Again (Time for Love Book 3) (12 page)

All he knew was, with how things currently appeared, Ash would deck him if he found out he was sleeping with his sister.

And if Amanda learnt about all these...

Well, he had a pretty good idea how she’d react—drop him like a hot potato. Cold fear clutched his heart at the thought.

Fortunately, he did trust Ash to not blab his title around to anyone. And he’d be moving out of Sonya’s place soon. Luckily, there was little chance of Amanda discovering his current living arrangements. She simply mustn’t know. She might get the wrong impression.

A
manda arrived at Zach and Rebecca’s house, carrying the cake she’d ordered for their all-girls’ dinner.

“Hey, darling,” Rebecca greeted. “Yay, we have Sarah’s favourite mango mousse cake.”

“Yeah,” she said. “Is Zach still at work?”

“Yes. He’s taking advantage of the fact that we’re having our girlie night tonight to have a dinner meeting with his brothers. You know how workaholic those three can be.”

They walked to the dining room, where delicious smells were coming from. Amanda kissed Brenna and Gemma, who were setting up the dining table with fine china and expensive silverware.

“Whatever can we give you as a wedding present when you already have all this, Bec?” Amanda asked wryly, checking out the luxury brand name stamped on the dinnerware.

Rebecca chuckled. “You’ll think of something. Anyway, check out our food. It looks so yummy it’s making my mouth water.”

Five food warmers were sitting on a long side table by the wall. Amanda checked them all, her stomach grumbling from the smell-and-sight-induced hunger. “Did your sister-in-law’s cousin make all this?” she asked Rebecca.

“Yes. And Samantha made us dessert too, to go with the cake you brought. It’s in the fridge.”

“I wish Sarah would get here already,” Brenna said. “I’m starving.”

The doorbell rang, and they all laughed.

Rebecca got the door and walked back with Sarah, whose face was a picture of surprise.

“Wow!” Sarah gushed. “You said we were getting food home delivered. I wasn’t expecting this.”

“Congratulations, Sarah!” the four cried, enveloping their friend in a tight group hug.

“Oh my gosh! Is this my engagement party?” Sarah asked, overwhelmed.

“It’s not your official one,” Gemma said. “I’m sure Magda would complain if it were, especially since she’s not invited. This is just for the five of us.”

“Oh, thank you, guys. You’re so sweet!”

“So,” Rebecca said, lifting the dishes from the warmers and setting them on the table, “we’re all starving, so let’s eat.”

They enjoyed the beautiful food as they talked about their week. Amanda deliberately held back so she was last to report. But soon, it was her turn.

“So Amanda. How was your date with Connor?” Sarah said.

“You had a date with Connor?” Brenna asked. “And you didn’t tell us?”

Amanda was unable to keep the grin off her face. “You know me. I keep the first few weeks quiet.”

“When was your date?”

“The first time was Friday two weeks ago, then we’ve gone out four more times since then.”

“Wow,” Gemma said. “So you’ve decided he’s not a jerk after all?”

“We talked about what happened in Melbourne. Turns out it was all a misunderstanding. So yes, he’s not a jerk after all.”

“So have you jumped into bed again with him?” Brenna asked.

“Yes. He stayed over all of those five nights we’ve gone out.”

“Oh my God! So was it as good as that time in Melbourne?” Gemma teased. “You said you had the best sex of your life then.”

“I thought that time in Melbourne couldn’t get any better. But it did. Much, much better.”

Loud cheering and laughter rang in the room as the girls grilled Amanda for more details. She told them that Connor had been joining her for her early morning walks since they came back from the Hunter Valley.

“So on top of those dates, you’ve been seeing him
every
morning for the last
three
weeks?” Brenna asked.

“Yes.”

“Holy moly. So you two are officially together?”

Amanda paused. “We haven’t talked about that.”

“But you have a good time with him outside of sex?” Rebecca asked. “You enjoy being with him even when there’s no sex involved?”

“Absolutely. We always have an easy conversation. He’s fun to be with.”

“So what’s he like during your walks?” Sarah asked. “Is he only friendly then, or does he get sweet and all?”

“He gets sweet and all,” she answered with a swooning sigh. “He holds my hand and gives me hugs and kisses along the way.”

“I think you’ve got yourself a new boyfriend, Amanda,” Rebecca said, grinning.

She beamed. “I hope so.”

“Does Ash know?” Brenna asked.

“Not yet,” she answered with a laugh. “You know how Ash gets. I don’t want him making Connor uncomfortable by acting all big-brotherly. The funny thing is, they’ve actually become quite good friends.”

“That’s good! Maybe he won’t give Connor that glare he gives the men we date,” Brenna said.

Amanda smiled at her friend. Hadn’t Brenna noticed that Ash had stopped ‘glaring’ at Rebecca’s, Sarah’s and Gemma’s dates ages ago?

“When are you gonna tell Ash?” Sarah asked.

She shrugged. “I won’t tell him anything until Connor and I are officially a couple.”

“So when are you gonna raise that topic with Connor?” Gemma asked.

She took a deep breath. “I don’t know. I don’t want to be the one to raise it. I’m still gun-shy when it comes to that.”

“What if Connor’s assuming you’re already a couple, and here you are assuming you’re not?”

“The last time I asked a man to express his commitment to me, he hadn’t meant it and I ended up feeling like a fool for even chasing after him in the first place. I don’t want to
force
Connor to come up with an answer. He might say yes, but in reality he might not be ready. So I’d rather wait for him to bring it up. Also, I’d really appreciate if you don’t tell anyone, including your fiancés,” she said to Rebecca and Sarah. “Connor might not want them to know yet. I really don’t want to be presumptuous about this.”

“Okay,” the others agreed.

“From the sounds of it, things between the two of you are developing well,” Rebecca said.

“Yeah. I think so too,” she said with a smile.

“I take it you’ll see him again soon?”

“He’s moving to his apartment this weekend. Ash and I have volunteered to help.”

“Before you know it you’ll be moving in with him,” Brenna teased.

“Not yet!” she said with a laugh, although she’d be lying if she said the thought hadn’t crossed her mind.

*****

A
manda took a sip of her cold water as she stared at the inspiring view of Bondi Beach from the balcony of Connor’s sub penthouse. The place was much bigger than she’d expected. Apart from the large balcony that wrapped around two sides of the apartment, it had three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a study, an impressive kitchen and extra-large living and dining areas. Plus there was the big two-car garage that Connor had said was kind of small for his liking, but would have to do.

Someone knocked on the door and she went to answer it.

“Hey, Amanda!”

“Greg! How did you get up here?” she asked, standing aside to let him in.

“I have a pass to the building.”

“Oh, of course,” she said with a laugh.

“I came to help with some unpacking. I heard you and Ash had volunteered.”

Amanda chuckled. “Well, apart from those boxes over there that came from Connor’s parents’ garage, there’s not much to unpack. He’s got brand new everything—except clothes.”

“So where are the boys? Don’t tell me they’ve left you here to do all the dirty work.”

“They’re downstairs in the garage trying to bolt some shelving on the wall.”

Greg laughed. “Typical Connor, making sure his garage is all set up before everything else. Can I help with anything?”

“If you like. We can start with these boxes. Connor said he doesn’t remember what’s in them. If they’re old household stuff and they’re still in decent condition, then we can put them in the to-be-donated-to-charity pile. Otherwise, we throw them out. If they’re personal items like photos or documents, then he’ll sort through them later.”

“I’d love to find some old photos,” Greg said, slitting a sealed box open.

They sorted through the boxes quickly, with the bulk of the contents comprising of books and school mementos.

The next box Amanda opened contained toy cars of different models, sizes and colours. “I’m sure Connor would want to keep these,” she murmured.

“Hey, I remember those!” Greg exclaimed, abandoning his box to check out the one Amanda was sorting through. “See, some of these were originally mine, or my brothers’. Connor used to say he’d garage them for us. So over time, most of our toy cars ended up with him.”

Greg was telling Amanda which ones used to be whose when Connor and Ash returned to the apartment.

“Hey, bro!” Connor said. Then he spotted what Greg was holding in his hands. “Holy crap! My toys!”

The three grown men surrounded the box while Amanda sat on the newly delivered lounge and watched them in amusement. Connor glanced at her and smiled. “You okay, babe?”

Amanda’s gaze flickered to her brother at Connor’s term of endearment. Fortunately, neither Ash nor Greg seemed to have noticed. They were too busy gushing over little boys’ toys.

“You’re in heaven,” she said to Connor.

Connor grinned, looking at her in that way that made her heart skip.

“Can I play with your new coffee machine?” she asked. “I’ll make us all coffee.”

“Be my guest,” Connor said with a laugh.

She headed for the kitchen, followed by Connor.

“Do you want to sleep here tonight?” Connor said softly, wrapping his arms around her waist.

“Connor!” she whispered, escaping out of his hold.

“They can’t see or hear us.”

“They might come in here.”

“No they won’t,” Connor said, kissing her below the ear.

“Connor! Go back there and join them,” she said urgently.

“Stay with me tonight,” he cajoled.

“Okay! Just go back there!”

“Good,” Connor said, grinning happily. He kissed her squarely on the lips and squeezed her bottom before walking back to the living room.

Amanda shook her head, her lips curving up. Connor could be so naughty. Sooner or later, Ash would notice something. But, oh, Connor had just made her melt.

She opened a box of new dinnerware and carefully laid it out on the bench top. She’d load the dishwasher for Connor later, but for now, she hand-washed cups for their coffees. She was working the coffee machine when Ash came in the kitchen.

“Oh, yes, I need that coffee,” Ash said, pouring himself a glass of water.

“
Need
it? You haven’t done anything remotely tiring, Ash,” she joked.

“I just had a late night, that’s all.”

“Really? Were you out on a date?”

“Yup.”

“Was she pretty?”

“Yup.”

“You like her?”

“Nope.”

Amanda stared at her brother. “So why did you date her if you didn’t like her?”

“I dated her so I could prove to myself that there was nothing there. And I was right.”

Amanda went quiet. She hated this type of conversation with Ash—the kind where her brother seemed to really want to find someone, but none of the women he dated ever worked out for the long term. The worse thing was, she knew why and she didn’t know what to do about it.

“Anyway,” Ash said, speaking in a low voice. “Are you interested in Greg?”

“What?” she asked incredulously. “Where did that come from?”

“Well, you two seemed to be having a great time when Connor and I came back. I’m still wondering why you got pissed off at the Hunter Valley. I’m still very intrigued. And because none of you girls would tell me who it was that pushed your button, I’m trying to get my answer by process of elimination.”

“And you think I’ll help you figure it out?” she asked, amused.

Ash shrugged. “You might feel sorry for me for overtaxing my brain.”

“Sorry, Doc. No help from me. And how do you know I didn’t get a phone call, so the culprit wasn’t someone who was physically at the party?”

“Hmm. Of course. I didn’t think of that before.”

“See? Or how do you know it wasn’t Zach, or Jeff, or Connor...”

“Zach and Jeff? Give me a break. And I’ve already ruled Connor out, remember?”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “What if I did sleep with Connor in Melbourne and I just didn’t want you to know because I didn’t want you to make a big fuss?”

Ash returned her squint. “I doubt it.” He paused before continuing. “But if it were true, I hope it ended in Melbourne.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Why? Wouldn’t you want Connor for me? Or are you jealous? You and he seem to have a bromance going.”

“I mean it, Amanda,” Ash said quietly. “Yes, I consider Connor a very good friend now. But much as I like him as a person, I wouldn’t want him as a boyfriend for my sister.”

She gaped at Ash. Was he being serious? He did look it. “Why not?” she asked.

Ash raised his arms as if in surrender. “Hey, like you said, I’m in a bromance with the guy. I’m not going to tell. If you want to know, you’ll have to ask him.”

“Ask him what? Why you don’t think he’s boyfriend material?”

Ash rubbed his chin in thought. “Yes. That’s a good way of framing the question.”

“You don’t seriously think I’ll walk up to him and ask that, do you?”

Ash chuckled. “No, I don’t. But you don’t really need to know why, sis. So stop being a snoop,” he said, then disappeared to rejoin the others.

Amanda stood there, bewildered, confused and worried.

Oh, Ash. I do need to know.

C
onnor glanced at his watch for the umpteenth time. Why hadn’t Amanda rung yet?

She’d left his apartment with Ash and Greg after they’d ordered pizza for dinner. All three were a tremendous help. With the exception of a couple of big boxes that he’d have to drop off to charity, everything was in its place.