Fifteen
Rachel sighed as she dressed for the fundraiser on Friday evening. After the week she’d had, she’d have preferred a quiet evening at home with a good book. She’d recently started a series by an author who was new to her and was eager to continue it. But Gill was organising the event through Zonta in combination with a local Rotary group, and it was in aid of the Bellbird Bay Women’s Centre . Also, it was to be held at Crossings . So, two of her good friends were involved in organising the event. It wasn’t one she could wriggle out of.
At least there would be a good meal, she thought, as she checked herself out in her full-length wardrobe mirror, wondering if the black and white dress Jess had encouraged her to buy was really as slimming as her daughter had claimed. Rachel was so accustomed to the loose garments she wore every day, designed to hide her figure, she felt exposed in this more fitted garment which seemed to reveal all her curves.
Deciding she’d do, and it was too late to change anyway, she popped her head into the study where Molly now seemed quite at home. Each day she appeared a little better though as Luke had warned her, it was a slow process. She hadn’t seen any sign of Luke since that morning on the beach earlier in the week, perhaps just as well. But Liz’s report he was a widower had sent a flood of warmth through her at the realisation he was on his own and lived only a short distance away.
Rachel could hear the noise of chatter even before she pushed open the door to the restaurant, and once she was actually inside it was as if she was being battered by a clamour of voices. Seeing Poppy and Gill in the distance, she pushed through the throng to finally reach them, collecting a glass of champagne on the way. ‘Wow, what a crowd,’ she said.
‘Isn’t it wonderful?’ Gill said. ‘With the entry tickets and the raffles, we should reach our target. Ali will be delighted,’ she said, referring to Ali Wells, the director of the women’s centre. ‘It was a stroke of genius to link up with Rotary. All Joe’s idea.’ She smiled at the local mayor who was her new partner.
While they were chatting, a young girl came up to them selling raffle tickets. Rachel bought several before realising they were for a hot air balloon ride for two. ‘Oh, dear,’ she said. ‘I don’t think I want to win.’
‘You could always give it to Steph,’ Joe said. ‘I’m sure she and Chloe would enjoy it.’ Chloe was his PA, and he knew she had an adventurous spirit.
‘Maybe.’ The mention of Steph reminded Rachel of their conversation about her having a baby. She wondered if the women had done anything about it yet. But even if they had, it was too soon to know if Steph was pregnant.
The evening passed pleasantly. As Rachel had predicted, the meal was excellent but, seated at a table with her three friends and their partners, she felt somewhat out of place. It annoyed her to feel like this. She had no desire to emulate them, to find a new partner. But for the first time since Kirk died, she wished she wasn’t on her own.
The meal was over, the raffle drawn – to Rachel’s relief she didn’t win either the hot air balloon ride or the personal training session with Liz’s daughter – when, on the other side of the restaurant, Rachel saw a familiar bearded face. It was Luke Findlay, and he was looking straight at her.
*
Luke couldn’t believe it. Rachel was sitting across the room. She looked amazing, wearing a more fitted outfit than he’d seen her in earlier, one which showed off her curves to advantage – and what curves. A man could get lost in them. He swallowed to subdue the unexpected rush of desire which engulfed him. It had been years since he’d experienced anything like this… and this was little Rachel. Not so little, he reminded himself as he gazed across and caught her eye. She quickly looked away, but not before he saw her blushing.
He'd been placed at a table with a group of people who, apart from Troy, he didn’t know, and most of the conversation had gone over his head. He realised that, now the meal and the formalities were over, people were beginning to move around, to chat with friends from other tables while they helped themselves to coffee.
‘You okay, mate?’ Troy asked. ‘Sorry if you felt left out of the conversation. Been a good night, hasn’t it? Glad you came?’
‘I’m good, thanks. Yes, thanks for inviting me. Great meal. I’ve just seen someone I want to catch up with. Is it okay if…’ He gestured to the side tables where the coffee was being served.
‘Of course. We’ll all be moving on soon. A few of us are heading to The Grand after this if you want to join us.’
‘Thanks, but I may give it a miss. Work tomorrow.’
‘Sure thing. Keep in touch.’
‘Will do. I promised you a meal, remember?’
‘Good man.’ Troy slapped Luke on the shoulder before becoming engrossed in a conversation with the man on his other side.
Luke made his way across the room to where the coffee was being served close to the table at which Rachel was sitting. He was unsure how he was going to approach her but was determined to say something. This was too good an opportunity to miss. He might not get another one for some time. He knew he could have called her – he had her details at the clinic – or dropped in – he knew where she lived – but neither of those approaches appealed to him.
He picked up a coffee and turned towards the table where she appeared to be in conversation with one of the other women. She looked up… and smiled. Luke didn’t hesitate. He moved across till he was standing behind her. ‘How’s Molly?’ he asked.
*
Rachel’s heart leapt when she saw Luke cross the room towards where she was sitting, only to drop again when he stopped to get a coffee. She tried to show interest in what Poppy was saying, something about Amber’s twins, then she was conscious of someone behind her. So much so, it made her skin prickle. She glanced around to see Luke standing there. She smiled, inwardly cursing her burning cheeks.
‘How’s Molly?’ he asked.
‘Hi. Yes. Good. Getting better every day.’ Rachel was finding it difficult to speak. What was happening to her? She swallowed. ‘I’ve been shutting her up in the study, you know, to keep her stress free.’ Damn! She must sound like a fool.
‘Sounds good,’ Luke said, smiling at her, his deep blue eyes so bright, so…
‘Who’s your friend?’
Rachel looked round to see Liz staring at Luke. ‘Everyone, this is Luke Findlay, the new vet. He’s replacing Bob while he’s away.’
‘We’ve already met,’ Joe said rising to shake Luke’s hand. ‘Why don’t you join us? I promise we don’t bite, though Finn has been known to ferret out your darkest secrets and publish them. This is Finn Hunter, our local newspaper editor, Cam Mitchell who manages the marina and owns Pelican Marine , and these lovely ladies are Cam’s wife, Poppy, who owns this restaurant, Finn’s partner, Liz, who’s practice manager at the medical centre, and my lovely partner Gill, our local divorce and family law solicitor.’
‘Wow, a collection of dignitaries,’ Luke said, shaking hands with the men and smiling at the women.
Poppy shifted around to make a space for him beside Rachel, who quivered as their thighs touched under the table. She was pleased Joe had taken the initiative to introduce Luke. It saved her making a bumbling introduction. But, while it was good to see him, and she was pleased he’d come across to speak to her, he’d only come to enquire about Molly. Now he was caught up with all her friends and their partners, and she could already see Liz’s antennae up, while even Gill was giving her a speculative look. It didn’t help that, this close, she could smell his distinctive musky scent.
To her relief, Joe took charge of the conversation, reminding Cam and Poppy about Luke’s achievement on the rugby team that won the championship.
‘I remember,’ Poppy said. ‘You were a lot older than us. I was still in primary school. We all thought you were like a god.’ She furrowed her brow. ‘Didn’t you date Rachel’s sister?’
Rachel blushed. She hadn’t thought Poppy would remember.
‘I did… for a bit. And there was nothing godlike about me. I was just a guy trying to do the best for his team. It was a lucky break that we won that year.’
The men continued to discuss sport, Joe and Cam vying with each other to recount the wins and losses of their school team over the years.
Poppy nudged Rachel, her eyes filled with questions, but she was too polite to ask while everyone was there. Rachel knew the questions would come later.
Meantime, Liz and Gill who were seated farther away from Rachel had to be satisfied with glances which told her they had questions too. Rachel shifted uncomfortably in her seat, wondering how soon she could leave. This wasn’t what she’d bargained for when she agreed to come to the dinner… or when she saw Luke head over in this direction. Why had he ?
Eventually, everyone rose to leave, Poppy popping her head into the kitchen to thank the staff as she always did.
Once outside the restaurant, the three couples peeled away leaving Rachel alone with Luke.
‘I hope I didn’t embarrass you… coming over like that,’ he said with a wry grin.
‘Of course not.’ What else could she say?
‘It was the only way I could think of to speak to you again… and you looked so lovely sitting there.’
Rachel blushed yet again. He couldn’t mean it… he’d wanted to speak to her again… he thought she looked lovely . She glanced up at him, but he didn’t appear to be joking. ‘You wanted to speak to me again… not just ask about Molly?’ she risked asking.
‘I did. You’re a difficult woman to pin down. You have a tendency to rush away.’
Rachel was puzzled, then she remembered her two visits to the clinic. Perhaps she had rushed away.
‘I would like to see you again, preferably without all your friends around.’ He chuckled. ‘They’re great, but talking about my former exploits on the rugby field isn’t my idea of fun. It was all such a long time ago. And you’ve always intrigued me – even when you were fourteen and my girlfriend’s little sister.’
Now Rachel knew he was joking.
‘No, really,’ he said clearly seeing her disbelief. ‘Becky was lovely, but she was an open book, whereas you, Red…’ Rachel felt a shiver run down her spine at his use of the old nickname again. ‘You were always hard to suss out. I’d like to get to know you better, to find out what makes Rachel Carr tick. Hell,’ he pulled on his beard, ‘I don’t know your married name… or anything about you.’
‘Mason, it’s Rachel Mason,’ Rachel said as if in a dream. Was this really happening ?
‘Well, Rachel Mason, would you agree to coming to dinner with me?’
Speechless, Rachel nodded.
‘Is tomorrow too soon? I ate at the yacht club last week. Does that suit you?’
Rachel nodded again, still too overcome to speak.
‘We appear to be neighbours. Shall I pick you up at seven?’
This time Rachel did find her voice. ‘That would be lovely, thanks.’
‘I’ll see you then.’ Luke put one hand on her arm and gave it a squeeze, before heading off.
Rachel stared after him, still dazed by what had happened. While she might tell the world she was satisfied with her life, without a man, might even believe it herself, the prospect of having dinner with Luke Findlay was like a dream come true.