Fly with Me (37 page)

“Yeah?” He
could see the way she studied him, the hesitation once more in her
voice. That she wanted to talk was more than obvious. To be
truthful, he wanted to just continue kissing her, maybe go a little
further - hell, scratch that, go a whole
lot
further - but
he knew that pushing aside any concerns she had was definitely not
the way to do things. So he manfully pushed his carnal urges aside.
Man, he deserved a medal. “Talk to me, sweetheart. What’s
wrong?”

“Nothing. I
just wanted to tell you something.”

“Okay.”

“I’ve been
thinking about what you said.”

He waited.

Reaching up,
she fiddled with the button on his shirt, took a deep breath. “I’ve
had time to think about what you said, what I said, what I want. I
know I don’t want to have my parent’s actions affect my life so
much that I’ll push away people who genuinely care about me. I know
you won’t suffocate me, or try to control my life. I like you.” She
cleared her throat, dimpled a little shyly at him. “A lot more than
like, actually.”

He smiled.
“Good to know.”

“I like you as
more than a friend. I feel comfortable with you, but you also make
me…” She glanced away, glanced back, but there was no doubting the
banked heat in her eyes. “Anyway, this is a new life for me, a new
start, and I want you to be a part of it.”

“Even better
to know.” Man, he just wanted to yank her into his arms and kiss
her breathless. He deserved an award for just standing there
exuding calm when his blood was surging thick and hot.

“So, you know,
I’d like to give us a go.” She looked at him, waiting.

Oh boy.
“Lis?”

“Yes?”

“I’m more a
man of action than words, so I’ll just say ‘hell yeah’ and go with
the action.” And he went with his instinct.

Elissa simply
melted into him when he drew her up against him, angled her head
for him, let him in, and God, the kiss this time was so hot, so
decadent that he was almost ready to back her to the railing and
take this to the next level. The next very hot level.

He’d have done
so, too, if they were alone, but he was conscious of Scott and Ash
being in the house, so he had to content himself with a very long,
passionate kiss that left him with an aching boner and Elissa all
pliant and soft in his arms.

Lifting his
head, he looked into her hot eyes and growled, “Arthur comes home
tomorrow night.”

“Yes.” She
blinked, a little disorientated, still aroused, and a little
puzzled.

“You’re coming
with me to settle him in.”

“I am?”

“Yeah.” His
hands slid down to cup the generous globes of her bottom. “You’re
staying late, too.”

“I am?” This
time her reply was breathy, but there was no doubting the sudden
knowing twinkle that sparkled in her eyes.

“Oh, hell
yeah.”

~*~

Life was
good.

Slinging the
strap of her small bag over her shoulder, she stuck her head
through the door leading out to the back room and called, “I’m off.
See you tomorrow.”

Tish looked up
from where she was putting drops into a dog’s ear. “Have a great
night lined up?” She winked. “As in a hot one?”

“I’m thinking
you’re referring to the fireman thing?”

“Honey, I’m
definitely referring to the fireman
thing
.”

“Are you
related to Del and Dee by any chance?”

“Second
cousin.”

“Ah.” Elissa
nodded. That explained that.

“You realise
all the girls in town hate you, right?”

“Let me guess.
Because Simon is off the market?”

“You took the
last eligible bachelor in town.” Tish paused. “Well, there are
other bachelors, but he was the last of the hot ones.”

“I’d say I’m
sorry but that would be a big, fat lie.” Elissa gave her a wave.
“Anyway, I’m off. Have fun.”

Leaving the
vet clinic, she swung onto the footpath and started walking. Man,
she felt good. A job she liked and was sure she’d continue to, a
hot boyfriend, friends, and a future that looked brighter than
ever. No demands, just doing what she wanted for a change. She felt
so free, happier than she could ever remember.

There was,
however, still one person she hadn’t told and it was time she
did.

Crossing the
street, she went into the café, greeting Cheryl and Ernie before
taking a booth near the window.

“What’ll it
be, honey?” Cheryl appeared beside the table.

“I’ll have a
glass of your iced chocolate, thanks.” Elissa grinned. “Been good
for so long, I feel the need for some sugar.”

“Everyone
needs something sweet now and again,” Cheryl agreed. “One iced
chocolate coming right up.”

Pulling out
the new mobile she’d bought from Dee’s newsagency the day before,
Elissa started to press in the number, only to be interrupted by
sirens sounding. Looking up, she saw the cop car go past, lights
on, closely followed by the ambulance. That could not be good.

Ernie went to
the door to stare after them, only to turn and shrug. “Must be out
of town somewhere.”

Hoping whoever
it was, was okay, Elissa thumbed in the last of the phone number
and listened to it ringing. After the third ring, the phone was
picked up on the other end, a gravely voice saying, “Hello.”

“Moz?”

“Hey, Lis.
Long time, no hear.”

“Well, it’s
really only been a week and a half.”

“Like I
said.”

She laughed.
“How’s it going?”

“Same old,
same old. Crunching numbers, doing my head in.”

“Maybe you
need a holiday.”

“Been thinking
about that. I’m able to get there for Ash’s wedding after all.”

“Really?”
Elissa brightened. “That’d be awesome. She’ll be so happy.”

“She is, I
spoke to her this morning. She wanted me to stay with you all, but
I spoke to this Julia Preston, Scott’s mother, and when she found
out I was your brother she let me rent a room from her for
awhile.”

“That’s
great.” She paused. “Um…Moz, there’s something I need to tell
you.”

“Okay.”

“I’ve got a
job here.”

“A job?”

“Yeah.
Receptionist at the local vet clinic.”

There was
silence for several seconds before he stated, “So you’re not coming
back.”

No question,
just a statement.

“No, I’m not.”
She fiddled with a napkin. “I mean, I’ll have to come back and pack
my flat up, turn in the key, get my stuff. Sort things out.”

“See Mum and
Dad?”

“Maybe.” She
crunched up the napkin. “I’ll see.”

“Okay,” he
repeated. “And?”

“What makes
you think there’s anything else?”

“Because Ash
was really thrilled. Thrilled about you. I got the feeling she was
thrilled about something else, too. Spill it.”

“Huh.” Placing
the napkin on the table, she smoothed it out. “Well, it’s kind of
unexpected.”

“Uh huh.”

Cheryl
appeared with the glass of iced chocolate, placing a spoon beside
the little plate the glass rested on. Elissa thanked her, watching
absentmindedly as she walked back to the counter.

The sound of a
siren shattered the air again and she looked through the window to
see the fire tanker pass on the road beyond, Simon at the steering
wheel and what looked to be Laz, one of the volunteers, beside him.
Scott and Ash were back from their weekend away, but Scott was also
officially on holidays for the upcoming wedding in just two
days.

Sobering
thought. It meant she was going out with Simon after only being
here a week and a half. Cripes, she found it hard enough to
believe. When she thought about the time it was fast, way faster
than she’d ever taken up with a bloke before, yet looking back to
when she’d first arrived in Gully’s Fall it somehow seemed a long
time as well. Cripes, how could she possibly even try to explain it
to Moz? Her brother wouldn’t understand. She was only just getting
used to the idea.

“Lis?” Moz’s
deep rumble came through the phone. “What’s going on?”

“Oh, nothing,
just a fire truck passing.” She fiddled with the spoon. “I think
there’s been an accident somewhere, the ambo and cops also went
out.”

“Not good.” He
paused expectantly.

She could just
imagine him waiting, his gaze on the window in front of his desk,
sitting still. Waiting. Really good at waiting.

“Yes, well.”
She managed a laugh. “So, you’re coming to the wedding.”

“Yes. And you
were going to tell me about the unexpected.”

Think fast,
think fast
. “Well, I…” Her eye caught the newspaper sitting on
the next table. “I’m thinking of buying a house.”

That got his
attention. “Buy? Already?”

“Well, you
know, I’ve got a job and all.”

There was
silence for several seconds, then, “And all?”

Curses. He was
quick. “Made new friends.”

“Uh huh.”

“That’s it.
New job, new friends,” she said brightly. “Thinking of getting my
own house.”

“That’s a
little quick, isn’t it? You’ve only been there over a week.” Yep,
there was definite suspicion in his deep tone.

Damn it. “You
think so?”

“I don’t think
you’re telling me everything.”

Screwing up
her nose, she contemplated the iced chocolate. Double damn.

“Lis, I’m
coming there anyway so I’ll find out. You can either tell me now,
and if I do my nut you’ll have a few days for me to cool off before
I get there, or you can wait for me to discover it when I get
there. I won’t cool off fast.”

Triple damn.
Her nose screwed up more.

“Stop pulling
faces and tell me.” He knew her too well.

“Okay. Fine.”
She tapped her fingers on the table. “I’m seeing someone.”

“You’re seeing
someone.”

“He’s really
sweet.”

“And this is
why you’re thinking of buying a house?”

“I just said
that to try and throw you off the scent.”

“Do I need to
be thrown off the scent?”

“Do you?”

“Do you think
you’re in the right head space to be starting a relationship?” His
voice deepened, dropped to a growl. “This bastard better not be
taking advantage of you.”

“Moz, I’m not
an idiot.”

“You’re
vulnerable.”

“Simon knows
that.”

“Simon,
huh?”

“He’s a
fireman.” When that didn’t get an appreciative response, she added,
“Ash really likes him. Her fiancée is one of his friends, too.”

The growing
silence was telling.

Elissa sighed.
“Moz, please. We’re taking this slowly, no rushing. I have a job, I
need to find a place to rent later, and I’m seeing a really nice
bloke. It’s no biggie.”

“No biggie?”
She heard something tick in the background and knew her brother was
flicking pencils at the pencil container he kept on his desk for
his pencil-throwing phases, which meant he was trying to figure out
what, exactly, to do or say without upsetting her. “Is he going to
be at the wedding?”

“Yes.”

“Good.”

That didn’t
sound promising. In fact, Elissa knew exactly what he meant to do.
“Don’t you come here with the intention of sorting Simon out, Moz.
You try and I will kick your arse.”

“Just going to
meet the bloke, size him up.”

“Read him the
Moz’s Set of Rules?”

“Heh heh.”

“It’s not
funny,” she said sharply.

“Sis, I’m your
brother. It’s my job to check out the bloke dating my sister.”

“Don’t make me
hurt you.”

“Looking
forward to arriving, even more so now.”

She rolled her
eyes.

“I’ll go easy
on him for you,” Moz assured her. “Just pound him into the ground a
little.”

“No pounding.
You’ll come, be polite, be my sweet brother.”

“I’m your
sweet brother?”

“You will
be.”

“Don’t fret.
I’ll be good.”

Geez. “I’m
holding you to that.”

“You do that.
So, Mum and Dad have both been on the phone blowing shit about you.
You really know how to stir that hornet’s nest, don’t you?”

“Did you
forget to screen the calls?”

“I didn’t want
them turning up on the doorstep, so I kind of had to answer
eventually.”

“So what do
you think?” She spooned a bit of cream up, licked it off the spoon.
Yum.

“I think
you’ve done the right thing. Not keen on the idea that you’re on
the other side of the country and looking to live there, but air
travel makes the country smaller.”

“Gully’s Fall
is really quaint. Very old world.” She waved through the window to
Jill, the owner of the bookstore, as she passed. “Very
friendly.”

“Just what you
need. Get away from the rat race, the demands, find yourself.”

“I think I
found myself already.”

“Lis.” His
voice gentled, which was pretty good considering his behemoth size.
“You’ve only been there just over a week. Take it slow.”

“Don’t worry.”
She spooned up some shaved chocolate. “I have Ash, remember?”

“Yeah.”

“And
Simon.”

“I am going to
check this bloke out.”

Laughing, she
exchanged light conversation with him before ringing off.

Placing the
mobile down, she drew the glass of iced chocolate closer to her,
sipping on the iced drink through the straw. It was amazing the
difference such a short time had made in her life. New friends, a
new job, a new future.

Simon loomed
large in her future, she wasn’t sure how large, but he was
definitely there. Forever? It was too soon to know, time would
tell. There was no hurry, no pressure. That was just so relaxing
and amazing all rolled into one.

Going home,
she met Ash sitting on the front veranda reading a book. She looked
up at Elissa. “How’s work?”

“Good. Loving
sorting everything out, in fact.” Elissa dropped down in the chair
beside her. “Grant’s giving me control of the reception. As long as
I keep him informed of how I’m doing everything and he has input,
he’s happy for me to arrange things.” Stretching, she leaned back
in the chair. “I can’t believe this is all happening.”