before coming to her senses and realising she had no right to be, she gently shrugged off his hand on the pretext of reaching for her bag.
‘Look, can you give me some time to think about all this? I’ll get back to you about the project manager position.’
As if.
The moment she left this place she had no intention of ever getting in touch with him ever again.
Her nerves were flayed, her memories too poignant, her pain raw, and she couldn’t see any point in prolonging the inevitable: them parting ways for good.
He rummaged in his back pocket, pulled out his wallet, and handed her a business card, bearing his name, mobile number and email on rather plain but expensive cream cardboard.
‘Here’s where you can reach me. When you call.’
She managed a small smile at his confidence, took the card and slid it into the back pocket of her jeans, knowing she wouldn’t use it, wishing she could.
It was prevaricating like this that could get her into serious trouble, and she needed to get out of here before those sexy grey eyes with their blue flecks and endearing corner crinkles, along with accompanying ingenuous smile, undermined her completely.
‘I have to get going. It’s been a big day and I need to crash before starting all over again tomorrow.’
‘Sure.’
He slid several notes onto the table before she could reach for her purse, and he held up a hand when she opened her mouth to protest.
‘My shout. I asked you to come, I want to pay. Besides, you never know when I might need a snappy espresso fix again, and I want to keep the proprietor of that great place next door happy.’
‘Flattery will get you everywhere,’ she said, secretly thrilled by his chivalry in insisting on paying, remembering the old times they’d had to go Dutch because neither of them had a spare cent to their names.
‘Will it?’
‘What can I say? The café’s my baby.’
‘You have every right to be proud. It’s a great place.’
He took hold of her hand as if it were the most natural thing in the world, his touch warm and steady, infusing her with a sense of security she hadn’t known in a long time.
‘I know.’
This wasn’t a time for false modesty. She knew the Niche was fabulous, from its cosy corner, bearing low leather sofas in the softest fawn surrounded by comfortable matching ottomans and strategically placed fuchsia and turquoise bolster cushions, to the monstrous timber bar topped by stainless steel with its co-ordinated bar stools.
She loved every inch of the place, with its exquisite water views on one side, to the views of Melbourne’s city skyline on the other. She’d built it up from scratch, competing in a high-end hospitality market, and could now proudly say it held its own.
Quite simply, the Niche was exactly that for her: a niche in Melbourne, a personal space, a home. Something she’d craved since leaving Rainbow Creek, something concrete and solid and all hers to fill the aching void deep in her heart.
He squeezed her hand, understanding exactly where she was coming from. He should; she’d bared her soul to him, poured out her hopes and dreams about owning a place just like the Niche all those years ago.
Pity he hadn’t listened to her other dream that had involved ‘till death us do part’.
‘Would you like me to take you home?’
‘No, but thanks for offering. Still the gentleman, huh?’
In a rash, spur of the moment gesture she didn’t rationalise and would probably regret later, she leaned forward and placed a quick peck on his cheek, fighting the urge to linger.
His stubble prickled her lips, leaving them tingling and hypersensitive as she inhaled deeply, savouring his scent. Crushed leaves, cedar, the woodsy cedar instantly transporting her back to Rainbow Creek and the huge cedar tree with its old rubber tyre she used to swing on in her parents’ backyard where he’d pushed her for hours one sultry Sunday afternoon.
It was a safe smell, an evocative smell, and she pulled away sharply before she did something even crazier like fling herself into his arms, just like she used to run from the swing into his open, waiting arms.
‘I guess there’s something to be said for old-fashioned manners if that’s the type of response I get,’ he said, rubbing his cheek where she’d left the faintest lipstick mark, a goofy grin on his face.
Her heart hitched at the familiarity of his expression, the same loopy way he’d looked at her when she’d served him the very first day they’d met, and she swayed towards him, torn between wanting to fling herself into his arms and resurrect the good old days and run as far from him as she could get.
Pulling up short, she stiffened, hoping he hadn’t read the yearning in her face. ‘I don’t have far to go.’
‘Okay, then. I guess we’ll call it a night.’
‘Uh-huh.’
‘Thanks for agreeing to meet with me, Cam.’
She held her breath as he leaned towards her, his head descending slowly, her heart pounding in anticipation of a goodnight kiss she shouldn’t want so damn much.
He took his time, and she clenched her hands into fists to stop from reaching out, bunching his T-shirt and yanking him towards her.
Her eyelids fluttered shut, and she tilted her face up, silently praying he’d go for her lips, guessing he’d play the gentleman to the end and settle for her cheek after all this time.
‘You have my card. Use it,’ he whispered against her ear, his warm breath tickling the sensitive skin behind her lobe and sending tiny shivers of desire down her spine.
Her eyes flew open to find him staring at her with way too much perception, as if he knew what she wanted but would make her wait for it.
Well, he’d be waiting a long time considering she had no intention of using his card.
‘See you.’
Her noncommittal reply fell on deaf ears as his confident smile broadened, and she sent him a jaunty wave as she strolled away, resisting the urge to peek over her shoulder to see if he was watching her. By the heat burning holes in her back and spreading, he was, but she didn’t look back.
Just like he hadn’t when he’d left her high and dry and walked out on her in Rainbow Creek.
CHAPTER THREE
CAMRYN gnawed on her bottom lip, giving the screwdriver an extra vicious twist as she tried to fix the refrigerator door for the third time.
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