Christmas In Ghost Gum Springs

by Nicole Flockton

  With a determined shake of his head he pushed thoughts of his old life out of his mind. He had until the end of January to make a decision about his future. He would worry about it in the New Year.

  In the meantime, he planned to show his temporary home town exactly what Christmas should look like. Little did Fred and his friends know he’d snapped some pictures and sent them to Smithy. His friend had responding with a laughing emoji and told him to have at it. The guy was in the middle of his honeymoon. He was thinking about his new wife and enjoying their time together. Smithy didn’t give a rats arse about what Connor was doing to his pub.

  He shouldered his way through the door, his eye immediately going to the woman still perched on a stool at the bar. Fred was telling her something and she was watching him with genuine interest in her eyes. The expression surprised him. From the snarky comments she made in the car she gave off the impression of being a diva. It confirmed his thoughts that there was more than met the eye with Diana Jenkins. He liked a challenge and a challenge was exactly what he needed to keep his mind off his law career.

  Diana wasn’t short of a penny either; her suitcase was a top quality brand, as well as the Louis Vuitton purse perched on the stool next to her.

  He’d made decent money as a lawyer and liked good quality things. His healthy bank account had given him the opportunity to step back from his career in law and reassess what he wanted to do. Smithy’s offer and the salary he was being paid to manage the pub in the owner’s absence was the money he lived off while he stayed in Ghost Gum Springs. Not that there was a lot of things to spend his wages on.

  ‘Jesus, Connor, more Christmas decorations? Don’t you think there’s more than enough here already?’

  Connor glanced over his shoulder and smiled at Jarod Owen, the local policeman. ‘I got some just for the police station.’

  Jarod shook his head. ‘Please tell me you’re joking.’

  Connor hefted the box a little higher and made way for the police constable to get out of the entrance of the pub. ‘Don’t you think a little bit of Christmas cheer will make it so much easier to deal the criminal element of the town?’

  ‘I’m going to pretend this conversation never happened. Besides it would be a waste of time decorating the station. Don’t want to make the place seem too friendly …’

  Connor laughed. He hadn’t planned on decorating the police station, but it wasn’t that bad of an idea. Come to think of it, he should check with Cindy Green who was the practice nurse for the town doctor, see if she wanted some help decorating the place, even though Christmas was only a couple days away.

  A low whistle sounded from beside him and he followed Jarod’s gaze. He was looking right at Diana. ‘Well, well, who’s that? She certainly doesn’t look like she belongs around here, but maybe I could persuade her to stay.’

  Connor carefully placed the box down on the table next him, all the while attempting to control the overwhelming desire to punch Jarod in the gut. An extreme reaction to a flirty comment and a reaction he didn’t quite understand. He’d met the woman just over an hour ago. He had no claim on her, but he almost wanted to go back to the good old days in school where you could put ‘dibs’ on the hot new girl.

  However, there was no way Ms Diana Jenkins would take to being dibbed on. ‘Don’t get your hopes up. Her car broke down on the highway, I picked her up and brought her here. She’s only staying long enough to get the hire car company to come and bring her a replacement car.’

  Jarod burst out laughing. ‘Good luck with that happening this time of year.’

  ‘Yeah, I tried to tell her, but I don’t think she really believed me.’

  At that second, she threw her head back and laughed out loud at something Fred said. Her face lit up with joy and Connor wanted to know what Fred had said so he could say it again to keep her smiling like she was right now.

  ‘Ahh, I see how it is,’ murmured Jarod. ‘She’s all yours, mate.’ He clapped Connor on the back and made his way to the bar, taking the empty stool next to Fred and not Diana.

  Chapter 4

  Diana downed the rest of her lemonade and listened with half an ear as Fred talked to the guy on the stool next to him. He’d been introduced to her as the local policeman, Jarod Owen. Hope had risen inside of her when she heard what he did for a living. Surely he would be able to get her back to Sydney, but he’d looked at her and, even before she’d asked, told her he couldn’t drive her to the city.

  For a second she pondered why he would blurt it out when she hadn’t asked, then she spied Connor carrying another box out of the corner of her eye and had her answer. Anger flared in her and the temptation to flirt with Jarod fired through her senses, but the anger left her as quickly as it had arrived. Sure, Jarod was good-looking, he had that quintessential Australian surfer look she’d seen when she’d been cruising the internet planning her trip. In fact, he and Connor could almost pass as cousins, their looks were that similar, yet it was Connor’s blue eyes she wanted to see flare to life when she flirted with him, not Jarod’s.

  Diana mentally facepalmed herself. She was here for one night, two at the most, flirting with her rescuer wasn’t on her agenda. Forget about her plan to see the countryside, once she got back to Sydney she was going to look at changing her flight and heading back to Montana. If people thought she was returning with her tail between her legs, she didn’t care.

  ‘Hey, you okay? Would you like another drink?’

  Pulled from her internal thoughts she looked up into Connor’s blue eyes, concern for her shining in their depths. Why would he be concerned for her, he’d only met her a short time ago? Unused to having that emotion directed to her, she pulled her shields around her. Too many times she’d been suckered in by people purporting to be concerned about her. Only one person looked out for Diana Jenkins now, and that was Diana Jenkins herself. Not some good-looking Australian bartender who probably lived from paycheck to paycheck. ‘I’m fine. What I need is to get out of here.’

  ‘So, you keep saying.’ He tossed a hand’s free phone on the counter. ‘Here you go, call the company. Good luck getting the answer you want.’

  He walked to the other end of the bar to attend to some customers who had come in while she’d been lost in her thoughts. The rectangle device mocked her. Taking a deep breath she picked it up and clicked on the green telephone button. The buzz of the dial tone greeted her, waiting for her to dial. For a reason she failed to understand, she couldn’t bring herself to dial the number. How stupid was that. All she’d wanted to do from the moment her car broke down was to get back to the city, now she had the means and she couldn’t pull the trigger.

  ‘Forgotten the number, love?’

  Diana twisted her head and looked at Fred. ‘The number’s in my purse, but there really isn’t any point is there? You said it yourself. I’m basically stuck here for the weekend.’

  ‘Trust me, love, when I say there could be worse places to be stuck in.’ He lifted his beer and took a long swallow. ‘Ghost Gum Springs may not be big, but we’ve got everything you need.’

  ‘A five star hotel?’

  He chuckled. ‘No, but the rooms upstairs are clean and well maintained. I’m sure you’ll be comfortable for a night or two.’ He slid a look Connor’s way and she followed his gaze. Connor looked the quintessential bartender, a towel tossed over his shoulder as he conversed with some patrons. ‘Maybe you’ll even decided to stay a little longer,’ he finished quietly.

  Nope. Not happening. Come Monday she was going to be placing the call and getting her ass back to Sydney.

  She really wasn’t cut out for adventure.

  ***

  Connor closed the door, clicked the lock into place and walked back into the main room. Silence descended over the bar along with a sense of well-being. The work maybe hard, but he couldn’t deny he was really enjoying playing barman.

  ‘Do you need some help cleaning up?’

  Startled he looked ove
r his shoulder and saw Diana hovering in the doorway connecting the main bar with the hallway leading to the upstairs room. He’d shown her to a room a couple of hours ago. He figured she’d be asleep by now. She’d changed into some leggings that enhanced the long, lean length of her legs even better than the mini skirt she’d been wearing earlier. Her tank scooped low in the neck and even from where he stood, it didn’t hide the upper curves of her breasts.

  He shook his head in an attempt to control the fire burning through him.

  ‘Oh, okay, well good night.’

  Lost in the red mist of desire creeping over him, it took Connor a couple of seconds to process her words. He threw down the dish rag he was using and ate up the distance between where he was working and where she’d been standing. When he got to the doorway, she was almost to the stairs.

  ‘Diana? Wait.’

  She paused but didn’t turn around. The way her shoulders slumped, as though she’d been wounded by his words surprised him. In the whole time she’d been sitting at the bar, she’d appeared confident, like nothing would bother her. Had it all been an act?

  He closed the distance and laid a soft hand on her shoulder, squeezing it gently. Half a heartbeat later she swivelled her head to look at him over her shoulder. ‘I didn’t mean to bother you.’

  ‘You didn’t, trust me, you surprised me that’s all. Usually once a guest heads upstairs that’s where they stay.’ His hand slipped off her shoulder when she took a step away and turned to face him. He caught the aroma of apples and noticed the dampness still lingering in patches of her hair. The fresh scent enticed him to lean forward and breathe in to find out if the apples came from her hair or her skin.

  His dick tightened against his pants. Bloody hell, he never reacted this quickly to a woman. Sure, it had been a few months since he’d bedded one, but he’d left the spontaneous erection stage of his life a long time ago.

  Connor breathed through his nose, big mistake, all that did was give him another lungful of her delicious aroma. It also did nothing to calm his raging body. ‘Can I…’ his voice broke and he coughed to clear it. ‘Can I get you another drink, something to help you sleep?’

  A light pink hue coloured her cheeks. Hmm, what was that all about.

  ‘I wouldn’t mind another glass of lemonade, please.’

  ‘You mean Sprite,’ he teased her.

  A smile lit up her face. This time a genuine one and he found himself wanting to find out how to keep it on her face, instead of the defeated look he’d seen when he’d stopped her in the hallway. His earlier suspicions were correct, there was definitely more than met the eye with Diana. That little hint of vulnerability he’d seen intrigued him. It had been a long time since he’d been intrigued by a woman. It was refreshing. ‘Come on,’ he canted his head. ‘I think I can scrounge up another glass for you.’

  He waited until she walked up next to him before he started for the main bar area.

  ‘It really does look like Santa vomited in here.’

  He paused on the threshold a smile spreading out over his face. ‘It does, doesn’t it. Looks fantastic.’ He’d added some of the decorations he’d collected in Sydney. He’d spoken to Cindy earlier and planned to take the rest over to Doc Bateman’s surgery in the morning.

  Diana shook her head and walked into the room in front of him. He admired the soft sway of her hips and the way the material lovingly cupped her arse.

  Jesus Christ, he needed to get a hold of himself. He could honestly say in all his life, he’d never been so instantly turned on like he was right now. He took a couple of deep breaths and willed his dick to control itself. He’d definitely be taking a cold shower later on.

  ‘What’s the deal with you and all these decorations,’ she asked and waved her hand around. ‘I can understand a woman going over the top, but not a guy.’

  Connor walked behind the bar, at least his lower half would be hidden behind the length of wood. ‘Christmas was always a big deal in my family. My mum loves it and pretty much decorates every inch of the house. What’s not to love about it?’

  ‘Commercialisation and the fact not everyone can afford to have Santa vomit all over their house.’

  Bitterness underlined her comments, giving him another tiny glance into her life. He planned to dig a little deeper and as a lawyer, he could draw out information from the most reluctant witness. ‘You don’t like Christmas?’ He’d start with an easy and, yes, obvious question.

  A perfectly shaped eyebrow arched. ‘What gave me away?’

  He chuckled. ‘I take it Christmas wasn’t a big thing with you? Which surprises me considering all the Christmas movies that come out of the States every year.’

  ‘As I said, it’s all commercialisation, don’t believe everything you see on television. Or hear. If that was the case, then I’d be expecting kangaroos to be hopping down the streets of central Sydney.’

  ‘True, although if you’re lucky you might see one tomorrow. They’ve been known to stroll down the street then pop in here for a cool bevy.’

  She rolled her eyes. ‘I think you’re making fun of me. And what the hell is a bevy?’

  He reached beneath the counter and pulled out a clean glass. ‘A bevy is …’ he started and finished filling the glass with lemonade. ‘This.’ He placed the glass in front of her.

  ‘A drink? Or a lemonade?’

  ‘A drink.’

  She lifted it to her lips and he bit back a groan as she swallowed down some of the contents. ‘Why don’t you just say a drink?’

  ‘Because it’s more fun to confuse you.’ As her eyes narrowed he could tell he was pushing his luck with his teasing. ‘Tell me, did you grow up having a white Christmas?’

  ‘More like a black Christmas,’ she muttered and placed her hands on the counter as though she was about to push away and head back to her room.

  Not thinking, he reached out and laid his hand over hers. ‘I’m sorry. I’ll stop asking questions.’

  If any of the opposing lawyers he’d conquered in the courtroom saw him now their jaws would probably drop to the floor—he never gave up on a witness this easily. But Diana wasn’t a witness and didn’t deserve his cross-examination, even though he’d planned to find out what he could about her. Every now and then she let her prickly guard down. It must be hard to constantly feel the need to protect oneself. Hide who they really were. Why did she do that? More to the point why did he want to delve beneath the prickly skin and see if he could find the true woman beneath. He should just drive her back to Sydney himself. Only, if his mum was here she’d open her house to a stranger and welcome her with open arms. Christmas was the season to be around people, not by yourself, especially when you were in a strange country. He was pretty sure his mum would be happy he was doing everything he could to make Diana feel welcome.

  ‘Which part of the States are you from?’ Okay, maybe he couldn’t stop being a lawyer.

  ‘I thought you weren’t going to ask any more questions.’

  Connor shrugged as he picked up a tray to collect the glasses still resting on various tables. ‘I’m a barman, I ask questions and everyone tells me their problems.’

  ‘They train that into you at bartending school?’

  Connor laughed. ‘It’s more something you pick up as you go along.’ If only she knew where he’d got his questioning skills. For some reason he didn’t want to mention his profession, just like she didn’t want to talk about herself. He probably should respect that. But they were alone in a big pub. It was almost midnight and he couldn’t deny he wanted to get to know this American beauty he’d picked up on the side of the road.

  ‘Well I’m from Packenridge Montana, where everyone knows your name and your business.’

  Connor nodded. ‘Sounds like here.’

  ‘Oh no, Packenridge is nothing like this place. I may have only been here for a few hours, but the people are very different.’

  ‘How so?’

  Perfect white teeth pul
led at her plump bottom lip, as though if she said something she’d be struck down by lightning. She released her grip on the pink flesh and shrugged her shoulders. ‘They just are.’ She picked up the drink, signalling that was all she planned on telling him.

  Diana sat at the bar while he collected up the glasses and placed the tray on the counter.

  ‘Do you want some help?’ she asked when he went to move away again.

  ‘Thanks, but I’ve got it under control. I’ve got it down to a fine art now.’

  With efficient movements he wiped the tables down.

  ‘You know I don’t think I’ve ever seen a man look so domestic,’ said Diana as he rinsed the cloth out.

  ‘I’ve been living by myself since I was eighteen, my mum made sure I could do the basics and then I improved over the years by myself.’ It was on the tip of his tongue to ask Diana if she cooked with her mum, but he refrained.

  ‘Kudos to your mom. Not many men would admit to being so domestic.’

  He winked at her. ‘I’m not most men.’

  ‘I’m beginning to see that.’

  Chapter 5

  Diana stepped out of her room the next morning. After a good night’s sleep she was ready to call the rental company and get back on the road to Sydney. Even though Fred said they probably wouldn’t be open she didn’t quite believe that. Rental companies had to work on a Saturday.

  She skipped down the stairs and stopped when she saw Connor. She’d hoped her annoyance at her situation had given him an extra spark to his handsomeness. But no, if anything, he was even better looking first thing in the morning than he was last night wiping down the tables like a pro. Today he had on a pair of cargo shorts that finished just below his knee and was again wearing a snug fitting polo shirt. His muscles bulged as he lifted a box off the ground and put it on a table. A box that looked suspiciously like one of the boxes he’d had in his trunk when he’d picked her up the previous day.