CHAPTER SIX
“You’re up early.”
A deep masculine voice made her squeak. She’d put one foot on the top step and had the front door in her sights. The sun had barely touched the horizon, and it was early enough that she thought she might get out of here undiscovered.
Sneak out of here, more like it.
She ignored her snarky inner voice, turned and wished she’d made a bolt for the door instead.
His sleep-mussed hair hung low over his forehead in a messy tangle. His eyes were heavy, blinking fatigue away. He swept his fringe back with a negligent stroke through his hair, making her chest tight.
His pyjama pants hung low on his hips, just below the jut of his hip. He wore a plain white T-shirt that did nothing to hide his flat stomach and broad, well-proportioned shoulders. He was watching her, massaging his nape. The hem of the T-shirt rose, baring a flash of smooth, warm skin and the well-defined V of muscle on his low abdomen. It should be a sin to look that good.
Elizabeth forced her gaze to his face, deciding she shouldn’t really be noticing anything about his body at all. She ignored the beckoning front door and smiled hesitantly at James. “Good morning. You’re up early too.”
His brows rose. “Doesn’t help when you have someone who beats the rooster in bed with you.”
Elizabeth’s heart staggered. Someone in his bed? A woman? She had no right feeling the quick stab of nonsensical jealousy that snuck through her defences. Then a little blonde head poked past his leg, and relief swamped her. He’d meant Madeline.
“I thought I left you asleep in your bed last night?” Elizabeth said.
Madeline giggled, the sound wrapping a big red bow tie around her heart. James grimaced. “You did. But the thunder from last night’s storm proved too loud for little ears.”
“Your bed is so much warmer, Daddy,” Madeline said. “You should come in too, Liz’beth.”
Her eyes snapped to James’. Her face heated, and it had nothing to do with the innocence with which Madeline had suggested she come to James’ bed. In a flash, her thoughts had gone down a very different path.
He cleared his throat. “I think Elizabeth’s bed was warm enough for her. Am I right, Elizabeth?”
The way he looked at her made her want to say no, it hadn’t been warm enough at all. That she needed a hot-blooded, hard-as-a-rock body to cuddle up to, and then she might have all the warmth she needed.
But out loud she merely said, “It was very comfortable, thank you.”
Madeline skipped around James’ legs and approached Elizabeth. She eyed the pack. “Where are you going?”
Elizabeth snagged her thumb beneath the shoulder strap. “I’ve got to be on my way early this morning.”
“You haven’t even had breakfast,” Madeline said.
“I don’t usually eat breakfast,” Elizabeth said.
Madeline put her little hands on her hips. “Breakfast is the most ‘portant part of the day. Isn’t that right, Daddy? You have to stay and have breakfast with us. "Madeline looked over her shoulder at James.
His serious gaze settled on her. “Elizabeth has to go, sweetheart. Maybe we’ll see her around town later.”
Madeline jumped with a delighted smile on her mouth. “We can do coffee.”
Elizabeth couldn’t help the bubble of a laugh that came from her lips, even though she knew she’d be long gone by lunchtime. “That sounds very adult. I don’t know about coffee, but I love milkshakes. How about you?”
“Oooo. I love choc’late milkshakes. And banana. And st’awberry.”
“You have stolen a way into my daughter’s heart. Again,” James said. He placed a hand on Madeline’s shoulder and gave it a little squeeze.
He peered at Elizabeth with eyes that seemed to see all too much. Now that the time had come, what she wouldn’t do for a few more moments in their company, but that was just wishful thinking.
“Thank you for letting me stay last night.”
“I’ll drive you into town.”
“I’d rather walk.”
“It’s quite a way. We’re a bit out of the central district from here.”
“I’m used to walking.”
“Yeah, Dad. She’s fit. She rides horses, you know.” Elizabeth could have hugged Madeline for her innocent comment.
“That’s right. A walk into town will give me a chance to stretch my legs,” Elizabeth said, grateful for Madeline’s unexpected helpful comment.
James watched her for a moment. “If you have to go right now, stay here for a moment. The weather is atrocious outside. I’ll get you the coat I promised.” He disappeared into his room and before long came back out holding a soft black coat. He held the collar for a moment, his thumb stroking the material, then he looked up at her and his eyes cleared. “This was Hanna’s. Since you lost yours, please accept this.”
The material looked expensive, and she waved it off. “Oh, no! It’s far too good for me.”
James frowned. “It certainly is not too good for you. Take it. It will keep you warm. I only feel responsible for you losing yours.”
He held the coat to her. Tentatively, she took it. The coat was light and soft, and she knew she’d never afford anything like this. Not used to receiving gifts, she found she was a little uncomfortable. And she knew from experience nothing was given without an alternate agenda.
There won’t be with James.
However, her man-reading ability hadn’t been the most spot on in the past, so she remained reserved. Besides, he didn’t give her a coat for any other reason than payment for her dunk in the freezing ocean.
“Thank you. For everything.”
She glanced at him, but his gaze held warmth. There was also an extra layer of something she didn’t want to acknowledge. A combined awareness on a sensual level. An offer. An invitation.
Look where the last invitation got you.
She sobered up quickly. She gave him a small nod, took his hand in hers and said, “It was my pleasure. Goodbye.”
She gave Madeline a cuddle and forced herself not to look back as she walked down the stairs, across the foyer and through the front door. As she shut the door, a twinge of regret touched her heart. She could be in there now, having breakfast, planning a day with Madeline. It would have been nice to take up his offer, but it would only be a reprieve.
As she walked down the driveway, she chipped away that little piece of regret from her heart and locked it in the box she kept all the other painful memories and feelings. The box overflowed, but she mentally locked it shut with a decided click and shoved it back into the dark place where she kept things best forgotten.
* * *
It was five in the afternoon, and the rain hadn’t let up all day. In fact, if it was at all possible, it seemed to be falling even harder. Frigid wind swept from the ocean, laced with ice and had frozen her to the bone. Elizabeth glanced at the quickly darkening sky. Soon, it would be pitch dark. The steel-grey clouds formed an impenetrable ceiling overhead, and now heavy with water, they seemed to have dropped so low, she felt she could reach out and touch them. On the other side of the street, waves crashed like distant thunder, steel-grey water capped with white, filmy frosting. It was rough, wild and in this weather, foolish to be out in.
She’d finally ventured to the one and only store cum café in the main street and huddled beneath the gas heater set to warm the outside tables, which were all bare. There were people inside, sitting in booths, smiling and chatting, drinking coffee, eating and nice and cosy warm. She shuddered, turning her back on them, trying to rub some warmth into her bare hands. She huffed into cupped palms, the sensation offering fleeting relief. If only she had a pair of gloves, but beggars couldn’t be choosers.
The coat James had given her offered some protection against the weather, but if it continued on like this, she feared it would be no help at all. She tugged it tighter around her. There was a light floral scent in it, but also James’ scent. It had probably hung unused in his wardrobe, next to his other clothes. Unused, and kept there for years as a memory of his wife. Clearly, if he still had her clothes in the wardrobe, he wasn’t over her death.
She’d been surprised that it had been hard leaving James. And Madeline. It was as though a little piece of her heart had decided it wanted to stay. It was a soothing balm to the torture it had endured. But Elizabeth was a realist. It was a respite. That was all.
She’d gone straight to the bus shelter to view the timetable and discovered there wasn’t a bus out of here until Monday. Not a surprise considering she was off the beaten path here. She shouldn’t have given in to the whimsy of a beach in the dead of winter. But after the horror of past events, she’d been desperate for a few precious hours where she might forget about him. In reality, she couldn’t have picked a worse place or worse time.
Nothing came through this town. The traffic was limited to locals and people walking their dogs. She’d even waited for those few people dashing through the rain and asked to hitch a lift out of town. She’d even pounced on a little old lady. No one was going anywhere, they said. The weather was just too bad. It wasn’t safe with the cliffs the way they were and the worst of the storm yet to come in from the Arctic. She was certainly feeling those Arctic winds now. They were tearing through her clothing and straight into her bones.
After the failure of finding a ride out of town, she’d tried to find a cheap hotel to stay and wait for the Monday bus, but there was nothing. There were a few B&Bs, but they were way out of her price range. She had precisely twenty seven dollars and thirty cents left in her purse and nothing in her bank; thanks, David Logan.
She had no one else to blame but herself. She’d been a fool. Had been in love with the idea of being in love. Or maybe she’d just been so damn lonely that when he’d shown her some attention, she’d fallen over herself for more. He’d literally swept her off her feet, and she’d been too caught up in the giddy feeling of being special that she hadn’t seen the warning signs until it was too late.
The one and only time she’d decided to take a chance on her heart, and look where it left her.
She sighed, taking in a deep, steeling breath. She couldn’t do much about her situation now. She’d just have to rough it. If the café didn’t mind, she could stay here in the relative shelter of the outside gas heater. Next, she’d go to the pub and find a quiet corner. She could ask if they needed help in return for a meal. That way, she’d stay at least until closing time.
After that, she’d hole up somewhere, protected from the weather. She’d have to keep moving if she didn’t want to freeze to death, but she’d done it before, and she could do it again. In the morning, she’d try harder to get a lift into Melbourne and put this down to another bad decision.
“Liz’beth!” She heard a faint voice calling over the noise of the deluge. A small body barreled into her, appearing through the curtain of rain.
Elizabeth bent to her knee and hugged Madeline, surprised at how happy she was to see the child. “Hey, sweetie. What are you doing here?”
“We came to the café for milkshakes! I asked Daddy if we might see you again, and he said maybe we wouldn’t, but I knew we would, and here you are, right here.”
“But… where’s your dad?”