You're the One (29 page)

Before she
could give a smart comment to this, he kissed her quick and hard
before setting her back. “Up, baby. We need to tidy ourselves then
talk about what’s happening.”

The sound of
tyres crunching in the driveway had them both looking sharply at
the door. Through the security screen she saw a white sedan pull
up.

“Mum and Dad,”
Del said.

Dumbly, they
both stared at the car then it hit her.

“Holy heck!
Mum and Dad!
” Scrambling up, she was almost knocked over by
Moz lunging to his feet.

He caught her
quickly, turned and bundled her down the hallway. “Get cleaned up,
get changed.”

“What about
you? Your shirt is hanging open and geez, your pecker is hanging
out!”

“Never you
mind.” He gave her a last push towards her bedroom and side stepped
into the kitchen, tucking himself away and zipping up. “Move it,
Del, unless you want your parents to see you looking thoroughly
debauched.”

Not in this
lifetime.

Del darted
into her bedroom, ripped off her blouse and shoved it under the
bed. Yanking on a t-shirt, she pulled on another pair of panties,
smoothed everything down, tidied her hair and looked at her face.
Geez, her lips were swollen from Moz’s punishing kisses. She still
look debauched - well, from the neck up.

Her eyes
widened and she craned her neck, peering into the mirror.
Crap
on a stick!
Love bite!

Digging in the
top drawer, she yanked out a small silk scarf and tied it around
her throat. Okay, that covered it. It was the best she could
do.

Taking a deep
breath, she opened the bedroom door and walked out into the
hallway, following the voices into the kitchen to find her father
sitting at the kitchen table with Moz while her mother was busy
setting out mugs, the kettle already switched on.

Moz was
sitting back, one ankle resting on the opposite knee, looking
relaxed and tidy, shirt buttoned up, neatly tucked into his pants,
zipper up and belt fastened. Okay, his lips looked a little swollen
from her kisses, too, she just hoped her parents didn’t notice.

Missy was
perched happily on his lap, eyes big, little ears flicking as she
took everything in that was happening around her. Completely
relaxed, Mozart was lying beneath Moz’s chair.

“Hi Mum, Dad,”
she greeted them lightly. “Out for a drive?”

Her mother
gestured at her throat. “Lovely scarf, dear, but are you sure it
goes with a t-shirt?”

“Sure it
does.”

“If you say
so, but isn’t a scarf on a summers day a little hot?”

She had no
idea just how hot the day had turned. “It’s light, Mum, stop
fussing.”

“Fine.” Mrs
Miller flicked off the kettle. “Take a seat, Del, we need to
discuss something.”

Cripes, did
everyone want to talk?

Mrs Miller
glanced at her husband, who leaned forward in his chair. “We think
that maybe you should move back home for awhile.”

That had Del’s
mouth dropping open. “What?”

Face
expressionless, big hand gentle on the kitten as he tickled her
under the chin, Moz listened quietly.

“We’re
concerned about you.” Mrs Miller poured hot water into the
mugs.

“Why?”
Astounded, Del looked at her father.

“First you had
that nasty experience with those boys from across the road,” he
replied, “then behind the shop. Now Bassinger says he’s hearing
things at night.”

“So?”

“So we’re
concerned about you.”

“I can’t just
go home!”

Carrying the
mugs to the table, Mrs Miller nodded at the vacant chair beside Moz
as she sat beside her husband. “Just hear us out.”

Astounding.
Was she really hearing correctly? Her parents wanted her to go back
to her old home? Dropping into the chair, she shook her head.
“No.”

“It’d only be
for a short time,” Mr Miller said. “Just until things quieten down
a bit.”

“I doubt those
drongos are going to shift anytime soon.”

“My argument
exactly. It’s not safe for a woman alone out here.”

Mrs Miller
nodded. “You know we didn’t want you coming out here to start with.
But now look.”

This could not
be happening. And no way was it going to happen. “No. I’m fine
here. Ryder put new locks on the windows, I have security screen
doors.” Del glanced at Moz. “Moz comes most evenings to see Mozart.
I’m perfectly safe.”

Moz continued
to sit, listening, not saying a word. What was he thinking? Apart
from the fact that her parents thought she was still a little kid
needing protection?

Mrs Miller
frowned. “Del-”

“Mum, no.”

“Told you she
wouldn’t go for it,” Mr Miller said.

Del relaxed.
Well, at least her Dad was listening to her.

“So I’m coming
out here to stay with you for awhile.”

“
What?”

“No arguments,
sweetheart. You need a man around the place until whatever is going
on around here settles down.” Picking up his mug, he took a
sip.

“Dad, no.”
Panic practically crawled up her spine. Once her Dad took a step in
this house he’d start organising her things, checking on her if she
got home late, ringing her to make sure she was safe. Her life
wouldn’t be her own, she’d be daddy’s little girl again. It would
drive her nuts. She loved him, but she just might kill him.

A glance to
the side showed a faint grin playing around Moz’s mouth as he
looked down at Missy now playing on the floor with Mozart. That
bastard, he thought it was funny. He probably thought it was a
great idea, a man being around and - a thought struck her.

A man, huh?
Why not? Why the hell not? It beat having her father staying with
her. She loved her parents, but if they had their way she’d be
their little girl again. Mum would be over cooking meals and - oh
no. Oh no. She had a better idea.

Del took a
deep breath. “Actually, Dad, there’s not going to be room for
you.”

“You have a
spare bedroom,” he replied.

“Yeah, but Moz
is going to be staying there.”

Every eye in
the room turned to her.

“I beg your
pardon?” Mr Miller was incredulous.

“Moz?” Mrs
Miller gaped.

Moz said not
one word, just picked up his mug, blowing on the steaming liquid
while eyeing her over the rim.

Keeping her
gaze on her mother - but heck, she could feel Moz’s eyes burning a
hole in her - Del smiled serenely. “He’s renting a room off
me.”

“Del.” Her
mother’s eyes widened. “You’re a woman alone-”

“Not now, I’m
not.”

Mr Miller
spluttered. “Oh now, Del, I’m not sure this is decent.”

“Decent?” She
looked at him with wide-eyed innocence. “He’s a boarder, Dad, just
like he is at Mrs Preston’s boarding house. She’s a woman alone and
no one thinks its indecent when she has men staying there.”

Mr Miller
switched his gaze to Moz. “Just what are your intentions, young
man?”

Young man?
Cripes. Del didn’t dare look at the man sitting beside her.

“To keep your
daughter safe, Sir,” Moz replied smoothly. “She’s been looking
after my cat, it’s the least I can do in exchange for her
kindness.”

“Oh dear.” Mrs
Miller’s grip on the mug handle tightened. “I don’t know…”

“In my spare
time, I’m helping her fix this old place up,” Moz continued.

Wait.
What?
Del stared at him.

Ruggedly
handsome face pleasant, not a hint of anything more in his eyes
than a nice man who hadn’t just had hard sex with her against the
hallway wall, just a nice man here to visit his kitty and help his
landlady fix a few things around the place.

Then he
glanced at her and she saw the flicker of laughter deep in his
eyes, barely noticeable before it was gone.

Oh boy, he was
loving this. She’d fix him all right. Later.

“You’re
absolutely right, Sir,” he continued. “A woman alone at this time
is not the best idea. I assure you, I will protect her, help her
out, and be the perfect lodger.”

Like her
father would believe that.

“Hmm.” Mr
Miller nodded slowly. “You are Elissa’s brother, and the local
RSPCA inspector.”

“Yes,
Sir.”

Del blinked.
“Really?”

“I think we
can trust you.”

“Hey,” she
protested. “It was my choice, remember? He’s
my
lodger.”

Moz took a
mouthful of hot tea, swallowed, and nodded solemnly. “You can trust
me with her life. After all, we are going out together. It’ll give
me more of a chance to watch over her.”

Mrs Miller
beamed.

Mr Miller
pondered.

Del mentally
rolled her eyes.

“My little
girl is a good girl, Moz,” Mr Miller said quietly.

Moz slid her a
glance, looked back at Mr Miller. “She’s something else, all
right.”

If she could
have kicked him in the shin without her parents noticing, she’d
have done so. Twice. The second time for good measure.

“I know things
are done differently nowadays.” His gaze dropped to his daughter’s
mouth.

Del went
crimson, she couldn’t help it. Holy crap, her Dad had noticed her
kiss-swollen lips. Enough was enough. “Dad, this isn’t appropriate.
I’m old enough to-”

“I know.”
Surprisingly, he nodded. “Okay, seeing as Moz is staying here I
won’t move in.”

Thank God
something was going right.

“But I’ll be
checking in often.”

“Dad, really,
there’s no need-”

“You’re my
daughter, Del.” He frowned at her. “I won’t have you hurt.” His
gaze switched back to Moz. “Something happens, you need back-up,
you call me.”

Del wasn’t
sure she’d heard right. Geez, her Dad was thin, his hands were
smooth, he barely had a muscle on him, but he was going to come as
back-up? It was so sweet she didn’t know whether to laugh or
cry.

Mr Miller
looked at Del. “If Moz isn’t here and you need help, you phone me.
Understood?”

Not about to
argue, she nodded.

“Good.”
Lifting up the mug, he took a satisfied swallow. “Sorted.”

From the
corner of her eye she noted Moz taking a swallow of his own tea,
couldn’t miss the satisfied smile on his face.

Geez. Moz was
going to be living with her. Oh boy. She couldn’t stop the flush of
heat sweeping through her.

~*~

They stood on
the veranda waving her parents goodbye. The white sedan disappeared
around the curve of the driveway and then it was just the two of
them.

Turning, Moz
leaned his shoulder against the veranda post, crossed his ankles,
folded his arms across his chest. “So, I’m your boarder, huh?”

She cleared
her throat. “I panicked.”

“Panicked.”

“He was going
to move in!”

Moz laughed
inwardly. “So I’m the lesser of two evils?”

“I don’t know
about lesser.” Her own arms folded beneath those generous breast,
she peeked up at him. “Preferable.”

“Nice to
know.”

She bit her
lip. That lush, sweet, plump bottom lip. “I’m sorry.”

“I’m not,” he
stated truthfully.

“I kind of
forced you to agree.”

“Del,” he said
quietly, “really, it’s fine.”

“Really?” She
looked hopeful.

“Really.” More
than fine. This way he could keep an eye on her, be here, stop
those morons from even thinking about entering her home. She’d be
safe.

“Thank God.”
Her shoulders slumped in relief. “That was a narrow escape.”

Grinning, he
reached out and gathered her close to him.

Del leaned
against him.

Contemplating
the blonde hair resting against his chest, Moz idly played with her
ponytail. “I meant what I said. I’ll help you fix this place up on
my days off.”

“You don’t
have to do that.”

“I want to.”
At her silence, he tugged gently on her ponytail. “What’s
wrong?”

“Well, I don’t
exactly have a lot of money to just go out and buy everything, I
budget, so things get done bit by bit. You’ll probably find you
have a lot of free time.”

He glanced
around. “I can find things to do. Plus my board money will
help.”

She pulled
back and he obligingly loosened his hold, but only enough so she
could look up at him. He raised one eyebrow questioningly.

“I don’t
expect you to work around here,” she said.

“I pay my way.
And I don’t mind.”

“I don’t want
you to feel obligated.”

“I don’t.”

“Okay.”

“But we do
need to clear the air.”

She sighed. “I
was afraid you’d say that.” But she didn’t look away.

“What happened
between us in the hall.”

“Before you
get yourself into a knot about that, I happened to like the sex.”
She flushed but didn’t shift her gaze from his. “I was just as -ah
- wild as you.”

He grinned.
“You were, and I’m not sorry about the sex, either. I intend to
repeat it. Often.”

She grinned
back, her heart kicking up a notch at the thought. “Maybe I’ll let
you.”

“Oh, I’ll
persuade you, don’t you worry.” His grin faded. “But I’d never
force you, Del. You know that, right?”

“Of course I
know that.”

“If you’d
struggled, said no, I’d have stopped. Done a lot of swearing, had
to have a cold shower, but I’d have stopped.” It was so important
that she knew. “I’d never hurt you like that.”

“I know.” She
patted his arm, ran her hand up and down soothingly. “There’s no
doubt in my mind.”

“Good.” He
nodded, relieved.

“So what else
is troubling you? Something about what happened in the hall. I can
see it in your eyes.”

Typical Del,
no acting coy.

Moz drew in a
deep breath. “When you said that maybe you weren’t the one for me,
that had nothing to do with what had happened at the shop.”