by Mandy Magro
‘I truly don’t think the two of you tumbling into bed together is a one-off thing, Em.’ Renee gestured towards where Zane was flipping the lamb chops over, beer in hand. ‘He looks at you like he wants to throw you down on the nearest surface and have his way with you, and to be honest, I don’t know how you say no to him. He’s one hell of a spunk.’
‘I have to say no.’ It was such an abrupt response that Renee stopped and stared at her, before sitting down. Emma slumped into the camp chair beside her. ‘Between you and me, it’s a never-ending struggle. But I can’t go there with him, Rennie, and I’m not going to tell him anything after that bloody letter.’ Her mind flashed back to their night of passion, all those years ago, and every inch of her tingled.
‘About that, my gorgeous friend, do you really believe Peter has proof in his safe?’
‘I honestly don’t know, but I can’t risk going against him and finding out either.’ She shrugged. ‘I’ve tried to work out what it would be, but I can’t for the life of me come up with anything, maybe other than video footage of it.’
‘Yeah, possibly, I wouldn’t put it past Peter to have had sneaky security cameras everywhere in his house.’
‘Who knows?’ She sighed. ‘Life at Serendipity has been so great with Zane around, and Riley is the happiest I’ve seen her in years.’ She picked at a thread hanging from her denim shorts. ‘I’m going to be sad to see him leave in a couple of weeks.’
‘Does he have to go back?’
‘That’s where his life is. There’s nothing keeping him here now I’m not telling him about Riley, and Michael has Wattle Acres.’
‘There’s you.’ Renee looked at her with tenderness.
‘He can’t have me, and I can’t have him.’
Renee chewed her lip and then grinned. ‘Have you thought about going over to the homestead, to try to break into the safe?’
Emma’s eyes widened. ‘No.’
‘Well, I think you should.’
‘I’m not really up on the whole breaking in thing, Rennie.’
‘Google it.’
Emma couldn’t help but laugh at the serious expression on Renee’s face.
As if she were a five-year-old about to be given a present, Renee bounced up and down in her chair. ‘I’m serious.’
‘No way am I going to try and break into a safe, but …’ She leant forwards. ‘Maybe I could go over and try and work out the combination.’
‘Why the hell not, Em? It’s worth a bloody try.’
Emma grimaced. ‘Well, because I’d be breaking and entering.’
‘Kinda sort of not really. You are the dead man’s ex daughter-in-law.’ She looked to where Zane and Jackson were deep in conversation and dropped her voice even lower. ‘I’m sure, if you somehow get caught in the act, you’ll be able to talk your way out of it.’
‘Yeah, maybe.’ Emma’s belly pitched and rolled. ‘You’re a really bad influence sometimes, you know that?’
‘Nah, I just encourage you to do what has to be done, that’s all.’ Renee smiled. ‘If it makes you feel better, I’ll come with you.’
‘No! One of us breaking in there is bad enough,’ she said. ‘But thank you.’
‘Well, if you change your mind, I’ll be your partner in crime, but you got this.’ Renee offered her a confident smile. ‘Whether you want to admit it or not, Zane’s your soulmate, Em. And you only get one of them in a lifetime. Anything is worth a shot to try and fix this mess before he gets on that plane.’
As terrified as she was, Emma knew Renee was right. Zane was a gift to her and Riley, and she didn’t want to give up the fight. She nodded, her heart aching. They could be so good together – all three of them. A family. Like she’d always wanted. All week the pull between them had been growing stronger, the invisible tie that bound them tighter, more binding – delightfully so. To hell with Peter and his threats – she would get to the bottom of it, somehow, some way.
Emma sighed as she threw her hands up in the air. ‘Anyway, enough of the heavy stuff, let’s just enjoy the night for what it is … wonderful friends, good times and yummy food. Tomorrow’s another day, and I can start worrying about it all again then.’
And that they did, all four of them groaning about eating too much at the end of the glorious feast as they stared into the flickering flames of the fire pit. It took a good hour for the food to settle enough for them to consider clearing up, and even then, Emma and Renee were only half-hearted about it.
‘Us blokes will help, hey, Zane?’ Jackson said.
‘No bloody way … that’s a woman’s domain.’ The mischievous glint in Zane’s eyes as he dodged a poke in the ribs by Emma had them all in hysterics.
‘I think Zane meant, he’d love to.’
‘Yup, spot on, Jackson,’ Zane said with a chuckle.
‘Before we do that, though, lovely ladies, I think we need to boogie some of this food off.’ Jackson leant in and kissed Renee on the cheek. Unfolding from his chair, he held out his hand. ‘Dance with me, you gorgeous minx!’
‘Well, why the hell not?’ Renee bounced to her feet and joining him on the front lawn, shook her tooshy in time to the music, both of them laughing and having a wow of a time.
The flames reaching for the star-spangled sky, Zane caught Emma’s eyes in the soft glow. ‘Looks like fun, you wanna join them?’
She took a few moments, wary of what she might want to do being wrapped in his gloriously masculine arms, but then thought, What the hell? ‘How could I say no to such a suave invitation?’ she said light-heartedly.
‘Oh, indeed, and from an equally suave man.’ Zane’s attempt at an aristocratic accent was terrible, and they both laughed. Grinning cheekily, he took her by the hand and helped her to her feet, twirling her across the grass like the rock-n-roll pro he was.
Moving in time to the music, and to each other, every single one of Emma’s nerve-ends fired to quivering life. They spun and twirled, and at one point Zane lifted her up in the air to raucous cheers from Renee and Jackson, her feet hitting the ground gracefully thanks to his skill and hers. And then, after a few songs, the music slowed, Big and Rich’s ‘Lost in This Moment’ sending goosebumps all over her. She went to retreat to the camp chair, but Zane held her round the waist, his eyes begging her to stay.
And so she did.
Dancing arm and arm, barefoot on the grass, within his big strong arms, was the most amazing place she’d been in what felt like forever. Heat sizzled through her as they swayed, the friction of his jeans against her skirt sensual within itself, let alone the way he was subtly undressing her with his gaze. His fingers traced up and down her spine, arousing her beyond words. Shivers ran across her skin, and her feminine roar growled from deep within. She craved his kiss, his naked touch, but no way in hell was she going to let it happen. As much as she wanted to be at one with him, she just couldn’t. Why did he have to keep tempting her so?
As if reading her wayward thoughts, Zane’s lips quirked into a wicked smile. ‘You having a good night, Em?’
‘I am,’ she said softly. ‘I don’t want it to be over, but I reckon I’m going to have to call it a night and go to bed soon. I’m absolutely knackered.’
‘Me too.’ He gestured towards Renee and Jackson, now entwined as they kissed. ‘And I don’t think they’ll be far off bed either … but maybe not so much for sleeping.’
Emma laughed. ‘Oh god, if they’re staying here, I hope they keep it down.’
‘Jackson stopped drinking a while ago, said he told me he likes to wake up in his own bed. So I gather they’ll head home.’
She shrugged. ‘I get that.’
And Zane had been right. As they helped clean up, Renee announced that she and Jackson were heading home as soon as they’d finished. By the time they’d all said their goodbyes, and Emma and Zane had sat back down for a nightcap, the campfire was dying. Zane grabbed a few logs and strategically placed them over the top. Orange flames celebrated with a wild dance
, rising and swirling. Sparks flickered into the blackness, disappearing mid-flight.
‘I love fires,’ he said as he cosied up beside her, American Wild Honey over ice in hand. ‘I could sit and watch one for hours and not get bored.’
‘Me too, I love how they’re so wild and powerful, yet they can also be so calming and peaceful.’ She rested her head on his shoulder, feeling comfortable in doing so. ‘I’m sleepy,’ she mumbled, as her eyelids slowly closed. And then she drifted to a place only dreams were made of before she could stop herself.
CHAPTER 18
The wind whipping around the cab of the rattly old four-wheel drive, Zane’s belly grumbled as he bounced along the dirt track leading from where the main pump drew water from the creek. Noticing when he’d driven past yesterday that it was in need of servicing, he’d taken it upon himself to work on it when he’d woken up at sparrow’s fart this morning. He’d been hoping for a sleep-in, but with his body clock still all over the place, it just wasn’t going to happen. After tossing and turning, he’d given up trying to go back to sleep and headed out to do something useful. Which wasn’t hard. Like any property, be it livestock or produce, just about everywhere he looked, there was something to be fixed, mowed, slashed, fed, tidied or serviced. He once again admired Emma’s resilience, doing it all on her own. She was one hell of a strong woman.
Cresting the rise, he fought the urge to look towards Wattle Acres, but like metal to a magnet, he couldn’t resist. A sprawling property with a number of outbuildings, generous native gardens, neatly arranged paddocks and two windmills, one at either side of the two hundred and fifty acres, it was hard to miss. He slowed down but refused to pull to a stop – he didn’t need to sit and think about losing it. It was easier to have fleeting moments of sorrow, rather than to wallow in the heartache of it all. He could just make out the four-bedroom homestead – the paddocks beyond it, although green, lay deserted; the horses his mother had saved from anywhere and everywhere she could, had been sold off less than a week after she’d passed away. He hated to think of how many of them went to the meatworks because Peter and Michael just wanted to get rid of them. And he’d been helpless to stop it, just as he was helpless to stop Michael selling the place. The fact his mother’s ashes were there would be a cross he’d bear for the rest of his days. It made him detest Peter and Michael all the more. Why did men like them always seem to land on their feet? He shook his head. If there was a god, he couldn’t even begin to fathom how he worked – mysterious ways for damn sure.
Losing sight of his childhood home, and focusing on the track ahead, Serendipity’s homestead and cottage came into view, and a warm sense of belonging washed over him. The corrugated-iron roof flashing in the fierce midday sunshine, he found himself momentarily blinded. So he tugged his hat down a little lower to ward off the glare. His head was feeling a little woozy from the lack of sleep and the amount of alcohol he’d knocked back last night. It had been so late when he’d finally hit the sack, it had tipped over into Sunday. Not wanting to leave Emma’s side, his arm had gone dead from the weight of her sleeping on it. He hadn’t minded one bit – he loved being able to watch her sleeping so peacefully. With some skilful and gentle manoeuvres, he’d managed to gather her up into his arms without disturbing her too much, and then carried her inside. Trudging up the stairs, he’d fought to keep his breath quiet as he took her into her bedroom and carefully laid her on her bed. Moaning softly, she’d rolled over, her breathing deep and peaceful. Pulling a blanket up and over her, he’d gazed at her for a few moments, at the way her hair fell across her pillow – he would’ve been able to stand there all night, just admiring her. It had been a struggle to leave and go to his own bed, the pull to climb in beside her and drift off to sleep was strong, but he’d dragged himself away; every step he’d put between them was laborious. How in the hell was he going to go back to the States, feeling like this about her? He may as well rip his beating heart out of his chest right now.
Pulling up in the shade of the old gum, he noticed Emma’s Land Rover was gone. He hadn’t seen her out and about amongst the paddocks, so maybe she’d ducked into town. Uncurling himself from the cab, he looked up to see Riley crossing the front lawn. She seemed upset, or worried, or both. His heart lurched.
‘Hey, Uncle Zane …’ she said a little breathlessly. ‘Have you seen Mum?’
‘Hey, Riley, no, I haven’t. Why’s that?’
‘Jasmine’s mum dropped me home hours ago, and Mum had left me a note saying she’d gone out and would be home around ten. Nothing about where she’d gone, which was strange.’ She chewed the inside of her lip.
‘Have you tried her mobile?’
‘Yup, and it rang from her bedroom.’ She rolled her eyes. ‘She’s hopeless at remembering it half the time.’
Even though Zane was a little freaked out by Riley’s concern, he tried to remain a picture of calm. ‘Right, well, I can go for a drive, see if I can find her.’ He jumped back into the four-wheel drive and revved it to life, a cloud of smoke bellowing out the exhaust as he did. ‘You want to come along?’
She thought about it, and then shook her head. ‘No, I’ll wait here, in case she comes home. Then I can call you and let you know to stop looking.’ She fidgeted with the buttons on her shirt. ‘I’m probably making a big deal over nothing. It’s just not like her to be late without letting me know.’ She groaned. ‘Now I know how she feels when she can’t get a hold of me.’
‘I’m sure she’s fine.’ He tapped his door. ‘Back soon, with your mum.’
Riley finally smiled. ‘Thanks.’
Deciding to head in the general direction of town first, Zane breathed a sigh of relief when he spotted Emma parked on the side of the long dirt road, at the junction that led to Wattle Acres. The way the Land Rover was parked, facing him, meant she’d come from that direction. Why she’d be going over there in the first place baffled him, but there was only one way to find out – to ask her. He couldn’t help but wonder if it had something to do with the letter she’d remained tight-lipped about. Surely she’d have opened it by now.
Hearing him pull up, Emma peered around the corner of the raised bonnet, her expression one of surprise and maybe even a little like she’d been caught red-handed. Or was he imagining that? ‘Hey, Em, need a hand?’ By the time he reached her, she’d regained a poker face.
‘Hey, Zane, nah, I’m all good, thanks. The old girl does this a fair bit.’
Watching her bent over the diesel engine, her gaze intense, his whole body tightened. He wanted her so badly. All of her. Now. And forever. But he also needed to know what she was doing here. ‘So, where have you been gallivanting off to this morning?’
‘Why’s it your business?’ She flashed him a fiery look so hot it singed him all the way down to his toes, and then she changed the subject. ‘As I said, I don’t need a lift, thanks.’
He wanted to ask her why she was acting so guarded, and if she had read the letter from Peter, but bit his tongue. Standing side by side, an awkward silence fell between them.
‘Riley asked me to look for you. She was worried.’
‘Oh.’ He heard her hesitate. ‘Yeah, I was meant to be back a while ago, but got side-tracked.’ She didn’t offer to elaborate.
‘You’re not usually a side-tracker, Em, that’s generally my domain.’ He eyed her quizzically. ‘Where’d you get side-tracked to?’
‘Gee whizz, we’re a bit nosey today, aren’t we?’ Green eyes glared at him, challenged him, tempted him.
Zane held his hands up in surrender. ‘Sorry, you’re right, not my place to ask.’
‘Damn straight it isn’t.’ She finally hinted amusement before looking back at the engine. ‘Bugger of a thing keeps overheating. I can usually get her going again, after she’s cooled off a bit, but today, she’s not bloody budging.’
‘You might be needing that lift you knocked back after all, huh?’
‘Maybe.’ She huffed, her greasy hands going to he
r hips. ‘This is probably going to cost an arm and a leg to fix too.’
‘I can help.’
‘Fix it?’
‘Try to, and if that fails, pay for it to get fixed.’
‘I couldn’t take your money, Zane, but thanks.’ She wiped her hands on a rag and slammed the bonnet shut. ‘But I will take up your offer of a lift. I’ll come back in an hour or two, see if she starts.’
‘Righto.’
He led the way to the passenger door and opened it.
‘Thanks.’
‘No wuckers.’ Resting his hand on her lower back, he heard the sharp intake of her breath and could see the beat of her racing heart against her chest. The passenger seatbelt dodgy, he leant across her, wriggling it free. She looked to him, eyes wide and breath held. If she closed that last inch of space between them, he’d be a goner.
Job done, he stepped back to the ground. She tugged it on, a little defiantly. ‘Don’t start to think you’re my knight in shining armour now, will you? First carrying me to my bed, and now saving me from the side of the road, all in less than twenty-four hours.’
‘Trust me, I won’t.’ Sliding into the driver’s seat, he hid a smile.
He felt a desperate need to kiss her – but he’d tried that already and had been put in his place. So he was wary to do it again. Like a startled wild horse, he was sure she’d bolt, and he’d have ruined his already very slim chances of ever making her see he was worth the risk. Her wall was up, way too high for him to climb over just yet. But brick by brick, he would try to pull it down, steady as she goes, so he didn’t freak her out. The thing was, he only had a few weeks to give it his best shot.
A chestnut mare raised her head inquisitively as he pulled to a stop back beneath an old gum. The horse stamped a pesky fly as she watched them. Climbing out, Zane unfurled and reached for the heavens.
Riley ran from the homestead as Emma stepped out from her side. ‘Oh my god, Mum, I was worried sick. Where have you been?’
‘Far out, love, it’s broad daylight, and I was out doing stuff and broke down. Why’s everyone so worried about where I’ve been all of a sudden?’ Although smiling, Zane could see the tremor in Emma’s jaw as she pulled Riley into a hug. ‘But thanks for caring so much.’ She stepped back. ‘Now you know how I feel when I can’t get a hold of you, missy.’