Chapter Eighteen
Angie woke early the next morning. She lay there for a moment watching the dappled sunlight play on the wall beside the bed. In that moment between sleeping and waking, she wondered what the soft noise was, and as she turned her head, she smiled. Liam’s head was beside hers on the pillow, and his forehead was almost touching hers. She moved her head across the white lace-edged pillowcase and rested her forehead against his. She couldn’t believe he was here in her bed. The hours with Liam had been wonderful. No words, just like it had been when they were together before. Now as she watched him sleep, Angie drank in the sight of him, imprinting him on her memory. His dark hair was messy and the dark stubble of his beard gave him a rakish look.
“Hello, my lovely.”
Angie jumped as his voice murmured beside her ear, followed by a gentle kiss.
“We need to talk.” His lips nuzzled her neck and she closed her eyes.
“We do, but let’s not waste time talking right now.” She ran her fingers down the side of his face. “I have other things on my mind.” Angie didn’t want to talk just yet. She didn’t want him to know that she loved him. She just wanted to enjoy the present.
“Wench,” he groaned. “What time is it?”
She rolled over and picked up her phone. “Almost seven.”
“Hell, I should have left by now. I have to get Garth’s ute back to him.”
Her fingers crept down his chest and she heard the smile in his voice. “But I guess it won’t matter if I’m a little bit late.”
“Of course it won’t. I’m sure he can talk to Lucy or play with James.”
Other matters interrupted any more conversation, and by the time Liam ran for the shower in the small bathroom off Angie’s bedroom, he was full of apologies.
“I’ve got a Skype call to Sydney for my ABC interview this afternoon but I’ll come back in tonight after you finish at the surgery. Okay?”
The joy that had filled Angie since last night died. She nodded and paused for a moment so that her disappointment didn’t show. “Okay.”
She managed a nod and waved at him, proud of how even she kept her voice “I’ll get you a clean towel.” She climbed out of bed and ignored the crushing pressure on her chest, wrapping the sheet around her.
An interview. So soon? The reality hit her like a physical blow. He would be going back to Sydney sooner than later, just like she’d known he would.
Liam emerged from the shower, water dripping from his hair, and Angie handed him the towel, taking a last opportunity to run a loving hand over his chest.
She had no regrets. But she had a plan.
As Liam grabbed her and his lips took hers, his voice was intense. His words vibrated against her mouth. “Ring me when you finish in the surgery this afternoon, and I’ll come in and pick you up. We’ll go out for dinner. We’ll sort out what we are going to do. I can’t knock back this job and it’s pretty much certain that I’ve got it. ”
“That’s wonderful for you.” Angie’s eyes burned with threatening tears, and she bit down on the inside of her cheek until the pain was almost too much to bear, but she summoned up a smile. Her heart constricted painfully as the lie came from her lips. “Tonight,” she said softly.
“We can talk about how we’ll play this. It’s a great opportunity for me. And we can do a long-distance relationship easily. What do you think, Ange?” Excitement bubbled out of him. “It’s not like it’s London to Sydney, is it? What’s a few hundred kilometres? Sydney to Spring Downs, no long-haul flights needed to see each other.”
As he stood in the doorway and reached for her again, she grabbed the sheet above her breasts as it threatened to slip. With her spare hand she reached over and tucked in the tag on his crumpled T-shirt. Her eyes wandered over his face and body, drinking in the sight of him.
“Angie?” Liam put his hands on her shoulders and stared at her.
“Yes?”
“Okay?” His gaze burned into hers.
“Okay.”
He dropped his head and took her lips again before he opened the door. “See you later,” he said.
She watched as he vaulted over the low hedge and ran for Garth’s ute.
Nothing had changed. Not one iota. Same Liam. Same priorities.
“Seeing each other” was not enough for Angie. Liam was happy to spend time with her when it was convenient for him. It was quite clear that she came a big second to whatever this new job was that he was sure he was going to get.
No “I love you” or “I can’t live without you.” Nothing had changed. She’d had her last night with him, and she wasn’t prepared to put herself through heartbreak again. Maybe it was too late, but she could do something about protecting her heart.
Before Liam had even backed out of the driveway, Angie had her phone out and was scrolling through her contacts.
…
“Angie, the delivery from Austin’s is in the examination room, the first appointment is cranky Mr. Davis, and are you okay to go to the B&S ball meeting tonight? Sally was on the phone to remind you as soon as I arrived.” Cissy rolled up the blinds on the front of the surgery. “I said I’d pass the message on.”
“Um, no.” Angie jingled her keys nervously in her hand. “I’ve had a bit of a family thing. I have to go to Melbourne.”
Cissy’s eyebrows raised. “Oh. When are you leaving?”
“I’ve got a locum organised and I’ll be leaving as soon as he arrives.”
“Today?” Cissy looked at her curiously and Angie nodded.
“I hope everything is okay.”
“Yep, nothing major.” Nothing apart from the fact that she was a coward. A coward unable to risk putting her trust in those little words that Liam had dropped as he left a couple of hours ago. Angie had been on automatic pilot since then. Ringing Steve, the locum who she knew was available for either short-term or long-term replacement. He’d just come off a long placement in Dubbo and was happy to help her out for as long as she needed. She just needed to find somewhere to stay in Melbourne where she was prepared to hide out until Liam moved on. And she needed to put some thought into whether she was brave enough to come back to Spring Downs.
Yep. A coward.
“You are out in the sticks here, Angie.” It was just after noon. Steve had arrived and Angie was giving him a quick tour of the surgery. “But it looks like a great surgery you’ve bought. Happy to come out and relieve you any time you need. My girlfriend has moved to Dubbo so I’ll take any western work that comes up. I’m keen to move out here permanently.”
“Thanks, I’ll keep that in mind.” Angie and Steve had worked together on a few occasions and she knew he’d look after the business for her. And here was a man who was willing to move for his woman. Her resolve firmed even more.
“You can bunk at my house. I’ve made up the bed for you in the bedroom off the kitchen. Help yourself to anything there.” Angie handed him the key. “And Steve, thanks for being available at such short notice. I’ll let you know when I’m coming back.”
“Like I said on the phone, I’m right till after Christmas.”
Angie saw Cissy’s eyebrows rise.
“Are you driving right through to Melbourne today?” the vet nurse asked.
“No, Cis. I’m only going as far as Coonabarabran this afternoon.”
“Well, you drive safely then, sweetie.” She reached over and enfolded Angie in a motherly hug. “I hope everything is okay.”
“Thanks. I’ll give you a call when I get to Melbourne. And,” she held up her phone, “I’ve always got my mobile on.”