“Ally.” He grabbed her, pulled her upright again. “Are you all right?”
“Yeah,” she said with a shaky laugh. “After all that telling you I didn’t need help.” She put a hand to her eye. “Ow.”
He helped her up the track to a level spot. “Let me see.” He took her face in his hand. “Bloody hell. I’ve punched you in the eye.” The red bruising was already apparent, her eye starting to swell a bit too. He’d thought he couldn’t cock things up with her any worse than he already had. And now this.
She looked up at him and started to laugh, then winced at the motion. “Ow. It really hurts. I hope this is a first. That you’ve never given a woman a black eye before.”
“Bloody hell,” he said again, feeling horribly responsible. He looked down at her knees, the cut that had opened up on one of them, the bruising from her fall onto the rocks. “Your leg too.”
He pulled his water bottle from his pack, bent to squirt the clean water over the spot. “We’ll wash a bit of the dirt out of it, anyway. It’s not bleeding too badly. Are you OK to walk back?”
“Well, yeah,” she said with another laugh. “What are my options? You going to helicopter me out?”
“I could run back for the ute, drive up the farm track,” he suggested. “Get closer, anyway.”
“No. It’s less than an hour, isn’t it? I’m fine. I can do that.”
Still, by the time they were back at the ute, she was limping pretty badly, and that eye was puffing up even more. He was going to have some interesting questions to answer from Drew, Nate thought suddenly. He knew the other man wasn’t his skipper anymore, but he couldn’t help thinking of him that way. And punching his houseguest in the face . . . that probably wasn’t on.
“We’ll go sit in the café for a bit, get some ice on your face and your knee,” he decided as he put the ute in gear and pulled off the verge.
“You don’t want to do that,” she objected. “You don’t want everyone to see me with you like this. They’ll take your picture, you know they will. And then there you’ll be, sitting with a woman with a black eye. I’ve spent enough time with Drew and Hannah to know how interesting that’ll be to your eager public.”
“What? That doesn’t matter.” He brushed the objection aside. “It’s a good twenty-minute drive back to Drew’s place. We need to get ice on that straight away. And get a sticking plaster for that knee.”
He really hadn’t seemed bothered by the obviously raised eyebrows, the not-so-discreet cell phone cameras, when he’d been sitting in the café with her, her injured leg propped on a chair, a bag of ice on her bandaged knee, another bag pressed to her eye. And that had impressed her. It certainly wasn’t the worst injury she’d ever suffered. A bit ridiculous, really, that somebody who’d climbed so much would have hurt herself falling on a perfectly easy trail. But no more ridiculous than climbers she knew who’d slipped on the bathroom floor, or banged themselves in the knee with the car door on the way to a climb. When you were climbing, you were paying attention, looking out for the dangers. And when you weren’t . . . Well, she’d been paying attention to Nate, all right. That’s how she’d got distracted in the first place. By the look she’d seen on his face when she’d turned around, especially. That look still had her steamed up, two hours and a couple of pretty good bruises later.
She was lying on her bed now, another pair of icepacks having been hauled out of Hannah and Drew’s freezer, which, not surprisingly, held a pretty good supply. Hannah had made a comforting fuss over her for somebody who, Ally knew, had seen more than her fair share of bruises, most of them a whole lot more spectacular than her own. Drew, meanwhile, hadn’t looked pleased at all, had given Nate a long, frowning look. As if it had been his fault that she’d fallen. Drew was a throwback, no doubt about it.
Her attention was gradually pulled from the book she was reading by the sound of voices outside her window. Nate and Liam, she realized, standing in the driveway. Liam had come by to help Kristen take Jack to the playground and for a picnic lunch while she and Nate had gone on their hike. Giving Drew and Hannah some time, he’d said. But he’d really come to see Kristen, Ally knew. He was going about it the right way, too, allowing Kristen the safety of their pint-sized chaperone, not rushing her or asking too much. Maybe the shark thing really was just about rugby.
She didn’t mean to eavesdrop. Really, she didn’t. But what could you do when people insisted on talking outside your open window? They must not have realized her room was back here. Everyone else was in the lounge at the other side of the house, she knew.
She started off amused at their conversation. And then it changed to something much less comfortable.
“I’m just saying, be careful,” the voice she recognized as Nate’s was saying now.
“I wouldn’t do anything else,” Liam growled. “I need to be careful, don’t I. Because she’s fragile.”
“That’s what I mean,” Nate said with obvious exasperation. “That’s one high-maintenance woman. And an expensive one, too. She’s already got one failed marriage behind her, from what I hear. How d’you know she’s not over here hoping to bag Number Two? And finding an All Black, first time out of the gate, ready to get soft about her?”
“You’re dead wrong about her. And there are two of us over here today,” Liam pointed out. “I could say the same to you.”
“Yeh, but I’m not the one flirting with career suicide, looking to mess with Drew’s sister-in-law,” Nate said, keeping his voice low. But not low enough. “And I’m not about to get trapped either, or get myself off track. I know how to keep them from expecting too much. Look, it’s one thing to have a bit on with a pretty girl when you see something you want. Have some fun, no strings attached. That’s what I’m doing here. But it’s another thing entirely to strap that dynamite around your neck and light the fuse.”
“We’ve been mates a long time.” That was Liam, the edge in his normally soft voice evident even to Ally. “And I control my temper these days. That’s why I’m giving you fair warning. Shut up about Kristen. You’re wrong, and you’re out of line. And as for you . . . Well, I’m sorry for you, Toro. That’s all I’ll say. One of these days, you’ll find out what it’s like to care about something besides footy. When you do fall, you’re going to fall hard. And I reckon it’s going to take a lot for you to bounce back.”
Silence, then, followed by the sound of car doors slamming, the ute reversing out of the driveway. And Ally, her book forgotten in her hands, doing a complete reassessment of her big day out. And taking a good, hard look at her spectacular lack of judgment, out here in Dating World.
Something More Special
Nate pulled into Drew’s driveway again the next morning, stepped out of the car. His program for the day had begun as planned, with a visit to the gym. But afterwards, he’d found the car seeming to steer itself here. Well, of course he was popping by, checking on Ally after yesterday’s disaster.
He didn’t have to explain his presence to everyone, he found to his relief. Ally was sitting out on the deck reading a book, an icepack on her knee again, sporting a pretty fair black eye. And looking at him without any enthusiasm at all, to his surprise. Had she decided to blame him after all, then?
“Hi,” he said, taking the seat beside her. “Came to see how you were feeling today. Thought you might like to go for a coffee.”
“No,” she said. “Thank you,” she added after a noticeable pause. Then turned her attention ostentatiously back to her book.
“Uh . . .” He scratched at the stubble on his cheek. “I was thinking, you said you wanted to give Drew and Hannah some space. Maybe I could help you do that.”
“I don’t need your help.” She actually looked angry now. “I wouldn’t want to trap you, after all.”
“Huh?” What was she talking about?
“Go on down to the beach, is my advice.” She was closing her book at last. And glaring at him. “I’m sure you can find a girl to perform for you
. And hey, she might already be half-naked. That’ll save you some time. You can get right into it, have a bit on, no strings attached.”
“Oh, bugger,” he breathed. This was all sounding much too familiar.
“Oh, and another word of advice?” she continued, her color high, her breath coming hard now. “Next time you’re talking about a potential conquest, not to mention belittling her best friend, maybe make sure she’s not six feet away. Because it tends to put a little damper on the romance, if you see what I mean.”
“Look, I’m sorry,” he said, knowing how lame it sounded. “Bloody stupid of me. I didn’t mean you to hear that.”
“Well, obviously. But I should really be saying thanks, shouldn’t I? Because as you know, I’m out of practice. And my dating radar’s obviously completely off. I was actually liking you. How stupid is that? I thought you were being honest with me. I thought you liked me. I clearly don’t know how to recognize somebody who’s just out for his own gratification, and doesn’t care about anybody else. Even though Devon told me. Even though he warned me about you.”
“Devon.” He was getting angry himself now. “Yeh, that’s a good idea. Take his bloody word for it.”
“And why not?” she flashed back at him. “He knows you. He knows how stuck on yourself you are. You think you’re a hero, because you’re a great big fish in this little tiny pond. But nobody else in this world even cares. So go on down to the beach. But make sure you only talk to the New Zealand girls, because nobody else thinks you’re special.”
He got up, feeling as if he were the one who’d been smashed in the face. “Are you done?”
He saw the sheen of tears in her eyes, the tremble of her mouth. “Yeah,” she said, and he could see her losing the battle, the tear that had welled over the lid of the black eye, was making its way down her cheek. And, despite the anger he felt, hated that he’d made her cry. Was disgusted with himself. And didn’t know what to do about it. So he just turned on his heel and left her. Got back in the car and drove himself on out of there.
“Was that Nate?” Kristen asked, coming outside.
“Yeah.” Ally blinked the tears back, surreptitiously wiped away the one that had escaped. “Come and gone.”
“What happened?” Kristen asked.
Ally had shared the story with her the night before. Well, some of it. She hadn’t seen any point in passing along what Nate had said about Kristen. That would only hurt her, and Kristen didn’t need to be hurt any more.
“I told him I’d heard him,” Ally said shortly.
“Oh, man,” Kristen sympathized. “That must have been awkward. And so uncomfortable for him too. I can’t imagine how embarrassing it would be to find out you’d been overheard like that, caught saying something so wrong.”
Ally snorted. “I don’t think he’s suffering. I might’ve hurt his pride, but he seems to have enough of that to spare. Looks like you and Hannah have the inside track on attracting rugby players who are . . . worth attracting. I could have got laid, I’m pretty sure. I could have had casual sex with the captain of the All Blacks. Lucky me. But I think I’ll hold out for something a little more special.”
New Opportunities
They said the hair of the dog was the best remedy. If that were true, Ally thought, opening the door to Devon a few days after she and Kristen had returned to Wellington, she should be cured any time now. Being asked out by a handsome, charming guy, after her recent disastrous almost-dating experience, was good. Being asked out by a handsome, charming guy who disliked Nate Torrance as much as she did was great.
Devon greeted her with a flashing smile and a quick kiss that did nothing to depress her fizzing spirits.
“You’re ready, I see,” he said approvingly, casting a glance down her body. Not enough to be sleazy, just enough to make her feel appreciated.
“I am,” she agreed with a laugh. She’d been pretty excited when he’d called, at the prospect of having a real, grown-up date. No pretext of consulting about the event this time, he’d simply asked her out for dinner because he liked her, because he wanted to be with her. And wasn’t that something?
“I’ll have to give it some thought,” he’d said when she’d asked how she should dress, where they were going. “Find someplace good enough for you. Someplace special.”
Which had given her some pretty good warm fuzzies, but left her still confused about what to wear. After a serious consultation with Kristen, she’d settled on a not-too-short skirt, a not-too-low-cut V-neck sweater with tiny buttons down the front, and some not-too-high heels.
“A little sexy,” Kristen had approved when she’d had Ally outfitted to her satisfaction, “but not over the top. Second-date appropriate wherever he takes you, unless it’s a bowling alley. And just enough to make him wish he could see more.”
“You’re the expert,” Ally had agreed. And judging by Devon’s expression, Kristen had come through again.
Devon held up the plastic bag he was carrying. “Can I interest you girls in a glass of wine before we go out? We’ve got time.”
Ally exchanged a quick glance with Kristen, settled on the couch for the evening.
“I was just going to my room.” Kristen uncurled her long legs and stood quickly. “You two go ahead.”
“Nah, please stay,” Devon urged. “I’ve hardly had a chance to chat with you yet, and you know what they say. The best friend’s important.”
Kristen smiled again, sank back down as Ally went for glasses.
“Just sorry it’s taken so long,” Devon said when the wine was poured, “to see you again, Ally. Hazards of meeting somebody you like in mid-December. Did you have a good holiday, though?”
“You did pretty well,” Ally said with a smile. “We’ve only been back a couple days. And yes, we did. We spent it with Kristen’s sister and brother-in-law. The very best part was that they have a great bach on the Coromandel, near Hahei. That was quite the bonus.”
“Really,” Devon said. “Your sister’s married to a Kiwi, is she?” he asked Kristen. “Or did they emigrate?”
“A Kiwi and then some,” Ally laughed. “Her sister’s married to Drew Callahan.”
“Really,” Devon said again, taking another sip and sitting back in their single good chair. “That would explain how you know Nasty Nate.”
Ally choked on her wine, which made him laugh. “Yeah,” she managed to say at last, getting up for a paper towel and laughing at herself in her turn. “And he doesn’t improve upon further acquaintance. You were absolutely right about that. We saw him over Christmas too.”
“Bet you did,” Devon said. “He takes care to cement his friendship with Drew, I’m sure. Quite the ambitious fella, our mate Nate.”
“But I’ve never heard anything but good things about Drew,” he hastened to assure Kristen. “I expect you could tell me, though. You must know him well.”
“Pretty well,” Kristen said. “As well as you could expect, considering that they’ve been here all these years, and I’ve been in the States. But you’re right, he’s a great guy.”
“Pity you aren’t able to be closer to your sister, now that you are here,” he sympathized. “Must be hard, being so far from home, and not even in the same city with what family you do have. D’you get to see much of her? They ever come down here to visit you?” He reached out to refill Kristen’s glass, but paused as she hastily put a palm over the top.
“Once,” Kristen answered. She smiled briefly at Ally, then stood. “And now I really am going to my room. I’ve got some homework to do. Have a nice time.”
“You were a little standoffish with Devon tonight,” Ally said when she was back in the flat again a couple hours later, after a romantic dinner complete with candlelight and wine, some good-night kissing that had been pretty nice too, had started a lovely little fire inside that was still glowing. “Don’t you like him? It’s not the first time I’ve seen your touch-me-not thing, but I was surprised that you used it on him. Did you
think he was coming on to you, maybe?”
“No, of course not,” Kristen said. “And maybe I’m overly cautious these days. I probably just don’t trust that handsome, smooth type anymore.”
“You’re going for the ugly, awkward ones now?” Ally asked with a smile.
Kristen flushed. “Looks aren’t everything,” she said, a rare edge to her tone.
“Sorry,” Ally said hastily. “Of course they aren’t.”
“What I care about most these days,” Kristen said, “is sincerity. I like people who are open, where I can tell they mean what they say, even if I don’t always like what they say. People like you,” she added with a smile. “And Devon . . . he seems perfectly nice. Perfectly friendly and interested. There’s nothing exactly wrong with him. He sure never says anything that isn’t flattering, does he? That’s it, I guess. And if I can’t tell, I tend to assume the worst, I suppose. But don’t go by me, because I’m probably over-sensitive to that. Listen to your own instincts, what they’re telling you.”
What Ally’s instincts were telling her was that she could really use a flirtation—or more—with an attractive, interested man. And that she couldn’t wait to see him again.
She’d assumed she’d hear from him within a day or two. Once again, he’d said, “I’ll call you,” but nothing more specific than that. She found herself on edge, as excited as a teenager hoping for an invitation to the prom. Checking her mobile too often at work, keeping it near her at home. Well, no wonder. The last experience she’d had with this kind of dating practically had been the prom.
Devon was a whole lot better-looking than any boy she’d known in high school, though, and her body was letting her know fairly insistently that she hadn’t had sex for months. Some fun times, maybe even a real relationship with a handsome Kiwi, she’d already decided, would be the perfect addition to her year abroad.
She told herself the first day that it was too soon for him to call. That he wouldn’t want to seem that eager. And when that day had passed, she told herself that, well, it was still only Thursday. But when Friday came and he still hadn’t called, she looped back through their evening together, wondering if she’d misread his signals. Especially when he’d flattered her by asking her opinion of the PR he was doing for the Heat.
Just My Luck (Escape to New Zealand #5) Page 6