Call On Me (24 page)

Ghost had
always been important, but being a friend there was no real risk.
Over time they’d grown closer, so comfortable with each other, so
in tune. But no risk of hurt, of breaking up, because friendship
carried its own rules.

A relationship,
however, that changed the rules, brought more risk, and that was
exactly why she had been so reluctant to take it further. No, she
couldn’t deny that he attracted her, not after that heated exchange
at the river. That episode had lifted the veil draped across her
eyes, brought him into sharp focus, made her see him in a whole new
– and scary - light.

Ghost had gone
from friend to lover in one erotic, intimate encounter. Everything
had changed.

Ali didn’t like
change. She didn’t like comfort to give way to uncertainty, and to
be truthful, she was really uncertain. Uncertain also because she
didn’t know exactly what Ghost saw when he looked at her. Hell, she
looked at him and saw the handsome man he was, the luscious,
muscle-bound hunk that had many a woman running at the click of his
fingers. What could he possibly see in her, over-weight Ali Mackay?
She was nothing special, nothing outstanding.

That scared
her. What if it was only a fling, nothing that was going to last? A
novelty of whom he’d soon grow tired?

No sooner had
that thought crossed her mind than she scolded herself. Ghost
wasn’t like that, he didn’t take chances he wasn’t sure of, he
thought things through, knew what he wanted.

Only he hadn’t
thought things through that night at the river. She knew him, he
hadn’t gone looking for her with sex on his mind. What had happened
had…well, happened, catching them both off-guard.

Just the memory
had her shifting restlessly, just as the even, deep tone drifting
to her ears soothed her. It also caused little sparks of warmth to
caress over her skin at the memory of that voice, that breath at
her ears, instructing her, ordering her so gently yet firmly…

Inhaling
deeply, she pushed the delicious memory to the side. A hot
encounter was one thing, but a relationship was another and it
deserved her sole attention.

Looking up at
the stars in the sky, she wished her Gran was alive, her parents,
someone who could advise her, although almost immediately she knew
that her sister was the one who’d forced her to face her fears and
mixed emotions.

Whether she
liked it or not, feared it or not, it was Ali’s decision to
make.

Switching her
gaze to the fence she saw the soft glow of the veranda light
shining out. Ghost would be sitting on the swing seat, a glass of
light beer or Coke in his hand, the cats flitting about enjoying
the luxury of an evening outside. Matt would be sprawled in the
lawn chair.

Deep laughter
sounded but she picked out Ghost’s immediately. She’d know it
anywhere. She’d know him anywhere. In a crowd of a thousand laughs
she’d know it.

She knew
him.

She’d always
known him.

She wondered
what would happen if she didn’t take the step forward, if she
didn’t shore up her fear and take the opportunity held out to her
with both hands. But she knew. Even without a crystal ball she knew
what she’d face later, maybe weeks, maybe months, perhaps even
years down the track of life.

Regret.

Because the
truth was she couldn’t just walk away and let another woman take
her place in Ghost’s life.

Inhaling
deeply, she rubbed the bridge of her nose. She hadn’t thought that
far, had been caught up in the here and now, but Lori had made her
face it, face the future, face what could happen, and the truth was
she couldn’t do it. She couldn’t walk away from Ghost.

As much as she
feared what might happen, she couldn’t walk away from what he
offered. Because to do so would be to hand him over to someone else
and that knowledge cut like a knife, sharp, painful and undeniable.
She might fear a broken friendship, but to throw away anything they
might have together was both unforgiveable and undoable.

However,
deciding and doing were two different stories and she was glad that
he had company. Regardless of the realisation she’d come to, she
still wanted time to come to terms with it.

“Call me a
coward” she muttered, turning around and going back inside. “I
won’t argue.”

Lori didn’t
mention anything further, chatting about normal everyday things
until she left for work.

Before she went
to bed, Ali retrieved the photo of her and Ghost from where she’d
laid it in the drawer and placed it back on the dressing table. Now
the dressing table looked balanced. Just right, in fact.

She had a brief
wonder of what it would look like with a bottle of aftershave, a
man’s wallet, and a handful of small change sprawled across it as
well, then her gaze lifted to the mirror and the reflection of her
bed. She didn’t have to concentrate hard to imagine a muscular man
lounging back in it, his eyes twinkling, his chest bare, long
blonde hair sweeping over his broad shoulders…

While she stood
at the dressing table with her nightie covering her meaty thighs.
Ugh!
Disgusted at her own derogatory thoughts, she snatched
the paperback off the dressing table and went to bed.

Not that her
thoughts didn’t stray a bit but she reined them in ruthlessly. The
same couldn’t be said for her dreams.

~*~

Oversleeping
the next morning meant that she couldn’t go over and talk to Ghost.
Probably a good thing, what with her erotic dreams still dancing
behind her eyeballs every time she let her attention wander.

Fuelling up at
the service station, she spotted Chris in the garage just about to
put his head under the open bonnet of a four wheel drive. He looked
up and caught her eye, straightening hesitantly. However, he
suddenly and rather hastily put his head back under the bonnet.

Geez, she must
have given him a frostier look than she’d thought, for she’d half
expected him to approach her regardless.

Adjusting the
fuel nozzle as the petrol poured into the tank, she sighed. No way
could Chris even think to live up to her expectations, not when
Ghost had suddenly topped the list. Topped it? Hell, he’d just
pushed that pole right over and stood in its place. Now she just
had to think what she’d say to him. How did one greet a man one
meant to…meant to…solicit? No, that wasn’t right. She grinned
crookedly.

“’Morning,
Ali.” The deep tone came from directly behind her.

Startled, she
jerked, the petrol gun almost coming free from the fuel tank, but a
big hand suddenly wrapped around her own and pushed it back into
the petrol tank.

Ghost’s big
body was right beside her, every hard line of his side pressed
against her front. His arm against her breast, their combined
position half bending over bringing their faces in close
proximity.

Wordlessly, she
stared into his eyes. His deep brown eyes gazed back at her so
seriously, their customary twinkle not there, replaced instead with
an intensity that shook her to the soles of her feet.

“Ghost,” she
managed, moistening her lips with her tongue.

His gaze
dropped down at the movement, unmistakably studying her lips before
he met her gaze again. “Ali.”

Just the way he
said her name, low and deep, sent a shiver through her.

She couldn’t
have moved away to save her life. Below the sharp smell of petrol
was the faint scent of his aftershave. His hair was still damp from
a shower, no doubt he’d been at the gym. His skin was so warm and
she almost leaned into him before realising what she was doing and
pulling back slightly.

The flicker of
his eyes and the tightening of his lips proved he hadn’t missed her
movement, but when he started to straighten up she took shaky
courage into equally shaky hands and said, “We need to talk.”

Instantly his
gaze ensnared hers. “Yeah, we do.” And sweet baby Jesus, he leaned
against her slightly.

The warmth of
his body pressed against hers was enough to rattle her senses.
“Ummm…I have to work now. It can’t be now.” She couldn’t even think
of a clear sentence, not when she suddenly had the overwhelming
urge to lean back into him.

“I’ll come over
when you get home from work.”

“Lori doesn’t
leave for work until seven.” She loved her sister but no way was
she having a deep and meaningful with Lori in the house.

“Come to my
house.”

“Okay.”

He didn’t move
away, just continued to gaze into her eyes deeply, steadily, and oh
geez, his thumb was caressing hers where it rested beneath his
bigger hand.

Pulses pounding
at his nearness and the attraction she now felt so keenly, she
could only watch in dumb silence as he leaned even closer and
placed his lips near her ear. Oh God, his warm breath smelling of
mint toothpaste just had her knees going all rubbery.

As though he
knew it, his hand lifted from hers on the petrol gun to slide
around her waist, steadying her against his harder frame. “You
okay, Ali?” His words seemed to vibrate through her, his breath
tickling the stray hair that had fallen out of her bun to curl
around her ear.

“Absolutely,”
she croaked.

She felt him
smile, his lips were so close to her skin, and then – oh sweet baby
Jesus, he dipped his head and brushed his lips against the tender
skin beneath her ear.

She hadn’t even
known it was that sensitive. Not until he had his lips against
it.

Inhaling
sharply, she fought to keep her thoughts clear and just managed it.
Score one for being sensible.

Lifting his
head, Ghost smiled as though he knew what he did to her emotions.
“Until tonight.”

“You play
dirty.”

“Honey, you
have no idea.”

Stunned, she
stammered, “T – that’s not w-what I meant.”

“I did.” His
grin was as hot as his eyes.

Flirty Ghost,
sexual Ghost, was not who she was used to. Dirty jokes, sure.
Sexual innuendos, yes. But not in relation to herself. It was yet
something else that had her off-balance and she could only gape up
at him before clearing her throat. “Right, then.”

His hand slid
from around her waist…right over her backside with a small squeeze
that had her nearly dropping the fuel gun. Grabbing it easily, he
straightened and slotted it back into the bowser. “Think your
tank’s full, honey.”

“Yes. Yes,
well, I better pay for it. I…um…” God, when had talking to him
suddenly gotten so hard? “Uh…I’ll see you tonight then.”

“Looking
forward to it.”

There was a
light in his eyes, a definite twinkle, and it was enough to make
her gather her thoughts into a semblance of order, but before she
could say anything she noticed his gaze harden and turning her head
to see who he was glaring at, she saw Chris duck into the garage
office.

Oh. So her own
glare hadn’t scared Chris off, it had been Ghost’s presence behind
her before she knew he was there. That explained the reaction on
Chris’s part.

Twisting the
cap onto the fuel tank, she snapped the little door closed. “This
doesn’t mean you can feel free to ride roughshod over me.”

When he didn’t
answer, she straightened and looked up to find him watching her,
his arms crossed over his chest, the biceps flexing
mouth-wateringly. One eyebrow arched but he didn’t say a word.

“And don’t try
that whole ‘I’ll be silent’ thing, either.” Turning away, she
retrieved her handbag, slinging the strap over one shoulder. “I
know how you think but it’s not going to work. No threatening
Chris. I’ve sorted him out already.”

Ghost
nodded.

Eyes narrowing,
she sized him up. Oh yeah, she knew him, all right. “I catch wind
of you even giving him the evil eye and I won’t be coming over
tonight.”

That got a
reaction, all right, but not the one she expected.

Arms still
folded across his chest, he leaned down towards her. All merriment
had left his eyes, his gaze intense as he looked at her. “Ali, you
don’t turn up on my doorstep by six thirty at the latest tonight,
I’ll be coming over to get you.”

“What are you
going to do?” she scoffed. “Drag me over there by my hair?”

“Throw you over
my shoulder and carry you.”

She gave a bark
of laughter. “With what? A crane?”

“I’m not
joking, Ali.” His words were suddenly heavy with meaning, a hint of
steel running through them. “You’ll be there, either of your own
free will or over my shoulder. Your choice.”

Her mouth fell
open and she could only watch in stunned silence as he swung around
and strode back to the panel van he’d parked nearby. The van dipped
as he got in, the door shutting with a decisive thump. Starting it,
he put it into gear, gave her a nod and drove off, leaving her
still staring after him.

Had he really
said it? God, he’d certainly sounded like he meant it. Just the
thought of him tossing her over his shoulder had her a little
dizzy. He’d probably give himself a hernia, but still, who knew? He
pumped a lot of iron, he was tall, and yep, he’d been dead
serious.

Now her knees
were weak and she actually had to steady herself with one hand on
the hood of her car before she got the strength back in her legs
enough to start walking towards the service station.

The rate she
was going she’d have a heart attack before tonight. He’d have to
visit her in hospital. The thought made her giggle with a slight
edge of hysteria and she quickly clapped a hand over her mouth. It
would never do to fall apart out here in the open. The gossips
would have a field day and they were already getting enough to keep
them entertained.

Paying for her
fuel, she was grateful that the servo was busy enough that she
could blend in with the morning crowd trying to fuel up and get to
work on time. Once at the motel, she sat down behind the reception
desk in relief.