The Man Behind the Badge

by Sharon Archer

  ‘Kayla, meet my mother, Rosie. Mum, as you’ve guessed, this is Kayla.’

  ‘I can’t tell you how much I’ve been looking forward to meeting you, my dear.’ Rosie held her at arm’s length and sent her son a quick look filled with mischief. ‘Even more since my son told me he’d asked you as his date for tonight.’

  There was that word again. Date. Kayla swallowed and pinned a smile on her face. ‘It’s lovely to meet you, Mrs Jamieson.’

  ‘Rosie, I insist. We’re delighted to have you join us tonight. How are you enjoying your time in Dustin so far?’

  ‘Very much, Rosie. It makes a nice change of pace from the city.’

  ‘We’re lucky to have you filling in for Liz’s maternity leave and I hear I have you to thank for patching up my grandson this morning.’

  ‘Oh, of course. Ryan.’ Kayla nodded. ‘How is he?’

  ‘Good as gold. He was right here a moment ago. Oh, there you are,’ the older woman said as Ryan materialised at her side.

  ‘Hi, Kayla,’ the boy said, looking up at her shyly.

  ‘Hello, Ryan.’ She smiled at him. ‘You got to the barbecue after all.’

  ‘I had a sleep this afternoon so Mum said it was okay.’

  ‘How is your arm?’

  ‘Good, ’cept I can’t ride.’

  ‘So you want to get back on, then?’ Kayla couldn’t hide her surprise even though a quick glance at Tom suggested this was to be expected.

  ‘Of course.’

  ‘He’s a tough little nut. Aren’t you, Ry?’ said his grandmother as she ruffled his hair.

  ‘Yeah.’ Ryan looked as though he’d been paid the highest compliment.

  ‘Reminds me a lot of someone else while he was growing up.’ The look Rosie gave her son was filled with equal parts of affection and exasperation. ‘Tom gave me more than his fair share of grey hairs. He still does. They’re always your children, Kayla, no matter how big and competent they get.’

  Kayla’s chest tightened unexpectedly at the words. What would it have been like to grow up with someone so firmly in her corner as Rosie obviously was for her children and grandchildren.

  ‘What about Mum?’ Ryan asked.

  ‘Her, too. The stories I could tell you.’

  ‘But you’ll resist because we don’t want to send Kayla hightailing it back to Melbourne, do we, Mum?’ Tom said. ‘We need her.’

  His tone shivered down Kayla’s spine. He almost sounded…possessive. The idea should be utterly repugnant but instead she felt a quick, unwelcome stab of feminine curiosity.

  ‘True.’ Rosie laughed undaunted by her son’s warning. ‘But she might like to know what she’s letting herself in for.’

  Did Rosie mean in Dustin? With the Jamiesons?

  Or with Tom? Her heart squeezed painfully.

  She was glad Jack chose that moment to come to collect Emma so that Tom was occupied transferring the sleepy toddler. She needed a moment to take a deep breath, pull herself together without his too-perceptive eyes on her.

  ‘Come and get it!’ one of the men near the barbecue called out as he transported a laden platter towards the food table.

  ‘Oh, yes, do. Go,’ Rosie said, making ushering movements towards the table. ‘Food disappears quickly around here.’

  ‘Come on.’ Tom captured her hand and tugged her forward. He handed her a plate and a serviette-wrapped set of utensils.

  ‘Kebabs?’ Two appeared on her plate. ‘Chops? Rissoles? Salad?’

  Tom moved with her around the table, efficiently loading up her plate. He did it so naturally she found herself unable to object. ‘Let’s grab a seat.’

  He steadied her while she stepped over the bench then put his plate on the table to save his spot. ‘Can I get you something to drink?’

  ‘A small red wine would be lovely.’ She watched him walk away. Being cared for the way Tom was looking after her as his date was a new experience. It was both wonderful and unsettling.

  ‘Be right back.’ He left his jacket on the seat.

  A moment later, a girl bounced onto Tom’s jacket and said, ‘Hello. Ry said you’re the doctor who fixed his arm?’

  ‘That’s right. I’m Kayla.’ She turned her attention to the feminine version of Ryan. ‘Are you Hannah?’

  ‘Yep.’ Hannah grinned showing a neat set of orthodontic braces. ‘Ry let me sign the plaster already. I was the first.’

  ‘Lucky you,’ Tom said, returning with a couple of glasses. He leaned over Hannah to put them on the table.

  ‘Yep, he’s pretty good. For a boy.’ Hannah grinned at her uncle then turned her ingenuous blue eyes back in Kayla’s direction. ‘He said it hurt a lot when he fell off but that he didn’t cry.’

  ‘Your brother was very brave,’ Kayla said.

  ‘Hannah, come and get your dinner, please,’ Charlotte called from the food table. She waved to Kayla and said, ‘Hi, Kayla, glad you could join us. Hannah, any time today would be good, please.’

  Kayla waved back, watching a reluctant Hannah do her mother’s bidding. ‘She’s going to be a heartbreaker when she gets older.’

  ‘I think Charlie’s hoping that contempt for boys stays with her for another ten years.’ Tom climbed over the seat. As he settled beside her, his thigh brushed hers, sending a crazy fizz of sensation over her skin. ‘You protected Ryan. I half expected you to give Hannah the line about tears being nothing to be ashamed of.’

  Kayla cleared her throat. ‘For a start, it’s not a line. And, secondly, I figure it falls under the heading of patient confidentiality.’

  ‘I’m glad.’ He twisted towards her and smiled, his eyes warmly approving. Heat came off his body in waves that enveloped her. She stared at him helplessly as he spoke. ‘Han’s a sweetheart deep down but she’s hiding it under a thick layer of holy terror at the moment.’

  Someone called his name and he turned away. Kayla blew out a small breath of relief. Being the focus of Tom’s attention was not getting any easier. The man had some serious chemistry.

  Other friends and family members joined them at the long table and the conversation became general. His family were fun, lively, affectionate and friendly. As she chatted, Kayla tried to convince herself that she’d imagined her response to Tom. But almost as though he understood what was going on in her mind, Tom turned to touch her. His hand lingered on her shoulder while he asked her to pass the salt, then stroked down to the small of her back as she leaned forward to get it.

  ‘Thanks.’ His fingers closed over hers briefly as she tried to place the container on the table in front of him.

  Nothing objectionable, just enough to ensure all her senses were tuned to him.

  Every time he spoke.

  Every time he shifted on the bench seat.

  Her very cells seemed to be anticipating the next time he might touch her.

  ‘Kayla?’ Her name spoken in a soft girl’s voice was accompanied by a light tug on her sleeve. She turned to see Hannah, her elbow on the table and her face propped in her hand.

  ‘Yes, Hannah.’

  ‘Are you in love with Uncle Tom?’

  Kayla blinked at the child, feeling a rush of heat running into her cheeks. She sensed Tom’s stillness beside her and she didn’t dare look in his direction. The gathering twilight would help to hide the betraying colour—she hoped.

  ‘I’m sure he’s, um, very loveable, Hannah,’ she said, selecting her words carefully. ‘And I bet you love him very much.’

  ‘Yes, but he’s my uncle so I have to.’

  ‘Right.’ Kayla met the still-questioning blue eyes. ‘You see, I’ve only just met him, so it’s too soon to know.’ She only just stopped the yet that was ready to trip off her tongue.

  ‘But you like him, right?’ the child persisted, and Kayla had a sudden sympathy for Ryan wanting to keep his tears a secret.

  ‘Yes, I like him. He’s a nice man.’ She heard Tom’s soft chuckle. ‘But if he’s not careful, that could change.’

&nbs
p; ‘Why would it change?’ The girl frowned.

  Kayla suppressed a sigh. ‘I’m teasing you, Hannah.’

  ‘Oh.’ Hannah nodded, her expression plainly saying she’d never understand the vagaries of adult humour. ‘Good. You’re the first girlfriend that Uncle Tom’s had for ages. Nana said ever since—’

  ‘Dessert’s up, Han,’ Tom said. ‘I heard Aunty Doreen was bringing her peppermint and chocolate pavlova,’ Tom said. ‘You don’t want to miss out.’

  The child was gone in a flash.

  ‘Great magic trick, Uncle Tom.’ Kayla slid him a disgusted look. ‘Pity you didn’t perform it five minutes earlier.’

  ‘But I was learning so much. A man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do.’ He reached out and his fingers brushed her hair back over her ear in a slow caress that left her breathless.

  ‘Not when he’s promised to be on his best behaviour,’ she murmured.

  ‘Ah, yes.’ His hooded gaze was darker, sharper, holding her captive for a moment before sliding down to her mouth. A sharp stab of longing shocked her. ‘You could always release me from my promise.’

  Her heart slammed into her ribs as she wrenched her eyes away from him to look around the table. Everyone else was talking as though nothing out of the ordinary had happened. It was only her world that had been shaken.

  ‘I could.’ She reached for her glass. The liquid sloshed as she picked it up. ‘But I don’t think I will.’

  ‘But you want to. Admit it,’ he said, his words laced with sinful temptation.

  Damn it. He was right.

  Her mouth was drier than the dust on the dirt road. God, what had made her think she could indulge in repartee with Tom and get away with it.

  ‘Name, rank and serial number, didn’t you say?’

  His delicious, low chuckle hummed across her senses.

  Tom looked over to where Kayla was helping pack away the last of the dishes. Jack and Liz had returned to camp much earlier with little Emma snuggled up fast asleep in a sleeping bag.

  Kayla had insisted on staying to help, mucking in willingly with the clean-up. He wondered if she realised the consequence of that—she’d have to walk back to camp with him.

  Alone.

  Tom swallowed. Him and Kayla.

  Just the two of them.

  Best behaviour.

  Dating Kayla required strategy. Like camp drafting. Rush in too soon and he risked spooking his elusive quarry. The trick was to balance patience with decisive action at the right time and right place. He was a champion camp draft rider. He only hoped he had the strength and sensitivity to apply patience and pressure at the right times and places with Kayla.

  He suppressed a chuckle. Would Kayla appreciate his analogy for their fledgling relationship? He thought she might with her quick, wicked sense of humour. He enjoyed it…he enjoyed her. His gut tightened.

  He dropped the tied rubbish bag into the bin and turned back towards the barbecue area in time to see Kayla throw her head back to laugh at something with his mother. She appeared to have enjoyed herself tonight with his family. And that was important to him. He loved his family.

  He walked slowly back towards the two women.

  He hadn’t brought anyone home to meet his family for years. Not since he’d been shot. No wonder Hannah had picked up on the family scuttlebutt. His then girlfriend had dumped him while he still lay in hospital, tubes threading through his body. Marissa hadn’t wanted to stay at his bedside to play nursemaid to an invalid. He’d had a lucky escape there, in more ways than one. Her defection hadn’t surprised him…and it hadn’t hurt him either. Except for his pride.

  A band of tension circled his chest. He had the feeling Kayla could hurt him badly.

  But he was going to make his move anyway.

  Did that make him a fool? He frowned.

  ‘Thanks for your help, Kayla.’

  ‘My pleasure, Rosie. I’ve had a lovely evening.’

  ‘Ready to go?’ His question came out more harshly than he’d meant and both women looked at him in surprise.

  ‘Yes. I’ll just get my jumper,’ Kayla said.

  He consciously eased the muscles across his shoulders. ‘I’ve got it here.’

  ‘Goodnight, Kayla,’ his mother said. ‘I’ll look forward to seeing you again soon.’

  ‘Goodnight, Rosie.’

  ‘’Night, Mum.’

  He settled his hand in the small of Kayla’s back, feeling her body heat through his palm, the rub of her clothing at each step a small torturous friction

  Silence closed around them, only broken by the soft rustle of dry leaves beneath their feet. The lamp he held played over the ground around them. Diffused light enclosing them in a golden bubble of intimacy.

  ‘Penny?’ he said, reaching out to capture her hand.

  She chuckled softly. ‘I was just thinking that all this is so different from the things I usually do on a night out.’

  ‘Different good or different bad?’

  ‘Oh, different good, definitely. I really did have a great time. I wasn’t just saying that.’ Her teeth glinted briefly in the pale oval of her face. ‘Your family is wonderful. Special.’

  ‘I think so, too.’

  After a moment, he said, ‘What sort of things are a usual night out for you?’

  ‘Nothing very dashing. Juggling a social life can be hard when you work odd hours. But I like the occasional movie, maybe a light opera. Maybe a bike ride along the Yarra.’

  With her fiancé, probably. Tom clenched his jaw. He didn’t ask. He didn’t want to know. Tonight, he was the man here with Kayla in the dim light, surrounded by towering gums. It was his fingers curled around the fragile bones of her clever healer’s hand. He felt ten feet tall.

  ‘I enjoy meeting friends for dinner,’ she said. ‘Or having them over to my place.’

  ‘Are you an adventurous cook?’

  She laughed and he thought he detected an underlying note of bitterness. ‘You must have realised by now, I’m not an adventurous anything.’

  ‘Not true. You’ve uprooted yourself to come to Dustin. You’ve attended your first camp draft. You’ve survived an evening with the Jamiesons.’

  ‘Mmm, when you put it like that, I’m positively intrepid.’ Her laughter this time was light and the teasing, joyous note rippled across his senses, making him smile.

  ‘You are,’ he murmured.

  A low whicker greeted them as they reached the edge of their camp.

  ‘There,’ he said. ‘Even Ziggy agrees.’

  ‘Straight from the horse’s mouth?’ She chuckled as her footsteps slowed then stopped at her tent. ‘Ziggy recognises your voice.’

  ‘Yeah.’ Tom rubbed his thumb over her knuckles. ‘And he likes his chances of another biscuit of hay.’

  ‘Are they good? His chances?’ Her voice was soft.

  ‘Better than average.’ He looked down at their still-clasped hands. ‘I’d planned on giving him something else before I turned in.’

  ‘Well, I’d better let you get on with it.’ There was the tiniest tremor in her words.

  ‘Kayla?’ He stepped closer to her, felt the heat of her body reaching out to his. ‘I’m going to step out of line.’

  She looked up at him. He felt the small shudder that shook her. ‘Are you?’

  ‘Yes.’ He ran his finger tips up her arm. ‘What are you going to do about it?’

  ‘N-nothing.’

  Lifting his free hand slowly, he cupped her face, feeling the soft skin against his palm, the cool silk of her hair across his fingers. She tilted her head, offering her mouth to him.

  He could feel the tension in her, watched as her lips parted slightly and she bit down on her bottom lip for a tiny second then released it so it plumped back up.

  He leaned forward slowly, gave her time to stop him. Her eyelids drifted shut. Over the thunder of his heart, he heard her quick, shuddering breath.

  And then his lips touched hers, pressing gently, and
everything else became irrelevant. The sensation was electric, exquisite. He rubbed his mouth across hers slowly, backwards and forwards. The sweet softness gave under the pressure, inviting, making him want more than he should on a first kiss.

  Eyes shut, he savoured the explosion of taste. Delicious. Exciting. He was drowning, drenched in need.

  Her fingers wrapped around his wrist. Flexing once, twice, as though she was debating whether to tug his hand away. But in the end she just held him as though anchoring herself.

  He drew her bottom lip into his mouth with gentle suction and ran his tongue over the succulent flesh. Then reluctantly let it go.

  Pulling back slowly, he struggled to surface. Kayla didn’t move for a long moment, her mouth still offered up to his, swollen, inviting. Unbearably tempting.

  Her eyes opened. He heard the shaky breath she sucked in, saw her breasts rise and fall. He clenched his jaw with the effort of not plunging back to take more. He wanted to drop the lamp he held, bury his fingers deep in her hair, use both hands so he could tip her head and take their kiss to a whole new level. Pull her under into the tide of excitement that was raging through him, threatening to sweep him away.

  But he had to resist. He wasn’t in this for a quick tumble. He wanted more, wanted it all. This was for keeps. The thought crystallised. She was what he wanted for his future.

  Reining back his lust, he pressed a kiss to each corner of her mouth and stepped back.

  ‘Let’s get you into your tent.’ His voice was hoarse.

  ‘M-my tent?’ She sounded as dazed as he felt.

  ‘Yeah. While I still remember my promise to behave,’ he muttered as he bent to unzip the door. His fingers fumbled with the tab but after a moment he had it open so he could usher her in. ‘There you go.’

  ‘Th-thanks.’ She bent and stepped into the tent. ‘Goodnight, Tom.’

  With a sense of desperation, he quickly zipped the door closed before he could disgrace himself by begging. With his fingertips touching the nylon lightly, he closed his eyes and swallowed hard. His mouth still throbbed from her kiss. ‘Goodnight, Kayla. Sleep well.’