She was putting the last clean dish on the small pile she’d created on the metal work counter when Jonas walked back in. He was pulling gloves off, slapping them against his leg.
“All done?” she asked. Wow, way to state the obvious.
“Not quite. I need to open the lines so that any air bubbles can escape and then pour a couple of glasses to make sure there’s no issues with the flow. Do you need something?”
“No, but I need to call Laura. I think she should be awake now.”
“You know the way to my office, help yourself to the phone.” He disappeared out toward the bar again, leaving her standing in the middle of the kitchen.
There was something very domestic about their exchange, as if they’d known each other longer than the scant hours they had. From the first word he spoken to her, she’d felt welcomed and hadn’t felt like she was being judged. Around Jonas she didn’t need to be on. She could be herself and not ‘Pandora the model.’ She liked it a lot. Yet at the back of her mind the thought how long until it all changed and he turned his back on her floated around and there was nothing she could do to stop it.
*
“So this is Molly’s Café.” Jonas pointed to the darkened building. “She makes the best meat pies and cream buns. Probably two things you don’t eat on a regular basis, but if you give yourself a cheat day, you should definitely try one or both.”
Pandora’s mouth watered at the thought of a juicy meat pie. The thick, gravy-coated meat encased in a flaky pastry had been one of her favourite foods. She’d cut them from her diet—all her favourite foods in fact—when her modelling career had taken off. But if she made the effort to keep her exercise regime up while she was here, she could indulge if she wanted to. “I’ll definitely consider it.”
They’d been walking around the peaceful town for about half an hour. The street was quiet and a soft breeze ruffled the leaves on the trees lining the footpath. Jonas had shown her the only clothes store in town where, upon peeking through the window, she spied some of the clothes hanging on the racks that were in the duffel bag Sindy had given her.
Laura had confirmed that her personal items would be arriving tomorrow. Once she had her wallet, Pandora would head to the store to pay for everything she’d been given. She suspected the owner’s response to her offer could be the same as Jonas’s—they were helping out someone who needed it. While she was grateful for their generosity, she had the means to pay for everything they’d given her and she’d make sure they took her money.
“What keeps Bunya Junction a viable place?” she asked, knowing that most small towns had something that kept the people in work.
“Cattle and sheep are the main sources of industry around here.”
“Did you grow up on a farm then?”
“Yep, cattle. Although I think Mum and Dad will look at selling soon. None of us are interested in taking over the farm. We’ve all gone into different careers.”
“Does that make your parents sad, that none of their children want to take it over?” Was their property one that had been in the family for generations, or had his parents decided to turn their hand at raising cattle?
“I think they still hold out hope that one of us may decide to change our minds, but I know Scott loves being a doctor and Sindy is definitely happy being a nurse. As for me …” He shrugged. “Like my siblings, I really love owning the pub and can’t see myself giving it up.”
“You said you had a younger sister. What about her? Would she come back?”
Jonas snorted. “Yolanda? No way, not now. She’s a city girl through and through.”
They continued walking and when they passed the closed hair salon, Pandora stopped. In the front window was a picture of her. She remembered the shoot, it was from one of her first ever jobs. She’d been nervous that day and with more experience under her belt she could see the nervousness shining in her eyes. Her smile was a little forced and not natural at all. “I was so naïve when this photo was taken.”
“Do you know how many times I’ve gotten my hair cut here? I’ve looked at that picture a hundred times, yet I didn’t recognise you when you walked into the pub.”
“I’m not sure if I should be offended or happy about that,” she commented wryly.
Jonas stood beside her and their reflections shone in the glass as they gazed at her blown-up face. “I’m a man. I don’t pay attention to all the details. And I always say the wrong thing. Although, now I know why Sindy acted a little starstruck when she saw you.”
“I shouldn’t keep calling you out when you say something wrong. I had a friend in school who would always correct me, when I was basically saying the same thing as her, but she obviously didn’t like how I said it. It really annoyed me.”
Jonas’s arm slid around her shoulders and he gave her a quick side hug before releasing her. She missed the sudden burst of warmth and wanted him to put his arm back around her. Oh no, she couldn’t allow herself to get comfortable around him.
“I knew a few of those people in my job in the city. They can be tiring.”
“Yeah, they can. Like most school friendships, though, we drifted apart. I’m not even sure what she’s doing now. Probably works as an editor or something. She can correct other people’s words and they’ll be happy about it.”
“A good occupation for her, for sure.” Jonas reached out and touched the window. “How do you feel when you see your picture on display like this? What did it feel like the first time it happened?”
“Like I was living a dream. The first time I saw a billboard with my face on it I stopped in the middle of the footpath. About three people crashed into me. I think I apologised, I don’t actually remember. I was dumbstruck seeing the picture. It was from this same campaign. The company was releasing a new range of hair care products.”
“Did they give you samples?”
Pandora snorted. “Yeah, and whatever they used at the shoot was completely different to what they gave me. The first time I used the shampoo and conditioner, my hair got so dry. I switched back to my cheap supermarket brand.”
“Oh dear. Does that happen often? You get something from a shoot and it’s rubbish but you have to sell it as fantastic?”
They started walking back toward the pub and a hint of sadness seeped into her at the thought their walk was almost over.
“More times than I can count. But there are other times when the product is what they say. I’ve got a particular hand cream that is amazing. Keeps my hands really soft.” She could really do with that hand cream now. “What I love the most are the fashion shoots. Normally I get to keep one of the outfits I model. The designers are really good like that. They also know that if I’m out and get my picture taken by the paparazzi in their clothes it’s free advertising for them and usually generates more interest in their new season collection.”
“What about the bridal dress, do you get to keep that? Because I can totally see you wearing that out on the town in Sydney and giving the designer some more free press.”
She laughed. “I don’t think so. Then again, the dress will be infamous now. The dress will always be known as the one worn by Pandora Sebastian when she ran away from a photo shoot, so they could triple the price of it and someone would buy it.”
Jonas looked at her askance. “Are you serious?”
“Yep. Some people are willing to pay to own or wear something that has a unique story to it.” She sighed, her good mood evaporating as thoughts of the fallout from her actions weighed down on her. Thank goodness she didn’t have her phone. No doubt it was blowing up with numerous tags on social media.
“You okay?” Jonas brushed his fingers across the top of her hand, the flesh tingling, and once again she wanted to grasp his hand and hang on to it like it was a lifeline.
“I was just thinking that I’m glad I don’t have my phone. When I spoke to Laura earlier she said that she’d issued a press statement about what happened yesterday. I’m predicting I’m a
trending topic. Unless some other major celebrity did something worse, then what I did would just be a speck of dirt on a glass.” She turned to look at Jonas. “Would it be bad of me to wish that happened?”
Jonas stopped and she did as well. Her heart skipped a beat when he pulled her in for a hug. His strong arms enclosed her and she let out a long breath, feeling better immediately. Funny how human contact could fix all ills. His hand rubbed her back in soothing motions. “Not at all. It’s human nature. Do you know what the statement says? We can boot up my laptop and you can check what’s being said.”
Checking out social media wasn’t on the top of her list of things to do today. While she was disillusioned with the modelling world at the moment, there were times when she really loved what she was doing. It was just that those times were becoming less and less these days. “I don’t really want to, but I suppose I should. As for the statement, Laura was going to put a spin on it that I’d received some bad news before I left for the shoot and it all got too much for me, so I just ran. She was aiming for the sympathy angle I think.”
“Do you know what the bad news was that you supposedly received?” Jonas stepped away from her, his lips firming. If she didn’t know any better she’d think he was disappointed in her.
“No, she didn’t tell me when I spoke to her this morning and I didn’t ask. I didn’t want to take up too much of her Sunday, so I only asked when my stuff was coming.”
They’d reached the pub and Jonas opened the door, standing to the side to let her precede him in. “Why don’t you go to my office and I’ll meet you there.”
“Okay, what are you going to do?”
He smiled, his bad mood seeming to evaporate. Geez, his mood swings were worse than hers when she had PMS. His blue eyes danced with mischief. A slow burn bubbled to life in her belly, which was annoying when she was trying to keep him firmly in the acquaintance column of her life. “I think you’ll need a drink to deal with what we see on the internet.”
“You have no idea how true those words are.” The internet could be vicious. People got ‘cancelled’ for the smallest thing. Some were well deserved, others just happened to be caught up by association.
“Whatever happens, it’ll be okay, Pandora. You’re not alone in this.” Jonas came up and grabbed her hands, squeezing them before leaning forward and kissing her gently on the forehead.
A simple touch, but one full of meaning. Why couldn’t Jonas live in the city? Why couldn’t they have met at a party? Why couldn’t they have met when her life was in turmoil? Then maybe she could be sure of his actions.
Nothing could happen between them, no matter if her heart was suggesting that getting to know this man better wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.
Chapter Seven
Jonas stood in the doorway of his office, observing Pandora as she studied the small screen in front of her. Her brow was furrowed, something he was sure she’d get told off for doing if she was at a fashion show or photo shoot. White teeth gnawed at her bottom lip.
Was she hoping her agent would continue to get her out of the dramas she created? A stab of remorse hit him. When they were walking and saw her picture, she opened up to him about what she experienced that day. Was he being too judgemental of her? Should he try and believe that she didn’t always walk away from situations she’d created?
Her one night stay had turned into being a two week one. He was going to see her every day, he should try and let go of his prejudices and get to know her for who she was. Maybe she’d surprise him. But he’d remain cautious.
“Hey,” he said quietly, so as not to startle her too much.
She looked up. Her eyes weren’t shining with happiness, but they also weren’t shining with tears either. “Hey.”
He walked in and placed the drink on the desk in front of her. “How bad is it?” No point in sugar-coating it. He may not go on the internet much, but he’d had plenty of experience when he’d been working in the city at how news can travel faster on the internet than the gossip truck in Bunya Junction. How it could be turned upside down and inside out, ending up so far from the truth it wasn’t funny.
“I supposed it could be worse.” She picked up her glass and looked at it. “What is this? Milk?”
“Low-fat milk with a kick. Taste it, I think you’ll like it.” Jonas lifted his own glass and swallowed some of the pale green liquid down.
Pandora followed suit, but her movements were cautious, as though she was worried it was going to explode. She sniffed it. “Is that mint I can smell?”
He placed his glass on the desk before grabbing a chair and bringing it around so that he could sit beside her. “Crème de menthe and milk. It’s like a spearmint milkshake, but with a bite. Your taste buds will enjoy it.”
“Okay, I like spearmint milkshakes.” She took a swallow, then another one. “Hmm, this is good.”
“I figured you’d need a little something to get you through the next half hour. I did think about bringing you another scotch, but decided on this instead.” He grabbed his own drink and took another swallow. “So, what’s the damage? Is the press statement printed somewhere?”
Pandora swivelled the laptop so the screen was facing him. “Laura blind copied me on the email she sent to all the press outlets. I only looked at it now.”
Jonas scanned the contents of the release. It started off with apologising to the client, the photographer and her fellow models for leaving the set abruptly. He continued to read, his eyebrows raising when he read the reason. He looked at Pandora and she had a small smile on her face, as if she knew exactly what part he’d read. “Your fifteen-year-old cat, who lived with your parents, got hit by a car? That’s what she came up with? Did you even have a cat?”
“We had one cat and he died when I was eight. I didn’t like him, because he was a grumpy ginger cat who scratched me every time I walked past him.”
“I’m guessing he didn’t like lasagne then?”
She frowned for a heartbeat, then her features cleared and she laughed. “No, he was no Garfield. I might have liked him if he was anything like that cat.”
“I suppose saying a pet died is better than it being a relative or close friend who’d passed. If that was the case, the press will go digging even more and find out that wasn’t the case.”
“I hope so. And it’s better than saying I’d chucked a hissy fit and stomped off set. Which wasn’t quite right, but sort of close. Laura says this way I garner the sympathy of the client and the public. Also my professional reputation shouldn’t suffer too much and I won’t be labelled as a diva. At least, I don’t think I will be.”
His vow from earlier about giving her a chance, and not assuming the worst, flew out the window at her throwaway comment about the truth of what had happened the day before. He held his tongue, though. If it was him, he would hate to have his every move and motivation questioned. No wonder she was tired of the world she lived in and wanted a break. He could cut her a little slack, for the moment anyway. “Not the easiest of jobs you have, is it?”
“No. I mean if I wasn’t well known and just got the odd job here and there, it wouldn’t be an issue. But because of who I am, it is a big deal.” She placed her head in her hands. “What was I thinking? I should’ve just sucked it up and put a smile on my face and continued with the shoot. If I’d done that then I wouldn’t be in this mess.”
The frustration and annoyance at herself was plain in the way her shoulders hunched up until they almost reached her ears. No matter what he thought of her or how she handled the situation, she was hurting. Sure he’d only met her the previous day, but he couldn’t sit by and let her go through this situation by herself.
He scooted his chair closer and, like he had out the front of the hair salon, slung an arm around her, pulling her close to him. “Sometimes you just have to look after yourself and do what’s right for you. Yesterday was one of those days.” Perhaps if he shared a little about himself and how he ended b
ack up in Bunya Junction it might help her a little. “While this may not be the same situation as you, I can sort of relate to what you’re going through.”
She looked up at him, her eyes widening. Of its own volition his arm lifted and he brushed his thumb across her soft cheek.
“What happened?”
“In my former life as a stockbroker, I made people a lot of money. I still play with the market, only now it’s for me and not for anyone else. Anyway, one day I looked at my life and was like, I’ve had enough. It wasn’t like the movies, where I’d made a huge mistake and lost clients millions of dollars so I got fired. I’d just decided that I needed a change. I quit my job. My bosses tried everything to keep me on. But I knew if I stayed, I would become someone I wouldn’t recognise. So I came home. At the right time, as the pub provided me with the change I was looking for.”
“Thank you for sharing that with me. You’re right, it’s different but also the same. You don’t have to deal with the public hounding you. But I’m betting before you left you probably had many calls from your clients asking about what you were doing with their money. And then when you left begging you to come back, right?”
“Yep, I did. I didn’t mind when I was employed by the firm, but after I’d left, I didn’t like the intrusion. After a couple of weeks they realised I wasn’t coming back so they stopped calling.”
She studied him for a few minutes and he braced himself for what she was going to ask him next. He had an idea, but she was beginning to surprise him, so he couldn’t be sure. “Do you miss it?”
Jonas took a few moments so his response wasn’t a knee-jerk one. “Some days I do. But as I still dabble in the market for myself, I get my fix that way. And yeah, sometimes I miss living in Melbourne, where I can call at all hours to get food delivered. But I don’t miss the stress of the job or the busyness of the city. I guess because I grew up here, I was used to the slower pace and quiet, so it wasn’t a hardship to move back.”
Runaway to the Outback Page 7