With Christina’s help, Susan had taken a range of sexy pictures with her cell phone. While she was waiting at the domestic air terminal for the flight to Napier, the nearest city to Clare, she picked one at random—a shot of her legs clad in black stockings—added a text message and sent it to Tyler.
Her phone beeped almost immediately.
U expt me 2 concentr8 on cattle when my thohts r on yr sexy legs?
Quick texter. She grinned as their flight was announced. She switched off her phone and followed Jasmine, Lucy and the other passengers onto the plane.
Almost an hour later, nerves danced like marionettes in the pit of her belly, and the anxiety had nothing to do with the plane landing. She wanted to see Tyler so badly, feel his arms wrap around her, but with a cameraman trailing her, arranging a meeting would be tricky.
“I’m so nervous.” Jasmine’s oval face was pale, her blusher standing out in a curving sweep across her cheekbones. Her honey blonde hair lay in casual curls, framing and highlighting her neat features.
Jasmine’s insecurities spread like rumors, and the beginnings of panic stirred in Susan. When she realized her stupidity, she almost laughed aloud. No need for her to worry. She didn’t want Nolan. It was his younger brother she wanted to impress. “You’ll be fine. Think of this as a holiday. Even if things don’t work out with Nolan, this is a change from routine. An adventure, right?”
“I don’t understand you,” Lucy said. “You don’t seem to care. You say the most outrageous things in front of the camera and everyone loves you.”
Susan bit her bottom lip. She didn’t mean to release the brake on her tongue. There was something about Nolan that pushed her buttons and led her into freefall. Luckily, Tyler thought she was funny. He said his in-laws loved her, and the public seemed to like her too. Her blog and forum were popular. Even Jennifer had sent her an email of congratulations and approval. It seemed her notoriety was doing good things for the ratings.
“How about if we tell Nolan to share the naughty questions around?” Susan asked. “I’d be happy. Blushing and freckles is not a good combination.”
Lucy muttered something under her breath. The seat belt sign went out, and Lucy stood abruptly, her blonde ponytail swishing at the surge of motion as she jerked her hand luggage from the overhead locker.
“I really am sorry,” Susan said to Jasmine. “I don’t mean to hog the limelight.”
“Don’t be silly,” Jasmine said. “This is a competition and only one of us can win. I intend to grab every advantage and you should too. Every woman for herself.”
Susan grinned, but traces of guilt crept into her mind. Little did Jasmine know, but it was a two-woman race. Even if things didn’t work out with Tyler, she couldn’t see herself settling with Nolan. They were too different, and Nolan was right. Now that she’d discovered dancing, she couldn’t imagine herself leaving the city. She snorted inwardly. It had taken a reality show to make her see she belonged in the city.
Susan collected her bag with the others. Before she’d left, she’d gone to the art store and purchased the box of pastels she’d seen Tyler drool over plus a selection of water color paints, charcoal and a couple of small sketchpads. She figured he’d use the supplies eventually and it was something he’d really enjoy. She’d also included a soft toy—an owl that Julia said her son loved.
“There’s Nolan,” Lucy said and was off like a show horse, her blonde ponytail waving behind like a flag.
“What did I say?” Jasmine asked.
“Every woman for herself,” Susan said with a grin.
They watched Lucy throw her arms around Nolan and give him a big kiss. The cameraman followed Lucy, filming her exuberant hello.
Susan trailed Jasmine and gave Nolan a quick hug. No kissing for her, thank you very much.
“Nolan, we don’t have much time,” a woman said from behind them.
Nolan nodded. “This is my mother.” He introduced each of the girls by name and they received a chilly nod from his mother. Susan found amusement bubbling to the surface and flashed a grin at the woman. Tyler had told her about his mother and her sternness, the way she’d rejected him when his girlfriend had become pregnant. Even after they’d married, she remained distant. Tyler said he didn’t see her and that his father would pop by to see Katey occasionally, but he never took his daughter to visit the house where he’d grown up. Suddenly Susan was glad she’d received a wakeup call after Maggie and Connor started dating. She never wanted to turn into this woman with her tight held emotions, her mask of disapproval permanently etched into her face.
“Hello,” Susan said, and the woman’s harsh features didn’t budge. “I’m pleased to meet you.”
Nolan cleared his throat, attracting Susan’s attention. “The local school is having a gala day. I’m helping out with the pony rides. Mum has organized you all to help out on stalls.”
“Sounds like fun,” Susan said.
Jasmine and Lucy added their agreement, and they left the airport terminal. “I can only fit two in my truck,” Nolan said, after surveying the luggage.
“One of you will travel with me,” Nolan’s mother said.
“I’ll go with you,” Susan said. “I’d love to hear more about the gala day and the town of Clare.”
Nolan sent her a grateful look, and as she’d suspected, the other two girls didn’t offer an argument.
Susan lifted her bright red bag into the rear and climbed into the passenger seat of a compact orange car.
Mrs. Penrith pulled out of the parking area and turned onto the main road. “I’m not going to let Nolan marry the likes of you,” she said in a frosty voice.
“Isn’t that up to Nolan?” Susan asked, chilled by the malice in the other woman. “Besides, you don’t know me. It’s a bit early to assassinate my character.”
“You work in a night club. You dance and disrobe in front of men.”
“But I don’t sleep with them,” Susan said. “Look, I was surprised when Nolan picked me. Lucy and Jasmine are beautiful and they’re nice girls. I doubt you have a thing to worry about.”
“We’ll see,” Mrs. Penrith said.
Cold silence filled the vehicle. Susan thought about packing the void with bright chatter before deciding to study the scenery instead. It was a gorgeous winter day with a warm sun and a vivid blue sky. There was still a nip in the air from the frost the previous evening, and Susan noticed the patches of white on the grass in places where the sun hadn’t yet reached.
“How big is the school?” Susan asked finally. She might as well learn something about the area.
“We have almost two hundred pupils,” Mrs. Penrith said.
“And is the gala day to raise funds for a particular project?”
“We want to buy more computers and uniforms for our sports teams. We have a hockey team, several netball and rugby teams.”
“Does Nolan play rugby?”
“He used to,” Mrs. Penrith said, noticeably thawing when Susan mentioned her son. “The farm keeps him busy these days. He loves the land.”
Susan nodded. “Which stall will I work on today?” She made a mental note to take her camera. Tyler hadn’t mentioned the gala, although they’d both been busy during the last couple of days and hadn’t managed more than a quick phone call and a few texts.
“You’re on the white elephant stall,” Mrs. Penrith said. “They sell a bit of everything.”
“We had a white elephant stall at the hospice charity,” Susan said. “They’re usually very popular. You never know what treasures you’ll find.”
“Do you…do you do charity work?” Mrs. Penrith seemed to force the question out.
Susan ignored the awkwardness and smiled. “I used to do a lot more than I do now. I work in a soup kitchen once a month and help out with the hospice. We’ve done door-to-door collecting and organized several gala days and sausage sizzles. It’s hard to get people to part with their money, and we’ve tried to get creative with our fundraising. In two months we’re organizing a rubber duck race.”
“Oh? How does that work?” Mrs. Penrith was interested despite herself.
“We have five hundred rubber ducks, which are all numbered. People pay twenty dollars to buy one duck. Then they’re all dropped into a fast-running stream. The first duck across the finish line wins a holiday donated by the local travel agency.”
“I wonder if we could do something like that here,” Mrs. Penrith mused. “The local volunteer fire brigade needs more funding.”
“If there are lots of single men in the area, you could ask the single women to make picnic baskets and people can bid for them. The winning bid would secure the picnic basket plus the company of the young lady who made the basket. It’s an old-fashioned idea, but if you hold it at a town picnic, something like that is lots of fun.”
“That’s a good idea,” Mrs. Penrith said. “Our fund-raising efforts haven’t been very successful recently. I think it’s because we’re using the same old ideas. We need fresh ideas to encourage people to donate their money and time.”
“Egg throwing contests are always fun,” Susan said. “Especially on a gorgeous day like this. Are you having one of those?”
“No, we didn’t think of it. We have the usual stalls plus some friendly games between the different sports teams.”
“If you’d like to try an egg-throwing competition today, it’s easy enough to organize. I could do it for you if you like. All we’d need is lots of eggs and an open field.”
Mrs. Penrith turned to her and actually smiled. “We’ll detour via the farm,” she said. “My chooks are laying very well this year. How much should we charge?”
“Since the eggs are donated and we don’t need to pay for them, how about two-dollars per person. That’s not too expensive and everyone, regardless of age, would be able to afford to play. All we’ll need is a prize.”
“Would you volunteer your time? Maybe an outing with one of the gentleman?” Mrs. Penrith asked.
“As long as Nolan approves, that will be fine,” Susan said, understanding Mrs. Penrith’s subtle maneuvering away from Nolan. Susan wondered what the woman would say if she discovered Susan preferred her younger son. Mrs. Penrith needed to worry about Tyler, not Nolan.
They arrived at the school to find Nolan pacing back and forth in the car park.
“Mum, where have you been? Did you have a puncture?”
“No, Susan and I had to stop by the farm to get some eggs. Susan volunteered to arrange an egg-throwing competition.”
Nolan turned his gaze on Susan, approval shining above his initial hint of surprise. “That’s a great idea.”
“I’ll speak to the principal and draft you some helpers to set up a table and anything else you need.” Mrs. Penrith climbed out of the car, plucked her brown handbag off the rear seat and bustled away.
Nolan’s features blazed with curiosity. “What did you and my mother talk about on the drive over?”
“Nothing much.” Susan climbed out of the car. “We discussed the school gala and ideas for fundraising. She seemed surprised I had experience in the area. I think she believes my morals reside in the gutter.”
Nolan squeezed her shoulder briefly. “My mother sets high standards of behavior for herself and doesn’t take it well when others fall short. Don’t let her frosty manner get to you. She’s like that with everyone.”
“She seemed to approve of your other chosen dates.” No wonder Tyler clashed with his mother. A pregnancy out of wedlock wouldn’t have gone down well, even if Tyler had married his girlfriend.
Nolan laughed. “I have no intention of choosing a wife to suit my mother. Don’t worry. She’ll find fault with Lucy and Jasmine too. It’s her way, and I’ve learned to ignore her and get on with my own life.”
“What about your father?”
“My father checked out of their marriage a long time ago,” Nolan said. “My mother doesn’t believe in divorce.”
“I see.” And she did. She saw a path she’d never go down. Yes, it was true she wanted children, a family, but she didn’t intend to marry for the sake of tradition. If she loved the man—that was different. Julia and Maggie had great marriages with men who were their best friend as well as their lover, and she refused to settle for less.
Nolan’s mother appeared with two reluctant teenagers. “These young girls will help you carry the eggs. Susan, the principal said you can use the far rugby field and he’s going to organize an adult to help. Nolan, you’re due to help at the nail driving competition before the pony rides start. Off you go.”
Susan bit back the urge to salute. She lifted out two boxes of eggs and handed one to each of the teenage girls. She picked up the last one and smiled at the girls. “You’d better show me the way.”
She followed the teenagers and grimaced at the mud splattering her boots. Up ahead a man carried a table, his butt displayed in a pair of black jeans. Nice. Evidently the girls thought so too because one whispered to the other and they giggled.
The man set the table down on the try line, pressing on the wooden surface to make sure it was stable.
“Tyler,” one of the girls called.
He turned and grinned at them before turning his attention to Susan. “Thanks, Marie. Karen. Mr. Black said he was going to sort out a sign and find a tape measure in case we need to measure the length of the throws. Can you go and collect them for us?”
“Sure, Tyler.”
The girls set their boxes of eggs down and wandered away, leaving them alone.
“God, I’ve missed you,” he said. “I want to kiss you in the worst way.”
Susan grinned, the frisson of lust that frisked her a familiar one. “All your late night naughty texts have cost me a fortune in batteries.” Her hands shook and she hastily placed her box of eggs on the tabletop.
Tyler let out a whoosh of air and came half a step closer. His hands fisted at his sides, as if he didn’t quite trust himself not to touch her. “My hand doesn’t do the job as good as you.”
This time she was the one who fought for control. “Can we work out some way to meet?”
“Count on it, sweetheart.” He took a deep breath. “You could always withdraw from the show.”
“I’ve tried that already. I rang Jennifer and spoke to her in person, said I’d met someone else and that it was serious. She pleaded with me to stick the course. Evidently, every time I’m on a show, the website hits go off the charts. I said to her that it wasn’t fair on Nolan and the other girls, but she was adamant. Then she said that the funding for her next project depended on the success of this show. She guilted me into staying. I gave her my word I’d stay the course.”
“As long as they don’t expect you to kiss Nolan,” he muttered. “I won’t like that.”
“I have no desire to kiss your brother.”
“Good thing,” he said with a sly wink. The two girls returned, and he stepped away from her. “Thanks, girls. What do we do next, boss?” he said to Susan.
Susan scanned the handwritten sign. Perfect. Mrs. Penrith had done well with her organization. “We need to mark the places for the people throwing the eggs to stand. One for the person throwing the egg and one for the person catching. The first one should be easy, and we’ll do about four different levels, getting progressively harder.”
Once they’d marked the egg-throwing course to her satisfaction, Susan organized the two teenagers to spread the word and let people know they were in business.
“Are you really the prize?” one of them asked.
“Yes, Mrs. Penrith asked if I’d donate my time for the winning team. I can bake a cake, do some housework or teach dancing.”
“A date?” Tyler asked.
“Yes.” Susan shot him a frown. “Can you tell people that?” she asked the girls.
Tyler waited until the girls were out of earshot. “Are there any rules against me entering?”
Susan shrugged. “You’ll need a partner and the entrance fee.”
“I think I can manage that. Will you be okay on your own while I round up my partner?”
“Sure. Oh, look. My first two victims.” Susan grinned at two teenage boys. “Would you like to try? Can you throw the egg without it breaking?”
“Are the eggs boiled?” one of the boys asked.
“No.” Susan smiled and offered a dare. “Do you think you can do it? Since you’re my first interested customers, why don’t I give you a go for free?”
“Okay,” one of the boys said. “You throw,” he said to his mate. “I’m a better catch.”
“It wasn’t my fault I dropped the ball,” the other boy snapped. “If you’d thrown a better pass I might have caught it.”
“You guys play rugby?” Susan asked.
“Yeah,” the first guy said. “We’re in the first fifteen.”
“Perfect. Here’s an egg. We’ve marked out the different stages. If you can toss your egg and catch it without breaking it, you can move up to the next level. Think you can do that?”
“No sweat. You can take us out to the new movie that’s starting in Napier next week.”
A laugh rippled from her, part surprise and part entertainment at his attitude. “I like your confidence. Show me what you’ve got.” She gave one of them an egg and carefully observed to make sure they stood on the lines.
Tyler arrived with an older woman in tow just as the two boys were going to throw. “Here’s my partner,” he said. “Josie, meet Susan. We’re going to win a date with her.”
“Hi, Josie.” She’d heard a lot about his mother-in-law and instantly liked the bright, smiling woman. “Ready?” she shouted at her first two victims. “They think this is easy,” she said to Josie and Tyler.
“Catch!” the guy throwing yelled.
The egg flew through the air.
“Aw!” The other teenager caught the egg, but it went splat in his hands.
“You want to try that again?” Susan shouted.
“Yeah. I’m throwing this time.”
“And you’re also paying this time,” Susan said.
“I’ll take the money for you, dear,” Josie said.
Tyler slipped his arm around Susan and steered her to the start line. He glanced at the boys then pinched her bottom.
Susan jumped and let out an eep of surprise.
“I’ll take care of handing out the eggs for you,” he said, moving to stand by the table before Susan had a chance to object. He grinned as she trotted away to direct the egg-throwers into position.
“Tyler Penrith, I saw that,” Josie said in a low voice. “You pinched that girl’s bottom.”
“Did I?” He aimed for innocent and failed. Badly.
Josie scanned his face while Tyler pretended to watch the boys throw their next egg. “Do you know her?”
“No comment.”
“We’ll take one egg please.” The elderly woman leaned forward and whispered loudly, “I’m going to throw the egg. I might aim for my husband’s head.”
Tyler chuckled and handed over an egg. “Maybe I should warn Stan his wife is gunning for him.”
“I’m more interested in learning about Susan,” Josie said.
“I want to win that date,” Tyler said.
Josie sent him a quizzical glance. “I see.”
“We could never pull anything over on you,” Tyler said.
For ten minutes, they were busy taking money and handing out eggs while Susan kept everyone honest.
Stan and his wife managed to get to the second marker before the egg broke in his hands.
“Old fool made the mistake of saying he had a thing for dancers. That will teach him,” Mabel said as she watched Stan rub at the egg yolk decorating his white shirt.
“I think a few people are interested in dancers,” Josie said with a knowing glance in Tyler’s direction.
Tyler grinned widely, his gaze going to Susan. She was good with people and already they’d collected a crowd of participants. Each waited impatiently to have their turn. When the crowd started to tail off, Tyler whispered to Josie, “You ready to have a go at winning a date?”
“Is this important to you?” Josie asked, her gaze on Susan.
“Yes.”
“Well, then,” Josie said. “I’ll bring my A game.”
“And the winner of the egg throwing competition is Josie Murdoch and Tyler Penrith,” the principal announced an hour later. “Sam Gibbs is the winner of the nail driving contest and Rita James wins the prize for guessing the correct weight of the porker. Come and collect your prizes.”
Everyone cheered, and Tyler clutched his daughter’s hand while Eric shooed Josie up to the makeshift stage to claim their prize.
“Nolan, you’ll have to share one of your girls,” someone shouted.
“Hell, he’s got three of them. Maybe I could have one too,” a male voice shouted from the rear.
“If you wanted a wife, you should have applied to appear in the reality show,” Nolan said.
“Daddy, you’re hurting my hand,” Katey objected.
Tyler loosened his grip. “Sorry, sweetie.”
“Can I do a lucky dip?” she asked.
“Soon,” Tyler promised.
He and Katey clapped hard when Josie received a certificate.
“Now that I’ve distributed the prizes and still have you gathered,” the principal said, “we’re going to do some quick fire raffles. Dig deep folks. The first prize is a meat pack donated by Judson Butchers.”
“Daddy? I want to win a bracelet.”
Tyler laughed at her determination. “Let’s go.” He maneuvered his daughter through the crowd. He saw his mother speaking to two blonde women. He recognized them as Nolan’s other dates, and he steered his daughter in a slightly different direction. His mother ignored Katey, and he preferred to minimize their meetings. “What color bracelet would you like?”
“Purple,” she said.
“What happens if you get the wrong color?” he teased. “What if you get green?”
“If that happens,” a feminine voice said, “we could make a purple one.”
Tyler’s heart skipped a beat and happiness grabbed him by the throat. “Katey, this is Miss Webb.”
“Susan,” Susan said with a smile.
“Hello.” His daughter cocked her head and surveyed Susan without shyness. “Can you make a bracelet?”
“I can,” Susan said.
Tyler led Katey and Susan over to the lucky dip stall. Two large tubs of sawdust sat in front of a desk, one labeled boys and the other girls. He handed over two dollars and turned to his daughter. “I’ve paid the money, now it’s up to you, sweetie.”
“No pressure,” Susan murmured into his ear. She stood so close he could feel the warmth coming off her skin and smell her scent. More than anything, he wanted to reach for her hand and show everyone she belonged with him. Instead, he acted the friendly stranger and when no one else was looking, he spoke to her with his eyes.
“The sawdust is tickling my nose,” Katey said.
He grinned at the intense concentration on his daughter’s face, his heart swelling with pride. “Can you feel a parcel?” He and Susan hadn’t spoken about children, except in general terms.
“Yes.” Katey frowned. “It’s not a bracelet shape.”
“It might be something better than a bracelet,” the girl on the stall said—one of the Gibson clan, judging by the carrot red hair and freckles. “If it’s a big parcel it might be a necklace.”
“Can you make those?” Katey asked.
“No,” Tyler said. “I’m a boy.”
“No,” Katey said. “You’re a daddy.”
“And a very fine daddy you are,” Susan whispered, her words having nothing to do with his parenting skills.
“There you are,” Nolan said from behind them. “We’re going to head back to the farm now. Tyler.”
He gave his normal stiff welcome. Tyler sighed, wondering why his family was so fucked up that they couldn’t even talk to each other. “Susan and I were discussing our upcoming date.”
“We can do that later,” Susan said. “I’ll give you my cell phone number.” She opened her handbag and pulled out a business card. “It was nice to meet you and Katey.”
Nolan gave him a curt nod and escorted Susan over to where his mother stood.
Something twisted inside Tyler on seeing her leave with his brother. He liked Susan a lot. She was fun and made him laugh. She’d been good with Katey and he thought Josie had liked her too.
“I’ve picked a parcel, Daddy.”
“Okay, pull it out of the sawdust, and we’ll see what you’ve got.”
His daughter pulled out a parcel and eagerly ripped it open where they stood. The excitement in her face faded. “It’s not a bracelet.”
He shot a quick glance at the girl in charge of the stall. “Let’s see what you’ve picked out.”
“Ooh, a tiara,” the teenager said. “Lots of girls picked bracelets but there were only a few tiaras. You’ll be a princess. Would you like me to put it on for you?”
“Thanks,” Tyler said. After watching many Disney movies, he was up with crowns but he figured the teenager would sell the sparkly tiara to his disappointed daughter far better than he could.
“You put it on like this,” the teenager said, crouching beside his daughter. She placed the tiara on Katey’s head and rose to admire the effect. “The blue stones are pretty with your hair.”
“Tyler, are you and Katey ready to leave?” Josie called. “Oh, Katey. You look pretty, just like a princess.”
Katey pulled a face. “Wanted a bracelet.”
Tyler shared a rueful glance with his mother-in-law. Their little princess was tired and about to have a tantrum. “Thanks,” he said to the teenager.
“Eric is going to stay and help with the cleanup,” Josie said.
Tyler nodded and scooped up his daughter. Five minutes later, they were on their way home, Katey almost asleep in her car seat.
“I think the principal was pleased with the takings,” Josie said. “Everyone was impressed with Nolan’s women. The three of them pitched in to help.”
“They did.” Tyler thoughts jumped to Susan. Not unusual since the track in his mind was well-trodden.
“I liked Susan.”
Tyler slowed to avoid a cow and calf on the road. The animals ambled over the seal to an unopened gate. “That’s one of Jim’s. Grab my phone and let him know.”
“I’ll run and open the gate,” Josie said. “It won’t take a minute.”
Tyler nodded and picked up his phone to ring their neighbor about his AWOL stock. With the call made, his mind drifted yet again. How was he going to swing some privacy with Susan? The cameraman kept appearing to film for the show, which made spontaneity tricky. He had their date up his sleeve, but that would need to be at a public place and there was no way he’d keep her for a sleepover.
“Stupid animal,” Josie muttered when she climbed back into the car, a whiff of cow manure coming with her. “My good boots. They’ll never be the same.”
“You volunteered.”
“Next time remind me,” Josie snapped. “When did you meet Susan?”
Tyler’s hands clenched on the wheel. “Today.” He forced himself to glance at Josie.
“Don’t try to pull the wool over my eyes, Tyler Penrith. I saw you pinch that girl’s bottom, and since she grinned instead of smacking you, I figured you’d met before because despite what some people might say, Susan is a nice girl. She didn’t flirt with any of the other men who tried to chat her up. Besides, you practically blackmailed me into the egg-throwing contest. I wondered why you were so adamant.”
“I might have met her before,” Tyler said, turning his attention back to the country road.
“She’s your mystery woman,” Josie said.
“No,” he said quickly. Too quickly. He cursed under his breath. There was no question in her statement. Somehow, his mother-in-law had worked out everything after seeing them together once.
“She’s a lovely girl.”
“Yes,” he said.
“Yes, you’re admitting the truth or yes, you’re agreeing she’s attractive?”
“Yes to both,” he said, giving in to the inevitable.
“How did you manage to meet her?”
Tyler checked on Katey, but she was sound asleep, her tiara still sparkling on top of her head. “I emailed her after the show. We clicked and I asked if she wanted to meet in person.”
“Did you share a room?”
“Josie,” Tyler said.
She clapped her hands together. “Oh, that’s good. She likes you.”
Tyler pulled up in front of the farmhouse. “I like her too.”
“You don’t do things the easy way. What are you going to do if your brother picks her?”
“Susan doesn’t think he’ll pick her again. You’ve seen the show. Nolan goes out of his way to embarrass her.”
“Does Nolan know?”
“No one knows apart from Susan’s friends and now you. We were careful.”
“We have a date each,” Josie said. “We’ll manage some time alone for you.”
“You approve?”
“I liked Susan very much, and it’s been good to see you happy, to see the spark of fun you used to have as a youngster,” Josie said.
Tyler unbuckled Katey and carried her into the house. In her bedroom, he pulled off her shoes, her tiara and her jacket before putting her in bed for a nap. She was asleep before he’d tiptoed from the room.
“That sounds like Eric,” Josie said. “Do you want a cup of tea before you go out to shift the sheep?”
“Looks as if the rain will hold off for a bit longer,” Tyler said.
Eric bustled indoors carrying a pink and white cyclamen in a brass pot. “Look what I won for you, Josie. Another plant for you to kill off.”
“Thanks, I think.” Josie wrinkled her nose at her husband. “At least I can plant this one in the garden and it will survive despite my lack of skill.”
Tyler grabbed the biscuit tin from the cupboard, listening to their familiar bickering with a slight smile.
“I know the identity of Tyler’s mystery woman.”
“Josie,” Tyler protested, although he’d known she’d tell Eric.
“How? Who?” Eric demanded.
A teasing smile played over Josie’s lips as she glanced from him to Eric. “I’m accepting bribes. Whoever offers the highest bribe wins.”
“I’m not playing,” Tyler said. “Go ahead. Tell him.”
“Pooh, you’re no fun.”
“Josie,” Eric said. “We still need to shift the sheep.”
“I can handle it on my own,” Tyler said.
Eric shot him a frown. “Are you sure?”
Tyler accepted the cup of tea Josie handed him and took a quick sip. “Positive. The sheep practically move themselves.” Tyler could do with some time alone to formulate a plan. “Besides, it will give the pair of you plenty of time to gossip about me.”
“We do not associate with that man,” Mrs. Penrith lectured as they drove down country roads, passed paddocks full of cows and sheep, a few horses.
“What man?” Susan asked. Ooh, alpacas. Cute. “I met a lot of people today, and everyone was friendly and welcoming. You have a lovely town.”
The compliment didn’t soften the brackets outlining the woman’s mouth, didn’t put a dent in her set expression, didn’t promote a sliver of personal satisfaction. The woman continued driving like an emotionless machine. “If I’d known he was helping you with the egg-throwing, I would’ve fixed the problem. Immediately.”
“Tyler? He seemed like a great guy.” Susan forced a friendly smile when she wanted to snarl an accusation. What was wrong with the woman? Why did she dislike her son so much she couldn’t even say his name?
“He has a bad reputation and we do not associate with him.”
“Oh. Okay.” Susan bit her tongue. Don’t respond. Don’t react to her pettiness. Listening to this judgmental woman was like an unhealthy blast from her past. Once she’d been guilty of the same behavior—a black and white kind of woman. Once she’d judged others by her own rigid standards. Once she’d been an uncompromising bitch. Luckily, she’d wised up and fought the battle to correct the nasty flaw in her character.
“You have enough strikes against you as it is,” Mrs. Penrith said. “You don’t need to add more by exhibiting a lack of commonsense.”
“Yes, Mrs. Penrith.” Witch. Both Nolan and Tyler struck her as decent men. How they’d managed it with a mother like Elizabeth Penrith, Susan didn’t know. Good grief, how much longer would this car ride take? “I enjoyed the gala. Do you know if they raised the amount of money they needed for the computer equipment?”
“Yes, the gala was a big success. Of course, we gambled with the weather. It often rains at this time of the year.”
“What is the next fundraising event? I met the minister of the local church. He said you help raise a lot of money for the various charities and to meet the needs of the community.”
“We’re trying to start an afternoon group for the children to keep them out of trouble. With the school holidays coming up soon, we’re organizing a pilot program of different activities.”
“That’s a great idea,” Susan said. “The school holidays start next week, don’t they? I’d be happy to teach a dance class, if you think some of the kids would be interested.”
Mrs. Penrith gasped, took her eyes off the road. “I hardly think that would be appropriate.”
Chilly silence bloomed, coating the interior of the vehicle with permafrost. Thankfully, five minutes later, Mrs. Penrith jerked the car to a halt in front of a white bungalow.
Nolan opened Susan’s door and waited for her to climb from the car. He took one look at her tight expression and squeezed her hand. “I’m sorry.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Susan said.
“Susan’s bag is in the back,” Mrs. Penrith said. “Nolan, I still don’t think that it’s appropriate for the girls to stay in the house with you alone.”
“Mum, we’re hardly alone. The cameraman will spend a lot of time at the house, and I believe Jennifer’s assistant will be dropping in for a visit.”
“It doesn’t look right.”
“Thank you for giving Susan a lift,” Nolan said.
Mrs. Penrith scowled and looked as if she was winding herself up for a tirade.
“Thank you.” Susan almost choked observing the polite niceties.
“I’ll show you to your room.”
Susan followed him through a wooden gate, past a bed of pink flowers and up a curved path to the three steps leading to the entrance. A verandah wrapped around most of the bungalow—the perfect place to while away lazy afternoons or late summer evenings and savor the views into the valley and beyond, the township of Clare.
“What a gorgeous view,” she said. “Looks as if a storm is coming fast.”
“The forecast predicted rain. You should see the view from my parents’ house. It’s even better.”
Susan bet the frigid atmosphere didn’t extend to this house. It raised curiosity about Tyler’s father. What sort of man ignored one of his sons?
“I’m afraid your room is small. Jasmine and Lucy are sharing the larger room.”
“No problem,” Susan said. “As long as the bed is comfortable.” She peeked through the doorway he indicated. “Oh, you weren’t kidding.”
“Jasmine and Lucy are in the lounge.”
“Sure. I’ll join them once I freshen up. Which way is the bathroom?”
Susan walked into the lounge fifteen minutes later, her hair tied back in a braid. She’d donned a clean T-shirt—pink—and a pair of black leggings, figuring comfort was the way to go. Her phone beeped, and she plucked it from the pocket of the vest she’d pulled on over the long sleeve tee.
I wish you were here.
She’d enjoy a sanctuary with Tyler too.
Not gonna happen. Instead, she did the next best thing. She sent a return text and attached a photo of her in a showgirl costume. This one focused on the beaded bra top, her cleavage. A casual observer wouldn’t recognize her in the photo. Tyler would know since the single freckle on the upper curve of her right breast would give away her identity. He liked to kiss and lick that freckle. A hot swell of lust blasted a path to her pussy and she inhaled sharply.
“Something wrong?” Nolan asked, coming up behind her.
Susan hit send and dropped her phone into the depths of her pocket. “No. Everything’s fine.”
“What are you cooking us for dinner, Nolan?” Lucy asked.
“Beef stew, mashed potatoes and Brussels sprouts. Apple crumble and yoghurt for dessert.”
Lucy wrinkled her nose. Jasmine’s expression duplicated Lucy’s.
“Sounds great,” Susan said. “Let me know if you need a hand.”
The cameraman entered the lounge, his camera on his shoulder. “I need to record the girl’s initial impressions of their day and the farm.”
“I’ll be in the kitchen,” Nolan said.
Susan followed the scent of beef stew and sauntered into the large kitchen, scanning it with interest. Nothing fancy, the scarred counters bore evidence of hard use, but the place appeared clean. Her estimation of Nolan rose. Not the stereotypical bachelor.
“You might as well set me to work,” she said. “I can set the table or peel potatoes.” She rounded the wooden dining table at the far end of the kitchen and halted at the island counter where Nolan stood.
“Feel up to peeling apples?”
“I can go one better and make the entire crumble if you want. I don’t peel my apples. It’s much quicker my way.”
Outside, rain spilled from the sky, the splatter amplified by the iron roof. Susan peered out the kitchen window and shivered. “They were lucky with the gala.”
“Yeah. Can I leave you to do that? I’d better light the fire in here and the lounge before it gets too cold. That way we’ll have plenty of hot water.”
Susan nodded, and Nolan left his pile of potatoes and apples on the counter. Susan got to work and started on the apples, quartering and coring them before hunting through the cupboard for a grater. In the pantry, she located spices, flour and oats to make her crumble topping and quickly assembled the dessert ready to go into the oven.
Her phone beeped again. A text from Christina asking about her day. Susan fired off a quick reply, promising to email soon.
Nolan wasn’t back yet, so she started peeling the potatoes. She peeled a dozen, figuring if they didn’t eat all the mash, they could make something with the leftovers.
Nolan stomped back into the kitchen, his arms laden with kindling and small logs. A gust of icy air followed him through the rear door. A crash of thunder made Susan jump, and she glanced out the window in time to see a flicker of lightning. Another thunderous crash boomed almost immediately.
A whimper sounded at the open door. Nolan cursed softly, shot her a swift glance. “Sorry. I’ll take the dog back to his kennel.”
“He’s terrified,” Susan said. “Is that the one you adopted?”
“Yeah. I’ve been letting him sleep inside.”
“Set up his bed where he can see us, and maybe he’ll calm down.”
“Thanks, but hasn’t learned his manners. Once he settles, he’ll want to play.”
“He’s a puppy. You need to cut him some slack.”
Nolan grinned, a wide, honest smile that showed hints of Tyler, and disappeared outside. They hadn’t inherited that smile from their mother.
“Susan.” The cameraman appeared in the kitchen. “Oh good. I’ll film you here for a change of scenery. Can you cook?”
“Yes, my mother taught me and my sisters when we were young. I enjoy cooking, but I don’t get much time these days.”
“What do you think of Nolan’s house and Clare? Could you live here?”
“I’m not sure,” Susan said, going for honesty. “I’ve spent most of my life in Auckland. I enjoyed the gala day, and what I’ve seen of the farm and the surrounding countryside is beautiful. I guess, what I’m saying is I’ll need more time before I come to a decision. It is a big change.” And she wasn’t sure she wanted to deal with the wicked witch of Clare on a daily basis. “When I applied to be on the show, I didn’t have any doubts. Things have changed.”
“What sort of things?”
“I’ve found my niche. I like who I am and where I am in my life.” She paused, shrugged, trying to marshal her thoughts. “I’m happy,” she said finally.
“What about a man? Wasn’t that the whole point of the reality show?” the cameraman asked.
Susan hesitated and finally, she went with a partial truth. “Everyone wants and deserves love, but settling for something that doesn’t fit is a mistake. I’m not going to force a relationship because my family or society says it’s time.”
“It takes a strong woman to go against tradition,” the cameraman said.
An indelicate snort escaped. “Are you trying to tell me I’m not a traditional girl?”
“You’re interesting,” the cameraman said.
“I have a great set of friends and through them, my horizons have broadened. Maybe I’ve stepped outside conventional lines, but life would be boring if we all trod the same path. As long as I’m true to myself, that’s the important thing.”
“Thank you,” the cameraman said, lowering his camera and switching off the power. “I’ll head back to the motel and sort out this footage to send to Jennifer. Tell Nolan, will ya?”
“Sure.” Susan peeled the last potato and tidied the counter.
Nolan returned with a blanket and his puppy. He commanded the black-and-white dog to sit. “Thanks for the suggestion, although my father would say that’s not the right behavior for a farm dog.”
“You don’t talk about your father much,” Susan said.
“He’s slowed down after a fall from his horse. He spends more time in his workshop making furniture these days.”
“Is that a problem?”
“No, I enjoy taking charge and doing things my way. It’s my ideal life, and I can’t imagine doing anything else.”
Susan nodded, her thoughts drifting to Tyler. She couldn’t imagine leaving the city now. A long-distance romance? That hadn’t worked for Julia, and if Susan were honest, it wouldn’t work for her either.