Christmas Holiday Husband (13 page)

“Even if you did, Ginny’s too sensible to comment. And the girls won’t notice we’re having a little fling.”

Her heart gave a lurch of distress. He saw her as no more than a temporary diversion then?

Although it had been her who’d laid down the rules on the river bank, Tony’s apparent nonchalance cut deep. She’d need to hide how much this passionate reunion meant to her... act as though he was fun, as though their lovemaking was merely a game. She turned her face away, biting her lip, already sensing the desolation of being abandoned.

xxx

“I won’t be able to leave you alone now,” he whispered, somewhere close to dawn.

“I suppose I could sneak through your balcony door
occasionally,
” she teased.

“You drive a hard bargain, woman.”

“Hard? That wasn’t me, surely?”

He caressed her breast. “Soft as an angel.”

Ellie snuggled against him, pulling him nearer, breathing in the beloved fragrance of his skin. She’d come home, but could never let him know that.

xxx

They took to the air soon after sunrise, lifting away from the sprawling single storey conference centre. The flight back to Wharemoana was breathtaking. Early morning shadows contoured the spectacular New Zealand landscape as every shade of green slipped away behind them. Ellie marvelled at all the empty space. Roads were so far apart; buildings tiny and isolated. Sometimes the sun flashed off windows or swimming pools. Flocks of tiny sheep dashed to the corners of their lush paddocks as the helicopter soared over. The sparkling ocean grew closer.

Tony pointed to the approaching homestead, nestled in its surrounding gardens. Ellie could even see the fateful trampoline on the lawn.

“Home,” he said.

But not mine,
she thought.

xxx

At the breakfast table he updated Ginny and the girls. “Quite good news about Steven. Concussed, but probably not too seriously. A big gash on his scalp, but they’ve dealt to that—some of his hair is shorter than mine now. Lots of spectacular bruises, and they’ve set his broken leg.”

“That’ll be a relief for Peter and Gwen,” Ginny agreed.

“Can we write on his plaster?” Ants asked.

Tony stood and rummaged in the refrigerator, asking if anyone else wanted bacon and eggs. “All this flying makes a man hungry,” he said. He looked relaxed and happy, eyes alight with barely suppressed joy.

He’s transparent
, Ellie thought. Surely Ginny couldn’t fail to notice the difference in his mood. She was astute enough to put two and two together—or one and one!

But she simply said, “I’ve ironed those shirts you need for the Melbourne conference, Robbie.”

“Thanks. I’ll pack a bag right after breakfast.”

Ellie sat there stunned. He’d be leaving her already? Their brief tryst was over?

“I’m back in time for Saturday’s party,” he added in her direction, as though that made everything all right.

Saturday! It was only Wednesday today. Now she had to face three long days without him, just as they’d become lovers again...just as her body had burst back to life.

She ate her cereal and toast, not noticing she’d chosen honey instead of strawberry jam. Forgetting to sugar her coffee. Replying quite automatically to the twins’ questions.

Ginny rose to clear the table, and moved across to the pantry, hands full.

“Go to your room,” Tony whispered. “Now.”

“What for?”

“Because I want you again.”

“You must be joking...”

“Not at all. Go to your room.” His dark eyes sparkled with their mischievous invitation.

“It’s time for lessons.”

“I’ll give you lessons. The girls can wait. I can’t.”

He grabbed her arm and steered her out of the kitchen and up the stairs. No-one seemed to notice. And, although Ellie’s brain rebelled, her body felt shockingly ready and willing.

And able, she discovered, as he pushed the door closed, yanked her panties all the way down and off, and took her against the wall. They stared at each other, breathless, trembling.

“Up on your toes,” he ordered.

“I already am. You’re too tall.”

“Legs around my waist then.” He pulled her up to match his height, driving deeper inside her, rocking his hips against hers until she muffled a scream against his neck and convulsed from head to toe.

“Good girl,” he said huskily. “
Very
good girl. My turn.”

And a few frenzied thrusts later he buried his head on her shoulder, fighting for breath as he groaned, pulsing deep inside her.

They leaned together, gasping for air. It had been so sudden, so intense, so incandescent.

And then she registered the full implication of what they’d done.

“No condom!” she hissed, horrified.

“Ah.”

Well, that certainly sums things up,
she thought, calculating dates.
Oh please—not again.
She had so much more at stake this time. Cal’s well-being depended on her continuing to work. The house payments had to be met. And she certainly wouldn’t expect her mother to take care of another child after sacrificing so much for the first. A shudder of dread made her scrunch her eyes closed.

“Bad timing?” he asked, seeing her pained expression. He dropped a kiss on her nose.

She opened her eyes and tried to ease away from him. “Not the best. Cross your fingers.”

“And tie a knot in it?”

She snorted with laughter, despite her terror. “Great idea, Tony. But rather too late.”

He tightened his arms around her to stop her escaping. “My fault. I bullied you.”

She narrowed her eyes. “I could have refused.”

“Could you?”

“No,” she admitted, relaxing and kissing him, sliding her hands under his shirt and over his chest. “Not a hope. I don’t seem to have grown up at all since Sydney. I couldn’t get enough of you then. And it seems I can’t get enough of you again now. You’re fun to play with.”

xxx

Fun,
he repeated to himself.
That’s all I am to you?

His eyes roved over her face, enjoying everything he found so enchanting about her. Wide-spaced blue eyes with expressive brows...translucent skin with a smattering of freckles over the cheekbones... her luscious damp mouth.

I want to be more than just fun.

He was still pumped up hard; far from sated.

He moved experimentally, watching for her reaction.

“No way, Tony. Out! We’ve already taken a horrendous risk. I’m not stupid enough to add to it.”

Regretfully he withdrew, in long gentle strokes, reversing direction several times.

“Out...” she growled again, insisting upon his withdrawal and trying to struggle away from his embrace.

Finally he lowered her to the floor. “How am I going to manage in Melbourne without you? Shall we see if there’s a spare seat in business class? You could go shopping...?” He kissed her neck, whispering into her ear as he nibbled on the soft sensitive lobe. “For pretty underwear.”

xxx

Ellie knew he was attempting to seduce her all over again—not with the promise of a shopping trip but with the magnetism of his body and the sensuality of his kisses.

Two could play at that! She pushed him back against the door and locked it, then unbuttoned his shirt and pulled it part way down to trap his arms, enjoying her view of his broad shoulders, and the hard muscles of his chest under crisp dark hair.

They stood facing each other, breathing the same air, millimetres apart.

“No,” she whispered, slipping a hand down to caress him.

He caught his breath as she explored.

“No to Melbourne, although I agree you have a very nice little friend down here who once again seems pleased to see me.”

She tightened her grip, sliding and teasing. “And who certainly does feel willing to repeat his recent very pleasurable performance.”

Tony closed his eyes, and she continued her taunting massage.

“No to Melbourne because your girls need bringing up to speed before they start school.” She settled her hand more firmly around him, enjoying being the one in control.

“No to Melbourne because I’d never let you out of bed to attend your wretched conference, whatever it is.”

“Optimising the fertility of a beef stud,” he muttered as she gently squeezed his own studly attributes.

“Well, in case you’re in the high fertility range yourself, we’re going to need plenty of your late night purchases for this little
affair
,” she emphasised, flicking her tongue over his nipples, nipping at him until he groaned. “Next time we’re taking no risks. But for now, just relax. We’ve got five more minutes and I’m going to make you remember me for the next three days.”

“Wait until Saturday evening—I’ll have the whole night to sort you out in return...”

“Promises, promises,” she teased, watching his face as purest pleasure washed over it—and wondering how she could ever survive until then.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

He’d gone. Once again darkly suited, a surprising but desirable stranger. He’d flown himself as far as Wellington and then boarded a commercial jet for Australia.

The rest of Wednesday stretched out in a sticky morass. Before starting the classroom sessions, Ellie set Cal’s photo back beside her bed, peering even more closely at his face now she had Tony’s features fresh in her mind.

Callum’s skin was olive and his chin had a central dimple—maybe the start of his father’s cleft?

His eyes were the absolute clincher—the angle somehow exactly Tony’s, the colour an absolute replica—the same coffee-and-whiskey combination that had snared her attention so long ago.

Was she being unfair, keeping her son a secret from his father? Should she have told Tony about Callum as soon as they met? The guilt twisted her gut into knots.

But Tony had never intended to give her a child, and his travelling had meant they’d immediately lost touch. Her desperate but amateur search for him had failed. He’d never tried to find her in return. There’d been no connection in all these long years.

He had his daughters. She had her son. She tried to persuade herself it was fair to keep it that way.

Now that she knew Tony’s real position in the world, she resolved to be even more guarded. He had money and influence...vast resources for lawyers and court cases if he wished to try and lay claim to his son.
Her
son.

How would that stack up against her ten years of unconditional love? Ellie was savvy enough to know that money always won out in the end. If she had to give Cal into his father’s custody even for occasional weekends or school holidays, he’d be slowly stolen away from her, and that would be devastating.

Cal wasn’t the only one-parent child amongst his friends. He had a loving mother and a doting grandmother—more than some children were lucky enough to have.

Did he hope that one day his ‘dead’ father would reappear, as if by magic?

He was a happy, open child and Ellie felt she could read him correctly.
Hoped
she could read him correctly.

No, she’d keep Cal’s existence hidden from Tony, even if the guilt was overwhelming.

And you’ll be depriving him of all the things his father can give him,
her conscience insisted.
A wonderful historic home. Two lively sisters so he’d feel part of a real family. A swimming pool and a trampoline. A pony? Education at one of the best schools? The chance to roam the huge farm...maybe inherit part of it?

As she gazed at her son’s photo, she knew there was something outweighing all of those. The knowledge his father loved him and wanted him. For surely Tony would jump at the chance to know his son? He loved his daughters fiercely. He’d treasure a son who was his absolute image.

And that was the killer. Could she really deprive Cal of his father’s love?

With a heavy heart, she headed for the schoolroom.

xxx

Thursday came and went. She knew some of the other people at Wharemoana now—old Herbie the gardener, still devastated that his wheelbarrow had caused Steven’s injuries...Janine who helped Ginny with the housework in the huge homestead...Alan Waring the farm mechanic, always coaxing some sort of machinery back to life in one of the nearby buildings.

But the man she yearned to see was nowhere in sight.

xxx

Friday ticked past, one slow second at a time, and at last, near midday on Saturday, she heard the helicopter signalling Tony’s return. She dashed upstairs, hid Cal’s photograph amongst her underwear again, and closed the drawer.

“Daddy!” the twins squealed, hugging a long leg each as he stopped under the portico. He cuddled them close, but his eyes were on Ellie as she hesitated by the ruby-red front door. “Did you miss me?”