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Just behind the driver

She groaned, shaking her head A week ago her life had been ticking along perfectly She had work, yoga, good friends and Netflix Now she had angst, indecision, erotic drea

The longing was the worst It was like a secret weakness she didn’t want to ad Instinctively she knew that if she ever slept with Sa her life for hi with her friends when it all rong Because it would go wrong It was inevitable Saant He would want ive and she was very afraid she’d give it anyway

A sense of foreboding flashed across her skin like a cold draught Her father walking out on theo had left her with a natural sense of caution when it caood stead So no, she was not going to let Saain That would be like carrying a metal pole onto a football field in the et struck by lightning

‘Good pep talk’ She smiled at her reflection and skipped out of the bathroom Miller’s beach house beckoned, where she could swim, chat, play with Red and relax to her heart’s content

Quickly pulling on white shorts and a striped top, she pushed her feet into her favourite beaten-up espadrilles, packed her bag and raced down the stairs, thankful that she only had to wait a few minutes before her cab driver arrived

‘Double Bay Wharf,’ she said, settling back against the seat and closing her eyes Too late she remembered that her e-reader, with the newly downloaded crime novel on it, was on her bedside table She hoped Miller had some trashy novel she could lose herself in just in case the chaht

Arriving at the wharf, she skipped down the wooden gangplank towards Valentino’s latest hthearted as she sull that was completely unconcerned about her presence

Rows of pristine white yachts bobbed side by side in the bright sunshine, and the deep blue of the harbour sparkled as if tiny diamonds had been dropped from the sky and floated across the surface as ood day to be alive and she had three whole days of bliss stretched out in front of her Three whole days of rest and relaxation and not wondering about whether she was going to accidentally run into a certain somebody when she least expected it

Saine, absently stroking the black and tan puppy in his arms

‘Wrench,’ Valentino said, his head stuck inside the engine bay

Saled in his ar for two hours A rash decision that was as unlike hi to Sydney And he couldn’t exactly bla up the puppy at the rescue centre Perhaps he had so away at his brain bit by bit

‘I said wrench’ Valentino frowned at him ‘This is a ratchet’

Salanced into the toolbox He pulled out the wrench

‘You sure you’re okay?’ Tino glanced up at him

‘Fine’

Tino grunted ‘About as fine as this engine’

Ignoring his brother’s pointed coet it running?’

Valentino threw him a look as if to say Will the sun set in the west? He stuck his head back in the hull ‘I’d better Miller’s been looking forward to this weekend all ne Hopefully on ice’

Said at Tino’s throay corip from around its soft belly ‘Ruby?’ Part of the reason he haddecision to take his brother up on his offer to spend the long weekend at the beach house was to put some space between Ruby and his sudden obsession to dial her number every five seconds Why hadn’t he asked Tino if she would be co?