Lime Tree Hill (A Reluctant Kiss #1)

19. Tulloch Point

19

TULLOCH POINT

Twelve days. Tayla had survived a week and a half under Mitchel Harrington’s roof without wanting to pack her bags. They’d tiptoed around each other with stilted conversation, but when she’d discussed it with Ruby, her sister’s advice was, as always, on point. Think of your time at Lime Tree Hill as a sabbatical, she’d said, a time to take stock and regroup after Hayden. A safe haven of sorts.

The sabbatical part she understood. The safe haven, not so much. In Sydney, Tayla had grown accustomed to having people around. It meant she didn’t have to think too deeply. Just wander along the beach, sipping coffee as she watched the world go by.

However, the solitude of her new home didn’t quite gel. Or maybe it was Mitch that she didn’t gel with. Mitch, with his powerful presence, deep voice, and structured routine. A man who knew what he wanted out of life and how to get it.

As she dressed, Tayla thought fondly of Cherry Grove. The house would never again experience the conversations and laughter of the Whitman clan, and she had to accept it.

It was Friday morning. The week before, Mitch had invited her to join him on a trip to his family home to celebrate his sister Sydney’s twenty-third birthday. Tayla had agreed, but as the day approached, her anxiety rose to the surface. She’d never been to Tulloch Point, the small Bay of Plenty town where his family had an avocado and kiwifruit orchard. Andrea and Frank were still in London, but she’d be meeting his friends and youngest sister for the first time.

Tayla walked into the kitchen, stopping at the sight of a teenage girl rummaging through the fridge. She placed two apples on the counter.

“May I help you?”

The girl glanced over her shoulder at Tayla. “Sorry. I didn’t realize anyone was home. Aren’t you guys going to Tulloch Point for the night?” She turned and wiped her hand down her jeans before offering it to Tayla. “I’m Valentina. Mitch’s cleaner. But please don’t call me Val. I can’t stand it. I usually come after school, but we have a sports day and I don’t need to be there until lunchtime.”

Tayla nodded and smiled. “Of course. I’m Tayla.”

They shook, Valentina’s handshake warm, her smile welcoming.

“I know. I mean, he told me you’d be here. And congratulations. I can’t wait to see the photos. I bet Mitch looked amazing in his suit. There’s something about seeing a guy in a different light. Like when they’re always wearing jeans and a tee, and suddenly, they’re rocking a three-piece suit, shiny shoes, and a crisp white shirt. I love a guy in a suit, don’t you?”

The smile widened. “I do. How old are you?”

“Sixteen.” She caught Tayla’s expression and giggled. “But I don’t have the hots for your husband. He’s too old for me. It’s the clothes I’m interested in, not the man. I want to study fashion design and build my own label. I’m saving for a sewing machine. What was your dress like? Please don’t tell me a puffed-out meringue. I couldn’t bear it.” Valentina paused for a breath.

“There wasn’t a meringue in sight. Do you want to see a picture?” Tayla unlocked her phone and pulled up the photos. “Here.”

Valentina held the phone in one hand, zooming in and out with her thumb and forefinger. “Wow…seriously cool. I’ve never seen a wedding dress like it. Is it a skirt and top? I love high necks. The top’s lighter than the skirt?”

“Just a shade, but I flashed my tummy every time I moved, so that wasn’t ideal.”

She looked up. “Way to go, you. Better than flashing your boobs. You’re stunning.”

“Thank you.”

“I bet you felt it too. And look at Mitch and Luka. Awww. Too cute.” Her eyes narrowed. “Wait, are those the pancake rocks at Petrie Bay? I love it there. It’s just by the pines?”

“Yes. I love it too. It has a certain intimacy about it.”

“It’s spiritual. A place where angels go to heal. If you listen closely, you can hear them singing.”

Interesting.

Valentina giggled at Tayla’s expression. “That’s what my grandma always says. She’s into all that touchy-feely stuff.” She handed back the phone. “Why did you sleep in the spare room? Are you guys fighting?”

Blunt as an old knife. “Mitch snores when he’s overtired, and I’m a light sleeper.”

Valentina nodded. She put her empty plate in the dishwasher before stuffing the apples into her bag. “I’d better finish up. I don’t get paid to talk. Thanks for the breakfast. I’d love to see your wedding album when you get it.”

They left just after one, and as Mitch drove away from Lime Tree Hill, Tayla wondered what they’d talk about on their five-hour journey. Being tongue-tied around men wasn’t new to Tayla; she’d spent her teenage years too nervous to initiate conversation with most of the boys at school. But with counseling, she’d learned to curb that anxiety, to ride with it, not fight against it. Still, the feeling came and went, and sitting next to him, she struggled to relax.

As it turned out, she needn’t have worried. Mitch liked to stream audiobooks when driving. And as they headed along the scenic route toward the Rata River Valley, Tayla found herself so engrossed in the story, she almost forgot the reason for their trip.

Having stopped just once along the way, they arrived in the coastal town of Tulloch Point right on dark. As Mitch pulled into the sweeping circular driveway and cut the engine, Tayla sat up straight and inhaled sharply. She wanted to listen to the rest of the novel, but that would have to wait.

An old villa stood before them, all lit up ready for a party. With smart paintwork and an iron roof, the house reminded her of her parents’ home, right down to the wrap-around veranda and rambling roses bursting with late-autumn blooms.

“This is it. The Dobson homestead. It’s a pity Mum and Frank aren’t here.” Mitch glanced her way; that look of empathy making an appearance. “You ready?”

It was showtime. She hadn’t learned her lines but put on her happy face despite her inner turmoil. “Yes. I think so. Does your sister live here alone?”

“She does—just until the nomads return. But Frank’s keen to stay in the UK for a while, so I have no idea when that will be.”

Tayla busied herself in the truck while Mitch grabbed their gear. But when he opened her door and offered a hand, she couldn’t delay the inevitable any longer. He looked at her with warmth. She suddenly wanted another kiss—practice or otherwise, she didn’t care. But it seemed the pancake rocks kiss was the last one they’d share.

Dressed in light blue jeans, a plaid shirt, and ankle boots, a live wire of a girl with masses of curly dark hair bounded down the stairs and jumped onto Mitch’s back. “Mitchel!”

Tayla stepped to the side as he wrestled her to the ground. “Get off me. What are you, twelve?”

His sister?

She dusted herself off, a throaty laugh filling the country air. “What time do you call this? The party starts in an hour. I need you to light the fire pit while I get changed. And you’re the short-order cook, so I hope you brought your apron.”

“I had to work this morning.” He smiled. “You knew this.”

“You always have to work.”

“Not true, and”—he turned to Tayla—“Tayla, meet your sister-in-law Sydney, aka CeCe.”

Sydney looked at Tayla for the first time, her arms crossed and her expression unreadable. “So, you’re the wife?” She opened her arms and grinned. “Bring it.”

When Tayla inched in for the hug, Sydney whispered, “Welcome to the family. I like you already.”

Tayla pulled back. “Thank you. It’s lovely to meet you, Sydney.”

“My friends call me CeCe. What were my parents thinking, naming me after an Australian city?”

“You know you were conceived there, don’t you?” Mitch said with a grin.

“That is an urban legend I prefer to ignore. And you’d better behave yourself. I still haven’t forgiven you for not inviting me to your wedding.”

“Luka was best man, so…”

“Yeah, I got that memo. He’s more important than your sister, is he? The spineless bastard.”

“Of course not.” Mitch chuckled and turned his attention to Tayla. “Come on. I’ll show you to our room.”

As Tayla caught the ‘our room’ comment Mitch threw so casually across the driveway, CeCe linked arms with her. “Then you can help me decide what to wear,” CeCe said. “Let me warn you though, I may look, smell, and talk like a girl, but I hate dresses with a passion.”

Tayla glanced over at Mitch, standing at the back of the truck, their bags at his feet. He raised his eyebrows and mouthed, “Good luck,” and then with a chuckle, shut the lid of the tray before following them inside.

A short hallway separated Mitch’s old bedroom from the rest of the house. French doors led to a garden courtyard, and through a side window, avocado trees covered the landscape.

CeCe turned to Tayla. “Right. I’ll leave you to get settled.” She pointed across the courtyard. “My room’s the one on the end. See you in a bit.”

As CeCe left, Mitch placed Tayla’s bag on the luggage rack. She frowned at the queen bed. Great.

“Are you ready to play your part in this game of pretense?” he asked.

She caught his slight smile as he repeated her words from the day at Norman’s cottage.

“You mean we have to share a bed?”

“CeCe will be asking all kinds of questions if we don’t.”

Tayla grabbed her phone from her bag, annoyed that the heat blooming on her cheeks would reveal her embarrassment. “Um… I’ll just go help her with her outfit.” She went to walk away, desperately in need of some fresh air and distance from her husband after all those hours on the road together.

“Tayla?”

She turned. Mitch seldom used her name, but when he did, she liked the way it sounded.

He stepped toward her. “Just relax. This is purely business, remember?”

“Of course.”

Tayla walked across the courtyard to CeCe’s room, her thoughts scrambling for order. Purely business .

She knocked before letting herself in and was amused when she came face to face with CeCe in nothing but a lacy bra and panties. “So, what have you decided?”

“I don’t know.” CeCe sighed. “And you know what? I hate birthday parties but I’m determined to enjoy this one, and I want to look the part.” She pulled over a chair and motioned for Tayla to sit. “I’m so glad you came.”

“Thanks for inviting me.”

“In all honesty, I was shocked when Mitch told me you guys had eloped. So were the rest of the family.” CeCe opened her wardrobe and pulled out several tops and a pair of jeans. “Did you have a thing for each other back in the day? Wait, don’t tell me you made one of those marriage pacts?”

“I did, but not with Mitch. It was with my best friend, Tim. We were in our senior year of high school—both single—so we thought, gay, straight, it could work once we were over thirty. And to answer your other question…no, I was only seventeen when I met Mitch.”

“I still don’t get it. How come no one knew about you?”

Tayla shrugged, eager to shut down the third degree. “We’d both just come out of relationships, so?—”

“Rebound romance. I love that trope in movies. Not that movies and real life often have much in common, but it doesn’t hurt to dream.”

“Do you have a boyfriend?”

“Not right now.” CeCe’s expression saddened. “I decided to up my standards a long time ago. Although, I did have an epic meet-cute moment once. And I mean epic .”

Thoughts of Mitch drifted away, and she smiled. Tayla loved a juicy meet-cute story. “And?”

CeCe laughed. “Never mind. Enough boy talk. I’d better decide what to wear or I’ll be late for my own party.”

Despite her supposed aversion to dresses, by the time Tayla helped CeCe get ready, she looked like a girl from a country music video. All prettied up in a floaty floral dress and cowgirl boots, and with tiny rosebuds woven through her hair.

And the next time Tayla saw Mitch, he was manning the grill, drinking beer, and talking BS with half a dozen guys. When he glanced her way and offered a private smile, the flutters in her stomach didn’t surprise her. Not one bit.