Cash reached out a hand early the next morning, groping for the source of the insistent ringing that had woken her from a very deep, relaxing sleep. Locating the phone, she brought it to her ear with an irritated, ‘Hello?’
‘Oh. Sorry. What time is it?’ Savannah’s voice sounded far too bright and chirpy for whatever obscene time of the morning it was.
‘I don’t know, I can’t focus my eyes,’ Cash muttered.
‘Sorry, but I needed to call you.’
‘It couldn’t have waited just a few more hours till the sun came up?’
‘No. Listen. George has been offered an amazing job.’
Cash scrunched her eyes and rubbed her nose, trying to concentrate on what Savannah was saying. ‘What kind of job?’
‘Well, it’s not a job so much as an opportunity. He’s been invited to design a garden for a big gardening show coming up over here. The guy he’s been talking to has seen some of George’s work and thinks he has a shot at making a real name for himself.’
‘Wow, Sav,’ Cash said, her eyes finally open and her mind registering what was being said, ‘That’s really exciting.’
‘I know. I’m so proud of him. This could be huge.’
‘So what would that mean … for you? Would you be staying over there?’
‘That’s what I was calling about. How would you feel about staying on longer?’
‘How much longer?’ Cash asked slowly.
‘Maybe another three or four months.’
Three or four months!
‘Cash?’
‘I’m here,’ she said quickly.
‘I thought you’d fallen back to sleep or something.’
‘No, no, I’m here.’
‘I know you were supposed to be leaving in a few weeks, but this has come up unexpectedly and it’s really too good an opportunity for him to pass up.’
‘Of course it is. He should totally go for it,’ Cash said, but her mind was still fixed on Savannah’s offer to stay on longer. A couple of weeks ago she wouldn’t have even hesitated about extending her stay—she had no real plans in place and she loved it here—but Linc would be leaving soon. It wasn’t like that should have any bearing on her decision, though, but it was the first time she’d really allowed herself to think about what would happen when Linc left. It was a depressing thought. She tried to shake off the gloom—their relationship wasn’t supposed to be long-term, and Linc had made no mention of them continuing after he returned to Brisbane. It was time to start facing reality. She needed to make plans.
‘Look, I know it’s come out of the blue, so you think about it for a bit and let me know. It’s not going to change our decision to stay—I’d just like to keep the spa running for as long as possible, that’s all.’
‘Yeah—of course, that’s important. I’ll let you know, okay?’ She couldn’t think about it now, she needed to clear her mind of all the distractions, namely the drop-dead gorgeous man who had not long ago got out of bed to start his day.
Cash rolled her eyes as she turned away to get the hot towels that had been heating. Mitch hadn’t stopped talking the entire time he’d been here, and Cash was just about ready to shove a sock in his mouth to shut him up. The man sure liked the sound of his own voice. She got that he was obviously a big deal in the news world—she was even somewhat impressed that she’d occasionally seen him on TV but, try as she might, she could not warm to the guy. The only conversation he seemed to bother taking part in were the ones that involved him talking about … well, him. Cash wasn’t sure there was actually room in the marriage for Hadley, Mitch and his massive ego. While Hadley often brought up funny stories about her work in the field, she rarely mentioned anything grisly. Mitch, on the other hand, seemed to take great pride in reliving every gruesome detail about each story he’d covered, complete with sound effects and re-enactments. It was exhausting to watch.
Her thoughts had been drifting back to Savannah’s offer all morning. It made sense. She’d built up a clientele and she knew they’d be happy for her to stay on in Savannah’s absence. So what was holding her back from saying yes?
Linc. She let out a long sigh. He’d be leaving soon. She pressed the hot towels onto Mitch’s face a little harder than she meant to and mumbled an apology. She’d always known their relationship wasn’t going to go anywhere; unfortunately, her heart hadn’t been listening to her head and had gone and fallen in love.
She unwrapped the towel and replaced it with another.
‘So there I was, unable to walk on my injured leg, all alone in the dark. The Taliban out there somewhere, watching and waiting,’ Mitch continued his theatrical monologue, breaking into her troubled thoughts. ‘I had no idea if I’d survive the night.’
And yet here you are, so I guess there was a miracle. ‘If you’d both survive the night, you mean?’ She had to admit, though, the guy had amazing skin. Despite his harrowing time reporting from overseas battle zones, he clearly took time out for a skin-care routine—skin like this didn’t stay hydrated and undamaged without some pretty regular maintenance, especially if it was exposed the harsh elements of the Middle East.
‘Pardon?’
‘Well, you said this was the story that won your award, so it wasn’t just you out there. You had a camera man with you, right?’ Cash explained.
Mitch looked at her blankly.
‘So there were two of you there, and you couldn’t walk because of your leg being injured. Why couldn’t the cameraman help you walk?’
‘Well, he was … there was nothing he could do … besides, he was busy filming. That’s not the point. The point is, in my line of work, there’s great risk and that night I came very close to staring death in the eye.’
‘Oh. I see.’ Tosser. The longer Cash spent around this guy, the more concerned she was that Hadley was making a very big mistake.
‘Seriously, what is your sister doing marrying this guy?’ Cash asked, exasperated after telling Linc about their encounter.
Linc gave a slow shake of his head and exhaled loudly, ‘Buggered if I know. She loves him. I guess he must have some redeemable qualities the rest of us can’t see.’
Hadley was such an intelligent, independent woman, how could she not see what an egotistical, self-centred twit this guy was?
‘There’s no point trying to tell her, she’s a Callahan woman—once they make their mind up about something …’ he shrugged.
‘I hate to break it to you, but I don’t think it’s only a female Callahan trait.’
He flashed a grin at her. ‘Yeah, but on me it’s called perseverance.’
‘Hmmm,’ she said doubtfully. ‘So, can I interest you in a facial, Mr Callahan?’
‘Yeah, no,’ he said backing away from the table slightly, ‘I wouldn’t be caught dead with cucumber on my eyes.’
‘Hey, Mitch Samuals is man enough to do it …’
‘Yeah, well, he’s a bigger man than me,’ Linc said sarcastically. ‘However, if you were offering a massage … the full-body naked kind, I might just be tempted.’
‘So, sex, in other words?’ she said, lifting an eyebrow at him.
‘Pretty much,’ he agreed with the half-smile that played havoc with Cash’s resistance.
‘Sorry, you’re out of luck, cowboy. I’ve got two more clients due in shortly, and I believe they’re your cousins … so unless you want them reporting back to your mother that their beauty therapist was running late because she was having sex with their cousin …’
‘Like that’s never happened before,’ he scoffed and caught the bunched-up hand towel she threw at him.
‘Haven’t you got something more constructive to do than bother me?’
Linc dropped the towel on the bed and moved closer to her. ‘Do I bother you?’ he asked, lowering his tone as he leaned forward to nuzzle the side of her neck.
Cash couldn’t suppress the shiver that ran along her arm and produced a trail of goose bumps. How was she supposed to resist the guy when he did that? A reluctant moan escaped her lips as she tipped her head back, allowing him better access to the sensitive skin of her throat. Oh damn. ‘Forget the massage,’ she said, turning and working the buckle of his belt. His grin widened appreciatively as she made quick work of the buttons on his jeans and took charge of the situation.
Linc put his hat back on his head and opened the door, greeting his cousins as they walked up the path. He turned round and winked at Cash, holding up his watch as proof that they’d managed to beat the clock with time to spare.
His grin widened as he saw Cash shake her head helplessly at him, before leading the women into the treatment rooms to get started, a smug grin on her face. Man, she was perfect.
The phone beeped before it automatically switched to message bank as it did whenever Cash was with a client. Linc stopped in the doorway as he heard the caller’s message.
‘Cash, it’s just Sav. I know I said to take your time and think it over, but I’m just wondering if you’ve thought anymore about the offer to stay on? Give me a call when you get a sec. Bye.’
Linc’s cocky grin faded as he slid into the ute and stared out the front windscreen. He was so far gone it would be funny if it weren’t so pathetic. He braced his hands on the steering wheel and dropped his head in defeat. He thumped the wheel and swore out loud. Everything was falling apart. If she stayed here, he’d lose her.
He should have asked her to move with him earlier.
This was crazy. He knew she couldn’t get enough of him, just like he couldn’t get enough of her. They were perfect together. How could she possibly be considering staying on here after everything they’d shared over the last few weeks? He frowned and muttered another curse. Okay, so he knew they hadn’t known each other long, but it felt like they had. He didn’t want to see the blaringly obvious reason why his asking her to move to Brisbane could be considered a risk. In his gut, he knew it was the right decision. They’d have the time and space to get to know each other like regular couples did. But how could he ask her to move now, when she was clearly considering Savannah’s offer to stay?
There was nothing for her here. Except Griff, a small voice reminded him. No, he didn’t believe that. Griff had had his shot. Cash wouldn’t go through that again when she knew there was no spark between them. Not to toot his own horn, but there was no way she’d be able to go back to that after the chemistry she’d had with him. Unless she forgot about him once he left and headed back to Brisbane and decided she could settle.
It was eating him up inside. This wasn’t like him—he never allowed uncertainty to mess with his head. Then again, he’d never been head over heels in love with Cash Sullivan before. He needed pull one huge-arse rabbit out of the hat or he was going to lose the only shot he had at a future with Cash.
Cash slowed down as she reached the main street of town and gaped at the sight that greeted her. This was not Rankins Springs. Everywhere she looked there were cars and people. Two news vans were set up in the park and she noticed a cameraman and reporter interviewing two women across the street.
The circus has well and truly arrived, she thought with a grin. Hadley had been right when she’d warned of the media interest in their wedding. Cash supposed it was only natural, considering there would be celebrity guests arriving in town and the bride and groom were celebrities themselves. She wondered how Hadley was feeling about being on the other end of the camera for a change.
Inside the grocery store people were gathered in twos and threes, animated faces clearly discussing the excitement that had taken over their tiny town. Cash couldn’t help the smile on her face as she left the shop with her purchases, hopefully enough to keep her out of town for the next few days—if the traffic and lack of parking was anything to go by, it would be a good place to avoid.
‘Excuse me, can we just ask you a few questions?’
Cash stopped abruptly as a young guy in a suit held a microphone in front of her face.
‘Are you a local?’ he asked without waiting for her to agree.
‘Ah, no, not really,’ Cash said hesitantly, looking at the man warily.
‘So you’re here for the wedding?’
‘Are you invited?’ The young reporter’s eyes were beginning to light up. Clearly not many of the locals he’d managed to ambush so far had been invited guests.
‘Well, sort of … I mean, I’m doing the makeup.’ Stop talking!
‘Can you give us any details about the wedding? Do you know what the bride will be wearing?’
She did not have time for this today. ‘No. Sorry, I don’t. Excuse me, I need to get back.’
‘Get back? To wedding preparations? Will you be seeing Hadley and Mitch today?’ he persisted.
Cash closed her eyes on a moan and pushed past the reporter to head for her car. Hadley would not want her blabbing to everyone about her wedding preparations.
‘Excuse me, miss?’ he called, jogging to keep up with her. ‘You can understand that Mitch has a huge following and viewers are very interested in his upcoming wedding. Is there anything you can share with them?’
‘No, sorry. No comment,’ she said, slamming her door shut. No comment? What the hell was that?
‘Does that mean you’ve signed some kind of privacy clause? Have you been told not to comment to the media?’
Cash turned the key and reversed, hoping the guy had the good sense to get out of the way. This was crazy. Who would have thought a wedding in a small country town could cause so much fuss? Once the town was in her rear-view mirror, Cash let out a long sigh. She would definitely not be making any more trips into town until after the wedding.