Page 26 of The Talk Around Town

She was here, now, making a new life for herself, with new friends. Nothing would replace what Alex and Sasha had meant to her, and she didn’t want anything or anyone to. The move to Kurrajong Crossing had been about letting go of the past. Finding out who she was again. Freeing herself from things that could never be changed.

She’d hated the compassionate glances from people she knew, the glimpses of pity on their faces, and the outright hostility from thoseshe’d considered family.

Alex’s family. His sister, in particular.

Guilt was an insidious thing, gnawing away inside where it couldn’t be seen or dealt with, until one day it exploded with a ferocity that left damage and destruction in its wake.

Forgiveness was a hard thing to accomplish. Emma didn’t know if she would ever get there herself, but she was trying.

Swinging the truck into an empty spot in front of the hardware store, Emma couldn’t help the grin that spread over her mouth at the thought of what Alex would think of Ralph.

Shock and total disgust. He would never believe it.

*

The subtle scentof paint and lumber, mixed with the faint undertone of fertiliser, hit Emma as she entered the large store. If you could think of it, chances were you would find it here.

A familiar figure caught her attention as she moved toward the middle section where the paint was stored.

“Good morning, Pete.”

The old man looked up from the paint chip in his hand, a huge smile widening his mouth. “Mornin’ yourself, miss.” At the frown she sent his way, he chuckled and amended, “I mean, Emma. What brings you down here this fine day?”

Emma bit back the grin trying to force its way to her lips. “I’m in desperate need of some paint, plus some nice fittings for my bathroom. The ones there are a bit on the scary side.”

Pete’s chuckle blew out to a full belly laugh. “I never heard of fittings bein’ called nice before. In my day they were functional, or not.”

A voice from behind her interrupted her response. “Hi there, Emma. How are you this morning?”

Emma threw Pete a small grin. He winked at her and pretended intense interest in the colour chips on the wall in front of them.

Emma turned. “I’m fine thanks, Ryan. What about yourself?”

Ryan Thomas smiled and threw her a saucy look. “I’m doin’ fine, but I know I’d be even better if you agreed to come swimming with us this afternoon. We’re all heading to the Eco Lodge side of the lake instead ofto the usual barbeque at the Jamesons’. You up for it?”

Emma tried hard to hold in her laugh, but it was a lost cause. “Actually, yes. I am. Darby asked me last night. I guess I’ll see you there.”

Ryan looked confused for a moment, not sure whether he’d been dismissed. Another cheeky grin wound onto his full lips. It was a nice mouth, one that wouldn’t take too much cajoling to want to kiss.

If there hadn’t been a certain veterinarian in town, that is.

Ryan was good-looking, in a fresh, open, sexy way. From the time they’d spent talking the previous weekend at the barbeque, Emma was sure he would be a good friend. Although she knew for a fact that Ryan wanted their friendship to be of the horizontal kind—not exactly what she had in mind for the cute farmer. Especially if she was right and Darby wanted him for herself.

“Would you be needing a lift, by any chance? Since you’re new and all…” He trailed off, waiting for her answer.

Emma had no problem accepting a lift from him, but he would take it the wrong way, and she didn’t want to lead the guy on, not when she had no interest in him.

“Thanks Ryan, but Darby is picking me up. I’ll see you there though. I’m really looking forward to seeing the lake.”

Ryan nodded and lifted a hand. “No worries. I’ll see you this afternoon.” He tipped his head in Pete’s direction. “Mornin’, Pete.”

Ryan turned and moved toward the front door of the store with a hip-rolling walk designed to make women look at his tight ass in the well-worn jeans that moulded so temptingly over the firm planes. A very nice ass, but Emma simply wasn’t interested.

The low-pitched chuckle behind her had her turning to face Pete.

“What’s so funny?”

Pete’s old, leather-coloured eyes crinkled up at the sides in amusement.

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