You're the One Page 17

  “I appreciate it. Might take you up on that one day.”

  “Feel free.”

  “Like when we’re married.”

  She choked on the Diet Coke.

  Grinning, he passed a napkin across the table. “’Cause that’s what married couples do.”

  “You are such a shit.” Still coughing, she wiped her eyes.

  He laid a palm over his heart. “Baby, that hurts.”

  “The truth often does.”

  “It can also be very enlightening.”

  “I’ll enlighten you in a minute.”

  “God, I hope so.”

  Scrunching up the napkin, she said, “I never realised what a teasing drongo you were.”

  “I grow on you.”

  “Like warts?”

  “Kiss me and we’ll see if I turn into a frog.”

  “Don’t go around thinking you’re a prince.”

  Sally appearing with their plates of food diverted the conversation.

  Del fell onto her plate of t-bone steak, chips and salad with a moan of pure appreciation, leaving Moz to appreciate her enthusiasm while he picked at his roast pork with no real appetite.

  There was no doubting that she noticed, but rather than play coy, Del continued eating. “So, what’s this I hear about you and Mozart?”

  “Hmmm?” He glanced up from the plate.

  “I hear you’re pining for each other.”

  “Oh, yeah.” Moz scratched the side of his jaw. “Mozart suffers from a bit of anxiety, thanks to his past.”

  “Elissa told me about that. Poor little fur bag.”

  “Until I get a place of my own he’s stuck at Elissa’s house. Don’t get me wrong, I know they’re looking after him, but he and Arthur don’t get on - or rather, Arthur wants to rip him apart, so Mozart is pretty much confined to the bedroom.”

  “Arthur was never an easy cat. Ask Simon.”

  “I heard.”

  “Anyway, what are the options for Mozart?”

  Moz sighed. “I’m thinking of bringing him to the boarding house at nights so at least he can sleep with me, but dragging him back and forth between the two places isn’t good for him. Might not be good for the furniture, either, if he starts anxiety spraying from shifting so much.”

  “Huh.” She sawed off a piece of steak. “You think he’d be better off in a house where he has the run of it?”

  “That’s my plan if I can get a place. At least he could be with me at night and have the run of the place, not be cooped up. And I’d be there at nights so he wouldn’t get too lonely.”

  Del chewed thoughtfully for several minutes, her gaze on the painting on the far wall.

  Wondering what she was thinking, Moz enjoyed himself studying her and waiting. Man, she was easy on the eyes.

  She refocussed on him. “Got a plan.”

  He perked up. “You know a place? I don’t mind how old it is, I’ll take it.”

  “Glad you don’t mind how old it is, because the place is a bit ramshackle, but it’s not for rent.”

  His face fell.

  “But this could work for Mozart.”

  “Okay,” he said dubiously.

  “Mozart can stay with me and Missy.”

  Moz blinked.

  “Seriously,” Del said, “it’s a good plan. He can have the run of the house night and day, he’s got me and Missy for company at night, and you can visit him. How’s that?”

  Surprised, Moz rubbed his jaw. “That’s very generous of you.”

  “Yeah, I know, you so totally owe me.” Popping steak into her mouth, she added a small chip and chewed appreciatively.

  “But I don’t know.” He frowned. “It’s asking a lot.”

  “To have a cat staying with me? Look, I’ve gone from just myself to a kitten and a boyfriend as well. I don’t think adding another cat to the mix could be any more surprising.” She pointed the fork at him. “You can supply his food and litter, or pay towards his food and litter, either way is good by me. He has company, you don’t have to worry about him being cooped up in a bedroom, and he and Missy will have fun together. Problem fixed.”

  It actually sounded like a really good idea. Okay, he couldn’t be with Mozart all night, but he could still visit and Mozart would have Del and Missy all night, every night for comfort.

  Moz aimed to be there most nights all night as well, but figured it wasn’t prudent to point that out right now. For now visiting was fine, sex was out. He’d take what he could get. Biggest bonus and most importantly right now? His cat would be better off.

  “Okay.” He held out his hand. “You’ve got a deal. You board my cat, I bake you some goodies.”

  Her eyes brightened. “Best deal ever.” They shook hands.

  “I have to cook at your place, though.”

  “You can do that with your visiting rights.”

  “Do I need to draw up a schedule?”

  “Probably best to aim your visits for evenings, I work five and a half days a week.”

  “What if you get angry with me and don’t want me around?”

  “Trust me, you’ll know.” She paused. “Plus I wouldn’t ever hold that against your cat. I’d just make you visit when I’m not home.”

  That sounded good. He must be making progress. “You’d trust me with your keys?”

  “What’s there to steal? My rusty roof?”

  “Your TV.”

  “Have you been sussing my place out, Baylon?”

  “Only the owner so far.”

  She grinned. “If I’m annoyed with you, you’ll have to just visit Mozart when I’m not home.”

  His appetite started to return. “I promise not to interrupt or take up too much time every evening. Maybe I could come around every second evening. Or just drop in for a few minutes when you first get home or something.”

  Del leaned forward, eyes serious. “Moz, you love Mozart, he needs you. I have no problems with you coming over every day to spend some time with him, whether it’s a few minutes or an hour, depending on what you’re doing. I don’t mind if you’re busy and can’t make it. If I need some quiet time alone, I’ll let you know. No harm, no foul, no insult, no expectations. That’s how I work. Okay?”

  The woman had a good heart. “Okay.”

  She forked up some salad. “Plus you better cook me some bloody good food in exchange for babysitting your cat.”

  “Baby, I will rock your world.” When she paused to look at him, he added with a straight face, “My cooking will, I mean. What were you thinking?”

  “Never you mind.”

  The rest of the evening went well, both of them so comfortable in each other’s company it was as though they’d been dating for weeks or even months, rather than just a first date.

  Standing at her door at the end of the evening, Moz braced his hand on the wall above her head and leaned down. “Thanks for a great evening.”

  “Thanks back.” Unexpectedly, she stood up on tip toe to kiss him.

  She might have meant it as a quick peck, but Moz wasn’t going to let it go at that. He pressed her back against the wall and kissed her with carnal gusto.

  By the time he lifted his head, she was clinging to him. “Shit, my knees are wobbly.”

  God, she could make him laugh and get horny all at once. “Do you need a bed?”

  “No, a cold shower.” Reaching out sideways, she grabbed the security screen and pulled it open.

  He let her duck out from under his arm, his eyes sparkling with laughter and desire as she slid behind the door and shut it, the lock flicking. Straightening, he grinned. “Want me to wash your back?”

  She pointed at him. “You just bring your cat over tomorrow arvo and be ready to bake that loaf of bread.”

  Her words might have been brisk but her voice was husky and he could see the outline of her nipples through the dress. Del might want to sound all business, but she was aroused. The body didn’t lie.

  Hallelujah.

  ~
*~

  “I can’t believe you and Moz Baylon are playing kissy face.” Molly jiggled the baby on her knee.

  Lily squealed with delight and made a grab for the stack of paper plates on the picnic table.

  “I can’t believe Kirk hasn’t kicked your arse to the curb yet.” Del moved the stack to a safe distance.

  “Kirk thinks I’m hot.”

  “Kirk has mental issues.”

  “He can be imaginative in the sack.” Molly leered. “And out of it.”

  “Jesus,” Dee said. “I’d have thought lacking sleep because of the baby would have dampened the home fires.”

  “Far from it. Besides, Lily sleeps all night almost every night. That means Kirk and I can play kissy-face. Actually, we do more than kissy face. Those home fires are burning, baby, burning.”

  A loud chorus of deep male voices hooting drew all their attention to the grassy area where Kirk, Simon, Scott, Ryder, Moz and Grant were playing footy. Or their version of it.

  Ash sighed appreciatively and the women all nodded in agreement. The men were a sight to enjoy, all right. Not one of them wore a shirt which meant that every ripped torso was on display. Surprisingly, even the vet sported a ripped torso. Not as bulky as the other’s, true, but ripped nonetheless. He tended towards a leaner, harder strength.

  He was also studious. That showed when the ball sailed right past him because he was lost in thought.

  “Hey, dipstick!” Ryder yelled. “Get your head in the game, man!”

  “And your head out your arse,” Grant fired back.

  Scott snorted a laugh, caught the footy that Grant booted back and ran with it, Simon and Ryder hot on his heels.

  Moz helped Scott get through by simply barrelling down on the other men, who leaped out the way or risked being ran into the ground. There wasn’t actually much leaping as simply being dumb enough to try and tackle him.

  “There’s just something about watching sweaty, muscly men grappling each other.” Molly sighed.

  “Seriously,” Elissa said, “you are one sicko.”

  “Come on, you mean you don’t enjoy watching them?”

  “Never said I didn’t, I just wanted to point out the truth.”

  In the act of twisting the cap off a bottle of apple juice, Del studied Moz. She had to agree with Ryder, the inspector was built like a brick shithouse. Without his shirt, running, jumping, catching and kicking, all those bulging muscles gleamed, bunched and flexed. His hair tied at the nape bounced against his broad back. It was enough to make her tongue fall out of her mouth and her panties go damp.

  Especially at the memory of all that strength and hot skin above her, pressing down, big hands holding her, controlling her…

  “So how’s it going with Mozart?” Ash broke into her musings.

  “How’s Missy taking it?” Dee added. “Not to mention you having Moz around most evenings?”

  “Oh, she’d like the evenings.” Molly smirked.

  Swinging up to sit on the table with her feet on the long wooden bench, Del took a swig of cold drink, welcoming it in the heat of the day. “Missy loves having Mozart to play with. Mozart has settled in well, but he’s happiest when Moz comes over. He sleeps with me.”

  Dee nearly spilled her drink. “Moz sleeps with you?”

  “Cripes,” Elissa groaned. “Brother, remember?”

  “Do tell,” Molly added. “And I mean everything.”

  “No, you bunch of dirty bitches. Not you, Ash.” Reaching down, Del patted Ash’s head where she sat on the bench. “Just those other three.”

  “Thanks.” Ash dimpled.

  Del looked around at her friends. “I meant Mozart, not Moz. Mozart sleeps with me and Missy.”

  “Geez, that’s a let down.” Molly brightened. “Does that mean you both just do it on the sofa?”

  “Have you nothing else inside your head but sex?”

  “Am I supposed to?”

  “Ryder doesn’t,” Dee commented.

  “Ryder doesn’t have sex on the brain? I find that hard to believe.”

  “No, I mean he doesn’t have anything else but sex on the brain.”

  “I hope he doesn’t have it on the brain when he has to do CPR on some poor unsuspecting person. That’d be a surprise for them.”

  “Hopeless.” Elissa shook her head. “Just hopeless.”

  Laughing, Del looked back at the men. “Oops, looks like Ryder’s ambo expertise might be needed after all.”

  No sooner had she said that than there came loud yells from the men, accompanied by various advice.

  “Run, Simon, run!” Kirk yelled.

  “Jesus, just throw the ball, dipstick!” Ryder hollered. “That big ape is breathing down your neck!”

  Simon had the ball gripped firmly under his arm, face set, feet pounding across the grass. Behind him came Moz, longer legs eating up the space dividing them, his attention focussed on Simon.

  “’Atta boy, Moz!” Grant called encouragingly. “Take the ball!”

  “Throw the ball, Simon, you dickhead!” Ryder waved his arms. “Get rid of it before he kills you!”

  Simon put on a burst of speed.

  Moz was right behind him.

  “Oh geez.” Elissa shut her eyes. “I can’t look.”

  Del poked Dee’s arm. “Ten bucks says Moz takes him down.”

  “You’re on. Look at Simon fly across the ground.”

  “He’ll need the practice,” Molly stated. “Once he’s in Heaven, he’ll have wings.”

  Simon diverted, dodging, arcing around which placed him closer to the women but still in the playing area.

  Moz was right behind him.

  “Oh shit,” Scott said.

  Moz lunged, grappled Simon and brought him down flat. The ball shot out from under Simon and rolled to a stop ten feet away.

  Lily squealed in delight.

  “Damn,” said Dee. “I wanted that ten bucks.”

  Elissa looked between her fingers. “Is he alive?”

  “Haven’t got word back yet.” Del took a sip of apple juice.

  Scott, Ryder, Kirk and Grant gathered around the two men on the ground.

  Moz pushed to his feet, hands on hips, looking down at Simon. “Get up, you piker. Show some backbone.”

  “I don’t think I have one left,” Simon replied weakly. “I may need first aid. I may need CPR. Get Ryder.”

  “I’m sure as shit not putting my mouth on yours,” Ryder retorted. “Moz almost killed you, make him do it.”

  “He’s my brother-in-law. That’s kind of incestuous.”

  Grant nodded. “I can see that.”

  Scott agreed.

  “Send Elissa over.” Simon lifted an arm. “My vision is going dark.”

  Moz sighed. “Looks like I have to sacrifice myself for my sister.” Dropping to his knees, he reached for Simon. “Pucker up.”

  “It’s a miracle! I’m recovered!” Simon jolted into a sitting position. “Hallelujah!”

  “You sure?” Moz queried. “’Cause, you know, you’re kind of cute.”

  “Touch me and I’ll scream.”

  “I can make you do more than scream.”

  “Should we leave you alone?” Kirk queried. “I’m starting to feel like a voyeur.”

  “I’ll watch,” Molly called.

  Everyone grinned except Kirk, his eyes cutting to her. “You’ll stay put.”

  “Awww, honey,” she whined.

  His eyes sparkled with laughter even while he kept his face stern. “Just do as you’re told, kitten.”

  “You make me hot when you go all stern like that.”

  “Never mind that.” Elissa gagged. “Oh my God, my brother and my husband, this is so sick.”

  Simon peered around Moz’s bulk to wink at her. “Aw, sweetheart, my mouth is for you only.” He made kissy sounds.

  “What about the rest of your body?”

  “All for pleasuring you, love of my life.”

  Moz shuddered. �
�So, so wrong.”

  “Yeah, well you asked for it, you big lug. What the hell? Were you trying to kill me or something?”

  “Don’t be a wuss.” Straightening, Moz bent, grabbed Simon’s arm and hauled him upright, looking down at him. “Grow a pair.”

  Simon flipped him the bird.

  Oh boy, the easy way Moz manoeuvred Simon, the way those magnificent muscles flexed and bunched, had butterflies dipping and winging in Del’s belly.

  “We won,” Grant stated.

  “Bullshit,” Ryder retorted immediately.

  “I kept score.”

  “That must have been why the ball kept getting past you.”

  Grinning, Moz strode across to the picnic table, the other men following, Ryder and Grant still arguing.

  Del watched him walk right up to her. With a wink, he plucked the apple juice from her hand, placed it to his lips, tipped his head back and drank.

  Oh my. His strong throat worked as he swallowed. It took all she had not to place her hand on all that smooth skin and ripped muscle. She definitely wasn’t into public displays. Damn it.

  Lowering the bottle, Moz leaned forward to drop a light kiss on her lips. “Thanks for the prize.”

  “There wasn’t one,” she replied, a little flustered.

  “Oh, sorry, let me give it back then.” He gave her another kiss, this one a lot deeper.

  Holy heck, her head was almost spinning.

  Pulling back, he winked again before turning and sitting on the wooden bench, his arm brushing her leg.

  She’d have been a little worried about everyone watching but a quick glance around showed Scott getting the BBQ ready, Kirk carrying the tray of snaggers and chops over to it, Ryder saying something to Dee that had her mouthing ‘dumb arse’ at him, which promptly had her kissed thoroughly, Grant holding Lily while Molly joined Kirk at the BBQ, and Simon, Elissa and Ash setting the table.

  Moz looked up at her. “Might want to shift your cute arse, baby.”

  She slid down to sit beside him. “You won me ten bucks.”

  “Glad I helped out.” He drained the rest of the drink, tossed the empty bottle unerringly into the bin a short distance away. “How about a walk after lunch?”

  Considering his visits lately were of the house variety, Del welcomed the chance to spend time with him outside. “You’re on.”