Real Men Don't Break Hearts (7 page)

Ally shook her head, trying to dislodge the disturbing thought.

“You look different tonight,” Nate said. “I’ve never seen you so glammed up, with the makeup and heels and that dress.” His quick glance rippled over her, lingering on her bare knees.

Suddenly self-conscious, she tried to stretch the hem of her dress over her knees. What madness had induced her to borrow one of Tyler’s dresses and let her friend doll her up for the evening? “Yeah, I look ridiculous. If you must know, tonight I wanted to look different, act different, but it’s not so easy to change who you are on the inside.”

“I didn’t say you looked ridiculous,” he swiftly replied. “Far from it. Even without the dress and the heels and the makeup, you look terrific.”

“Oh, yeah?” She arched a skeptical brow. “Bet you hardly noticed I had legs before I put on this dress.”

He grinned. “Maybe, but now I can’t get them out of my head.”

A hot flush spread across her skin. What was Nate saying? Did he think she was attractive? Desirable? She gulped and stared straight ahead at the windscreen. “We both know this”—she gestured to herself—“isn’t how I usually look. All I managed to do was send out mixed signals to Paul. It wasn’t only his fault the evening was a disaster. I have to wear some of the blame, too.”

“Don’t write off Paul too soon. I’ll bet you anything you’ll get a call or a bunch of flowers from him tomorrow.”

“You think?” The prospect dismayed her. “Even after I told him to get lost?”

“He’ll apologize, want to make up for it by asking you out on another date.”

“But I don’t want to go out with him again.” She rolled her lips together. “My nana thinks he’s just my kind of man. He might have been five years ago, but not anymore. I’m different now.”

“People change. It’s no big sin. Tonight you found out what kind of man you don’t go for.” They cruised into the center of Burronga, and Ally’s building came into sight. Nate brought the Maserati to a halt just outside her door. “Now,” he said, “you just have to figure out what kind of man you
do
go for.”

In the intimate confines of the sports car he seemed bigger, more overwhelming. Or maybe it was his scent that was flustering her witless. Nate wasn’t a man you could dismiss or ignore or forget. He was virile, energetic, and assertive. He could also be abrasive and headstrong, but he was never boring. Maybe Nate was just the kind of man she would go for.

No. That couldn’t happen. He wasn’t the type to stick with one woman, or to stick around Burronga for that matter. He would hurt her, just like he’d hurt her all those years ago. She’d fight this sick fascination with everything she had. Her fingers fumbled as she unsnapped the seat belt. “Thanks for the ride. No need for you to get out.” She scrambled from the car.

Slamming the door, she gave him a hasty wave and got herself into her apartment at record speed.

Chapter Six

The potato chip stopped midway to Jess’s mouth. “And Paul sent you flowers this morning and rang to apologize?”

Ally shifted on the couch. “Yes.”

“Did you tell him you took off with Nate last night? In his Maserati?”

Ally groaned. “I didn’t ‘take off.’ We didn’t go anywhere. He gave me a lift back to Burronga and that was it. And it’s got nothing to do with Paul.”

Her sister munched her chip thoughtfully. They were ensconced on Jess’s couch in front of the TV. The twins were asleep, and Brian had gone to a rugby match in Canberra with his mates. After a long day at the gift shop, Ally was glad to be relaxing with her sister, but she wasn’t so happy recounting the details of her blind date.

“I have to admit Paul doesn’t sound very nice,” Jess finally concluded. “Even if he did grovel to you. Nate isn’t my favorite person, either, but I’m glad he was there to rescue you.”

Ally exhaled loudly. “He gave me a lift home, that’s all.” But Nate had done more than that. He’d looked at her in a way he never had before, with admiration and even a hint of lust, and every time she remembered it, a quicksilver thrill went through her.

“It’s a pity Paul didn’t see you driving off with Nate. That would have put him in his place.”

Ally frowned. “But there’s no competition between them. I’m not interested in Paul, and you know how I feel about Nate. I’ve never, ever been interested in him.”

Not strictly true
, the irritating Girl Scout in her piped up. She
was
interested in Nate, but she’d pull out her fingernails before acting on that interest.

“Yes, but Paul wouldn’t have known that. All he would have seen is Nate with his bad boy sexiness and you going home with him.” Jess dug her hand into the foil packet and scooped out another pile of chips. “That would have shown him a thing or two.”

Ally stared at her sister. “You think Nate is sexy?
You
?”

“Sure. Don’t you?” Seeing Ally’s expression, she shrugged. “Of course I don’t like him one bit, but I’m still a woman.”

“Huh.” Folding her arms, Ally sank back into the cushions. She wasn’t willing to admit to her sister the tug of attraction she experienced every time she bumped into Nate. Cripes, she wasn’t even willing to admit it to herself. “Well, none of that matters because I won’t be seeing Paul again.”

“Nana’s going to be disappointed.”

“No more blind dates!” Ally pushed to her feet and paced around the living room. “I’m going to concentrate all my energies on fixing the shop. I’ll pay back Mr. Cummings all the rent I owe him, and I’ll show Nate I’m a good tenant. And if I fail, well, then…” What about that coffee shop she’d once thought of opening? No, she couldn’t do that if she bungled the gift store. She cast about her, searching for some inspiration, and spied Brian’s Canberra Raiders scarf dangling over an armchair. “Then I’ll move to Canberra and go to university.”

“Move to Canberra? Go to uni?” Jess sat up, spilling her chips. “But…why?”

“Why not? I’ve thought about going to uni before.” She paused as she registered the dismay on her sister’s face. “Oh, Jess. Don’t look so worried. I’m just talking.” But the concept of further study
had
floated in the back of her mind for some time…she’d just never discussed it with Jess.

“Maybe it
would
be good for you to make a fresh start, and you’d do so well at uni.” Jess chewed her lip, her face clouded. “It’s just that I… Well, I like having you around. It’s always nice to know you’re not far away, especially now…”

Something in her sister’s voice snagged Ally’s attention, and she dropped onto the couch next to her sister. “What do you mean? Is something…is something wrong with you?” Jess didn’t speak, and Ally’s imagination went into overdrive.

“No, nothing’s wrong with me.” Jess gave her a small deprecating smile. “It’s just that I’m pregnant again.”

For a moment, Ally just stared at her sister, then she clasped her arms around her and hugged her fiercely. “Oh, sis! That—that’s wonderful news!”

A dull ache throbbed low in her belly. She told herself it was psychosomatic and forced away the memories to muster a bright smile for her sister. “Another baby! You and Brian must be so thrilled. Have you told Nana yet?”

Jess grinned. “Not yet. I’m just a few weeks in. You’re the first to know.”

“No wonder Brian was so smoochy-smoochy when he said good-bye to you this afternoon.”

“He loves being a dad.” Jess’s smile faded at the edges. “I’m the one feeling a little overwhelmed this time. We didn’t plan this one, you see. I knew we were going to have more kids, but not so soon. In a few months I’ll have three children under the age of three, not to mention the business as well. I don’t know if I’ll be able to cope.”

“Jess, you’re the master of coping.” She gave her sister another hug. “I’m sure you’ll find a way to manage. You always do.”

“Do I? Well, sometimes it gets very tiring always being the person who holds it together. Sometimes it would be nice to just let myself go to pieces.”

Ally blinked. When had her sister ever gone to pieces? Even when their parents had died Jess had remained the stoic big sis who’d been there to comfort her, keeping her own tears private.

“I’m here for you, sis. Whatever you need to get you through this, just call me. I mean it.”

“Thanks.” Taking Ally’s hand, she pressed it against her still-flat abdomen. “And the baby thanks you, too.”

Against her palm, Ally felt her sister’s taut stomach, and she imagined the tiny fetus curled up inside, delicate and precious like a rosebud. Involuntarily her teeth clamped against the inside of her cheek. Something warm and salty pricked her tongue. She flattened her lips and swallowed, the blood trickling down to join the ache still secreted inside her.

Ally plunged the sponge into the bucket of water, crushed it between her hands, then swept it over the shelf. Her knees were sore from kneeling on the wooden floor, and her hands were red and chafed. Some way to be spending a Sunday evening. She ought to be relaxing in a bubble bath or reading a book, but she was too pent-up to lie still. Not after Sunday dinner at Jess’s place, with Nana giving her the third degree about both Paul and the gift shop, and then going into a tizzy when Jess had told her about her pregnancy.

She grimaced and scrubbed the already pristine shelf even harder. While her grandma had fussed over Jess, Ally had been aware of that dull ache in her again. She didn’t like feeling jealous of her sister. She
wasn’t
jealous; she was more…heartsore.

So now she was cleaning the shop, preparing it for the new stock that would be arriving the next week. Already she had planned the layout and printed out flyers to distribute in the following days.

A tap on the front door had her frowning. Just because the lights were on, people assumed the shop was open. Couldn’t they read the sign? Pulling herself to her feet, she took a couple steps toward the door, then halted. Peering at her through the glass was Seth.

She froze, and her mind went blank.

He gave her a sheepish wave, his expression tentative, as if he fully expected her to snub him. That did it. If he thought she couldn’t face him after all this time, he could think again. Chin up, she walked over to the door and unlocked it.

Seth dipped his head. “Uh, hi…”

“Hello, Seth.” She looked him up and down, cucumber cool. “This is a surprise. Looking for a last-minute gift for your fiancée? I have some Angora sweaters she’d simply adore.”

“Um…no…I didn’t come to buy anything…” He shuffled his feet on her doormat.

“No? Then I’ll have to ask you to leave. I’m terribly busy at the moment.”

“Oh, well, I guess I could have a look around.”

An icy control had taken hold of her. She held the door open. “Come inside, then.”

Seth edged into the shop, blinking furtively under the bright lights. The years had altered the man she’d thought she would spend the rest of her life with. His clothes were slick, his haircut expensive. He looked like he worked out at a gym, which was just as well because a shadow of fat had begun to dog his chin.
The pampered life of a city fat cat
, she thought caustically. The easy-going, down-to-earth country boy she’d known had turned into a metrosexual.

He glanced about him, avoiding her eye. “Nice place you’ve got here.”

“I like it.” She walked over to the rack of Angora sweaters she’d been about to pack away and grabbed the most hideous one, a bright pink puffball adorned with bobbles and ribbons. “Here. I’ve got the perfect gift for you—any woman would love to wear this. It’s the latest thing this spring.” She thrust the garment into his hands.

Alarm flickered over Seth’s face. “I don’t know if this is Paige’s taste.”

She paused, waiting for the mention of his fiancée’s name to trigger some response in her. Jealousy, irritation, curiosity…but there was nothing. She waited another moment, but still nothing. Nothing except relief. Relief that she could look at him with dispassionate eyes and know she was well and truly over him. That she was a hundred times better off without him. That she’d had a lucky escape. Oh, the relief.

But that didn’t mean she was ready to go easy on him.

“I’m telling you, that sweater is a guaranteed winner.” She fixed him with a penetrating gaze as she picked up another sweater and pressed it on him. “In fact, I insist you buy a second one for Paige’s mother. Crystal will love wearing this on television, absolutely love it. I take all major credit cards.” She held out her palm toward him.

“Oh…I don’t…” His cheeks puffed in and out before he relented and dug in his pocket for his wallet. “Okay, here you go.”

She took his credit card and sauntered to the counter to process the sale.

Seth shuffled up behind her. “I guess I can afford it,” he muttered.

Her spine stiffened but she remained silent. She punched the keys of the cash register, glad to charge several hundred dollars to Seth’s account. Not that he would care much. That jacket of his alone must have cost him thousands. He had the same expensive tastes as Nate, yet he wasn’t half as attractive. Money had made Seth sleek and self-satisfied, but Nate wasn’t altered by his wealth. After all, he was willing to swap his city penthouse for his brother’s modest house. But why was she comparing Seth to Nate, anyway? Why was she even thinking about Nate?

She completed the sale, folded the two sweaters into a bag, and handed it to Seth with a bland smile as if he were just another of her customers. “Enjoy. So glad you could pop by.”

“Can we talk?”

She sighed, suddenly weary. It was heartening to realize Seth did nothing for her pulse rate anymore, but that didn’t mean she wanted to spend more time with him. He was a part of her past, a past from which she wanted to move on.

“Seth.” Spreading her hands on the counter, she kept her voice low and firm as she said, “What’s done is done. I don’t want to rehash the past. I don’t have any opinion about you marrying Paige. It’s your life, and you can do what you want.”

He exhaled a long breath, his shoulders relaxing. “Oh, you don’t know how glad I am to hear you say that. I’ve been a bit worried, you know. I thought you might be kind of weird about the whole thing.”

“Weird?” She frowned. “What do you mean, weird?”

He shrugged, his usual uncommunicative self. “Oh, y’know, I thought you might still have it in for me. A woman scorned, and all that kind of thing.”

A tiny hammer thudded against the insides of her temples. “And just what exactly did you think I’d do in revenge? Boil your pet bunny?”

He gave an uneasy laugh. “I really don’t know.”

“No, you don’t, do you? You don’t have a clue.” Her fingers curled into the flesh of her palm. “You know what? I am so relieved we didn’t get married. Because it’s obvious you don’t know me at all, and when I look at you now with your fancy clothes”—she waved at him—“I realize I don’t know you, either. Isn’t that strange? After everything we’ve been through, you’re like a stranger to me now.”

Seth opened and shut his mouth a couple of times. “So…we’re good, then?”

She widened her eyes, wondering if he was being deliberately obtuse. “Sure, Seth. We’re all right.” Despite herself, she couldn’t help adding, “Does Paige know you’re here?”

His gaze slid away from her. “Well, that’s the thing…”

She shook her head in disbelief. “You haven’t told her, have you? About being engaged to me and jilting me on our wedding day.”

“Not exactly.”

She rolled her eyes. “Why haven’t you told her?”

“I don’t know.” He scratched behind his ear. “It never came up. I don’t talk much about Burronga. When I left for Sydney, I wanted a clean break.”

From her. Despite everything, a tiny tentacle of pain brushed against her. “That’s a shoddy excuse, Seth. You should have told her about me, especially when you decided to get married, and even more so when she wanted to have the wedding here. What’s going to happen when she finds out about it from someone else? I don’t think she’ll be very happy, do you?”

He licked his lips, the furtive expression sliding back onto his face. “That’s, uh, why I’m here.”

Her mouth fell open. “You think I might blab to her? Is that it? I don’t know what to be offended at the most. That you would keep me a secret, or that you think I would try to screw up your wedding.” She glowered at him, his muteness only fueling her irritation. She ought to make him squirm and grovel, but the prospect left her cold. She didn’t want revenge. She just wanted him out of her life for good.

She waved him off, tired of his company. “You don’t deserve it, Seth, but I won’t do anything to mess up your wedding.”

His shoulders relaxed. “That’s great, Ally. I really appreciate it. I knew you’d come through for me.”

“I’m not doing it for you; I’m doing it for Paige. I feel sorry for her. It’s none of my business, but you shouldn’t be keeping secrets from her.”

“I—I’ll tell her sometime. Everything’s such a rush at the moment. There’s no time for anything with the wedding just two weeks from now.”

“Why are you guys in such a hurry to get married anyway?” She drew in a quick breath. “Is Paige…?” The word stuck in her gullet. Why couldn’t she say it? It happened all the time. And given the hastiness of the wedding, it was the logical thing to suspect. She wasn’t the first to think it, even if she couldn’t verbalize it.