Echoes Of The Past (Fermosa Bay #1) (13 page)

“Of course, he’ll be there. Jack always comes to Sabrina’s Christmas Day dinners, so I’m sure Connor will be there as well.”

Her father placed a kiss on her forehead. “You’ll have fun. Say hello to Jack, and tell him I miss him at the bar.”

“You could go and visit him?”

Miles sucked his lips between his teeth and nodded. “Yes, I should.”

Emily took her bag and placed it on her shoulder. “I’ll see you on New Year’s Eve.”

Twenty minutes later, she arrived at Sabrina’s house. She recognised a few cars and knew Ethan and Niall’s parents were here already. The front door was open, so she went straight inside. The house smelled good from food being prepared in the kitchen. Sabrina had given up on the traditional roast years ago and nowadays it was a big barbeque in the backyard and a choice of many salads as well as some side dishes. A decorated Christmas tree was in the far corner of the living room with a generous amount of gifts beneath.

Emily said hello to everyone and gave Ethan and Nick a hug before she placed her presents next to all the others. Sabrina shouted
hello
from the kitchen, and Emily followed the voice to give her older friend a hug as well.

“Hello, darling. How are you?”

“Merry Christmas, Rina. I’m not the first one, am I?”

Sabrina shook her head. “No. Sean is outside entertaining his son and daughter-in-law—”

Emily let out a little snort. “Your son has a name, Rina.”

The elder woman rolled her eyes and with an exaggerated tone in her voice, she repeated, “My wonderful husband, Sean, is entertaining our son and father of Niall, Tony, and my daughter-in-law, Ann-Marie—”

Emily held up her hand. “I get the point. Niall’s not here, yet?”

With a slight laugh, Niall’s grandmother replied, “Niall? Nah. He’s always the last to arrive, you know that. But Jack and Connor aren’t here, yet, either.”

“Oh.”

Sabrina placed a hand on Emily’s cheek. “He’ll be here soon.”

Heat rushed into her cheeks and not because of Sabrina’s hand. She wasn’t sure why she’d let out a sound of disappointment. After all, Jack had never missed the Christmas dinner at Sabrina and Sean’s. It’d been a highlight of this season for everyone.

“Where’s Grandpa Jack?”

Emily shot around and almost bumped into Nick. “I don’t know.”

With his arms across his chest, the little boy said in a stern voice, “Uncle Niall’s late as well.”

She tried her hardest to hold back a smile. “How dare they?”

With a raised brow, the boy stared at her. “Are you mocking me?”

A soft gasp escaped her. “Me? I wouldn’t dare.”

Ethan stepped closer. “They’ll be here soon. How about we help Sabrina by setting the table outside?”

“Do I have to?”

Ethan smiled at his son. “No you don’t, but it’d be good manners to help.”

With a heavy sigh, Nick nodded. “Okay then. Let’s get it over and done with.”

Sabrina laughed as she grabbed the cutlery out of the drawer. “Like father, like son.”

Emily turned and saw Ethan roll his eyes. A comment lay on the tip of her tongue, but she thought better and swallowed it. Then she followed a few of Sabrina’s instructions and helped out.

While getting everything organised outside, she caught up with Ethan, but also Sean, and Niall’s parents.

It didn’t take long until the doorbell rang, and Nick raced to open it. Even at the other end of the house, Emily knew straight away who’d arrived. Jack’s deep voice boomed through the hall, and Nick’s excitement to see Connor echoed through the house as well. A small tingle went up her spine when she heard Connor’s voice. She looked forward to spending a Christmas with him. A smile tugged at her lips when she saw him. Heat rushed through her when he smiled back. And when he placed a kiss on her cheek wishing her a Merry Christmas, she had to lock her knees.

“Emmy, darling. Sorry, we’re late. But we had a wonderful afternoon looking at old photos and got a bit carried away.”

Sabrina’s voice out of the kitchen made them turn towards the door. “Oh, that sounds like a delightful way to spend Christmas Day.” Then she appeared in the door. “We should have both of you over one day. There are boxes of old photos in the study somewhere.”

Connor nodded. “Only if you’re prepared to see a grown man cry.”

Sabrina stepped closer and looped an arm through Jack’s. “Jack wouldn’t cry, would he?” she replied with a wink.

Connor choked back a laugh, but didn’t reply.

“As for you,” Sabrina added, pointing her finger at Connor. “I wiped your bum, I helped you getting potty trained, and did my hardest to make you eat with a knife and fork. A few tears won’t worry me.”

Everyone laughed, including Connor, who took it with good humour. “So I’ve heard. Apparently I owe you at least a dozen
thank yous
.”

“You can thank me by helping to get this crowd to the table outside so we can start eating.”

Connor nodded. “Consider it done.”

The afternoon and evening flew by fast. They all enjoyed their presents, the barbeque in the backyard, and the few carols they sang while Niall played the guitar. It was one of the best Christmases Emily had ever had and looking at Connor, she assumed the same applied for him as well. In the few weeks he’d been in Fermosa she hadn’t seen him so relaxed and chatty. And it couldn’t have been just the drinks, because what she’d noticed was that he wasn’t big on drinking alcohol. He stuck to his soft drinks or juices most of the time.

Little Nick was the centre of attention most of the afternoon, though, with all his fancy presents and another load of questions for Connor. His curiosity was limitless, but everybody else enjoyed finding out a little bit about their old friend as well.

“You do know we’ll beat you tomorrow at the cricket game, don’t you?” Nick said.

Connor raised a brow. “Mate,” he said, trying to put on the worst Australian accent. “I am Australian by birth, so I have and always will barrack for the Aussie team.”

Nick’s eyes were wide open and then he burst into laughter, leaving Connor with a more surprised expression on his face.

“That was about the worst Australian accent I’ve ever heard,” the boy said in-between his laughter. “Dad, go tell him how bad it was.”

Connor tried to look wounded, struggling hard to hold back his smile.

“Yeah, bad,” Ethan added.

“Worst ever,” Niall agreed.

Then they all stared at Emily waiting for her to say something as well. She looked at Connor, his eyes telling her she was walking on thin ice. “I thought it was cute.”

A combined
aww
by everyone made her blush as Connor placed his arm around her, pulled her closer, and placed a kiss on her forehead. “That’s my girl,” he said.

It was about the best present he could’ve given her. His show of their young relationship in front of everyone. She blinked a couple of times to hold back the tears of joy and for a moment the voices became distant as she turned to look at him. His eyes full of joy and happiness. A smile, so full of honesty and sincerity, spread across his face. Emily couldn’t believe how much she’d fallen for him, but moments like this made her want to spend the rest of her life with him and although she knew it might not be what the future held for them, she would most definitely make the most of it. And after all, perhaps she’d love him so much in twelve months, she might be prepared to move with him to London.

London? Did she seriously have that thought just then? Trying hard to catch her breath, she was so taken aback that she hardly noticed Connor’s quick kiss.

“Emily.”

Turning towards Jack, she stared at him, having missed the last part of their conversation.

“I said, he’s got you wrapped around his finger already,” Jack repeated.

Smiling, she shook her head. “Not even close.”

“So you’re going to be on his team or ours?” Niall asked as he picked up his beer for another sip.

Team? Oh boy, she must’ve been carried away with her thoughts completely, as she had no idea what he was talking about. “I have to think about that,” she said, hoping it would get her out of the deep water.

“Thinking about it?” Connor asked with a frown. “Emily’s on our team. Jack as well.”

“Me?” the old man asked with brows up into his forehead.

“Yes. The dream team against…”

Ethan laughed. “The real team?”

“We’ll show you how to play cricket.”

“No offense, mate. But you’ve got the best player on your team, who’s unfortunately a bit handicapped.” Niall nodded towards Jack. “And Emily who’s more or less useless with a cricket bat.”

“Hey!” Emily protested.

“You are,” Ethan agreed.

“I’ll play with Emily, and Sean will help Jack.”

Emily sat back with a smile, listening to the discussions and organisation of the beach cricket game the following day. The teams got bigger, along with the enthusiasm. Friends and neighbours were invited via phone and by the end of the night, they’d planned a game with two teams of six players. Although she was worried about making a fool of herself, Emily was looking forward to it.

Chapter Nine

Connor tried to focus. Emily’s back was right against his body, with his arm draped over her chest. A look over to the window told him that the sun was about to break on the horizon. It couldn’t have been later than five-thirty in the morning. A buzzing noise caught his attention, and he realised that was what had woken him. His phone was vibrating on the bedside table, and he cursed for not switching it off. He was tired after spending most of the previous day at the beach, trying his hardest to impress everyone with his cricket prowess, but there was a massive difference in playing cricket on the sports oval to playing on the beach, during the Australian summer, running in sand, and being distracted by Emily’s constant laughter. But most of all, her sexy body. He hadn’t been able to take his eyes off her as she did her best to play along in her tight shorts and tank top, her red curly hair done up in a ponytail.

The phone buzzed again, and he reached over to figure out the ID. It was an English number, and he decided he wasn’t in the mood to talk to anybody back home and rejected the call. Emily stirred, and he was quick to move her back into his arms. They’d made love a couple of times last night, touching and exploring each other’s bodies. He hadn’t been able to get enough of her. The sounds of the little moans, touching her soft skin, and seeing her smile.

Placing a small kiss on the top of her head, he closed his eyes when his phone went off again. He cursed as he reached over, grabbed it, and hissed, “What?”

“Connor?” a female voice asked hesitantly.

His eyes shot open at the sound of the voice. “Yes?”

“It’s Harriet here.”

Shit!

Emily stirred again, snuggling closer into him. He thought about leaving the room, but decided to stay.

Harriet was the last person he wanted to talk to now. Or ever for that matter.

They’d met a few years ago, walking past each other in the firm. It hadn’t taken long for her to make the first step and involve him in a conversation. He’d liked her. She looked sexy with her Indian background, beautiful olive skin, shiny black hair, dark brown eyes, and lips made to be kissed. They were a couple soon afterwards, and Harriet enjoyed their relationship more than he ever had. She loved the social circles Connor’s parents introduced her to. Thinking it was the ideal relationship, Connor was contemplating asking her to marry him. Although, thinking about it now, he wondered whether Duncan’s constant remarks influenced him more than he actually wanted to admit.

Her voice hauled her back from his thoughts. “Connor.”

“What do you want?” he asked through gritted teeth.

There was a moment of silence, and Connor wondered whether the line was disconnected, but he wasn’t that lucky.

“I need a lift,” she finally said.

“Are you drunk?” he asked, his voice louder than he intended to.

Emily woke and looked up at him, sleep still in her eyes. God, she looked sexy, naked in his bed. Her hair tousled from sleep and her eyes still dreamy.

“Connor!”

Harriet’s shrill voice reminded him that she was still on the other end of the line.

“Still here,” he said, not able to hold back his annoyance.

“I’m in Melbourne. I need a lift to your place. I—”

“You what?” He nearly shouted. Emily flinched, and he mouthed
sorry
before sitting up, aware Emily hung on every word he was about to say.

Harriet let out a long sigh, which went right through him, leaving him with the urge to hang up.

“I’m in Melbourne,” she repeated. “I am tired and desperate for a shower.”

“I will give you one very good piece of advice, Harriet. Take the next flight back to London. Do I make myself clear?”

Emily sat up next to him, eyes filled with worry and curiosity. He took her hand and laced his fingers with hers.

“Honey, I’ve come all the way—”

“Don’t you
honey
me,” he said with some scorn in his voice.

And hung up. Closing his eyes, he took a couple of deep breaths to calm himself. Without saying a word, Emily moved her hands up and down his back. He appreciated her gesture. He appreciated her. When her lips touched his, he opened his eyes.

“I love you,” he whispered, surprised by his own words, yet more surprised when she remained silent, but placed a finger on his lips.

“Where is she?” she finally asked.

He blinked a couple of times, blinking away his confusion. Confused by his sudden outburst of love, he hadn’t thought to say the words. They were simply spoken of their own accord. But to hear them, he realised that although unintentionally said, he knew they were true and straight from his heart. Focussing on her, he suddenly comprehended that he’d just told her he loved her, and she was more interested in Harriet.

“Beg yours?”

“That was your girl from back home, right?”

He nodded.

“Where is she?”

“Melbourne.”

“Is she coming here?”

Connor raked a hand through his hair. “I hope not.” With a quick flick, he moved the duvet and got up.

“Why’s she here?”

He shrugged as he put on his pants.

“I thought you two broke up?” she asked, her voice so fragile, it nearly broke his heart.

“Damn, yes, we did. For Christ’s sake, she cheated on me. I was hoping to never see her again.”

“She hurt you.”

He spun around, meeting her gaze. “You bet she did.” And he realised at that moment he was still carrying a lot of resentment within him. Resentment he thought he’d left at home. Anger crept up in him, thinking Harriet had no business being in Australia. At that moment he cursed her hurting him, but he cursed her even more for following him to the other end of the world, a place where he’d found some peace and happiness the last few weeks.

And a family, people he felt he belonged to.

“Do you still love her?”

He rubbed his eyebrow with his thumb, then shook his head. Looking at Emily, he saw doubt in her eyes as she turned away.

“No, I don’t.” Connor sat on the edge of the bed and took her hand. “I have a feeling I never did. I mean, since I’ve been with you, it’s different.” He paused for a moment, gazing into her green eyes. “Harriet and I were together for less than a year.” He shrugged. “Being the boss’ son attracts many women. Some with good intentions, some not so good.”

She turned back to him, and his heart nearly stopped.

“I meant what I said before.”

Emily’s smile didn’t make it to her eyes, and a pang of disappointment shot through him.

“But yet, you’re only committing to twelve months.”

“Touché.”

“What are you afraid of?”

He stared at her, not sure what she meant. “I’m not afraid of anything.”

Emily inhaled sharply. “You are.” She paused for a moment, turned to grab her shirt and panties. “Not all women are like Harriet. Not all of us cheat on people we care about. Not all of us care for the money or the social rank a man holds. Life’s an adventure. It’s a gamble—some you lose, some you don’t.”

“I’m missing something here. I thought I heard myself saying I love you less than five minutes ago.”

Emily nodded. “And I love you, too. I’m not the one holding back, though.”

“I’m not holding back. Moving to the other end of the world, leaving everyone and everything behind, starting all over again is not as easy as one, two, three, Emily.”

She nodded, but didn’t reply. The reasoning obviously not enough for her.

Momentarily numbed by the anger within him, he grabbed his clothes and headed towards the bathroom. Before he closed the door, though, he turned and said as calmly as possible, “Don’t you dare talk to me about life’s adventure. I’m at the frigging other end of the world, sorting the pieces of a puzzle that was my childhood. I am not afraid of women, but I’m not stupid enough to let them break my heart one after the other.”

The sound of the door slamming behind him, even made him flinch.

***

Emily stared at the closed door to the bathroom. Her heart aching, her misery weighing on her like steel. Regrets charged through her, but she wasn’t able to figure out what the actual regret was. Had she pushed him to make a decision about staying here for good? Or had she crawled into his bed way too early, ignoring the fact that it’d been twenty years since she’d last seen him?

With a sigh, she heaved herself out of bed. In a few quick movements, she gathered up her clothes, dressed, and left as quietly as she could. She heard Jack coughing in his room, tempted to go in and check on him, but with the first tears falling, she slipped out the front door and drove home.

And she had no one else to blame but herself for the mess she was in. For the ache that clogged her throat.

As she drove along the Christmas decorated streets back to her house, an emptiness settled in her stomach. She tried to put herself into his shoes, wondering how it’d feel to be cheated on by someone she loved.

Or hadn’t Connor loved her? Did he still?

And what the hell was Harriet doing in Australia, anyway?

Emily stopped at a little parking bay and turned off the engine. Leaning her head against the steering wheel, she fought off tears. This was not how she wanted to finish the Christmas days.

A few long moments later, she lifted her head and gazed towards the beach. She watched the people walking along the shore, the little children enjoying the water, or running after the seagulls. In the distance, the ships were leaving, some of them coming back in. Opening the car window, she welcomed the small breeze but knew that she wouldn’t be able to stay there for too much longer. It was supposed to be another hot day.

Spotting a family with ice cream, she remembered that she hadn’t had any breakfast, yet, and turned on the engine again, heading towards the other side of town for the bakery.

Half an hour later, she sat in her parents’ backyard, with a couple of croissants and danishes, and a cold drink, enjoying a lazy afternoon. The troubles of the day pushed into the far end of her mind.