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Julie’s mouth lifted in the slightest hint of a smirk as she watched the interplay without saying anything.
A little voice at the back of his brain told him this smelled a lot like a set-up. And the indignant line of Bindi’s mouth, and the way Julie’s eyes sparkled with mirth, supported his theory.
“Come on then, let’s get going so we can be home for lunch.”
Bindi hesitated, her gaze going from Skylar to Julie and back, an ever-deepening frown darkening her brow. Her black eye had faded now to a yellowish light-gray, but it still reminded him of the accident every time he looked at her. Reminded him how close they’d come to losing their lives. His own facial bruising was also fading, and hopefully, they’d both look almost normal by the time the wedding came around.
Bindi had definitely been avoiding him over the past week. Maybe this little plan Skylar had hatched to throw them together might be a good thing, after all. Give him time to find out what was going on behind that tense smile of hers.
Skylar took the lead, scurrying around the kitchen, writing out a list for Bindi—probably a list she dreamed up on the spot—and handing over the corporate credit card for her purchases.
Mack’s patience was just beginning to wear thin when Daniella breezed through the doorway.
“Mack, I thought I heard your voice. Oh, and Bindi, you’re here, too. Good. I just got a call to say your replacement phones have arrived.”
“We’re actually heading into town right now, that’s amazing timing,” Mack replied with a smile. This was great news. He was beginning to wonder if his new phone was ever going to arrive. Things certainly took longer out here in the back of nowhere.
“Good.” Daniella waved a brisk hand in the air and turned on her heel to head back to her office.
“Okay, I’m ready,” Bindi finally announced, and he led the way out of the kitchen.
In less than two minutes, they were simultaneously sliding into their seats in the car and Mack turned on the ignition. The enclosed cabin suddenly seemed too small and the air between them sparked to life, buzzing with tension. He caught a whiff of her shampoo as she flicked her braid over her shoulder to buckle her seatbelt. Mmm, grapefruit, he remembered it from the other night. Fresh and invigorating. It was certainly invigorating him as the memories took hold. Particular body parts of him, that was. How soft her skin had been. The way she giggled as he licked his way down to the sensitive spot in the small hollow of her hipbone. The way her dark hair fanned out like silk across the blanket as she gazed up at him, watching his face so intently.
Down, boy. He wasn’t going to start fantasizing about their one-night stand. She was obviously over it, and he should be, too.
“Was that whole little spiel back there what I thought it was?” Mack asked, reaching over to turn on the air con.
“If you’re asking, were we set up? Then yes, I’m pretty confident we were,” she replied, raising one dark eyebrow in his direction. “Sorry about that. Skylar seems to think… Well, I’m not sure what she thinks, but whatever it is, she’s wrong.”
Mack didn’t miss the slight pink flush at the base of Bindi’s throat, but he pretended to ignore it, as he asked, “I’m assuming you haven’t said anything about our little liaison the other night?” It was a relevant question, especially after the way Skylar and Julie had acted.
“God, no,” she said, and he wondered at the intensity of her denial. “I don’t know where those two get their crazy notions from,” she added, almost as an afterthought.
She’d already said she didn’t regret sleeping with him, but perhaps she’d changed her mind. Which was a shame, because the way his blood was running hot through his veins right now, he was pretty sure he’d jump at the chance to do it again, if she ever asked.
“You haven’t mentioned it to anyone, have you?” she asked sharply, her beautiful eyes narrowing with suspicion.
“Nope. I’m a man of my word,” he said, holding his hand over his heart, pretending to be deeply hurt by her veiled accusation. And it had hurt a little more than he liked to admit.
An awkward silence descended over the cabin as Mack guided the car through the main gates and onto the road into town. He wanted to ask her if her thoughts about their one-night stand had changed. Ask her why she seemed to be avoiding him.
“Have you had any more headaches?” she blurted suddenly, catching him off guard. “I mean, since the car accident.”
He shook his head. Surprisingly, the answer was no. Like her, he’d half been expecting the dizzy spells to return with a vengeance, especially after the airbag going off in his face. But apart from the normal pain radiating from his broken nose, the more severe headaches hadn’t made an appearance. What didn’t surprise him was that Bindi was still concerned about his welfare. Because that was just the sort of person she was.
“That’s good,” she said with an exhale of relief.
“Yeah,” he agreed, going for nonchalance.
“How’s the insurance claim coming along for your car?”
“What?” Mack was taken aback at the change in topic. “Oh, right. Ah, slowly but surely.”
“So, they’re going to pay you out for a brand-new car? That’s great.”
He eased the car up to speed and settled back farther into his seat. Driving on the wrong side of the road still took more focus than he was used to.
“I guess so. Eventually.” He shrugged and glanced over at her. She looked no different from any other day working on the station. Slim legs encased in faded denim, brown leather boots and a dark blue shirt with a few dustings of what he assumed was flour on the shoulder. But now he knew what resided beneath those clothes, his imagination wanted to run riot. There was something about her. Something that tugged at a place in his chest no one else had ever touched before.
