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‘Louis did so well today,’ Ana said as they left agility practice.
‘He loves the tunnels, that’s for sure.’ Liam pulled away from the park and headed down Station Drive. ‘So, are you excited about the last week of term?’
Ana grinned. She couldn’t wait for the Easter break. On Friday, Liam was leaving to gate-crash Lily’s birthday party. He’d be home on Sunday and then they had two whole weeks to spend together as they opened The Bent Banana. She may not get a relaxing break, but she looked forward to the café opening. She hadn’t played a big part in its preparation, but since contributing the dog treats, she felt connected to The Bent Banana and couldn’t wait to share in its joy.
‘The last week is always chaotic, but fun. I’d love to catch up on some reading though. I found a new cosy mystery series this week that I want to binge read.’
Liam laughed. ‘I’m sure you’ll manage that.’
They returned to Liam’s, showered and changed, then left for dinner on Shadow Creek. Steph and Louis hadn’t been pleased about being left behind.
‘Hello!’ Deborah called, stepping onto the verandah of the little farmhouse. ‘Ana, you look lovely this evening.’
‘Thanks, Deb.’ She’d worn her white lace sundress again and smiled as she returned Deborah’s hug. ‘Thank you for inviting me.’
‘It’s well overdue.’ Deborah glared at Liam as she hugged him too. ‘Nothing hurries my son along.’
Deborah took Ana’s hand, leading her through the open-plan living area and onto the back deck where a man stood to greet her. She’d yet to meet Cliff Maguire as he and Henry had been out when she and Liam had returned from their horse ride the other day. Cliff was tall, appeared quite fit for his age, and had salt-and-peppered hair poking out from beneath his old, weathered Akubra. He smiled and Ana saw what Liam would look like in thirty years.
‘Hello, Ana.’ Cliff took her hand between both of his. ‘Welcome. I’ve been told that you’re a beautiful young woman and am glad to see my son doesn’t lie.’
She grinned, flattered, while Liam shook his head at his father. ‘Thank you.’
‘Take a seat, Ana.’ Deborah gestured to the mismatched chairs surrounding the plastic oval table. ‘I’ll get us some drinks. Lucy should be here soon.’
Considering Ana was already friendly with Liam’s mother and sister, it wasn’t one of those awkward family dinners. Not to her surprise, Cliff was as charming as the rest of the Maguire men. Liam was so much like him, in both looks and mannerisms, that it was uncanny.
They had a simple barbeque with a colourful salad and homemade veggie burgers all around that quite impressed Ana.
‘I could have made beef ones too,’ Deborah said as Cliff manned the barbie. ‘But I thought it wouldn’t hurt to try something new.’
‘Food’s food,’ Cliff laughed. ‘And there’s nothing wrong with mushrooms.’
Ana smiled. ‘Mushroom burgers are the best. You won’t be disappointed.’
The food was delicious and went down nicely with a glass of chardonnay and amusing conversation. Before Ana and Liam left, Deborah wrapped up a few spare burgers to take with them, insisting enough that Ana couldn’t refuse.
‘I’ll see you tomorrow, Ana,’ Deborah said, hugging them both. ‘Thanks for finally bringing her over, Liam.’
Deborah stood on the verandah, and with many pleasantries called back and forth, Ana smiled and waved before climbing into the LandCruiser.
* * *
Rick parked across from the acreage block, glaring at the modern Queenslander surrounded by palm trees, ghost gums, and far too much tropical foliage. Who the hell had the patience to bother with so many gardens?
Fuck, it pissed him off to see Ana looking so happy. And with another dog. The fucking mongrels had sat at the front gate for the past hour. One had started barking and the other had eventually joined in. But the slut and unlucky bastard in her life weren’t home. Desperately needing fuel and food earlier, he’d quit watching her for an hour and when he’d returned, the LandCruiser had gone.
Not that it’d be smart of him to go after her while the man was home. He wasn’t that stupid. He needed to get Ana alone. And preferably without the barking, snarling mongrels.
Why the hell she needed two of them, he didn’t know. Dogs and kids, that’s all she’d ever cared about. Never mind looking after her boyfriend. Her fiancé. Her husband. A wife who didn’t know her duties was useless. Good thing he’d seen that weakness in her when he had. She’d had no respect for him or their life together or for what he could give her. He could have given her everything.
The bitch hadn’t seen that. She hadn’t cared about his needs. She’d always wanted to spend time with friends and go to some fitness class or other. He’d stopped that. Then there were the books. Every week, there’d be a new one. And the DVDs. Why the hell had she continued to buy DVDs when he’d subscribed to Netflix? Then there would be a new ornament on the coffee table. New candle holders. A picture. Something else that would collect dust.
Then had come the dog. Spending a bloody fortune on a dog had been her biggest mistake. He’d put his foot down. He couldn’t let his woman spend ridiculous amounts of money on useless things. Especially not on something you could pick up cheap at the pound. What would have happened when it’d become their money? She’d been crazy to spend over a thousand bucks of her own cash on a damn mutt. She’d have to be bloody stupid if she’d thought she could spend like that after they were married.
Luckily, he hadn’t had to marry her. But that didn’t mean she’d had to throw him in prison. Did she know what that did to a man? To his ego and reputation? She’d destroyed his life. He had nothing. He was an ex-criminal with a charge that most people found abhorrent.
But none of that mattered anymore. He glanced at the time. Almost ten o’clock and she still wasn’t home. Gritting his teeth, he shoved the car into gear and took off into the night.
The next morning, he returned to the house in time to see the yellow Yaris disappear down the street. He almost followed her, but before he could, the blond guy shutting the gates caught his eye. He climbed into his idling LandCruiser and drove away, leaving the dogs at the gate. Rick tapped his fingers on the wheel for a moment, then followed. He knew Ana worked at the school, so what did this bloke get up to?
Rick tailed the LandCruiser to the Tourist Centre, where the man climbed out and unlocked the front doors. Rick pursed his lips. Interesting ...
But the place wouldn’t be open for another half hour, so Rick headed off to get some breakfast. He bought a bacon and egg roll from the roadhouse, then returned to the Tourist Centre with his heart pounding and jaw tight. He wouldn’t confront the bloke, but perhaps he’d get information of some sort.
He strolled inside, but the man wasn’t there. A young woman looked up from the desk and flashed him a bright smile. ‘Hello!’
He wanted to whack the cheer off her face, but Rick forced his shoulders to relax. He needed to look like a tourist. ‘Hi.’
‘Is there anything I can help you with today?’
Rick swallowed an impolite retort as he approached the desk. He glanced at the girl’s chest and found himself disappointed. But the name on her badge read ‘Isabella’.
‘Dunno. Anything interesting to do around here?’
‘Absolutely. Just passing through?’
‘I guess.’
‘What are you interested in?’
Rick resisted a smile. Nothing touristy, that’s for sure, but he had to play the game. ‘Food, I suppose. I saw this café was opening soon.’
He inclined his head to the closed doors off to the side. Isabella’s smile widened.
‘Yes, it’s going to be fantastic, but it doesn’t open until next weekend.’
‘Why’s that?’
She shrugged. ‘It’s the date the owner decided upon as school holidays should be helpful. Besides, he’s going away this weekend.’
Rick’s eyebrows lifted, his chest tightening. ‘Is that so?’
‘Yep. But if you’re still around next week—’
‘Hey, Iz ...’
Rick stilled as a man’s voice sounded behind him. Fuck, he hadn’t thought this through. Would the slut’s new bloke know about him? Seen a picture?
Ducking his head, Rick turned towards the doors. This was a stupid idea.
‘Sorry, didn’t see you were busy. You ’right, mate?’
Rick’s hands curled into fists. Jaw tightened. Rage surged through him as he longed to turn and punch the fucker.
Isabella piped up in her musical voice. ‘I was just telling this man about the café.’
‘Ah, right. Yeah, we’re not open yet, but our Grand Opening should be a blast if you’re still in town.’
Rick eyed the doors. He could leave, but with the sudden urge to face this foe, he turned and stared the blond man directly in the eye. ‘I don’t plan to be.’
‘Oh.’ The man shrugged. Not a flicker of recognition passed through his pale eyes and Rick’s spine relaxed as he checked for a name badge. Liam. ‘Well, next time you’re passing through.’
‘Maybe.’ Expelling a breath, Rick forced a touch of friendliness into his tone as he nodded towards Isabella. ‘The lady was just telling me you’re heading out of town this weekend. I hear there are a lot of nice places to visit. Time away with the missus?’
Liam shook his head. ‘Nah, she has to work. Heading off for a family thing.’
It took everything Rick had to swallow his smile. Fuck, friendly people were stupid.
‘Right. Well, I might stick around for a few days.’ He grabbed an Elizadale flyer off the bench. ‘See the sights.’
‘There are a few ideas in that one. If you need any more suggestions though, we’re more than happy to help.’
Rick grinned, his chest swelling until it almost burst. ‘Don’t worry. You’ve helped enough.’