Page 89 of The Knitting Club at Wagtail Ridge

‘Thanks, but you know, I’m not really hungry.’

‘Neither am I.’

Matt got up and moved around the table. As she got to her feet, Bree found herself stepping seamlessly into his arms. Their lips met. He tasted of the wine they had been sipping, of the food he’d been testing and of Matt. She knew at that moment she would never get enough of the taste of him, nor of the feel of his hands as they held her.

Without a word being spoken, they made their way to Matt’s room, with its big, welcoming bed and the table that no longer held a photo of a smiling, dark-haired woman.

CHAPTER

35

Matt slept late. He lay for a few seconds with his eyes shut, thinking he felt more rested and more alive than he had since—He reached out to the other side of the bed, thinking not of Kim, but of Bree. Warm, wonderful, eccentric, sexy Bree, who had given him back his life.

He was alone. His outstretched hand touched something on her empty pillow. He opened his eyes and looked at the note.

We farm girls get up early. And I thought you might not want Vicki to find us like this.

That was nice. Can we do it again? XX

He closed his eyes and let his mind wander back over last night. The feel of Bree’s skin. The warmth of her lips, the way she laughed at his silly jokes. The way she held him tight and whispered his name. The sound of her breathing as she slept. Do it again? Yes. Tonight and every other night. He wanted nothing more than to have her beside him.

He smiled, folded the note and put it carefully in the drawer of his bedside table. He bounced out of bed and into the shower.

Carrying a cup of coffee and a piece of toast, he walked through to the real estate office. Before opening for business, he had two calls to make. One was to see how Vicki was and when she was coming home. And the other was to Bree.

He flicked his computer on as he walked past the desk. He sat down as the familiar photo of Kim and Vicki sprang instantly to life.

Kim. I know you’ll understand. I’ll never forget you. And I’ll make sure Vicki always remembers that her mother was someone very special. But I have to move on. It’s time.

With a few clicks, he placed the image in a different folder and replaced it with a photo of his daughter. The one with the alpaca.

As he opened the door, the door of a car parked outside opened and a man got out. An early customer perhaps?

‘Are you Matt Ambrose?’

Matt nodded politely. ‘Yes, that’s me. How can I help you?’

The man didn’t reply. He simply held out a manila envelope. It wasn’t very thick.

‘Thank—’ Before Matt could finish, the man simply got back in his car and started the engine.

As the vehicle pulled away, Matt returned to his desk, his heart sinking.

He sat down and placed the envelope on his desk, smoothing it with one hand. He knew where this had come from—the name on the envelope made that clear. And he didn’t think it would be good news. No-one paid a delivery driver to come all this way with good news.

At some point, he had to open it and read what was inside.

He reached for his phone and dialled Kelly.

‘Hi, Matt. I was just about to bring Vicki over. I wanted to check you were … up, first.’

He could hear the teasing in her voice. Another time he might have joined the fun, but not now.

‘Kelly, I’m sorry to ask this, but can you take her straight to school from there? With your kids.’

‘Sure, Matt.’ Kelly’s voice was bright. It was clear what she was thinking.

‘No … it’s not—something has come up and I think it would be better for Vicki if she was at school, rather than here.’

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