Lime Tree Hill (A Reluctant Kiss #1)

49. Pancake Rocks

Mitch: Meet me at the pancake rocks. Sunday 5 p.m.

Mitch: And I know what you’re going to say.

Tayla: What’s that?

Mitch: You don’t like to be summoned.

Tayla: I’ll make an exception just this once.

Mitch : Good. Bring an open mind and jeans. And your leather jacket.

Tayla: Oh? Sounds interesting. Shall I wear a top? Underwear?

Mitch: *laughs*

When she arrived at Petrie Bay to find Mitch’s truck nowhere in sight, Tayla’s heart sank. Out on the Pacific, surfers dotted black in the blue, the swell lifting their boards up and down as they waited for their turn in the lineup. It had been a hot day, and she longed to join her superficial friends—those regular surfers she nodded hello to as she shared their waves. Fellow travelers on that out-of-your-head road .

Stepping from the car, she recalled the last time they were here: Mitch watching from the shore, his sunglasses firmly in place. And as if fate had waved its hand, he’d arrived at just the right moment. She’d never forget riding the wave successfully for the first time, or Mitch being there to see it.

Her parents didn’t yet know about the surfing—she hadn’t told them of the triumph or joy. The adrenaline. They’d nearly lost her at six, then again as a teenager, and those two events had forged their parenting style for the rest of her life.

She removed her sandals and walked across the sand, holding them with nervous hands. The burnished orange of her full-length linen dress offset her tan, and the float of the fabric around her ankles gave a sense of freedom that matched her mood. The jeans he’d mentioned in the text were in her car, along with her new leather jacket and a pair of Chucks.

Tayla had made her decision about their marriage when they’d met at the cemetery—before that, if she was honest. But right now, her bravado seemed misplaced; Mitch was still nowhere in sight.

With her stomach in knots, Tayla strolled up the beach. She sat on a large log of driftwood, watching as people passed—elderly lovers holding hands, kids joking with each other, and dogs walking their owners. The smoothness of the wood felt cool under the fabric of her dress, and although the wind had died down, the taste of salt lingered on her lips.

Apart from that one text, there had been no contact with Mitch since that day at the cemetery. Five lonely days. Tayla had seen him once, driving his truck along Seaview Road as she waited on her Vespa at an intersection. If he saw her, he didn’t let on. But the next day, a package arrived for her at the hospital. When she pulled back the wrapping paper, a black leather jacket sat nestled in layers of tissue. The card with it read:

For those days when your Vespa just doesn’t cut it.

Love always ,

Mitch xx

Tayla had quickly tried it on, smiling as she inhaled the sweet smell of leather. But when she’d texted him her thanks, he hadn’t replied. Even now, with the jacket sitting on the back seat of her car, his lack of communication worried her.

She checked her phone. Five twenty-three. She had no missed calls, no new messages. It reminded her of the day at the chapel when Hayden failed to show. Except without the heat and the wilting bouquet.

As she stood and brushed the sand from her dress, her sight drifted to the south once more. And there he was, standing in the very spot where they’d recited their empty vows. Dressed in a white cotton shirt and jeans rolled up at the ankles, he kept his hands in his pockets. Lying on the rock next to him was his leather jacket and a helmet. She stepped forward, increasing her pace until she reached him. Mitch held out his hand and smiled, and as she took that last step, he did the same.

“Hi.” She stood on her tiptoes and kissed him. Then kissed him again as the tension left her body.

“That was nice.” His eyes twinkled in the late afternoon light as he looked down at her. “I miss kissing you.”

“Me too.” They kissed once more, hands entwined as they renewed their connection. “You’ve got your bike running?”

“Yeah. And before we talk, I’d like to take you somewhere. Did you bring your jacket and jeans?”

“Yes, they’re in the car.” She looked over to the Ducati parked on the road verge next to her Subaru. “But are we going on the bike? I don’t have a helmet.”

“Here.” He handed her the helmet. “This one’s for you; mine’s over there. Come on, let’s get you changed.”

Back at the car, Mitch helped her with her jacket and offered instructions on how to ride pillion. He climbed on first, and as Tayla snuggled in behind him, she relaxed, the warmth of his back and smell of leather calming her.

Mitch took off slowly, the dust from the gravel road billowing behind them until they reached the Eastern Pacific Highway. She held on tight, scared but exhilarated as he changed gears and increased his speed.

When they reached the turnoff to Cherry Grove, he rode up the driveway and parked in front of the steps leading to the veranda. She climbed off the bike and stood in front of her old family home. Mitch joined her, removing his helmet before helping Tayla with hers.

“How did you enjoy the ride?”

His smile warmed her insides. “It was a bit scary, but I loved it. What are we doing here?”

“I want to show you something. Come on.”

Her jacket hanging open, Tayla followed Mitch up the steps, her legs still a little wobbly from the ride. He unlocked the door, and as she followed him inside, she wondered where the tenants were. “It’s empty. Have Will and Alexis moved out?”

“Yeah, they bought their own house in town, so she could be closer to her work.”

Mitch opened the French doors onto the veranda, letting the breeze greet the room. And as Tayla scanned the space, devoid of laughter and color and oversized cotton-covered sofas, a pang of nostalgia surfaced. She missed this house more than she’d realized. Missed the ambiance of a home well loved and cared for.

Beyond the windows, rain clouds rumbled closer, and the scent of lavender from the garden freshened the air. Mitch turned to look at her, his eyes dark, his expression hopeful. He wore his hair a little shorter now, and if anything, he looked better than ever. Tayla basked in the visual form of him: his butt in tight jeans, the tattoo just visible below his rolled-up shirt sleeve, and impressive biceps straining against cotton. But mostly, she loved the way he communicated his mood with a lazy gaze and knowing smile .

Mitch walked toward her, hands outstretched. “Are you hungry?”

Returning the gesture, Tayla met him halfway, her hands slipping into his. “A little. When are your new tenants arriving?”

“I don’t have new tenants.” He led her outside to a small ironwork table set for two—with silverware, plates, wine glasses, and candles—and pulled out a chair.

She removed her jacket. “What’s all this? It looks gorgeous.”

“Sit, please. I have food. I’ll just go grab it.”

As Mitch walked away, she gazed out over the newly planted grapefruit trees toward Norman’s cottage, and in the far distance, the packing shed where they’d shared their first kiss, their first touches of passion. She smiled at the memory.

Mitch returned a few minutes later, carrying a large platter of rice paper rolls, fresh herbs, julienned vegetables, and dipping sauces in one hand and a bottle of pinot grigio in the other.

She accepted the platter and placed it in the center of the table. “Wow, you’ve been busy. It’s like a picnic.”

“I can’t take the credit for the food, but I did open the wine.”

“Let me guess, the staff at the farm gate store made the platter to your specifications?”

He filled her glass. “No, Valentina did. She’s a budding chef. Anyway, I want to say something before we start. Promise me you won’t interrupt until I’ve finished.”

Tayla nodded. Sipped her wine. Wished they could make love. “Okay.”

He cleared this throat. “When I saw you in Simon’s office that first day, I had no idea which sister you were. When Simon called you Tayla, I couldn’t believe you were the goth girl with the half-shaved head who was also a beneficiary of Norman’s will. I didn’t like you much back then, but you still intrigued me. Weeks later, when we discussed the Gauguin prints, I wondered if Norman might have been onto something when he suggested we’d be good together. ”

He reached for her hand across the table and squeezed gently. She sat still, afraid of what he might say next.

“You’ve fascinated me for a long time. But my excitement for you, the real excitement, started the day we said our vows. When we arrived at Little Brown Barn afterward, I was so nervous, I could hardly eat a thing. And as we walked up the stairs that night, your skirt swishing on the treads, I wanted to pick you up and carry you to my room so I could spend the night making love to my beautiful bride.”

Her brows knitting together, Tayla swiped away the tears threatening to flow.

“And that excitement’s still there every time I hear your car come up the driveway. When you crack small jokes, and cry at sad movies. And when I see the way you are with the people you care about, I admire you so much. But our lack of trust, our jealousy, has damaged what we had. Unless we address those issues, maybe we can’t find common ground.”

Tayla looked away for a moment, pressing her lips together to halt the tremble, not trusting herself to reply. Although she’d heard his words, she couldn’t quite grasp his meaning.

“I’m not going to pretend I wasn’t jealous of you and Hayden,” he continued. “When you went to Sydney, I didn’t trust you to be faithful, and I had no right to expect you would be. All the time you were away, I imagined you with him—sleeping in his bed, eating out at fancy restaurants, and conducting your ‘intellectual relationship,’ but this time, with added intimacy. I thought you’d want to experience sex with other men. That you’d be curious.”

“Why would you even think that?”

“Because you’re a highly sexual person, and I wasn’t sure if I’d be enough for you. So, I’m sorry I doubted you, but if I’m not enough?—”

“I—”

Mitch held up a palm to stop her. “Just one more thing. I choose you…in every way, and I hope you’ll choose me back. And be fore you answer, I have something for you.” He pulled an envelope from underneath his placemat and handed it to her.

“Should I be scared?”

“Depends. Open it.”

She lifted the flap and pulled out the document, her eyes widening with disbelief as she studied the deed with her name on it. “What is this?”

“Before we married, you said you wanted to live here, alone. I still think of this house as your home, and I’m sure you do too. So, I want you to have it. And whether you choose me or don’t, this house and the two acres it sits on will always be yours.”

“But you can’t do that. That’s crazy.”

“Well, I hope we can live here together. If not, at least I’ll know that wherever you travel or live or work, the Cherry Grove homestead will always be your home.” He flashed her a wide grin. “We could be neighbors with benefits if you want.”

She grinned back, cocked a brow. “I don’t think so.”

“Right. Let’s eat, give you time to think about it.” Mitch picked up a rice paper roll and dipped it into the sauce.

“I’ve done nothing but think lately. I need to say my piece while it’s fresh in my mind.”

He placed the roll on his plate.

“Thank you for this generous gift, but…” She shook her head, struggling for words, her mouth dry until she took another sip from her glass. “Anyway, I no longer have feelings for Hayden, but I was so jealous of Ella and Prue that I didn’t trust you either. When I saw those photographs of you and Ella together, I cried every night for a week. I’m sorry for doubting you, but over the past few days, I’ve realized how far we’ve come as a couple. These moments, when we speak from the heart, are what matter in life. And while I appreciate your grand gesture, I don’t want to live in this house alone. But we could live here together…if you’d like to. ”

He leaned over the table and kissed her. “There is nothing I’d like more.”

“Also, I was thinking about telling Mum and Dad…about us and the orchard. But I don’t want to cause Dad any more distress, so I’ve decided against it. What do you think?”

“Absolutely. I feel the same way about Mum and Frank.”

“Good. That’s settled. And there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you.”

He waited.

“Who was the girl you were with in Queenstown? The one who tagged you on Facebook?”

Mitch frowned as he removed his phone from his pocket and scrolled back to refresh his memory. He chuckled as he handed her the phone. “This one?”

She nodded.

“That’s Dani, Luka’s sister. She’s living down there at the moment. And before you ask, I’ve never slept with her. We’ve partied together occasionally, and hard. She’s nothing like Luka, doesn’t have a reserved bone in her body. Anything else?”

“Not right now.”

“I have a question for you. Why did you have dinner with Chris Stone?”

“Who told you that?”

“He did.”

“Andrew Harper set it up—when Chris tabled his offer for Cherry Grove. The man’s a jerk. Called me babycakes.”

Mitch flashed her a wide grin. “Whoa. I bet that didn’t go down well.”

“It didn’t. That was the night I decided to reject his offer and marry you.”

Low laughter bubbled from his throat. “Are you saying Chris calling you babycakes is the reason why you chose me?”

“Kind of.” She shot him a knowing smile. “Anyway, let’s eat. I’m starving. ”

He shook his head. “Hold on a minute. I have terms.”

Tayla reached for a carrot stick and took a bite. “Of course you do. Go ahead.”

“First, we don’t sleep in your parents’ old bedroom. That would be weird. Second, apart from our special things, we buy new beds, furniture, and curtains, so it’s ours.”

“Sounds good. Is that all?”

His hand on his chin, Mitch held her gaze, a slight smile coming into play. “We christen the Ducati. Tonight. Under the cherry trees. Naked apart from our leather jackets.”

“Is that even possible?”

“Course it is. Not that I’ve ever made love on a motorcycle before, but I’m sure we can make it work.”

“I don’t know.” She offered him a coy smile. “I was thinking we should stay celibate for a while, get to know each other better.”

He folded his arms over his chest, his expression giving nothing away. “Tell you what, why don’t you accept my terms as they stand, and we’ll worry about getting to know each other later. How does that sound?”

She thought for a moment before offering her glass in a toast. “Terms accepted.”

The End.

Thank you so much for reading Lime Tree Hill . I appreciate your support.