“I’d better go and get cleaned up or I might stay like this.”
“I’d love to come and help you,” he said, “but if I don’t clean up these signs they’ll be no use.”
She went to move away but he grabbed her clean hand and leaned in. His lips brushed hers.
“You keep running out on me.”
He nuzzled her ear.
“Next time you won’t escape,” he murmured.
She shivered. If it wasn’t for the paint setting on her skin she wouldn’t be going anywhere. She took his chin in her hand and turned his face to hers.
“Careful what you wish for,” she said.
She planted a kiss on his lips then strode away, as well as she could on her aching leg. At the doorway she stopped and looked back. He was watching her. Just as she turned he winked. She forced her body to keep moving in the direction of the shack. She needed a cold shower.
CHAPTER
35
Ethan managed to save the painted letters on the signs. Most of them had evaded the splashes of paint. He would outline the letters with a thick black texta once they’d dried. The signs would do until they could get the replacements for the signposts. He nailed the stakes to the back and stood them outside in the sun to dry. Back inside the shed, he did his best to clean up.
By the time he’d finished he was ready to eat again. He was surprised it was nearly midday. Savannah was expecting the next lot of customers mid-afternoon and he had to fit in a visit to Gnasher before then.
Outside the sunshine had vanished under grey clouds. He made his way to Savannah’s back door. She called him inside before he could knock.
Her hair was still wet from her shower and she was in a snug-fitting t-shirt and trackpants. Not all the paint had come off, but not from want of trying by the look of her glowing skin.
“I’ve made sandwiches,” she said. “I’d like to put those signs out before the next lot of customers get lost and complain.”
He would love to take her in his arms and resume where they’d left off but she was right. There were jobs that had to be done. “How about we take the food with us and eat on the way?” he said. “I’ve got a couple of things I have to attend to before they get here.”
Once more she drove him in her car. The sign on Jaxon’s gate was clear enough. They planned to put one of the homemade signs at the T-junction and one at the turn-off from the main highway.
“Did you see that?” Savannah slowed the car to a crawl. “There’s a horse in the Palmers’ property.”
He followed her pointing finger. In amongst some sparse trees was a bay-coloured horse.
“I didn’t know they had a horse,” Savannah said.
“It’s not much of a horse from the look of it. Skin and bone.”
“Why would they bring a horse out here?”
“Too big for their backyard in the city,” he quipped.
Savannah raised her eyebrows at him and drove on.
It didn’t take much effort to hammer in the signs. They’d had some good winter rain for a change and the soil was still soft enough to drive a stake into. Savannah was happy with the results. She gave him a quick hug after the second sign went in. It was risky. The chemistry between them was explosive. A sudden shower of rain sent them back to the car. Savannah drove them home.
“Can’t see the horse now,” she said.
“It’s a big property. It could be anywhere in there.”
“It would have cost a bit.”
“The horse?”
“No, the property. All that river frontage. I know what Jaxon paid for his place and it’s much smaller.”
Ethan thought of his own property. He’d purchased it around the same time as Jaxon bought his.
“I think they’ve owned it for a long time,” he said. “Could be there are parents involved in the ownership. I’ve never seen anyone there until now. There have been the odd signs that someone’s about but nothing more. They’ve always kept to themselves and that suited me.”
“Belinda said they helped Jaxon with the houseboats in the early days.”
“They may have. I’m not always around.”
Gnasher’s gate was up ahead.
“Drop me here,” Ethan said. “I’m going to check on Gnasher.”
Savannah slowed the car to a stop.
“I’ll be back by three,” he said.
She raised her eyebrows at him again.
“Truly, I will,” he said with a grin and shut the door. He could understand her scepticism. He’d been late for the first houseboat he’d had to take out and last night he’d missed her dinner altogether.
Gnasher’s gate was padlocked. As usual Ethan climbed over and set off along the track. He pulled his hood over his head and hunched his shoulders against another light shower of rain. Right now he was more concerned about how to broach the subject of guns with Gnasher.
“Incoming,” Ethan called as he approached Gnasher’s shed. The rain had masked the sound of his footsteps but he was never sure if Gnasher would be in hiding having heard his approach. It was a game the old bloke liked to play from time to time.
Ethan heard a noise. He paused. It was the sound of snoring. Gnasher had rolled down the tarpaulin at the end of his shed where he kept his car. That was the direction the snoring was coming from. Ethan stepped around the tarp and stopped. In front of the car was the framework of a wall. That hadn’t been there when he’d called in last. Through it he could see Gnasher’s new TV. It was off. Gnasher was stretched out on the couch, surrounded by a sea of tinnies. He’d been on a bender.
Ethan went to the kitchen area. Gnasher’s fridge was well stocked. He must have had a grocery delivery. Ethan took out bacon and eggs and set about cooking them. He was just serving them up when he heard Gnasher clamber to his feet, the tinnies clattering around him.
Ethan glanced over. Gnasher did a huge stretch, let out a long fart and scratched at his chest. Then he made his way to the kitchen.
“Morning, Dig,” he said and sat at his table. “Good of you to cook me breakfast.”
“It’s afternoon,” Ethan said. He put a plate piled high with thick toast, bacon, eggs and mushrooms in front of Gnasher. “This is lunch.”
“Good on ya.” Gnasher took a bite of toast. “You joining me?”
Ethan put his plate with one egg, a piece of bacon and toast on the table.
“I’ve eaten but there’s always room for more.”
“Met that neighbour of yours yesterday.”
“Savannah?”
“She’s a good-looker.”
“She said she’d seen you.”
“Nearly caught me in all my glory.” Gnasher cackled. “I was coming out of your bathroom. Lucky I had my shorts on or she’d have got a real eye full.”
Ethan smiled. He could understand why Savannah had seemed a little flustered by her meeting with Gnasher.
“That was in the afternoon?” he asked.
“Yeah,” Gnasher said. “I came back here fresh as a daisy. I was gonna settle back, watch the footy …”
He got a faraway look in his eye. For a moment he stared into the distance then he shook his head and shovelled in a forkful of egg and bacon. Ethan watched him chew then swallow.
“So you were here all night watching footy?”
“No.”
Ethan waited. Surely Gnasher hadn’t been drinking and using his gun. He knew better than that. But if he was on a bender who could be sure? Perhaps he had been the one to fire the shot. That’s if a gunshot was what they’d all heard.
“I was here all night.” Gnasher dropped his knife and fork to the plate with a clatter. “But not watching that bloody idiot of a machine.” He jerked his thumb over his shoulder. “The rubbish they have on it. I turned it off, put on my music and had a few quiet beers.” He nodded his head as a full stop.
“I thought you’d enjoy the footy.” Ethan took a sip of his coffee.
“I would if they’d let me.”
Gnasher resumed eating.
“Who?”
“I don’t know. The bloody people who run the television. It’s all that other crap that comes on.”
“The adverts?”
“Not just them. There’s shorts from other shows. It’s all crap!”
“You should have put your DVD on instead,” Ethan said. “Watched one of them. No ads.”
“Wasn’t in the mood.”
Gnasher wiped his plate clean with his last piece of toast. Then he sat back and burped.
“Thanks for that, mate.” He smiled his gappy grin. “You’re not a bad cook for a grease monkey.”
Ethan gathered the plates.
“I’ll clear up.” Gnasher stayed where he was looking up at Ethan. Even though his eyes were red they looked sharp.
“Any word on the pump?” Ethan asked.
“No.”
“You’re welcome to keep using my place.”
“I appreciate the offer.”
“I’ll leave you to it then.”
“Thanks for lunch,” Gnasher said.
Ethan nodded and stepped out into the grey afternoon. The rain had stopped but there was a chill in the air now. He jogged along the track to warm himself up. His visit to Gnasher hadn’t gone quite how he’d planned. He’d wanted to check if Gnasher had been out firing his gun last night as much as to see how he was. Somehow Ethan felt as if Gnasher knew exactly why he’d been there. It gave him a queasy feeling. He didn’t like to think Gnasher would be so stupid as to fire a gun near people.
Ethan glanced at his watch.
“Hell!”
It was three o’clock. He’d been at Gnasher’s much longer than he’d intended. He turned his jog into a run. He was going to be late for Savannah again.
CHAPTER
36
Footsteps pounded down the driveway. Savannah was walking back from showing her latest customers the parking space beside the shed. She turned and couldn’t help the smile that spread across her face. Ethan was jogging towards her, concern written all over his face.
“Don’t panic,” she said. “Only one group ready to go and they’ve just finished getting organised.”
He came to a standstill beside her, puffing gently.
“Sorry,” he said. “I ended up cooking Gnasher a meal.”
“That was kind of you.”
A car turned in at the gate.
“That’s probably the next lot,” she said.
“I’ll see to the others.”
“They’re on Tawarri. I’ve explained about the hole in the wall.”
He nodded and set off towards the river. Savannah greeted the next lot of customers.
The next hour was filled with helping the clients and doing the paperwork. Now they stood on Savannah’s front verandah sheltering from another shower of rain.
“What’s next, boss?” Ethan said.
“I’m going to make sure I’ve got everything ready for tonight’s meal. It’s come in cold so I thought I’d bake a dessert. The next group will get here just before Belinda and Ash are due.”
“This is the group of women?”
“Yes.”
“So you won’t need me?”
“Well.” Savannah linked her arm through his. “I’ve been thinking. Do you own a suit?”
“I think this is the point where I’m supposed to get worried.”
“Hear me out. If you don’t like the idea I won’t press you.”
He spun to face her and wrapped his arms around her.
“Press me all you like.”
His eyes had that deep dark look again and it was all Savannah could do to concentrate. She eased out of his arms.
“Let’s discuss it over a coffee.”
He gave a small groan but followed her inside.
Damn having the Palmers over for dinner tonight, Savannah thought. She was as anxious as Ethan to see where this was heading.
Just on six o’clock car lights shone in the darkening driveway. Savannah went to the end of the verandah and opened her umbrella. It was a big multi-striped thing. Another find in Jaxon’s shed.
Two cars pulled up. The passenger window of the first lowered and the driver leaned across.
“Savannah?”
“Yes.”
“I’m Tara and this is the bride-to-be, Emily.”
“Welcome to J&S Houseboats,” Savannah said.
“Thanks for helping us out,” Tara said.
“It’s very good of you,” Emily said. “I think.”
Savannah stared as Tara began to laugh.
“It wasn’t until we turned into your driveway that Em discovered what we were up to. The other girls are in the car behind.”
“I knew you were up to something,” Em said. “But you could have been taking me to a strip joint for all I knew.”
“Way out here?” Tara laughed again.
“You never know,” Emily said.
“No, you don’t,” Savannah said and winked at Tara.
Her face lit up again. What a bright bubbly person she was. Emily was lucky to have such a good friend to go to all this trouble. Savannah hoped they’d enjoy the extras she’d organised.
“Drive down a bit further,” she said. “I’ll help you load your gear onto the boat. Then I’ll show you where to park your cars.”
“Em’s still recovering from an operation so she has to sit while we do the work.”
“Fair enough,” Savannah said. “Follow me.”
She lifted her umbrella and walked ahead of the cars to the point where they could unload. Ethan had wedged some wood into several spots on the path where the slope was steep. It would help the women step more evenly to the boat. He’d come up with the suggestion while they discussed her plans for Tara’s group over coffee. He’d liked her ideas and the steps had been his contribution.
“Be careful,” Savannah cautioned. “The path down is slippery.”
“Hang on, Em,” Tara called as she rushed around to her friend’s side. “Take my arm.”
Savannah could see Emily was moving very cautiously. She offered her arm.
“Take mine too,” she said.
They made their way slowly down the path with Savannah holding the umbrella up to keep the drizzly rain off them.
The rest of the women followed. Tara introduced them once everyone was aboard.
“Look at the gorgeous flowers,” Emily said from her position on the couch. Tara sat next to her.
“A welcome gift for the bride-to-be,” Savannah said.
The women were all excitedly checking the houseboat and its layout.
“The towels are folded into heart shapes and they’ve got chocolates in them,” someone called from a bedroom and the other three rushed to have a look.
“You’ve been busy,” Tara said.
“The internet,” Savannah said. “You can find out how to do anything.”
Everyone pitched in to bring their bags and supplies aboard. None of them seemed like princesses. Savannah had a good feeling about the women and she was glad she’d planned a few extras for them.
“Bring your cars back up to the shed,” she said.
Tara and one of the other women followed her out. Savannah collected the umbrella from the deck. The rain had stopped for the moment.
“Thanks for this,” Tara said. “We really appreciate you having us at such short notice and not expecting us to go off cruising.”
“My pleasure.”
“Emily needs some spoiling and your extra touches were very thoughtful.”
“It’s not over yet.”
Savannah studied Tara in the light from her car. She hoped her next idea would go down okay.
“Once you’re settled I’ve got someone lined up to serve you some bubbly. It’s a bit cool for the deck unfortunately, but he can serve them inside.”
“He!” Tara giggled. “You wicked woman.”
“He’s not a stripper,” Savannah said quickly. She hoped she wasn’t
getting Ethan into anything too tricky.
“Oh well,” Tara said. “We’ll take whatever you’ve got. It will be better than me serving the drinks.”
“We’ll be down in about ten minutes.”
Savannah jogged back to the shack. She didn’t own many dresses or skirts. The only decent clothes she’d brought with her were her new jeans and the blue top she’d worn last night. They would have to do. She was sure the women would only have eyes for Ethan flashed up in his suit rather than her anyway.
There was a tap on her back door.
“Come in,” she called.
Ethan was right on time. He stepped through the door. Her heart skipped a beat.
“What happened to the suit?” she stammered.
“I thought hens would prefer this look better. Don’t you like it?”
“Like it!”
Her knees trembled. She shook her head. He was wearing a pair of blue jeans, dark brown belt and a white Bonds singlet. Even though they covered his body they left little to the imagination. His unruly hair framed his deep brown eyes and his face bore a shadow of stubble.
“I could put this on if you think it’d be better.” He held a green and white checked shirt at arm’s length and slowly turned three-sixty degrees. He could have stepped from the pages of a magazine.
“That’s not fair,” she groaned.
He made a move towards her.
“Stop,” she cried. “We’ve got to serve the drinks. Belinda and Ash will be here in about twenty minutes for dinner.”
“At your service, ma’am.”
“Can you get the bottles from the fridge? I’ll carry the cheese platter.”
He stood tall and gave a salute.
She placed her hands firmly on either side of the board but they still trembled.
“Hell and snakes,” she muttered as she led the way to the houseboat. It was an old saying of her mother’s and it seemed appropriate for the situation.
First she was going to have to watch as he served drinks to a group of women on a hens’ weekend then act the perfect hostess while they entertained the Palmers for dinner, when all she wanted to do was throw herself into his arms. At least he could put his shirt back on for that or Belinda may not be able to resist, even with Ash there.
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