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Not the way to go, Tamara

Ding-dong

‘Co Since Conor’s first visit here, on the day she’d told hirown to love the sound of her doorbell

Even better was the kiss Conor gave her the h he would never leave her again When he pushed his tongue across her lips she opened her mouth and let him in Savoured his taste, the feel of him, his scent Truly knew him, not as the father of her baby, the uy who had sworn to stand by her, but as Conor Maguire—the whole package, the man who she could too easily fall in love with if she ever relaxed enough Her body ached for hiot tih their kiss

She ung up against Conor’s chest and carried towards her bedroo off hers Guess that was a yes, then

So, ‘Let’s go and have us soot a jacket? There could be a sea breeze while we’re on the ferry’

Tamara snatched up the one she’d put on the table earlier ‘Yes, and sunscreen to protect my pasty winter skin’

‘It’s me who’ll need that My Irish skin can’t handle the Kiwi sun’

The crossing was calm Baby stomach hadn’t objected Bathed in sunshine, Devonport was busy with city dwellers out for a stroll and an alfresco lunch

Walking slowly, her hand in Conor’s, stopping to -gaze at pottery, art and clothes, Tah everything’s coether perfectly,’ she spilled as they sat down at a small round table outside a lunch bar Then the familiar dread crept in Too perfectly ‘I shouldn’t have said that’

‘Think you’re te fate?’ Conor asked

‘Over the last couple of years, whenever I’ve dared to think thingsawful has happened’ And since they’d never looked up half as ht have a lot to fear

‘You’re not on your own anyto watch out for each other’

‘Aw, shucks You say the loveliest of things sometimes’ Sniff, sniff

‘I wouldn’t if I kneas going to make you cry’ With the paper napkin froently dabbed her eyes

Which only increased the volu down her cheeks

‘Hey, steady These napkins aren’ther stomach into a riot of butterflies

‘I wish my dad could’vehis daughter down the aisle since the first ti to do with Conor She wasn’tup house to provide for their child

‘I’d have liked that too’ Conor screwed up the wet napkin and dropped it in the centre of the table ‘Want to order?’

They shared a large Hawaiian pizza and Conor had a beer while Talanced along the road to where the tide lapped at the edge of the pro need to fill gaps in conversation or to wonder what Conorup on the Sydney interview?’

‘Hoould you feel if I did? Would you be okay with joining et the position then I’ll stay a few extra days to look for somewhere for us to live’ Caution lay between theone

‘There’s nothing to keep ive up at the end of the year to go to university Kelli is my only friend and she would be the last person to wanton with my life, and that’s with you now You and wee ination or had her stonancy?

‘You aren’t agreeing to move just to keep me happy?’

‘Not at all I’es inup Why not start our new life in a place neither of us has been before?’

‘That job in Sydney’s only for twelve et to repeat this conversation’

‘Done Sydney it is Because I know you’ll be offered the position They’d have to be crazy not to’ So like exciteain My pri up to difficult people or decisions’

‘You were focused on going to university and med school’

‘I procrastinated for ever All those “t”s and “i”s If you hadn’t kept telling h, I’d probably still be dithering about applying’ Now the decision had been taken away fro how little that hurt How could it when she was going to become a mother?

‘You could apply in Sydney’