She smiled and offered him the last of the figs. ‘You’re the first guy I’ve ever let sleep over in my house.’

  His eyes widened in surprise as he shook his head at her offering. ‘You finish the fig. Otherwise I’m terrified you might chew my arm off.’

  ‘I’m full now.’ She patted her stomach, loving how his eyes darkened as he watched the gesture. ‘Though if you’re lucky, I may snack on something else later.’

  He barked out a laugh and waggled his finger. ‘You are one wicked woman.’

  ‘And you love me for it.’

  Crap. Why had she said that? It was a joke, but saying the L word in the throes of a fabulous fling wasn’t wise.

  Predictably, his gaze slid away from her, landing on the stuffed sheep tucked into the corner of her bookshelf. She knew how incongruous it looked but her dad had won it for her at the Inverloch fair when she’d been nine and after he’d left she hadn’t wanted to part with it. She’d wedged it between two photos of him, one of the two of them taken the same day and another about two years later, of her standing between her folks, their arms around her waist, making her feel like the luckiest girl in the world. Pity that feeling hadn’t lasted.

  ‘Why does a vegetarian have a sheep taking pride of place on her bookshelf?’

  ‘To keep any cravings I might have for the pub’s prized lamb rack at bay.’

  ‘You’re kidding?’

  ‘Of course, you dufus.’ She playfully whacked him on the arm and he pretended to be wounded, clutching at it. ‘That’s one of the few mementoes I have from my dad.’

  ‘Now I feel like the biggest bastard in the world.’

  ‘Don’t. I’m not terribly sentimental but I like keeping stuff like that.’

  ‘Is that him in the photos?’

  ‘Yeah. I’m nine in the one of him and me, and eleven in the other one.’

  Jy reached out for both photos, peering at them. ‘You were adorable.’

  ‘I know.’

  He chuckled, and lifted the one of her and her folks closer. ‘Your mum’s still beautiful.’

  ‘Tell me something I don’t know.’

  Replacing the photos next to the stuffed sheep, he stood and stretched, making his T-shirt ride up, leaving her with a tantalising view of abs and fitted black cotton boxers. ‘Want a water refill?’

  ‘I’m good.’ She brandished her champagne flute. ‘I like feeling decadent, having a midnight picnic complete with champers.’

  He smiled. ‘Back in a sec.’

  She watched him head for the kitchen, the muscles in his thighs and calves shifting, hinting at their underlying power. He definitely worked out. Lucky for her, as she’d discovered in exquisite, erotic detail over the last few hours. The fact she’d invited him to stay over, and he’d agreed, meant they’d already shifted their relationship up a gear. And she wasn’t overthinking it. Nev had been right. She didn’t want to live with regrets after Jy left so she intended on making every moment they had together count.

  With that in mind, she pushed to her feet and whipped off her T-shirt as she made her way to the kitchen. He was standing at the sink, drinking from a tall glass, and she came up behind him, wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed against him.

  He stiffened at the feel of her naked body, placing the glass on the sideboard before turning to face her.

  ‘Can’t a guy have a drink of water in peace?’

  ‘He could, but where’s the fun in that?’

  His hands slid from her waist to her butt in a slow caress that left her wanting. ‘You are magnificent.’

  ‘If you come back to the bedroom, I’ll show you exactly how magnificent I can be.’ Wrapping her arms around his neck, she eased his head down towards hers. ‘You up for it?’

  He smacked her butt and she squealed, slipping from his grasp and making a beeline for the bedroom, Jy close on her heels.

  ‘Been a long time since we did brunch in Inverloch,’ Karly said, sipping at her latte. ‘What had you in such a hurry to leave Acacia Haven this morning?’

  ‘Not what, who.’ Nev smirked and pointed at Summer’s face. ‘Look at her eyes. She can hardly keep them open, which explains why the control freak who always wants to drive whenever we head out of town relinquished the steering wheel to me today.’

  Karly’s head swivelled between them like a sideshow alley clown. ‘What are you talking about? I thought you were too busy to catch up with us last night because of work.’

  ‘If you call doing the horizontal with the delicious Jy work,’ Nev said, earning a jab in the arm from Summer.

  Karly’s eyes widened. ‘What the hell, Summer? You still haven’t given us the lowdown of your first date, now you’ve spent the night with him?’ It was her turn to jab Summer. ‘I’m disappointed in you, girlfriend. We want details.’

  Summer yawned, stretched, and revelled in every twinge of her muscles. Who needed weekly Pilates when the workouts Jy provided improved her aerobic capacity, toned her muscles and were much more fun?

  ‘She looks way too smug,’ Karly muttered, with a shake of her head. ‘You better tell us everything or we’re going to leave you here.’

  Summer feigned innocence. ‘That’s fine. I can always call Jy to come pick me up.’

  Karly snorted. ‘Only a boyfriend would do that …’ she trailed off, her eyes widening. ‘Don’t tell me you’ve fallen for the guy in a week?’

  ‘Now you’re talking crazy,’ Summer said, preferring to focus on the menu and a choice between eggs Benedict or smashed avo rather than look her friends in the eyes. She’d never be that foolish but inviting him to spend the night had been a momentous step. She’d made light of it with him because how much she liked having him in her house had shaken her. He’d appeared totally at ease, taking a shower, making her coffee, sharing clean-up duties from their carpet picnic. It surprised her how different he was when he wasn’t in work mode. She liked laidback Jy a lot better than ‘uptight principal sent here to do a job’ Jy.

  Nev hooked her finger over the top of the menu and lowered it. ‘You’re delaying the inevitable. You know we’ll get every last detail out of you, so why are you hedging?’

  ‘Because I like him, okay? I know he’s a fling but there’s something about him that makes me go a little loopy.’ She made circles at her temple with her finger. ‘And it doesn’t make sense, because he’s not my usual type—’

  ‘What type’s that? Imaginary?’ Karly said, straight faced, and Nev laughed.

  ‘Bite me.’ Summer rattled the menu and raised it again. ‘If you’re going to be a smartarse, I’m not telling you a thing.’

  ‘Ooh, touchy.’ Karly snatched the menu out of her hand and placed it under hers, resting her folded hands over them. ‘Just answer one question. Did he really spend the night?’

  ‘I like having him around. Go figure.’ Heat flushed Summer’s cheeks and both girls wolf-whistled.

  ‘You’ve known this guy what, six days?’ Karly leaned forward, surprisingly earnest. ‘That’s a big step for you.’

  ‘I know.’ Summer screwed up her nose. ‘Too much too soon?’

  ‘Maybe,’ Karly said, at the same time Nev said, ‘Not if you like him as much as I think you do.’

  ‘I blame you, Nev. All your talk of regrets and going for it before I saw him last night made me actually listen to you.’

  ‘Don’t blame me for your lovefest.’ Nev held up her hands. ‘I was just stating the obvious. Anyone can see how much he’s dazzled you.’

  Dazzled. An outlandish term that summed up exactly how Summer felt around Jy, like everything was brighter and better around him.

  ‘He’s that good, huh?’ Karly wiggled her eyebrows. ‘Because I’ll be honest, I’ve never seen you this smitten, not even with Chad, and he’s been your only serious relationship ever.’

  What could Summer say? That four months with Chad didn’t come close to the intensity of being intimate with Jy twice? That she’d never spent real quality time with Chad because he valued his mates more than her and because he’d been her first boyfriend, she’d tried her best to fit in with his life? That the only time he paid her any real attention had been in the bedroom of the house that he shared with two other guys and even then it hadn’t been anything special?

  Was that Jy’s big attraction, that he wasn’t anything like the guys she’d hooked up with before? Or was there something more? As to what that might be, she dare not contemplate.

  ‘I like him for more than the fact he’s sensational in bed,’ she said, gesturing the waiter over. ‘And on that note, I need to eat before I faint.’

  ‘This isn’t over,’ Karly muttered, as they placed their usual orders no matter where they ate: smashed avo for Summer, bircher muesli for Nev and an omelette with the lot for Karly.

  When the waitress headed for the counter, Karly said, ‘I’m happy for you, but be careful, okay? If you like him this much in less than a week, you’re going to miss him when he leaves, despite all the talk of flings, and I don’t want to see you hurt.’

  ‘Neither of us do,’ Nev added, ‘but Summer’s a big girl. She can take care of herself and it’s about time she had some fun.’

  Karly nodded, but the concern in her eyes hadn’t faded. ‘I agree, but take it easy, okay?’

  ‘Yes, Mum.’ Summer rolled her eyes, but she knew her friends had her best interests at heart. ‘Now, what’s happening with you two?’

  Nev shrugged. ‘The Vault is keeping me busy, despite the summer crowds dwindling.’

  ‘And the agency is quieter as holiday rentals slow.’ Karly picked up her latte and drank the last of it. ‘I need to breathe life into the place otherwise we’re at risk of closing down.’

  ‘But you’re the only real estate agency in town. If you close it’s going to make it tough for renters locally.’ Summer pointed at the row of shops on the opposite side of the road. ‘People will need to come here or go even further.’

  ‘Hey, it’s not like I want to close down.’ Karly shrugged, but Summer saw the worry pinching her mouth. ‘Pop hasn’t been the best businessman the last few years and he’s stuck in his ways. That’s why I’d hoped attending that real estate conference would give me fresh perspective.’

  ‘And?’

  ‘He’s on board with some of the changes.’

  ‘Then what’s the problem?’

  Karly sighed and nudged her empty coffee glass away with her finger. ‘The way he agreed so readily to me opening social media accounts for the agency, highlighting the beach and local attractions, means he’s given up.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘Can you see Pop relinquishing full control to me?’

  ‘He might, if he’s had enough—’

  ‘Pop’s a control freak and always has been, so if he doesn’t care what I do with the agency, it means he thinks it’s going under and nothing I do will save it.’

  Nev, who’d remained silent during the exchange, laid a hand on Karly’s forearm. ‘It’s not like you to be pessimistic. Is something else going on we don’t know about?’

  Summer noticed the barest hesitation before Karly shook her head. ‘Nope. I’m like you, Nev, all work and no play. We can’t all be like Miss Sexy Times over here.’

  They chuckled in unison, but Summer vowed to keep an eye on Karly. There was something bothering her friend, something beyond work, and maybe she’d open up if it were just the two of them. She’d drop by the agency on some flimsy errand and interrogate her there.

  The waitress brought the fresh coffees they’d ordered with their meals and told them their food wasn’t far away. As they picked up their cups, Nev said, ‘I propose a toast.’

  ‘You and your toasts,’ Karly said, sharing a smile with Summer. Nev had a history of toasting to a variety of things, from being picked for sports captain in year six to acing a science test, her most hated subject, in year nine. These days, her toasts were more ribald, usually after a bottle or two of wine as they scoped out the talent at a pub hundreds of kilometres away.

  ‘To the three of us striving for what makes us happy.’ Nev raised her coffee cup, waiting until the three of them had clinked cups before taking a sip.

  Leaving Summer to ponder what made her happy and fearing she’d found it, only to have Jy slip out of her life in three weeks.

  CHAPTER

  25

  When Pauline Westoff had invited Rayne to drop by anytime for a chat, Rayne didn’t have any intention of taking her up on it. But ever since she’d agreed to go to Melbourne to meet DadBod in person, she’d been freaking out. She liked him and their online conversations, but had chatted with a few other men to make sure she wasn’t being foolish. Opening herself up to the possibility of dating again was a big deal and she wanted to be certain.

  Her exchanges with the other men hadn’t lasted long. The first had never been married, only moved out of his childhood home after forty and seemed to be looking for a substitute mother. The second had waxed lyrical about a woman who’d broken his heart via Happy—after only two messages. The third had seemed genuine, until he made a sexist joke that had her hackles rising. And the fourth had sent her radar into overdrive with a passive-aggressive jibe or two. She hadn’t gelled with any of them and it made her correspondence with DadBod all the more special.

  She liked his sense of humour the most. A man hadn’t made her laugh in a long time and now she’d taken the momentous step of agreeing to meet him in public, she wanted to ensure she was in the right headspace.

  And that meant exorcising Noel.

  Not that she was under any grand delusions that one session with Pauline would fix everything. But she wanted to make sure that when she headed to Melbourne she was embracing a chance at a fresh start wholeheartedly.

  So on Sunday morning she found herself knocking on Pauline’s door, glad the counsellor lived about ten minutes out of town so they wouldn’t be exposed to prying eyes.

  When Pauline opened the door wearing grey yoga pants and matching hoodie, makeup-less and with a warm smile, Rayne instantly felt calmer.

  ‘I’m glad you called.’ Pauline opened the door wide and gestured her in. ‘I’ve just brewed a pot of peppermint tea. That okay?’

  ‘Perfect,’ Rayne said, liking the woman’s home instantly as she entered and spied a bright crimson and sienna rug on the lounge room floor, low-slung brown suede sofas and three bookshelves crammed to overflowing. The room exuded a welcoming vibe, a homely feel she liked.

  ‘Take a seat and I’ll bring the tea in.’

  Rayne sat on a sofa, her curiosity piqued by the books. She’d expected a counsellor to have a stack of self-help references. Instead, it looked like Pauline favoured genre fiction, from cosy mysteries and thrillers to women’s fiction and romance. It made Pauline even more approachable, as Rayne’s own bookshelves were filled with similar popular titles.

  Noel had always belittled her reading choices. If she read a romance, he’d sneer at her ‘smutty trash’. If she picked up a mystery, he’d laugh and say, ‘Why do you read that invented crap?’ One of the first things she’d done after he’d left and she’d finished redecorating was buy a new bookshelf and fill it with every fiction title released over the last year. It gave her comfort to trail her fingers along those pristine spines, admiring them, at peace with her choices.

  ‘You’re thinking about him, aren’t you?’

  Rayne blinked and refocussed, to find Pauline sitting on the sofa opposite, a tea tray on the coffee table between them holding a pretty porcelain pot in the brightest magenta, two matching teacups and a plate of brownies.

  ‘How did you know?’

  ‘I’ve seen the look before. Memories tinged with fear.’ Pauline poured tea into both cups before handing her one. ‘It doesn’t matter how long since the abuser leaves, it’s the memories that haunt.’

  ‘It’s been sixteen years.’ Rayne accepted the cup and smiled her thanks. ‘I thought I’d be over it by now.’

  ‘Over what? The fear? The helplessness? The lack of control?’

  ‘All of it. And for the most part, I am. I don’t have flashbacks all that often but when I do, I’m left shaken. I’ve had a few recently, which is why I’m here. I don’t spend my days lamenting the past, but when you said you saw that haunted look in my eyes it rattled me, because I thought I’d moved on from being a victim a long time ago.’

  ‘It’s not visible to the undiscerning. I’ve been dealing with this for a long time, which is why I recognised the look. Plus I saw firsthand what Noel was like, so it didn’t take a genius to put it all together.’

  ‘Do you think others know?’

  Pauline shook her head. ‘Like I said, I know from my experience at work. Everyone else in this town sees you as the life of the party. Once the initial shock wore off of their favourite copper ditching you and moving away, they didn’t talk about it.’ She made a disparaging snort. ‘You know what this place is like. This week’s gossip is easily superseded by next week’s suppositions.’

  Rayne chuckled. ‘You wouldn’t believe the outlandish things I hear in the shop. If half the gossip was to be believed, Acacia Haven’s a hotbed of scandalous affairs and backroom deals, when the closest we get to an affair is Gullie flirting with everyone who enters the fish and chip shop and the only deals are Merv wanting half-priced schooners every Friday night.’

  Pauline joined in her laughter. ‘There’s no place quite like Acacia Haven.’

  ‘You’ve never thought of moving away? Counsellors are in high demand everywhere.’

  ‘Inverloch is as far afield as I want to go.’ Pauline shrugged, picked up a teacup and swirled the steaming brew around. ‘I’m a homebody, always have been. When my folks moved to the Mornington Peninsula, they encouraged me to move there, but I like it here.’ She took a sip of tea. ‘Can I ask why you never moved away? Especially if this place holds nothing but bad memories?’

  What could Rayne say? That she’d once yearned to move to Melbourne and live in the thriving metropolis? But if there was one thing she’d learned over the years it was the value of loyalty. People had stood by her when she needed them most and her daughter loved this town. Rayne paid her dues.