Fly with Me (4 page)

“Not doing a
very good job of it.”

“You’re
telling me.”

Ignoring his
friends, Simon started inching along the branch, watching with a
sinking heart as Arthur backed further.

“Stop farting
around,” Scott called. “Just reach out and grab him.”

“Yeah,” Ryder
agreed. “Just grab the little fellow and hug him tight. Don’t be a
wuss and stress about his foot-long claws with the razor tips.”

“I’ll grab you
in a minute.” Simon leaned forward, arm out-stretched.

“You’re not my
type.”

“Here, kitty
kitty.” Simon watched the old cat closely.

The battered
tom eyed him narrowly in turn.

This wasn’t
getting him anywhere. Moving suddenly, Simon lunged forward,
grabbing the cat’s scruff.

Hell broke
loose.

Arthur threw
the equivalent of a panicked tantrum, springing up into the air
with surprising strength, and a loud crack sounded from the
branch.

“Oh shit!”

The branch
gave way.

Grabbing the
cat close in one arm, jerking his face away from the wildly waving
claws, Simon tried to get a footing on the ladder but he’d moved
too far from it. The branch parted company with the tree.

Midair, he
briefly contemplated his own stupidity at going up the tree after
spotting Arthur trying desperately to get down but seemingly unable
to. Now, for his good deed, he was falling while clutching a furry
bundle who now had his claws firmly stuck in Simon’s jacket.

Thank God he’d
been smart enough to put his heavy jacket on before going in
pursuit of the cat, that’s all he could think before his back hit
the grass, his breath exploded from him, and Arthur tore free of
his arms to disappear across the road.

Blinking, he
tried to regain his thoughts while taking stock of his body.

Arms intact?
Yes.

Back intact?
Yes.

Legs working?
Yes.

Head hit?
No.

Pair of
generous boobs hovering above his line of vision? Yes.

Wait.
What?

Simon blinked,
his gaze lifting past the generous boobs to the face hovering above
his.

Even from
upside down he could see the face was pretty. Light brown eyes,
small nose with a tip-tilted end, lush lips that were all soft and
pink, and rounded cheeks.

He blinked
again. She looked familiar.

“Hey, numb
nuts.” Ryder’s face came into his vision, blocking out the one
Simon preferred. “You all right?”

“Crap.”
Scott’s face appeared on the other side. “Simon?”

Seeing the
concern on his friends’ faces brought clarity back to Simon, and he
sat up, gingerly testing his arms and legs. “Yeah, I’m okay.”

“How’s your
back?” Ryder was down on one knee beside him.

“Fine. It’s
all good.” Simon pushed upright, getting his balance as he stood.
“No worries.”

“Man, I
thought that cat had finally killed you.” Scott shook his head.
“You’ve been chasing that thing for the last week.”

“Someone’s got
to get him.”

“Are you sure
you’re all right?” A soft hand touched his arm.

Scott’s
fiancée, Ash, stood next to him, concern on her face.

“Absolutely,”
he assured her. “I’m a tough nut to crack.”

“Depends where
you land,” Ryder said.

“I noticed you
didn’t try to break my fall.”

“I’m not paid
to break your fall.”

“Then what are
you paid for?”

“To patch you
up
after
the fall. Jesus, Simon, get a clue.”

“Ignore him.”
Ash patted Simon’s back. “He’s just being mean.”

“Only to
Simon.” Ryder winked at her. “Never to you, love.”

“You wouldn’t
want to.” Scott slid his arm around Ash’s waist, dropping a kiss on
top of her head. “I’d be the one doing the breaking then.”

Ash laughed.
“You’ll all be giving Elissa bad first impressions if you keep this
up.”

Elissa
.
Like his friends, Simon looked around to spot the woman whose
breasts had been hovering above him so tantalisingly, standing not
far off.

She stood
quietly, almost still. Unbidden, his gaze skimmed over her, taking
in the rubenesque figure clothed in navy linen slacks that hugged
rounded thighs before falling almost to the ground, the high heels
of her shoes just visible. A pale blue blouse blossomed out over
her breasts and dipped in at her waist before skimming lush hips.
Dainty lace edged the collar and the ends of the three quarter
sleeves.

Man, she might
have been pretty when he saw her from his prone position on the
ground, but she was even prettier from his upright position, her
fair hair swept up in some kind of bun thing at the back of her
head, light brown eyes locked on him, lush lips slightly parted
in…astonishment?

Wait a
minute…fair hair in a bun? Light brown eyes? Lush lips? Generously
curved figure?

He blinked
again as realisation hit him. It was her.
Lis
.

Crap on a
stick, his crying woman was in Gully’s Fall, and whoa, she didn’t
look happy to see him. He could see it instantly in her eyes, in
the way she held her shoulders stiffly, the subtle tightening of
her jaw line.

Oh man, she
was not happy to see him.

That had him
feeling strangely deflated because he had to admit, he’d felt a
little leap of happiness when he’d recognised her. Still, he’d play
this out, see what she was going to do. So rather than say her
name, he simply watched her.

Interestingly,
she watched him back, a pleasant blankness coming across her
face.

Ah, so she was
going to play it like that, not acknowledging that they’d even met
already. That should have annoyed him, instead it intrigued him.
Now why didn’t she want Ash to know she’d already met him? Hmmm,
the plot thickened.

Okay, he could
play the game. For now.

He smiled at
her. “Ma’am.”

She didn’t
move. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine.
Rescuing cats is part of a fireman’s job description.”

“Falling out
of trees isn’t,” Ryder added unhelpfully.

Ash stepped
away from Scott, reaching out to grab her friend’s hand and draw
her closer. “This is Elissa Baylon, my best friend.” She paused.
“My oldest best friend.” Another pause. “Not as in age.”

Elissa cast
her a wry look. “Thanks. I think.”

“I mean, I’ve
made some good friends since I came here, but you’re my oldest.
Again, not in age.”

“Quit while
you’re ahead.” Smiling, Elissa held her hand out to Scott. “Nice to
finally meet you. You must be Scott, I recognise you from the
photos Ash sent.”

“That’s me.”
Grinning widely, he shook her hand. “I’ve been looking forward to
meeting you since Ash first mentioned your name.”

“Hope I don’t
disappoint you, then.”

Scott was a
little taken back, but he rallied quickly. However, before he could
say anything Ash gestured. “This is Ryder, he’s the local paramedic
and heartbreaker.”

“Was.” Ryder
shook Elissa’s hand. “Dee kind of cramped my style.”

“I’d say you
cramped hers,” Scott said. “If I remember correctly, you were the
one chasing her, putting on the manly displays and shit.”

“What’s your
point?”

“I’ll tell you
later.”

“Don’t be coy
on my account,” Elissa said. “I’m sure I’ve heard worse, and will
certainly do so in the very near future.”

Simon wondered
if he was the only one who caught the sudden, fleeting bleakness
that slid through her brown eyes. It disappeared as swiftly as it
had appeared, her expression warming a little as she turned her
attention to him.

“And the brave
firie rescuing helpless animals, endangering life and limb along
the way.” She held out her hand. “Hi.”

Simon returned
her smile, his palm smoothing along hers, big hand curling gently
around her smaller, softer one.
Nice.
“I’m Simon.”
As if
you don’t know.
He met her gaze squarely.

She didn’t bat
an eyelid. “Pleased to meet you.”

“Same.” He
cocked a brow, playing along. “Here for the wedding, then?”

“Matron of
honour. Though I understand this wedding isn’t conventional.”

“Conventional
is boring,” Ryder stated.

“Scott and I
want a friendly, no-stress wedding.” Ash’s eyes twinkled. “We could
have done a Kirk and Molly and eloped, but I think Mrs Preston
would chase us down and do me some damage for leading her baby boy
astray.”

“It’s true.”
Scott grinned widely. “I am Mum’s baby boy.”

“And your mum
dotes on Ash,” Simon pointed out.

“I’m the best
man,” Ryder put in. “Don’t worry, Elissa, Dee won’t bite you when
we have to do the first dance with the bride and groom.”

She looked at
him. “I think the bride and groom do the first dance.”

“The second
then. Or something.” Ryder looked at Ash. “Isn’t there a law that
states the maid of honour and the best man have to do a turn on the
dance floor?”

“If there is,
it’s not at this wedding,” she replied firmly. “Elissa isn’t
burdened by that duty.”

Simon and
Scott snorted a laugh at the expression on Ryder’s face.

“Ash,” he
said, “you wound me. I didn’t think you had a nasty bone in your
body.”

“Elissa always
did bring out the worst in me.” She smiled widely at her
friend.

Affectionately, Elissa squeezed Ash’s hand. “I do my best. Alas,
Scott, your fiancé was always too sweet to twist to my perverted
ways.”

“Ash,” Scott
replied, looking down at her with love, “is and always will be a
sweetheart. My sweetheart.”

“Jesus.” Ryder
grimaced as Scott bent down to brush a soft kiss on Ash’s smiling
lips. “All this sweetness is giving me heartburn.”

Simon grinned,
but his attention was on Elissa. The woman watched her friend with
a smile on her lips and a touch of yearning in her eyes. There was
no bitterness, no jealousy, but the sadness was evident.

It was also
swift, appearing and disappearing in an instance, but Simon
recognised that look. Recognised it, catalogued it, and looked at
her anew, studying her closely. Whatever had been troubling her a
couple of months back was still a problem. Hmmm.

When her gaze
flicked up to his, he grinned easily. “Lovebirds. Always locked at
the lips.”

“Yes.” Elissa
studied him in turn, a slight frown creasing her smooth forehead,
right before a flicker of caution flashed in her eyes and she
glanced away.

Cripes, this
woman was a bundle of curiosities. Outwardly smiling as though he’d
noticed nothing unusual, inwardly he gauged her reaction. Why were
his internal alarm bells ringing when he didn’t have a clue what
was going on in her pretty head? Was it because she didn’t
acknowledge him, wanted to keep their meeting a secret?

Ash pulled
away from Scott. “I better get Elissa home. She just got off the
bus and I know she’s probably dying for a cuppa and to settle in.
We’ll see you tonight.” She sent him a last sweet smile while
hooking her hand through Elissa’s arm and turning her, leading her
back to the car which was parked at the curb. “Bye, guys.”

Simon turned
to his two friends as the car drove off down the street. “So that’s
Elissa.” And she wasn’t going anywhere fast, not now. Good. He had
time to track her down later.

“Yep. Talk
about bad timing. Here you had the chance of looking heroic and
they arrive just as you fall arse out the tree.” Scott shook his
head. “I
told
you that you were embarrassing us.”

“Guess she
relaxed when she saw that I was here to save your life.” Smoothing
his hand over his paramedic uniform, Ryder turned to Simon. “Feel
free to thank me.”

Simon flipped
him the finger.

“Lovely. Just
lovely.”

“All you did
was watch me fall out the tree.”

“So? I was
here to give you the breath of life if needed.”

“You are not
getting your gob anywhere near mine.” Simon shrugged out of the
heavy jacket, turning his thoughts to another, more immediate
problem. “Anyone see where Arthur went?”

Scott took
hold of the ladder. “Are you going to give up this chase for
him?”

“Nope.” Simon
slapped his gloves against his leg.

“He hates your
guts.”

“Or if he
didn’t then, he does now,” Ryder added.

“Look, Mrs
Tanner died a week ago. That cat is all alone.” Simon frowned.
“Poor old bugger.”

“You’re too
soft,” Ryder announced.

Scott and
Simon just looked at him.

“Jesus,
running around after a cat. What the hell?”

“Says the man
with a cat and four kittens,” Scott said.

“What’s your
point?”

Knowing he’d
lost yet another chance to get the orphaned cat, Simon grabbed the
other end of the ladder and strode towards the fire truck, forcing
Scott to follow quickly or be dragged. “Come on, let’s get
something to eat. I’m starving.”

“Poor
bastard’s not had anything to eat for at least an hour,” Scott
informed Ryder. “Stomach must be eating his backbone by now.”

“I can’t help
having a good appetite.” Simon set his end of the ladder against
the section where it was fastened when not in use. “I work
hard.”

“At chasing
old cats, and even that you do badly.” Scott secured his end of the
ladder and turned to Ryder. “Want us to pick you up anything from
the servo for arvo tea?”

“Nah, she’s
right. I’ve got to get a move on and do that First Aid class.”

“Cripes,
you’re actually working?”

Listening with
only half an ear to his friends exchanging insults, Simon climbed
into the truck and studied the direction in which the tattered old
black cat had vanished, then the direction Ash’s car had driven.
Hmmm, Arthur was probably heading for his old home even though no
one was there, while Elissa was going to Scott’s home with Ash.