Chapter Seven
E mma clutched the cupcake container closer to her body as Gabe pulled into his parents’ drive. Kurrajong Crossing wasn’t a large town, so the trip hadn’t taken all that long. They lived near the river, up on the hill overlooking the town.
She glanced down at the offering, small as it was, that she’d brought with her. Cupcakes from the awesome little cupcake shop on the Lakewalk. A token of thanks for the invitation. She refused to come empty-handed, a faux pas her nan would never have let her forget.
A little smile erupted. She’d been standing behind a guy in the shop who’d looked vaguely familiar; she’d lost all ability to speak when he’d turned around. Zac Hart, the sexy guitarist with the smooth voice who’d been in all the magazines recently had smiled at her and said hello. She couldn’t have spoken if she’d tried. The friendly retro-dressed shop owner had laughed and taken pity on her sudden incapacity, introducing him as her fiancé. Emma had managed to stumble through what resembled a reasonable reply, her embarrassment clear for all to see.
She held the container tighter. Her nerves were getting the better of her now that they were here.
She looked down and realised what she’d done. What on earth was she thinking to bring baked desserts to the home of a woman who made the most unbelievable cakes and baked goodies of her own? She’d probably be insulted.
Emma looked for a way to leave the container behind in the ute as they rolled to a stop. Maybe if she stashed it under the seat…
“Don’t look so worried. They’re nice folks, my parents. You’ve already met the rest of them. Just relax and you’ll have a good time. Mum will probably want to introduce you to some of her friends around town later in the week, since you made the effort to come today. It’ll go a long way to easing you into the community. She’s on a lot of the committees, so she can put a good word in for you,” Gabe said, misreading her apprehension.
Emma just nodded. She wanted so badly to fit in. To make this work. She’d needed a new start, and here she was getting the chance. This family obviously had a lot to do with the running of the town and the people in it. If she made a good impression it would help make her life there easier, and herself more readily accepted.
Emma smiled tentatively at Gabe. She slid from the seat and shut the ute’s door more forcefully than needed, wincing as the sound echoed. People glanced up at the noise. The ground looked very interesting all of a sudden. Emma dropped her gaze and followed Gabe up onto the porch toward them.
*
“Well! Who do we have here? You wouldn’t happen to be the little filly who’s caused such a ruckus, now would you?”
Gabe winced at the sound of his dad’s booming welcome.
Good one, Dad. Way to make Emma feel comfortable.
His mother turned around. The empty salad bowl in her hands seemed all but forgotten. An assessing glint entered his mother’s eyes as she considered the newcomer. His mother liked what she saw.
Gabe frowned, positive he knew the direction her thoughts were turning. It annoyed him that the sight of a new face could bring out his mother’s matchmaking tendencies. It annoyed him even more he could see straight through it.
His mother’s smile spread further. Colour heightened Emma’s face. He was certain she was embarrassed and that was why she hung back behind him. He took her hand to bring her forward, encouraging her, willing his mother to forget about seeing him married off.
She sent Darby a calculating look.
Oh no. By the looks of it, Darby was in on it, too.
Neither she nor his mother had forced the subject of women. They had both been content to sit back and give him time to lick his wounds, but they thought he hung on to Sami and what she’d done as a shield to hide behind.
In truth, he’d long ago given up on the idea he would find someone he could fully trust. Someone to share his life with. Sami’s deception and callous disregard for others had been the final straw in a bad relationship.
“Mum, this is Emma. She brought something for dessert,” Gabe said.
Mary put the salad bowl down on the outdoor table and held out her hand. “A pleasure to finally meet you, Emma. I’m Mary. I’m sorry I couldn’t come by with Darby, but I had a workshop I had to attend yesterday. I’m glad you decided to accept the invitation to our little gathering. We’d hoped you would.”
Emma inclined her head and smiled nervously at Mary. “Thank you. I really do appreciate it. It’s harder than I thought, this moving to another place. I’ve lived in the same city all my life, in almost the same area. This is a big step for me,” she finished off, her voice quiet. “I want to thank you all for giving me a chance.”
Mary took hold of her hand. “No thanks are necessary. You are more than welcome here, and not only if you are in the company of my children. Feel free to drop by anytime.”
Emma’s smile grew to fill her face, making her blue eyes dance. Gabe blinked, unable to hide his reaction.
“Are you a model by any chance?” Mary asked, bringing Gabe’s thoughts back to the conversation.
Emma’s laughter burst out, enveloping him in a bubble of sound. It was almost musical. Gabe’s body jerked in response. He breathed deeper to control his suddenly increased heart rate.
Man, that laugh. It did strange things to his insides every time he heard it.
“Goodness no! What would make you say that?” Emma asked. Curiosity shone from her face.
His mother smiled brightly at Emma. “Well, you’re not hard to look at, child. I thought perhaps that was your job.”
Emma shook her head, her soft chocolate-coloured hair falling around her shoulders. “No, I haven’t worked for the last four…” Abruptly her face shuttered. “I was a hairdresser,” she finished off, her voice tight.
“I mentioned Miriam has a job going. In case she’s interested,” Darby said, deflecting the conversation onto herself. His mother nodded, smiling absently.
Gabe looked at Emma more closely. There was a story there, and not a good one from the sadness he’d glimpsed in her eyes before the walls closed in. Emma hadn’t mentioned anything. She’d stayed close-lipped about why she’d moved states.
Four? Four months? Four years? He wondered if she would ever trust him enough to tell him what made her so sad. It looked like he wasn’t the only one dealing with unhappiness. Whatever Emma was hiding from her past wouldn’t be easily extracted.
Gabe glanced at Darby. If she and Emma became the friends he believed they’d be, he’d find out eventually. She was the one person he couldn’t keep secrets from for long, and vice versa.
His attention moved back to Emma. To move so far from home, across the country, to a new life. To uproot yourself and leave all you knew… Only something big triggered that.
“Well, that explains your lovely hair!” Mary said.
Emma’s smile returned, though not as bright as before. “It certainly is an advantage.”
“How are you dealing with the old Mason place? It’s been in bad need of repair for some years now. It’s not too much for you on your own?”
Emma’s face brightened more, warming to the subject of her new home. “I have some experience with handyman work. My dad’s a carpenter. I used to help him out on school holidays. The problem is I don’t have the brawn to do the big stuff. The painting and all the little things are no worries, but I’ll have to hire a carpenter for the rest.”
Gabe caught the calculating glance his mother sent his way. His stomach sank.
“There’s no need for that. Gabe and Ed handle all the building work around our house and the farm. They could help with whatever is needed,” his mum said.
Emma looked so surprised it was almost comical. She looked at him, then at his mother. “Heavens no, I couldn’t ask them to do that. They have enough to do without running around after me, someone they barely know. It wouldn’t be right,” she protested.
“You know, Emma is—ouch!” Darby jabbed him hard in the ribs with her elbow and sent him a stern look that told him to shut up—now.
Mary took Emma’s hand again. “It’s how we do things around here. If someone needs help, we help them. You’re just going to have to get used to it.” She dropped her hand, picked up the empty salad bowl and walked into the house.
Emma plainly didn’t know what to say. She sent him an apologetic look. He smiled half-heartedly and shrugged. It wasn’t her fault. He’d just have to take it up with his interfering family.
“Well, if they help me with anything, they’ll be paid for their time. And work. I’m not going to take advantage of them,” she called out.
Darby laughed and winked at him. “Good luck with that,” she said and turned to follow her mother up the two steps into the kitchen.
*
Gabe eyed his mother over the kitchen counter. “I don’t have time to help Emma rebuild her house. I have a business to run, if you’ve forgotten.”
Mary flipped a hand at him, an instant dismissal of his words. Darby had the same irritating habit, which she’d picked up from their mother as a teenager. She’d done it initially to get under his skin, but it was so ingrained in them both now that he believed neither realised they were doing it.
“Don’t give me that. Yes, you’re busy, but you’re not so busy you can’t give help when it’s needed. Between you and your father, you should have things done within days. The woman needs strong hands and you’re it.”
Annoyance washed through him, making his already tight muscles rigid. He’d been avoiding looking at Emma since he’d introduced her to the family and everyone at the barbeque, and Darby had whisked her away to sit outside.
“Don’t think I don’t know what you’re up to. It won’t work. I’m not interested. Leave it at that.”
His mother’s face tilted up to him, tipping to one side, innocence blazing from her dark-grey eyes. “I have no idea what you are referring to. I simply want you to help that nice young woman. It’s the neighbourly thing to do.”
“I’m not her damned neighbour,” he muttered. He was being railroaded and had no idea how to get out of it without looking like a bastard, since his mother had already offered Emma his services.
Mary planted her hands on her hips and sent him that look. The one he’d hated so much growing up. It still had the desired effect.
His shoulders dropped, and he heaved out a sigh. “Fine. I’ll go by and check out what needs doing when I have time.”
His mother smiled her satisfaction. “Good. She’s expecting you later in the week.”
Gabe closed his eyes and scrubbed at his mouth. A small tic twitched beneath his fingers. His mother’s plans for him and Emma weren’t going to happen. He wasn’t playing that game, no matter how cute she was.
No matter how his blood surged when he remembered how she tasted.
He gazed out the kitchen door to the porch where his parents had set up the afternoon’s seating. Emma sat relaxed in one of the upholstered outdoor chairs that surrounded the table. A smile flashed across her face as she laughed at something someone opposite her said.
Gabe frowned, certain whatever it was couldn’t be that funny. The sound of deep male laughter joined hers.
Ryan.
He’d know that laugh anywhere. He and Ryan had been friends since kindergarten. Gabe’s eyes narrowed as he watched Emma raise her hand and tip it in a rocking motion.
More laughter joined in. What was that goofball going on about now?
“From that frown on your face, it wouldn’t be a long shot to say you’re not as unaffected as you’d like us all to believe, are you? Why don’t you—”
“No. Emma and I have already agreed on friendship. Neither of us wants anything else.” He gestured to the drinks fridge sitting just outside the kitchen door. “I’m getting a drink. Do you want anything?” Not waiting for an answer, he turned and took the steps in one stride, heading for the table where everyone seemed to be having such a good time.
Gabe grabbed a can of soft drink from the fridge and seated himself beside a grinning Ryan. He avoided eye contact with Darby. Most wouldn’t notice the slightly rigid set to his shoulders, but she knew him too well. If she hadn’t already, she’d figure out quite fast that the kiss at Max’s bar last night had most definitely had an effect. If she’d been taking any notice of his reactions today, she’d know it had rattled him.
He sighed. His mother getting him to agree to help with Emma’s renovations was one thing, but anything else would be impossible. He could be as stubborn as them when he wanted to be.
Gabe couldn’t help a smile as he looked around. Ryan had no such qualms. He liked Emma and wanted everyone to know it. Mind you, Ryan wasn’t shy when it came to what he wanted. He looked at his friend. He knew Darby had had a thing for Ryan years ago, but luckily she seemed to have gotten over it pretty quickly. It was a pity, because he’d love to see them both happy, but he wasn’t interested in seeing Darby get her heart broken by a player like Ryan. He’d never been with anyone longer than a week or two his whole adult life. He simply wasn’t a keeper.
He made no excuses for himself. What you saw was what you got. And what Ryan had, Gabe didn’t want anywhere near his sister.
Emma seemed flattered by the attention, but also a little bewildered.
Once again, Gabe wondered what could have brought Emma across the country, away from all family and friends. What had happened to make her think the only answer was to escape? Running never solved anything, and usually the problem—or problems—found you in the end.
Another reason not to get involved. He wouldn’t know what problems might come knocking when her past caught up with her. Some things were best left alone.
Including beautiful women with secrets.