One week later, the cove is quiet.

It’s rare to find it like this. There are usually people about, and in the height of summer, it’s teeming with life.

I pause and look out over the water. It’s still, but for the odd splash in the distance. The fish must enjoy the peace too. Curling my bare toes in the sand, I take a deep breath.

This is what I love about my life here. Despite being on the go all of the time and the sometimes long hours, the tranquillity is hard to beat when I get a moment to enjoy it.

But today there’s something missing. I think when I went to Hamilton a week ago, I left my heart there. This thing with Drew has come on so quick and strong, but at the same time, it worries me I’m reading too much into it.

But then a part of me is still laughing over Drew’s comment about our kids. He’s feeling the same about me, I’m sure.

“Hayley.”

I freeze at the voice, and turn to see Ash Harris coming toward me. Great. “Uhh, hi.”

He makes my stomach flip with that intense blue-eyed stare of his, but not in a good way. More in an I-want-to-recoil-and-run-away way. I can definitely see the appeal though. Those girls in his compound must be drawn to him. I would be.

“I had hoped that it would be quiet down here. I find the water calming,” he says.

He draws level, and I nod. “Me too.”

“I’m happy to see you. You caused quite the stir in our little community.”

I hope so. You’re all lunatics. “Just doing my job.”

“You did it very well. I’m impressed.”

I blush. I can’t help it. After everything that happened early in my career, any compliment means a lot. Back then, I spent so many hours debating whether to go on or not, but my love for the job won out. “Thank you. How’s Julia doing?”

He pauses for a second, as if he’s surprised I’ve asked after her. “She’s doing well. The baby’s thriving.”

“Glad to hear it. I hope she’s being well looked after. That was a traumatic experience for her to go through.”

“It was. She’s getting plenty of rest.”

“She needs it. Please give her my regards.” I turn and walk the short distance to a nearby picnic table. I’m not concerned whether he follows me or not; I came out here for the fresh air and peace.

He sits opposite. “I want to tell you about our community.”

I swallow. “Okay.”

“Dad left me with a great responsibility, looking after his followers.”

“So they’re not your followers?”

He shakes his head. “No. I will lead when they need it, but they’re all masters of their own destinies.”

Stuck behind a wall and cut off from the world. “Julia needed antenatal care. The hospital had to take a few chances, given that I had no medical history for her. You can’t take shortcuts like that.”

Ash draws himself up. “It’s better if we don’t have outsiders come within our walls. They don’t tend to understand us.”

No shit. “That’s all well and good, but situations like that need medical professionals. If you hadn’t called me, Julia and her baby could have both died.”

He nods. “I know. So, I have a proposition for you.”

I swallow. I’m not sure if I’m interested in any proposition this man has. “I learned a big lesson with what happened to Julia. Maybe the ways of the past aren’t the best ways. So, I’d like to invite you to join us.”

My stomach drops. “Uhh that’s very kind of you, but that won’t be happening.”

He smiles, showing off the perfect teeth that tell me he’s probably seeing a dentist at least.

“If you want our help, then you need to speak to Margaret Joyce. She’s my boss and runs the clinic which I work out of.”

Ash licks his lips slowly. I know that move; it’s meant to entice me, but it just leaves me aching to roll my eyes at him. “I mean come and live with us. You’d have a good life. I’m sure Julia will tell you how great things are.”

I had thought he was about to suggest they use our midwifery service, but it’s way more extreme than that.

Those piercing blue eyes fix on me, burning a hole in my brain. If this is how he gets followers, I understand.

Four years ago, when I arrived here, maybe I would have been a better target for him. I was broken and lost. Now, I have a job I love, friends, and Drew. I’m loved and wanted and cared for. “I’m not coming to live with you.”

He smiles. “Maybe I can work on convincing you. I think you’d be a good fit.”

“I’m happy with the life I have.”

“And yet you’re down here, de-stressing.”

“Because I have a happy but busy life.”

Silence settles over us, but he never drops his gaze. “Have dinner with me.”

I shake my head. “I can’t.”

His eyebrows twitch. “Just to say thank you for saving Julia’s life?”

“You don’t have to thank me. Julia and the baby’s survival are what’s important.”

He nods. “Of course. I’m so grateful, and I just want to show some appreciation.”

I roll my eyes. “You’re not going to take no for an answer, are you?”

He laughs and shakes his head. “Nope.”

“I’ll talk to my boss, but I might do it on one condition.”

“Name it.”

“That it’s to discuss future care for any pregnant women in your community. The easiest way to avoid situations like Julia’s is for us to get in and see them. Or for them to come and see us.”

He gives me a short, sharp nod. “Deal.”

“I can’t stress how important this is.”

He leans forward. “You don’t give up easily, do you?”

“Never.”

A smile spreads across his face. “I like a challenge.”

I walk away, unsure how I feel about it all. A few weeks ago, and I probably would have just gone and got it over with. Now I think about Drew.

How is he going to feel about this?

* * *

The afternoon weather is cooling, and I get the urge on the way home to make cheese toasties for dinner. It’s comfort food, one that helped get me through studying.

Determined to stand on my own two feet, I did my best to support myself and live within my means. My parents were loaded, but I didn’t want to rely on them—or at least I didn’t want the fuss that seemed to go with doing so. All I ever wanted was a simple life, and this town has given me that.

I pull up outside the bakery. It’s usually open until five, and I’ll only just make it, but the bread’s so good here. The supermarket stuff has nothing on it.

Owen smiles as I walk into the bakery. “Hey, Hayley.”

“Hi.”

“After some bread?”

I nod, and he grabs hold of my usual multigrain loaf. “It’s on the house.”

“Why?”

He grins. “I hear you’re making Drew happy. That’s a big plus in my book.”

I chuckle. “He’s making me pretty happy too. I still want to pay.”

He slides the bread into a plastic bag. “Don’t worry about it.”

“What if things don’t work out between me and Drew?”

Owen shrugs. “I’ll make you pay for your bread again.”

I can’t help but laugh. He’s been a bit flirty with me on a few occasions in the past, but I’ve just brushed it off.

“So, what else has your brother told you about me?”

He hands the bread over. “Not a lot. Well, about how amazing you are. All I know is that he’s never been this happy. I think his last girlfriend sucked the life out of him, but you’re good for his soul.”

“I heard she’d moved onto sucking the life out of the landlord.”

Owen throws his head back and laughs loudly. “I guess you could say that. Drew’s got a big heart, and he deserves to be happy.”

I don’t know what to say to that. It’s like we’re being married off already. “Thanks for the bread, Owen.”

He nods. “Any time.”

The little bell above the shop door rings out as it opens.

Owen grins. “There’s a surprise. Are you tracking her phone or something?”

I turn. Drew stands behind me, a big smile on his face.

Everything that’s happened today is forgotten when I lay eyes on Drew. “What are you doing here?”

He grins. “I just thought I’d pop down for the night. It’s been too long since I’ve seen you.”

Owen laughs. “What’s it been? A week?”

“A week’s a long time when you’ve met the perfect girl.”

I blush as Owen rolls his eyes.

“It’s okay, Owen. I know you’ve met plenty of perfect girls. At least, that’s what you tell them …” Drew winks at me. “Whereas I mean it.”

I laugh. Owen shakes his head. “And to think I gave you a free loaf of bread.”

“Well, I wasn’t going to visit, but I saw Hayley’s car outside.”

“Oh, so you’re just here to see her?” Owen’s tone is harsh, but his amused expression tells a different story.

Drew nods, slipping an arm around my waist. “Sorry.”

“I think I might be able to forgive you. Pop in before you leave in the morning and you can grab some food.”

“Sounds good.”

Owen smiles. “Get out of here, you two. I’m closing up because I have places to be.”

“Places to be or people to do?” Drew laughs.

“You know me so well.”

* * *

The bread lies forgotten for the moment on the kitchen bench. Drew and I have better things to do.

I close my eyes as he laces kisses down my torso, his lips burning a trail. This is what I want all of the time. Not just on the odd weekend, not just during these stolen moments.

Drew reaches my stomach, and tears well as he goes down on me. I can’t help it. A mix of emotions leaves me sobbing silently, even as I shudder against Drew’s tongue. He’s worth so much to me, but I don’t know how to start telling him.

“You taste amazing.” He torments me until I reach the peak before tumbling down. He kisses my thighs, taking big mouthfuls of flesh as if he can’t get enough of me, and I can’t get enough of him.

It’s not until he emerges from between my thighs and starts a journey back up my body that he sees something’s wrong. Concern fills his expression. “Hayley? Are you okay?”

I nod, but the tears continue to flow. Okay doesn’t begin to describe how I’m feeling.

“Tell me what’s wrong.”

My heart stops as he asks and doesn’t just move past it. I’ve had a lifetime of people ignoring my feelings. Not Drew. “I’m just so happy.”

His expression lightens as he scans my face. “Tell me what the tears are for.”

“I just … I’m a little overwhelmed that we’re together again.”

Drew strokes my cheeks and wipes my tears. “I couldn’t wait until next week, or next month, or whenever we got a chance to see each other again.”

I smile a little. I don’t want to feel so needy, but since we started seeing each other, he’s all I can think about. It’s not fair being in the honeymoon phase of a new relationship with no groom.

“Thank you,” I croak.

“There is literally nowhere else I’d rather be.” He leans over and nips at my neck, leaving me gasping.

I bring my hands up and cradle the back of his head as he slips into me, filling me emotionally and physically as only he can. “I want to be with you, Hayley. I knew for sure the night we sat in that bath and I held you as you nearly fell asleep in my arms. All I’ve wanted to do since then is hold you.”

He moves slowly, torturing me with his slow pace, but I enjoy it as he does. The longer he’s inside me, the better.

He’s all mine.

* * *

In the evening, we watch a movie after eating the cheese toasties. Sprawled on the couch in my trackpants and a loose T-shirt, I’m comfortable and relaxed. My head’s on Drew’s lap, and I’m only half-watching Captain America.

Drew’s stroking my hair, and I close my eyes. “Going to sleep, princess?”

“Maybe.” I yawn.

“Did I wear you out?”

“Maybe.” I push myself off his lap and sit. “I love that you’re here.”

“Thought you might. I’ll have to leave early, but you’re worth it.”

I sigh. “You’re working tomorrow?”

“Yeah, but a later shift. I’ll be fine. Work’s crazy at the moment, but you’re worth it.”

He reaches over and hooks my hair behind my ear. “I was missing my girl and needed to see her.”

“I needed to see you too, but I can’t take off when I feel like it.”

“Neither can I. I had to do some serious grovelling to get someone to swap hours with me.”

I grin. “If you’re working tomorrow, you’ll need to get a lot of sleep tonight.”

He waggles his eyebrows. “I had other plans. Are you even watching this movie?”

“No.”

“I’ve got something for you. Not that you really need it, but I did. Lucy’s still calling me wanting financial help, and I keep telling her to talk to her lawyer, but I don’t think she’s doing it because she doesn’t have the money.”

I frown. “I’m confused.”

“The way it all ended bothered me. Not that I miss her, because I’m in such a better place now, but this was important.” He reaches into his pocket and hands me a piece of paper.

I unfold it, and I smile as I recognise what it is. He’s been tested for everything under the sun and come out of it with a glowing bill of health.

“I’m here, Hayley, and I’m all yours. Maybe my past will bug us for a while, but I want to try and put it behind us.”

I smile. “Thank you for this. In some warped way it means a lot.”

“For me too. I know we’ve been using condoms, but I wanted us to be safe. Given our respective occupations.”

Laughing, I press my hand to his chest. “I agree. So, what else are we going to do today?”

“Let’s talk.”

“Are those all your other plans?”

He smirks. “No, but I like talking to you. We cram so much into the limited time we have together, and it can’t all be sex. Even if I want it to be.”

I nod. “Fair enough.”

“Do you want to have children?” he asks.

The question catches me by surprise. He’s sweet and funny, but sometimes so intense. It’s not like we’ve been together that long. Still, I decide to answer honestly. I’d rather get it out in the open. “One day.”

“I do. I want lots.”

The grin on his face makes me laugh. “Define lots.”

He shrugs. “I grew up in a family of five boys. We were all really close, at least until Adam left. I want that closeness for my kids.”

I take a moment to respond. “I grew up alone. And then I was a terrible disappointment to my parents. I was never sure if I wanted to put a child through that. Not that I’d treat them that way, but I always wished I’d had a brother or sister to turn to. I had no one else. So, I don’t know about lots, but I want more than one.”

His eyes grow so sad. “That sucks. What on earth were your parents thinking? You should have been all the more precious to them.” He sighs. “Though, I can’t talk. Not after the stunt Mum pulled. Then again, if we’d all done more to make sure Adam knew the truth …” He takes a deep breath. What did you do to disappoint your parents?”

“What did your mother do to Adam and Lily?”

“Lily didn’t tell you?”

I shake my head and get a sigh in response.

“You know what happened to her, right? The abuse she suffered from her mother?”

I nod. All of Copper Creek knows about that. There are people who sympathise and see past what Lily’s mother did, and others who don’t like her, convinced she’s turned out the same as the woman who gave birth to her. In the four years I’ve been living here, I’ve heard a lot of gossip.

“Adam left because he was a mess, and he’d fallen out with Corey over it. In trying to avoid hearing how happy Lily was, he cut all of us off. Mum fed him a bunch of lies about how well she was doing and who she was with.”

I grip Drew’s arm. “Even the town gossips knew she was raising Max by herself.”

“Adam didn’t know that. The stubborn prick was too hurt to come back and check for himself. They lost so much time together unnecessarily.” He kisses my hand again. “I don’t want to lose time with the right person, and I think I’ve found her.”

“Drew …”

“Back to you, princess. Tell me about your parents.”

I bite down on my lips. “Have you heard of Mark McCarthy?”

“The name rings a bell.”

“Brewery King.”

His eyes widen. “I think I read something about him. Worth millions?”

I nod. “That’s my dad. He wanted me to go into business. My mother wanted me to find my own rich guy and give her grandchildren. I decided to become a midwife and help other people with their babies.”

Drew’s eyebrows knit as he frowns. “How can that be disappointing?”

“It wasn’t what either of them wanted for me. And then I had that patient die.”

“It’s a lot to deal with, especially when you’re not long qualified.”

I sigh. “I was on the verge of giving up I was that frustrated. Then Margaret and I found each other and she convinced me to come here. Best thing I ever did.”

Drew bends closer and presses his lips to mine. “If only I’d found you four years ago.”

“I needed to find me first. You got me at a good time.” I grin.

“I’ll have you any time.”