There's Something About a Rebel.... Anne Oliver

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СКАЧАТЬ right now she had to face breakfast with a man she didn’t know how to react to this morning.

      CHAPTER FOUR

      SHE had the toast buttered, coffee freshly brewed when Blake appeared in the kitchen on the stroke of seven. She just knew he’d be one of those super-punctual people. Always on time. Ruthlessly organised. Socks always paired and rolled together. How did he live with himself?

      The only reason she was ahead this morning was because she’d been too wound up after their recent rendezvous in the living room to relax. She’d spent the time familiarising herself with the spectacular wood-panelled kitchen and every modern appliance known to man.

      She’d psyched herself up for seeing him but the first glimpse still packed a punch as he walked to the kitchen table, leaving her breathless and feeling as if she’d run a cross-country marathon. He’d changed into a khaki T-shirt with some sort of blood and tar design all over the front but he still wore the same kind of snug-fitting jeans he’d had on last night.

      He seemed more relaxed. His eyes weren’t the haunted ones she’d glimpsed last night, even though they were still somewhat aloof, but, hey, this was Blake Everett and aloof was his trademark. Whatever his demons last night, he’d apparently shrugged them off. He’d showered and smelled as fresh as the new day.

      Yes, a new day, she thought. Best to pretend last night never happened.

      ‘Good morning.’ Her smile was automatic, unlike his stern expression, as she lifted the coffee plunger and concentrated on pouring a mug without spilling it all over her hand. ‘Coffee?’

      He set a couple of those sailing brochures she’d seen on the table. ‘Never touch the stuff. But thanks,’ he added in what sounded like an afterthought.

      His gravelly morning voice did strange things to her insides as he moved to the cupboard, pulled out an unopened box of Earl Grey tea. Real leaves, not the tea-bag kind. She watched him reach for a teapot on the bench, dump in a large fistful of leaves.

      ‘Kettle’s just boiled,’ she said, wanting to be helpful and desperate to break the awkward silence that seemed to crowd in on them. She should have stayed right away last night. Stuck her head under the pillow or something.

      ‘Not a morning person?’ she said, briskly. He shot her a glance as he poured water into the pot. ‘That’s okay, I am. So that kind of balances it out, wouldn’t you agree?’

      He lifted a brow. ‘I’m up at five a.m., rain or shine, how about you?’

      Oh. She stared at him a moment. ‘I’ve been known to drift home around that time.’

      That earned her a look and she wished she’d kept her mouth shut. ‘On weekends. Some weekends. As a matter of fact, if you’re free, there’s a party tonight down on the beach …’ She trailed off as his jaw tightened. ‘Maybe not.’

      And not for her either. She studied him as she sipped her coffee. No, she wouldn’t imagine he’d fit in with the party scene. She needed to forget her teenage crush, pull herself together and remember that he wanted her boat. ‘How does the damage look this morning?’

      ‘Haven’t checked it out yet.’ He poured his tea, already thick and black as molasses, and added two sugars, then took a seat opposite her at the table. ‘After a closer inspection last night, I turned off the electricity, locked up and came back here.’

      ‘Oh,’ she murmured. ‘I did wonder what you were doing in the liv—’ Then bit her lip, wishing she’d never mentioned it.

      ‘It needs major work,’ he said, not looking up as he flicked through his brochures. ‘Could take a while.’

      She stifled a retort. It wasn’t that bad, surely. It was just a ploy to keep her away and it wasn’t going to work. After breakfast she was going to take a look for herself. She’d not gone down earlier because she’d thought he was there and didn’t want the awkwardness of catching him asleep. After all, what if he slept naked?

      She quashed the warmth that spun low in her belly and joined him at the table, pushing the plate of toast to the centre. ‘You must have left eggs off your shopping list.’

      ‘Toast’s fine.’ He reached for a slice, bit in with a crunch.

      ‘You planning on going sailing while you’re here?’ she said, eyeing his reading material.

      He didn’t look up. ‘Could be I’m planning on purchasing one.’

      ‘But aren’t you … in the navy?’

      ‘Not any more.’ He glanced up a moment, his eyes focused on middle distance. ‘What do you reckon—sailing solo down the coast, stopping anywhere that takes your fancy. No timetables, no schedules, no demands. Just you, drifting with the tides.’

      ‘Sounds …’ lonely ‘… magic. Is that what you’re planning?’

      ‘Could be.’ He popped the rest of his toast in his mouth.

      ‘You’ve given up navy life, then?’

      ‘Reckon so.’ He folded a corner of a page to mark it, then flipped the brochure shut, picked up his mug and leaned back. ‘I’ll ring a plumber this morning. And an electrician. Do you use anyone in particular?’

      Obviously he didn’t want to discuss the navy or his reasons for leaving. ‘Up till now, I’ve not needed anyone.’ She nibbled the edge of her toast. ‘Jared would know someone, but he’s away.’

      At the mention of her brother’s name, Blake’s demeanour brightened. ‘So what’s Jared doing these days?’

      ‘He has his own refurbishing business in Surfers. He’s on holiday overseas at the moment, with his family. They’ve been gone nearly two months.’

      ‘Jared’s married now?’

      ‘Yes. He and Sophie have a three-year-old son. Isaac.’

      ‘Good for him.’

      His lips curved in one of those rare smiles she hadn’t had the pleasure of looking at in ten years and her pulse skipped a few beats. At this rate she was going to need to see a cardiologist.

      ‘You see them often?’ he asked.

      She refreshed her coffee, then nodded. ‘Every couple of weeks and that’s not counting birthdays and celebrations. I drive down to Surfers, though. A houseboat’s no place for kids, it’s too cramped and too dangerous and Crystal has two now.’ She didn’t tell him that after she’d walked away from her home, Jared made a point of not coming to Mooloolaba to see her unless specifically invited.

      He regarded her a moment while he blew on his tea. ‘When’s he due back?’

      ‘A couple of weeks.’

      ‘I’ll need his phone number. I’d like to catch up after all this time and I need to contact him about the boat.’

      The boat. The way he said it. As if he’d retaken ownership already. ‘No.’ Her fingers tightened around her mug. ‘You can’t tell СКАЧАТЬ