slept. She’d heard women talk about how good it was to sleep, spooned with their partner, and had thought they were exaggerating. Now she got it.
Careful. This was starting to feel like a relationship, as in not just about sex. Olivia tensed. Really? Damn. Just when she was beginning to enjoy things reality raised its annoying head to remind her she knew nothing about a good, solid, loving relationship between a man and a woman. Neither did Zac.
‘Hey, relax. I’m not going to bite.’ Zac’s voice sounded sleep-laden.
No, but was he going to hurt her? Not today, or next month maybe, but eventually would he realise he didn’t want to spend time with her, and walk? She had to protect herself. Wriggling free, she sat up. ‘I’m going to take a shower.’
Zac reached for her, pulled her down. ‘Come here. Let’s stay tucked up for a little longer.’
‘But …’
‘Do you have to be somewhere in a hurry?’ he asked reasonably.
‘No.’ Neither could she deny that lying in Zac’s strong arms gave her a sense of belonging. Something that had been missing most of her life. Tension began tripping up her spine. Not good. Belonging went hand in hand with a serious relationship. Squeezing her eyes shut tight, she worked at banishing the negative feeling. She’d make the most of this moment; give herself something to remember later.
‘I can’t believe that in less than two weeks we’ll be lying under palm trees.’ Excitement warmed Olivia as she talked to Zac on the phone the following Thursday night. ‘I’m going on holiday.’
‘Says the woman who went out of her way to avoid it.’ Zac’s laughter rolled down the phone.
‘Yeah, well, I’m glad I came to my senses. A holiday is definitely what I need. How are you getting on with sorting your surgical list?’
‘Not too bad. Because Paul’s taking over my private list I haven’t had to change too many appointments. Most patients I’ve talked to have been understanding about the change.’
Olivia grimaced. ‘I wish mine were as accepting. There’ve been a few tears and tantrums, but I think I’ve got it sorted. I’ll be working some long days leading up to our departure and will be busier than rush hour on the motorway.’
‘Wonderful,’ he groaned. ‘Are you going to sleep the whole time we’re away?’
‘Absolutely not.’ Somehow she doubted she’d sleep much at all, knowing Zac was in the same room and out of bounds. Why had he suggested that? Getting to know each other was one thing, but seriously? No sex? This would be a very interesting holiday. ‘I’m going shopping for bikinis at the weekend.’
‘Can I come?’
‘I don’t think so.’ She grinned. That so wasn’t happening.
‘What if I waited outside the shop and took you to lunch afterwards?’
‘What sort of lunch?’
‘You’d have to wait and see.’ Zac laughed again.
‘Sorry, not happening.’
‘So where do you go shopping for beach gear in the middle of winter?’
‘My favourite fashion shop has an accessories section all year round. Apparently bikinis are holiday accessories. Who’d have thought it? But, then, I haven’t owned a bikini in more years than I care to count.’ Or gone on a holiday.
‘Don’t you go to the beach?’ Zac asked.
‘Going to the beach is a family thing, or a teen group party.’ Which had been the last time she’d gone with a crowd.
‘I think it’s time you started getting out there and living, CC. All work and no play is not healthy.’
‘Didn’t you tell me how little you do outside work?’ They were a right messed-up pair. ‘We’ll make up for it in Fiji.’
‘Can’t wait.’ A sigh filtered down the line. ‘I mean that. You have no idea how much I’m looking forward to this now that it’s real.’
‘Oh, but I do. After at first refusing to accept the trip, I now find I’m often daydreaming about being on the beach or swimming with the fishes. I don’t remember being this excited about anything since … Well, I don’t remember.’
‘We are going to have a blast.’ Now he was sounding like an excited schoolboy.
‘Sure are.’
Another voice interrupted the moment. ‘Olivia, sweetheart, where’s the tonic water?’ Her mother’s wheedling voice grated more than usual.
‘Zac, I’ve got to go. Talk to you again.’
‘Something up? Your tone changed. Is your mother there?’ He missed nothing, damn him.
‘Yes, she is.’ Sometimes her mother could be demanding and unrelenting in her quest for whatever today’s greatest need was, and other times she’d be all sweetness and light. ‘I’ve got to go.’
‘Hey, I’m here for you.’ The excitement had gone, replaced with concern. ‘We can still have that lunch.’
‘I’m good, Zac. Truly.’
‘Olivia, tonic water. Where have you hidden it?’ Mum stood in front of her, her eyes bloodshot and her tomato-red lipstick smudged on her upper lip.
‘Talk to me, CC.’ Zac was in her ear.
‘It’s complicated.’ And ugly.
‘Try me,’ he persisted.
‘Not now, Zac.’ Her mother was in her face. ‘Talk later. Bye.’ Olivia pressed the off button, dug deep for patience. No surprise. She was all out of it. ‘There’s no tonic in this house.’ There hadn’t been any gin either until her mother had arrived with a bottle an hour ago.
‘Darling, that’s no way to treat your mother.’
Air hissed over Olivia’s lips. ‘Keeping an endless supply of gin and tonic isn’t either.’ She rubbed her thumbs over her eyes. ‘You said there was something you wanted to talk about.’
‘I think I should sell the house. It’s time to move on with my life. But you’re going to say no to anything I suggest.’ Petulant as well.
Being one of the trustees for her mother’s property and banking details came with its own set of difficulties. But if left to her own resources her mother would’ve gone broke long ago. ‘Mum, we’ve discussed this so often I can’t believe you’d bring the subject up again.’
‘You are so unfair. About everything.’
Yep, a right old cold fish with a bank account tighter than a fish’s backside. That’s me. ‘Where would you live if you sold? Another house? Or an apartment somewhere?’
‘I could
