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  “Sure.” Simon took a mouthful of tea.

  Getting to her feet, Ash started gathering the dishes.

  With every intention of helping, Simon started to stand, only to have Ash point the fork she was holding at him. “You stay right there. You’ve got a day of work ahead of you. I’ll handle this.”

  “I’ll help.” Elissa almost jumped to her feet.

  Okay, she stood, but he bet that inside she was jumping. Elissa Baylon might look like she had everything under control, but there was a whole lot more going on underneath that stoic demeanour than she was letting on.

  The woman was a walking contradiction. He could see it, feel it, she gave herself away with little things. A finger nervously tapping the handle of the knife, the straightening of a napkin that was already ruler straight. And she sat like she had a poker up her shapely derriere, shoulders back, spine stiff.

  Did she ever slump, ever relax? Oh yeah, wait, she had - when she was crying her eyes out on the balcony, and again when she relaxed back in his van and listened to the music from his CD. He knew for a fact that she wasn’t even aware that she had sung softly along with it.

  He’d known, had felt those dulcet tones slide into his soul, slide into his senses, the beauty of her voice fill him with contentment. At least for a short time until they got to Scott’s home. Once the music was off, she wrapped all that coolness around herself, smiled at him with a guardedness as she walked with him up the veranda steps, and disappeared into the depths of the house as soon as Scott met them in the hallway.

  Part of him wanted to follow but now wasn’t the time. He wasn’t sure exactly when the time would be to face her up, but it would come. Until then he waited to see if she’d say something, though he seriously doubted it now. She was still pretending, though it was obvious that she was waiting for him recognise her.

  If only she knew he’d recognised her as soon as he’d seen her. He’d not forgotten her, not forgotten the way she cried all alone on a balcony, her smile, her kiss, the way she’d sat beside him. The way she’d left.

  Normally if a woman didn’t want to acknowledge their meeting he’d have accepted it and just moved on, content to leave things lie, but with Elissa it was different. He didn’t know why, it just was, so he did what he always did and followed his instincts.

  His instincts had Elissa firmly in his sights.

  Sipping on the hot tea, he studied her as she chatted to Ash and wiped the dishes.

  Man, she was pretty. Her cool beauty just begged to be ruffled. He wondered what she’d look like with all that silky-looking hair tousled and spilling over her shoulders, the coolness of her features flushed, a smile curving those lush lips, her so-perfectly fitted shirt that she’d changed into before breakfast a little askew with the top three buttons undone to reveal what he just knew would be a magnificent cleavage, going by the way those mounds pushed against the material.

  The woman who had sung at the city pub had been alive with the music, animated, different to the cool, collected woman who smiled and chatted serenely to Ash.

  He’d like to strip that serenity away, pull her down on the floor - better yet, in the grass - kiss her senseless, lose himself in all that softness, shake up her composure, have her moaning, squirming beneath him, all that lushness his to explore, to taste, to bury himself in while he watched those light brown eyes lose focus, grow hot, those apple cheeks flush as desire rode her as hard as he wanted - “Crap!”

  Simon leaped back from the hot tea that had slopped out of the cup to spatter on the table, the steaming liquid dripping off the wooden surface. He’d jumped up just in time, the hot tea narrowly missing slopping onto his crutch, which would have been damned painful.

  Grinning a little sheepishly at the staring women, he held out his hand. “Sorry. Clumsy. Toss me the dishcloth, would you, Ash?”

  She wrung out the cloth and tossed it to him. “Are you all right?”

  “Yeah,” Scott drawled from the doorway. “Something on your mind?”

  Simon’s gaze shot to his friend, taking in the gleam in his eyes. Great. Scott had seen him staring at Elissa. Time to head him off. “Just thinking about everything we need to do today.”

  “That made you spill your cup?”

  “Lost concentration.” Simon sopped the tea up with the washcloth.

  “Oh, I’d say you were concentrating just fine.”

  “Well, I am dedicated to the job.”

  “Dedicated, yes. Job? Hmm.”

  “Don’t listen to him.” Taking the dripping washcloth from Simon, Ash handed him a tea towel to mop up the last of the spilled tea. “I know how dedicated you are to the job.”

  “He’s dedicated to the job, all right,” Scott said. “Always got his eyes on the goal.”

  Simon just smiled. So he’d been caught watching Elissa, so what? She was pretty, he was a man, he was admiring her.

  Okay, maybe ‘fantasizing’ would be closer, and possibly ‘lustful’ could have a place in there as well, but he refused to be embarrassed at his friend knowing. Besides, past experience had proven that pulling the wool over Scott’s eyes was not happening.

  Carrying the wet tea towel into the laundry through a door in the back of the kitchen, Simon dropped it into a bucket. “Want me to put soaker in here?”

  “What a man,” Ash said. “You’d actually put soaker in there without being asked?”

  Simon stuck his head around the corner of the door to grin at her. “Your wonderful, loving, dedicated fiancée wouldn’t?”

  Scott flipped him the bird.

  “I saw that with my eagle eye.”

  “Your eye is doing a lot of eagling today.”

  “I’m not sure that’s even a proper use of the word ‘eagle’.”

  “It’s fine, Simon.” Ash handed him a paper lunch bag. “Something for you for morning tea.”

  “All right!”

  “It’s to share.”

  “Are you sure?” He held up the bag, looked at it worriedly. “Doesn’t seem that much.”

  “Maybe you better give it to Scott.”

  “Don’t you trust me?” He grinned lazily at her.

  Ash arched an eyebrow. “Giving your dedication to food, no.”

  “I’m wounded.” Walking past her, he ruffled her hair. “Thanks, Ash, I’ll be sure to guard this bag with my life.”

  “You think that won’t worry me more?”

  Laughing, Simon threw Elissa a wink, catching her off-guard. Her already big eyes widened, a faint pink stealing into her cheeks.

  Interesting.

  “I’ll see you later,” he couldn’t help but say, giving her a slightly longer look that had her flustered.

  “Sure,” she managed, picking up another plate and starting to wipe it, her gaze going to Scott. “Have a nice day.”

  Scott caught Ash’s hand, pulled her into him, gave her a smacking kiss on the lips and released her with a roguish wink. “Keep those home fires burning, honey, and I do mean burning.”

  Ash blushed, but her smile was so bright it almost lit up the room. “You know it.”

  “Oh, I do.” Another wink, a smart smack to her bottom that made her squeal in surprise, and Scott turned to Simon. “Come on, we’ve got work to do. Fires to put out, people to rescue, being the heroes we are, basically.”

  “No probs.” Cradling the paper bag of goodies in his arm, Simon followed Scott out the door. “I’m all hero.”

  No sooner were they driving back towards town than Scott demanded, “Right, let’s have it.”

  “Have what?”

  “What are you up to with my wife’s best friend?”

  “I’m not aware that I’m up to anything,” Simon drawled.

  “I saw you ogling her.”

  “Was I ogling?”

  “Staring so hard I thought your eyes were going to pop.”

  “I think you might be exaggerating just a tad.”

  “You were so occupied with watching her that you
nearly burned the family jewels with hot tea.”

  “I can look.”

  “Look? You were practically salivating.”

  Simon smiled.

  Scott propped his elbow on the doorframe. “So?”

  “So?”

  “Don’t play silly buggers. Are you after her?”

  “Seriously? You’re going to ask that?”

  “Yep.”

  “I want her. I lust after her. I want her beneath me while I-”

  “Jesus, Simon. Settle down.”

  “Hey, you asked.”

  “I’m almost sorry I did.”

  “Just almost?”

  “I’m waiting for the full impact when Ryder comes along. Just wish Kirk was here to listen. Man, he’ll be pissed that he missed this.”

  “My heart bleeds for him.” Simon pulled in behind the fire station. “Hey, Hank’s already here.”

  The Station Officer was standing by the fire truck, his booted foot propped on the running board while he studied the clipboard he held in one meaty hand. “Full morning, boys.”

  “I’m not sure Simon could handle a full morning,” Scott replied. “He’s had a bellyful of Ash’s food. And I do mean a bellyful.”

  Hank cast Simon a bland look. “What’s in the bag?”

  “Morning tea,” Simon replied.

  “You might want to take it with you.” Hank straightened. “You and a couple of vollies are heading out to the bridge to do some back burning, remember?”

  “Which bridge?”

  “Down by old Jack’s farm.” Hank took his foot off the running board. “Don’t tell me you forgot about the burn.”

  “Been looking forward to it all week,” Simon replied, straight-faced. “Light a fire instead of putting one out, kind of a little thrill.”

  Scott grinned.

  Just then the four volunteers entered the building.

  “Right.” Hank crossed to the office. “Let’s get this sorted so you blokes can start earning your pay.”

  “We don’t get paid,” one of the vollies said.

  “You have my eternal love and undying gratitude.” Hank disappeared into the office.

  “Well, Laz.” Simon looked at the volunteer. “What more can you ask for?”

  “It’s enough for me.” Laz placed his hand on his chest. “My heart overflows.”

  “Kinky.”

  “Coming from you, that’s a compliment.”

  “No, coming from Ryder that’s a compliment.”

  “By the way,” Laz said as they followed the others into the office, “I took Arthur’s side in the bet.”

  “Jesus.”

  Chapter 3

  Watching the panel van back out of the driveway and pull onto the road, Elissa frowned. Damn it. Simon - did he or did he not recognise her? It was hard to tell, one second he was looking at her with a knowing look, the next she could swear she was mistaken when she blinked and his expression was friendly and innocent.

  Well, not innocent in that way, because a man like Simon wouldn’t be innocent innocent. Nope, not a hot firie like that, especially in a small town. Come to think of it, he’d have his pick of women even in a city. The man was just hot.

  Cripes, she might have problems but it didn’t stop her from admiring a hot man.

  And why the hell was she mucking around? Why didn’t she just ask him straight out if he remembered her? She could just start with a ‘you seem familiar’ and see where that led. If he really didn’t remember her, then that was a good thing. She didn’t want him to remember her blubbering her eyes out on his hotel room balcony. No doubt she’d made an impression then, imagine what she’d make now if he remembered her? Embarrassment plus.

  Imagine what Ash would think if he revealed how he’d first met Elissa?

  Holy crap. Maybe it’d be better to not ask anything. Then again, what if he suddenly remembered her and blurted it all out?

  Crap. Crap crap crap.

  Elissa groaned and face-palmed. Maybe the wisest thing would be to get to him first, find a private place and confess, make him promise not to say anything to anyone.

  Yeah, that’d work.

  And if he really didn’t remember, well, obviously she hadn’t made as big an impression as she’d first thought and his interest in her hadn’t run that deep.

  Taking a deep breath, she turned around to find herself face-to-face with Ash, who was watching her with raised eyebrows.

  “What?”

  “What was all that about?” Ash asked.

  Shit, had she talked aloud? Elissa blinked. “What was what about?”

  “The sigh, the face-palming, the biting the lip.” Ash’s gaze slid to the window behind her and back again, this time a little more thoughtfully. “Simon?”

  Holy heck, she’d forgotten how intuitive Ash could be. “I’m not following.”

  “You’re looking out the window and acting weird.”

  “I always act weird. Ask Moz.”

  “What’s going on?”

  “Nothing.” Elissa stepped past her. “Just remembered an appointment I forgot to cancel before I left home.”

  “Must have been some appointment.”

  “It was. I was going to bleach my muff.”

  “That’s just nasty.”

  Turning, Elissa smiled widely “Hey, you kept prying.”

  “I expected a much better answer than that.” Ash’s eyebrow rose higher. “Come on, give it another go. If nothing else your excuses are always entertaining.”

  “I was going to bleach my rim?”

  “Your what?”

  “My rim. You know, my ars-”

  “Why the hell would you want to bleach that?” a new voice asked.

  Horrified, Elissa swung around to find three women standing just inside the door between the kitchen and the hallway.

  “It’d make it look like a target,” the brown-haired woman with a very pregnant belly continued. “Imagine if you bent over with a bleached rim?”

  “I don’t know that I’d want any missile aiming for that target,” a slim, buxom, blonde woman said.

  Another blonde woman very similar to the other blonde, except she was generously curved, pulled out a kitchen chair and dropped onto it. “Maybe bleaching the rim of your vag, that way if you had a target-challenged lover he could find it, but still, I’d be a little worried if I had to bleach and draw arrows to direct him.”

  “You’ll never have to worry about that.” The brown-haired woman sat carefully, subsiding with a grateful sigh. “Ryder’s always dead-on target.”

  “And I think Kirk proved his aim is right on target with you.” Grinning, the slim blonde waved cheerfully. “I’m Del.”

  “Dee.” The generously-proportioned blonde nodded. “The one with the belly is Molly.”

  Ash’s friends. Okay. Elissa relaxed a little. “Hi. Sorry about the um…”

  “Geez, don’t apologise,” Molly replied. “I think it’s a subject worth pursuing.”

  Dee looked at her. “What the hell…? You’re into back door jobs?”

  “I never said that.” Molly smoothed her hand over her very-pregnant belly. “I just said it was interesting.”

  “Sure,” Del said dryly.

  “You know, the whole bleaching, piercing, trimming and patterns.”

  “Patterns?” Dee frowned.

  “Take a seat.” Ash gave Elissa a little push. “This’ll be just as entertaining as your excuses, take my word for it.”

  Oh yeah, Elissa had heard about these three friends, and if for nothing else she liked them for the fact that they’d befriended Ash as soon as they’d met her. Ash had sorely needed friends, and they’d stepped up to the plate.

  Plus from what Ash had told her, these three weren’t easily shocked and good for a laugh. She could do with some laughs.

  “I’m Elissa.” She smiled as she sat at the table.

  “Hi,” they all chorused.

  “Ash’s city friend,” Del said. “
Who knows all about bleached rims and muffs.”

  “I wouldn’t put it quite like that.” Elissa linked her hands on the wooden surface of the table. “I’m not really experienced in that field.”

  “Ah.” Dee nodded sagely. “You go au naturel, huh?”

  “Short and curlies hanging out.” Molly smoothed her hand over her belly. “Letting it all swing free.”

  “Oh, come on.” Del turned to Elissa. “Tell me you’ve seen a pierced clit or something?”

  “I’m not really in the habit of checking out other women’s clits.” And she couldn’t believe she was having this conversation.

  Crossing to the table, Ash set down glasses. “Diet Coke? Lemonade? Iced coffee? Orange juice?”

  “What if I’d wanted hot tea or something?” Dee queried.

  “Tough.”

  “Huh. In that case, I’ll go a Diet Coke.”

  “Wise choice.”

  “Well, I’m sorely disappointed.” Molly’s lips pursed. “I thought we were going to have an in-depth discussion about muff decorating.”

  “Maybe you should have it with Kirk.” Del pointed at Molly’s belly. “Or isn’t he into doing anything muff-wise these days?”

  The smile that curved Molly’s lips was beaten only by the sparkle in her eyes. “You think there’s only pre-pregnancy sex?”

  “I’d have thought him jumping on top of you would make him feel like he’s on a see saw.”

  “There is such a thing as doggy, or haven’t you done that?”

  Okay, so there wasn’t any topic that was taboo between these girls. Even Ash was grinning.

  “Jesus,” said Dee. “Are you going to give us a pregnancy sex tour? I don’t know if I’m up for that.”

  “Ryder would be.”

  “Dumb arse is up for sex any time of the day or night.”

  “So you think if you get up the duff it’s going to stop him?”

  Dee squinted thoughtfully as she lifted the glass of cold Diet Coke. “You’ve got a point. I’d have to lock him out the bedroom.”

  “Man’d just go through the window to find you.”

  “I’ll lock that, too.”

  “Manhole.”

  “He’s not that way inclined.”