Fly with Me (16 page)

Simon watched
her hands, noted how her fingers continued to move restlessly,
linking and unlinking, rubbing against each other. More than
anything he wanted to take those small hands in his, hold them
gently, squeeze them reassuringly, but to distract her now would be
the worse thing he could do. It took all he had not to swear.

“Then
something bad happened to a friend of mine. Something really
bad.”

Yeah, he knew
who, too, and what. Ash had been raped. However, she had no idea he
knew and he’d never tell her, no matter what happened. If Ash ever
wanted to tell him, he was more than ready to listen, but until
then he said nothing.

“Calum had
arranged for me to sing somewhere that same night but no way in
hell was I leaving my best friend. I drew the line that night.
Well, one of a couple. It was certainly the beginning. I refused to
go anywhere for several months, then I refused to leave the city
until I knew she was okay. You don’t leave your friend suffering
alone.” For the first time Elissa looked at him, fire of a
different kind burning in her eyes. “You just don’t.”

“I know,” he
agreed softly.

“I saw what
happened, and all I could do was be there for her. It was an
eye-opener. Anything in life could happen. Slowly but surely I
started cutting back, I started doing what I wanted though I was
still tied into the contract, and when Calum and my parents found I
wanted out of that contract they put the screws in. I was reminded
so often of what my family had given up for me, how much I owed
them that I could never repay, how much I owed Calum for my slow
but sure rise up society’s ladder. The bugger of it was I didn’t
want it. Moz never gave up on me, he was always telling me to do
what I wanted with my life, that I didn’t owe anyone anything. Then
I found out the one thing that killed it all for me.” She looked at
him.

He returned
her gaze steadily, silently encouraging her.

“Don’t mistake
me. I like singing, love it, but it’s not my life. I have fun with
it. I go to several pubs without anyone really knowing who I am, I
don’t charge anything, just go up on stage and sing my heart out. I
rock along and I have a hell of a good time. That’s what singing is
for me, fun, not my life. The final straw came when I was in the
last city where I flew over from home with Calum to sing at one of
the big clubs. The night before I snuck into a pub I knew and sang,
had a great time. Afterwards I was in the back of the pub when the
phone rang. It was Moz. He’d found out something that was going to
change my life. Turned out my parents were never in danger of
losing their home. It had been paid for years before, and their
bank accounts were fatter than mine with all the cuts they got from
my singing. Mum was my manager, remember? Trusted her a little bit
too much, turns out.” The bleakness in Elissa’s eyes was stark,
raw. “Can you imagine? Emotionally blackmailed by my own loving
parents. They were living high on the hog over my back.”

“That would
have been a shock.” How inane did those pathetic words sound in the
face of what she’d revealed?

Elissa’s teeth
clenched before she forced the tightness from her jaw. “You can
imagine I was in no mood to face anyone, but everywhere I turned
there was nothing but people. I knew part of the fourth floor was
empty.”

Fourth
floor?
Simon’s eyes narrowed.
Fourth floor? In the city?
She’d sung in a pub?

“Yeah,” Elissa
said tiredly. “That night you found me crying my eyes out? That
wasn’t the best night of my life.”

“Jesus, Lis.”
He couldn’t help it, took her hand, drew it up to his lips and
pressed a kiss to her knuckles.

“You were so
sweet, Simon, so kind. But I promised myself I wouldn’t become
involved with anyone until I found myself. I refused to re-sign the
contract with Calum before I came here. I have no intention of
going back to that life. I have no intention of supporting my
lying, deceiving parents.” Her voice cracked. “I lost a lot of
years propping them up. It’s time I find myself.”

“You have a
lot of catching up to do,” he agreed.

“I do. I don’t
think I’m exactly stable. Not that I’m unstable or anything.
Cripes, that didn’t come out right.”

Simon grinned.
“I know what you mean.”

“You don’t
have to worry about me.”

“Okay.” He
would, anyway, because there was something about her that just
pulled at him, pulled at his protective instincts.

“I’m just
trying to find myself. People are still trying to make demands of
me, I don’t want what they’re demanding. I’m not going to fold
again.”

“Still
pushing?” He nodded. “Still ringing you?”

“Yeah. That’s
kind of why I did my block and threw the phone out. My version of a
temper tantrum.” She grinned a little sheepishly. “My parents and
Calum aren’t inclined to take ‘no’ for an answer. It’s going to
take awhile for them to accept it.”

“But you made
the break.”

“Yeah, I did.”
She sighed. “Sometimes the pressure still gets to me a little, such
as when they ring and try to make me come back. Weak, huh?”

“Not weak at
all. Pressure to do what you don’t want to do can be enough to
break anyone.”

“Do you think
I’m not strong enough to stand under the pressure?”

Did he? For
years she’d been under some pretty heavy shit of the kind that
could be soul-destroying. Simon studied her, from the top of that
glossy, fair hair to the tip of that small, determined chin. Those
cute little apple cheeks were pale, but there was a definite glint
in those big, brown eyes that spoke of a strong backbone.

He didn’t know
her personally, not that much, but instinct told him that Elissa
wasn’t ready to give up yet, wouldn’t buckle under the pressure.
Troubled, anxious, stressed, but she was trying to find herself.
That spoke of hope, of determination, not giving up.

Leaning
forward slowly so as not to alarm her, he couldn’t help but notice
the way those beautiful eyes widened. But nor did she draw away or
hold up a hand to keep the distance between them.

Bracing one
hand on the brake, his elbow on the backrest of the seat, he
regarded her steadily. “No, Lis, I don’t think you’ll buckle under
the pressure.”

Her gaze was
searching. “You sure?”

“Yep.”

Out of the
blue, a faint smile flirted around those lush lips. “Always so sure
of yourself, aren’t you?”

“I am when I
know I’m right.”

“I’ll keep
that in mind.”

Glad to see
the humour sparkling in her eyes, the trace of worry banished for a
brief instant, Simon laughed. “You do that.”

She relaxed
against the door. “You’re an easy man to talk to, Simon.”

“Thanks.” He
winked. “I do try.”

He was
rewarded by those lush lips curving into a big smile. He couldn’t
help but be drawn to those lips, to the lushness, the way her eyes
sparkled with amusement. With the worry banished she looked so
pretty, so sweet. Beguiling. He wanted a taste of those lips, see
if they were as delicious as he’d remembered.

Simon was
unconsciously leaning even closer when she suddenly straightened,
her gaze drawn to the windscreen as a truck rumbled past in clear
view.

“The rain has
eased up. Wow.” She wound down the window. “I hadn’t even
noticed.”

Damn the rain.
Damn the truck. With a silent sigh, Simon eased back into the seat.
Probably for the best, anyway. Damn it.

“I better get
you back to the fire station and return home, Ash’ll be wondering
what’s happened.” She reached for the money. “I’ll just dash inside
and get the bread.”

“Let me.” He
plucked the five dollar note from her fingers. “You stay in
here.”

“I can do
it.”

“You can, but
you’re not.” Opening the door, he shivered as he got out. “It’s
getting cold now. Start the car, turn on the heater, de-mist the
windscreen.” When she didn’t reply, he bent down to look in at her
questioningly. She was staring at him. “What?”

“Wow. I just
saw you go from sweet and easy to bossy and domineering in zero
point two seconds.”

Really? Huh,
he hadn’t even noticed. At work he’d done it, when in the middle of
a fire, helping people, at accidents, he had no qualms with giving
orders, no hesitation in pulling the authoritarian shit if it was
called for, but he rarely did it during a normal day. “Sorry.”
But interesting
.

“Don’t be.
It’s kind of hot.” Almost instantly she coloured, her hand coming
up to cover her mouth in mortification.

His eyebrows
shot up in amusement. Okay, that was good to hear, too. Even better
to know. And damned if she didn’t just look so cute there with
those apple cheeks now almost scarlet. He just knew his grin was
all teeth.

When he just
kept looking at her, using the silence for all it was worth to see
what she’d end up saying, she finally glanced away, biting her
bottom lip. “Um…the bread?”

Looked like
she was going to do the ‘admit nothing’ routine.

Silently
laughing, Simon straightened and strode around the building, going
into the service station café to get the bread. The rain started
sprinkling down a little heavier in the short time he was inside
and he stepped out to find that she’d parked the car next to the
veranda so he didn’t have to get wet.

She’d regained
her composure. With a slightly cooler smile, she started the car
and pulled out onto the road. There was a slight tension in her
shoulders again, no doubt put there because of her blurted
admission. However, broaching the subject wasn’t going to help
their friendship develop further so he kept quiet.

When she
pulled the car up in front of the fire station doorway, he took the
bags from behind the seat. “Thanks for the lift, Lis.”

“No worries.”
She watched him get out, surprise evident on her face when he
walked around the front of the car to bend down beside the driver’s
door. Winding down the window, she raised questioning brows.

“Drive home
safely,” he said. “If the rain teems down heavily again, pull to
the side of the road and put your hazard lights on.”

“Okay.”

“Don’t try to
keep going no matter how tempting.”

“I’m not that
silly,” she replied a trifle tartly.

Hmm, a little
prickly. No help for that now. Simon couldn’t stop himself from
reaching out to touch the shadows under her eyes. “And get some
sleep.”

Yep, that
shocked the shit out of her. Her mouth fell open. “I beg your
pardon?”

“Sorting
yourself out requires a clear head. You’re tired. Get some
rest.”

Now her brows
drew together in irritation. Okay, that looked cute as well. “I
think you’re overstepping your boundaries, Simon.”

“Really?” He
smiled easily.

“Yes.”

“Huh. Anyway,
try sleeping in instead of getting up at the arse-crack of dawn and
walking.”

“I don’t sleep
well so I walk.” There was a hint of lash in her voice. “If it’s
any business of yours.”

“Sweetheart,”
he drawled, enjoying the flash of spirit in her eyes, “you’re my
friend. Of course it’s my business.” Before she could retort hotly,
Simon couldn’t help but teasingly chuck her under the chin. “Catch
you later.”

“Not if I run
you over first,” she shot back.

Laughing, he
stood back, watching as she put the car in gear and drove off.
Cripes, he just couldn’t help but yank her chain a little, her
temper was welcome proof of her spirit and certainly suited her
better than tears.

Turning, he
strode the few feet to the huge, open doorway of the fire
station.

Leaning
against the door frame with his arms folded, Ryder eyed him
curiously. Beside him Scott stood, legs slightly braced apart,
hands in pockets, also eyeing him curiously. Beside him stood Kirk
in jeans and jumper, and damned if he wasn’t eyeing him curiously
as well.

“Hi.” He
walked past them. Obviously they had something on their minds, it
was just a matter of waiting for them to spring it on him, whatever
it was.

“Two bags.”
Ryder fell in beside him. “How much food is left in there?”

“I didn’t
touch a bite.”

“Jesus, a
miracle has occurred in our very own town.”

Scott fell in
on his other side. “So, Elissa was out and about, hey?”

“Yep. Out
getting bread for dinner.” Entering the kitchenette, Simon plonked
the bags on the table. “Food should still have some heat, but we
might have to bung the chips in the microwave and give them a
blast.”

Opening the
bags, Ryder started to unload the variety of meat pies, boxes of
hot chips, bags of Dim Sims and Chiko Rolls, and the beef salad
roll. “That’s it? Nothing for your snack?”

“The roll is
my snack.” Simon grabbed it and popped it into the ‘fridge. “A
little something to tide me over until end of shift.”

“Because God
forbid you get stuck for two hours before knock-off with no more
tucker.”

“I knew you’d
understand.”

Kirk dropped
into one of the seats, ripping open the paper bag containing his
hot meat pie.

“Anyway, how
come you’re not home eating with Molly?” Ryder queried. “She
finally see sense and kick your arse out?”

“I dropped her
off at Mrs Preston’s to look at Scott’s old crib,” Kirk replied.
“Mrs Preston had a stack of photo albums and when they started
cooing and ahhing over them, I knew I was in for a long
evening.”

“So he left
her there and came to spend time with us.” Scott took a handful of
chips before dropping the rest into a big bowl and placing it into
the microwave. “Apparently he didn’t want to see my naked baby
photos.”

“Bet your
arse.” Kirk stretched back in the chair, crossing his ankles.