Anticipation grips my stomach. My feet pace around the living room. Time ticks by painfully slow. Seth left me in a tizzle and all out of sorts. How does he have this effect on me?
A loud knock on the door startles me. Opening the door, I’m met with the most gorgeous sight––Seth, dressed in dark jeans and a fitted white T-shirt. Gosh, I could eat him up.
“Like what you see, my lady?”
“In your dreams,” I scoff. His scent wraps around me, tickling my senses. Hmm . . .”Why do you smell like a girl?”
His cheeks pink slightly. “Umm . . . don’t know what you mean.” His pitch sounds higher than usual.
“You smell like berries or something fruity I’d use in the bath on myself.”
His eyebrows rise, and that grin of his returns. “I’d like to see you in the bath.”
Oh damn. My body prickles. Looking down, I see the bright pink skin on my chest. How embarrassing. Clearing my throat, I continue to tease him. “Well. Umm . . . Why do you smell like a girl?” I ask again.
“It covers the grease and fuel smell. I’m around cars and engines daily. I probably should have put some cologne on, to mask the fruity aroma of my bath wash.”
I can’t help giggling.
Seth steps through the doorway and takes hold of my face, and my breath hitches. When his face moves to my neck, I shudder as his nose runs along my collarbone. I’m a hundred percent sure he can hear my heart hammering away.
“Mmm,” he moans. “Fruity.” Our eyes connect. “You smell almost as good as me.”
And he ruins the moment. I exhale. His thumb floats over my cheek and then it’s gone, but the imprint of his touch is still there.
Clearing my tight throat, I ask, “Do you think we should go?”
He nods and says nothing. Shaking my head, I turn back to retrieve the Apple Crumble I had baked earlier. My body tingles from his touch. I’m not sure how to take him yet. He does like playing with my emotions, which are all over the shop thanks to Ryan.
“Yes, Sherri will be waiting by the door ready to scold us if we’re late.”
Stepping outside, I notice he hasn’t brought his car. “Are we taking my car?” I asked, confused.
He takes the warm dish from my hands. “No, we’re walking.”
“Walking . . . just how far is Sherri’s place from here? I was planning to drive before you forced yourself into my evening plans. There aren’t a whole lot of houses around.” My arms span around the open space and empty road.
“Trust me. Didn’t you check the address she gave you? It’s in the same street as yours.” He grins and I feel stupid, looking at the piece of paper I do see the same name. I blame him for distracting me. I reluctantly close and lock my door. I follow him to the footpath, letting him guide the way.
The night is fresh, stars are shining, and the moon, big and bright, lights our way. You wouldn’t get this kind of beautiful night in the city. That’s for sure.
“So how long have you lived here?”
“I moved here when I was fifteen and live with my nan.”
“Oh yeah? Do you have any brothers or sisters?” My curiosity is getting the better of me.
“Yeah, a sister.” His answer is short. He doesn’t elaborate. “Do you have any siblings?” He looks at me as we continue to stroll along the footpath.
“No.” It saddens me. Yes, I’m an only child. Some would love it—me, not so much. Who doesn’t want at least one brother or sister? Perhaps with the knowledge of recent events, I could have a brother or sister out there. I wouldn’t know whom they are, heck Seth could be my half-brother. Oh, hell no! I’m not letting my brain go there, we’re definitely not related.
“Don’t worry. We’ll stick together now.” He drapes his arm over my shoulders.
I melt into his side, my arm wrapping around his waist. A perfect fit. He doesn’t pull away, so we continue to walk this way.
“Are you ready to talk to me about why you’re running away?”
“I’m not running away,” I rush to defend myself. Or am I? “Perhaps I’m seeking a new perspective on life.”
“What kind of new perspective?” he probes.
“Not really sure yet, I’m waiting for it to come to me, but I’m also on holidays.” It’s true—I am.
“A never-ending holiday?” He looks at me hopefully. Extreme happiness pumps through me. His eyes glint with a yearning of desire. After a few seconds, I notice we’ve stopped and he releases my body, standing in front of me. His eyes reflect the moonlight. It’s as if he’s waiting for more. Why would he want more about me?
My arms fold defensively. “I’m not sure how long I’m staying. And don’t try getting more information out of me because, it’s not your problem; it’s mine. Now can we please get moving before Sherri scolds us?” My anger gets the better of me. The words that leave my mouth aren’t meant to be harsh or offending, but my tone suggests otherwise.
Seth doesn’t say anything else; he nods and keeps walking. A sense of loss follows me when he doesn’t pull me into his side again. I slowly walk behind him, ashamed at myself for lashing out. He didn’t deserve it.
We walk along for a moment longer before I break the silence between us. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay, Chloe.” His short reply hurts, so I stay quiet.
After another five minutes or so, Seth veers off the path and walks through what looks like shrubbery and bushes. If I’d been walking past on my own, I would have missed the gate and pathway. Looking ahead, I see the most beautiful house lit up. Lights on the porch expose an elegant style dwelling. It’s a larger version of the cottage
“Wow,” I breathe.
“Yeah, they found it hard to part with the cottage, so they made a bigger version. Though, it’s more secluded.
“You can say that again. I’d have walked right past if you weren’t with me.”
“Yeah, a lot of people can’t find it. They think it’s a wall of shrubs, like a decoration of some sort.”
“I bet. It’s as breathtaking as the cottage. I mean, wow.” My words fail me.
“About time, you pair!” Sherri yells from the doorway. Beside me, Seth chuckles. My lips turn up in a grin. Such a blunt lady—she’s great.
“Sorry, Nan, just took in the scenery on the walk.”
Nan? No bloody way! “Sherri is your nan?” Turning to face him, I shove my hands on my hips. He’s been playing a game with me from the start. He knew I’d be seeing him again, and now not telling me he’s actually related to the one and only person I know in town.
“Yeah.” He shrugs as if it’s something everyone should know.
“Why didn’t you tell me? Was it all a game to you?”
“You didn’t ask, and no I don’t play games, especially with girls’ hearts. I honestly didn’t think I needed to tell you my family tree.” He shrugs leaving my side and leaps up the stairs two at a time, handing Sherri the pie. Annoyance settles in me as I walk up the steps behind him, one at a time, with my eyes cast down. I’m not sure how I feel about Seth now, I thought he was different. Could I be getting too angry because I’ve been hurt recently and I’m looking for any excuse to be mad at the male species? I look up from the steps and allow myself to take in the view ahead of me–Seth’s perfectly sculpted arse.
Seth stops, looking back. I give him a cordial smile.
The annoyance and anger I was feeling mere moments ago, dissipates when he allows me one of his tummy turning grins. “Now I know you liked what you saw.”
We both laugh.
Before I can reply, Sherri is distracting Seth and taking the dish from him. “Come on, you pair, stop ya lolly-gagging around.”
“Sorry.” I follow them both through the door, and it really is a bigger image of the cottage. “You have a lovey home, Sherri.”
“Thank you, dear. How are you settling in?”
“Great, thank you. Your cottage is perfect. I love it.” My eyes roam around the room. There are photos in beautiful frames hanging on the walls and a huge floor-to-ceiling dark wooden bookshelf full of books along one entire wall. It’s a stunning sight.
“You look more relaxed now, dear.”
Honestly, how can she tell? “Yeah, I am better than I was.”
She walks over to me, wrapping her arms around me in a comforting embrace. My eyes fall on Seth, who stands behind Sherri. He watches us, as if he’s studying me. His gaze causes my stomach to twist with anxiety, for what reason I’m not entirely sure. Do I want to continue the little banter we have going on? He brings out a different side of me. I’m not sure how to take him though. He’s so sweet and his looks match his sweetness. His humour is a breath of fresh air that has managed to put a cheesy grin on my face at each encounter. He’s also managed to steal the wind from my lungs in those moments. A memory of this afternoon and his closeness causes my breathing to become short and fast. My stupid heart and brain send me mixed signals, one reminds me to not get involved because I could get hurt again, while the other wants to jump in head first. Stupid organs.
Releasing me, Sherri announces it’s time to eat. We take seats at the large dark wood table.
Sherri has prepared lasagne along with a salad. The aromas coming from dinner smell amazing, my mouth salivates and my stomach gives a low growl.
After Sherri has served us, we begin eating, and it’s as if there’s a spice party happening in my mouth. “So dear, what are your plans while you’re here?” she asks, catching me off guard, I cough, choking slightly on my meal. Seth hands me a glass of water. As I take it from him, our hands graze and once again I’m caught up in him and how he makes me feel inside.
I take a sip of chilled water before responding to Sherri. “I don’t have any.” It’s a depressing thought when you realise you have no plans. I have nothing to look forward to. It could also be something exciting. I need to find the excitement in my life again and to only worry about me and no one else.
“Oh really, a pretty, smart girl like you? What do you like doing for fun?” she asks before she has another mouthful of her dinner.
“Don’t ask for too much, Nan, she isn’t one to open up.” Sarcasm drips from his tone. I look up from my plate giving him a deadpan look, as if to say, ‘Really? You wanna be a jerk.’
“Oh, hush up, Seth.” She waves her hand at him, dismissing his comment. He says nothing, but watches me seethe as he throws a piece of carrot in his mouth, a cocky grin on his face.
Sherri looks at me, awaiting my answer. Gee, how do I say no to her? So, I don’t. “Well I like reading and baking and I hope to travel one day.” She nods as I talk.
Sherri falls silent after my answer to her question. After a moment, she speaks up. “Anyway, I have this place I once ran a bakery business from. It’s sitting there collecting dust . . . it could use a good clean up, and perhaps, if you’re interested, you and I could maybe open the bakery again. You said you enjoyed baking.” Her words are full of hope as are her sparkling blue eyes.
My voice fails me and I honestly don’t know how to reply. A bakery? “Umm . . .” is all I manage, my words still evade me.
“You can have some time to think about it,” she says, her voice soft and welcoming.
“You don’t even know me; why would you do this for me?”
She smiles and a twinkle appears in her eyes. “Dear, you need something to keep your mind busy and your heart guarded. I don’t know what hurt you’re carrying around, but I’ve seen a lifetime of trials, some my own, and some belonging to those close to me.” Her hand covers mine, squeezing it. Comforting me. I never realised I needed this.
My heart warms and this heat spreads throughout my body. It’s calming. A loan tear slides down my face. “I don’t know the first thing about running a business, let alone a bakery.” I laugh, quickly wiping the tear away.
She scoffs, “I’m not that old. I’ll be in there helping you, and of course, we’ll have this young man.” Her other hand takes Seth’s.
“I’ll do my best to help out. It’ll mostly be weekends, so it won’t clash with the garage. But we’ll get other people to help.” Seth grins.
Oh, my. This sounds like it’s really happening. “This is all a bit too much for me to take on board right now. I don’t even know if I can. You’ve only known me a day.” I’m so afraid I’ll fail. I seem to fail at everything else lately, especially relationships. How could I take this from Sherri? It’s her family business and, I’m not family. Technically, I’m not taking anything from her. She’s asking me to be a part of what she’s building, I console myself.
Sherri nods slowly. “We’ll work at it slowly. I need something to keep me busy as well. You have a bright spirit inside you burning to come out. You’d be surprised at how well I can read people.”
Geesh, she keeps coming with the inner reflections.
When she stands from the table, collecting our plates, I sense eyes on me. Looking up, my eyes meet those deep blues once again. Butterflies swarm in my tummy.
“What do you do when you’re not here, in Canyon Bay?” Seth asks. He stretches back in his seat, awaiting my reply.
“Nothing now. I lost my job and came here to have a bit of a break.” My head drops as my fingers begin straightening the already tidy table cloth.
“What did you do?”
“Nothing. Dated my boss.”
Seth snickers, my head shoots up and he wears a mischievous grin. When he catches me glaring, he stops quickly, clearing his throat. “Oh. It wasn’t what I meant, but okay.” He chuckles again. I want to slap the smile off his face for laughing at me. I already feel silly because firstly I took Seth’s question the wrong way, and secondly, I told him I slept with my old boss. Good one, Chloe.
How embarrassing. Now he probably thinks I’m one of those chicks who sleep with her boss to get ahead.
“What work did you do?” he continues.
“I was admin assistant and occasionally would cover for the boss’s personal assistant when she was on holidays or sick,” I respond, still mortified from my previous stupid moment.
“Oh yeah? So, you have some business knowledge?”
“I did study a Certificate Three in Business Management—finished it last year. I was hoping to move up in the company I was working for, but hey—life gave me a different path to follow.
“You could totally run this business, but the question is, are you ready to stay?”
Can I stay? At least no one here knows me. It’s a fresh start.
“I don’t know. Probably, since I don’t have anything holding me to the city.”
“What about your family or friends?” His question balks me. I don’t want to answer. I open my mouth, ready to respond and change the subject when Sherri walks out with two plates of my warm apple crumble.
“Don’t go scaring her off, Seth, I’d like her to stay. Wouldn’t you?” she scolds placing plates in front of us. It smells delicious. Mmm . . . Warm apple crumble, with ice-cream.
“Wasn’t my intention, Nan, and of course I’d love her to stay,” he responds as he puts a piece of pie in his mouth. He even makes eating pie attractive. I watch his lips, wondering what they might feel like on mine.
Shaking my head, I take a take a bite of the food on my spoon. It’s divine.
“This is beautiful, you do have a knack for baking.” Sherri smiles, taking another bite of her dessert.
“Oh, thank you. I’m sure I’m not as good as you, but I try and I enjoy it,” I respond.
“Homemade is always the best, dear. This is what I once did all the time—baked. I miss it.”
“Why did you close your business?”
She pauses and places her spoon down, her eyes meeting mine. “We had some family issues to deal with and I couldn’t do it all.” A small, sad smile plays on her lips.
“Oh, okay. Sorry.”
“It’s okay, dear. Think about our offer and we can go from there. I do hope you’ll consider our proposition.”
“I promise I’ll think about it. It’s a wonderful opportunity and I thank you so much for considering me to be a part of it.” I reach over and give her hand a gentle squeeze.
I’m truly grateful for the chance they are giving me, I wouldn’t get another opportunity like this again. I think my mind is already made up.
The night wore on and before I realised it, it was time to go. Sherri was getting a little tired.
“Thanks so much for a wonderful night.” I wrap my arms around her, thanking her.
“It was my pleasure. I look forward to seeing you again soon. Please remember to think about what I asked.”
“I will. Thank you.”
“Get her home safely, Seth.”
“You know I will, Nan. Go rest, and I’ll take care of the cleaning when I get home.” He pecks her on the cheek and walks out, waiting on the steps for me.
I go to follow, but Sherri takes hold of my wrist. “Dear, he doesn’t need to come home.” She winks.
My face heats up, and I’m speechless.
“Come on, my lady.” Seth sticks his head back through the door and must notice my bright pink face. “What did you say, Nan?”
“Nothing, dear,” she coyly answers before turning back into the living room. I’m left with my mouth hanging open.
“Come on then, slow poke.”
At first we silently walk back the way we came.
“So, the boss fired you ’cause you were bad in bed?” he asks.
Great . . . The conversation topic I don’t ever want to speak of with Seth. “Ah . . . No, he never complained when we were together, let’s just say that. He was a douche anyway. Replaced me with his newest flavour of the month.”
His laughter fills my ears briefly, I can’t help but follow suit. A moment later, after our giggles have subsided, Seth surprises me with his response. “He doesn’t deserve you then.”
“Yeah, this is what I’ve been told,” I agree.
Our playful banter continues the whole way home. Seth walks me to my door and waits for me to unlock it and turn on a light.
“So why did you come to live with your nan?” I ask the question again. I probably shouldn’t ask about his family but I’d like to know.
He sighs, rubbing his hand down his scrunched face. “Why do you have to know?”
Ouch. His words sting. “Sorry, I was curious. Sherri’s words got me thinking.” I shrug in reply.
“It’s hard to talk about . . . It’s something we struggled with for a long time.” He shoves his hands in his jeans pockets, glancing down, I notice he avoids looking at me.
I step into his personal space. My hands have a mind of their own as they place themselves on his face. His eyes shoot to mine, alarmed, but only for a second before they turn soft and heated.
Seth’s hand comes up and tucks a free strand of hair back into place. As I lean in, our noses almost touching, his breathing hitches. Looking deep into his eyes, I promptly step back, grinning. I ask, “How does it feel to be left hanging?”
“Well, how does this feel?” Within seconds he’s in front of me again. Gently he places his hands on either side of my face before he slowly runs his thumb across my bottom lip. Tilting his head has our mouths pressing gently together. Within seconds, the pressure he’s applying intensifies and I instinctively relax my mouth, inviting his tongue to commence its invasion . . . He doesn’t hesitate in doing so. I’m lost in this moment of heated desire. Our kiss doesn’t last long, but it’s enough to have me craving more. Seth’s forehead rests against mine, and I close my eyes and relish the tingling sensation left behind after his departure. Wow! . . .
“Goodnight, my lady,” he whispers, before turning and walking away, leaving me gob smacked.
Damn! Way to make an impression.
My plan to keep away from guys has seriously backfired. Big time.