop, which sat on the kitchen bench. She opened up her design software and pulled up an animation. “This is what I hope the finished product will look like.”
Together, the pair leaned in close to the screen. The 3D graphic moved from the outside of a version of the house that sported a navy-blue exterior, warm muted interiors with a mix of modern and character features, and everything updated
. Vaughn was impressed by her professionalism. Perie Miller knew her stuff, and the way her eyes lit up when she discussed what she wanted to do with this house made him feel honored that she wanted to include him in this project. “I’m pleased to hear you’re not going the white-on-white route, Perie. I hate that.”
“That whole look is so overdone at the moment. Period homes were full of colours and I wanted to make the period attributes a main feature of the home. I wanted this place to feel warm and welcoming, especially during the winter months.” Perie inwardly shivered. “Remember how bitterly cold this place can be?”
Vaughn laughed. “Absolutely. The desert’s like that, too, you know. During the day, it’ll get to forty Celsius or more, then at night, it’ll drop way down past the twenties.”
Perie’s mouth dropped open. “What the fuck? How does your body even cope with that?”
“We acclimatize,” Vaughn responded with a shrug.
Sadness filled Perie’s eyes. “I’m sorry you had to go to Afghanistan.”
“Don’t be. I chose to serve.”
“Still . . . it isn’t something I could do. I’m a wuss.” She lowered her gaze to her feet.
“You’re not a wuss. You’re good at other things, that’s all. Like decorating houses,” Vaughn countered.
With a smile, Perie said, “Would you like to help me rip out the carpet and vinyl?”
“Sure.” Vaughn took the pair of pliers she offered him, then looked around with a frown. “Where’s Flynn?”
“He went to town to get some supplies,” Perie answered. “It’s just you and me.”
“Right.”
Perie’s breathing became labored again as Vaughn moved closer to her on his way to the lounge room. She could feel the warmth radiate from his body and it made her want to wrap her arms around him. She joined him in the corner where they squatted. Vaughn dug the pliers into the threadbare cream material and yanked it up. Perie yelped and fell back as his elbow connected with her face.
“Perie!” Vaughn exclaimed. He spun around and found her sprawled on her arse, holding her nose. “Are you alright?”
“You kind of . . . got me a beauty.” She tried to shrug it off.
Vaughn caught her blinking her eyes rapidly to try to disperse her tears. “Sorry! Here, let me look.” His thumb gently brushed across the bridge of her nose and Perie’s eyelids flutter closed. Vaughn’s fingertips moved across her face until his hand was cupping her cheek. “Does it hurt?”