Sasha yawned and stretched. Where was she? Peeling her eyes open, she stared at the interior of her car, then looked outside at the house she was parked in front of. ‘That’s Colleen Simmonds’s house, Flipper. How did I get here? Did you drive?’
Right then the answer appeared at the house’s front door. Everything clicked into place. ‘Grady.’ He’d offered to drive her on her rounds after they’d dropped Tamara, Kevin and the baby at the maternity unit in town.
‘Sleeping Beauty awakes.’ The vehicle rocked as Grady slid behind the steering-wheel. ‘Well timed. We’re finished for the day.’
‘I’m sorry. Don’t know what came over me.’ Sasha yawned. Had she really slept through the whole round? Couldn’t have. But she’d been exhausted. This was going to look bad when Mike and Rory found out. Not the way to impress them. It would be another black mark against her when her performance assessment came up. That permanent job seemed to be slipping ever further away. ‘Why didn’t you wake me?’
‘You needed the sleep and I can handle a few dressings and BP readings.’ He gave her that gut-crunching grin. ‘Just.’
‘Thanks. But there’s a problem. The doctors at the centre are hardly going to give me a permanent job if I don’t do the one I’ve already got properly.’
‘They don’t need to know any different.’
‘Right, Grady. This is Golden Bay, not Auckland.’
‘True.’ He seemed damned pleased with himself as he drove.
‘Okay, I admit I’m grateful. Thank you.’ She’d deal with Mike and Rory on Monday.
Then Grady pulled into his drive, and turned to look at her. ‘Would you like some blue cod for your dinner? Freshly caught this morning.’
She should say no. It wasn’t fair to banish Grady from her life and then take the fish out of his hands. But who turned down fresh blue cod? She licked her lips. ‘Yes, please.’
Grady’s eyes seemed stuck on her mouth. When was she going to learn not to do things like that around the man? His eyes were lightening with desire that in turn sent shivers of desire over her skin. Take control, Sasha. Get the heck out of here.
No way was she sliding across from one side to the other while he sat gawping at her. Shoving her door open, she stepped out to go round the front of the car. But her action had distracted that gaze. Grady was out of the car and striding up to his front door. ‘Come inside while I put the fish in a bag.’
She shouldn’t go in there. The house wasn’t big enough for the two of them. Seemed her feet had other ideas because she quickly found herself standing in the lounge, looking around at the new paintwork. A soft terracotta shade covered the walls, making the room feel warm despite all the windows being open. It was lovely, inviting. ‘What happened to the Spanish White colour?’ she called through the door.
‘It was too neutral for my taste.’ Grady stood in the doorway, watching her. ‘Don’t you like it?’
‘I love it.’ But what colour he painted his house had nothing to do with her. She picked up a glossy brochure. Kitchens. Flicking through the pictures and plans, it seemed awfully exciting to be revamping a house.
‘I like the first and third designs. What about you?’ Grady stood in front of her.
Flicking back and forth, she decided, ‘Definitely the second one. More workable bench space and all the cupboards seem to flow into one another better.’
His lips pressed together as he nodded. ‘I’ll take that on board. Now, come and look what I’ve done with the dining table.’
She followed him outside to the shed where the large table that held so many memories stood. ‘You’ve sanded it back to the wood.’ She ran her hand over the smooth surface. ‘That’s going to come up beautifully.’
‘Isn’t it? I’m pleased with the result so far.’ There was a ton of pride in his voice.
Why would he go to all that trouble if he was going to sell it with the house? Why had he changed his mind about paint colours when he’d said he wanted to attract as many potential buyers as possible? Why look at new kitchens? Her stomach sucked in on itself as the truth hit her hard. ‘You’re staying.’ She shook her head from side to side. ‘You’re going to live almost next door to me.’ Just when I’m settling down and coming to grips with my new lifestyle.
She’d never be able to get him out of her system this time if she had to see him every day. ‘Have you taken a job at the medical centre? Is that what this is all about?’
‘Thanks a lot, Sasha,’ Grady drawled. ‘You really know how to make a guy feel good.’
‘Why now, Grady? Why can’t you let me have this one little piece of New Zealand? I’m trying so hard to make this work for my baby and me. All I want is to be safe, secure and able to bring my baby girl up in a good community. But you’re not going to play fair, are you?’ Gulp. ‘Do you think I’ll let you back into my life? Just go away, Grady. Leave me be.’
Uh, hadn’t she been the one to kiss him? Heat swamped her cheeks. She probably had been out of line but this was too much. ‘I’m going home.’
Before she’d made it to the car Grady called after her. ‘Sash, I’m not staying permanently. I’ll be heading back to Auckland on Sunday. For now this is going to be my holiday retreat.’
Don’t call me Sash.
*
Grady sank down on his haunches and watched Sash leave, speeding away to put as much distance between them as possible. His heart banged painfully in his ribcage. His head pounded behind his eyes.
‘I love you, Sash. More than ever.’
She’d socked it to him about not wanting him in her life. He hadn’t been expecting miracles but those words had stabbed him, sliced his heart open, exposed his needs, showed how pointless this all was.
So much for coming here and getting his life sorted so he could move on. Finally he understood totally that he didn’t want to sell his house and all the memories that went with it. For the first time in eleven years he was comfortable with his father’s death, could enjoy recalling all the fun times. So he’d keep the house and visit once or twice a year. If that gave Sash peace of mind then that’s what he had to do.
There’d been so much hurt and confusion in those brilliant emerald eyes as she’d yelled at him, her hands on her hips, her breasts pushed forward.
He’d seen that hurt once before. The day he’d told her he didn’t love her. She’d loved him then. Did that hurt mean she loved him now? How was he to know? There hadn
’t been any real indication.
Oh, yeah?
She’d instigated more than one of those scorching kisses.
She’d been more than happy to take him into her bed.
She’d let him feel Flipper kicking.
She’d been more than grateful he’d gone with her to Nelson when Flipper had stopped moving, even gone so far as to acknowledge she’d wanted him there.
Yet when it occurred to her he might be staying, she’d flipped her lid and told him in no uncertain terms to go someplace else.
Yeah, and what am I doing about it? Walking away, heading to Auckland in two days’ time. For her sake. Doing the same as I did last time. What happened to standing tall and trying to make things work? Sash might love me, she might not. But I’m never going to know if I leave.
He’d never stopped loving her, had spent years trying to find her match and failing miserably every time. ‘I love Sash Wilson. End of. And I’m going to fight for her. Patiently. One day at a time. One hour at a time. But first I have things back in Auckland to sort out.’
CHAPTER TWELVE
SIX WEEKS LATER Grady walked out of the Nelson Airport terminal and across to the aero club, where Ian waited with his plane. ‘Thanks for this, Ian. I could’ve got a rental car.’
‘Nonsense. I enjoy taking the old girl up for a spin. Don’t do it often enough these days. Climb in. I’ve done the checks.’
Grady latched the door shut, buckled the seat belt and slipped the headset over his head. The last time he’d flown in something so small had been with Sasha the day of her sixteenth birthday when she had officially been allowed to take passengers. The calls Ian made to the control tower to report his start up were so familiar.
As the older man taxied the plane across the grass towards the runway, Grady asked, ‘How’s everything in Takaka?’ How’s Sash keeping? Is she taking it quietly now that she only has a few days to go before giving birth? Has she missed me?
‘Sasha’s fine. And behaving—for her.’ Ian changed the subject. ‘Those builders you employed have been working their butts off. You’re going to be amazed at the changes.’