by Lucy Clark
Nicolette pulled them on and then grabbed her handbag. ‘Let’s go.’
‘You have a very nice home,’ Stephen said as he reversed out of her drive.
‘Thanks. My parents bought it when we were kids. We lived in Sydney and would come up for holidays or long weekends. Luc lived here for a while a few years back and now it’s my turn.’
‘And your parents?’
‘They’re travelling. They say they’ve earned the right to see the world. Last I heard they were in Seattle, visiting old friends.’
‘Good for them.’
Nicolette took a breath, knowing what she was about to say could have drastic repercussions on the rest of the day but if they were going to be working together they needed some sort of background on each other. Besides, he was asking about her family. ‘Stephanie told me your mother died a couple of years back.’
‘Correct.’ His mask slipped instantly into place.
‘She said it was when you were dating Simone.’
‘Correct.’
‘That must have been hard for you.’
‘Meaning?’
‘I know how…demanding Simone can be. Did she know your mother was ill?’
‘No.’
‘Don’t you think you should have clued her in? I mean, she was your girlfriend.’
Stephen gripped the steering wheel tighter, holding onto his temper. ‘I thought we were going to start with a clean slate today.’
‘Yes. Sorry. We were. I apologise.’
‘Accepted.’
‘It’s just you were asking about my family so…’ She left her sentence hanging. Stephen sucked in a deep breath and slowly exhaled, and she had the feeling he was desperately trying to hold onto his temper.
‘You’re right. My mother died of lupus and my father died when Steph and I were teenagers.’
‘It’s great, then, that you’re living close to each other again.’
‘Yes.’ His tone had gentled in that one word and Nicolette breathed a sigh of relief. They were back to the beginning.
‘What’s on the agenda for today?’
‘Different things.’
‘Sounds interesting. I think.’
Her words were rewarded with one of Stephen’s rare smiles. ‘I’m glad you think so. I also appoint you as navigator. Stephanie told me I should go and see Mermaid Cave, and as you’ve been visiting the district for most of your life, that makes you the expert.’
‘Gee, thanks. OK. In that case…’ Nicolette glanced out her window ‘…I think you’re going the wrong way. Did Stephanie give you a map or something?’
Stephen handed it over and Nicolette checked the map, turning it around in her hands so it faced the way they were going. ‘Yes. You’ve come down too far. Go back and take the third right.’
Stephen glanced over to look at the map. ‘You’ve got it upside down.’
‘Don’t go there,’ she warned. ‘I’ve had numerous…shall we call them discussions with my brothers over the different ways men and women read maps. You’ve appointed me navigator so just keep quiet and do as you’re told. If not, I’ll drive and you can navigate.’ Nicolette knew that would be the worse option.
‘You’re right. I’ll keep quiet. Third on the right it is.’ He made the turn and they went down a steep hill.
After a few hairpin bends, Nicolette instructed him to pull into a small dirt parking area. ‘We need to walk from here.’
‘Have you been to Mermaid Cave before?’
‘Many, many years ago.’
‘But not since you’ve come to live here.’
‘No.’
‘Then it’ll be an adventure for both of us.’ Stephen climbed from the car and went to the boot where he took out a backpack. He’d packed a bottle of water for each of them, small energy snacks and a basic first-aid kit. He pulled on his coat and scarf before shrugging the backpack on. Next he pulled a camera from the boot and then closed it and locked the car. Puffs of steam came from their mouths, their noses pink due to the cold. ‘Ready?’
‘Yes.’ Nicolette buttoned up her coat, tucked her scarf in and made sure her gloves were on properly. ‘Nice camera,’ she said, noticing the telephoto lense. ‘Digital?’
‘No. I confess that’s one area I haven’t wanted to explore yet. I find it strange not loading film into a camera before I use it.’
‘Fair enough.’
‘Besides, this gives me better quality for painting scenes.’
‘You don’t paint in person?’ They headed off down the path.
‘How else would I paint if not in person?’ he teased.
‘You know what I mean. You don’t bring your easel out here and sit down and paint the scene?’
‘Sometimes yes, sometimes no. If I find something today I want to paint, I’ll take photographs first and then decide whether it’s necessary to come and sit out in the freezing cold to capture what I want, or whether I can do it from the photograph.’
‘Fair enough.’
They continued walking, stopping every now and then when Stephen found a view he liked. Sometimes he’d take a photograph of one very small flower, other times he’d go for a panoramic shot. Nicolette was relaxed and happy, remarking on the differences of their surroundings from her childhood memories.
When they rounded one bend they came across a sign saying the path was closed. ‘What?’ Nicolette read the sign again. ‘“No further entry due to unsafe surface.”’
‘Looks as though the winter weather has done some damage,’ Stephen remarked. ‘Pity.’
‘Yes, it is. You would have liked the view from the cave.’
‘They should have had a sign at the beginning of the track.’ Stephen was puzzled.
‘Maybe we missed it.’
‘Anyway, let’s head back.’ They did as he suggested. ‘I’ll come back in summer and check it out then.’
Nicolette noticed he spoke in the singular, not the plural, and felt an immediate pang of loss. Why should he include her in his plans? she questioned inwardly. They were colleagues, that’s all. Snap out of it, girl.
She pushed the thought away and followed him back the way they’d come. When they reached the car he put his camera away and took off the backpack. Nicolette looked around to see if there was a sign and eventually she found it.
‘There it is.’ She slid down a small embankment and retrieved the sign before climbing back up.
‘What are you doing?’
‘Just getting the sign.’
‘You could have twisted your ankle or hurt your arm.’
‘It’s not that steep, Stephen.’ The sign and the post had come apart. ‘Looks like vandals or either a very, very strong wind.’
‘My bet is vandals.’ She pulled off her gloves and tucked them into her pocket again.
‘Let’s get the sign back together and put it up where it can be seen.’ Stephen grabbed his toolbox from the car boot and carried it over. He handed Nicolette a hammer and some nails and was impressed when she took them and nailed the sign back onto the post, which was still in the ground at the beginning of the track.
‘Good job, Dr Bourgeois.’
‘Why, thank you, Dr Brooks.’ They returned to the car and as Stephen packed away his tools Nicolette took off her scarf, coat and hat. ‘That’s warmed me up.’
Stephen checked his watch. ‘We’re a little bit early for the next item on my agenda but if you don’t mind eating now, we’ll have a longer, more leisurely lunch.’
‘At the Megalong Tearooms?’ she asked, climbing inside the car and doing up her seat belt.
‘How did you know?’
She smiled. ‘It’s the only place to eat along this road. We’re in the Megalong Valley so the Megalong Tearooms is the place to go. Besides, they have the most amazing food there.’
‘So I’ve heard. It’s one of Steph’s favourite places.’
‘She’s not the only one.’ Nicolette smiled as they continued to drive through the valley.
‘It’s so beautiful here.’ There were lush green hills with native Australian trees on one side and cliffs on the other—the town of Medlow Bath at the top of the cliff. ‘Slow down and turn right into the next driveway,’ she instructed.
As they climbed out, Stephen saw several picnic tables outside the building which was a house with the front section converted into a restaurant and serving area. ‘Do you want to eat outside or inside?’ Nicolette asked.
Stephen looked up at the sky. ‘I think we’ll chance it outside.’
‘I was hoping you’d say that.’
She smiled brightly at him and he felt his stomach clench. She’d left her woollen hat in the car, pulling on her coat and scarf, and as she turned to walk up the steps to the servery, she tossed her blonde locks behind her.
She was beautiful and there was no denying it. He liked her in her casual clothes of jeans and a thick jumper rather than the brisk business suits he’d seen her in up until now. She seemed more…approachable like this and he wasn’t sure that was a good thing. How was he supposed to keep his distance, maintain a level of professionalism when he couldn’t help but find her immensely attractive?
He followed her up the wooden steps.
‘You have to try their homemade pies. They’re the best.’
‘What about you?’
‘Oh, that’s easy. Homemade soup. Perfect for this sunny winter’s day. That way, I can leave room for dessert.’
‘Dessert?’ He raised his eyebrows.
‘You can’t come to the Megalong Tearooms and not sample one of their desserts! Perish the thought.’ She laughed, her eyes bright and alive with happiness.
‘You really love it here, don’t you,’ he stated.
‘How did you guess? It’s so close to where I live yet far enough removed from the world that a person can really relax and unwind, even if it’s just for a few hours.’ She gave the lady behind the counter her order and Stephen did the same. Then, to his surprise, she grabbed his hand and tugged him back down the steps and around to one of the picnic tables. She let go once they were at the table and sat herself down. Stephen could still feel an imprint of where she’d touched him and he shoved his hands into his coat pockets to compensate.
‘So…’ She searched for a topic, her gaze settling on his scarf. ‘That’s an interesting scarf. Nice and bright.’
‘Stephanie made it.’
‘I thought so. I can’t see a stripey scarf of bright yellow, green, orange, red and blue being one you’d choose in a men’s store.’
He smiled. ‘No. Steph made it as a birthday present and sent it to me just before I left London.’
‘Where did you go after London? I know you’ve been away for the past year, and when I met Stephanie earlier this year she was always so very worried about you.’
‘I was working for a medical relief organisation in Africa.’
Nicolette processed the information, also taking in the warning tone of his voice. ‘Not much call for a stripey scarf there.’
‘No.’ He relaxed. ‘Still, it made me feel close to her.’
‘You obviously did two six-month stints. Which organisation did you go with?’
Stephen hesitated. Why did she want to know? Was she making small talk or did she want to psychoanalyse him? Try and figure out why he’d gone? He named the organisation and she nodded.
‘I did six months with them eighteen months ago.’
Stephen looked at her in complete amazement.
‘Don’t look so surprised. They let women doctors in, too, you know.’
‘Yes. Of course.’ He thought for a moment. ‘That’s why Steph wanted you and I treating the gunshot wound patient yesterday.’
‘Makes sense now, doesn’t it?’
‘I had no idea.’
‘You think you’re the only one who can run away?’
‘I wasn’t running—’
Nicolette held up her hand. ‘Bad choice of words. Sorry. I was running away and I was wrong to imply you were doing the same.’
‘Why did you run?’
‘Bad relationships. Why else? It was after Warren and before Archie.’
‘A bit drastic to put yourself in constant danger just because of a failed relationship.’
‘A bit drastic to put yourself in constant danger just because your mother died,’ she countered softly. She watched his jaw clench tightly and shrugged. ‘I’m sure you ended up finding out more about yourself during your stint there, just like I did. Putting your life in constant danger can certainly help get things in perspective.’
‘True.’ He decided to ignore the comment about his mother. ‘So what did you learn?’
She thought for a moment. ‘Not to be so gullible, I guess.’
‘Where men are concerned?’
‘Mainly.’
‘Yet you said you went there after Warren and—’
‘And before Archie,’ she finished. ‘That’s right. Warren broke my heart and I ran away. When I came back, I worked in London and that’s when I met Archie.’
‘And were you gullible?’
A slow smile played across Nicolette’s lips. ‘No. I saw right through him and broke it off. I haven’t dated anyone since.’
‘And you met Simone when?’ he asked.
‘I thought we weren’t going to talk about her today.’
Stephen shrugged. ‘Let’s get her out of the way once and for all.’
‘I met her about a week after I broke up with Archie.’
‘Let me guess, you talked about how untrustworthy and commitment-phobic most men are.’
‘Are we that predictable?’
‘Women in general? Or just you and Simone?’
Nicolette was happy to see the teasing glint in his eyes. ‘I don’t know if I want you to answer.’ She chuckled and surprisingly Stephen joined in.
‘So you saw through Archie and haven’t dated anyone since?’
‘That’s right. After my experience on the frontline, I felt…’ She searched for the right word. ‘Disconnected is probably the best way to describe it. Once I’d broken up with Archie, I realised I needed to find out who I really was before I even thought about getting into another relationship.’
Stephen nodded thoughtfully. Wasn’t that exactly where he was? Feeling disconnected? Not wanting to get into a relationship? It was a timely reminder that he should change the subject to a more neutral topic.
‘And while we’re on the subject of Simone,’ Nicolette continued, before he could speak, ‘I wanted to say again how sorry I am for the way I treated you the other night.’
‘You’ve already apologised.’
‘I know, but I’ve had time to think about the things she said about you and even though I’ve only known you for a few days, I’ve realised none of what she said was true. You’re a good man, Stephen.’
He nodded slowly then looked away, unable to believe how touched he was. ‘Thank you.’
Nicolette sighed and then smiled at him. ‘Whew. I’m glad I got that out in the open.’
Their food arrived and the conversation turned to more general matters as they devoured the delicious food. ‘You were right. The fresh apple strudel was amazing.’
‘I don’t know. The warm banana loaf was delicious as well.’ Nicolette licked her lips as though to prove it. ‘Mounds of fresh cream also helps. Très bien.’
‘Agreed.’ Stephen had been quite surprised when Nicolette had cut both desserts in half so they could share them. It had been quite…intimate yet he hadn’t felt that screaming sense in his gut that she was moving too far too fast. Odd. Perhaps it had something to do with the bond they shared of working in a war zone. It was an experience hard to describe unless you’d actually lived it. He’d also been surprised by Nicolette’s accurate perceptions of him, but once more he hadn’t felt the need to run. This morning he’d been determined to test her, to see if they could find common ground which would enable them to work together as colleagues. Now, he r
ealised, he’d got more than he’d bargained for.
He’d found someone who was on his wavelength.
CHAPTER FOUR
‘SO WHAT’S next?’ Nicolette rubbed her hands together.
‘Getting cold?’
‘Not yet. We’ve been here for well over an hour and although I’m stuffed full of good food I’m ready for whatever else is on your agenda.’
‘We’ll use the conveniences, then head back to Blackheath.’
Nicolette chuckled as she stood.
‘What?’
Her wide smile was once again in place and it instantly warmed Stephen’s heart. ‘It’s just been a long time since someone told me to go to the toilet before I get into the car.’ She headed off before he could say anything and soon they were back in the car, driving through the tranquil scenery once more.
‘It’s so beautiful here,’ she murmured into the comfortable silence they’d shared since leaving the tearooms.
‘That it is.’
‘You know, one time when we were out on a retrieval mission after some heavy fighting, we were captured and driven to an enemy camp in the middle of nowhere. I was forced to operate on the group’s commander. Let me tell you, it’s not easy operating when there’s a gun trained on you.’
‘I know.’
Nicolette smiled without humour. ‘Yes. I’ll bet you do. Anyway, once the operation was complete they wanted to take us to another camp to operate on another soldier. Thankfully we were rescued by our people on the way.’ She shook her head. ‘Naturally, I was relieved to be rescued but I’ll never forget…as we came up over a hill, the sun was just starting to set and there before me was the most breathtaking view. In a country full of deceit and corruption with the smell of death in the air, there was beauty. I realised right then that I needed to take more time to appreciate the everyday miracles. The trees, the birds, the sky, the clouds, the sun.’ She paused. ‘This is one of those places that just gives me everything in one hit.’ Nicolette sighed. ‘Given that you were in similar circumstances to me…’ she reached out and covered his hand with hers ‘…I’m glad to be sharing this moment with you. It seems…right somehow.’
And it did. Her touch wasn’t sexual or have any implication other than shared experiences, and he appreciated it. She held his hand as they drove along the valley floor, both absorbed once more in the scenery. She removed it when they started the steep, winding climb up the hill to Blackheath.