Page 85 of Lime Tree Hill
“Hayden, please don’t?—”
“I can be in Auckland next weekend. Fly up to meet me. We’ll talk, visit the museum, eat some decent Kiwi food.”
“I can’t, you know that,” she murmured. “I’m sorry for what you’re going through, but?—”
“You really do love him?”
“I wouldn’t be here otherwise.”
“Is that the truth, or are you scared to turn back?”
“Please don’t do this. Tell me more about Oliver. What did you do the last time you saw each other?”
The call lasted longer than she’d expected as they reminisced about their friend. By the time Tayla sat the phone in its base, it was after ten and the loft had that lonely winter feel about it.
Tayla sat forward in Mitch’s chair and watched the slideshow, warm tears trickling down her cheek as she struggled to pull herself together.
Memories of her life with Hayden and the bond of old friends filled her thoughts. She’d never see Oliver again, or stroll along the boardwalk on a Sunday morning. And if she stayed in Clifton Falls, she’d probably never again stand on Bondi Beach with her toes gripping the sand against the tide. Never take those surfing lessons she’d paid for.
Would she ever conquer her fear of the open water?
Tayla wandered into the kitchen and pulled a carton of frozen yogurt out of the freezer. As she ate, she thought of Oliver. His slow smile and quick wit. While she hadn’t known him well, they’d struck up an instant rapport the first time they met. He’d been easy to talk to. Reserved and polite, but engaged and interesting, very much like Hayden.
Dessert over, Tayla was about to have a bath when her phone lit up with Mitch’s number. She’d called him earlier to no reply, but now, after her conversation with Hayden, she was all talked out. Her finger hitAcceptbefore she had a chance to stop it.
“Hey. Sorry I missed your call.” He sounded tired, preoccupied, as was often the case lately. “What’s up?”
“Actually, I wanted to run something by you, but we can talk about it tomorrow night if you’re home.”
“Tell me now. I have a few minutes.”
“Oh, okay. I might go to Sydney for a couple of weeks, just until my next contract starts. My tenant’s moving out, so it seems a good time to tidy up a few loose ends. What do you think?”
While Tayla waited for his reply, she wanted to fill the void but remembered to practice the pause.
“Right,” he finally said. “When do you leave?”
“As soon as I can arrange a flight.”
“Okay. Fine.” Mitch’s tone was flat, annoyed. She wanted him to say he’d come with her. That he couldn’t bear for them to be apart. But possessiveness wasn’t his style.
“I have three weeks off, so it’s perfect timing before you leave for Milford Sound.”
“Maybe you’re right.” She could hear music in the background as someone called out to him, and his muffled reply. “I have to go. I’ll see you tomorrow. If you’re still here.”
He cut the call.
She sat at the kitchen island, her head in her hands.Men!
Tayla woke with a fright and sat bolt upright. Hearing a car on the driveway, she checked the alarm clock on her nightstand. It was after midnight.
The downstairs door opened and closed, and as Mitch walked up the stairs, she snuggled under the covers and waited. He didn’t come in straight away. She heard him talking to Edward, the fridge open and close, and a few moments later, the light in the other bathroom switch on. She wondered why he was home. It was thefirst Wednesday night he’d spent at Lime Tree since she’d lived there.
Tayla rolled onto her side, and as he entered the room and slipped into bed beside her, her whole body tensed with anticipation. She still couldn’t get over how sensual she felt whenever he was near. Although she’d never been attracted to the muscly type, when Mitch curled in behind her, one arm slipping under her pillow and the other pulling her close, that sense of belonging—of being safe—had her swallowing a lump in her throat.
“Hey. How come you’re home?” she whispered.
“I missed you. Needed a hug.” He inhaled deeply, his face nuzzling into her neck. “You’re everything that’s good in my world, do you know that?”
