Run For the Hills

by Carla Caruso

  It hadn’t just been in her mind.

  She found her voice, however raspy. ‘Don’t be sorry.’

  The simple body contact provided confirmation. Of something shocking, something that made her head spin. That thing? Cody felt something for her too. The chemistry between them wasn’t just her own wishful thinking.

  And suddenly, she no longer cared about the consequences. About his true occupation. They were both taking time out from their real lives, playing make-believe. They could have this moment, after all the heartache each had been through. Besides, she couldn’t turn back if she’d tried.

  In the semi-darkness, she reached for his face, encouraging it down towards hers, his stubble tickling her palms. Then before she lost her confidence, her nerve, she pressed her lips against his hot mouth. Just like in the fantasies she’d stowed away in the dark recesses of her mind. He didn’t move, respond. Her pulse raced. Sheesh, maybe she’d misunderstood him.

  He pulled back and her skin crawled with embarrassment. Then he sighed, a deep heavy sigh, his breath warming her skin. And as her heart leapt into her throat, his lips crashed against hers, and suddenly he was kissing her back—intensely, passionately—his tongue probing her mouth open wider. Making her fully surrender to him.

  Cody Belshaw was kissing her.

  CODY BELSHAW WAS KISSING HER!

  He broke away again but only to hurl the pillows separating them to the floor. She got up to help, laughing with him, drunk with lust. Who were they kidding? They were like Sandra Bullock and Ben Affleck in Forces of Nature. Those cushions were useless.

  They returned to the mattress, rolling around fully clothed, and she savoured the freedom to touch him at long last. As though it might never, ever happen again, which was ninety-nine-point-nine per cent likely.

  When Cody undid her bra and ran his hands over her dips and curves, it felt like the most natural thing in the world. Why had she ever tried to stop this happening? The late hour giving her confidence, she lost her nightdress, then helped him discard his layers. They melded together, deliciously skin-on-skin. Bundles of heat and messy passion. Entwined.

  If you had one evening with the celebrity of your dreams, would you waste the opportunity? It wasn’t like they were going to have a long-distance relationship or Cody was the marrying kind.

  Just as she felt ready to explode, to succumb to total euphoria, she grabbed his wrist, her voice a whisper. ‘Do you have any protection?’

  ‘You’re sure?’ he checked, even though she could feel his desire pressing into her stomach. Even though they were both as naked as the day they were born.

  ‘Our time together is limited.’ She left him to interpret whether she meant that night or the rest of the month. ‘Things are going to move at warp speed.’

  ‘I blame you for this,’ he growled. ‘Making me imagine you in nothing but pink, fluffy socks.’

  She giggled as he rolled away and fumbled for his wallet. Then he was back, all hot-blooded maleness, hardened contours, and earthy lusciousness. After he’d teased her nipples with his tongue, he slid inside of her, and they moved as one, her head hanging off the mattress’s side in their exuberance. Ecstasy bubbled through her like a Sodastream, flooding every fibre of her being. She’d gone from a nightmare to a living fantasy.

  To think she’d thought the wedding cake was out of this world.

  * * *

  The next morning, Cody lay on his side, watching a dozing Bridie lit by the sunshine creeping around the curtains. She looked angelic. At peace. Guilt gnawed at his gut.

  What had he been thinking crossing the work/leisure divide again, as fucking awesome as it had felt at the time? He shouldn’t have allowed it to happen, them sharing a room, a bed. Encouraged temptation. Jaxon had been right about not messing with a girl like hers’ heart.

  Gently snoring, Bridie rolled over towards the window, her peachy shoulders bare and her caramel hair splaying out on the pillow. Under her hair, near her scalp, a row of tiny clear links glinted. Hair extensions? Paloma had had them, but he hadn’t picked it with Bridie. He felt privileged to learn some of her secrets after spending a night together.

  As though sensing his eyes on her, Bridie rolled back, her eyes half-open. ‘Morning, you.’

  Weird he didn’t feel at all tired from the interrupted sleep but full of life. Like he’d downed three cans of energy drink. That first flush of lust. Still, he couldn’t get lost in fantasies. Not when his brothers were on the same floor, he was soon needed downstairs, and he had a real life to return to.

  ‘Hi.’

  She must have sensed the hesitation in his gaze because she quickly pressed a finger to his lips. ‘I know. You’ll be back in LA soon.’

  Her hand dropped away. Murder in itself.

  He cleared his throat. ‘And you’ll be back in Adelaide.’

  ‘So we’re just having fun.’ Her shoulder lifted casually. ‘While it lasts, like I said around three am.’

  Relief whooshed through him. She’d meant what she’d said about their time together being limited. Of course, she had her own life to return to, as mysterious as it was to him. Plus, it meant the sheet-burning action they’d had in the wee hours was only just the beginning.

  He stroked the little indent above her right eyebrow. An old chickenpox scar for her, and another new discovery for him. ‘The only thing is my brothers …’

  Bridie shrugged again. ‘So we have to sneak around. That’ll just make things more exciting.’ She lifted up the sheet, peering down with the slight arch of an eyebrow. ‘How much time have we got before the brunch?’

  And he’d thought she was the shy, quiet type originally. He glanced past her shoulder at the alarm clock radio, heat rising up in him. ‘About twenty minutes, if you factor in time for getting ready.’

  Her lips playfully curved up at the corners. ‘Then we’d better stop wasting time.’

  An hour and a half later, he watched, from behind the safety of his camera, as Bridie weaved through white picnic tables by the lake, chatting and smiling with guests. Not even the enticing smell of waffles, French toast and scrambled eggs could distract him. The deadline on their fling had only amplified his desire. She was wearing that pink shirtdress again, which he looked forward to seeing later in a puddle on the floor—

  ‘Where’d you sleep last night?’

  Cody dropped down his camera. Jaxon had sidled up alongside him with his camcorder. Shit.

  ‘My own bed, Goldilocks,’ Cody calmly replied. There was no need to mention he hadn’t been alone. ‘Where else?’

  Jaxon eyed him evenly. ‘Thought maybe you were down at the guesthouse again.’

  ‘Nope.’ It was time to turn the tables. Cody raised his eyebrows, keeping his voice low. ‘What about you? Did you have room for three in your crib, or was it Vance who wouldn’t share?’

  Jaxon pulled a face. ‘Very funny. Shana and Lana were fun to chat to, but we knew better than to cross that line.’

  Cody shifted his feet, guilt piercing his gut. ‘They’re called Shana and Lana? Seriously?’ He hadn’t paid attention to their names earlier.

  ‘Hi, guys,’ two female voices chimed in unison. Speak of the she-devils.

  The Bobbsey Twins had materialised, looking blonder than ever, their elbows hooked together. Thank god he and his brothers never spoke in harmony.

  Cody smirked. ‘Hello again. What funny timing. Jaxon was just saying how he hadn’t captured you guys yet on video giving your well wishes to the bridal couple.’

  ‘Sure, we’re up for that,’ Shana or Lana said, fluffing her hair. ‘Just shoot us from the left side. It’s our best angle.’

  Even Jaxon’s smile looked strained. ‘Sure.’

  Cody patted his brother on the back. ‘Well, I’ll leave you guys to it. I’d better go get a few more shots of Nicola and Seth before the brunch is over.’

  He strolled away, even the prospect of photographing bridezilla and her unlucky groom not enough to burst his
happy-for-now bubble.

  Chapter 10

  ‘Where are you taking me?’ Bridie asked Cody with a grin as they headed hand-in-hand for a backstreet laneway.

  It was Friday, and after sneaking around for secret rendezvous all week and trying not to appear too smiley, she was ecstatic they finally had a day to themselves. A full day. Warmth flushed through Bridie at the very thought. Vance and Jaxon had appointments in the city and weren’t expected back until late.

  Yup, she’d decided to let herself enjoy her time with Cody until it ran out. Wasn’t the perk of being in hiding, having a holiday from yourself with no-one from home around to pass judgement? That was what she’d decided anyway.

  Cody smiled down at her, looking typically buff and handsome in a charcoal crew-neck tee and faded jeans. ‘You’ll just have to wait and see, Little Miss Impatience. But I can tell you that ahead is Chocolate Lane, as the locals like to call it.’

  Bridie headed with him into the narrow, tree-shaded laneway between two houses. ‘Why’s it called Chocolate Lane? Are these cacao trees or something?’

  Cody laughed. ‘No, I’m pretty sure it’s just because the fences around it are painted dark brown.’

  ‘It sounds like something out of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, even so.’

  Cody stopped on the leaf-littered bitumen and turned to face her. ‘Of course you’d say something like that.’ Then he moved his broad hand to the small of her back and leant to give her a kiss as sweet as anything Belgian chocolatiers could come up with. Agonisingly too soon, he pulled away. ‘Now, can you stop being so cute in your little denim pinafore or we won’t make it anywhere?’

  She mock-stuck out her tongue in reply.

  Minutes later, as they were wandering through a vacant grassy bit of land, Bridie halted and clapped a hand over her mouth. ‘What. Have. You. Done?’

  In the distance, a romantic picnic had been set up amid a fruit orchard. There was a red-and-white checked rug scattered with throw cushions, a ginormous woven basket, and red paper lanterns hung from branches overhead. For a perpetual bachelor, Cody sure knew how to turn on the charm when he wanted to.

  He ducked his head, looking a little sheepish. ‘A local wedding stylist might have leant me some props. After all the parties you and I have worked at together, I thought it time we had a little celebration of our own.’

  Bridie’s heart fluttered about in her chest like a trapped bird. She could never imagine Rory doing something like this in a gazillion years. Not unless he had something to apologise for and minions to do it for him. ‘It’s gorgeous. Absolutely gorgeous. So … do you own this land too?’

  Cody shook his head. ‘It’s a community orchard, but it’s generally only busy on weekends. Plus, I got the okay from the guy who oversees the place. Anyway, there’s plenty to eat—cheese from Udder Delights, pâté, apple cider, and so on.’

  ‘What are we waiting for?’ Bridie squealed. After savouring another kiss from Cody, she sprinted for the rug, though, to be fair, she would have just as happily devoured him.

  Seconds later, they sat together, soaking up the sunshine filtering through the branches, and enjoying crackers, loaded with brie and quince paste. The air was deliciously scented with juicy apricots, plums, nectarines and peaches. Too bad Bridie knew her feeling of contentment had a time limit.

  Cody reached for another cracker. ‘So Christmas is nearing, and your birthday. What do you most remember wanting as a kid on the big day?’

  A few of her little bubbles of happiness burst. Swallowing her mouthful, she brushed her hands of crumbs. ‘To be honest, I didn’t dream about the usual things kids do for Christmas, like the latest Barbie doll or a bike with handlebar streamers.’ Cody deserved some truths from her. ‘I just wanted Mum to come home just once at Christmas. Celebrate my birthday with me. But her visits were always more … random.’

  Usually whenever her mother had run out of money, or had been turfed out of a place, or had had her heart broken again. Each time Bridie’s aunt and uncle would welcome her back with open arms, though the visits only lasted as long as it took her to get back on her feet. It had made it hard for Bridie, as a youngster, to enjoy her mum’s stays as she never knew when she would up and leave again.

  Bridie plucked out a blade of grass, hurriedly adding, ‘Didn’t mean to be such a downer. I know that wasn’t the kind of answer you were expecting.’

  Cody reached for her hand, circling his thumb on top of the skin. Warmth flooded her again. ‘Don’t apologise. Funny thing is I wanted the same thing—for my mum to pay a visit just once more at Christmas.’ He shook his head as a sparrow sang overhead. ‘Though I had even less of a chance of that happening than you. It’s going to be even weirder this year without the old man around, trying to rev everyone up about the silly season.’

  ‘I can imagine,’ Bridie whispered, squeezing Cody’s fingers.

  * * *

  Cody glanced over at Bridie as he steered his old Jeep around the winding Hills roads, the sky growing inky.

  She gazed back at him with doleful eyes, looking luscious in the apricot-and-pink patterned blouse and skinny jeans she’d changed into. ‘You’re really not going to tell me where we’re going—again?’

  He answered her question with one of his own. ‘You’re not very good with surprises, are you?’

  ‘Hey, I didn’t ask any on the way to dinner.’

  ‘But I could tell you wanted to,’ he teased.

  After picking fruit and returning home to fool around together by the lake—enjoying the increased warmth since spring had ticked over to summer—he’d taken her to a nearby French restaurant for dinner. A place so small he’d had to call ahead to place their orders to make sure the chef had adequate ingredients. They’d left the house before his brothers could return and ask questions of their own. Now his ‘magical, mystery tour’ with Bridie continued.

  She clung to her seatbelt as he rounded another clifftop bend. ‘You sure you’re doing the speed limit?’

  ‘It’s a hundred kilometres an hour out here,’ he returned.

  Bridie pulled a face. ‘I’m a city girl; I’m not used to it. Especially on these bendy roads.’

  Cody applied the brakes. ‘Well, you’re in luck ‘cause the traffic’s just started to bank up.’

  Two little lines indented the space between her eyebrows. ‘Gridlock? I know it’s Friday night, but … out here?’

  Someone really didn’t like secrets, despite often being enigmatic about her own life.

  ‘Let’s just say it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas,’ he joked.

  Within minutes, they’d driven into the thick of the action. Rainbow-coloured lights and festive decorations decorated home after home, community buses jostled with the cars for space on the narrow suburban streets, and high-spirited pedestrians thronged the footpaths.

  Cody braked again amid the traffic crawl and glanced over at Bridie. Nearby carollers started up with O Come, All Ye Faithful. He smiled. ‘Welcome to the Lights of Lobethal, the largest community Christmas light display in the Southern Hemisphere. That’s what it says on their website anyway. Ever made the trek from Adelaide before?’

  Wide-eyed, Bridie shook her head.

  Was there such a thing as a Christmas lights phobia, or was she just overcome with festive joy? A souped-up Commodore, crammed with guys singing a Calvin Harris dance track at full volume—go figure—turned in a gap in front of the Jeep, tyres squealing.

  Cody tapped Bridie’s arm, gesturing out her window. ‘Think you’ve got a new friend.’

  She turned, shrieking at the sight of a girl peering in from the footpath. The kid’s face was painted ‘sugar skull’ style à la Mexico’s Day of the Dead, complete with faux blackened eyes and sewn-up lips. The look was more Halloween than Christmas, but that was the young for you.

  The girl raced away but Bridie still had a hand pressed to her chest.

  ‘Shit, sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. I’m a
n idiot.’ Where was his head at?

  ‘I-it’s okay,’ Bridie muttered, looking anything but.

  Cody released his foot on the brake as the traffic began to move again, the Jeep rolling forwards. ‘Was it a bad idea coming here? You hate Christmas lights?’

  Or worse, had he weirded her out by going over-the-top on their day alone when they were only having a fling? Had he been acting as crazy in lust as his father once had?

  ‘It’s not that, it’s just—’ Bridie sounded breathless, ‘—there are so many people. Half the city seems to be here.’

  ‘Would you rather get out? Stretch your legs; maybe grab an ice-cream or something?’

  Bridie firmly shook her head, clinging to the sides of her seat. ‘No, no, here’s good.’

  ‘Whatever you prefer.’ He shot her a sideways look. ‘And you’re sure nothing else is wrong?’

  Fuck. What if, by taking her here, he’d evoked a childhood memory about her mum abandoning her at some festive display?

  Bridie shook her head again. ‘Everything’s fine.’ But her cheer sounded as forced as a fading rock star’s Christmas covers album.

  From Bridie’s recent nightmare to her bad reaction to the police cars racing into the main street, he was beginning to wonder what had really made her head for the Hills. Family issues, as he’d come to suspect … or something more sinister?

  Whatever it was, his surge of protectiveness towards her surprised him. For a no-strings-attached affair, it was all getting freaking serious.

  Chapter 11

  Bridie felt a finger trail up her shoulder as she stood beneath a tree by the lake that Sunday afternoon. Delicious tremors ran down her spine. Cody hovered beside her, back in wedding photographer mode, looking good enough to lick all over in a pale grey suit, white shirt and no tie.

  ‘Your bra strap had fallen down,’ he quietly explained amid the chatter at Hazel and Dale’s wedding vow renewal. The event was styled like a garden party with long tables, bunting and vintage chinaware. Bridie herself had gone with the theme in a floral sleeveless frock, combining the hues of pink, purple, orange and green.