‘Go.’ She shooed him away and closed the door before her self-control shredded and she hauled him in.
She changed into bootleg dark denim, a black singlet, and a red silk shirt that she knotted at the waist, then ran a brush through her hair before waving a mascara wand over her lashes and slicking crimson lipstick over her lips. After mashing them together, she puckered up at the mirror and bared her teeth to check for staining.
She liked red. Vibrant and bold, the exact opposite of how she felt most days. She’d never forgotten her mum’s motto: ‘Fake it till you make it’. She missed her parents something fierce, happy for their independent lives but feeling more alone than ever at times.
Elora had no idea why her mood had plummeted. She’d had a productive day, had a fun night out to look forward to, and had a gorgeous guy she could flirt with if so inclined. Along with the potential to pick up a lucrative job, if Cruz hired her to promote his new restaurant.
Deep down, though, she knew the reason behind her jitters. Her mum might have been right about faking it, but doing it exhausted her. Her forced, upbeat personality became rote, but when she finally slowed down, like now, at the end of a busy day, reality snuck up on her.
Was she doing a good job?
Was she skilled enough?
Was she happy?
That last one was always the kicker, because what terrified Elora more than allowing people to see her anxiety was the prospect that after all she’d done to create the perfect-on-the-outside life for herself, she still wasn’t truly satisfied.
‘Shut up,’ she muttered, poking her tongue out at her reflection before spinning away and stalking back into the studio to grab her bag.
Cruz had the engine running and gave the horn a jaunty toot when he saw her. She liked off-to-the-pub Cruz. He seemed a lot more relaxed than his farming counterpart.
Then again, she couldn’t blame him. Leaving Melbourne and a job he loved to be stuck here for a year must be disorienting. Not to mention that he appeared to be haunted by his past, so who knows what unpleasant memories being here had dredged up?
Determined to be cheery enough for them both, she opened the passenger door and leaned in. ‘Got room for a city girl searching for adventure tonight?’
‘Get in,’ he said, his smile genuine, and doing wicked things to her insides.
‘I thought you’d never ask.’ She batted her eyelashes, the flare of amusement in his eyes alerting her that he might be up for some lighthearted flirtation.
However, as they hit the road and left the farm behind, Cruz said, ‘You and Kyle seem to hit it off.’
‘He’s a good guy and I could really go for him.’ She paused for dramatic effect. ‘Pity he’s got his eyes set on some old friend from high school. You probably know her.’
‘What do you mean you could go for him?’
‘That’s what you take out of what I said? Aren’t you the slightest bit curious who Kyle’s crazy over?’
‘Nope. I’m more curious about your dubious taste in men.’
‘I kissed you, didn’t I?’
Cruz made an odd, strangled sound and turned on the radio.
She chuckled. ‘For what it’s worth, I was joking. If I was to go for a country boy, I prefer one dressed like a stealth ninja.’
‘I like wearing black.’ His voice had lost the annoyed edge.
‘I like you wearing black,’ she said, then wolf whistled, and he snorted.
‘I’ve never been one for the games people play when they’re attracted to one another.’
‘No games. Just some healthy flirting. Are you up for that?’
As they turned onto Main Street and Cruz found a park ten cars away from the pub, he turned to her, his smile pure devilry. ‘I’m up for anything with you.’
‘That’s more like it.’
Their gazes locked and an undeniable buzz arced between them, making her silk sleeves stick to her arms with static.
