Driftwood (6 page)

Jay had eventually gotten to bed at one in the morning, sleep evading him as he'd lain in the darkness thinking about Taylor, her emerald green eyes, the way her unruly strawberry blonde ringlets accentuated her petite features, giving her an aura of wild, reckless abandonment. It was damn sexy. She was damn sexy, with her long legs, athletic figure and voluptuous breasts . . . He'd mentally slapped himself. He couldn't go there with another woman. Not yet, not after what the last one had done to him. Women spelt trouble
and
heartache. And he couldn't handle any more heartache in his life.

From the conversations they'd shared on the drive, Taylor seemed the sort of chick to prefer campfire to candlelight, an icy cold beer over a fine red wine, and boots over high heels. Taylor Whitworth was, from what he'd seen so far, an unpretentious city girl, intelligent and witty, deep thinking yet at the same time light-hearted, and to top it all off, passionate about everything rural — including country music. She was his type of woman.

After what seemed like hours of thinking about her he'd bashed his head against the pillow, trying to clear his mind of her and begging for sleep. No, he couldn't go there with Taylor, couldn't try wooing her, even though he ached to. With the amount he had on his plate, he'd just break her heart and he didn't want to do that — he genuinely liked her and hoped they'd become mates, plus he was keen to use her when the mustering season started again. Reliable jillaroos were hard to come by in Driftwood and he always liked to have a woman in the mustering crew, as it helped keep Graham and Fang, his usual seasonal stockman and chopper pilot, in line. Besides all that, commitment was the farthest thing from his mind, and thanks to Becky, falling in love was something he feared.

The single life appeared to suit him; it was safer, even though, if he was going to be honest, he knew he wanted to experience earth-shattering love with a woman he could marry and have a family with. He always had; his solitary life as a cattle farmer was extremely challenging and one he didn't want to endure forever. But how was he meant to open his heart when he was terrified of history repeating itself?

Thoughts swinging back to all the tasks that lay ahead for the day, Jay wiped his grubby hands on his jeans, mad at himself for even thinking about Taylor. He'd only just met her. Women never had that effect on him, well, none since Becky. But on the other hand, in a strange way, he enjoyed Taylor consuming his thoughts. It took his mind off the sadness in his life and gave him some reprieve from the torrential emotions. Maybe that was all Taylor was, a nice distraction? Whatever the case, he had to toughen up and stop acting like a hormonal teenager. There were more important things to focus on right now than a woman. For a start, how in the hell he was going to keep Waratah Station out of the grasp of the bloody bank?

Tom's gravelly voice broke his concentration. ‘Are you ready for some grub then, Jay? I'll head home while ya finish up here and fry us up a feast, if you like. My stomach is about to eat itself, I'm that bloody hungry.' He rubbed it for effect. ‘Bugger this missing breakfast caper. I don't know how people
choose
to do it. That teaches me for sleeping through the alarm this morning.'

Jay nodded, chuckling to himself, remembering how Tom had come belting down to the paddock on his horse this morning, shirt half on, hat skew-whiff, red creases still across his face from his pillow. Tom had been tremendously apologetic but Jay had shrugged it off, laughing. It was a rarity for Tom to sleep in so he didn't mind. The bloke deserved to sometimes, Tom worked damned hard. His mouth watered with the thought of food. He remembered he hadn't eaten since lunchtime yesterday. ‘My oath I am, mate. Sounds great. I'll just head home from here and check in on Mum, make sure she's eaten something, and then I'll meet you over at yours. Cheers, for that.'

‘I can make a plate up for Patty if you like?'

Jay waved his hand in dismissal. ‘Nah, I'm lucky to get her to eat toast for breakfast, let alone a fry-up. But thanks anyway, Tom, appreciate it.'

Tom tugged at the rim of his hat, yanking it down further to ward off the intensifying glare as he spun around and sauntered towards his horse. ‘Not a prob. Take ya time, buddy. I'll stick it in the oven if you're not there when it's ready. You just make sure your mum's okay first.'

Jay watched on as Tom eased himself up and into the saddle then cantered off in the direction of the workers' quarters, a thin trail of red dust left in Tom's wake. Jay wished he could give Tom what the poor bloke prayed for but it was near impossible. Where in the hell would he even start looking? Australia was a mighty big place to find one person when you had no idea where they were, or if they were even still alive. And a lot can happen in twenty years.

Taylor blinked open her sleep-heavy eyes, momentarily panicking about where she was, the dark room unrecognisable for a few seconds. Then memories of meeting Jay at the side of a deserted road flooded her mind, sending a delightful shiver over her. How was it possible for him to have this effect on her so quickly? Fate
had
to have played a part in that, didn't it? Or was she just wishing him into romantic life because he was so undeniably hot?
Probably
.

She and Jay had made it to the Southern Cross Hotel just in time, minutes before Col and Faith had locked the doors for the night. Taylor was pleasantly surprised with how warm and welcoming the family was — Col and Faith's daughter, Zoe, even offering to cook a hot meal. Taylor had declined, even though she was ravenous, feeling bad enough for arriving right on closing time. From first impressions, Zoe seemed like a top chick and Taylor was looking forward to getting to know her better and having the opportunity to come to her own conclusions after what Jay had said about her. This would be easy since she'd be working behind the bar with the girl: Col and Faith had offered her a job on the spot when Jay dropped the hint that she was looking for work. Taylor had also scored the worker's apartment, another spot of great luck.

Taylor was extremely thankful to Jay and ecstatic she already had two job offers, one as a jillaroo and one as a barmaid. He'd stayed to settle her in, ignoring her protests, and refusing to just drop her off at the front door of the hotel, even though he had looked absolutely exhausted. He'd politely said goodnight once he was sure she was content.

Taylor wasn't surprised she was thinking of Jay, he intrigued her. His deep brown eyes were so full of mystery and his aura so guarded and reserved, yet his playful, dimply grin so engaging. She wanted to know all about him and she hoped Zoe would be able to fill her in through casual conversation. In a small town like Driftwood, Taylor was certain the publican's daughter would know everyone and everything about them. Wasn't that how small towns worked? She predicted there would be something to stop her in her tracks, to shock her out of her lustfulness for Jay. There had to be. He was too much of a catch to not be already taken and if he
was
single, he was too gorgeous to not be a heartbreaker.

Trying to shake Jay from her thoughts, Taylor stretched her body to life, yawning contentedly. The clock on the bedside table showed it was just past nine in the morning. A sleep-in was just what the doctor had ordered after her exhausting but exciting couple of days on the road. She sat up, thrilled about what the day held — her very first day in Driftwood. Floyd sat up beside her, the sheet still half over his head, his tongue lolling out one side of his mouth. She glanced sideways at him, fighting to contain her amusement.

‘Oi, you cheeky bugger, what are you doing in my bed? I thought I told you to sleep on the floor?' She dropped her voice to a whisper. ‘Col will kick us out if he knows you slept in the bed. He was undecided about you being in the room at all. It was only because of Faith's insistence that he agreed!'

Floyd whined then tilted his head to the side, looking mighty cute as the sheet slid from him and onto the floor. Taylor ruffled his ears, chuckling. ‘If you don't tell him, I won't. It's our little secret. Anyways, I reckon it's time for some brekkie, don't you? Those chips and chocolates we got from the vending machine haven't filled the gap. And I'm not even going to start on the lack of nutritious value . . .' Taylor licked her lips. ‘Hmm, I could go a nice big plate of fried eggs, mushrooms and bacon. And I'll order you a bowl of raw mince, if they don't mind, that is. I'm sure Faith won't. She loved you!' Taylor blew a long ringlet from her face. ‘But I'll have to bring you yours outside. I don't reckon Col's going to let you sit with me in the hotel's dining room. Sorry, buddy.'

Taylor leapt from the bed, skipped out to the living area and ripped the curtains open, her eyes watering instantly from the glare. In broad daylight the apartment looked different: a bit dated, but cosy, the walls a light shade of lemon yellow with old-fashioned pictures of country landscapes scattered about. The kitchen was tiny but very functional with a breakfast bench facing the small open-plan lounge room, the telly in prime position for when she was cooking up a storm, which she often did. Cooking was therapeutic for her. The scent of potpourri hung pleasantly in the air, a bowl of it sitting in the middle of the coffee table among a few magazines. It was a very welcoming space, she thought, and even better seeing it was now hers.

Grabbing a glass from the overhead cupboards and filling it from the tap, Taylor moseyed towards the front door, letting a tail-waggling Floyd out for a toilet run and hoping he would remember his way out to the paddock behind the hotel. While she waited for Floyd to return, she stood at the windows and took in the view. The lush gardens bordering her ground-floor apartment allowed a glimpse of Driftwood's one and only road, where four-wheel drives travelled along slowly and country-clad pedestrians ran their morning errands. Just beyond that she spotted the unmistakable white froth of waves as they crashed upon a dazzling sandy beach. It all seemed so surreal. ‘Ahh Driftwood, my new home,' she whispered, enthralled. It was exactly as she had imagined it to be when she had read the name on the road sign yesterday — quaint and gorgeous.

Taylor gulped the last mouthful from her cup, presuming it was rainwater, it tasted so good. Outside looked to be a gloriously sunny day, perfect weather for a bit of poking about the place, discovering what Driftwood had to offer and introducing herself to some of the locals. Not that it would take her long, considering there was only one road in and one road out.

Jay had already informed her that other than the usual community centre, primary school, high school, health clinic, fire station and police station, Driftwood's shopping area consisted only of essential businesses: the Southern Cross Hotel, the Bendigo bank, the agriculture supply store, the post office-slash-chemist-slash-corner store, the petrol station-slash-take away and the hairdresser-slash-beautician-slash-gift shop. She had giggled at the combination of some of the businesses. After living in Brisbane all her life she had never seen anything like it.

First and foremost, though, after a shower and some hot food, she'd have to find a lift to go and pick up her Jeep. Her entire life was in there, but most importantly her cherished guitar. Grinning broadly, and with Floyd now back inside, she bounded towards the bathroom. For once in her life she felt like she was where she was meant to be, doing exactly what she was destined to do.

A muggy breeze whipped in through the open windows of the Holden ute, sending curls across Taylor's clammy face. She tried to tuck the stray hair behind her ears but to no avail, her long locks taking on a life of their own in the wind. It was so nice to be driving along a road without the relentless noise of traffic assaulting her senses and the pulse of city life passing by out the window. Taylor closed her eyes and breathed in the scent of the country surrounding her, untainted air veiled with the salty aroma of the sea. It was to die for. The tropical draught did little to cool her down, but it was nice all the same, taking the harsh edge off the stifling summer heat. She had always known it was hotter up north, but nothing could have prepared her for just
how
hot, the humidity so thick she could barely breathe. January was apparently the muggiest month of the year in Driftwood due to the combination of the blistering sun and flash monsoonal showers. Not that she was complaining. There was something very sensual about feeling so lusciously warm. She loved it.

Zoe sat at the wheel, her glossy black bob swishing about her face, her seat as close to the steering column as it would go to accommodate her lack of height. She reminded Taylor of Uma Thurman when she'd played Mia Wallace in
Pulp Fiction
, almost a spitting image. Zoe was gorgeous, a younger version of her mum, Faith, with the same hazel eyes and flawless olive complexion; the complete opposite of her dad, Col, with his curly blond hair, immense build and fair, freckly skin.

Taylor licked her lips, the wind instantly drying them again. ‘So, tell me, Zoe, do you have a boyfriend?'

Zoe laughed raucously, a small snort escaping. ‘A boyfriend? Here, in Driftwood? Nah! There's not much talent to choose from, the good-looking ones are either taken, or complete arseholes, and the not-so-good-looking ones are normally too nice to keep me interested. I tend to like the bad boys.' Zoe sighed dreamily. ‘I
am
keen on someone who lives out of town, although nothing's happened yet. But he'll come round, eventually.' Taylor raised her eyebrows. ‘I have ways to make any man fall at my feet.'

‘An out of towner, you go, girl! And I'm hearing you about the bad boys. There's just something about them, hey?' Taylor said. With so much in common — country music, their taste in wayward men, and only one year's difference in age (Zoe the younger one) — Taylor couldn't help but really like her. Perhaps Jay's dislike of Zoe was uncalled for; some people just didn't get on, that was life, and maybe that was the simple case for him and Zoe.