A Reason To Stay

by Linda Charles

So what?

  His gaze held hers. Her fingers itched, no, they ached to reach out and run her finger down his jawline through his five o’clock shadow.

  ‘What I do know is I have a lot of work to do. A few orders came in and I’m very busy.’

  He inched closer. ‘Yes, very busy navel-gazing into the bakery.’

  Her eyes widened. ‘And what are you going to do about it?’

  He leaned in and brushed his lips across hers. They were gentle and sensual, and sent her body running hot and cold.

  Perfect. Could that man get any better?

  Chapter 15

  A pleasure beat pulsed deep inside her and it was intoxicating. Rach closed her eyes. She didn’t want the reminder she had to go home and help bake the orders or put some plans in place.

  Sensing his movement she impulsively grabbed his arm and held him fast. The intensity rippling through her shook her to the core, but she’d deal with that later.

  She hadn’t reached the ripe old age of twenty-nine without learning that opportunities do not knock twice.

  When had she ever been frivolous?

  ‘You can’t just leave me like this,’ she whispered.

  Like you want me, she wanted to scream.

  The hitch of his sigh confirmed it. They were both in this together.

  ‘What do you propose we do about it?’ he asked.

  She shook her head, transfixed by his changing and conflicting expressions.

  ‘Let’s take a drive and have a picnic lunch somewhere.’

  She smiled. That was very doable and safe. ‘Okay.’

  A mischievous grin erupted across his face. ‘But I want something in return.’

  A bubble of joy rose within her. ‘Oh?’

  In their combined silence he reached out and pulled out the clip on top of her head and her hair tumbled down about her shoulders. She shivered. Mike stared at her for what seemed a full minute; when his eyes met hers, she saw the look of serious intent.

  ‘Now we’re ready.’

  Things had changed between them and she couldn’t put her finger on when.

  They held hands as they walked back to his home in silence. While Mike rummaged around searching for picnic gear she gathered together a blanket and some cushions from his lounge.

  ‘Are we ready?’ he asked as he sauntered out with a small bag in hand.

  ‘Always.’

  A loud laugh burst out of him. ‘Always is good to know.’

  He threw the blanket and bag in the back seat of his sports car and she almost lost her dignity by legging it into the front seat.

  Stop being so bloody clever.

  ‘Where are we going?’

  Mike smiled mysteriously and started the engine. Happy, she nestled down deep into the seat.

  He gave her a cheeky wink. ‘I know a little spot overlooking the valley.’

  When was the last time she had a day off for fun? She tossed her head back and stared up at the bluest sky and most cloudless sky she’d ever seen. The small puffs of cotton that lined the streets were the whitest she’d ever known. She laughed out loud at her own silliness. If her colleagues could see what she was thinking they’d never believe it.

  Then Mike changed gear on the outskirts of Mindalby, there was a solid jolt as the engine revved on the incline. His hand lightly brushed against the side of her thigh and a joyous thrill of anticipation started to slowly hunker down deep inside her body, a feeling she never wanted to end.

  ***

  Mike drove around the last bend that led to his favourite lookout. He looked across at Rach, who had climbed out of the car and was staring out across the plains surrounding Mindalby. He sat for a moment and wallowed in her loveliness. His body was not keeping its response a secret from him.

  ‘You forget how beautiful it is, don’t you?’ she murmured.

  He climbed out of his car and pulled out the blanket, and laid it out and their picnic basket under the tree near his car.

  He grinned at her. ‘Remember you said that.’

  Rachael surprised him by kicking off her shoes and shrugging off her jacket. She flopped on the blanket.

  ‘I haven’t done anything like this in a long time. I feel such a big kid, like I’m sneaking off from school taking a day out of my life.’

  He handed her a glass of wine. ‘You are.’

  Her face dropped and he cursed that he’d reminded her of work. There was nothing he could say to change the truth, not even to soothe it.

  She turned to him, her soft smile doing all sorts of wonderful things to his ego.

  ‘You’re right. We are where it’s at today. I’m not going to think of work or the bakery. This afternoon and you have my undivided attention.’

  He liked that idea.

  ‘Do you mind if I ask why you never married Leanne?’

  He groaned. Where did that question come from?

  In an instant those awful weeks following Leanne’s announcement that she was pregnant came to life. All he remembered was the feeling of letting everybody down and it hurt, even now, the hurt was as sharp as it was then.

  Nothing had prepared him for the unravelling of his life. It became an endurance test contending with everybody’s disappointment in him, and the constant sniggers from his school mates. It triggered a clearing out of his life. In the end he left home, made new friends and a new life.

  ‘We were both seventeen for a start.’

  She downed the last of her wine and he stared at her long white throat as she swallowed and then lay down on the blanket alongside him.

  ‘You were living in a Catholic country, so that would not have been easy.’

  ‘No, it wasn’t, but marriage would have ruined both our lives. Leanne did marry somebody she loved, somebody who wanted her and that was not me. We bumbled on with our lives.’

  Her eyes shot up to his. ‘ “Bumbled on”—you make it sound like you were drifting.’

  ‘I was. Before Leanne I thought I knew who I was. I was class captain, captain of our football team, good at school, had a great family. I was in a good place and five minutes was all it took to lose the lot. A quick shag behind a tree and that was it.’

  He stared out at nothing in particular. It still hurt.

  ‘Surely not?’

  ‘Oh yes. It rocked our family. My parents did not want me to get married, Leanne’s parents did. In the end my father suggested I continue my studies in Dublin, live with an uncle and aunt and get a job to help pay for the baby.’

  Rach sat up; her eyes were etched with concern. He sunk his head and closed his eyes. This was not how he wanted their free time together spent.

  ‘Oh Mike,’ she whispered and laid a hand upon the back of his head, her gentle touch clearly meant to be soothing—it was anything but. Coils of heat tightened inside his chest, his belly.

  With all his being he wanted to take her in his arms and kiss her, but with the taste of Leanne’s name in his mouth, he couldn’t do it.

  ‘Did you see much of Caitlyn as she was growing up?’

  He opened his eyes and noticed a tiny frown on her forehead.

  ‘Leanne’s husband was in the army and they moved about. For a while it was good when they were living in Ireland, then they moved to London, then into Germany. They let me see her, but it was difficult. Then I made the decision to quit my job and come out here.’

  Rach moved closer to him, her frown deepening.

  ‘And then they died in a car accident.’

  Have I done the right thing in pushing to bring her out here? Will we become a nice family unit? I’m ripping her away from family. He thought about that for a second longer. What family? She’d lived away from both sets of grandparents who saw her from time to time, and like Rach she’d spent most of her youth moving about.

  Rach refilled their glasses.

  Her playful gaze threatened to unravel his promise to keep his hands to himself.

  She ran a hand through her hair, unwittingly making it
messy, making her more adorable. ‘It’s not a gamble. Sounds like she’s moved all her life and I’m sure she’s used to going with the flow. Have no fear.’

  At her words a little of his old bone-wearying fear started to crumble.

  His gaze dropped from her eyes, down to her lips, and to the thick blonde locks of hair trapped in her cleavage—he reached over and with a finger freed one of the locks, and twirled it about his fingers, keeping his link with her.

  Her body trembled. He could feel it, see it. He reached out again and freed the other lock, his fingers gently grazing the top of her breasts.

  ‘Rach, I’ve been an absolute idiot. I’m falling for you.’

  Her only response was to close her eyes and take in a deep breath.

  Mike raised his hand gently to her shoulder. He grew bolder and trailed his fingers in a smooth flowing line from her neck to across her jaw, his thumb caressing the soft edge of her bottom lip. Her breath caught in her throat, the short vibe pulsing against his fingers. It was all the encouragement he needed.

  His thumb caressed the rest of her lip, and her eyes flew open. He gently turned her head. He stared at her, her eyes dark, serious, and so full of emotion it left him stunned. He stalled for a moment, taking it all in as he brought his lips down on hers. Her lips were soft and giving.

  He gently pulled away, his face inches from hers. ‘I hope that makes up for the first one.’

  She smiled, and her face lit up. It was the most beautiful smile he’d ever seen. ‘You’ve got a lot of making up to do.’ Her voice was deep and husky, telling him so much about her, about them.

  Chapter 16

  Rachael watched Mike drive off until he was out of sight. She wanted to go with him, but instead searched her bag for her house key. The lazy lusty afternoon had drifted away.

  She wondered for the sake of their sanity if they could put their afternoon in a box marked ‘never to be disturbed’ and get on with their lives.

  They had to. Soon, she’d be gone, and this would be a nice, pleasant memory.

  The front door swung open. Shar stood in the doorway holding a tearful Abi in her arms. ‘Where the hell have you been?’ Shar’s eyes swept over her. ‘What’s happened? I thought you were only seeing Sam Anderson.’

  Rach pushed her way past her sister and into the hallway.

  Shar started to giggle. ‘You look like you’ve walked through a hedge backwards and I figure poor old Sam’s not the one responsible.’

  She bit back on a smile and let out a deep sigh. ‘Shut it, Shar.’

  ‘I will not.’

  Rachael ran up the stairs, navigating her way around the boys as they played with a train set in the hallway. Her good mood fractured by Shar’s obvious delight in her predicament.

  ‘Mind your own business,’ she called out.

  ‘I will for now, but you’d better tell all.’

  Rachael stormed into the bathroom and tugged at her clothes, pulling off her shirt and skirt in ragged desperate movements. Her mind was numb as she switched on the hot water in the shower. With a few deft twists her hair was in a bun, and out of her way.

  She stepped into the steamy shower and stood still as the hot water streamed down her back and legs. In her frustration she turned round, but the hot water stimulated every part of her being.

  Shit.

  In one swift motion she switched off the hot water and turned on the cold. She jumped as the first of the sprays splashed on her. She let out a long moan and didn’t care who heard. The cold water woke her up.

  Her afternoon had been one of the strangest in her life. For a few hours her world revolved around herself and Mike and it had been great. They had no interference, except for her call with Gordon. Even that was okay.

  He’d fallen for her—those words made her special, made him special. She meant something to someone and that blew her mind. What did it mean? Was it love? Lust?

  She’d been hurt, abandoned and for most of the time had been powerless to do anything. There was power in someone falling for you, loving you. Somehow she didn’t feel powerful, she was frightened. She couldn’t bear to hurt him.

  She swallowed hard as another thought reared its ugly head. Would she know if she’d fallen for him? Would she recognise the signs?

  She stepped out of the shower and towelled herself dry.

  What was she going to do? She’d never been one of those women who’d written up a list of what her preferences were in men. Who had the time to ponder such thoughts? In an odd way she’d always thought Mr Right would pop up, present himself whenever, wherever, and together they’d get on with it. It was just how she liked things: clean, practical and tidy.

  Mike was the type of guy who would be high on any woman’s list. Of all the lovely things he’d told her during the afternoon, she still kept coming back to the fact that he’d fallen for her.

  Gritting her teeth, she got dressed.

  There was a knock on the bathroom door followed by a few muffled giggles.

  ‘Who is it?’ she asked.

  More giggles. ‘Are you going to get married, Auntie Rach?’

  She flung open the door and Jake and Matty stood in the hallway grinning up at her.

  ‘No, I am not. Whatever gave you that idea?’

  They stared at one another before they burst out laughing. She dropped to her knees and tucked an arm around each one and carried them down to the lounge room. There she let them loose in front of Bob, who sat in his favourite chair reading the newspaper.

  She caught Bob’s amused gaze. ‘I’ve never found a cold shower to be of any use myself.’

  ‘Shut it, Bob,’ she said trying hard not to look amused.

  ‘Okay,’ said Bob. ‘Come on, boys, to bed.’

  She kissed the boys goodnight and then made her way to the kitchen.

  In the kitchen sat Nancy and Shar both struggling to look busy.

  ‘What’s happening?’ she asked.

  ‘You’ve got a cheek asking us,’ said an amused Shar. ‘We’ve been cleaning up this kitchen, Bob’s been setting up some paperwork and we’ve been waiting for you.’

  She slumped into the nearest chair. All her pretence of anger fell flat with Nancy and Shar. Who else in her life did she have to share things with?

  This would not be easy, but her mind held firm to tell them all. ‘I bumped into Mike and he asked me out for a picnic. He’s just dropped me back.’

  Shar chuckled. ‘Yeah. Right. I love it. It’s freezing cold out there and you jump into a cold shower. I wonder if Mike’s draining his cold water tanks as we speak.’

  Nancy patted her arm. ‘Rach, love, I’m just glad you’ve met someone.’

  A vision of Mike popped into her head and she gritted her teeth. ‘Not for long, I’m heading back soon.’ She didn’t have the heart to tell them it would be sooner, probably not long after the bakery’s re-opening.

  Her foster mother climbed out of her chair and put her soft arms about her shoulders. ‘That may be, but you’re out there making memories. I never heard of anybody making too many fun memories at work.’

  She grabbed Nancy’s hands and tugged her closer. ‘Thanks, Nancy.’

  Her brain was seared with memories of Mike alright, each one of them hot and sizzling. The thought struck her, did memories really dim in time? She hoped not. In the shower when she’d closed her eyes she could see every curve and line on Mike’s face, it was so clear she could almost reach out and touch him.

  ‘Back to Earth. Back to Earth, Rachael Hammond.’

  Her eyes flew to Bob who stood grinning at her by the fridge.

  ‘Sorry to break into that lovely dream, but Shar and I want to discuss something with you. It’s pretty major for us.’

  Like a well-trained seal her brain swung back into gear.

  ‘Of course, what is it?’

  ‘We’ve taken a few more orders and I did a bit of ringing around myself, at other bakeries and learned a thing or two. They are willing to s
wap a few items, on a trial basis, like Brown’s.’

  She sat back and stared at Bob with fresh eyes. A smile quivered on her lips. ‘Go on, I feel there’s more to this.’

  His grin broadened and his face relaxed. ‘The mill’s finished for me. The co-op’s going ahead, but I’m not prepared to risk it. We’ve got a young family, a mortgage and we a want a future.’

  ‘Get to it, Bob.’

  He shot a quick look at Shar. ‘It’s two things. The books—neither Shar nor I know anything about bookkeeping. We’re thinking of both of us signing up with the local technical college to do their bookkeeping course. You never know, I might like it enough to do the accountancy part, but that’s a side issue.’

  She tapped him on the hand. ‘I like where you’re thinking with this.’

  ‘The second thing is we’re going to need a courier to ferry all these deliveries out of town. I’m thinking of trading in our family car and upgrading to a small truck. We’ll fit it out.’

  He ran a hand through his hair. ‘I mean if we’re serious with this and make a go of it, Shar and I feel we should do more than just work in the place, we need to invest a little more than that.’

  Tears welled up in her eyes. She brushed them aside and wiped the back of her hand dry. ‘This means so much.’

  Her eyes studied Bob, and then Shar, who stood nervously at the kitchen sink. Shar never could sit down when anything important was being discussed.

  Rachael wiped her eyes again, surprised at her run of emotion, which was so unlike her.

  ‘I was so worried about it all. That’s great,’ she said.

  Bob shifted uncomfortably in his chair.

  ‘You’re being a little kind there, Rach,’ said Bob. ‘Shar and I are finally taking control of our lives. You hit us square where it hurts the other morning and it’s been nagging at me ever since.’

  Nancy squeezed her tight again. ‘How about you give us a lesson in making that chocolate cake fondue? We tried it this afternoon, but it wouldn’t take.’

  Grinning at them she jumped up and went to the fridge to see for herself. It might be a waste of time, but something in Shar’s excited expression told her otherwise. She pulled out the forlorn-looking fondues.