by Blobel, Iris
“Well, now that you’re mentioning it, that too.”
“I’ll catch you tomorrow.”
“You’re not angry, are you?”
“Nah. How could I be?”
“Exactly.”
She hung up, grabbed her mobile, and texted Markus.
O told T about us.
His reply was almost instant.
Haha little bugger no surprise tho.
Seeing Oliver and Tyson the next day was going to be awkward.
Her phone buzzed again. There was a message from Katie and one from Rachel.
Katie: I always knew u 2 were meant 4 each other.
She cringed inside. Tyson!
Rachel: I think I found something re massages. Will you be home for dinner?
Sarah replied to Katie that she was going to be a widow soon, and sent a text to Rachel confirming she’d be home and looking forward to hearing all the news. Then she turned off her mobile and went back to work.
***
Markus and Mike, his manager, made their way through the Sydney airport and caught a taxi to the hotel. The traffic was heavy and it took them longer than expected before they finally arrived. They discussed what to expect and what to demand during the meeting. Markus was very clear about the whole idea. He wanted to stay based in Melbourne, but was open to any suggestions in all other areas.
“That might be a deal breaker,” Mike said.
He shrugged. “Sydney is only an hour away.”
“Two hours if you count the traffic on both sides.”
Markus laughed. He knew how much Mike hated the traffic. If he hadn’t loved his job so much, he’d have probably long since retired to a small town in the outback or somewhere in the Victorian Alps.
“Fine. Two hours.”
They discussed a few other issues in regards to a potential contract and fees. When they finally arrived at the hotel, Markus grabbed his bag and said, “I’ll see you in an hour back here. How far is the restaurant?”
“Not far on the map.”
They entered the hotel lounge when, without looking at Mike, Markus mentioned quietly, “By the way, you seriously need to do something with Melanie.” He pulled his phone out of his pocket, flicked through a few screens, and showed him her message from earlier. Good luck followed by some love hearts. “It gives me the creeps and could be another deal breaker.” He looked up at Mike.
Mike sighed. “Shit.”
“If I didn’t know you better, I’d say you two—”
His manager held up his hand. “Don’t say it.” He stopped and let out a long breath. “The thing is, though, she runs that office with such ease. I mean, nothing’s too much for her, no task too hard or below her.” He nodded. “But I’ve lost three clients already because of her.” Turning to Markus, he lifted an eyebrow. “You’re not quitting on me?”
“Keep her away from me and you’ve got my word. She almost cost me—” Markus paused and remembered that Sarah and he hadn’t sorted everything out, yet, so he said, “A good relationship with the old lady from next door. You remember Mrs. Gibson and her yummy cakes.”
“What happened?” Mike asked as he filled out the hotel form.
Markus didn’t know either, so he replied, “Just keep her away from me, mate.”
His manager nodded, turned, and looked at him. “I need a solid reason to dismiss her otherwise I’m stuck in a legal web. Everyone complains, no one says anything out loud because of the public backlash it might cause.” He handed Markus the pen and the clipboard with the forms. “And as I told you, she’s solid in the office.”
“I’ll leave that stuff to you. Sorry, mate, I leave that problem all in your hands.”
They grabbed their keycards and headed to their rooms. After a quick shower, Markus called his sister.
“Are you in Sydney?”
“Oh my God, Marco. We’ve just been on the harbour bridge. It was absolutely amazing. I mean…”
He dressed while she told him all about her morning. Annie sounded excited, and he loved the sound of her voice with all the worries apparently gone.
“See you tonight for dinner?”
“Oh, Marco. Miles organised a table at some fancy restaurant. Will you take a raincheck? Don’t be mad.”
Mad was the furthest thing on his mind. He was happy for his sister that everything seemed to have fallen into place. “No worries, Annie. You two enjoy your evening. I have Mike to keep me entertained.”
Laughing, she said, “Not sure whether I should feel sorry for you or not.”
After he hung up, he finger-combed his hair and headed to the hotel lounge. Mike was already waiting.
The meeting went well. Carsten Brown and Joe Rogers explained what Sports TV had in mind for his contract. They wanted him to host the Asian Soccer Cup, which was to be held in Melbourne and, with a clause depending on performance, hoped for him to host the next World Cup in Russia. Additionally, he was supposed to cover at least two games per month during season.
“I’ve never done this before. You’re placing a great deal of trust into this.”
“You did an interview a few years back and co-hosted a game in the U.K.,” Carsten said. “We liked it.”
Markus chuckled. “That was a one-off.”
“There’ll be a clause to protect us in the contract. I’m sure Mike will organise details.”
The idea of basing himself in Melbourne was brushed off, but noted. Both men agreed that should be do-able.
They enjoyed the rest of their meal, straying away from business and chatting about sport in general—the current football scandal, the injury rate in cricket, and the upcoming Formula 1 races.
It was late afternoon when the meeting finally finished, and Carsten agreed to send through the first draft of the contract the following week.
They shook hands as they said their farewells, and Markus and Mike decided to walk back to the hotel.
“What’s your initial reaction, Markus?”
“So far, so good. I like it in general. Up to you to sort the nitty gritty. The money. You know what I want. Go get it, tiger.”
Mike grinned. He’d worked with Markus since he’d started out as a skinny teenager who’d sparked the interest of some English soccer clubs.
“Leave it up to me. I’m sure we’ll get enough for you to open your sports store.”
***
Sarah was about to step under the shower when the phone rang. Considering whether or not to answer it, she had a quick glance at the display when she saw it was Markus.
“Marky. Please tell me you’re becoming a millionaire.”
His chuckle did something to her body, which she immensely enjoyed. “I have a feeling you’re not really up-to-date with today’s salary for TV presenters.”
Letting out an exaggerated breath, she grabbed her towel and tried to wrap it around herself. “No millions?”
“Nope.”
“I suppose I need to move on to someone else.”
“Babe.”
She laughed. “Can you call me in twenty minutes again? I was about to have a shower and I’m getting a bit nippy here.”
“Mike and I are heading out for a small bite. Merely wanted to call to let you know I changed flights to eleven o’clock. D’you think you can pick me up?”
“Just text me the details and I’ll be there.” And then hung up.
There was a knock at the door of her bedroom. “Sarah, dinner’s ready.”
“Give me five minutes. Marky interrupted me,” she replied as she threw the phone through the small gap in the bathroom door to her bed.
The intended long and hot shower had turned into a quick wash-down, and although she was excited about the idea of Markus coming back earlier, she couldn’t help but be a little bit annoyed. She put on some track pants and a T-shirt before heading to the kitchen.
Whatever it was that Rachel had prepared, it smelled delicious, and Sarah suddenly became aware of how hungry she actually was.
>
“What’s for dinner?”
“One of the few recipes I remember from school,” Rachel replied with a chortle.
Sarah stepped over to the stove and looked into the frying pan. “Smells good.”
“It’s chicken taco.”
“Oh, they taught you traditional Australian recipes. How wonderful.”
Rachel slapped her on the arm. “I take it from your cheeky mood that Markus had good news to tell. Otherwise you wouldn’t have interrupted your shower schedule.”
Heat crept into Sarah’s cheeks. “Yup.”
Her sister laughed. “Good for you. Now let’s have something to eat.”
“I’m starving.” Sarah looked around. “You’re serving me this, right?”
“For someone who’s travelled the world, you can be pretty ignorant when it comes to foreign dishes.”
Ignoring her sister, Sarah grabbed a drink and sat. “So, tell me about your news.”
As Rachel gathered the ingredients for each taco, she started telling Sarah all the information she’d gathered over the day.
The course she was interested in most was a Certificate IV in Massage Therapy. The way she understood it was, it was the foundation for further studies into remedial massage programs, which covered a range of subjects including lymphatic drainage, sports massage, and cross fibre mobilisation.
“What’s that?” Sarah asked.
“Stuffed if I know, but it sounds interesting.”
Placing the tacos in the middle of the table, she continued talking about management skills and working effectively in the business side of the massage industry.
“The studies can be done both online and on campus.”
“You did do your homework,” Sarah said.
Her sister nodded. “I even got to talk to a nice lady at Centrelink, but here is where they lost me. There’s subsidised training which I didn’t understand all the details. It seems like I’m eligible for help, but even then, the fees are hefty.”
Sarah reached out for a second taco. “You seem to have your heart really set on it.”
“There’s one big problem, though.”
“What’s that?”
“Even if I’d get a part-time job, there’s no way I could cover all the costs.”
“Are you asking me whether you can stay here?”
Rachel shook her head. “No. I’m telling you the facts.”
“Sweetie, I told you, you’re more than welcome to stay here as long as it takes to get you on your feet.”
Sighing like the whole world was weighing on her shoulders, Rachel explained, “Sarah, you’re about to hook up with Markus, and I am so sure that this will turn into something lasting—”
“Shh,” Sarah interrupted her. “I am promising you again, whatever happens between me and Markus, I will help you. Pinky swear.”
“That’s a commitment over quite a few years.”
Sarah’s brows shot up. “How long does this course take?”
“One or two years, depending how I go.”
Two years wasn’t long at all. Sarah was sure that whatever happened between her and Markus, he was caring enough to understand her promise to help Rachel. If nothing less, he’d support them both in their effort for Rachel to be successful.
“Pinky swear.” Sarah looked up at her sister. “If you start to cry now, I retract my promise.”
“Tears of joy, I promise.”
They laughed and Sarah stood. “Good reason for some ice cream from the Ice Creamery, don’t you think?”
“Perfect idea.”
***
All the way back, Markus thought of Sarah. Occasionally, the face of the blonde English popped into his mind, but he did his best to push it away. Guilt crept up in him. How was he supposed to start something with Sarah when he thought of someone else? Closing his eyes, he leaned back and tried to relax. Mike’s snoring amused him for a couple of minutes, before he gave up and switched on the small screen to play some games.
Thanks to a front moving into Melbourne, the landing was bumpy and uncomfortable because of the strong wind. Mike had slept right through it, which made Markus jealous. He didn’t have a weak stomach, but the rough landing and sounds of people dry heaving left him queasy as well.
It didn’t take him long to make his way through the airport. With Mike rushing in front of him, he got to the car park quickly. A smile tugged at his lips when he spotted Sarah. And he noticed that she’d traded her track pants and old T-shirt for grey cargo pants and a white shirt. Her hair was done in a loose ponytail. She looked sexy as hell.
“Hey there,” he said as he placed a kiss on her lips.
She looked up at him, and he knew straight away that, although surprised by his open affection, she enjoyed it all the more.
“Welcome back. We’d better be getting out of here. It’s a nightmare.”
Nodding, he threw his bag in the back of her small car before squeezing his long legs into the passenger side.
“So, Mr. Famous. Did you get the job?”
Subtlety wasn’t something that he’d associate with Sarah. He laughed. “Nope.”
It was as if she couldn’t care less about the traffic. Even though it was only slow going, she still stopped and shot around to look at him. “Idiots!”
His smile vanished, wiped away by astonishment. “Beg yours?” Then pointed at the traffic. “Keep up with it, baby.”
He’d assumed the traffic to be annoying, but hadn’t expected that much. When Sarah did a couple of sneaky moves to get past a few cars and across the intersection, his smile returned.
“So you want to get rid of me?”
A frown formed on her forehead. “You said you’d be based in Melbourne?”
“Yup.”
“Then they weren’t happy with that idea?”
He moved closer and nipped at her earlobe.
“Hey, I’m driving.”
Moving down, he whispered, “I know.”
She giggled. “What am I missing?”
Moving away from her, he cupped her chin with his hand. “Basic negotiations went well. I’d say it’s a done deal. Mike will now have to organise the money side of it.”
“That’s great, right?”
“Yup. Reason for a little celebration.”
“Celebrations all around. It’s a bit scary.”
As they drove to Markus’ house, he told her a few details of his meeting, which didn’t take long.
“What’s the latest with Rachel?” he asked.
She quickly looked at him, and a slow smile spread across her face. “You know, I would’ve never thought I’d ever say it, but I’m having the best time with Rachel around.”
“How’s that?”
She shrugged. “We’re talking. Like we’re not saying words to each other, but truly talking to each other. Telling each other things that matter or concern us.”
Not sure whether he was supposed to reply, he stayed quiet.
“It seems like all my lucky stars are around me at the moment,” she whispered.
“Your mum?”
Sarah let out a long sigh. “Well, I suppose her too.”
He laughed. “So, what’s the other lucky star?”
Surprised, she stared at him, before concentrating back on the traffic. “You,” she finally said.
“You always had me.”
She took his hand into hers. “Marky, if I hadn’t had my screw lose that day and seduced you, we’d still be good friends.”
There was some truth to her words, but in hindsight, he hoped it would’ve happened sooner or later. Annie’s words came to mind, finally, and Oliver’s, about time. Had everyone known except them? Why had it taken them so long to make this final step?
He thought about Dakota, his new neighbour. Was he being fair to Sarah or was he just as scared as she initially was and looking for any excuse?
“Marky?”
“I’m not sure what the right answer is, baby. Thank you? or C
heers to Timmy—”
“Do not mention him!”
They were quiet for a moment while Sarah was zigzagging through the suburb until she turned into Markus’ street.
“Marky?” she asked as she switched off the engine. “You’re with me on this all the way, right?”
“I am.”
She met his gaze and studied him. “All the way?”
“Wanna tell me what makes you doubt me?”
As she let out a long breath, her attention turned to something in front of him. He followed her gaze and saw Dakota. There was no way Sarah could read his mind and find his neighbour settled smack bang in the middle of it.
“Once bitten, twice shy? I don’t know,” she finally said, still not looking at him. “Too fast?”
Still with his thoughts far away, he simply nodded.
“Earth to Markus.”
He blinked twice. “How about we go inside?”
With a quick wave, he said hello to Dakota, grabbed his bag, and went inside.
They headed straight into the kitchen where he switched on the kettle, before heading into his bedroom where he threw his bag into the corner. “Baby, I understand you got burnt by Timmy. You’ve been with guys before. They left you, but mostly you gave them the boot. What have I done, though, to make you doubt me?”
She sighed as she lifted her shoulder in a slight shrug.
“Lemme get this right. You’re woman enough to stand your grounds and bark at the others, but with me, you stand here like a little poodle all scared to be left alone.”
Sarah burst into laughter. “Okay, point taken.” Then she stepped closer. “Be mindful of my bark, though, Mr. DeLeon. This poodle can turn into a wolf if I have to.”
He pulled her closer and stared into her eyes. For a very long moment, because he enjoyed looking into her brown eyes. They had such a tremendous sparkle. After moving his hands up along her arms, he cupped her chin and dipped his head to brush her lips with his own. Just that simple touch brought on a rush of emotions searing through him. Everything that had bottled up the last couple of weeks. The need to hold her close. Kiss her. Touch her all over. And when she opened up to him, kissing him back, with her hands fisting into his shirt, there was something else he felt. Something unfamiliar he wasn’t able to put his finger on it, and it scared him. He’d always cared for Sarah, probably more than any other person in his life, but what he felt was more than caring. It was…something he didn’t want to think about at that moment. All he wanted was to enjoy being with her and loving her again.