Riverboat Point (31 page)

Ash was holding another bottle of bubbles and a bottle of red. “Have you two met?” Savannah asked. “Ethan, this is Ash, or do you prefer Ashton?”

“Either is good,” he said.

“Let me take those bottles.” Ethan held out his hands. “I'm your drinks waiter for tonight. I've been getting a bit of practice. Would you like a red now or a beer?”

“Beer would be good, thanks,” Ash replied.

“I'll go straight to the bubbles,” Belinda said.

Ethan followed Savannah to the kitchen bench for the glasses and popped the top on the sparkling.

“Bubbles for you, Sav?” he asked with a wicked look on his face.

“I'll stick to beer thanks,” she said.

He winked at her then turned back to deliver a glass of sparkling to Belinda and a beer to Ashton. He was really enjoying himself. Savannah tried to concentrate on her stir fry.

“I told Ash what a nice little shack this is. Jaxon has made some great improvements.”

Belinda surveyed the room again. Savannah tried not to notice her conversation was nearly exclusively with Ethan. The stir fry demanded her attention.

“Can I help?”

Ash's proximity surprised her. He'd come into the kitchen nook without her noticing.

“All good.”

She stretched her face into a smile. Although he looked interested she didn't get the feeling it was genuine.

“I hope you like stir fry?”

“Anything would be better than Belinda's cooking,” he said.

Savannah's eyes widened.

“I heard that,” Belinda said. “You don't deserve me.”

“Do you like to cook, Belinda?” Ethan asked.

“Not really.”

Ash gave a soft snort. He perused Savannah's food and strolled back to the cheese board. He was an odd guy. Still, it was an odd relationship, she thought.

“Almost ready,” she called. “If you'd like to take a seat I'll bring it over.”

Ethan came over to help her. His shoulder rubbed against hers as he picked up a plate. She glanced at him. He winked. He'd done it deliberately. How was she going to get through this dinner?

“It's a huge serving,” Belinda said as Ethan put a plate in front of her. “You know me, Savannah, you won't be offended if I don't eat it all?”

Once again the soft snort from Ash. What was with him?

“No, just eat whatever you feel like,” Savannah said.

Not that she'd served a huge amount for Belinda. She'd had to stretch what was originally intended for two. The men got the biggest serves.

“Who's for the red?” Ethan brought the bottle to the table. They all had a glass except for Belinda who stuck to her sparkling.

“This is delicious, Savannah,” Belinda said.

“Save room for dessert. It's a cool night so I've made a baked lemon pudding.”

“Oh!” Belinda groaned. “You're doing your best to torture me. I love anything citrus.”

“I'm sure a small amount won't hurt that figure of yours,” Ethan said.

Savannah glanced at him. He was deliberately flirting with Belinda. She ignored them and turned her attention to Ash.

“So what is it that you do, Ash?” she said. “When you're not visiting the river.”

He turned his steel-grey eyes on her. His look was cold and yet amused. Savannah felt a shiver run down her spine.

“A bit of this and that.”

“Ash runs the family business,” Belinda cut in.

“Bel exaggerates. I'm in charge of some.”

“What does it entail?” Ethan asked.

“Imports mainly.”

“We get to travel.” Belinda gave a smug smile as if she knew something Savannah didn't. “And having access to the river house is a bonus.”

Savannah watched the gold jewellery flash on Belinda's arms as she pecked at her meal. She was still none the wiser about the Palmers' business and life beyond the little snippets they gave away.

“How long have you had your place here?” she asked.

“A few years now,” Belinda replied.

“Which part of Adelaide do you live in?” Savannah persisted.

“Eastern suburbs,” Belinda said then turned back to Ethan. “It's funny we haven't met before now. We got to know Jaxon as soon as he bought the place.”

“It's a good part of the river here,” Ethan said. “You've been up a bit lately.”

“Yes, while business is quiet we make the most of it.”

Ethan looked at Ash. “Do you fish?”

“No.”

Savannah flicked a look at Belinda who only had eyes for Ethan. Hadn't she said Ashton was fishing last week?

“You do go fishing sometimes,” Belinda said quickly giving Ash a sharp look. “You just don't catch any fish.” She turned back to Ethan. “The only animal Ashton is interested in is Brutus,” she said. “And horses. The kind you bet money on.”

“We saw you had a horse next door,” Savannah said.

“Yes,” Ash replied.

“He's not ours,” Belinda said at the same time.

“We're looking after him for friends,” Ash said.

“Poor thing,” Belinda said. “He's on his last legs, that's why he's here.”

Savannah looked from one to the other. Ash was staring at Belinda with that cold look of his.

“When he dies we have plenty of space to bury him,” he said.

“Our friends have got nowhere,” Belinda prattled on, oblivious to Ash's glare. “They'd have to pay to have him disposed of. It's so sad.”

Savannah was horrified but she kept her mouth shut. Fancy giving your friends a horse so they could bury it for you when it died.

“You'd need a pretty big hole for a horse.”

Savannah gaped at Ethan. Trust him to think of the practical details.

“Ash has one of those digger things.”

“It's a small bobcat, Bel, not a digger thing.”

“Everyone finished?” Ethan began to collect the plates.

“Yes. That was very nice, thank you, Savannah.” Ash sounded like a child who'd been urged to use his manners. He was a cold fish. For the life of her Savannah couldn't see anything between him and Belinda. No hint of a spark or connection that would convey their intimacy.

“I'd better check on dessert.” She stood up and her arm bumped Ethan's. Immediately she felt warm again. She wondered how long the Palmers would stay.

“We noticed a houseboat down at the bank with lights on as we came in,” Belinda said.

“Yes,” Savannah said. “There's a group on board but they're staying put for the weekend.”

“That's odd, isn't it?” Ash said.

“They wanted the houseboat experience but not the travel.” Savannah didn't want to mention it was a hens' weekend. She imagined Ash wouldn't approve.

“Perhaps we could hire a houseboat one day,” Belinda said. “It's something we've never done.”

“Perhaps,” Ash said.

Don't be too enthusiastic, Savannah thought as she set out plates of steaming pudding.

“Oh!” Belinda groaned. “This is divine. How lucky are we? Two neighbours who can cook.” She ran a finger down Ethan's arm.

Savannah had to stop herself rolling her eyes. They all tucked into the pudding.

“Have you travelled much, Bel?” Ethan asked.

“Usually once a year we go somewhere,” Belinda said.

Savannah was startled by something touching her leg. She looked across at Ethan who sat opposite. He was turned to Belinda but it was his foot sliding up and down her calf. She gritted her teeth and tucked her legs under the chair. He wasn't making this dinner any easier.

“How long are you here, Ash?” she asked.

“Depends on the horse.”

“Oh.”

“Let's open the other bottle of bubbles,” Belinda said.

“It's late, Belinda.” Ash stood up. “Time to go.”

Belinda didn't complain. She got dutifully to her feet. Savannah was glad they were leaving.

The minute the sliding door slid shut on them, she closed the blinds. Before she could turn Ethan wrapped his arms around her. She leaned into him as he nibbled her neck.

“I thought they'd never leave,” he murmured.

They both jumped at a tap on the glass. Ethan pulled up the blinds. Belinda was waving at them from the other side.

Savannah slid open the door.

“I left my wrap,” Belinda said.

Savannah looked back at the table. The wrap was draped over a chair.

Ethan reached it in two strides and offered it to Belinda.

“Thank you.” She hovered at the door. “Look, I just wanted to apologise for my brother. Ashton can be a bit cool sometimes.”

Savannah glanced at Ethan. His eyes were as wide as hers.

“He's not as social as me,” Belinda said.

A car horn tooted.

“Let's catch up again soon.” She winked at Ethan. “Thanks again,” she called over her shoulder as she strode away.

Savannah slammed the door shut. “Omigod,” she said but her voice was swallowed up by a spluttering noise behind her. Ethan clutched his stomach and then burst forth with a loud guffawing laugh. She stared at him a moment then began to laugh herself.

“What a crack-up,” he gasped. “They're brother and sister not husband and wife.”

“I can't believe we didn't see that.”

“You were the one who told me they were married.”

“Does that change anything for you?”

“What do you mean?”

“It makes Belinda available.”

He laughed. “I'm about as interested in her as you are in Ashton.”

“He creeps me out.”

Savannah shuddered for a different reason as Ethan pulled her close again and kissed her. She responded to his lips, his tongue, his touch. Please don't let there be any more interruptions, she thought as he shuffled her backwards to her bedroom.

She let go of him long enough to pull his shirt from his shoulders.

He tugged hers over her head and undid her bra with one hand.

Light spilled into the room from the lounge. She kicked the door shut with her heel.

“I can't see you,” he whispered.

“I like the dark.”

He cupped her breasts. “You've got a beautiful body. I want to see it.” He nibbled her ear.

“I've been mangled, Ethan.” She pulled his singlet from his jeans and slid her hands up his stomach. “It's not a pretty sight.”

“Okay,” he said. “Dark it is … this time.”

She was grateful he didn't force the issue. She wasn't ready to expose her ugly body but she wanted to be with him.

He undid her jeans. She gasped as his hands slid lower.

“I'll just have to feel my way,” he said.

“Go right ahead,” she whispered as they tumbled onto her bed.

Sunlight streamed around the bedroom curtains as Savannah struggled to open her eyes. She put one hand behind her head and flung the other out in a long stretch. Beside her the bed was empty. She sat up. Where was Ethan? She picked up her phone. It was almost nine o'clock. She grinned and flopped back onto the pillows. They had been awake late into the night.

There was a clink of a glass from the kitchen and the sound of water running. He was still here. Savannah sighed and closed her eyes.

She flung them open again at a sound from the doorway. Ethan stood looking at her. His buff body still naked, flawless, reminded her of her own shortcomings. She drew the sheet over her.

“Don't worry about covering up on my account,” he said. “I've checked out those scars already.”

“While I was sleeping?”

“Best time.”

“Pervert.” She threw a pillow at him.

He caught it and sat on the bed beside her. His deep brown eyes studied her carefully.

“You've got a beautiful body, Sav. Those scars are part of who you are. Don't let them define you. Life's too short.” He traced his finger gently across the scar on her forehead.

She shivered at his touch and something in her heart let go. He was right. She'd been hiding the scars for so long it had become part of her being.

He lay down beside her and took her hand.

“I have to be honest with you.”

Uh-oh, she thought. Here it comes. There's always a but.

“I've got my own demons.”

She twisted her head. He was looking up at the ceiling. His expression was serious. What was he going to tell her? She waited and finally he turned to her and spoke.

“Have we got plans for today?”

“No.”

“No customers or dinner parties I don't know about?”

“No.” Where was this going?

“I've been thinking about those women on the boat.”

“Have you?” It wasn't what she'd been expecting him to say. She relaxed, rolled over and pulled him to her. “I'll have to rectify that.” She didn't care that it was daylight and the sheet had slipped away. Savannah pushed the doubt from her head. There'd be time to talk later.

Hunger finally drove them from the bedroom. Savannah made tomato and cheese toasties. Ethan made tea for her and coffee for him. Outside the sun sparkled on the water. The grey clouds from yesterday were all gone, leaving behind a few scattered puffs of white in the blue sky. They sat among the debris of last night's dinner, Ethan in boxers and she in her jumper and knickers.

“It looks like it will be a good day,” she said. “No rain.”

“Which brings me back to the women on the boat.”

She grinned at him. “Are you testing me?”

“You can drag me back to bed later, you wanton woman.”

“Is that so?” She raised her eyebrows.

He winked. “Hear me out.”

“Go ahead.”

“I'm assuming none of them is confident to take the houseboat out?”

“I guess so.”

“How about we offer to take them for an afternoon cruise?”

“Would you do that?” Savannah jumped up and threw her arms around his neck. “What a lovely idea. I'm sure they'd think it was terrific.”