by Anne Ashby
Her gaze fell to his lips and her tongue peeked out to stroke across parched lips.
The groan from deep in his throat drove her gaze back up to his as his head descended. This was no tentative kiss. Instead this kiss was full of pent-up emotions threatening to take control.
Leath’s heart pumped as his mouth devoured hers. The quivers grew to trembling as she opened her mouth and allowed his tongue entry to probe and fence. Her fingers clung to him, urging him closer, even though dental floss could barely have slipped between them.
She couldn’t breathe as his lips left hers and trailed down the side of her neck. Moans rose from her very core as his tongue flicked into her ear. The shivers strengthened. She knew where this was going and didn’t care. Didn’t care tomorrow would surely cause increased doubts and fears.
Instead she revelled in the crisp feel of his hair as it slid through her fingers, the smell of his aftershave assailing the common sense she was willingly abandoning.
“I want you,” he murmured. “I want you so badly.” His fingers tugged her tee-shirt up until he had access to her burning skin. His ice-cold fingers zeroed in on a nipple already peaked by desire.
Her head flung back giving him easier access to the prize he sought. Erratic pants mixed with erotic moans escaped her parched lips. She was on her way to heaven.
Urgent tooting of a car horn tore them apart. Milliseconds after they’d withdrawn from each other’s clinch the senior Buchanan’s car whizzed up the driveway and lurched to a stop.
Kirk’s face lost its colour. He rushed to the car, a step ahead of Leath. “Mum, what’s wrong?”
“Oh Kirk, thank heavens you’re here. I didn’t realise you were back.” Mary turned to the children in the back seat. “Tristan, Olivia, hop out please, Uncle Kirk will take you home.”
Leath watched a frustrated frown gather on Kirk’s face even as she noticed Daniel sitting awkwardly behind his grandmother, pain etched all over his face. She opened the door and crouched down to see him holding his arm as Mary urged Kirk to help his father out of the car.
Mary’s head swung around as Leath ran her fingers over the obviously broken limb resting on a pillow on his knee. “I was going to impose and ask you to watch everyone. They can take so long at the medical centre...”
Glad to have something to do rather than think about Kirk, Leath asked, “Have you given him some painkillers?”
Mary nodded.
“It’s broken, isn’t it?” Daniel’s wobbling voice suggested the onset of shock.
She grinned, knowing a show of concern would only heighten his anxiety. “Sure looks that way to me.”
Leath didn’t need the touch on her shoulder to know Kirk was standing behind her, close behind her. Close enough if she’d turned, or leaned back, her head would have been level with...
She forced her body to remain still, not incline as it was screaming to do. She forced her thoughts away from Kirk, even with his hand still on her shoulder, and focused on the boy in front of her. She forced her breathing to return to some sort of normal.
“What about cricket?” Daniel wailed. “Will I still be able to play cricket?”
“I guess you might want to ask the doctor, buddy.” Kirk answered. He urged Leath to her feet and leaned into the car to squeeze his nephew’s shoulder before slamming the door shut.
“Off you go, Mum. Give us a ring when you know what’s happening.”
Leath avoided Kirk’s eyes as Mary sped off, and he ushered his family into his car. The enormity of what had almost happened between them was beginning to freak her out. What had she been thinking? A bark of laughter almost escaped. That was the problem, she hadn’t been thinking at all.
She needed to give their situation some very careful thought, away from his presence. His knuckles caressing her cheek and his frustrated sigh as he climbed in behind the steering wheel did little to reassure her.
“Until tomorrow then, I guess?”
She couldn’t answer him or his lopsided smile. What did he want? Beyond the obvious, of course. Was he searching for the same thing as she, someone to share a life time? Would their coming together even mean anything to him, or would it just be scratching an itch?
Did she want it to mean more?
Oh yes! Kirk Buchanan turned her to mush like no other man ever had. She’d never felt so out-of-control with Peter. She moaned as she trudged up the front steps and into the house. That’s half the reason splitting up with him hadn’t hurt for very long.
But Kirk was different. He invaded all her dreams, asleep and awake. She had no doubt what those dreams entailed; a happy-ever-after with a big lug who’d annoyed and angered her, scared her silly, helped and rescued her.
The mere thought of him turned her legs to cotton wool and her brain to slush. She slammed the door so hard it almost fell off its hinges.
What she had to decide was whether she was ready to accept anything less than everything from him.
Chapter Fifteen
“What the hell are you playing at? Are you crazy?” Robby glared at his sister across the kitchen.
Leath frowned as she slipped trays of meat into the fridge. She hadn’t expected to get this kind of response when she’d told him who would be attending the barbeque.
“Kirk Buchanan would do anything to get rid of us.” He thumped his fist down onto the bench. “You told me that.”
“I know I did, but—”
“There’s no but. I can’t believe you’ve been taken in. Inviting his whole family to a barbeque?”
Shaking his head, he stalked into the lounge and then stormed back. “How’s he got around you? What’s happened that you’ve done a complete one-eighty on me?”
As Leath felt heat flood into her face, Robby’s mouth dropped open. “Omigod! Tell me I’m wrong.” A muscle flicked along his jaw as he grabbed her arm. “You’re sleeping with him.”
“I am not sleeping with him.” Leath’s denial wasn’t quite as strong as she’d meant it to be.
“The low-down, sneaky bastard.” Robby had stopped listening. Instead he paced the kitchen, punching the wall at frequent intervals. “I’ll sort him out.”
Trepidation lent strength to Leath and she grasped her brother’s arm as he marched past. “Don’t be silly, Rob...”
His face tightened with rage as he stopped and glared down at her. “I’m not the one being silly here.”
Leath took a deep breath, searching for words to diffuse his anger, but before she could formulate any, another accusation burst from Robby. “He’s hoodwinked you into thinking he cares about you. Hasn’t he?”
“He hasn’t hoodwinked me.” Leath glared back.
“Oh yeah,” Robby mocked, his eyebrows rising. “What would you call it then? He’s coming on to you, making a play. After all he’s done, how can you think his motives are anything but suspect?”
He jerked his arm from her hold. “What makes you think he’s not just playing with you to get what he wants?” he demanded with brotherly candour.
Unable to face Robby’s scowling expression Leath slumped against the bench, her legs trembling. Tucking her chin against her chest she digested the possible truth in his words. Could Robby be right?
Her body shook with dread. With her bottom lip clenched between teeth she lifted her head. No, he was wrong. There was chemistry between her and Kirk. Strong chemistry leading them she didn’t know where, but Kirk’s earlier wish to get their property for himself wasn’t part of it.
“You said it yourself, Leath.” His expression now full of loving concern, Robby laid a tentative hand on her arm. “Kirk Buchanan would do anything to get this land away from us.”
She felt like a captured fish thrown high up on the beach away from its necessary life support. Flapping about in denial as her own words drummed back at her, Leath felt something shrivel up inside her.
“He’s playing with you, trying to get his own way,” Robby argued. “Don’t be taken in by whatever he
says, Leath. He’ll only hurt you.”
The possibility, hell, the probability, Robby was right already hurt far more than she would ever let on.
With a tremendous effort she straightened, although a weight heavy as a steel cage lay on her shoulders. Keeping a firm hold on her lips she avoided her brother’s concerned gaze.
“Y-you haven’t fallen for this guy, have you?” Robby entreated.
Her sharp glance revealed unexpected horror growing on his face. “Oh Leath. I’m so sorry.” He dragged her stiff body into his arms. “You deserve better. But this bastard’s no improvement on the last one.”
For a second she burrowed into his strength before edging away. Swiping her fingers across her cheeks in case any moisture had leaked from her stinging eyes, she turned her back and stared blindly out the kitchen window.
A loud crash caused her to swing around. She gaped at the hole Robby had punched in the wall beside the pantry.
Watching him shake his reddened fingers she didn’t know whether to laugh or cry as he muttered, “I’ll kill the bastard.”
“Robby! Just keep out of it,” she begged. “It’s got nothing to do with you.”
Her brother’s glaring reaction alerted her to the wrong choice of words and she continued, “I’m a big girl, Robby, I can look out for myself.”
She stepped closer and touched his arm. “Your concern is very touching, buddy, and you’re giving me warm and fuzzy feelings, but there’s nothing else you need do.” She eyeballed him, tightening her hold on his arm. “Nothing else you dare do. Do you understand me?”
Determined to avoid any unpleasantness, or Robby being injured, Leath glared at her brother. “You keep right out of anything to do with me and Kirk, okay?”
“But—”
“No buts. I’ll handle this my way.”
Curled up in bed later, Leath dreaded facing Kirk the next day. Despite her confident response to Robby, she had no idea quite how she could handle this situation. She only knew sleep was a long way off.
Somehow she had to contain the shocked anger Robby’s suggestion had released. But a little niggle kept resurfacing.
Returning from Whangarei, Kirk had talked about wanting this property. He’d spoken in the past tense, she was almost sure. Maybe Robby was way off the track. Maybe Kirk wasn’t manufacturing feelings to suit his purpose. Maybe he really cared for Leath.
Yeah right, and maybe they’d get married and live happily ever after. The futility of this thought brought an ocean of tears to Leath’s eyes.
Thankfully no-one was here to see them dampen her pillow. But if Kirk Buchanan thought he could connive and fritter with her affections...well, he could think again.
****
Kirk strode into the chaotic kitchen. “I’m heading up to the cattle yards after breakfast, Mum. I think I might need to call in the vet. I can drop Tristan at Leath’s back fence if that will help.”
A harassed-looking Mary glanced up from sponging a dirty spot off Daniel’s white cricket shirt as the boy jiggled about.
Her rubbing stopped and she asked, “What’s wrong?”
Kirk didn’t get a chance to answer.
“Hurry up, Nana.” Daniel tugged against Mary’s hold on his shirt. “Jimmy’s car’s coming up the driveway. I have to go. I have to go now.”
Kirk lifted the backpack leaning against a chair in readiness as Daniel escaped from his grandmother’s ministrations.
He grinned as his nephew awkwardly caught the bag, poked his plastered arm through the strap, and struggled to get it across his shoulder. The boy wouldn’t be spending any time at the crease today, nor probably in the field either, but they’d applauded his determination to attend the game anyway and not let his team down.
“Daniel, you’ve forgotten your hat.” Mary rushed to the door and with a perfect Frisbee throw, launched the hat across to where Daniel had joined a very impressed bunch of similarly white-suited schoolboys.
“Knock ’em dead,” Kirk called as the cricket players departed in a noisy rabble.
He spared a pitying thought for the mother driving the overflowing van, but surprisingly, her cheery wave seemed devoid of any nervous tension. He shrugged. It took all types. He’d be reacting negatively if stuck with that noise for more than ten seconds.
“Put the jug on again, there’s a love,” Mary instructed Terry as he shuffled over to the bench, keeping out of her way as she returned to preparing breakfast.
“Why do you want the vet?” Terry frowned. “Did you tell me?”
“No, Dad.” Kirk sank onto a chair. “Cade mentioned last night he was worried about one of the heifers.” He watched his father’s frown deepen. “It’s probably nothing, but I don’t know enough—”
“I should take a look.” Even as he spoke the words, Kirk saw the devastating effect as his father realised he wouldn’t be able to help. Kirk’s fists clenched under the table as Terry’s whole body slumped.
Kirk interpreted Mary’s sharp, pleading glance. “Actually, Dad, would you? You might have forgotten a few things, but I bet you’ll know what we should do.”
The beaming smile on his mother’s face puffed out his chest just a little. He’d done something right for his Dad. Terry’s outward glow and proudly stiffened frame was worth the effort of including him in dealing with the sick animal. Who knew, maybe his Dad would remember something useful.
A very excited Tristan sat between the two men as the truck jumped across the uneven paddock to Leath’s back boundary. In his hand he clutched a bag of biscuits he’d helped his grandmother bake the evening before.
“I want to toot the horn.” He scrambled to his feet to lean on Kirk’s shoulder. “Can I toot the horn, Unc?”
“Sure you can.” Kirk grinned, hoping the noise would fetch Leath outside, and he could feast his eyes on her. His gaze trained on the house as the boy beat a noisy tattoo on the horn before climbing across his uncle’s knees and jumping to the ground.
It wasn’t Leath who slammed out of the house, but her brother. Kirk frowned at the confrontational stance of the young man glaring at him from across the hundreds of metres. He watched as his nephew bounded over the wire boundary fence and ran toward the house.
Concerned how this belligerent youth might treat Tristan, Kirk frowned. His worry seemed misplaced. The two shook hands quite formally—a smile tugged at Kirk’s lips—and then walked together into the house, ignoring Kirk and his father completely.
“What are we waiting for?” Terry leaned forward so he could see past Kirk.
“Just making sure Tris was okay, Dad.” Kirk slipped the truck into gear. “Let’s see how that heifer’s doing this morning.”
****
Robby might have forgotten last night’s disagreement as he established a rapport with their young helper, but Leath couldn’t.
While her feelings for Kirk warred with the possibility her brother might be right about him, she tried to present a carefree front. After a couple of hours working on the Roman villa with her—and doing an okay job, too—Tristan asked if he could help Robby instead.
Leath reluctantly agreed. His chatter had helped keep her mind away from soulful introspection. She cranked up the radio as he ran out, hoping the noise could drown out all these unwanted thoughts.
Singing along with the music did help. She was so involved with shading the sides of the Roman bath she wasn’t aware of Robby until the music disappeared.
“What? Who...?” She glared around at the culprit standing next to the bench with the radio cord swinging from his hand.
“You’ll never guess...”
Something in his expression stopped the rebuke trembling on her lips. She stood up, her heart pounding. What was wrong?
“There’s a couple outside.” Robby’s face split into a grin. “Someone in town told them there was a new motel just opening.” He didn’t need to pause for effect. Leath’s eyes were already bulging. “They’re asking if we have anything available for th
e weekend.”
“This weekend?” Her whispered words squeaked like a door in need of oiling.
“Nah, the weekend before Christmas, you idiot. Of course this weekend.”
The paintbrush fell from Leath’s fingers. She wiped her hands up and down her thighs to stop herself from punching the air. “We haven’t even got a sign up.”
“I know. This is pretty cool, aye?” Robby appeared very calm, but she could tell by the gleam in his eyes he was as excited as she was. “You’d better come and talk to them before they take off.”
Panic rushed through her. She mustn’t let their first drop-in guests get away. With an excited giggle she squeezed past Robby and strode toward the late-model car parked near the house.
Half an hour later, Leath found Robby and Tristan tidying out the garage. The old wheelbarrow sagged under the weight of all the junk being thrown into it.
“What are you doing with all that?”
“Taking it to the rubbish tip. We may as well start sorting out the sheds. Then I reckon we need to give them and the house a paint job pretty soon, if we’re going to have people staying here.” He sent her a lopsided grin. “We have to look the part, don’t we? Be professional.”
Leath nodded. Robby had changed so much in the last few months. He wasn’t a kid any more. She might occasionally have trouble remembering, but she’d have to give it a bash.
“So they are staying?”
Grinning, Leath nodded. “I showed them Africa, Roaring Twenties, and Rock and Roll, and let them decide. They chose Africa.”
“How many nights?”
“Just two.”
“That’s okay, cos we weren’t expecting anyone else, were we? Their money is icing on the cake. Maybe you should buy some bubbly for tonight.”
Leath laughed. He was right. They had something to celebrate.
“What do you say we get someone else to paint the place? Take some of the pressure off now the summer’s almost here. It could be finished in a week or so, instead of months if we try to do it ourselves. Now we’re renting already, we mightn’t need to dip into Penny’s money too much. What do you think?”