The docking of the boat didn’t signal the end of the celebration for the visitors and special guests. There was an all-inclusive lunch after the cruise, and it seemed no one wanted to leave. Tash and the team had set up the teahouse with grazing tables and were kept busy continuously topping up the platters throughout the afternoon.
For the first time in many weeks, Nate desperately wanted to escape to his little cottage and close off the rest of the world. But he was determined not to go alone. He tried not to lose sight of Roberta, but the media was continuously cornering him for questions and interviews in between grabbing a few bites to eat. Two million dollars was a big deal in a small community. He hoped that his show of confidence in spending the two million dollars wisely got through to all concerned. After not wanting a bar of it, he could admit he’d always planned on taking on this task. This type of challenge made up the very fibres of his being.
The only thing holding him back was the unfinished business with Roberta. Even if it ended badly, he needed closure, or he’d never move on. So why did she kiss him before boarding the boat? Hours later, he could still feel the spot where her lips touched. Occasionally, his hand would reach up and touch it. As for that smile while they were on board? His heart had whooshed. Now it tremored with the memory.
Close to three pm, when the crowds were finally abating, Nate made a move and cornered Roberta who was helping Sophie and Hannah clear the tables. Totally not her job while wearing a moon boot and dressed the way she was. It wasn’t his place to complain, though. Clearly, Tash and her team were run off their feet. Today was one of those days when anything was allowed. Besides, it gave him the opportunity when he wasn’t being interviewed to take his fill of the soft yellow dress accentuating her curves and her dark curls hanging halfway down her back.
He swallowed, remembering how she’d looked with her hair splayed over his pillow. “Roberta, ah—” He coughed to clear his throat.
Roberta was wiping clean a table and looked up in surprise.
“Don’t you think you should rest your foot?”
She straightened and winced. “It is a bit sore.”
Nate swore. “What are you doing working in your condition? You’re wearing a moon boot, or hadn’t you noticed?”
“They needed a hand,” she protested.
“Come and rest it in the cottage. Can you make it that far?”
She halted for a moment before placing the cleaning cloth down. “I should be able to.”
“Bloody hell!” He swept her up in his arms and stormed out of the teahouse, oblivious to the stares.
“Nate, put me down,” Roberta hissed. “It’ll be this picture that makes it to the papers.”
“Well, smile so it doesn’t look like I’m abducting you,” Nate uttered so only she heard.
Roberta snorted with laughter. “But that’s exactly what you’re doing. This is against my will, just so you know.”
“Don’t care. You and I are going to have a friendly chat. Then you can do what you want. Call it what you like.”
Within seconds, they were at the cottage door. Nate gently put her down, making sure she was steady on her moon boot, before unzipping a small pocket on his khaki shorts and removing the cottage keys.
“I still have my keys,” she offered softly. She was close enough for her warm breath to feather his face and that wildflower scent to fill his senses. There were too many memories attached to it; he wanted to nuzzle his face in the crook of her neck and get high on it.
His chest hurt, like carrying Roberta had tested all his strength. He took a gulping breath, not game enough to look directly at her. He fumbled with the key in the lock. “Were you going to use it today?” His voice sounded unintentionally gruff. “You left some things behind.”
He finally got the key in and opened the door, terrified he’d started this conversation badly. He didn’t want to upset her before they had a chance to clear the air. God help him, he needed to sort through this shit between them. It was eating at him.
She limped inside, making directly for the small couch. Lying back, she propped her foot on a couple of stacked cushions. “I’m not sure.”
Nate remained awkwardly rooted to the spot inside the front door. “Coffee?” he finally spluttered, at a loss for how to start this important conversation.
“Thank you, yes.”
She rested with her eyes never leaving his face. It was hard to fathom what was going through her thoughts, but her intense gaze had him burning up. Sweat built under his khaki shirt, causing it to stick to his back. His heart rate picked up, too, his hand shaking a little. He clamped down on his jaw, hoping to steady his reaction to having Roberta in the room with him. He’d been through this sort of confusion before with Crystal until sudden clarity one day made everything apparent.
Well, he needed clarity now! He might come across as confident and assured, but this woman rocked everything, usually keeping him stabilised. Heaven forbid, the word love never entered his thoughts before when it involved Roberta. Crystal had damaged him in many ways, but what if this was the real deal?
When the coffee was made, he brought it over, set it down on the small coffee table beside the couch, and then helped her sit up.
She took the mug in both hands, taking an appreciative sip. “Thanks. It’s been a long day. I’ll have to phone Bob to come and pick me up.”
“Don’t!”
Her brows shot up.
He shrugged. “Not yet.”
“Well, sit down, you’re making me nervous.”
She pointed to the other end of the small couch, but he couldn’t move to sit that close to her. Not before they talked some of this out of their systems.
As she took another sip of her coffee, her trembling hand caused it to spill on her dress.
“Are you okay?” Nate asked, shocked by her shaking. Did the accident hurt more than her ankle?
“No, I’m not okay,” she burst out. “Look at me! Cool, calm Roberta can’t even hold a coffee mug to save her life. What have you done to me, Nate?”
“What have I done to you?” Really? “You’re blaming me?” Nate paced in front of the couch, his hands fisted by his sides. “You tell me to leave you alone, go live my life. That I’d be better off without you. How dare you tell me what’s better for me?”
“And I meant it—”
Nate stopped, bracing himself to look at her.
“—at the time.”
He growled, but the old Roberta looked right back, daring him to hold her steely gaze. “And how is it my fault?”
“Because you didn’t stop me from driving away? Didn’t snatch the keys from me. You knew I was going through so much crap. My head wasn’t working how it should.”
“You shut the door in my face. Drove off. Would you have listened to me?”
“Probably not, but that’s not the point.”
“Well, there you go. Stubborn Roberta would’ve driven off anyway, ending everything we’d started. Why didn’t you phone me when you realised you were wrong?”
“Who said I was wrong? And why didn’t you phone me? Come visit me in hospital or at Bob’s? Everyone else did, except you.” Roberta rose like she wanted to leave.
His heart rate peaked like a panic attack was setting in. “Sit!” He was terrified she’d walk out the door and he’d never see her again.
She dropped back onto the couch. “Well, stop yelling at me.”
“I’m not yelling,” he retaliated when he knew his voice was raised more than normal. “But I’m a fucking mess, okay? I thought I could erase you from my every day. Get on with my life. Switch off from those amazing nights we shared. Forget a person called Roberta ever existed. I happily wanted to see the back of your car as you drove back to Melbourne.” His chest heaved as he gulped for air. He was spent after off-loading, and his shoulders sagged, losing all their tension. “But I couldn’t do any of that.”
Tears filled her eyes, and he let out a low growl. He dropped to his knees on the floor in front of her, taking her in his arms.
She didn’t sob, but her tears gently wet his neck as she nestled against him. Amidst all this sadness, mixed messages and missed opportunity, a light flickered inside his chest. “You are the biggest pain in the arse.” He spoke into her hair with a smile on his face. “You’re irritating, loud mouthed, sassy as all heck when you know it’ll annoy me, and I’m tired of the crazy crap between us, but I … I …”
Roberta pulled back, hiccupping once. “Can … can I please lie down and rest my foot? It’s hurting like hell.”
“Oh, shit. Sorry.” Without hesitating, he picked her up and cradled her against his chest, taking her directly to his bedroom. Placing her on his bed, he asked, “Should I remove the boot?”
“Yes, please.”
It didn’t go unnoticed how she took one of his pillows and wrapped her arms around it, snuggling up to it with her eyes closed and a smile on her face. Once the boot was off, her moan of comfortable satisfaction broke him. He laid beside her, taking her in his arms. Careful not to hurt her ankle, he hugged her, held her tight and filled his senses with that familiar wildflower scent.
She did likewise. Snuggled up closer. Held him just as tight. They didn’t speak a word. None were needed. Making up for lost time. Needing this. Needing her.
Nate lost track of time but didn’t care. He was where he needed to be. When Roberta pulled back, he reluctantly loosened his hold.
“Crazy crap, huh?” she asked.
Uncertainty hovered over her face. He loved that hint of vulnerability, even though he rarely saw it. He didn’t doubt her actions leading to her accident were tearing bits out of her constantly.
With his finger, he traced a line down her face until it rested on her mouth. “I should’ve snatched your car keys off you. Yes, I blame myself for your accident. You were so emotional and I should’ve done things differently, held you back, forced you to stay. That sort of crazy crap.”
“I don’t understand this. We’re so different, yet in other ways, we’re so in sync. How do we know if we’re a good fit? You know, the couple that makes it until the end?”
“We don’t know, but I’m going to work hard at it every day because, without you and your crazy ways, I’m off balance, hurting. I want every bit of crazy around me. Always.”
A tiny tear dribbled past her eyelashes, and she blinked to free a couple more. “It’s been hurting so much here, Nate”—she placed her hand against her chest with an anguished face—“the entire time we’ve been separated.”
“I’m not going anywhere. I’m here for the long haul.”
“You mean that?”
He didn’t reply with words; instead, he cradled her face in his palm and leant closer until his mouth found hers. A shock of arousal jolted him, but he directed his energy solely towards kissing. With an unsteady breath, his heart thundered in his ears. He craved so much more but restrained himself with only this, allowing his tongue to dart inside to touch hers. Enjoying her gasps of pleasure. Feasting. Holding back the intensity. Tongues duelling and luring. A kiss to steal his soul. Just how he wanted it. Craved it. Every muscle tightened as he let out a growl of frustration, determined his raw need could wait until later. Not sure how long he could hold out, though.
It might’ve been minutes, hours or days, but who cared? They were on lake time, and he sensed the sun moving towards the horizon. Roberta dozed a little while his gaze took his fill of her. Unable to let go.
When Roberta stirred an hour or so later, the shadows had begun to creep in.
“Nate”—she rubbed her nose as she slowly woke—“what did the premier promise you?”
“Huh, what are you talking about?” Was she sleep talking?
“After your meeting. Did she make any promises?”
He chuckled, shaking his head at the same time. “You really are crazy.” Propped up on one elbow, he leant closer, leaving feather-light kisses along her brow. “How can that be at the forefront of your mind when all I can think about is this?” He pulled back, tracing a line with his finger down her face towards her breast. Her dress was messily rucked up near her waist, and he trailed further down, softly kneading her thighs, itching to move to that magical place between her legs.
His gaze never left her face. Her eyes opened wider, drawing him into their softness the more she awakened.
She reached out and touched his stubbled cheeks, igniting a rush of hormones to emerge and stagger about.
“Tash told me we’d have the best make-up sex ever.”
Nate’s hand froze. “You discussed us with Tash?”
Roberta grunted. “No, it was more like ‘he’s walking around like a grumpy old bear ready to attack anyone in his way’. She also said you were blaming me for this mess of saving a man’s life. It was only after I told her we’d more likely kill each other that she added in that savoury line like this was our life.”
Nate moaned, relaxing beside her, nuzzling his face against her neck. He took little bites of her soft skin before letting go and running his tongue over it.
Roberta giggled, and the already enlarged body part in his khaki shorts got bigger and harder.
“So, do I have anything to report back to Tash?” she asked.
Nate smiled as he pulled away. Taking her hand in his, he directed it further down. “You tell me.”
“God, I’ve missed this.” Roberta writhed against him with a delicious whimper.
“Me too,” he croaked, swallowing back the bulk of relief blocking his airways. Turbulent heat rippled through him as Roberta fumbled with the buttons of his shirt. Her dress was easy to tug over her head. The bra was not too hard to remove, but her underwear required concentration to avoid hurting her ankle.
He dispensed with his clothes quickly, and finally, it was skin on skin, and he could breathe again. He wrapped his arms around her waist and held her tight, relishing the feel of her vibrant body.
“We’ve got all night, haven’t we?” she whispered, rubbing her cheek against his stubble, igniting every damn cell in his body.
“Good luck with that.” His body was already on the road of no return as he cupped her backside, drawing her closer. “Can’t guarantee it on the first run.”
Laugher erupted from her throat, and for an instant, he was prepared to give up the sex to hear her voice in song. Anything.
He stilled, watching the play of emotions on her face as the shadows of dusk deepened. His chest tightened with longing. The need to hold her forever and never let her out of his sight physically hurt all over. But to hold her back would be wrong. She was a strong, independent, funny and caring woman. What he loved most about her.
What you saw is what you got. No filters. Ever.
As the late afternoon breeze lazily floated in from the open window, it tingled along his skin, raising goose bumps, helping to cool his heated body. When she caught his gaze, her smile slipped as they took their fill of each other.
“I’ve been so miserable, Nate. Sad, downhearted, out of sorts.”
Their hands met, fingers entwining. Bracing himself, Nate prepared to ask the one question that had been weighing heavily on his mind. He took a moment to formulate his thoughts and words, watching as confusion clouded her features. “Are … are you still leaving?”
He witnessed the moment her body shuddered with relief, her confusion fully disappearing. She took his face in both her hands and smiled. Beatific. Blinding.
“I love you, Nate. I have no idea where this will lead to or how it’ll end, but I want the chance to work hard at this too, because I … I was never leaving.”
“Good.” It came out sounding gruff, but that was how he intended it to. “It hurts so damn much when you do.”
He lost himself in her dark pools.
“I’m so sorry, Nate. I know I sometimes get it wrong.”
“I’ll get it wrong too. I’m not perfect.”
“But to me, you are. You’re more than perfect.” She gently tapped his chest with her fingers, like she was tapping out a tune. “There’s a song about being perfect. Would you like me to sing it?”
A burst of joy did a wild dance inside his ribcage. He’d dreamt plenty of hearing her voice again. “Yes, please,” he begged on a whisper.
He remained in a trance for the entire time Ed Sheeran’s lyrics filtered around the small room, all while the world outside was only minutes away from total darkness. She sang of dancing in the dark with him between her arms. Words of being barefoot on the grass while listening to their favourite songs. That she saw her future in his eyes, and always the repeated line that he was perfect and could he hold her hand.
It made him want to rise from the bed and waltz with her in his arms. But he was spellbound by her words, unable to move. When she sang the last verse and the words drifted off into the ether, he pulled her in firmer along his body. “I love you, Roberta. Your voice is magic, and I’ll never tire of hearing it.”
He drew her in for a kiss. One that had him bursting with love for this woman. By the time he reluctantly drew back, a thin stream of moonlight washed over them, and he fell into her soft gaze. “Should we get a move on if you want something to report back to Tash?”
Roberta giggled, wrapping her arms around his neck, writhing against him again. This was enough to ease away the last of the tension, dissipate the doubts and bring back the playfulness.
“Yes, please.”