Chapter 26
CHAPTER
Elora had used thirst trap videos in her work before when promoting a gym, a dance studio and a kick-boxing franchise.
It made her laugh when she’d had to explain for the first time what a thirst trap was to a musclebound gym owner.
The guy had been in his forties and horrified at the thought of her filming some of the buff instructors to trap views for those thirsty for spicy content, but he hadn’t been complaining when she’d showed him the tasteful videos she’d shot and the resultant tripling of sign-ups for new gym members.
It had never entered her head to use thirst traps for a farm until she saw Cruz striding towards the pool, his grey T-shirt clinging to every curve of muscle, delineating every ridge of abs, highlighting the breadth of his chest. She’d raised her phone and hit ‘record’ automatically, captivated by the unexpected show as he’d peeled off his T-shirt and stepped out of his jeans, before executing the perfect dive into the pool.
The old cliché ‘sex sells’ definitely applied to Cruz, because what better way to gain hundreds of followers and thousands of hits on the farm’s social media sites than by using the farmer himself?
She should’ve asked before she posted, but then again, Ferne had given her carte blanche, and when she told Cruz what she’d done, he’d been a good sport about it.
Usually, she would’ve used one of the many editing apps she favoured to add a voiceover and captions, but she’d gone for music instead, a sultry country and western number. Perfect.
She’d managed to do a lot of work today, and once Cruz finished his swim and had dressed—no way could she focus with him practically naked—she planned on tackling him about Bindi.
When she’d returned to the farm after their coffee catch-up at the food truck, Elora had researched homelessness in the region and been surprised and saddened to hear that homeless in the Mildura region had more than doubled over the last few years and continued to grow.
Organisations like the Mallee Accommodation and Support Program were doing an incredible job but could barely keep up with the demand, and in some cases, youth at risk were being dropped off at the police station in the middle of the night.
It looked like services were skewed towards young people because of the high numbers at risk of being homeless, so maybe women like Bindi were falling through the cracks.
Elora knew nothing about Bindi’s situation—if she was fleeing from a domestic abuse situation; if she’d fallen on hard times; if she’d lost her savings—but from what she’d read, women thirty and above who were forced to leave their home for whatever reason tended to have a higher incidence of homelessness.
They couldn’t afford to rent on their own, couldn’t find a suitable rental property, and didn’t earn enough to cover all their bills, so many lived in their cars.
The thought of bright, sweet Bindi living out of her car made Elora want to wrap her arms around her and offer whatever financial assistance she could.
Owing Jason five grand and having to live frugally to keep a roof over her head made Elora all too aware of how easily she could lose it all and be homeless herself.
If she reached that stage, she’d always have her parents for help, but what if she didn’t have that option?
She absolutely had to secure a job with Cruz for Bindi, and with a little luck, Cruz would agree to her other idea: that Bindi could live in the studio.
Elora wouldn’t need it for much longer, and even if Cruz hired her to promote the restaurant, she could ask if she could stay in the homestead during her temporary residence—with the added bonus of them continuing what they’d started last night for the foreseeable future.
When Elora accepted the job in Rosevale Grove, she’d never anticipated feeling like she belonged after such a short space of time. She rarely made friends easily despite her outgoing personality, because it was too hard to maintain a facade when people got close.
Maybe that’s why she liked helping Bindi: she knew she had an expiration date in town.
Same with Cruz. Though with him, their closeness stemmed from an intense physical attraction, the type of bond she’d never experienced.
Jason had been her longest relationship—three months—and even then, she’d wondered if she’d clung to him more out of loneliness than passion.
He’d been convenient, a nice guy when she needed someone to depend on. Not so nice, as it turned out.
Elora knocked on the homestead back door before letting herself in. Despite Cruz telling her she had the run of the house, it felt weird to barge in when he was there.
When he strolled into the kitchen a moment later, he was drying his hair with a towel, and had dressed in clean chinos and a buttondown navy shirt.
‘I was just going to have a snack,’ he said, draping the towel on a clothes horse in the laundry tucked in the far corner of the kitchen. ‘Want something?’
‘I’m good.’
‘Probably for the best, as I’m making smashed avo on sourdough, and we both know how you feel about avocados.’
‘Vile green mush,’ she muttered, earning a grin. ‘Actually, that’s not a bad name for your restaurant. Smashed.’
His eyebrows rose, a spark of interest in his eyes. ‘That’s clever.’
‘People love puns and plays on words.’ She blew on her nails and rubbed them against her top. ‘Told you I’m good at what I do.’
‘My dad used to say self-praise is no recommendation.’ He snorted.‘He had a stack of old sayings that used to drive me bonkers.’
‘Why do you think he’s making you stay here for a year before you can sell?’
‘Because he was a prickly bastard who enjoyed making my life a misery and wanted to control me from beyond the grave.’
‘It’s weird. He must’ve known you’d sell in a year anyway.’
‘It’s vindictive, is what it is.’ He plucked an avocado from the fruit bowl on the counter and sliced it open, scooped the contents into a bowl and mashed it with a fork.
‘Though Kyle told me something interesting earlier. He said my dad used to rave about my food, that he ordered takeaway from the restaurant every time he was in Melbourne.’
‘And you didn’t know?’
He shook his head. ‘Never had a clue. Why would he keep something like that from me, when it could’ve been a way for him to mend our relationship?’
‘Who knows why parents do what they do?’ She shrugged. ‘Speaking of old relationships, can I talk to you about Bindi?’
‘This again?’ He sliced two hunks of sourdough bread and popped them in the toaster before opening the fridge to grab a jar of goat’s cheese. ‘I already said I’d consider hiring her for the restaurant.’
‘About that. Things have changed.’
‘How so?’ He twisted the salt and pepper grinders, seasoning the mashed avocado.
‘Did she say something about not wanting the job anymore? I saw you two exchanging numbers last night like a couple of besties.’ The corners of his mouth twitched.
‘Is there anyone in this town you haven’t charmed yet? ’
‘I’ll take that as a compliment and, yeah, she texted me this morning to catch up for a coffee in town.
She pretty much reiterated how much she wants the job, but there’s more …
’ She inhaled a breath and blew it out. ‘But I’m telling you this in confidence, as I don’t know the facts for sure, and I hate meddling in other people’s business. ’
‘You can trust me. What’s going on?’
‘I think Bindi is homeless.’
Shock parted his lips, but she continued. ‘I got to our meeting place early and took a walk and saw a woman sneaking out of the public pool after taking a shower. She went to an old car with a unique colour, and turns out, that’s Bindi’s car.’
He frowned. ‘That’s a pretty big assumption you’ve made. Maybe she took a swim and rinsed off afterwards?’
‘The pool looked deserted, so I don’t think it was open yet, and she told me she needs employment ASAP. And when I told her it was my shout, she ordered a gyro and devoured it like she hadn’t eaten for a week.’
‘Now you mention it, she was going to order a small bowl of chips last night until Kyle stepped up and ordered her a steak. For old times’ sake, he said, but maybe he senses something too?’
‘You can’t ask him,’ Elora said. ‘If I’m wrong, I don’t want Bindi to think I’m a busybody.’
‘But if you’re right, she needs help. If you give me her number, I’ll call her later and ask her to come out here to help me set up the restaurant, then she can run it as hostess and waitress.’
‘You’d do that without knowing if she has experience or not?’
‘We all have to start somewhere,’ he said, and she wanted to hug him for being so understanding.
‘There’s more.’
‘Yeah?’ The toaster popped and he plucked the sourdough slices out and laid them on a plate before slathering them with the mashed avocado, which he topped with the goat’s cheese and a drizzle of olive oil. ‘What else?’
‘If she’s homeless, I was thinking that maybe you could offer her the studio as part of the job. Make it sound like you need her onsite until the restaurant is up and running, so she feels like she’s doing you a favour and can’t say no?’
He took a big bite of toast and chewed, his expression thoughtful. ‘And where will you stay?’
‘You’ve probably got a stack of spare rooms in this place?’
He choked on a crumb and started coughing. ‘You want to move in here?’ he said when he’d recovered.
‘Don’t worry, I won’t ravish you in your sleep.’ She flashed a coy smile. ‘Unless you want me to, of course.’
His eyes widened imperceptibly as he realised the added benefits of having her in the homestead. ‘This could work,’ he said.
‘But Bindi can’t know you’re offering her the job or a place to stay out of pity, okay?’
‘It’s not pity if I’m helping out an old friend.’
‘You said you weren’t friends, that you weren’t close to that gang in high school.’
He snorted. ‘Do you want me to offer her the job and the studio or not?’
‘Of course.’ She lowered her voice. ‘I think this is a wonderful thing you’re doing.’
A faint pink tinged his cheeks. ‘You won’t think it’s so wonderful when I leave you smashed avo on your bedside table as a wake-up every morning.’
‘Maybe I’ll grow to like it, depending how it’s served.’ She stared at his chest before sweeping lower, leaving him in little doubt where she’d like to eat the avocado.
‘You are bad.’ He waggled a finger before demolishing the remainder of his snack. ‘And maybe we can explore the various ways to serve avo, but for now, I need Bindi’s number, please.’
‘I’ll text it to you.’ She tapped at her phone and fired it off. ‘Thanks, Cruz. You’re a good guy.’
For the first time since they met, he didn’t respond, her flattery making him speechless, and a small part of her wished she could stay longer in this town with these people who had captivated her without trying.