Predictably, he puffed up in outrage. He hated when she added on years to his age. ‘I’m sixty-nine and you damn well know it. Stop pushing me towards the grave. Though … I have to tell you something.’
‘What?’ She didn’t like the look on his face, a startling expression of fear. Nothing scared Pop so for him to lower his gaze like he couldn’t meet her eyes meant this news couldn’t be good.
‘I had a cancer scare recently. Prostate. It’s all good and I’m fine, but that’s why I want to retire now.’ He finally eyeballed her and she could see how much of a toll the diagnosis had taken, even if he was downplaying it now. ‘Who knows what can happen in the future?’
Worry lurched in her gut. ‘You sure you’re okay?’
‘Fit as a fiddle,’ he said, squaring his shoulders. ‘You’ll still be giving me a hard time at a hundred.’
‘I better be,’ she said, slightly annoyed he hadn’t told her the truth about his health earlier, but glad he’d be fine. ‘Now that we’ve sorted out your love life, can I run something past you?’
‘If it’s about Hudson offering you a partnership in an agency in Melbourne, I’m all for it.’
Karly gaped a little. ‘How did you know? Are you two confidants now or something?’
Pop chuckled. ‘He mentioned it when he called me to tell me about the Inverloch agency expansion.’
‘I’m always the last to know everything.’
‘I don’t know about that, but I think you’re the last to see what’s right in front of you.’
Confused by Pop’s change of tack, she said, ‘And what’s that?’
‘That young man is crazy about you.’
Crazy mad, more like it. Since they’d first met she’d done nothing but rub him up the wrong way. Sure, they’d got closer last week, but that was because of the sex. Being in forced proximity in a small town made people do outrageous things sometimes, like slide between the sheets with the enemy.
‘You’re wrong,’ she said, and Pop shrugged, palms up.
‘Sweetheart, do you honestly think a busy man like Hudson would stay in town more than a day to close a business deal? Yet he hung around all last week. Then, when you ask him for an extension on his deadline, he gives it to you. After that, you scuttle his precious acquisition and what does he do? He drives three hours on a Sunday afternoon to see you, to tell you in person not to waste your money investing in an agency that will eventually go under, then offers you an amazing opportunity.’ Pop made circles at his temple. ‘If that isn’t a prime example of a man crazy about you, I don’t know what is.’
When Pop spelled it out like that, Karly had to admit it sounded like Hudson might reciprocate her wee crush. And if she moved to Melbourne, which was looking more likely by the minute, what did that mean for them?
‘I think the high altitude from that hot air balloon ride has made you go a little nuts,’ she said. ‘What do you think of the Melbourne deal?’
‘Nice change of subject,’ Pop said with a grin. ‘As for the deal, I think it’s perfect for you. A great opportunity to buy into a solid business in a thriving city. Much better than being stuck here and having to look for work further afield.’
‘I have to admit, I’m a tad excited about it.’
‘Good.’
‘But what happens when you get back from your travels? I’ll never see you.’
‘I know I said I’m coming back to Acacia Haven but who knows? You forget, I’m a Melbourne boy at heart.’
Karly wanted to ask what that meant for him and Heidi. Did Pop just want a travelling companion and, if so, would he end up breaking Heidi’s heart? Had he told her? But she had enough to worry about without meddling in his romantic affairs.
Like arranging a meeting with Hudson so she could thank him in person for the buy-in referral and her plans to move to Melbourne.
CHAPTER
51
Heidi hoped the meal she’d prepared would impress Meredith as she had a big favour to ask.
She hadn’t known the flamboyant woman long but she couldn’t think of anyone more responsible than the retired judge to manage The Knick Knack Shop while she was away.
Even now, a day after Jem had taken her on the most romantic date of her life and asked her to accompany him on his trip around Australia, she could hardly believe she’d contemplated saying yes, let alone convinced herself to go for it.