‘Nothing else. You know it all.’
‘I still think you should tell Brock.’
‘What would I say? A couple of men had my brother but he’s now on his way to Darwin without them?’
‘I see your point.’ Calum gave her hand a gentle squeeze.
‘He’s not a bad kid brother. Sofie and I had Gran to give us time and love. She taught me how to cook, and Sofie how to garden and teach. But Gran died before she had a chance to show Bret anything, especially how much she would have valued and loved him. Our parents were only ever interested in money and image, and that’s what Bret has to overcome. And if I didn’t keep warning Sofie not to, she’d give him all her energy and have nothing left for herself or Claudia.’ Jennifer downed the rest of her wine.
‘He sounds like a survivor,’ Calum said kindly. ‘He’ll either keep doing what he’s doing, or with help — not necessarily yours — make better choices.’
‘That’s so fatalistic.’ Jennifer ran her fingers through her curls.
‘What else have you got? You can’t keep beating yourself up for something you have no control over.’
‘No, but try and stop me, it’s in the genes.’
Calum chuckled. ‘Given half the chance, I would…’ he left his statement hanging.
Jennifer couldn’t help the giggle. ‘You seem to have a solid background, I’ve met your grandmother and your younger sister. Where are your parents?’
‘They’re on their second honeymoon in Paris. They’ve never been anywhere, and when Michelle proved to be a responsible teenager, they took off before they lost their nerve. They bought a motor home and they’re touring Europe. They’re having the time of their lives.’
His soft smiling eyes captured hers, there was something in their depth, something she’d never experienced before and it made Jennifer’s belly melt and breath catch. Not wanting to deal with him and his warm gaze, she forced herself to ignore it. Besides, the man must feel confused, and who could blame him, the goings on in her family were enough to baffle anyone.
Jennifer rubbed her face, which didn’t help her resolve her problems.
‘Come on,’ Calum said gently, ‘you’re tired, I’ll take you home.’
‘Yeah, thanks…home sounds good.’ Oops. Home was in London.
*
Calum parked his Range Rover out the front of the old pharmacy. After getting out, he rounded the hood and opened the door for Jennifer.
‘Thank you,’ she smiled up at him. ‘I thought opening doors for women was a lost art.’
‘You have met my grandmother?’ The beginnings of a smile tipped the corners of his mouth.
‘I get your point.’ Jennifer pulled the key from her back pocket. ‘Thanks for driving me home,’ she said, facing the door. ‘I’d ask you in but…’
His broad hands gently squeezed her shoulders. Calum turned her to face him.
Oh my, he’s going to, isn’t he…again. Her heart thudded. The hot, intense, slightly mystified look he gave her, as if she’d been missing all his life and now here she was, melted Jennifer’s bones. He drew her in closer until they were almost touching. His eyes locked with hers. Then she felt the warmth of his big, strong hands slowly caress all the way up her neck to gently hold her face. God, kiss me quick before I die.
He dipped his head. His lips brushed hers. ‘I’m going to kiss you again, Jennifer. Any objections, take it up with me tomorrow…over breakfast.’
His deep, vibrating voice went straight down to pulse the swelling nub between her thighs. Oh! That surprised her. Then his mouth was on hers, strong and firm. She let out a long sigh that quickly became a sensuous moan. Calum responded with a hungry rumble from deep in his chest. His warm mouth, tasting of wine, eagerly explored and teased hers. He ran the tip of his tongue along the silken underside of her lips, then softly pushed into her mouth, rolling and playing with hers. His hands moved down around her back. Arms encircling her, he pulled her in tight against his rugged body.
Oh my! Her belly yielded to his erection. Whimpering softly, she squirmed against his hard shaft.
Damn it, she wanted to feel more of him. The front door key in one hand and purse in the other, prevented her from touching, roaming, squeezing. She yearned to feel him. ‘Hang on a min —’ she mumbled against his lips.
He moved down to her ear and gently sucked on the lobe, then nibbled her neck while taking the key and purse from her hands. They disappeared behind his back.
The way he did that, taking charge, taking control, damn that was hot.
She was free to explore, and all her plans — not to have sex, not to invest her emotions and become involved — evaporated.
Street lights captured his aroused, hooded, dark eyes as he searched her face, and more heat uncurled in her belly.
Don’t stop. Don’t stop. Unconsciously, she licked her lips.
Calum’s gaze zeroed in on her tongue, a teasing smile played on his mouth. ‘That was unfair,’ he said, voice deep, sexy. Then his mouth was on hers again, and the world around her spun and disappeared.
She brought her hands up his back, feeling the valleys and plains of his hard muscles under her open fingers and palms. He moved her into the darkened alcove, away from the streetlights. Oh god, what was happening to her legs? The exquisite feeling rolling in the pit of her stomach flooded her limbs. He crushed her against the door. His body hummed with a potency that overwhelmed her. His hips moulded into hers and she felt his erection twitched hard against her belly.
Oh my God!
His hand went around to a back pocket. She heard the jangle of keys, and a second later, the door swung open. Mouth on hers, feet wide apart, Calum lifted her, shuffled back, and kicked the door closed behind them.
Body quivering with need, Jennifer had never experienced anything as sexy as Calum. Hungry for him, she took their kiss deeper.
‘I want you…’ he whispered against her mouth, ‘…be inside you, feel you all around me. Say it now. You don’t want? I’ll stop.’
‘Stop?’ Jennifer squeaked, her body tightening with fear that he would. Alarmed, she cleared her throat and held on to him tighter, then she whispered, her voice thick, urgent, ‘There’s no stopping. No-no.’
He shoved her against the nearest wall, hauled her pants and undies down. She kicked them off her ankles while her trembling hands pulled at his T-shirt and popped the button on his jeans. He whipped a foil packet out of a pocket before his pants fell to his feet. Watching him slip the condom over his hard cock made her sex twitch and wet with need. She couldn’t wait to have him. His big hands moved around her back to clutch her bottom. He picked her up, then his mouth came down on hers. Possessive. Hungry. Sexy. She wrapped her legs around his hips and arms around his neck, she hung on. Palms cupping her bottom, his fingers reached under her and found her sex, then he slid his finger over her erect nub.
‘Fuck, you’re wet. Wet for me. All for me,’ he said, amazed, as if it were a precious gift.
She moaned into his mouth, pulled back and groaned, ‘Calum, stop teasing.’
He eased her down over his erection. ‘Oh God,’ she cried out and arched back, feeling herself stretch to accommodate him. She came back to gaze into his heated eyes. Holding her still, he rocked his hips. Throaty noises escaped her. Calum pushed in hard, thrusting her up against the wall. She became more urgent, her orgasm building, flooding her in tingling heat.
‘Close?’ Calum growled.
‘O-oh God yes. Cal — now.’ He pushed in deep and ground his hips against her.
Digging her fingers into his shoulders, Jennifer’s body quaked with every pulse that fired through her and she moaned with every outward breath.
Calum slid out and in one more time then, eyes locked with hers, she watched, when with a groan, he climaxed. ‘Fuck!’ his harsh whisper echoed through the empty shop. Breathing hard, he nuzzled her neck, holding, squeezing her to him as if she were his lifeline.
‘You okay?’ he mu
rmured sweetly.
Jennifer planted her forehead on his shoulder. ‘I’ve never felt better.’ And that wasn’t a lie, she tingled with satisfaction…and wanted more of the same, more of Calum.
He lifted his face out of her neck; still inside her, he cupped her bottom with one hand, the other slowly moved over her hip, waist, breast, up to her shoulder, neck, and face. His fingers drove into her hair, bunching it at her crown, he pulled her head back and plundered her mouth with his. Holy cow, that was incredible.
When he stopped, Jennifer was ablaze and panting.
His beautiful eyes searched hers, his mouth fluttered and he said, ‘Yeah, there it is.’ His hand moved out of her hair to cup her jaw, thumb sliding over her lips.
She wanted to ask, what it was he was referring to, though she pretty much knew…he saw the unrestrained Jennifer. Her wild side.
He moved his hand from under her bottom, and hooked his arm around her thighs. Jennifer let out a strained squeak as he lifted her up over his shoulder. He hauled his pants up, and squatted a few times to gather discarded clothes. He strode for the stairs and went up, two at a time.
Jennifer pressed her hands to his back and pushed up. She managed to reach his ear with her mouth; licking around the edge and grazing it with her teeth. She sucked the lobe; it popped out of her mouth as he set her down in the pink bedroom.
Arms over his shoulders to his back, Calum gripped his T-shirt and hauled it off over his head, then stripped off his jeans and sneakers. She watched as his heated gaze slowly travelled over her body.
‘Fuck you’re beautiful.’ He stepped in, wrapped his arms around her, dropped his forehead, and rested it against hers. With a determined look in his eyes, he whispered, ‘I’m staying the night.’
‘Why?’
‘Thugs.’
She gave a throaty laugh. ‘That’ll do it,’ she murmured, enjoying the feel of his skin under her hands.
*
Jennifer woke to the sound of her vibrating phone drumming on the old timber floor. Calum’s heavy arm felt comfortable wound around her waist; her bottom, tucked into his groin. Nice. She didn’t want to move, but so as not to wake him, she carefully circled her finger around his wrist and started to lift his arm. He gave a low grumble, and tightened his hold.
‘Sorry,’ she whispered. ‘Want to get to my phone, and use the bathroom.’ He gave her a squeeze, and like a caress, he slid his arm off her waist and let her go. Jennifer swung her legs over the side of the bed, snatched up her cargo pants, and picked up her phone. The moment she had it in her hands it stopped ringing. She headed for the bathroom and keyed into missed calls. She didn’t recognise the number, but just in case it was Bret, she called back.
‘Well, if it isn’t the sister.’
‘Shit!’ she hissed.
‘Don’t hang up, bitch. Your brother won’t get very far; you hear from him, tell him we’re comin’ for you and the money.’
Jennifer sucked air in through a constricted throat, which sounded just like air squeezing past a stretched neck of a balloon. Muttering curses, she jabbed end call several times and felt a presence behind her. She swung around, catching her pale and terrified expression in the mirror. It was difficult to form words her mouth was so dry.
Calum pulled her into his arms and held her to him. ‘Talk to me,’ he murmured.
‘Thugs.’ She dug her fingers into his back. ‘They’re coming for me.’
He tightened his hold. ‘Talk to Brock.’
‘I can’t. I don’t want anyone to be bothered by our problems.’
‘What are you saying?’ Frowning, Calum leaned back to look at her.
‘We’ve got to leave. Save everyone from having to deal with city gangsters coming to Tumble Creek. I don’t know how nasty these goons are, and I don’t want them here. It’s scary as hell.’ She pushed out of his hold and turned, but Calum hooked an arm around her waist and tucked her back to his front.
‘We’re not a bunch of country bumpkins that we can’t handle a couple of dickheads. They don’t know you’re here.’ His voice rumbled deep, caring, understanding, giving. ‘The only way they’d find this town is if they followed Bret, and they don’t know where he is otherwise they wouldn’t be hassling you.’ He kissed the back of her neck, slowly moving around to the side and up to her ear. ‘What we had last night wasn’t a one off.’ His hands dipped down to her belly where, palm flat, he made lazy circles on her skin. God, his touch felt so good, she sank back into him.
Belly! A pregnant woman’s belly! Jennifer tried to ignore his caresses. Damn it, she shouldn’t have lost herself last night and shouldn’t be doing this now. No-no-no. Pregnant woman! Not staying! She lived in London where there were no thugs about to descend — London where her dream restaurant waited!
A heartbreaking groan left Jennifer’s throat and she lunged out of Calum’s arms. What was she thinking? This was a small town with big gossip and rumours and thugs and a pregnant woman pointing her belly at Calum. Rash judgements and self-doubts overruled her heart. She thought it best to save everyone embarrassment, and leave now.
‘Jen, what the fuck?’ he said, voice scary, eyes dark, questioning.
‘I’ve got to go.’ She gasped and pointed her finger at him, saying, ‘No — you’ve got to go!’
‘Jen, I didn’t mean to rush you, but this is bullshit. You were enjoying it as much as I was.’ Frowning he shook his head and paused. And in that brief moment it seemed he came to an understanding. His expression softened. Jennifer braced herself for his tender attempt at coaxing, and she was right. His eyebrows rose and he leant forward, and gently told her what he believed to be true. ‘I know that you know we have something going here. Something special to explore together.’
‘I’m in way over my head. I’m not a one-night stand kind of woman either, but I have…long-standing commitments in London. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have…’ she pleaded.
Calum’s hands dropped to his sides. He stood motionless, and didn’t do a very good job at hiding his disappointment. Too bad, Jennifer tried to tell herself as her heart broke in two. She couldn’t get the thought of the pregnant woman out of her head and the way she’d made a public claim on Calum. For goodness sake, who else could she have been?
‘There’s a rumour around town that you made a girl pregnant. Are you the father?’ The hurt look on his face squeezed at her heart. She instantly regretted the words that had tumbled from her mouth. Staring at him, she wished the floor would swallow her up.
Understanding flashed in Calum’s eyes. ‘I see.’ His hand fell on his chest. He gave her a curt nod and backed away. Deep sadness, and if it was possible, even deeper disappointment etched his face. Without another word, he turned and strode out of the bathroom, shoved on his jeans, T-shirt and boots and, without a backward glance, he was gone.
Jennifer covered her mouth to hide the sobs racking her throat. What had she done? No one had ever made her feel like that. And she’d never felt a man shake for her either. Her mind spun and, on the verge of collapse, she leant against the bedroom door. She collapsed on the bed and sobbed into her pillow. The only thing she was good at was being a chef. She had a business partner, a lease to sign, a restaurant to open in fabulous London.
She had to leave!
Chapter 11
‘I’m ready to go home,’ Jennifer stated over breakfast with her sister and niece later that morning. She didn’t want to think about Calum’s mouth, his hands, his lovemaking, and how it had made her lose her sanity. And she wasn’t going to scare them about the thug phone call. Bret was still on the run. All they had was Jennifer’s phone number. She wasn’t scared for herself, head chefs were far scarier, and she had to deal with them on a daily basis. No, for once in her life, she going to protect her sister and niece as best she could. Yes, she was definitely leaving, this was just one more reason to do so. And as soon as she was back in London, she’d call the half-wits and tell them to give her a bit more time to get
the money together.
‘We’re not ready,’ Sofie stated flatly.
‘Mum!’ Claudia wailed.
Sofie chased a cornflake around her bowl. ‘It’s school holidays. What’s the hurry?’
‘You know what this is, Aunt Jen? Mum met this bloke, cop, who looks like Arni Swartse-whatever after she ran into a pole and now they’re making goo-goo eyes at each other.’
‘Ran into what pole?’ Jennifer raised her eyebrows. ‘You don’t look hurt — any bruising?’
‘His name is Brock and we’re both fine,’ Sofie reassured her. ‘I happened to nudge a pole, that’s all. My brain curdled after Muggins here told me that she and Skids were in love.’
Jennifer turned to look at her niece. ‘That’d do it.’
‘Don’t you start, Aunt Jen.’
Jennifer lifted both hands up and shook her head. ‘I think it’s time we all left.’
‘And what about Bret?’ Sofie cried.
‘What can any of us do? He’s on the road to Darwin.’ She hoped to God he was. ‘I refuse to put my life on hold for him, and neither should you. He has my mobile number, and probably yours, which means, so do they. Better get a new number. If he or they ring me, I’ll be safe in London…okay?’ And she’d deal with them.
‘He’s never had Claudia’s and he doesn’t have mine,’ Sofie pointed out, looking a little sheepish.
‘Yeah,’ Claudia informed. ‘A brat of a kid threw Mum’s into the loo at school. No one’s going to fish it out and use it after that.’
‘His punishment was to buy me a new one. Trouble is, it came with a new number, and I haven’t had a chance to pass it on to Bret.’
‘You’re safe then.’ Jennifer sighed, feeling relieved, kind of. ‘I’ve got to get back, probate will take a while and life goes on. Bills have to be paid, that’s how it is.’
‘Uncle Bob gave us money to see us through,’ Sofie urged.
‘Yes, and it will help getting the shop’s rewiring started. It’s a massive hazard — huge.’ Jennifer flung her arms out. ‘For the sake of the whole street not going up in flames, it needs doing without delay. Calum is the obvious choice, and I’m sure he can recommend a plumber. Give Calum the keys, I trust him to do the right thing.’ Jennifer’s heart flipped. A big word, trust. Then why was she running? Because she had commitments, a restaurant that was going to be the in place for the well-heeled to dine in London. It had been her dream for the past ten years.
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