This was bad timing. They hadn’t resolved a thing yet, and as much as making love would be wonderful, it might make keeping on track that much harder. Reluctance warred with need as she pulled her mouth away. She so didn’t want to stop. But she had to if she was to be true to herself. Which she had to be. Or else lose everything. ‘Cole.’
His eyes flew open, dark and excited with lust. ‘Sweetheart?’
‘I’m sorry.’
He blew out a lungful of air and stared at her, his disappointment so strong she nearly changed her mind. ‘Me, too.’ He didn’t drop his hands from her waist straight away, stood there, holding her, watching her with such tenderness in his gaze she felt tears building up.
As she opened her mouth to apologise again, he placed a finger on her lips.
‘Don’t. You’re right. We’ve some things to resolve first.’ Then he brushed a light kiss on her cheek. ‘But I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy that and wasn’t hanging out for more.’
He knew how to make her feel better about what she’d done. She blinked, risked a smile. ‘It’s not just in the medical field we work well together.’
His eyes widened and he actually laughed. ‘Never a truer word. Here...’ He lifted her down. ‘Go get out of the rest of those wet clothes and take a shower.’
‘More water? Just what I need.’ She grinned. Somehow she was comfortable, despite what had just gone down. ‘See you in the kitchen soon.’ She wasn’t about to say that if she didn’t make it to brunch he’d better look for her as she might be asleep in the shower. After that kiss, he’d be there before the water got warm, let alone cold again. She’d not be able to stop him. How she’d pulled away at all stumped her. She’d been ready for Cole to make love to her, to give back as good as she got.
Glancing outside, she saw that the sun was heading up the sky, peeking through gaps in the clouds, trying its best to turn the gloom into refreshing light. The rain had eased to a heavy drizzle, but Damon had warned the monsoon might not be over, could be gathering strength for a final deluge. There was water every darned where. Roads, parks and fields were drowned. Here at Palm Beach homeowners had been lucky so far. No buildings were flooded. Once the storm was over, it would take days for the area to dry out. Weather like this was one of the few aspects of living in Northern Queensland she hadn’t missed when she’d headed south to Sydney.
Under a cool temperature in the shower she scrubbed mud off all her skin that had been exposed throughout the night, and some that hadn’t. How had it got under her bra and waistband? When she shampooed her hair, brown suds filled the shower base. Hopefully, there was some softening element in mud that was good for skin and hair. Bending her head under the shower head, she leaned against the wall and let the warm water rinse her hair thoroughly. One yawn followed another, and another.
She would fall asleep if she wasn’t careful. Then Cole would come to find her. That was not happening. Pushing the lever off, she reached for her towel. Had a moment where she imagined Cole handing it to her. Her eyes snapped open. Nope. She was alone.
Wrapping the towel around her, she dashed to the bedroom and thought about diving under the covers, but the smell of frying bacon coming from down the hall was too tantalising to be ignored. Pulling on shorts and tee shirt, she began brushing the tangled knots out of her hair. Hopefully, it would dry before she hit the sack because she couldn’t be bothered getting out the dryer and styling the long, straight cut. If it looked too bad when she got up later she’d deal to it then.
‘How many eggs?’ Cole called from the other side of the bedroom door.
‘Two.’
‘Going on now.’
‘I’m coming.’
Were they going to have a relaxed brunch? She hoped so. Spending time together working with people who needed their medical skills had done wonders to her stress levels. She could see herself living with Cole again with certain changes. Long talks with Julie had opened her eyes beyond the wake-up call her mother had given her. Until that time with her sister, Vicki hadn’t understood why Julie had deliberately gone so far away so as not to repeat their mother’s life.
And now I have to stick to my guns and do the same.
‘Take a load off.’ Cole pointed to a comfy cane chair in the covered outdoor area near the barbecue.
‘I’ll make some tea first.’ That thick cushion looked tempting, but once she sank into it she’d not want to get up again.
‘All done. Here.’ He handed her a brimming mug.
‘You must’ve had a quick shower to have got all this ready.’ There was cutlery and plates, sauces and seasonings on the table. Bacon sizzled alongside the hash browns and tomatoes, eggs and mushrooms were coming up to speed on the second hot plate. She should’ve been getting everything ready while Cole cooked, not lazing in the shower.
Cole grinned. ‘Thought I was going to have to come in with a bucket of icy water to wake you up.’
‘That would not have won you any favours.’ She laughed, relaxing some more. Sitting, she sipped the tea. ‘I suppose the next thing will be to get out and help people clean up the debris from yards where the waters have gone through.’
‘That won’t begin until the flood’s receded. A couple of days away, I imagine. It’s going to be a busy time for everyone.’ Cole began filling a plate with the most delicious-smelling food she’d had in a long time.
‘I’ve always been amazed at how quickly everyone gets back to normal. Except for those whose properties are damaged, of course. Still haven’t heard from Phil. The boys in blue must be busy.’
Cole placed a laden plate on the table in front of her. ‘Here you go. Get that into you.’
‘Yummy. Thanks.’
‘I have my uses.’
Her face heated. The number of times he’d said that to her over the years. It usually referred to time in bed, and nothing to do with sleeping. Concentrating on eating, Vicki managed to avoid looking directly at her husband until images of them making love finally faded. All she had to do was reach across the gap between them and entwine her fingers with his, and they’d be heading down the hall. Maybe getting up close and sexy would help, and they could laugh for getting so stressed about their marriage.
‘Hey, don’t go to sleep in your brunch,’ Cole goaded her deliberately. ‘Egg on face is not pretty.’
Sleep was the last thing on her mind. Unfortunately. She glanced across the table, and sighed at Cole’s cheeky grin. ‘Then you’d better wipe your chin.’
He did, then laughed when he saw there was nothing on the napkin. ‘Wretch.’
‘Don’t you forget it.’ She pushed her empty plate aside. ‘Just what the doctor ordered.’
‘Just what the doctor cooked, you mean.’
‘And that.’
Cole wiped his plate clean and leaned back in his chair. He nodded in the direction of the lounge. ‘I like that painting of the Daintree. It’s new, isn’t it?’
‘It’s one of Mum’s. She’s getting better with each painting. I can’t wait to see what she brings back from this trip.’
‘Anna’s painting while on the road?’
‘She’s working on a series of coastal pictures. Mostly she’s taking a million photos and notes to use when she’s back home.’ Pride filled Vicki. Her mother was already achieving recognition. ‘The city gallery wants to put on a small show of her work next year and she’s panicking about getting enough done. Says she’ll lose her edge if she rushes the work. I don’t believe she will. It’s like a tap’s been turned on and there’s no stopping her.’
‘I can’t believe she’s waited so long to get back into following her passion,’ Cole commented.
I can. And if I’m not careful I’ll have the same regrets when I reach my fifties. Agency, here I come.
‘At least she’s doing it now.’
Her contribution t
owards getting her mother started must’ve helped. The day she’d put that easel, those paints and brushes in the lounge, ready for when her mother came home, she’d waited with a beating heart, afraid of having done the wrong thing, and that her mother might tell her off for raising her hopes. But when her mother had picked up a brush, a look of wonder on her face, she’d known she’d got it right. Then denial had hit and instantly Vicki had stepped up and pressed the brush firmly back into her mum’s hand and wrapped her fingers around the handle.
You can do it, Mum. You have to. And so can I.
‘Why did she wait so long?’
‘Four kids and Dad’s demanding medical practice, I guess.’
I know.
‘I get that, but couldn’t she have found some time for herself? A few hours here and there between washing the dirty clothes and baking the biscuits?’
‘Cole, that sounds like it was a hobby to fill in spare time. Mum has a special talent, and she did not want to give it a nodding glance. It was all or nothing, and because she’d committed to Dad and us it became nothing.’
‘My mother was a bit like that too. Must be a generational thing.’ He gathered up their plates and stood. ‘Want more tea?’
‘I’ll get it, and clean up.’ Wasn’t that how she used to respond?
‘Stay there. You look whacked.’