PAYTON STROLLED slowly through the Fremantle Market, searching for inspiration for the evening meal. She’d already purchased prawns at the fish market on the harbor and now she was studying the vegetables that filled the stalls.
Though they’d only been in Fremantle for a week and a half, she’d already settled into life with Brody. They’d spent their days touring the city and surfing and trying new restaurants. Yesterday, they’d sailed a friend’s boat to Rottnest Island and ridden bicycles over the picturesque roads. Brody had even rented a room at the old hotel where they had their lunch and enjoyed a “nap” before continuing their tour.
Payton smiled to herself. Though they’d stripped off their clothes before crawling into bed, neither one of them had had any intention of sleeping. Instead, they’d spent a lazy hour kissing and touching before they made love.
It had been a wonderful day filled with long walks and quiet conversation. Brody was a complicated man, troubled by his own doubts and worries. He’d confessed that he was toying with the idea of calling the NFL scout and talking to him about a job.
Though she could sense his tension over scheduling a tryout, Payton tried to reassure him that even if it didn’t work out, it didn’t represent a failure. In the end, Brody made the call.
The NFL scout had arranged to meet him at the Oval tomorrow. Brody had nearly canceled, but she’d convinced him she would be there when he came home, exactly as she was when he left, whether the tryout was a success or not.
The more she got to know Brody, the more she realized how vulnerable he was when it came to his emotions. He seemed so self-assured on the outside, but inside, he was a tangle of insecurities. There were moments when she caught him watching her, times when she woke up and he was clutching her hand so tightly it hurt. Was he really that afraid of losing her?
Though Payton had left a mess in Fiji, she didn’t have any plans to return home. She would have to call at some point and had resolved to do that by the end of the week. The private investigator was probably still searching for her and it wouldn’t do to waste more of her parents’ money or cause them any more worry.
By now, they should be comfortable with the fact that she wouldn’t be coming home anytime soon. They’d have accepted the notion that Sam would not be her husband and that she would not be living a comfortable life in Connecticut, raising their grandchildren and attending charity events.
She shook her head, a tiny shudder running through her at the thought. How close to that life had she come? If she’d pushed aside her fears and married Sam, it would have been her future—everything all planned out in front of her.
But her life with Brody was exciting. Every day was a new adventure. And though he worried about his career, Payton was truly convinced that she could live anywhere with him and be happy. She loved working at the station. And she loved Fremantle, too. But most of her affection for both places had come from being with Brody.
Payton strolled over to a vegetable stall and chose some colorful sweet peppers and fingerling potatoes. She waited for the vendor to put them in a bag for her. Then she moved on to the nearest fruit stall and picked out some red oranges, knowing they would make a wonderful tangy-sweet sauce for the prawns. At the last second, she picked up a kilo of strawberries for dessert.
It wasn’t a long walk back to Brody’s apartment and the weather was pleasant. She’d bought only enough for the evening meal and didn’t mind carrying the bags.
As she approached Brody’s building, she noticed a dark sedan parked across the street. A man was standing against the front fender, his arms crossed over his chest. He saw her almost immediately and Payton’s breath caught as he removed his glasses.
“Sam,” she whispered to herself. Her heart slammed against her rib cage as he slowly crossed the street to where she stood. She blinked, hoping that she was seeing things, but as he came closer, Payton knew he wasn’t a figment of her imagination.
“Hello, Payton,” he said. He reached out and grabbed her elbow, then brushed a kiss on her cheek.
“Hello, Sam. What are you doing here?”
He gave her a cool look, his icy blue eyes cutting through her. “What do you think, Payton?”
She opened her mouth, then snapped it shut. She didn’t know what to say.
“Don’t worry,” he muttered. “I’ll wait for your answer. I’m used to that.”
His words dripped with sarcasm. She hadn’t realized until now, but that was one of things she truly hated about Sam. When he was angry, he got nasty. She’d always just accepted it as part of his nature, but now she realized there were men who didn’t feel it necessary to patronize the women they loved.
“I’d assume you’re looking for me,” she said, keeping her voice calm and detached. “How did you find me?”
“Your parents and I hired a private investigator. They thought you might have had a—a breakdown.”
She bit back a laugh. “I’m mentally sound,” she said. “I’m not crazy.”
“The investigator tracked that Quinn fellow here after he figured out you’d left the station with him. He’s spent the last few days following you. You’ve had quite a vacation. Or maybe we should call it a honeymoon?”
Payton glanced around. She and Brody had been so caught up in each other, they hadn’t even noticed someone following them. “Why don’t you just say what you came to say, Sam. I understand you’re angry and I’m sorry for any embarrassment I caused. But you have to realize I saved us both a lot of heartache.”
This seemed to soften his prickly facade. “Did you ever love me?”
“I think I did,” she said, knowing it was probably a lie. “But I also think I was getting married to please my parents. They wanted me to be settled and happy and I never thought about what I really wanted.”
“And this is it? Some guy you just met? I’ve read the report on him, Payton. Come on, you can’t seriously be thinking of staying here with him. He’s just some washed-up jock.”
“I don’t know what will happen tomorrow or the next day. But I’m happy right now, Sam. Happier than I’ve been in a long time.”
“Payton, be practical. You don’t belong here. You’re thousands of miles from everything you know—your family and your friends. I forgive you. You made a mistake, but it’s nothing that can’t be fixed. We can begin again.”
“I did make a mistake,” she admitted. “I should have been honest about my feelings and my fears. I should have told you how I felt long before our wedding day.”
“You got cold feet. Lots of women go through that. But give it a little more time and you’ll realize who really loves you. And then you’ll come home.”
“Sam, I don’t—”
He reached out and pressed his finger to her lips. “Don’t. Just think about what I’ve said, Payton. I’m staying in Perth for the next three days. I think we should take some time to talk. To see if we can smooth out this wrinkle.”
Wrinkle, Payton mused. She ran away from their wedding and took up with another man and Sam considered it a wrinkle. “I don’t think we have anything to talk about.”
“I’m at the Intercontinental. Room 1250. I’ll be waiting for your call.” With that, he turned and walked back to his car. Payton stared after him, wanting to shout out her anger. How dare he assume that she’d change her mind? She wasn’t some feebleminded doormat who could be convinced by his mere appearance.
Sam could wait all he wanted, but she wasn’t going to change her mind. She’d call her parents tonight and tell them exactly that. And then she’d tell them to talk some sense into her ex-fiancé. But first, she’d tell Brody about Sam’s sudden appearance. Knowing Sam and his inability to accept losing at anything, she could expect another visit. She would not allow Brody to be caught off guard.
When she returned to Brody’s apartment, she found him sitting on the sofa, examining his knee. He glanced up as she walked inside and she noticed the worried expression etched across his face.
“Is everything all right?” she asked. From the looks of things, now was not the time to bring up her exfiancé. That could wait until tomorrow, after the tryout.
“Sure,” he said. He pushed to his feet and crossed to her, taking the bags from her hands. “Dinner?”
“Yes. I’m cooking something special. A good-luck meal. I figured it’s about time to show you my true talents in the kitchen.”
“You have talents in the kitchen too?” he teased, his mood shifting quickly. “I knew you were great in the bathroom, the bedroom and the living room. But the kitchen wasn’t something I’d considered.”
“I’m a very good cook,” she explained.
He peered inside the bags, then pulled out the strawberries she’d purchased. Payton reached for them. “Those are for dessert,” she said.
“Can’t we have dessert first?” He took one from the bag and bit into it, then held it in front of her mouth. Slowly, he drew the fruit across her lower lip. She ran her tongue over the sweet juice and smiled.
With a quick move, she bit down on the strawberry, then pulled him into a long, deep kiss. The taste of the berry exploded in her mouth, and Payton wasn’t sure that she’d ever tasted something quite so wonderful.
The kiss went on forever, their hands moving over each other’s body, so familiar yet still so exciting. He spanned her waist with his hands, then lifted her onto the granite countertop. The short shirt she wore bunched high on her thighs and he slipped his hand between her legs and began to caress her.
Payton knew his touch, yet every time he seduced her, he found a new way to take her to the heights of pleasure. He pushed her back until she was lying across the cool granite. Then he pulled her panties off and trailed kisses along the insides of her thighs.
She knew what was coming and waited, knowing the exquisite sensations his tongue could elicit. And then, he was there, sucking gently, making her writhe with the need for release.
She’d meant to tell him about Sam, but as her pleasure began to escalate, all thoughts of her former life dissolved. She was here with Brody now, and what they were doing was perfect. Nothing could possibly spoil it.
BRODY WINCED as he pushed up from a crouch and ran the width of the field. Though he was in pretty good shape, he hadn’t really run full out since before his accident. When he reached the far side of the field, he gulped in a deep breath, then turned and ran back.
The scout scribbled something in his notebook, then nodded. “I understand your injury prevents lateral movement.”
“Not prevents,” Brody said. “Hampers. I’m just not as quick as I was. But it doesn’t affect my kicking. You saw that. I put ten of them through the posts from fifty meters. I can do ten more. Hey, I can kick all day and I won’t miss.”
“But you’ll have to run and tackle,” he said. “And even though we have a rule against roughing the kicker, you will get knocked down. That knee isn’t going to take much abuse.”
“I know I can do this,” Brody said. “Just give me a chance. I’ll come to the States. I’ll kick in your football stadium. I’ll play for free.”
The scout considered Brody’s offer, then nodded his head. “You’re a hell of a kicker. But I’m worried about the knee. The strength just isn’t quite there. But you do some serious work and that might change. You should be running every day and doing some intense weight training. The NFL preseason starts the end of July. If a team is in need of a kicker, they’ll be looking before the regular season begins in September.” He held out his business card. “You call me after a month and we’ll see where you’re at.”
Brody stared down at the card. “All right. I can do that. Thanks for taking the time.”
“Good luck, son. I hope I hear from you.”
Brody walked toward the exit, resigned to the fact that he’d given it his best try. Hell, he’d kicked well. No one could quarrel with that. But his knee wasn’t what it should be. Even he knew it. He drew a deep breath, trying to push back the disappointment.
Though it wasn’t good news, it wasn’t really bad. He had a chance, if he put in a little work. He still had access to the team’s training facilities and their physical therapists. Given a month, maybe he could gain more strength.
As he walked through the tunnel to the car park, he saw Payton standing in the entrance, her slender form outlined by the morning sun. She smiled and he felt his spirits rise. Even if the world was falling apart at his feet, she could still make him feel like a hero.
“How did it go?” she asked as he took her hand in his.
“I kicked well,” he said. “But he didn’t like the look of my knee.”
“Well, you expected that,” she said.
“He said I should work harder on rehab and then give him a call in a month.”
“Are you going to do that?” she asked.
Brody shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe. It would give me more options.” He smiled. “I can kick the damn ball. At least the next time one of their kickers goes down, he’ll be thinking of me.”
They drove back to his apartment, his mind distracted by the traffic. Every now and then, he caught Payton glancing over at him. He wanted to tell her how he was feeling—the frustration and the doubts—but his problems were his own. This afternoon, they’d find something to do that would take his mind off his troubles. And tomorrow, he’d figure out a plan.
As they drove up to the apartment, he reached out and took her hand. “Why don’t we go surfing this afternoon.” He looked over at her to see her gaze fixed on a car parked across the street from his building.
“What’s wrong?”
“Keep driving,” she said.
“Why? We need to get our gear if we’re going surfing.”
“Just keep going.”
He did as he was told. After a few blocks, Brody drove in to an empty parking spot and pulled the truck out of gear. Then he turned to her. “Would you like to tell me what’s going on?”
She gnawed at her lower lip, avoiding his eyes. “Yesterday, after I came back from the market, I saw Sam. My ex. He was parked in front of your apartment building waiting for me.”
Brody felt as if he’d been hit in the gut. This didn’t make sense. “You talked to Sam?”
She nodded, then risked a glance over at him. “I wanted to tell you yesterday, but you had the tryout today and I didn’t want you to be upset. Besides, when I got home we got distracted and I guess I just forgot.”
“You forgot?”
“Well, not exactly. It wasn’t the right time.”
“Which is it, Payton?”
She cursed softly. “What difference does it make? I’m telling you now. He asked if I’d come home. I told him no.”
“Then what’s he still doing here?”
“I guess he thinks I might change my mind.”
Brody’s fingers tightened on the steering wheel, his knuckles turning white. “And will you change your mind?”
“No,” Payton insisted. “I don’t want to marry him. I told him that. But he doesn’t like to lose. And he certainly doesn’t like to be embarrassed. He and my parents seem to think I’ve had some sort of mental breakdown and that if I just get a little help, I’ll regain my senses.”
“We’re going back,” Brody said. “I’ll talk to the guy. I’ll tell him to back off.”
“No,” Payton said. “This is my problem. I’ll—”
“It’s my problem now. He’s screwing with my life.”
“I know where he’s staying. I’ll call him tonight and tell him to go home. And I’ll call my parents and let them know I’m going to stay in Australia for now.”
Brody didn’t like leaving it up to Payton. She’d obviously tried to convince Sam the first time they’d talked and it hadn’t worked. Either Sam wasn’t listening or she hadn’t been forceful enough. But there would be no denying Brody’s argument—either the guy would leave Fremantle immediately, or Brody would give him a thick ear.
“So what does this mean? We can’t go back to the apartment?”
“Why don’t we go get some lunch and maybe he’ll be gone when we return.” She reached out and pried his hand off the wheel, then laced her fingers through his. “As you’ve probably noticed, I’m not very good with confrontation.”
“What are you talking about? You’ve told me off plenty of times.”
“It’s different with my family and with Sam. They make me feel—” Payton searched for the word “—small. They make me feel small.”
He turned to look at her, noticing the uneasy expression on her face. Hell, he never wanted to do anything that made her feel that way. “You’re one of the strongest, most determined people I know,” he said. “Don’t let them do that to you. Think of everything you’ve done over the past weeks.”
Brody paused, carefully considering his next suggestion. He was tired of all the wondering—did she love him, would she stay, how did she really feel about Sam? There were too many unanswered questions that she had to settle once and for all. “I think you should go see him,” Brody said.
“Really?”
“Why not? He was an important person in your life. Hell, you were going to marry him. Maybe he just needs some…what do they call that?”
“Closure?” she suggested.
“Right. Closure.”
A long silence grew between them. “All right,” she said softly. “If that’s what you want, I’ll go see him tomorrow.”
It wasn’t exactly what he wanted. But it was the quickest way to get to what he wanted. And for that, he was willing to take a risk. He’d give Sam Whitman one last chance to plead his case and if he didn’t leave after that, Brody would personally escort him to the airport.
He wasn’t about to let Payton go. At least, not without a good fight.
“WHAT DO YOU THINK?”
Brody frowned, staring down at the assortment of towels. He winced, then ran his hand through his hair. Payton could see the confusion in his eyes, but she suspected it had nothing to do with his choice of towels.
Payton had called Sam and agreed to meet him the next morning. Since she’d made the decision, she and Brody hadn’t spoken of it. In truth, she’d carefully avoided the subject. But she could see that it was killing Brody. He’d been hovering over her all day, obviously wanting to ask her what she would say, but afraid to bring up the subject.
“Ah…well, they’re towels,” he said. “I’ve never really had an opinion on towels. They’re just sort of there when I need them.” He nodded. “That’s what I think.”
“I mean the colors. Your bathroom is so neutral.”
“Is it? What does that mean?”
He was going to make this difficult, Payton mused. She’d wondered if buying new towels for him was really a good idea. But she wanted to contribute something to the home they’d made together, even if it did mean spending a bit of his money. “Neutral means there’s a lack of color.”
“And color is good?”
“Yes. Now, do you like the ice blue or the burnt sienna? These are both masculine colors, but one is cool and the other is warm. I like the burnt sienna.”
“Then I like that one, too. Don’t I have towels?”
“Yes. But they’re a little worn. And they’re kind of mismatched. I just thought these would be pretty. And they’re really soft. One hundred percent Egyptian cotton.” He nodded mutely. Frustrated, Payton picked up the towels and shoved them back into the bag. “Never mind. I’ll return them.”
“No, no. Don’t do that. I like them. I like the burnt sienna. And the blue, too. Maybe we could keep both. One color for summer and one for winter. Cool and warm, right?”
Payton gave him a grudging smile. “I just thought I could make your apartment look a little more homey.”
“It doesn’t look homey?”
She shook her head. “No. It looks like a bachelor’s apartment. It’s very nice, but very sterile. And if we’re going to live here together, then I want it to be like a home.”
A slow smile curled his lips. “A home. With me and you.”
“Yes. I like it here.”
“Is there anything else that needs fixing?” he asked.
“Well, the kitchen could use some nice towels. And a few accessories, maybe a bowl for the island, for fresh fruit. And some nice wineglasses to put in the china cabinet. Those refrigerator magnets have to go.”
Brody chuckled softly. Then he dragged her into his arms, kissing her squarely on the mouth. “Do whatever you want,” he said. “As long as you’re staying, you can paint the place pink. And if you need more money, just ask.”
She’d been thinking about exactly that subject. She wanted to contribute, to help pay for their living expenses. “I’m going to try to find a job,” she said. “And to get a job, I suspect I’ll need a work visa.”
“We can think about that later. I have cash enough to last for a while.”
“No, I want to contribute,” she said.
“Then let’s find out about a work visa.” Brody reached out and removed the towels from the bag, stacking them up on the coffee table. “We’ll go first thing tomorrow morning.”
Payton forced a smile. “I’m going to see Sam tomorrow morning. Remember?” She studied his expression. He didn’t look happy. But then, he hadn’t been very happy since Sam had appeared in Fremantle.
“We should go try out these towels,” she said. “Let’s take a shower.”
Brody shook his head. “You think that if you seduce me, I’ll stop worrying about him?”
“There’s no need to worry,” she assured him. “Brody, I’m decorating your apartment. I wouldn’t do that unless I was planning to stay.”
“He’s leaving tomorrow?”
“That’s what he said,” Payton replied.
“Good. Then, day after, we can stop talking about him.” He pushed her back on the sofa and crawled on top of her, rubbing his nose against hers. “Do you have a nice dress?”
“Not really.”
“Then, go out and buy one. We’re going out to a swank place tomorrow night for dinner. It’s my birthday.”
“It’s your birthday? Why didn’t you tell me?” Payton asked. “I’ll make a cake. We’ll have presents and a celebration.”
“I just want to take my girl out,” Brody said.
His girl. She liked the sound of that. It wasn’t too serious. Yet, it did suggest a real relationship, one that was more than casual. “I’m not sure where to go to find something.”
“There’s a David Jones in the mall in Perth. It’s the same store you went to in Brisbane.”
“They have really pretty dresses there.” She kissed him. “I’ll go this afternoon. You can come and help me pick something out.”
“Surprise me,” he said. Brody brushed the hair out of her eyes. “When is your birthday?”
“August tenth,” she said. “I was born twelve minutes before midnight.”
Payton realized they didn’t know the little details about each other’s lives. Maybe it was time to find out. “What’s your favorite color?” she asked.
“Neutral,” he teased. “No, it was blue. But now, it’s this really pretty shade of pink.” Brody smiled. “Exactly the color of your lips.”
Payton groaned inwardly. Her attempt to learn more about him was swiftly turning into a full-out seduction. But then, they had plenty of time to go over the silly little details. “What is your favorite sexual fantasy?” she asked.
He laughed sharply. “How did we go from colors to sexual fantasies?”
Payton shrugged. “Just curious.”
He thought about his answer for a long time, then smiled. “There is this one. I’m asleep and I’m having this dream that there’s a woman in bed with me. And she’s doing all kinds of wonderful things with her lips and her tongue. And I open my eyes and it’s not a dream.”
“Has it ever happened before?” Payton asked.
“No,” he said.
“Your birthday is coming up. That could be arranged, you know.”
“Arranged? Only if you’re the woman I’m waking up to. I’d reckon that would be a bonzer prezzy.”
“Bonzer is good?”
“Very good. Great. Incredible. The best.”
“Hmm. That’s a lot to live up to. Maybe I should just buy you a bonzer watch. Or a bonzer shirt.”
“Do not tease me,” he said. “It’s my birthday. And as my girl, it’s your job to treat me special.”
Payton giggled. “It’s not your birthday yet.” Now that she’d decided to stay, she had every intention of making all Brody’s fantasies come true. Life—and sex—with Brody would be one long adventure.