Heidi laughed at Meredith’s exaggerated country twang. ‘That’s the first time you’ve called Melbourne the big smoke, isn’t it?’
‘You got me.’ Meredith chuckled. ‘Friday or Saturday?’
‘I’m usually knackered by the end of the week so how about Saturday morning?’
‘Done.’
Heidi ignored a sliver of guilt that while she’d spoken the truth and did prefer winding down in front of the TV on a Friday night after a busy week at the shop, a small part of her couldn’t help hoping that Jem would want to see her again as a follow-up to their date tonight and she wanted to keep her options open.
‘Here. Let me pop a few quiches and lammies in a container for you.’
‘I won’t say no.’
After cramming a few of each into a plastic container and snapping the lid shut, Heidi handed it to Meredith, who pretended to drool over it.
‘Well, that’s my dinner sorted. Thanks, petal.’
‘No worries.’
‘Have fun tonight.’ Meredith hoisted her massive handbag onto her shoulder and flashed a grin. ‘I’d say don’t do anything I wouldn’t do but I reckon you should go for it and do everything.’
They laughed and Heidi shooed her away. ‘Go, before I take your advice and send the poor man running for the hills again.’
Meredith gave a breezy wave and headed for the door, leaving Heidi to ponder exactly what would happen tonight after they finished eating and hoping it wouldn’t be a repeat of the last time they’d shared a meal.
CHAPTER
23
Hudson sucked at capitulating. Not part of his DNA. Defeat wasn’t an option. Ever since he’d been taunted at school for being a ‘loser’ who slept in a car, he’d made it his life’s work to never come second in anything.
Back then, he’d wondered how the biggest loudmouth in school had discovered his shameful secret before realising it didn’t matter. The moment the news got out he’d copped it from every bully in high school. Not that many of them had it better at home. He’d grown up in Doveton, a poorer suburb of Melbourne, and many of the kids had been doing it tough. Unemployment amongst parents was high, as was alcohol abuse and worse. If the parents had been hard-nuts the kids were as bad, so Hudson learned to fire back. It didn’t stop the bullies but he earned grudging respect from some of the kids. He’d kept to himself for the most part and didn’t have many friends. Being a loner had served him well. As far as he was concerned, once his mum died he didn’t have any family.
That didn’t stop dear old Dad from trying to contact him on a regular basis.
He grimaced the moment he glanced at his mobile screen and saw Rowan Grenville’s name pop up.
‘Aren’t you going to get that?’ Karly pointed at his phone, tilting her head to the side, her eyes widening slightly as she read upside down. ‘Is that your dad?’
‘Yeah.’
He stabbed at the decline button and slid the mobile into his pocket, wishing he hadn’t left it on the table. He could see the curiosity written all over Karly’s face and he wasn’t in the mood to talk about his father. He never would be.
‘Hope you didn’t not answer on my account,’ she said.
‘Ignoring my father has got nothing to do with you,’ he muttered, only realising he was clenching his fists when her glance landed on them, and he lowered them under the table and forced himself to relax. ‘Finish your brownie.’
Her eyebrow rose. ‘I don’t take orders from you. Especially not in that tone.’
He grimaced and rolled his shoulders. Yeah, like that would eradicate the tension bunching his muscles and giving him a neck cramp. ‘Sorry. I better go.’
‘Things to do, people to see?’
‘The only person I’m remotely interested in seeing in this town is you, and you seem determined to dislike me despite my heart of gold.’
She snorted, a cute sound that blew some of the crumbs off her plate so they scattered across the table. Embarrassed, she blushed, making her smoky eyes pop even more. ‘I don’t dislike you. I don’t like what you’re doing to the business that means the world to me. There’s a difference. It’s not personal.’
For a moment, he experienced a flicker of remorse. The hurt in her unwavering gaze made him wonder if there was more behind her attachment to the family-owned agency. But if so, why was Jem willing to sell to him and not to his granddaughter?