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“Yes, Mack, the first thing I did when I wanted to fuck my brother’s best mate was ask his permission.”
He raises an eyebrow.
“You’re only four years older than me,” I snap, “so stop treating me like I’m fourteen.”
“I’m just concerned, that’s all. He’s a softie. If you two get involved, he won’t find it easy when you leave.”
My jaw drops. “You’re worried aboutTitusgetting hurt? Jesus.”
“You girls have a habit of turning us guys into mush.”
I drop my gaze to my feet. “It doesn’t always happen that way,” I mumble.
He sighs then, and he pulls me into his arms. “Ah, yeah, I forgot about your ex. Shit. I’m sorry.”
I drop my forehead on his shoulder. “Don’t berate me. I didn’t mean for it to happen, and neither did he.” I turn my head and rest my cheek on his chest. “He was so good to me. He drove across the country to make sure I was all right when Jason turned up on my doorstep. He’s just the best guy I’ve ever met. He’s smart and funny and kind and sexy. And he lives on the other side of the fucking world, and I don’t know what I’m going to do.”
Suddenly my face is wet, and all the emotion that I’ve been keeping a lid on threatens to bubble over.
“Hey, it’s okay.” He tightens his arms. “I’m sorry, I thought it was just a fling.”
“It is. But I really like him, Mack.”
“Does he feel the same way?”
I nod without looking up. “I’m going to stay with him while I’m here.”
“Aw, and he’s had to catch a cab. You should have told me.”
I wipe my face and move back as the barista calls Mack’s name. “You caught us by surprise.”
He fetches our coffees, and then we sit on a couple of seats by the van. I have a sip of mine, letting out a shaky breath as the hot liquid warms me through.
He mirrors my pose, leaning forward, elbows on his knees, holding his cup, and bumps his shoulder against mine. “If it’s meant to be, it’ll work out. He’s very resourceful.”
“I know. But either I have to move here or he has to move there. It’s pretty simple.” I bite my lip.
Mack has a swig of coffee. “Let me tell you a little story about Lawrence Oates. When he was seventeen, he went camping with some of his cousins in Kahurangi National Park. They planned to follow the river and camp for a few days, but fog set in, and they got disoriented. They walked further than they realized, and they lost their bearings. Saxon slipped down a steep gully, sprained his ankle, banged his head, and got a concussion. He was pretty groggy, and Titus was really worried about him. It started raining heavily, and the temperatures were minus eight at night. But Titus stayed level-headed, and got them to make camp in a clearing by some fresh water. When their food ran out after five days, he found cabbage tree shoots, supplejacks, and mushrooms to eat for another two days. He lit a fire to keep them warm, and told them stories and jokes to keep their morale up. A rescue helicopter spotted the smoke from the fire and winched them to safety.”
My jaw has dropped. “Shit, really? I didn’t know.”
“Titus just laughs it off, but I think he probably saved their lives. People have died out there in the bush. What I’m trying to say is that when this guy wants something bad enough, he tends to find a way. So have a little faith and let him work it out. He’ll get there.”
I wipe under my eyes and blow out a long breath. “I’ll try.”
He bumps my shoulder again. “Come on. I’ll take you to his place.”
We rise, and he shoulders my flight bag and insists on pulling my case for me as we walk out of the airport and cross to the car park. He presses the button on his key fob to a gorgeous Aston Martin, and hefts the case and bag in the boot.
“No Jamie today?” I ask as I get in the passenger side, referring to his brother, who’s also his driver.
He gets behind the wheel and buckles in. “No, would you believe his wife is also at the hospital seeing her midwife today?”
“Oh, I didn’t know she was pregnant. When is she due?”
He starts the engine, and the car purrs into life. He heads off toward the state highway. “At the end of August. He’s very excited. They got married earlier in the year. They only wanted a quiet wedding in the local registry office. He’s so happy with Emma.”
“That’s nice. And I hear you’re a happily married man now, too.”
