An Outback Affair/Runaway Wife/Outback Bridegroom/Outback Surrender/Home To Eden

by Margaret Way

  She couldn’t face him without wanting to fall into his arms. “You’d never have to force my bedroom door open, Mitch,” she answered, standing back while he walked past her, his bright aura lighting up the whole room.

  “Is that so?” He turned back to study her. “That’s odd. When I made it to your door last night it was locked.”

  “You’re joking?” Should she tell him of her own trembling desire to go to his bed?

  “Honestly—I made it to your door, then I thought better of it.” His eyes danced wickedly.

  “So you walked by? Maybe down to Amanda’s?” The surge of hope died quickly.

  “Chrissy, darling, I think you’ve stretched this thing with Amanda to twanging point.” He came back to her and brushed his fingertips across her cheek. “That poor girl needs a job to occupy her mind. All she does is sit around looking pretty.” Now his fingers were in her long hair.

  “It’s a wonder she doesn’t feel guilty, with her sister working so hard.”

  “She doesn’t feel guilty, believe me.” Mitch’s voice was dry. He dropped his hand, though he was in a hot haze of desire all over again. “So, have you enjoyed your stay?”

  “I’ve had the loveliest time!” Christine’s beautiful smile flashed. “Your mother is more of a mother to me than my own.”

  “That’s sad, though I rejoice in the fact Mum has always treated you like family. Drawing on recent observations, I can’t see the troubled relationship between you and your mother changing.” He sank into a chair, thinking how immaculately groomed she always was.

  “Lord knows I want it to.”

  “Sometimes wanting can’t make it so. That’s the way life is.”

  “I think she loves me in her own way.” Christine’s expression was soft and vulnerable, sweeping him back years, to when she had been so desperate for approval.

  “One would hope so.” He spoke quietly but bitterly. It amazed and angered him, the scars left on Christine. “So, how long are you going to stay around?”

  She sat down on the side of the bed, facing him. “I have a commitment to do a series of fashion parades in Sydney in a couple of weeks’ time. And I want to catch up with Suzanne while I’m there. She needs some tender loving care. Then I have to tie up a few loose ends.”

  “Like Ben Savage?” He cursed himself when it came out so hard-edged.

  “What’s Ben got to do with it?” she asked in surprise.

  “You tell me.” His eyes had darkened to turquoise, a sure sign he was disturbed.

  “You sound like you’re expecting some announcement?” Challenge was passing from one to the other, hot and swift.

  “Isn’t he coming to Australia? I heard he was going to be in Sydney while you’re there?”

  “Most probably he will be,” she agreed, breathing deeply to keep her equilibrium.

  “So you knew about it?”

  “What is this? The third degree? I know Ben’s doing a trip to publicize his show. He’s very popular in Australia. Your own mother watches the show.”

  “I wouldn’t say she’s an addict.” He pushed his hands behind his head. “At least I hope she isn’t. It’s pretty damned silly.”

  “So you watch it?” she asked sweetly. “That’s fabulous!”

  “Sorry, sweetheart, I’m not that pleasure-deprived. Ben, according to the tabloids, is always trying to find true love. I thought it was with you?”

  She suppressed the urge to snap. “Ben is a nice guy. You’d like him.”

  “Not if you were his wife,” he clipped. “Or even his girlfriend.”

  “I’m an ex-girlfriend.”

  “Does he know the difference?” Mitch watched her eyes. “Didn’t he say somewhere his love for you just wouldn’t die?”

  Christine grimaced. “I think that’s one of the recurring lines in his scripts.”

  Restlessly Mitch stood up, walking to the open French doors and staring out at the sunlit garden. “Does he do drugs?”

  Christine’s lustrous dark head shot up. “Why ever do you ask that? Not everyone in the business does. Ben’s too damned smart.”

  “But you know a lot of people who do?”

  “Of course. Let’s face it.”

  “And you’ve never been tempted?”

  “Listen, I’ve damned well told you I haven’t. I wouldn’t have thought I’d have to tell you again. Surely you know that much about me?” Precipitately Christine stood up, wondering if someone might have been trying to trash her reputation. “What is this all about, Mitch?”

  “Is that a no?” Mitch asked.

  “Go to hell!” She felt her temper snap. “I thought we’d had this discussion. Obviously someone’s been talking to you, haven’t they? Some mutual friend who wanted to share a scandalous secret?”

  “Celebrities do get talked about.”

  “Was it dear Amanda by any chance?” she queried, her eyes stormy. “I wouldn’t put it past her. So what did she say? She read some place that Christine Reardon admits to having fun with designer drugs?”

  “Something like that.” He shrugged.

  “And you believed it?” She was so hurt and angry she felt like taking a swing at him.

  “Actually, I didn’t. I know quite a lot about you, Chrissy. You’ve always had character.”

  “So why are you trying to get me riled up?” she asked in amazement.

  “Just checking.”

  Her expression went from surprise to disgust. “Oh, thank you.”

  “I didn’t intend to insult you. Forgive me if I have. I hadn’t realized Amanda was quite so dangerous.”

  “Perhaps you should take a closer look at her when she’s not wearing her flirty red dress. Obviously she believes all’s fair in love and war. That was a vicious lie. I think I’ll have a few words with her.”

  “I think you should. That’s why I told you. So, this is goodbye for a while?” He came towards her, his gaze so intense she swallowed.

  “God, Mitch, I hope not. My holiday isn’t over.”

  “You’ll be flying away from me for the rest of your life.”

  “Is it so hard for you to accept I’m at a turning point in my life, Mitch?” She looked up with appeal in her eyes.

  “So am I!” he answered with quiet force. “It usually happens around thirty.”

  “Hey, I’m twenty-eight.” She tried to lighten him up.

  “And I’ve never seen anyone look more fabulous. But let’s get this straight. Are you asking me to consider the possibility you’re coming home for good rather than living your dream?” He sent the expression up, and did it very well.

  “Why so sarcastic?”

  He stared into her beautiful eyes. “There’s a good deal of pain around the whole issue, Chrissy. What do you say I come visit when you’re in Sydney? A little house-call?”

  She was overwhelmed, his blue gaze bathing her in simmering heat. “Are you serious? Could you get away?”

  “I think so.” He could have said that if he thought there was a chance of resuming their old relationship he’d travel to the ends of the earth, but he didn’t. He was endlessly on guard. “I still care, Chrissy, but the trouble is I can’t trust your good intentions.”

  That brought her back to earth with a jolt. “You might if you stopped talking about the past. I’m looking to the future.”

  “With me in it?” A cynical smile played about his mouth.

  “Of course.” She sighed heavily. “I care about you too, Mitch. That’s why I’m not at all happy with your talking about me behind my back.”

  He laughed. “So you think I should have slugged Amanda like I slugged Cody? I don’t hit women.”

  “I forgot. You kiss them.” All of a sudden she thought briefly, furiously, of the number of women he had probably kissed. And he was a great kisser.

  “I’m about to kiss you.” He reached out and caught her wrist, the little callused pads on his fingers sending quivers along her skin.

  “Make it deep an
d passionate so I can remember it.”

  “I will. Don’t worry.” In one breathtaking sweep he gathered her in with one arm, lowering his mouth over hers. “I want it all,” he murmured. “I want everything about you.”

  She could have fainted away, her level of excitement was so great. She could feel the sweet heaviness in her breasts, at the pit of her stomach. She reached up her arms to clasp them behind his neck, wanting more of his mouth, more of his tongue, of the warm, lean, hard body that held her so tightly.

  She was all yearning, desire swirling in her blood like a flash flood. She could feel his hands running down over her body as though he wanted to tear her clothes from her. She didn’t care. She was encouraging him with funny little whimpers she didn’t recognise as her own.

  “Oh, Mitch, darling!” That cry of hers was full of longing.

  His mouth was dragging down over her face, across her hot cheeks to her pulsing lips. He was breathing something into her mouth she couldn’t quite hear because there was such a tumult in her. Endearments?

  “I want everything.”

  Their kisses and caresses intensified, her fingers and nails kneading his taut flesh. Where was this going? Another minute and they’d be on the bed. Wasn’t that what she wanted more than anything in the world?

  Want and nothing more! The longing alone was excruciating.

  She was all tousled hair, scarlet-cheeked, panting, her shirt swinging open from the slow sliding of his hands over her breasts, when a knock on the door shocked them back to reality.

  “Oh, God, I don’t believe this!”

  “Steady, steady…” he cautioned.

  Frantically she set about buttoning up her shirt. There was no time to tuck it in. She had to let it hang loose.

  Mitch ran a ruthless hand through his golden locks. “Looks like the only way I can have you is to take you out bush.”

  “Don’t think I won’t come,” she promised, a wry little smile about her mouth. “Hang on!” she called, as the knock came a second time. “Do I look all right?” she appealed to Mitch, her face flushed and filled with heart-wrenching excitement.

  “Thoroughly kissed, but that’s fine.” That was the way to handle Chris. Kiss her senseless. “It’s probably Mum.”

  It was. Julanne, smiling a little uncertainly, stood outside the door. She took one look at Christine’s radiant rosy face, then glanced beyond her to her son. “What’s life without romance?” She smiled with emphasis and warmth.

  “Speaking for myself, no fun at all,” Mitch moved with indolent grace to where his mother was standing. He patted her gently on the cheek. “I was just telling Chris how much we’ve enjoyed her stay.”

  “Indeed we have.” Julanne looked from one to the other. “There will be other times, surely, before you have to go back to Sydney, Chris?”

  “There was talk of a fundraiser for the hospital,” she said, turning to snap her last piece of luggage shut and regain her composure at the same time. “Sarah came up with the idea of a polo match-picnic. It will be held on Wunnamurra.” Another excuse to see Mitch.

  “Kyall hasn’t said a word about it.”

  “It’s not finalised yet.” She turned back to him brightly. “But he will. You’re his best player.”

  “No better than Kyall. Then we’ll get to see you again pretty soon?”

  She was aware she blushed. “I’ll make sure of it.”

  There was no time for Christine to have a private word with Amanda until they landed on Wybourne Station, fifty miles as the crow flies to the south-east of Marjimba.

  No one was around to meet them. The whole place had a look of quiet desolation, though Christine knew from experience there were numerous beauty spots across the large sheep and cattle station. An open Jeep was parked in the shade of the empty hangar and Kyall, flanked by Sarah and Shelley, walked towards it to see if the keys were in the ignition. It was years now, Christine had learned, since Patrick Logan had been forced to sell his Cessna.

  “I really did think Dad would be down here to meet us,” Amanda said crossly, shading her eyes. “He hardly does anything for us any more.”

  “He hasn’t had any treatment for his condition all this time?” Christine asked in a kindly, concerned voice.

  “What condition?” Amanda jerked back as though bitten by a death adder.

  “I’m sorry, but there can’t be a more terrible thing than to lose one’s child,” Christine apologized. “Little Sean was so loved, depression must have settled over your parents.”

  “And there’s a cure for depression?” Amanda asked in a bitter, resentful tone. “It’s been years now, not yesterday. Other people rebuild their lives. Mum and Dad simply turned off the engines.”

  Christine studied the young woman in front of her with a measure of dismay. “How terribly sad, Amanda. But there are anti-depressant medicines, counselling, methods for survival. You must help your parents do something about it. At some stage in our lives all of us are going to need help.”

  “Dad won’t take any help from anyone,” Amanda said in a surprisingly hard tone. “Mum sees Sarah from time to time. I grieved myself, though I was only small, but no one worries about me.”

  “I’m sure they do,” Christine assured her. “But, as you said yourself, you were young, Amanda. A child in development. You had time to work it through. I’m talking about your parents. And Shelley. Everyone says she works so hard.”

  Amanda frowned, as though she wasn’t at all sure about that. “Everyone is very concerned about my sister and how she copes with all the pressures. I say it gives her a chance to make up for what she did.”

  Christine felt herself recoil in shock. She stared into Amanda’s pretty face, chilled and disbelieving. These were sisters. She would have loved a sister. “What she did?” she echoed. “It could have been you, Amanda, who walked away and left the twins unattended.”

  Amanda turned on her fiercely, powerfully outraged. “That’s not true!”

  “You’re too ready to blame your sister.” Christine had heard the crack of jealousy in Amanda’s tone. “She’s had to shoulder the burden of guilt for most of her life.”

  “Have you considered she deserves it?” Amanda stood her ground, terrible memories stirred up.

  Christine felt herself swallow hard. “I can’t believe you said that.”

  “She pushed him in. Saved herself.” Amanda’s eyes flashed, seemingly without compassion.

  “Or you were there, perhaps, too late?”

  For a moment Amanda’s expression went absolutely blank. “I can’t believe you’re blaming me,” she said finally. “Shel was always getting into trouble for being naughty. She was hyper-active, just like she is today.”

  “I’ve heard she’s making quite a success of the tourist scheme,” Christine pointed out loyally.

  “Do you really think she doesn’t have help? I do all I can. I may not roll my sleeves up and get dirty, but I have talents Shel doesn’t possess. Anyway, I really don’t want to talk about this, Christine. I don’t even know where you’re coming from. You’re a stranger these days. It’s our tragedy, not yours.”

  “Then you shouldn’t spend so much time keeping it alive,” Christine responded without hesitation. “By the way I’m not standing here in the hot sun talking to you for nothing.”

  “No, you’re being deliberately offensive.” Anger beat in waves around Amanda.

  “I am, in fact, being quite restrained. I have a bone to pick with you, Amanda.”

  “I’m sure I can deal with it,” Amanda snapped.

  “You’d be a fool if you didn’t. You told Mitch you’d read an article about me in which I admitted to having been a drug-user?”

  Amanda’s full lips parted, but for a few telling seconds no sound came out. “Mitch told you?” she croaked discordantly.

  “Indeed he did. Mitch and I are very close. We have been since childhood.”

  “That’s interesting!” Amanda’s expression sharpened
. “Because Mitch told me he hadn’t thought of you in years. You chose your course. You were out of his life. Did he tell you that?”

  “Amanda, I don’t believe Mitch said that at all. You’re just trying to make trouble. It could be one of your flaws.”

  Amanda stared back as though mesmerized. “Hey, why are you attacking me in this way?”

  “Think of it as my defending my reputation.” Christine continued to stare into Amanda’s eyes, refusing to allow her gaze to slide away. “You can’t lie about me and get away with it. I’ll take action. I might have a word with your parents if I have to.”

  “You wouldn’t.” Amanda lost some of her high colour.

  “Try me. I’m going to ask Sarah to keep her ears open for any ugly little rumours circulating regarding me or my lifestyle. I hope I make myself clear?”

  It was obvious Amanda hadn’t been prepared for this particular confrontation. “I can’t see why you’re adopting this attitude,” she said, suddenly drawing on tears from her arsenal. “I thought I read it. I apologize unreservedly if I got it wrong.”

  Always the liar. “Just stick to the truth, Amanda. That’s good advice. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’d like to have a word with Shelley.”

  “Our little work freak!” Amanda laughed scornfully. “I hope you’re as unpleasant to her as you’ve been to me.”

  Christine regarded the other woman without expression. “With a sister like you she doesn’t need anyone else to offer unkindness.” Turning her back, Christine walked away.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  A COUPLE of days home and Christine missed Mitch as a woman stranded in the desert would miss water. Kyall had Sarah, the two of them exuding happiness through their very pores. They had heard yesterday—and it was a matter for great celebration—that Fiona would finally be coming home to Wunnamurra two weeks before the wedding. Christine didn’t want to dwell on how the Hazeltons, the couple who had reared Fiona as their own, would be feeling. They would be devastated—in a manner of speaking tasting the grief of bereavement.

  So many bad things seemed to have started and ended with her grandmother. Ruth had damaged not only her family but many people around her, including the Hazeltons. The good thing was Kyall and Sarah had found it in their hearts to allow Fiona and her adoptive parents time to make this huge adjustment, making the promise that Fiona would always be free to visit the couple who had reared her.