‘I have contacts. If you don’t want to do this, fine, but I can help you—’
‘I don’t want anything from you.’
This time, when she stalked away, he let her go.
CHAPTER
54
Jem had been out of town the last few days, checking a campervan he wanted to buy. They’d talked every day and Heidi appreciated he didn’t push her for an answer, because she wanted to tell him the good news in person.
At times, she’d been a little put out he didn’t seem too fussed she hadn’t agreed to accompany him on his travels. Didn’t he want her answer? But then, knowing Jem, he was being considerate of her feelings and giving her time to make her decision. Little did he know she’d already made it. He’d invited her over for dinner tonight and she couldn’t wait to see the look on his face when she told him her answer was a resounding yes.
As she pulled into his driveway she didn’t see a campervan, and a small part of her was relieved. She’d prefer they ease into this cohabiting-on-the-road thing with motels rather than being squished into a van.
He opened the front door before she could knock. ‘I heard your car,’ he said as she stepped into his embrace. ‘It’s great to see you.’
Heidi returned his hug, savouring the feel of his arms around her, burying her face in his chest and inhaling the subtle aftershave she’d already grown to love. When he released her, his lopsided smile made her heart skip a beat.
‘Got something to tell me?’
She nodded. ‘Zucchinis are on special at the supermarket, Merv’s talking about running for treasurer at the cricket club, and there’s a new parma on the menu at the pub.’
He laughed and, holding her hand, led her into his house. ‘As interesting as the local gossip is, I was hoping for something more relevant to us.’
‘Patience,’ she said with a coy smile, enjoying their banter. Bert had never been one to swap quips and while she appreciated Jem’s straight-talking, she liked this playful side of him too. ‘Did you end up buying the campervan?’
‘That depends.’ He released her hand when they entered the living room, where she spied an open bottle of champagne on the coffee table alongside two glasses. ‘Are you going to be living in it with me?’
Unable to keep the grin off her face, she pointed to the champers. ‘Why don’t you pour me one of those, then I’ll tell you?’
‘Just for the record, I’m over the suspense,’ he said, pouring champagne into the glasses. ‘Do you know how hard it was for me not to badger you every time we spoke while I was away?’
‘I wondered about that, and I appreciated it.’
He handed her a glass and held up his. ‘What are we toasting to?’
‘How about our travels around Australia?’
‘You bloody ripper!’ he yelled, making her hand jolt and sloshing half her champers onto her skirt. ‘Best news I’ve heard in ages.’
She laughed at his exuberance as he did an excited jig before sitting next to her on the couch. ‘Meredith’s going to manage the shop for six months, so we can take our time and go wherever we want.’
He plucked the glass out of her hand and placed it next to his on the table. ‘You’re sure about this?’
‘Absolutely.’
He cupped her face between his hands and kissed her, a long, slow kiss that made her melt. ‘We’re going to have a fantastic time.’
‘I know,’ she said. ‘I’m investing the funds from my house sale, so when we come back we can figure out our living situation. It’s nice not to have ties after inhabiting the same place for so long. And who knows, we might feel like doing some overseas travel after we’ve been home for a while.’
She babbled when excited and hadn’t meant to broach the subject of their living arrangements upon their return. She didn’t want him to think she was hinting at moving in here, not yet.
Jem’s expression morphed from happiness to wariness and Heidi inwardly cursed herself for mentioning the future. Too much too soon.
‘Don’t mind me,’ she said. ‘I’m always a forward thinker but we’ve got plenty of time to figure out where we’ll live after we return—’
‘I’m not coming back.’