As they reached the front of the queue, tension radiated off Bindi, and Elora wondered if her need for work was more than just a keenness for employment and had more to do with financial troubles. If anyone understood, she did.
‘What are you having? My treat.’
‘No way.’ Bindi shook her head, her lips set in a stubborn line. ‘I invited you.’
Elora understood pride. She’d contemplated asking her parents for the money to pay off Jason and be free of him once and for all, but the thought of them knowing her business didn’t sit well with her, especially as they rarely checked in anyway.
But pride didn’t pay the bills, so if Bindi needed a helping hand, she’d step up. ‘Please. I’d like to buy you lunch to thank you for being so welcoming last night. It can be tough being the new chick in town and I really did have a great time.’
Bindi studied her face for a moment too long, as if searching for the slightest hint of pity, before she nodded. ‘Thanks. I’ll have a small latte, milk and one sugar, and one of Marco’s famous gyros.’
‘They smell amazing, but I had a big brekkie.’
Unfortunately, her expression must’ve betrayed her again, because Bindi winked and said, ‘Did Cruz cook it for you? What with him being a chef and all …’
‘He did,’ she said, unable to stop another blush, and Bindi laughed.
‘I haven’t seen Cruz in twelve years, but from what I remember, he was a lone wolf, so I think it’s great he’s hanging out with you while you’re here.’ She pretended to frown. ‘Just don’t break his heart, okay? I’m protective of my boys, even if they were pains in the arse in high school.’
‘Noted.’ Elora placed their order and moved to the side. ‘Were you close to all of them?’
‘Thommo and Robbo were always goofballs, so they were fun to hang out with. Kyle’s a good friend, but Cruz hovered on the outskirts, not wanting to have anything to do with us. We still invited him along anyway.’ Bindi smiled. ‘I’ve got a few old pics on my phone …’ she trailed off, patting the pockets of her jeans. ‘Damn, I’ve left it in the car. Be back in a sec.’
Bindi sprinted across the town square to a row of cars parked behind the kids’ playground and headed straight for the old green SUV Elora had seen by the pool. The same car she assumed the homeless woman lived in.
Stunned, she realised the desperation behind Bindi’s need for employment.
Her new friend must be homeless.
CHAPTER
25
After emptying the shed and sourcing tables and benches online from a local business, Cruz turned to the more pressing matter of finding new buyers for the farm’s avocados. The local growers’ association seemed the best place to start and the resources on their website blew him away. But after calling several of the companies listed and not getting further than the receptionist making bookings to meet with buyers, his frustration grew. He should’ve known the old boys’ club mentality hadn’t changed.
When he’d finished high school, his father had dragged him along to a growers’ association meeting and he’d been bored out of his brain, watching a bunch of farmers try to one-up each other with tall tales and boasts of how much their last harvest yielded. Even Mac had become animated among that group, shaking hands and back slapping with the best of them, and unfortunately, it looked like Cruz might have to do the same.
Grimacing, he popped the date for the next meeting into his phone and stood, needing a break from the computer. Pruning had always worked off his frustrations in the past but as he strolled outside and glanced at the studio, he could think of a better way. He’d heard El’s car pull up about fifteen minutes ago and before he could second-guess his intentions, he strode to her door and knocked on it.
When she opened it and caught sight of him, her face lit up, and something in the vicinity of his heart twanged. He’d never had a woman look at him the way El did, and rather than the novelty terrifying him, he wanted to drag her into his arms and squeeze her tight.
‘Hey,’ he said, unexpectedly tongue-tied as he struggled to explain why he’d knocked on her door.
‘Is it time for our next tour?’ She leaned on the door, her blue eyes boring into him with the intensity of a laser, as if she could slice right through his excuses and get to the truth: that he wanted to be invited in and have a repeat of last night.
‘No, I’ve got some pruning to do first.’ He settled for a little honesty. ‘I’ve been scoping out potential buyers for our produce and it’s frustrating, because they’re a close-knit bunch with Rottweiler receptionists as gatekeepers.’
She laughed and his tension instantly eased. ‘Hang in there. Once I pull together a complete campaign for this place, you’ll have them breaking down your door, wanting to buy your avocados.’
‘Hope so.’
‘Actually, that’s what I’m working on right now.’
He got the message. Walk away and leave her alone. The only logical thing to do. Then why did he want to pick her up, back her into the room and kick the door shut?
‘Okay, I’ll leave you to it. Just wanted to check in.’ Hell, could he sound any lamer?
‘I’ll consider myself checked.’ She licked the tip of her finger and made a tick sign in the air, oblivious to how badly he wanted to lick her all over. ‘Once I’m done, I’ll come find you, okay? There are a few things I want to discuss.’
