‘Happy Birthday’. Instead of everyone joining in, they stared at her. She faltered to a stop. ‘What’s wrong?’
‘Nothing,’ everyone cried. ‘Carry on.’
Embarrassed, she shook her head and sipped her water. ‘Someone else can have a turn.’
‘Not after that, they can’t,’ Nathan muttered. ‘You sing like an angel.’
For a moment she forgot everything except the memories of singing, especially with Gran, and how happy it had made her. ‘I inherited my grandmother’s singing gene.’ Gran had paid for her lessons until she’d decided she didn’t want music as a career but rather a happy go-to place. ‘She sang for the national opera company.’ She’d also been the only one to question her love for Paul before the wedding.
Not now, Moll. Having fun, okay?
She turned to Nathan. ‘That’s some car you’ve got. I saw you arrive at work last Wednesday when I drove in for a change.’
Again he was watching her intently, but at least there was no tension lurking behind his gaze this time. And he went with her change of subject. ‘Not bad, eh? I only bought it a month ago and haven’t had time to take it for a spin out on the highway. But it has to happen soon, or else I might as well sell it.’
‘That’d be a waste.’ She couldn’t think of anything more exciting than speeding along the road in that amazing car, forgetting everything and enjoying the moment.
Wrong, Moll. Being with Nathan would be more exciting.
Molly spluttered into her coffee.
Nathan held out a serviette. ‘Here, wipe your face.’
Trying to snatch the paper serviette from his fingers only caused her to touch him, and she pulled back. Heat that had nothing to do with stopping the spluttering and everything to do with longing began unfurling deep inside her. It came with a growing awareness of herself as a woman, and of the man beside her. ‘You a dad, by any chance? You have a thing about goo on faces?’
The serviette was scrunched into a ball and dropped back on the table. ‘No kids,’ he muttered and looked away.
Back to upsetting him. She didn’t know what to say for fear of further annoying him. Time to talk to someone else. Leaning forward, she eyeballed Emma across the table. ‘When do you head over to Queenstown?’ The intern was going to New Zealand’s winter festival.
‘Thursday. I can’t wait. Have you been?’
‘Years ago. It’s an amazing event in an extraordinary location.’
Nathan wasn’t going to be ignored. ‘Did you go on the jet boat?’
‘Of course.’
‘You’re obviously into speed.’ When he smiled his whole face lit up in a way she rarely saw.
‘I guess I am. Not that I’ve done anything extreme. Nor will I be. Safe and sensible is me.’
‘Nothing wrong with that.’ Nathan was watching her in a way that suggested he wanted to know more about what made her tick outside work. But he waited, didn’t push.
Which had her opening up a little. ‘I liked my sports, sailing on large yachts, going to rock concerts, things like that.’
‘Liked?’ he asked quietly. ‘Not any more?’
Thump. Reality check. Hurrying to deflect him, she spluttered, ‘Still like, but I don’t seem to find the time any more. Neither do I know anyone in Sydney with a yacht the size I’m used to.’ Actually, she did, but that family was part of the past, so she wasn’t paying them a visit any time soon. In fact, never.
‘I don’t suppose a three-metre Paper Tiger would suffice?’ Nathan wasn’t laughing at her, just keeping the conversation going on a comfortable level, like he was trying to stop her tripping into the black hole that was her past. He couldn’t be. He knew nothing about it. ‘My brother-in-law’s got one.’
A laugh huffed across her lips, surprising her. ‘Me? Actually sail a small yacht? I don’t think so. I’d probably fall off or drop the sail at the wrong moment.’
‘All part of learning to sail.’ He grinned, then told her about his misadventures on his surfboard.
Nearly an hour later people had finished eating, and were beginning to gather their gear together.
‘Guess it’s time to head away,’ Molly said reluctantly. It had been fun talking and laughing with everyone, but especially with Nathan. He was different away from work, more at ease with her somehow, talking about Queenstown, his car, and other things. He even laughed and smiled often. He was a man she liked and wanted to spend more time learning more about.
Nathan leaned closer, said quietly, ‘Feel like a ride in my car?’ There was a cheeky smile on that divine mouth, and something in his eyes that asked if she was up to it. ‘I can drop you home.’
Molly’s mouth dropped open. She snapped it closed. Then spluttered, ‘That’s not necessary. I’m fine with the train.’
Across the table Vicki rolled her hand from side to side. ‘Train or top-of-the-range sports car. I know which I’d prefer.’
So did she. Except the car meant being squashed into a confined space with a man. Not just any man. Nathan. Standing up, she said, oh, so casually, ‘It’s a long way to Bondi Junction.’
‘It’s on my way. I live in Coogee.’ When she raised her eyebrows, he continued in a voice that suggested he was determined she’d go with him, ‘I didn’t even finish one glass of champagne so you don’t have to worry about my driving.’
‘I wasn’t.’
Nathan shrugged. ‘Let’s fix our bills and get the car.’
‘Nathan, you don’t have to do this.’ At least he hadn’t offered to pay for her meal. Thank goodness for something, because she’d have argued hotly. Paying her own way meant never owing anyone anything. Her stomach was doing a squeeze and release thing, while her head spun with the thought she’d be crammed into a car with a male she didn’t know very well. With Nathan Lupton, sex on legs, kindness in his heart and, don’t forget, someone who was quick to get grumpy with her, but who she trusted not to hurt her.
‘You said you like fast cars.’
True. She couldn’t contain the smile splitting her face. Her first car had been a racy little number bought by her mother for her eighteenth birthday. She’d loved it. ‘But you can’t get up any speed between here and my apartment.’
‘Now, there’s a challenge.’ He smiled back and flipped a coin in the air, caught it and laughed.
Nathan watched the conflicting emotions zipping across Molly’s face
