The Kissing Season (3 page)

“Sarah is your
mum
? I thought Matt stood for Matthew?” Sarah often talked about her son Matt but Hannah had never seen him, until now.

“Logical conclusion. But no.” He held out a hand. “Matteo Della Bosca, but most people call me Matt. You can too. Pleased to meet you.”

She couldn’t resist the opportunity to touch him although every sensible cell in her body told her to resist. “We’ve already met.”

“And don’t think I don’t remember—” he grinned, which only worked to amplify the heat within her “—but I didn’t get your name.”

“Hannah. Hannah Elliot.” It wasn’t a sin to give the man her name now, was it?

“Matteo.” Sarah, blonde like her daughters but not at all as svelte, landed beside them and glowered at her son. “It’s time to go home.”

Hannah didn’t know what that was all about but she smiled at Sarah anyway. “Hi Sarah. I met your son earlier when—”

Matt’s voice was loud, overriding her sentence. “In the bakery. Hannah was buying a gingerbread man.”

She looked at him, confused at his lie but kinda stoked he’d paid enough attention to notice what she’d been eating. “Yes, I must admit a weakness for them at this time of year.”

“Oh, if you like gingerbread, I’ll drop you round some of my Christmas cookies.” Sarah beamed. “I made a big batch this morning.”

“That would be lovely,” Hannah replied honestly. After all, she was eating for two, didn’t she deserve a bit of extra sugar?

“Anyway, we must be going now, come on,
Matteo
.” Sarah had a viselike grip on Matt’s arm and tried to pull him away. The use of his full name made Hannah wonder what he’d done to displease her.

“Nice seeing you again, Hannah.” Matt nodded and ran his gaze down her body, making her feel as if he had X-ray vision and could see right through the summer maxi dress she wore. Her knees swayed again. “Maybe I’ll see you soon.”

It was a statement, not a question, and Sarah didn’t appear to like the idea. “I doubt that, Matt. Hannah will be far too busy with the emporium this week.”

As Sarah practically dragged her son away, Hannah wondered if she should feel insulted. She got the impression Matt’s mum didn’t think Hannah was good enough for her boy, but instead of being offended, she thought it sweet. It probably wasn’t her—Matt was a good-looking man and she guessed he was quite successful in business as well. Like most mothers, Sarah probably didn’t think any woman would make the cut.

“Who was that?”

“Is that Sarah Brown’s prodigal son?”

Laura and Jayne, each carrying a sleepy child in her arms, spoke at the same time.

Hannah blinked a few times, her gaze still glued to Matt’s retreating behind. His butt looked tight and incredible in those shorts. Man, she was hopeless. Lost cause material. You’d think she’d learn from past mistakes.

“Earth to Hannah? Did that guy hit on you?”

“Yes, twice.” Hannah could never lie to her best friends.

“Then what the hell are you still doing here? Go after him,” Laura commanded.

“And be sure to take notes so you can tell us all about it in the morning,” Jayne added with a suggestive smile.

“You two, stop it.” Hannah tried to look stern. Fact was, Laura and Jayne—although totally happy in their marriages—had been living vicariously through her shenanigans for quite some time. She used to send them daily emails when she was circumnavigating the globe. “I told you, I’m sworn off men after Larry.”

Jayne’s eyes narrowed and she hissed like a wildcat. “I have conflicting feelings about that ex of yours. Half of me doesn’t want to meet him, but the other half of me would love to get him alone, naked, in the salon with a big pot of wax.”

Hannah sniggered. Jayne owned the beauty salon in town and reckoned the best way to get revenge on a man would be to tie him up and then wax his nether regions.

Recovering from her own giggles, Laura said, “Jayne’s right. You can’t let Larry the Loser ruin your life. You deserve good sex as much as the rest of us.”

Why was Matt synonymous with good sex all of a sudden?

“Hey, the blame can’t lie solely on Larry’s shoulders,” Hannah said defensively. Although if they knew the truth, they’d likely take a shotgun to her ex-husband’s head. “He was just the final nail in the coffin, but I think it’s high time I got the message. I’m not talented when it comes to picking men. I think the longest relationship I’ve ever managed besides Larry lasted a week.”

“No, it was ten days,” Jayne said matter-of-factly. “With Tim just before the end of high school.”

“Semantics.” Hannah shook her head. “Bottom line is the same.”

Laura sighed. “Fair enough. I see where you’re coming from, but the way Sarah says it, her son won’t be around for long. Why not indulge in one last summer fling before you join the convent?”

Because I’m pregnant.
Hannah couldn’t bring herself to admit this just yet and she knew Laura and Jayne wouldn’t let the matter rest, so... “Look, I promise to give it some serious thought. Happy?”

Her two friends nodded, big grins on their faces.

CHAPTER THREE

L
AURA
AND
J
AYNE
would be pleased, because Hannah couldn’t stop thinking about Matt. Every time the door of Elliot’s Emporium opened the next day, she looked up, her heart skipping a beat at the thought that it might be Matt coming back for something he’d forgotten, and then sinking when she realized it wasn’t. Putting a smile on her face for the customers who weren’t him took serious effort. Luckily most of them were only after small things—a wooden ornament, a rocking horse or a coffee table for a Christmas present—and were on their way again pretty fast. That left Hannah with plenty of time to sit back in her chair, nibble more gingerbread and play the “What If?” game.

What if she’d never gone to Vegas?

What if she’d never come home?

What if Larry hadn’t hated the idea of having a baby?

Stuff Larry...she didn’t want to think along those lines. Granted, their conversation prior to marriage hadn’t been huge, but not wanting to have kids was one of those things most people let potential spouses know.
Argh
...she felt her blood rising to boiling point and resolved to put Larry the Loser (she liked the nickname Laura had coined) out of her mind and go back to fantasizing about Matt and what she’d do to him if things were different.

She was a little disappointed he hadn’t found an excuse to pop in and see her, but then again she had pretty much turned him down twice. Most guys gave up after such brutal rejection.

Daydreaming made the day go faster and it felt like no time at all before Luke and Troy came in from the workshop and told her to go home. When she got back to the house, she thanked her lucky stars that her dad was busy in his home office and her mum was already down by the park getting ready for tonight’s annual Christmas tree event. Emily Elliot was big on volunteering and had tried to lure Hannah into the action the moment she’d come back to Wildwood Point, but Hannah had declined. Luckily one of the sales assistants at Elliot’s had quit and Luke had needed her there, so her mother hadn’t put up much of an argument. But next year...next year...Hannah guessed she wouldn’t be so lucky.

It wasn’t that she didn’t love all of the town’s Christmas celebrations; it was more that she didn’t fit in with the volunteer crowd. Contrary to popular belief, it wasn’t only old widows of the Country Women’s Association who got involved, but also young wives of local farmers and businessmen. She, with her wild hair and quirky fashion sense, didn’t fit into either category.

At about six o’clock Hannah ventured downstairs to meet her dad and Shaun, who’d stopped by to drive them to the park. Shaun’s girlfriend, Melissa, sat in the front so Hannah squished in the back with her dad. They hadn’t spoken much since she’d returned, but he’d made it more than clear her marriage to a near stranger in Vegas disappointed him. Just sitting next to him made her heart beat faster, and a sweat broke out over her body at the thought of how he’d react when he found out that wasn’t the worst of her situation.

She was glad when Shaun found a parking spot and they all escaped the car. The Christmas tree party had been part of Wildwood Point’s Christmas festivities for as long as Hannah could remember. As a child she’d started counting down as soon as the Easter parade was over. Every year volunteers draped the massive eucalyptus tree in the town’s Apex Park with tinsel, lights and decorations. It was the one event of the year that no one missed. It’d be the perfect time for burglaries, except that even the town’s lowlifes attended. Hannah put that down to the free food on offer by various local organizations.

As they trekked across the grass, she heard the loud sounds of the Salvation Army brass band playing carols on the makeshift stage, and her nose twitched with the scent of the food. In addition to lots of areas where people could set up picnic blankets, there were stalls of every variety scattered around the park. Almost every second stall sold craft or food items that would make perfect Christmas gifts, and Hannah planned to do much of her Christmas shopping here tonight. It would give her something to do, because as much as she adored the Christmas tree party, it was most definitely a family and couples occasion. Kids with bare feet and rosy cheeks from the afternoon’s sun were in abundance, as were lovebirds who watched the children with sappy eyes, no doubt dreaming of having their own little brood one day.

Although Laura and Jayne would welcome Hannah’s company, she didn’t like to intrude on the special family time. Telling her dad and Shaun she’d catch them later, she stopped to buy a hot dog, with extra sauce and onions. It was one of the foods on her must-eat list for the evening.

“Add two cans of soft drink to her order and I’ll pay for the lot.”

The voice and its command stunned Hannah so much she froze, unable to object, even though she knew she should, as Matt handed over the money for her—
their
—order. He probably thought if he paid for her dinner, she’d owe him or something. She dug her purse out of her bag to put him straight.

“I can pay my own way,” she said, thrusting a note toward him.

He didn’t take it. “Good to know, but I only bought you a soda. It was my way of jumping the queue.” He grinned at her and although she didn’t believe his excuse for a minute, she couldn’t help but smile back. He had that effect. Problem was she’d known many men who had that effect, and look where her lack of caution had landed her.

Unsure as to how to respond, she took a moment to take a mental picture of him, something to store away for late-night fantasies. Just because she couldn’t indulge in the real thing didn’t mean she couldn’t dream. Standing only inches away, wearing black board shorts and a surf brand T-shirt, he made perfect fantasy material. His outfit was in complete contrast to the formal clothes he’d been wearing the day they had met, but this didn’t take anything away from his sexiness. Realizing she was in danger of drooling, Hannah took a bite of her sausage as they stepped away from the stall.

“So where are your family?” she asked after finishing her first delicious mouthful.

Still holding both drinks but eyeing her hot dog, he said, “Mum’s volunteering on the CWA craft stall and who knows where Cate and Claire are. They’re still of the opinion it’s not cool to hang out with their big brother.”

“I see. I guess they don’t know you that well, do they? You’re not back in Wildwood Point much.” She would have noticed if he’d been hanging around before.

He shrugged. “The age gap and the fact that we didn’t really grow up together makes things a bit difficult. What about your family? Friends?”

Hannah suddenly realized they’d been strolling together a few moments. She should probably make some excuse about needing to meet someone, but he was here alone and she knew how lonesome that could make you feel. What was the harm in passing a few moments with him? “Like yours, my mum is volunteering at everything. I’m guessing Dad has met up with some of his old cronies at the bar tent and, well, my brothers are all coupled off.”

“Looks like it’s lucky I showed up then. I’m more than happy to keep you company for a while.”

It wasn’t the company that worried her; it was the way her body reacted as they walked alongside each other, their steps in perfect harmony and their shoulders brushing occasionally.

“Shall we sit and drink these?” he asked, gesturing to a park bench nearby. “My hands are so warm, I’m scared they’re heating the cans.”

She laughed. “Sure. I should sit while eating this anyway.”

He sat closer to her on the bench than was strictly necessary, or appropriate, but she chose to ignore it, not wanting him to think his presence affected her. She focused on devouring the rest of her hot dog but felt his gaze boring into her.

“Here, do you want a bite?” she said. “My eyes are bigger than my stomach anyway.”

Instead of taking the food she proffered, he leaned toward her and opened his mouth so she had to hold it out to him while he took a bite. She stared at his lips and teeth and felt her insides tremble—never in her life had she contemplated teeth being so arousing, but he had nice teeth and she was most definitely aroused.

“Hmmm...that is good.”

Every word he spoke seemed to have sensual undertones. She needed to drag her mind out of the gutter.

“I haven’t had a hot dog that good since I was a kid,” he admitted, wiping a bit of sauce off his upper lip.

“Good stuff,” was all she could manage in reply.

They finished the hot dog between them and then he handed her a can of Sprite. The drink hissed as she cracked it open.

“So how long are you back in town?” she asked, before taking the first sip.

“Why? You working out how long this fling can be?” His grin told her he was messing with her, but behind every joke there seemed to be an element of truth.

She tried to ignore the sensations dancing low in her belly at the mere thought of a fling and raised one eyebrow at him instead. “It’s called making polite conversation. I was just curious—you buying the house and all.”

He chuckled. “Can you keep a secret?”

She nodded, thinking of the little bundle in her belly.

“The house is for my mother. I want her to have someplace nice where she doesn’t have to worry about the rent.”

“That’s so sweet.” Her mouth went dry, a lump forming in her throat at his gorgeous gesture. If she knew the house he’d bought, it wasn’t only nice, it was magnificent. Overlooking Cape Leeuwin, the area was favored by wealthy out-of-towners, and many of the houses were populated only during the busy holiday months. She wished she could be a fly on the wall when hardworking Sarah saw her Christmas present.

He shrugged it off. “She deserves it. But I’ll probably stick around for a couple of weeks. I don’t have to be back in Melbourne until after New Year.”

“So you still live there?”

“Most of the time, but I travel a lot for work and pleasure. I probably spend half the year in Melbourne and the other half all over the globe.”

She almost asked him about the pleasure but decided to stick with safer territory. “What’s your job, then?”

“I’m a venture capitalist.”

He might as well have said he tested aliens for scientific purposes. “A what?”

He smiled. “Basically I invest in other people’s businesses by providing capital for start-ups and expansions. I choose which businesses I invest in based on the returns they can bring.”

“I see.” She wasn’t 100 percent sure she understood but thought she had the gist. “So you must have a fair bit of money to be able to do something like that? And to buy a whole house for your mum.” The moment the words were out she realized how rude they sounded; luckily he didn’t seem to take offense.

“You could say that. I worked hard when I left school, made a few wise money choices and, yeah, I do all right now.” He leaned in a little closer and wiped away the sauce she wasn’t even sure she had off the top of her lip. His thumb inched tantalizingly slowly along her skin, causing her breath to hitch and her knees to tremble. “Does that make you more interested?”

Just when she thought he might kiss her and she might be so weak as to kiss him back, he lifted his thumb and popped it into his mouth, sucking off the sauce that had apparently been on her lip.

She snorted. “No. You’d have more luck if you said you owned a chocolate factory.”

“Sweetheart, for you, I’d buy one.”

He was so smooth. Had an answer for everything. He made her hormones sing every time he spoke, but he also had the power to make her laugh. He was definitely flirting, but it was a game, one she wished more than anything she could join in with. Conscious she was nearing dangerous territory, she finished the rest of her drink, stood up and tossed her rubbish in the bin.

“I’m going to check out the stalls before Santa arrives.” She didn’t invite him along but couldn’t summon any disappointment when he stood beside her and made to follow.

“Sensational. I love shopping.”

She looked at him skeptically.

He held up his hands as if in surrender. “Okay, okay, you already know me so well. I can’t stand shopping. But many of these stalls sell homemade cakes, and for that, I’m willing to make an exception.”

Hannah shoved her hands in the pockets of her denim shorts so he couldn’t try to hold one of them as they started strolling through the crowds. She couldn’t help but notice the curious glances thrown their way, and she guessed many people were wondering who her tall, dark and most certainly handsome stranger was. Forced to stop and talk to a few locals, she found her voice wobbled every time she introduced Matt.

“Hi, Megan.” She smiled at the Baptist church minister’s wife. “Lovely night for it. Have you met Matteo Della Bosca? Sarah Brown’s son.”

“No, I haven’t.” Megan’s voice was high pitched as she grabbed on to Matt’s hand and held it a few moments too long. “An absolute pleasure.”

Megan was only a few years older than her, and Hannah had often wondered if she regretted her marriage. Her husband was duller than toast without butter and Megan flirted with anyone and everyone whenever she got the chance.

“Please, call me Matt,” he replied with his usual grin.

“Well, have a good evening.” Hannah forgot her resolve not to touch him and grabbed on to his arm, tugging him slightly in her aim to rescue him from Megan.

“Thanks,” he whispered when they were out of earshot of the other woman. “She had a death grip on me.”

“You owe me one.”

“Happy to settle the score with kisses or hot sex. You just say the word.”

While her belly tumbled at the mention of hot sex, Hannah dug him in the side with her elbow. Possibly not the best plan, because slamming into hard muscle only made the resolve
not
to sleep with him all the more difficult. Shopping! She needed to start shopping and remember she was no longer a single woman free from care and responsibility. If she wanted to be a good mum, she had to sacrifice certain things—the needs of her libido, for starters.

“I’m sorry,” Matt said when she was silent for a few moments. “I’ll try to behave from now on.” He tucked
his
hands in his pockets as if to show he meant it.