Lime Tree Hill (A Reluctant Kiss #1)

38. Whispered Hesitation

38

WHISPERED HESITATION

The Fig Leaf, a vegan eatery on the waterfront, was fast becoming a favorite haunt. The following day, as Tayla walked into the café for a slice of their famous tahini caramel brownie, she thought of Oliver. He loved brownie. Incredibly fit and fastidious about his diet, it was the one treat he’d allowed himself whenever she and Hayden met him for coffee.

Just as Tayla was about to leave with the tiny treat box in hand, she spied Mitch on the other side of the room, dressed in the shirt she’d bought him for his birthday. As she watched, a tall, elegant woman with a slick blonde bob and full lips walked from the restroom and joined him at his table. Wearing wide-leg pants, the color of pumpkin spice, and a black blouse unbuttoned to show a delicate amount of cleavage, his companion was so poised and stylish that Tayla couldn’t take her eyes off her.

Any other day, Tayla would have gone over to say hello. However, a whisper of hesitation stopped her. She observed their interaction for a moment. Running her fingers through her hair, the woman laughed at something he’d said. She then leaned forward, and when the server approached their table, she barely looked away from Mitch .

Tayla took a deep breath and walked out the door. If he wanted her to know he’d had lunch with another woman, he’d tell her. If not…well, it was none of her business. And yet, as she crossed the street to her car, her stomach tied in a tight knot, she couldn’t get the image of the other woman out of her mind.

With thoughts of Mitch crowding her head for much of the afternoon, Tayla left work early and stopped at City Beach to unwind before going home. As she walked barefoot along the shore, she questioned her reaction to the sight of her husband having lunch with his friend.

When she’d found out about Hayden and Anna, the emotions that overwhelmed her hadn’t so much included jealousy. Hurt and anger and denial—that’s what had consumed her. But seeing Mitch with the stylishly dressed woman that afternoon had certainly had an effect.

When she arrived home around six, Mitch was working in the packing shed office. She poked her head around the door. “Hi. How was your day?”

Still dressed in the same shirt from earlier, he looked up, preoccupation dulling his expression. “Not bad, yours?”

“Great. What time will you be finished?”

“Actually, don’t worry about dinner for me. I have to shoot into town. I’ll grab something later.” He glanced at his computer screen then back to her, his hand still on the mouse. “Did you book a flight?”

“Not yet. I’ll look after dinner.”

She stayed in the doorway, trying to gauge his reaction, but it wasn’t immediately evident.

“Okay.”

“Also, full disclosure, Hayden called yesterday.”

Mitch gave a small nod and continued to study her. “So that’s what going to Sydney’s about? Hayden? ”

And there it was. The reaction. Maybe Mitch was the possessive type after all.

She paused, determined not to rise to his annoyance. “One of his close friends was killed in an accident. He called to let me know.”

“So he reached out to you. Isn’t that what his wife’s for?”

“I knew Oliver too.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “I had a right to know.”

“Fair enough. How come you didn’t mention it last night?” The coolness in his mood persisted. A side of him she wasn’t familiar with.

“Because I wasn’t expecting you home. We just talked, Mitch.”

“And yet, as soon as he calls, you’re off to Sydney.”

“To tie up loose ends. I want to bring my scooter home, and I still have a few things in my apartment.”

“Fine.” He stood and grabbed his jacket off the back of the chair. “Anyway, I have a meeting in town. I’m not sure what time I’ll be home.”

Tayla followed her moody husband out of his office but she didn’t wait for him to lock the door. And as she climbed the stairs to the loft, Edward two steps behind, she wondered if his reaction was simply another stage in their relationship.

That of the jealous lover.

Standing at the kitchen window, Tayla watched his truck speed down the drive and turn right onto the highway. He hadn’t even registered when she’d told him about Oliver. He’d been too busy being jealous of Hayden.

Well, he could stew all he liked. There was no point in standing on the sidelines of life, waiting for something to happen. She’d told CeCe she didn’t want to be that clingy girl, and she was determined not to be.

Later, with the lights dimmed and Mr. Edward tucked up in the office, she grabbed an orange from the fruit bowl and sat at the island, peeling the fruit with her fingers. While she ate, yesterday’s conversation with her father played in her head as the dishwasher hummed through its cycle. They’d discussed the tale of Hayden—sordid and otherwise—and also her parents’ dire financial situation and the insulting offer Chris Stone had tabled last year as he’d tried to get his hands on Cherry Grove. When they’d said their goodbyes, her father couldn’t hold back the tears.

As soon as she heard the Hilux pull up outside, Tayla went to bed and lay there waiting, unable to get Oliver or the scene at Fig Leaf out of her mind.

Mitch showered in the other bathroom, as he often did if he thought she was asleep. By the time he tiptoed into the room, eased back the covers and slipped in beside her, she’d almost dozed off. He cradled a hand on her hip, the weight of his touch reassuring. “You’re still awake?”

“Only just.”

“I’m sorry about this afternoon.” He snuggled closer. “For being callous about your friend.”

Tayla turned. Warm tears surfaced, and she blinked them back. “He was a good guy, always happy to see you.”

His strong arms encircling her in his warmth, Mitch kissed her with tenderness. “Do you miss your Sydney life?”

No one had ever asked her that. Not even Ruby. “Sometimes. Maybe I’m just a city girl at heart.”

“Maybe you are.” His words held a note of inevitability—a resignation she couldn’t process. Would this be the point where he gave up on her?

“Dad and I had a talk last night.”

Mitch smoothed a lock of hair from her cheek, his touch gentle. “How did that go?”

“Okay. He still doesn’t want Mum to know about the orchard.” She swiped away a tear. “I felt bad not telling him about us. He just wants me to be happy, and yet, I’m deceiving him, aren’t I? ”

“We both are to an extent. But our marriage is our business. What does it matter if we took an unconventional path?” He kissed her tenderly. “And I want you to be happy too, but you’re not quite there yet, are you?”

The scene at Fig Leaf flashed before her again. “I honestly don’t know.”