Misplaced Hands: 4 (Foreign Affairs) (19 page)

Keith stiffened, Annie’s question, and her pointed look, hitting home. Entertain Harper for a little while.

Little while.

That’s all they had left. And here he was, wasting the precious minutes being a grumpy pain in the arse.

With a slight tug on her wrist, and another look that spoke volumes, Annie led Amy into the house. Hunter followed, fixing Keith with a narrow-eyed stare before sliding a glance to Harper and Marc.

“Jesus, do you think the boss could be any more obvious?” Marc muttered.

And then it was just the three of them, Harper, Marc and Keith.

“Can I just say,” Harper began, her voice a husky rasp, her eyes shining with unshed tears, “that I hate how big and round this goddamn planet is?”

Her bottom lip began to wobble and she caught it with her teeth.

“C’mere.” Marc reached for her, tugging her to his chest and wrapping his arm around her waist. “We’ll figure something out. Or at least Blue will.”

“Will we?” Harper whispered.

His chest so tight he could barely draw breath, Keith snared her wrist and pulled her closer, kissing away the solitary tear that trickled down her right cheek. “Bloody oath we will,” he answered, all too aware how choked his voice sounded. “Even if we have to move to Chicago.”

* * * * *

They made love to her by the billabong for the rest of the day. The very place she’d discovered they weren’t the men she’d thought they were had proven to be the most romantic in Australia.

They didn’t speak of Amy’s arrival. They didn’t speak again of Harper’s return to the U.S.

Harper knew they needed to. The two topics were irrevocably entwined. Amy was back in Australia—her heart broken by Andrew, from the sound of it. Goddamn it, Harper was going to beat the crap out of her brother when she got home—the life swap adventure had come to an end.

Sooner than Harper had planned.

Sooner than she could bear.

Grief gnawed at her soul but she refused to surrender to it. Instead she let Marc and Keith take her to sexual heaven, reveling in their mastery of her pleasure as she tried to capture every moment in her heart.

Dinner that night with Amy was wonderful and yet, at the same time, horrible. Every time she looked at her friend, the woman she’d come to think of as her sister after more than a year of emails and Skyping, she thought of Andrew and guilt slammed into her. Guilt and doubt.

She cursed herself for not telling him where she’d gone. She hated that she’d put her friend in such a position. Hated that Amy now seemed utterly depressed. Whatever had happened in Chicago between Amy and Andrew, Harper was sure none of it would have occurred if she’d just been brave enough to tell her brother where she was.

She wanted to hug her friend and tell her she was sorry, so sorry.

Sorry for messing up everyone’s lives.

When dinner was finished and Amy told her she was sleeping in the main house, Harper didn’t know how to feel.

“I’m exhausted and I don’t want to kick you out of my bed yet,” Amy had murmured, hugging her. “Hazel said I could stay here until you leave if you want.”

* * * * *

The next few days were terrible bliss. Amy had decided to let Harper finish her teaching week, enjoying the days working the cattle alongside Keith and Marc. The fact her best friend could “work the cattle” left Harper in awe and highlighted the fact she could do little on Farpoint herself except teach. She was a city girl, not a cowgirl. Teaching in the Outback was one thing, roping cattle and culling herds was another. Every time she considered going to Hunter and asking him if there was any job she could do on Farpoint, any job that meant she could stay, she’d think of Amy riding out every day with Keith and Marc on the back of a horse and realize she was a teacher. That was it. A teacher at a school that no longer needed her.

So she worked the classroom, making the most of her time left with the adorable Farpoint kids, keeping so busy she didn’t have time to think about walking away from it all.

And every day, when class ended, Keith and Marc would collect her and they’d find their way to the billabong, where both men would bring her to orgasm over and over again.

On her second-to-last morning at Farpoint, Harper finally understood she’d been a masochist to keep sleeping with Keith and Marc after Amy came home. She should have ended their relationship there and then, saving her from the wonderful torture of more days and nights in their arms.

Staring at herself in the bathroom mirror, the rising sun streaming through the window, she drew in a deep breath.

“No more,” she whispered to her reflection. “I’ve got to go cold turkey or I’ll never be able to—”

The landline phone trilled beside the sofa.

She started, swallowing the sudden rapid pulse thumping in her throat. Who would be ringing at six in the morning?

“Tell them to bugger off.” Keith’s groan came from the bedroom.

“It’s just gone sunrise, for Pete’s sake,” came Marc’s sleepy grumble. “Tell them to get a life.”

“Hello?” Harper said, lifting the hand piece to her ear.

“Wake the lazy bastards, Harper.” Hunter’s now-familiar voice came through the connection. “They’ve got to get out to the airstrip. We’ve got an incoming chopper due to land in just under an hour.” He paused. “Oh and Ms. Shaw? I think you should get them to drop you off here at the homestead first, okay?”

“Who was it?” Keith emerged from the bedroom naked, stretching and very much erect.

“Hunter,” she answered, her heart pounding fast. “He wants you and Marc to go collect someone from the airstrip.”

“He can bloody well wait,” he muttered, walking toward her. “Thomo and I have other plans.”

Thirty minutes after the most amazing quickie of her life, Harper stood and watched them drive away from the homestead, the dust from the ute a billowing trail speeding away from her. It seemed symbolic. Today was her last day. She was flying back to Chicago tomorrow.

“Crap,” she murmured.

Annie snugged an arm around her waist. “Come inside and I’ll make you coffee.”

Coffee didn’t do anything to lighten Harper’s mood. To get her mind off the impending trip, she sat Amy down and led her through the lessons Harper had taught the class. More than once Harper had to snap her fingers in front of her friend’s face.

It was on the tip of Harper’s tongue to say she would take over permanently. Every time she came close, Amy would refocus on the lesson notes Harper was scribbling out, would make a comment about the curriculum, and Harper would see a gleam in her friend’s eye that said for all her complaining, Amy loved being a teacher.

“If I went on a holiday somewhere,” Amy suddenly said, squeezing Harper’s hand, “would you come teach my class again?”

It was a ridiculous question, but damn, it made her heart pound. “Absolutely,” she answered, knowing it was a moot point. Amy had spent her entire savings on the trip to Chicago and Harper didn’t have enough leave accrued to leave her job back home for anything more than a day. Even if Amy did go on vacation, Harper couldn’t come back to Farpoint for over a year. Not without relinquishing her teaching position. “Anytime. Just call.”

Amy’s answering laugh was wry. “Deal.”

They looked at each other, both lost to their pain.

When Hunter strolled through the living room where they both sat, Harper jumped. “Visitor’s here,” he threw over his shoulder as he pulled the front door wide. “Get your arses out there, ladies.”

Amy burst out laughing.

Hunter cocked an eyebrow. “I’m serious. You first, Ms. Shaw.”

Harper blinked. Just as a car door slammed outside.

“Go on.” Hunter grinned at her. “Hurry up.”

A frown pulling at her eyebrows, Harper rose and walked to the open front door.

And froze, staring at the tall man with blond hair and broad shoulders climbing out of Keith’s ute.

“Andrew?”

Oh God, he’s here. Andy is here.

She sprinted toward him, throwing herself into his arms, hugging him so tight she wondered if she was in danger of cracking his ribs.

She didn’t care. Her brother was here. In Australia. At Farpoint Creek. He hugged her back, a laugh vibrating deep in his chest.

“Damn, you’re a sight for sore eyes.” He kissed the top of her head, holding her tight. “Never again, Harper. I swear to God, I don’t care if you travel to China, you tell me. I promise I’ll give you your space, but you have to at least tell me where you are, keep in touch.”

Joy rushed at Harper so quickly, so completely, her head spun. “I’ve missed you so much,” she gushed, snuggling her face against his shirt. “I’m sorry for leaving the way I did. I just wasn’t sure how—”

“How to break loose of your insanely overprotective brother,” he interrupted, tucking his finger under her chin and making her look at him. “I get it. I’m sorry I made you feel like you had to go to such extremes.”

Harper shook her head, unable to stop her smile. “I’m just as much to blame as you. I guess we’re long overdue for a heart-to-heart chat.”

Andrew nodded. “Yeah. We are.” He looked around, aware their conversation could be overheard by others.

“What do you say we table the conversation until we get home? Enjoy Australia together,” Harper suggested.

He pulled her close for another hug. “Deal. Now…about Marc and Keith. What the hell is—”

“Andrew?” Amy’s shocked voice cut off his question.

He stopped talking. In fact, he stopped doing anything. His arms froze around Harper, a tension fell over his body.

Harper saw her friend walking toward them and before she could say anything, Andrew was releasing her, spinning about to face Amy.

Harper stepped back and stopped when her butt bumped into something hard.

Two strong arms slid around her waist, holding her close to a body she would always recognize no matter how many months and years passed. “Do you think,” Keith murmured in her ear, his hands smoothing over her belly as she watched Andrew and Amy stare at each other, “he’s going to want to beat the shit out of Thomo and me later?”

She hummed a noncommittal reply.

Keith snorted, his lips grazing the side of her throat. “Figured as much. You going to be okay if I stop him?”

She twisted in his arms just as Marc joined them both. “Try not to hurt him too much, okay? I need to give him my own thumping later.”

Keith nodded. “Deal. Thomo will even hold him down while you do it.”

Marc watched Andrew and Amy, his gaze speculative. “You reckon that pair will go missing soon? Sneak off somewhere private? I get the feeling they haven’t handled their time apart well.”

Harper swung her stare back to her brother.

“I think—” she began.

“
I
think,” Hazel said, appearing at the foot of the porch steps, a smile playing with her lips, “that we should leave Amy and her gentleman alone.” She smiled at Andrew and, for some strange reason, Harper’s already rapid heartbeat raced faster. “I’m Hazel Sullivan, by the way. Nice to meet you, Andrew.”

Andrew nodded back, but didn’t take his stare off Amy for long. A fact not lost on Harper. Or Marc, by the smug smirk he gave Keith.
Told you so
, he mouthed.

“Shut the fuck up, Thomo,” Keith whispered back.

“Mr. Munroe?” Hazel continued. “Mr. Thompson?”

Harper looked back at her brother and found him watching her. She gave him a warm smile, seeing clearly now what was obvious. Andrew hadn’t come to Australia for her. He’d come for—

“Ms. Shaw?” Hazel’s soft voice pulled her away from her brother and she hurried over to the elderly woman, Keith and Marc following behind.

“May I ask a question, Ms. Shaw?” Hazel asked, linking her arm with Harper’s.

Harper nodded.

Hazel paused, casting Andrew and Amy a quick look before turning back to Harper. “I do believe Farpoint Creek is going to be without a resident teacher soon. Are you open to the possibility of taking the job?”

Hazel turned once more, this time to glance at Keith and Marc—standing but a foot behind away. “If, that is, you can put up with these two for the rest of forever?”

Harper twisted at the waist, giving a slow, wide smile to the two men who had captured her heart and set her free.

“Bloody oath I can,” she said, turning back to Hazel with a grin. “Bloody oath.”

The End