Blackpeak Station (11 page)

His mouth twitched. ‘Like I said, I was just asking.’ He slid the cheque across the desk.

‘Thanks,’ said Charlotte.

Kath bustled in. ‘Will you be staying for lunch, Luke?’

‘I, um …’ He looked at Charlotte, then smiled at Kath. ‘That’s kind of you, thanks. I’d love to.’

‘Oh, good. It’ll be about an hour.’

‘Getting your money’s worth?’ Charlotte said when Kath had gone.

The smile broadened. ‘Mad if I don’t.’

‘Well.’ She got up. ‘I’ve got work to do.’

‘Wait.’ Luke looked up at her, that lazy, lingering gaze travelling over her face. Now he’d dried off, he was harder to laugh at. ‘Maybe I could tag along.’ How did he do that with his voice? It was like he had a string connected to her insides. ‘I’ve never really spent much time on a farm.’

‘No kidding.’

‘So … will you take me in hand?’

‘Hmm. What size shoe do you take?’

‘Why?’

‘You’ll need some gumboots.’

In the porch, Charlotte knocked the spiders out of an elderly pair. With only slight hesitation, Luke pulled them on. Actually, he didn’t look as silly in gumboots as she’d thought he would. They went quite well with his loose, faded jeans and the grey v-neck that was clinging to every … God, what was wrong with her? Shaking herself, she walked outside and climbed into the truck.

Luke lounged against the opposite door as they drove off, slowly pushing his sleeves up over the long muscles of his forearms. Charlotte’s cheeks started to burn. For someone who’d wanted to see a farm, he didn’t seem to be doing a lot of looking out of the window. Her hand accidentally brushed against his thigh as she changed gear. He didn’t move it out of the way. In fact — had he moved closer? She gave herself a mental kick. What was she playing at? What about Rob?

She set her jaw. What about him? He was as good as gone, wasn’t he? Rob was moving on. Shouldn’t she do the same? She pulled up outside the hay shed. Luke got out and — at last — started looking around. ‘Pretty view.’

Yeah — she supposed. There were a lot better around. You couldn’t see much from here beyond the flat terrace blocks around the homestead.

‘How many hectares would this be?’ He smiled. ‘This valley, I mean.’

‘About three hundred.’

Luke’s eyebrows shot up. ‘You’d fit a few golf holes on that.’

Charlotte laughed. She’d never thought about it like that. ‘Yeah, I suppose you would.’

‘Do you play?’

‘What — golf?’ She climbed up the stacked bales for a better view at the hole the last wind had torn in the roof of the shed. ‘No.’ If she took a few more bales down, she could probably get up and patch that from the inside. She started to let herself down.

Luke’s hands caught her, sliding up over her ribs to stop what felt like about a millimetre under her breasts as he helped her to the ground. Yikes. She could feel the hard muscles of his chest press against her shoulder blades. In the small space between Luke and the haystack, Charlotte turned to face him. ‘Um … thanks.’

‘You’re welcome.’ The green eyes laughed down at her. ‘So what
do
you like to do’ — he picked a piece of hay off her shirt — ‘for fun?’

Double yikes. She’d better get out of here. Fast. Dropping her eyes, she slid sideways. ‘I used to play a bit of tennis.’ She tried to sound nonchalant as she headed back to the ute. ‘When I was at school.’

‘I can imagine.’ Oh dear, he was closer behind her than she’d thought.

Charlotte nodded towards the passenger door. ‘We’d better be getting back. Lunch will be ready soon.’

‘Aren’t we going to fix the roof?’ She could hear the smile in his voice.

Um, no — not now. Something told her that going back up there wouldn’t be a very wise plan. ‘I don’t think there’s time.’

‘No?’ Luke climbed in beside her. ‘Shame. I was looking forward to that.’ His knees spread widely across the bench seat. ‘The exercise, I mean.’

‘This is divine, Mrs Macdonald,’ Luke said, looking up from his plate. ‘It’s such a long time since I had a roast.’

It was interesting, Charlotte thought, to watch the effect of his smile on someone else. Was that what she looked like when he used it on her? She hoped not.

‘I suppose you’re used to something a bit more modern,’ Kath said.

‘Believe me, I wish I had the chance for more meals like this.’

Jen pushed her knife and fork together loudly, and Charlotte saw her roll her eyes at Rex. By the cold look he was giving Jen, she was pretty sure that Luke had seen it too. Ah, he didn’t like it when his charm didn’t work — she wondered how often that happened?

‘Here,’ he said, leaping up as Kath began clearing the plates. ‘Let me do that.’

‘Well,’ said Charlotte briskly once Luke had finished loading the dishwasher. ‘Hopefully your car’s dried out by now. Let’s see if we can get it started.’

‘Right.’

Outside, Luke climbed in and turned the key. He didn’t look as thrilled as he might, she thought, when the engine whirred into life. Suddenly, the dash began dinging loudly.

‘It’s the oil pressure light.’ Luke stared at it. ‘It’s gone red.’

Charlotte peered underneath the car. ‘Shit! Turn the engine off!’

Luke obeyed and climbed down to join her. ‘What is it?’

‘See for yourself.’ Charlotte pointed grimly at a large puddle of oil. ‘You must have cracked the sump.’

Luke winced. ‘I did hit something pretty hard.’

‘A big rock, by any chance?’

‘So now what do we do?’

‘Call the garage in Tekapo.’ She shook her head. ‘Looks like you’re not going anywhere for a while.’

‘How long do you think it’ll take?’

‘A day or so to fix it, maybe. But they’ll have to get the parts in first — from Christchurch if you’re lucky. I’d say you’re looking at three or four days all up.’

At last, he started to look worried.

Charlotte couldn’t resist. ‘This is really turning into an expensive trip for you, isn’t it?’

He groaned. ‘I knew I should have gone to Bali.’

A phone call to the garage confirmed Charlotte’s rough time estimate, and Luke’s insistence that he had to be back at work on Monday could do nothing to improve it. He hung up the phone with a muttered curse. ‘They said they can’t even get a tow truck here today.’

At last, Charlotte took pity on him. ‘Look, I can tow you into town. You can leave your car with the garage and catch the bus back up to Christchurch.’

‘The bus?’ He looked horrified.

‘That’s all there is, I’m afraid.’ She shrugged. ‘Unless you want to charter a helicopter.’

Luke’s face lit up. ‘Now you’re talking. Who do I call?’

Shaking her head again, Charlotte gave him the number.

‘They can’t get me out till tomorrow,’ he said, hand over
the mouthpiece. ‘Is that okay?’

‘I guess it’ll have to be,’ she sighed. He really was getting his money’s worth. ‘I’ll let Kath know you’re staying.’

Charlotte watched Luke’s face as another huge meal was served. Around the table, conversation wasn’t exactly flowing — Rex was keeping his eyes on his plate, and Jen looked downright surly.

The phone rang. Charlotte leapt to it. ‘Nick!’

All faces turned towards her, waiting.

‘Yes!’ She pressed the phone to her chest. ‘The decision’s through,’ she announced. ‘It’s all go — the bid’s been approved.’

Kath’s face lit up. ‘Thank Christ,’ said Jen, letting out her breath. Rex cleared his throat, eyes shining. Luke watched her, his head to one side.

‘Okay,’ Charlotte said, more guardedly, into the phone. ‘Thanks. I’d better go — we’ve got company. No, it’s not. I’ll tell you later.’

She hung up the phone, conscious of Luke’s curiosity as first Kath then Jen got up and hugged her. Rex confined himself to a hand on her shoulder and a gruff ‘Good on you, girl’.

‘Tea, anyone?’ asked Kath.

‘Love one,’ said Luke.

Charlotte sighed to herself — she’d been hoping he might take himself off to his room so they could celebrate, but no such luck. The five of them sipped their drinks in uneasy silence.

‘It’s Cup Week soon,’ Luke offered at last. ‘Do you come up to Christchurch for that?’

‘We usually go up for the Show,’ she told him.

‘Of course.’ He smiled. ‘Are you one of those people in
white coats who lead sheep and cows around the ring?’

Charlotte couldn’t help but smile back. ‘Not this time. Maybe next year.’

‘What about the racing?’ he persisted. ‘Do you go to that?’

‘Yeah, sometimes.’ She shrugged. ‘My mother’s really into it. I don’t see what all the fuss is about — who’s wearing what, all that kind of thing. The best-dressed competitions.’

Luke looked shocked. Oh God, she thought, remembering his Armani suit — he probably entered.

‘I think it’s nice that everyone gets dressed up,’ put in Kath.

There was another awkward silence.

‘Well,’ said Rex. ‘Time for us to be off. Come on, Kath.’

‘Yeah,’ Jen followed quickly, with a fake yawn. ‘I think I’ll turn in too.’

As the others fled, Charlotte stared down into her empty mug. She could feel Luke looking at her. Crap, she was blushing again.

‘Do you want to go to bed?’

She looked up at him, amused. ‘Excuse me?’

‘I meant,’ he grinned, ‘are you tired? I don’t want to keep you up.’

‘It’s okay.’ Even by farming standards, it was pretty early.

‘Look — you don’t feel like a real drink, do you? I think there’s a bottle of champagne in the car.’

Charlotte raised her eyebrows. Of course there was.

‘I took a case down to Queenstown. We didn’t quite get through it all.’

He came back clutching a bottle in a branded chilly bag. ‘Be prepared,’ he smiled. ‘That’s always been my motto.’

Charlotte doubted he’d been a good boy scout. Unless there was a badge for tying girls’ stomachs in knots. She
blushed again as she considered what other things Luke might be good at.

‘So,’ Luke raised his glass, ‘here’s to your deal going through.’

‘Thanks,’ she smiled.

‘Are you going to tell me what it is?’

Should she? Charlotte shrugged. She supposed there was no reason why not — it would be public knowledge soon enough anyway, now that Overseas Investment Office approval was through.

‘Impressive stuff,’ he said, when she’d explained. ‘And you and your brother keep your controlling share? Good for you.’

‘Well,’ she felt compelled to admit, ‘Nick does. I don’t actually have a share.’

Luke’s eyebrows shot up. ‘What, your father left the whole thing to him? Boy. That’s old school.’

Charlotte shrugged again, and sipped her champagne in silence.

‘You’d like to own a piece of this place, though,’ he said, considering her, ‘wouldn’t you?’

God, was it that obvious?

‘If your brother’s selling, why don’t you buy in?’

She snorted. ‘The Sammartinos aren’t paying me that much.’

‘Get a loan.’

‘Who’d lend me that sort of cash? I don’t make enough to cover the interest.’

He looked thoughtful. ‘Maybe not a traditional bank. But I know clients who might.’ He waved his hand at the window, where the last of the sunset was fading behind the alps. ‘People love all this high country sh … stuff. You want me to take it to them?’

‘Really?’ Charlotte scrabbled for words. ‘You could do that?’

‘No promises, but I can try. If you want me to.’

She stared at him. Was he serious? He looked it. For once, he didn’t seem to be laughing at her at all. He looked quite fierce, in fact, with that little muscle playing beside his mouth and his green eyes locked on her face until, quite deliberately, they dropped and went roaming over her skin …

‘Of course,’ he said, ‘you realise it’ll cost you.’

Charlotte swallowed. Of course. What an idiot she was. ‘What kind of fee do you charge?’

‘You have to have dinner with me next time you’re in Christchurch.’

Oh! She begged her face not to blush. ‘I guess I could manage that.’

‘Good.’ He was holding her eyes so hard she almost jumped when she felt his thumb on the side of her hand, stroking, running down to the underside of her wrist. He leaned in towards her.

‘Charlie!’

She did jump at the sound of Jen’s voice behind her. Luke leaned back, his hand returning casually to the stem of his glass. He looked more amused than annoyed.

‘I forgot I had to tell you,’ Jen said, getting herself a glass of water before sitting down, rather pointedly, at the table, ‘about the poll ram Carr Fergusson is thinking of buying.’

Luke got up and put the champagne glasses in the sink. ‘If you’ll excuse me, I think I’ll leave you ladies to it.’ Over Jen’s head, he gave Charlotte one last, long look. ‘Goodnight.’

She bit her lip and tried to listen to Jen as he left the room.

The next morning, she left for the tailing yards before Luke was up. A few hours later, she heard the helicopter arrive. She paused, watching it rise and rake away to the north, and
told herself it was probably just as well he was gone. She felt a bit embarrassed, thinking about what that kiss might have led to last night if Jen hadn’t interrupted — that really would have been getting his money’s worth. Had he meant what he’d said about brokering a loan for her? And dinner? Would she see him again?

Maybe not. It had probably just been the champagne talking. But either way … she smiled to herself. For the first time since — no, she didn’t want to go there. Charlotte pushed away the thought of Rob’s departing truck. The point was that she’d actually had fun last night — that was what she needed to remember. That, and the way Luke looked at her, the shiver it sent down her spine … She’d never felt that way before, not with anyone.

When she got home at the end of the day, Luke’s Range Rover had gone as well. Charlotte shovelled sand over the oil stain where it had stood and hoped he hadn’t forgotten about her already.

‘Rob rang again,’ Jen told her gently, when she walked in the door.

Damn, there it was again. That stupid ache in her chest.

‘So … are you going to call him back this time?’

She shook her head. What was the point? So he could practise leaving?