Page 37 of The Orchard at Rosevale
He turned to her, the corners of his mouth curving into a smile. ‘Just okay?’
She had no intention of telling him that, on a scale of okay to panty-shucking, he scored highly towards the latter.
‘Bindi said you were a loner at school.’
His smile faded. ‘Bindi needs to keep her mouth shut if she wants to work for me.’
Mentally cursing that she’d inadvertently damaged her new friend’s chance of employment, Elora said, ‘I think it’s great the way you all get on. My folks moved around so much when I was growing up that I never got to make friends. Ones that lasted, that is.’
‘I wouldn’t class the Galahs as friends.’
‘Really? They were interested in what you’ve been doing for the last ten years since you left town, they shared anecdotes, they teased you gently about your schooldays, and they made you laugh.’ She held up her hands. ‘Don’t get me wrong, but from where I was sitting, that looked like a bunch of friends to me.’
He glared at her, but she saw the moment his gaze softened. ‘I guess if I’m stuck here for the next year, it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world to hang out with them occasionally.’
She clapped. ‘Look at you, Mr Social.’
He laughed. ‘I’ve been an introvert my whole life. Give me a break.’
‘At the risk of you accusing me of butting in, why don’t you invite the gang over for dinner once you get the restaurant up and running? Kind of like a soft launch?’
‘That’s genius.’
When he smiled, her heart fluttered.
‘You haven’t figured out my talents in the few days we’ve known each other?’
He gazed at her mouth for a moment before meeting her eyes. ‘Oh, I’ve noticed your talents.’
She groaned. ‘That sounds sleazy.’
‘I’m not the one who almost kissed me at the pub.’
‘I did not!’ Her denial came swiftly before she could acknowledge the truth.
She’d absolutely wanted to pash him at the pub.
‘Keep telling yourself that.’
She guessed what would happen next, he’d bid her goodnight, so when he said, ‘Want to have a nightcap? I used to love sitting around the fire pit this time of night and contemplating the world. Might be nice to share a wine to wind down after the excitement of winning the trivia night?’ she couldn’t hide her surprise.
‘Sounds good.’ She managed to sound sedate as her pulse raced.
Sitting around a fire with a gorgeous guy she’d had carnal thoughts about mightn’t be the smartest thing she’d ever done, but she couldn’t resist. Cruz Wardlow tempted her that much.
‘I’ll meet you out back,’ he said, his gaze lingering on her mouth again before he got out of the car.
She took a few moments to catch her breath, watching the way the denim moulded to his butt as he stalked away didn’t help, and pondered again the wisdom of sleeping with her boss.
CHAPTER
19
Cruz hadn’t lit the fire pit in over ten years, and the simple act of piling red gum logs over kindling made his gut churn as he remembered the last time. It had been a productive day on the farm and his father had been in a mellow mood for once. A new buyer had come on board after touring the farm, signing on to regularly purchase several tonnes of Kinstead avocados. Mac had suggested they have a barbecue for dinner and Cruz didn’t know whether to be pleased his dad wanted to spend time with him or wary, because they hadn’t cooked outside for years. His mum had a meeting with the Country Women’s Association and Cruz knew she went to the pub for a wine with a few friends afterwards. Usually, he would vanish to the studio, where he’d been living since he turned eighteen, but curiosity got the better of him and he’d accepted Mac’s invitation for a barbecue, just the two of them.
He should’ve known his father wouldn’t want to spend time with him alone, because Mac had just put the steaks and sausages on the hotplate when Roger had arrived. From that moment, Mac pretended like Cruz didn’t exist, except to bark orders at him.Get us another beer. Fetch the bread and tomato sauce. Flip the steaks.
Cruz hated being a third wheel, watching as Mac and Roger laughed and slapped each other on the back all evening. He’d never understood his father’s overt macho vibes around some men, almost like he was trying too hard to be one of the boys. Yet other times, he’d catch his father smelling flowers or flicking through Ferne’s magazines, indulging a softer side no-one ever saw. Mac had always been a contradiction, which Cruz could’ve lived with. What he couldn’t stand was his meanness, his surliness and the disregard with which he treated Ferne.
