Page 84 of The Orchard at Rosevale
She tilted her head up, schooling her face into faux innocence. ‘So you’re not taking me back to the motel tonight?’
‘Do you want me to?’
‘What do you think?’
He withdrew his arm and stood, holding his hand out to her. ‘I think I could get used to having you around.’
Elora’s heart stalled. He only meant until she finished the work he hired her for, right?
‘I like hanging out with you too,’ she said, keeping her response light, casual, at complete odds with the bizarre scenario that flashed through her head of what her staying in Rosevale Grove could mean for them.
‘Then what are we waiting for?’
As he drew her close, her pulse raced. Her hotel bed this afternoon hadn’t been conducive to their reunion—she hated hard mattresses—but they’d made it work, though she preferred the comfort of Cruz’s bed. Or maybe the appeal lay in being in Cruz’s arms?
A car engine and headlights sweeping up the drive stalled them.
‘Expecting company?’
Cruz shook his head. ‘Nobody pops in unannounced in the evenings around here. Besides, most farmers are in bed by now. Which is where I want to be with you.’ His eyes screwed up as he watched the car approach the house. ‘Whoever it is, I’ll get rid of them pronto.’
As the car stopped next to Cruz’s and the driver alighted, Elora stiffened. No freaking way.
Cruz felt her reaction. ‘You know this guy?’
‘Yeah. That’s Jason. My ex.’
‘What the hell is he doing here?’
‘I have no idea.’
Jason’s smarmy grin faded as he reached them and saw Cruz’s arm around her waist.
‘Surprise, babe.’
An unpleasant one. ‘What’s going on, Jason?’
‘Oooh,Jason,’ he mimicked. ‘I’m in the bad books when you don’t call me Jase.’
Bad books? Was he delusional? She’d dumped his cheating arse.
‘We broke up and now you’ve followed me here?’
Her voice tightened with emotion, and when Cruz leaned down to whisper in her ear, ‘I’ll leave you to it,’ before walking away, she wanted to cry. Not that she wanted to have this discussion with her ex in front of him, but she could’ve done with the support.
‘Who’s the dickhead moving in on my territory?’
Histerritory? Red spots of rage danced before Elora’s eyes, and she blinked several times.
‘I’m not, and never have been, yourterritory. You cheated on me, I broke up with you, end of story. So whatever you’re doing here, just leave.’
‘But, babe, aren’t you impressed I tracked you down? One of my mates at work showed me the video you took of that guy who was just pawing you, and I figured you were at this farm. So I drove up to take you home.’
‘What part ofI broke up with youisn’t computing in your peasized brain?’
‘All the mistakes we made are in the past. Told you I’ve found a new place for us, so if you deposit the money you owe me, we can sign the lease and move in ASAP.’
So that’s what this was about. He didn’t want her back. He probably thought she’d never repay him and wanted to shore up his chances.
