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  “Two,” Dee said.

  “One at my home. Nothing happened, they got the dog, they went away, and I have to find Missy’s home.” When they all opened their mouths, Del narrowed her eyes. “Enough. I mean it.”

  Leaning forward, Ash placed her hand atop Del’s. “We’re just concerned about you, Del. You’re a good friend.”

  “There’s no need to be, I’m fine. Always have been, always will be.”

  Now they were all watching her with varying degrees of concern.

  About to give them a cutting remark, Del caught the compassion on Ash’s face and, as always when faced with Ash’s sweetness, she felt her irritation ebb. With Dee and Molly she could remain irritated without fear of hurting their feelings, but Ash? Nope.

  Feeling a little stupid, she relaxed back against the chair with a sigh. “Sorry, I’m just a little sensitive right now. I’ve had a couple of people on my case about things lately, I guess I over-reacted a little.”

  “It’s okay,” Elissa said soothingly.

  “I promise if I have problems I’ll call the cops, but I’m certain nothing more is going to happen.”

  “If it does,” Dee said, having to push the issue like always, “call me.”

  “And just what are you going to do? Ryder will rip your arse if you come clomping over to my place at night to face a group of blokes.”

  “Ryder can kiss my fat arse.”

  “I’m sure he does that anyway.”

  “Yeah, but this time I’ll present it with attitude.”

  “So how’s that different?”

  “Look, sister, don’t try to change the subject. You need me, I’m there.”

  Del looked at her cousin. Cripes, she loved her. Dee Miller, cousin and best friend. How many times had they stood back-to-back against the world? Well, probably not that much, the world wasn’t exactly against anyone in Gully’s Fall, but when something did go wrong, no matter how small or big, they’d always had each other’s backs.

  “You’re such a twat,” she said affectionately.

  “Best in town, sister.” Dee nodded calmly.

  After several seconds of silence, Molly offered, “I’ll come and help. I’d love for Sergeant Kirk to go all domineering and spank me hard for going out in the dead of night to help save my friend’s honour.”

  Elissa choked on her Diet Coke, coughing and spluttering.

  Ash grabbed a paper serviette and handed it to her. “I’ve told you before, it’s always dangerous to eat and drink around these three.”

  Coughing and wiping her eyes, Elissa couldn’t answer.

  “It’s just way too easy.” Molly shook her head.

  “That’s because you’re such a twisted chick,” Del said.

  “Well, I do try.” Molly modestly brushed a crumb off her blouse.

  Ash glanced at her wrist watch. “As entertaining as this has been, I have to get back to work.”

  Elissa, still wiping her eyes, nodded. “Tish is covering for me, I need to get back to the clinic.” She looked at Ash. “Is my face too red?”

  “Feel free to go upstairs and wash it in the bathroom.” Dee stood. “I don’t want people commenting on you leaving my shop with a red face and tears.”

  “You’ll embarrass us,” Del added.

  Elissa flipped her the bird.

  “Cripes,” Molly said. “That didn’t take her long to learn. I always thought she was such a sweet girl, too.”

  Elissa started gathering the disposable utensils. “I wonder how Lily is going to turn out, I really do.”

  “Don’t worry, Kirk’s her father.” Del winked as she placed the last of the savoury twist back into the bag. “He’ll make sure she grows up proper.”

  “He’s a big softie around her.” Molly grinned. “That baby has him wrapped around her finger.”

  “Spoils her, huh?”

  Molly’s face softened. “He loves her to pieces, he’s so cute with her.” Her eyes crinkled at the corners. “But even she knows that unnervingly steady look he gets when she does something wrong.”

  “The same look you get?” Del smiled.

  “Yep.”

  “And does she react like you?”

  “Well, she behaves herself if that’s what you mean.”

  “So not like you, then.”

  “There’s just something about that look that makes me horny and want to be a bad girl.”

  Del looked at Dee. “This sheila is seriously twisted.”

  “Oh, come on,” Molly scoffed. “Like Dee doesn’t just love it when she stirs Ryder up until he almost loses it and tells her - hang on, let me see if I can imitate it.” Taking a deep breath, she lowered her voice and scowled. “Babe, you are in so much trouble.”

  They all stared at her for several seconds.

  “Holy cow.” Del’s eyebrows rose. “That’s so close it’s uncanny.”

  “I’m impressed,” Elissa added.

  “I’m a little horny,” Dee said.

  They all laughed, Del walking in the midst of her friends as they left Dee’s newsagency and went their separate ways.

  The rest of the afternoon slipped past quickly. Locking the shop door, Del had to admit she was glad that no one had rung or approached her about the kitten. Hopefully no one would. One night with Missy and she had to admit that she wanted to keep her.

  It made her wonder why she had waited so long to get another cat. When she’d first moved out to the old house she’d inherited the original owner’s old cat and loved it. When it had passed away in its sleep on the foot of her bed one night, she’d thought about getting another cat but caught up in work and fixing the old house, time had slipped past and she’d never done so. But now Missy had appeared and Del admitted that she’d already fallen a little in love with the little black scrap.

  When she walked into her parent’s home she found her father sprawled out in an armchair watching the news, Missy sitting on his lap watching the screen with wide eyes.

  “You look comfortable.” Del reached over and rubbed Missy’s head.

  The kitten sniffed her fingers and then, with a delighted little meow, she climbed up Mr Miller and into Del’s waiting arms.

  Mr Miller glanced up. “She knows you.”

  “Ah, but did she miss me?” Del cuddled her close.

  “For awhile. Until your Mum went for a nanna nap, then she curled up with her and that was the end of everything.”

  “Where is Mum?”

  “Right here.” Her mother appeared in the doorway holding a plastic tray and a bag of litter. “Now, dear, I know you’re trying to find Missy’s home, but meanwhile she can’t use an old cardboard box with sand. This girl needs litter and a proper tray.”

  Del eyed the tray. “That looks new. Have you been shopping?”

  “No. When we had Fluffy I bought several trays in case she took short while finding her way around the house. This tray has never been used. I dug it and some bags of litter out of the shed.”

  “Thanks, Mum.”

  Pushing out of the armchair, her father rubbed Missy’s ears. “Having this little scrap around has made us realise that it’s time we got another cat.”

  “I met Elissa in the grocery store,” Mrs Miller added. “She said that Grant, the vet, had a young stray in the back of the clinic that needs a home. We’re going to have a look tomorrow.”

  “That’s great.” Del smiled as Missy grabbed a pawful of her hair.

  “Missy can still come here.” Her mother stroked Missy’s little head with a fingertip. “They can stay separate for awhile and then I’ll introduce them. They’ll be good friends.”

  “If you’re sure.”

  “We’re sure.”

  “Okay. Thanks so much.”

  “Now, dear, are you staying for dinner?”

  Hmm, it was tempting.

  “Then I’ll take you home,” her father said.

  Del blinked at this unexpected offer. “What?”

  “Take you home
,” he repeated.

  “Why would you do that?”

  “Why wouldn’t I?”

  “You never have before.” She eyed him suspiciously.

  “No real reason.” He smiled. “I feel like a drive out your way.”

  Uh oh. “Is this because of last night?”

  “Of course not, sweetie.” He said it with all the earnestness of a man speaking the truth, even though he was lying through his eye teeth.

  “Dad, nothing is going to happen to me.”

  “Why didn’t you remind me that you needed those window locks put in?”

  The unexpected switch of topic caught her unaware. “Huh?”

  “Ryder had to put new locks in.” Mr Miller was starting to look increasingly disgruntled. “That was my job.”

  “Well, Dad, it just kind of happened. It wasn’t planned or-”

  “I’m your father, it’s my duty to make sure you’re safe.”

  Oh shit. This wasn’t going to happen. If she gave in now her father, in his own sweet and slightly absentminded way, would drive her nuts.

  “Dad,” she said calmly, “I was going to ask you when Ryder went all gonzo like he does and got it into his head that he was going to do it, and before I could even try to tell him no, he’d gone and done it.” Unlike her father, Del could lie with a straight face and a steady gaze. “I definitely didn’t plan for anyone apart from you to do it.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes.”

  Her father studied her while she met his gaze unflinchingly.

  The slight tension eased from him. “Okay.” Reaching out, he gathered her in for a hug. “You know I’m here for you, sweetie. We both are.”

  “Thanks Dad.” She couldn’t hug him back, not with Missy wriggling in her hands.

  He might be mollified, but she recognised the signs that he was worried about her and was determined to nip any overbearing ways in the bud before they had a chance to bloom properly. Part of that meant forgoing a yummy dinner cooked by her mother so she could go home in the daylight, which would satisfy her parents that she’d get home safely. “I can’t stay for dinner, Mum, I have a lot of bookwork to do for the shop that I want to get done tonight.” Sheesh, and dinner smelled so good, too.

  “You work so hard.” Mrs Miller patted her cheek. “I made plenty of food, dear, so I’ll dish you up a portion and you can reheat it at home.”

  Whoo hoo! “Only if you have enough.”

  “Of course I do.”

  While Del wrestled Missy into the cardboard box, Mrs Miller put a serving of Spaghetti Bolognaise with parmesan cheese sprinkled on top into a plastic container, covering it with silver foil.

  Carrying it out to the car, her mother held up the plastic bag of kitten food that Del had bought that morning. “You take this home, I’ve bought some more kitten food for Missy while she stays here, so you don’t have to bring food and litter backwards and forwards between the houses.”

  Del looked at her out the car window. “You bought a new litter tray and kitty litter, didn’t you?”

  “Well, dear, it pays to have an extra tray for our new cat when it comes, too.”

  She really did love her soft-hearted parents. “Thanks, Mum.”

  “You’re welcome.” Mrs Miller frowned a little anxiously. “Are you sure you don’t want Dad to see you home?”

  Time to go. “It’s all good. If I need you, I’ll ring.”

  On the drive home Del couldn’t help but smile. She had good friends and family, even if at times they all got a bit over-protective. She had to learn not to get so defensive.

  An hour later she was sitting on the sofa eating her mother’s spaghetti and watching TV, the ceiling fan turning slowly to create some breeze on the warm summer night, Missy bouncing on the sofa with a ping pong ball, when the phone rang.

  Del picked up the receiver. “Hello?”

  “I hear you got a black kitten,” a gruff voice stated.

  Oh no. Del’s heart sank as she watched Missy kick the ping pong ball with her back feet, little ears flattening on her head. “I…um…yes.”

  “White mark on its nose?”

  “Yes.”

  “Female, ’bout eight weeks old?”

  She swallowed the lump in her throat. “Yes.”

  “Do you want to keep it?”

  Del blinked. “I beg your pardon?”

  The sound of a throat clearing came through clear, then a more recognizable voice. “Del?’

  Puzzled, she frowned. “Who is this?”

  “It’s David Linley from behind you.”

  “David? I didn’t recognise your voice at first.”

  “Got a cold that’s playing hell with my throat and voice. Anyway, look, that kitten, do you want to keep her?”

  Her heart picked up pace. “Um - yes, I do. I’d love to keep her.”

  “Then she’s yours.”

  “Well, I’m really happy, but what-”

  “She was given to my granddaughter. Unfortunately, turns out she’s allergic to cats so we took it. But truthfully, Del, we have four cats already and really don’t want another one. You want her, she’s yours.”

  Del’s smile was so wide she thought she’d eat her own ears off. “David, thank you so much.”

  “Trust me, the pleasure is all mine. Anyway, gotta go. Catch you later.” With that he hung up.

  Placing the phone down, Del looked at Missy. Her kitten. Reaching out, she batted the ball a little, making Missy flip and grab for it. “Well, this is it, Missy. You and me, together forever.”

  Best day ever.

  Leaning back against the sofa, she took a huge mouthful of spaghetti and chewed while watching the news with lazy contentedness.

  The sound of a car cut through the quiet, headlights flashing behind the curtains at the window. Almost at the same time came the sound of a dog barking in the distance. Slowly lowering the plate, she angled her head, listening. She wasn’t expecting any of her friends, and that engine didn’t sound like her father’s car.

  A car door shutting, followed seconds later by heavy footsteps on the veranda. The knock on the door was measured, definite.

  Wondering who it could be, Del placed the plate on the hall side table and opened the door to find Moz Baylon standing outside, thumbs hooked easily into the loops of his jeans, t-shirt stretched across his broad shoulders and heavy chest, fair hair fastened at the nape of his neck in the customary ponytail. Long legs were braced slightly apart, sneakers on his feet instead of his usual work boots. His face was shadowed in the veranda light but there was no doubting the intensity of his gaze.

  Oh boy.

  “Um…hi,” she said a little inanely.

  “Del.”

  Oh man, that deep voice was just delicious.

  Trying to regain her senses - just where the hell did they go lately when he turned up? - she managed to reply coolly, “Something I can do for you?”

  His head moved sightly, the light catching a glint in the shadows of his eyes. She swore she could feel that gaze even as she mentally berated herself for being fanciful.

  “There is definitely something you can do for me, Del.”

  Hoo boy, his tone seemed to hold a wealth of meanings.

  “There are some things we need to discuss.”

  “Um…really?”

  His head angled slightly, the light catching the fairness of his hair. “Business first.” Something a little darker in his tone. “Then us next.” Something a little silkier in his tone.

  Who knew tones could make her knees go a little weak, her belly do a little flip. She barely registered what he’d said, her focus almost solely on those deep, rumbling tones.

  Almost. She didn’t miss the last bit. “Us?”

  “Business first.”

  She stared up at him. “What business?”

  He leaned closer. “Open the door, Del.”

  She licked her suddenly dry lips, hand tightening on the door handle.

  �
��Open the door, Del.” Voice a whole lot softer. “Let me in.” A whole lot hotter. “Now.” And a whole lot more dangerous.

  Chapter 5

  She stood in the doorway, the hall light creating a halo effect on her blonde hair, the thick plait lying across one shoulder. A thin tank top skimmed those lush breasts, the loose, flowered, cotton shorts moulding to those curvy hips before brushing the tops of slim thighs. Her legs were long and bare, her arms shapely.

  Dressed in casual clothes, maybe even summer pjs, Del was a sight for weary eyes. Just the sight of her looking up at him a little apprehensively, yet with an unmistakeable blush creeping into her cheeks, and his heart was thudding a little heavier, the heat pooling lower in his groin.

  Yep, no doubting it, this lush little blonde was really turning him on. Why now, he had no idea. Maybe because he’d had more to do with her the last few days than he had since he’d come to Gully’s Fall. Maybe because the last few days were the first times they’d actually been alone together without the buffer of their friends. Maybe because he’d tasted her, inhaled that sweet scent, felt the warmth of that shapely, lithe body. Didn’t matter the reason, it just was.

  “Let me in, Del,” he ordered softly. Let me in…everywhere.

  Slowly, mutely, her wide, pale blue eyes locked on him, she turned the handle.

  Taking hold of the security screen, he pulled it open. Now there was nothing between them.

  She stood looking up at him, hands by her sides, silent, waiting. The blush in her cheeks, the way those soft, plump lips parted just a fraction in invitation, pulled at him.

  The air between them was heavy with something unvoiced but felt. Anticipation, sensuality, the growing attraction undeniable.

  Moz moved forward, reaching out with one arm, ready to gather her to him. He’d forgotten why he was there in the first place until the sound of a powerful motorbike in the distance sounded, growing steadily closer.

  Kirk.

  It jolted him, a flicker of annoyance spearing through the arousal he was definitely feeling, but it brought him back to more serious, urgent matters.

  Not that the irrefutable desire wasn’t important, but right now it was the least dangerous.

  Breaking the spell between them, he turned to watch the driveway as a single headlight lit up the bushes before the big motorbike came around the curve and Kirk pulled up in front of the house.