Chapter 31
At the end of my shift, I had every intention of going to my room and crawling into bed for a long sleep. However, once I stepped onto my balcony, I changed my mind. The weather was magnificent.
I dressed in my workout gear, pulled on my Nike runners, grabbed a hat and sunglasses, and headed back out my door.Ignoring Needledick as I crossed the lobby, I stepped through the sliding glass doors and was eternally grateful for my decision to go outside becausewalking up toward me wasone of the hottest men on the planet.
“Jane.” His deep voice perfectly suited his muscular physique.
“Corben.” Unlike the last time we’d greeted, I was in control of my emotions.
“You heading out for a run?”
“I was about to. Would you like to join me?”
We met on the middle step. The urge to reach up and kisshimwas a powerful magnet, but I couldn’t risk the chance of Needledick seeing it. Corben grunted and shook his head. “Wish I could. But my shift starts in half an hour, so Ihave tokeep moving.”
“Pity. I was gearing up to whip your butt.” I couldn’t believe I’d said that and swallowed back the cheekiness.
He cocked his eyebrow. “Really? You can whip my butt later if you like.”
My insides did a little flip. “Maybe I will.”
Corben placed his hands on his hips and made his bulging biceps bulge even greater. “You’re getting a bit cheeky.”
I chewed on the inside of my bottom lip.
“Today’s your day off, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it is.”
“Right. Well, I’m taking you out tonight. Unless you had plans?”
I blinked at him. Takingme out?Me and Corben out together. On a date?
My knees wobbled at thewonderfulprospect. “No. Just so happens I’m free tonight.”
“Lucky me.” His voice was smooth and in control.
“Lucky me, too.”
He grinned, and the transformation in his usually stern features was startling. “I’ll meet you right here at eight-thirty.”
He smacked my bottom and carried on up the stairs without waiting for my response. I blinked after him, unsure whether I should be happy or annoyed with his forthrightness, but my bubbling insides answered that question.
Happinesswas going out in public with a man like Corben.
The spring in my step had me on the beach in no time, and I made my way to thesand that was nice and firmfrom the outgoing tide.I turned with the sun on my left-hand side and started jogging parallel to the shoreline. As I found my stride and pumped my arms back and forth, my head tumbled over a zillion questions about my evening with Corben.
Where was he taking me? What should I wear? Was this our first official date? And if so, were there many more to come?
The way I was feeling right, I hoped the last question would be answered with a big fat yes. Ten months ago, the idea of an evening with a hunk like Corben had seemed ludicrous. Now, though, it wasn’t just a possibility—it was a certainty.
With the sun on my cheek and the gentle breeze drifting off the ocean to lick the sweat off my neck and chest, I inhaled the crisp ocean air.
I have never felt this alive before.
I tried to clear my mind and concentrate on my stride, but it was impossible. Thoughts of Corben dominated every second of my workout. Yay me.
My energy levels were at a record high, and I continued past the surf lifesavers’ club for another ten minutes.It wasonly when my breathing became raggedthat I slowed downto a steady jog and then stopped altogether.
Two men with surfboards walked toward me. They’d peeled their wetsuits down to their waists, allowing their finely-toned bodies to glisten in the sun. Their dazzling smiles and casual swagger added to their already stunning appearance.
They flanked me, one on either side, as they walked past, grinning.
“Good morning.”
“Hi there. Great day for a run.”
Like a dazzled virgin, a hot flush blazed up my neck and cheeks as they each spoke to me. “Yes, hi, and yes, it is.” My squeaky voice was that of an awkward teenage girl. The man closest to the shore turned to look over his shoulder and winked at me. Despite all my resolve, I couldn’t stop my jaw dropping.
He laughed, and they carried on walking.
Myamazingdayjustgot a whole lot better. I turned in their direction, and as I followed their tight little butts, I began my return journey home. The shorter of the two men shoved the other man in the shoulder, and he stumbled slightly before he regained his balance and then turned to walk back to me.
I continued my stride, but with every step we closed the distance between us, it became harder to breathe. I’d convinced myself that the guy was going to walk straight on past, but when he stopped a couple of paces before me and turned his board around so he was facing the same direction as me, I thought my lack of breath would have me passing out.
“Hi again.”
“Hi.” I grinned at him.
“I’m Tom.”
“Jane. Nice to meet you.”
He ran his free hand through his curly sun-bleached hair. “Are you here on holiday?”
I could hardly comprehend that this sexy stranger wasactuallytalking to me. The Jane me. “No. Are you?”
“Yes, just up from Adelaide for a week.”
Our strides were matchedperfectly, and as I tried to sneak glances at the man beside me, I was grateful for my dark sunglasses. “You’ve had incredible weather.”
“Yes, we have. Anyway . . .” He cleared his throat. “It’s my last night here tonight. Would you like to go out with me?”
I choked on myowntongue, and we stopped as he patted my back.
“Are you okay?”
“Sorry, sorry, it’s just, wow. Really?”
He laughed a glorious, manly, contagious laugh that made me relax. “Yes, really.”
I was seconds away from saying yes when I remembered Corben. Never in my whole life had I needed to choose between two men, and my thoughts spun around at thewonderfulgloriousness of it.
Quick as a flash, I compared my two suitors. Both were stunning representations of the male species. While Corben was a hunky Mr. Universe, Tom was slender with lean muscles in all the right places. In the end, my decision was easy.I knew I’d have a wonderful evening with Corben, whereas this young man wasan uncertainty—a sexy, fascinating uncertainty.
I curled a lock of hair behind my ear. “I’m sorry, I’m so flattered, but I already have a date.”
He huffed. “Bugger. Oh well, if he turns out to be a dick, we’re hanging out at the Surfers Paradise Beer Garden later. Come find me.” He winked at me and then jogged ahead to catch up to his mate.
My wonderful day had just shot into spectacular, and it took all my might not to break out a few cartwheels. I’m the luckiest woman in the world.
Turning toward the ocean, I spread my arms wide, breathedindeeply, and screamed, “Woohoooooo.”
Grinning like a crazy woman, I strolled back toward my hotel, and my mind skipped from one lovely thought to another. People walked along the beach with me, all looking equally as happy as I was. A young couple who couldn’t be any older than seventeen swung their clasped hands back and forth, and the girl’s pretty features reminded me of Chelsea-Lea.
My ex-best friend had been one of the most beautiful girls at my school, if not themost beautiful. Unlike me, it was nothing for her tobe asked outtwo or three timesa week. Sometimes on the same night. My mind flashed to her standard response. “Piss off, creep.”
We’d giggled at that a few times, but now, as I recalled theforlornlooks on those young boys’ faces, I was deeply saddened that I’d taken joy in their embarrassment.
Has she had her baby yet?
I must call Aunty Ann. I needed to catch up on all my hometown gossip.
Before I left the beach, I paused and turned to the ocean,making a point oftaking in the entire panorama and confirming for the hundredth time that I lived in one of the most beautiful places in the world.
I avoided glancing at Needledick as I crossed the lobby, and fortunately, he didn’t talk to me either.
In my room, I had a quick shower and dressed in my cotton pajama shortsset. I made peanut butter on toast, matched that with a hot coffee in the cow mug Henry had given me and with my phone in my pocket, I carried my breakfast out to the balcony.
The simple breakfast was yummy, and I devoured it in minutes, then I picked up the phone and dialed Aunty Ann.
“Well, hello. How’s my gorgeous niece?”
“I’m excellent, Aunty Ann. How are you?”
“Same-o, same-o. Not a lot going on in my life, I’m afraid.”
“Are you going to Dad’s sixtieth?”
“Of course. I can’t wait to see you.”
“You, too. I miss you. Did you know Alexander is going?”
She sucked the air in between her teeth. “No, I didn’t. Your mom never mentioned that to me. Why would they invite that bastard?”
I pushed back and hoisted my legs up onto the other chair. “Apparently, Alexander and Dad are great friends. They go fishing together.”
“What? No! I can’t believe that.”
“That’s what I said.”
“After everything he did to you.”
“Yep. I’m so glad you’re on my side, Aunty Ann.”
“I’m going to ring your mother and give her a piece of my mind.”
I was two seconds away from objecting when I changed my mind. Maybe Mom would listen to her sister. “Thank you, but I doubt it’ll help. Hey, tell me what’s happening with Chelsea-Lea?”
“Oh, yes, you should see her. She’s the size of the Goodyear Blimp.” Aunty Ann’s coarse laughter rumbled down the phone, and I chuckledwith her. Her laugh became a rugged cough, and as I waited for her to breathe again, I tried to picture Chelsea-Lea looking like that.
Aunty Ann cleared her throat. “You know how pregnant women usually have this glorious glow?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, she doesn’t. She’sreallylet herself go. Her hair’s all frizzy, and she has a skunk stripe because she hasn’t had it colored. You won’t even recognize her.”
“I can’t wait to see what she looks like.”
“She’ll have the baby by then.”
“I know. So, do you know who the father is?”
She huffed. “Word is it could be any number of guys. Nobody wants to own responsibility yet. So, there’ll be a few paternity tests once the poor little munchkin is born.”
I whistled. “Holy cow.”
“Yep, your friend has got herself into a right mess.”
“Not my friend.”
“Thank God. She was a bitch.”
“Who got what she deserved. It’s just a shame there’s an innocent baby involved now.”
“True. So, tell me about you. Got a man in your life?”
I smiled as I wondered which one I should mention, andthen I decided there was no harm in the truth. “As a matter of fact,I have several, and would you believe two men asked me on a date just this morning?”
She burst into fits of laughter again. “You go, girl! Oh, I can’t wait to hear all about them. Make sure youfit in time tocome and see me when you’re here. I mean, without your parents around, too. I want all the juicy details.”
I chuckled. “Okay, I will.”
“How about you come over for tea on Saturday morning? I’ll make one of my pineapple upside-down cakes.”
“Oh, that sounds just perfect. It’s a date.”
“Wonderful.”
“Anyway, I’m going to get some sleep. I need to be ready for my hot date tonight.”
“Okay, sweetheart. Give that man a jolly good root for me, will you?”
Weburst out laughingtogether, and I waited out the barking cough that followed.
“Bye. I love you.” Her voice was a croaky whisper.
“Love you too.”
I glowed with love as I put the phone aside and gathered my dishes to carry to the sink. It seemed so unfair that a beautiful woman like Aunty Ann didn’t have children while someone as undeserving as Chelsea-Lea did. Life could be so cruel.
As I crawled into bed, I wondered what I’d look like when I was pregnant.
Hugging my pillow, I closed my eyes, and the one image that stood out was how happy and glowing I’d be.