by Leah Martyn
Dan quirked a brow. ‘And where is that?’
‘Milldale. Home.’
‘Home,’ Dan repeated. ‘I thought you lived in Hopeton.’
‘I do, for work. But home for me is Lark Hill, the vineyard where my parents live. Where I grew up. I’m starting a bit of leave.’
It took Dan only a few seconds to process all this. She still had some way to drive to Milldale before she could get relief for her neck pain. Was she fit to drive? Was her car even drivable? He came to a decision. He was a doctor, for God’s sake. He could treat her. Here and now. ‘Do you have your miracle oil with you?’
Lindsey looked uncertain. ‘Of course I have it with me.’
‘In your luggage?’ Dan was slowly opening the driver’s door. ‘Tell me where to look and I’ll massage it in for you. The sooner it’s done, the sooner some relief will kick in for you.’
Lindsey’s hands clutched the collar of his coat, pulling it higher as if to ward off the idea. She couldn’t let him do that. It was too intimate...too...everything. She moistened her lips. ‘If you get me the oil, I can rub it on myself.’
He snorted. ‘And how high can you lift your arms without it hurting?’
Emotions began clogging Lindsey’s throat. If she was honest, she was aching all over and suffering the aftermath of shock. It would be so lovely to let go of all her scruples and let Dan take care of her. ‘My car keys are still in the ignition.’
‘And your luggage in the boot?’ Dan swung one leg out of the car.
Lindsey managed a small nod. ‘Just bring my beauty case. It’s black with—’
‘Lindsey, relax,’ Dan broke in gently. ‘I know what a beauty case looks like. I’ll find it.’
* * *
Lindsey closed her eyes. He’d told her to relax so she’d try. He’d taken over anyway. And right at the moment the idea sounded heaven-sent.
Dan was back. Not only did he have her beauty case but he’d brought along her shoulder bag as well. And her long woolly cardigan was draped over his forearm.
‘You’ve thought of everything.’ Lindsey managed a trapped smile.
‘And I have something for your neck pain as well.’
‘What are they?’ She looked dubiously at the foil-wrapped tablets he handed her.
‘They’re standard painkillers,’ Dan said. ‘Nothing to send you off to la-la land.’ He watched as she broke open the foil and then handed her a bottle of water. When she’d swallowed the tablets, he asked, ‘Now, how are we going to do this?’
Lindsey blinked. He was obviously referring to her massage. She unzipped her beauty case and handed him the bottle of oil. ‘I could probably just manoeuvre myself so my back’s to you,’ she said throatily.
‘Or we could fold back the rear seat so you could lie down.’
‘That’s not necessary.’ Lindsey was firm. ‘Just take your jacket back, Dan, and I’ll get my shirt off.’
Dan’s eyes widened. His heart gave a sideways skip. ‘OK...’
Lindsey undid the buttons and shrugged off the loose-fitting shirt to reveal a snug little vest top beneath. She sent him an innocent look. ‘What?’
‘Nothing.’
She managed a soft chuckle. ‘Had you going there, didn’t I, Daniel?’
‘A guy can live in hope,’ he countered, his mouth lifting at the corners. ‘Now, give me that oil and we’ll get started.’
Lindsey felt her body relax its tension as Dan’s fingers began the gentle kneading of her neck muscles. It felt good, so good, and she wanted it to go on for ever...
Dan let his hands drift over the smooth column of her neck and then tease out the tense muscles at its base, almost hypnotised by the feel of her satin-smooth skin under his hands. ‘It’s Dante, by the way.’
‘Really?’ Lindsey’s voice went high in disbelief.
‘Really.’
‘From the Italian poet of the Middle Ages?’
‘At least you have the origin right,’ he said. ‘My sisters used to tell everyone I’d been named after a middle-aged poet.’
‘Oh, poor you. Were you teased a lot?’
‘Sometimes I felt like quietly enrolling at another school.’
‘I think Dante suits you.’
‘Hmm.’ Dan was noncommittal.
‘Is your mother a romantic, then?’
‘No.’ He sounded amused. ‘It’s an old family name. Apparently, it was just my turn to be lumbered with it.’
‘That’s pathetic,’ Lindsey said mildly. ‘It makes you different...special.’
He didn’t reply.
‘How does that feel now?’
Lindsey heard the guarded tone in his voice. Had her remark embarrassed him? Probably. And she wouldn’t have continued with the banter if she hadn’t been feeling so relaxed with him. Her mistake. ‘It’s much better, thanks. I’ll be OK now.’ She swivelled round to face the front again.
‘If you’re sure?’ Dan recapped the bottle of oil and handed it back to her.
‘I’m fine.’ She stowed the bottle back in her beauty case then reached for her cardigan and shrugged it on.
Well, he’d stuffed that up. Dan locked his hands around the steering wheel and looked blindly out into the night. He’d stomped all over her light remarks and shut down. Now she’d be back to thinking he was some kind of unsociable cretin. God, he felt like an infant trying to stand upright and walk.
His jaw tightened. He had to fix things. ‘I’ve...made things awkward again, haven’t I?’
Her throat constricted. ‘I wasn’t coming on to you.’
‘I know that. You were being sweet and funny...’ He paused painfully.
‘I’ve—been out of circulation for a while.’
Lindsey glanced at him, taking in his body language. Obviously, he’d been through something that had knocked him sideways. Something it was taking him time to get past. She felt a river of empathy run out to him. ‘Do you want to talk about it?’ As soon as she’d said the trite words Lindsey wished them back. Whatever it was that was bugging him, he’d probably talked about it until he was blue in the face. ‘Sorry, scratch that.’
He blew out a controlled sigh. ‘It’s just stuff that’s a bit hard to...revisit.’
‘I get that, Dan,’ she said softly.
His head swung towards her. Even in the subdued lighting in the car, the force of his undivided attention was like a mini-riot inside her. They breathed through several beats of silence. Until... Dan bent, his lips grazing hers. It was the lightest of kisses but heady with the taste of promise. For a long moment they stared at each other. ‘That was a bit...’ Lindsey’s voice faded.
‘Unexpected?’ Dan moved closer, so close she had to tilt her head up to look at him. So close she could feel the heat radiating from his body. ‘Nice, though?’
His softly spoken question danced across her nerves, creating a new wave of warmth to cascade through her. She nodded, words simply escaping her.
Dan stroked her cheek with the backs of his fingers, his body drenched in emotions he’d almost forgotten.
A gossamer-thin thread of awareness seemed to shimmer between them, until they drew back slowly from each other, breaking the spell.
Lindsey began pulling her cardigan more tightly around her. ‘Um, do you think we could find a hot drink somewhere?’
‘Oh, God—sorry!’ Dan hit the heel of his hand on his forehead. ‘You’re probably still shocky. I’m an idiot—’
‘Dan, it’s OK.’ Lindsey bit back a half-laugh. ‘I didn’t expect you to have a Thermos of tea with you. There’s a service station a few clicks further on. We could stop there.’
‘Right. Good. We’ll do that. But we’ll need to do something about your car first. From what I saw, it’s not drivable.’
‘Oh—are you sure?’ Lindsey looked pained.
‘I’m no mechanic but looks like you had a pretty big whack. The back wheel seems out of alignment and I had trouble getting the boot open. I could have a word with the tow-truck guys for you?’
‘No, it’s fine.’ She waved the idea away. ‘I’ll get on to my insurance company.’ She flicked out her mobile and found the number on speed dial. ‘All sorted,’ she said after a few minutes of intense negotiation. ‘They’ll arrange for my car to be towed for repairs and if I need it I can pick up a replacement vehicle from the garage in Milldale.’
‘I’ll drive you home, then,’ Dan said.
‘I don’t want to take you out of your way.’
‘You won’t be. I’m going to Milldale myself. I’ll get your personal stuff from the car, shall I?’
‘I’ll help.’ Lindsey volunteered, making to get out of his vehicle.
‘Hang on a tick.’ He stayed her with the lightest touch on her wrist. ‘I’ll come round and give you a hand. Don’t want you falling.’
‘Dan, I’m fine,’ she remonstrated.
‘Humour me, all right?’
Lindsey gave a contained little sigh but waited until he’d come round to the passenger door. He opened it and offered a steadying hand. She took it gratefully. He’d been right. She did feel a kind of light-headedness.
‘When did you last eat?’ Dan asked, keeping his hand firmly on hers.
‘Sandwich at lunch.’
‘Then the sooner we get some hot food into you the better.’ He reopened the boot and retrieved her suitcase and a canvas backpack.
‘And would you mind getting that large plastic bin as well?’ Lindsey asked. ‘It has a lid so you won’t spill anything.’
Dan hefted the bin out by its handle, almost staggering at its solid weight. ‘What the blazes do you have in here—body parts?’
Her mouth crimped at the corners. ‘Clay.’
‘I...see.’ Although clearly he didn’t.
‘It’s potter’s clay,’ Lindsey explained, following him back to the Land Rover. ‘I have a wheel and kiln at home. I aim to make some pieces while I’m on my holiday.’
Dan tried to get a grip on his wayward thoughts, imagining Lindsey the potter with her dark hair wild and flowing, perhaps her feet bare, her body lithe and swaying as she threw her pots. A compelling new awareness, sharp and insistent, stirred within him. An awareness that hadn’t been stirred in a long time. An awareness that he’d stomped all over on that first day when Lindsey Stewart had smiled at him.
‘Do you think you should let your folks know what’s happened so they won’t be worrying?’ Dan asked as they settled back into the car. ‘I imagine it’ll be a bit late by the time we get you home.’
That sounded so thoughtful. Lindsey turned her head, slowly taking in his profile. It was almost sculpted. He’d make a perfect model. Her fingers began to tingle and she imagined carving out his features from a block of clay, pleating, smoothing, working her thumbs to form his cheekbones, a slow sweep to define his jaw, the touch of a finger defining the cleft in his chin. Definitely that. She pressed her thumb and forefinger together, almost feeling the slide of wet clay as she fashioned the curve of his mouth...
‘Lindsey?’
‘Uh—’ She came back with a jolt.
‘Do you need to ring home?’
‘Actually, my parents are in Scotland, visiting my brother and sister-in-law. They’ve just had their first baby. Mum and Dad are away for a few more weeks yet.’
Dan started the engine and they began moving. ‘So, who’s at home for you, then?’
‘I don’t need looking after.’
‘You’ve been through a trauma tonight, Lindsey. What if you need something—or someone?’
Heck! Was he offering? Lindsey pulled back from the flight of fancy. ‘I should explain,’ she said. ‘We have managers for the vineyard, Jeff and Fiona Collins. Their cottage is quite close to the main house. Knowing I’m coming, Fi will have aired the place, stocked the fridge and left the lights on. I’ll phone her when I arrive and she’s around if I need anything.’
‘I guess that’s all right, then,’ he said, as the bright lights of the roadhouse came into view.
* * *
‘That was lovely, thanks.’ Lindsey forked up the last of her omelette and then sat back, replete. ‘So, why are you heading to Milldale?’
‘Nathan Lyons’s wedding.’ Dan finished off his steak sandwich and casually swiped his mouth with the paper napkin.
‘Of course. I can’t believe I’d forgotten for the moment. It’ll be a big do. Sami will have all the trimmings.’
Dan raised a dark brow. ‘You know Sami?’
‘For ever. Our parents’ properties adjoin. We lost touch a bit when she relocated to Sydney but we’ve caught up again now she’s back.’
‘I’m Nathan’s best man,’ Dan said.
‘I knew from the hospital grapevine you were mates.’ Lindsey rested her chin in her upturned hand and looked at him. ‘Are you looking forward to the wedding?’
‘Yes, I am...’ he said slowly, and realised it was true. ‘They’re a great couple.’
Lindsey gave a soft laugh. ‘They’re in love. It shows.’
‘I suppose it does. Have you ever been in love, Lindsey?’ he asked abruptly.
Wow! That was out of left field. ‘In love. Out of love,’ she sidestepped lightly. ‘You?’
He gave a tight shrug. ‘Same.’
They picked up their mugs of tea, each silently assessing the weight of their answers, each guessing that they hadn’t exactly been lies but that they hadn’t been quite the truth either.
‘You’re not Sami’s bridesmaid, by any chance?’ Dan asked after a minute.
‘No. Her sister Caitlin’s filling that role. She’s just back from a modelling assignment overseas. Cait’s the face of Avivia.’
‘Which is...?’
Lindsey chuckled. ‘Avivia is an international cosmetic company.’
‘Ah.’ He nodded sagely. ‘But you’ll be at the wedding?’
‘Yes. I’ll save you a dance,’ she ventured daringly.
Dan’s eyes flicked wide. The thought of dancing with her, holding her, sent a new chain of awareness shooting up his spine.
‘I take it you can dance?’
‘Yes, I can dance.’ He gave a guarded kind of smile. ‘In fact, I used to love dancing.’
‘Used to?’
‘It’s been a while.’
‘Oh.’ Lindsey drew back in her chair. Out of nowhere, her body felt tingly with electricity. ‘We’ll have to catch you up, then.’
His chuckle was a bit rusty. ‘Don’t plan ahead too much. I think I’m supposed to dance with the bridesmaid a bit.’
‘Well, only the first dance, perhaps.’ Lindsey’s eyes gleamed. She was enjoying this. ‘Cait’s engaged. She’ll have her bloke with her.’
‘So...’ Dan considered. ‘After the first dance, I’m off the hook?’
‘Unless Nathan expects you to work the room.’
‘Unlikely.’ His mouth curved into a crooked moue that was almost a grin.
‘That’s good, then.’ Suddenly Lindsey’s breath felt fluttery. What was it about being with Dan that made her feel as though she was flying through space without a parachute?
And loving it?
CHAPTER FOUR
THE NEXT MORNING Dan was awake early. He got up, embracing a new sense of purpose, a kind of upbeat feeling, as he threw himself into the shower and then dressed in faded jeans and a long-sleeved navy T-shirt. He’d arranged to meet Nathan for breakfast.
He slipped quietly down the stairs from the upper floor of the pub and stepped out onto the stree
t. So this was Milldale, Lindsey’s family home. He could imagine her growing up here, he thought. A leggy country kid, bright as newly minted gold, a bit sassy, self-reliant... He shook the image away and continued along the quaint village street.
He checked his watch. He had time to spare for a walk and gain his bearings. Hope for something he couldn’t quite define was springing up in his heart as he continued on his walk. The main street gave way to a few houses, a park and an unexpectedly steep hill. Full of energy, Dan climbed the hill to a viewing platform that overlooked the surrounding countryside. He leaned on the safety rail and looked out. The view seemed never-ending, timeless, stretching from the early spring greenness of the vineyards to the gentle rise and fall of blue hills beyond. Houses were dotted through the vineyards, a wisp of smoke drifting from one of the chimneys.
He took a cleansing breath so deep it almost hurt. Today was the first day of the rest of his life. He couldn’t wait to see what it might bring.
* * *
‘You’re almost a married man,’ Dan addressed Nathan as they sat over their traditional English breakfast.
‘Can’t wait.’ Nathan added a curl of bacon to his egg. ‘I’m sorry it didn’t work out for you, mate,’ he said quietly.
Dan gave a rough laugh. ‘Well, the circumstances were hardly ideal, were they? Not like you and Sami. Even Lindsey remarked how “in love” the pair of you seem.’
‘You mean it shows?’ Nathan’s face was lit with a goofy grin.
‘Just a bit. Make sure it stays that way,’ Dan said.
‘Oh, man.’ Nathan lifted his gaze briefly to the ceiling. ‘You’re not about to give me a talk, are you?’
‘No. But I need to say something before we get caught up in all the hoopla. I can’t count the number of times you’ve had my back, Nathan. You’ve been the best mate. The best. I hope you and Sami have the most amazing life together.’
‘Thanks,’ Nathan responded, a bit gruffly. ‘That means a lot, Dan. But friendship is a two-way street. I’d like to think we’ve both had each other’s backs over the years. Right, I could go another round of toast.’ He broke what could have been an awkward male moment and hailed a passing waitress. ‘Speaking of Lindsey...’ he gave Dan an enquiring look ‘...how is she after last night’s MVA? Have you called her?’