Trouble in Nirvana (20 page)

The sun soaked into her torso, soporific. Kurt had really and truly left. Now they could do something with the place. She and Danny and Nirupam plus the baby. Why would Danny kick her out when he ran an open house and put up with the likes of Kurt? Plus she part-owned the land. She smiled under the hat. The feeling of truly belonging was growing stronger by the day. A proper family. Their family. The family.

Wasn’t that some sort of terrible cult? The Family? Evil. Not theirs.

“Sunbathing?”

Primrose jerked upright and her hat tipped to the grass. Tom’s shadow fell across her belly. She squinted up at him looming above her in khaki work shorts, white shirt, and his battered hat. Two very sexy muscular legs were right at eye level, not to mention other parts she’d enjoyed exploring. His whole body was lean and firm, exciting beyond belief. She swallowed as the sudden searing burst of memory of that sexy hot night sent heat surging to her face.

“Hello. I’m just warming up. I waded across. The water’s icy cold.” She scrambled to her feet. “I was coming to see you.”

“What about?” Not overjoyed by the prospect, judging by the look on his face. She’d had her chance with this man and well and truly blown it.

“We’d like your advice about crops and farming in general.” She jammed the straw hat on her head. Would he notice the heavy breathing? Red face could be attributed to hot sun.

Tom studied her carefully before replying. Fancy finding a half naked girl in his bottom paddock. Especially this one. A dream come true. The last thing he expected when he came down to start the pump was Primrose sunning herself in a bikini. Presumably the red and white scrap of material was a bikini bottom. A pair of blue shorts was draped on a branch, drying. And he knew for a fact she preferred black lace knickers.

His fingers itched to reach out and touch that sunwarmed skin, draw her against his body, kiss her senseless. See if she could deny the attraction. Her breasts strained against the white tank top, perky little nipples inviting attention. He dragged his mind from the delights of sex in the bottom paddock to what she was saying. Her mind was on another track altogether. They wanted farming advice?

Here was a turnaround, especially from Danny. He’d never specifically asked for comprehensive advice on how to run the place. His questions had been more along the lines of what to do about the bird problem, or did Tom think peaches did better than nectarines.

Primrose must have followed through with her plan of taking over next door. She was serious about this farming business. Something deep inside glowed with secret pleasure. She’d be staying.

“What about Kurt?”

“He’s gone. He left this morning.”

Tom’s eyebrows lifted in spontaneous unfeigned admiration. “Wow! You actually did it.”

“I didn’t do it. He left of his own accord.” Primrose screwed up her face. “Although I...”

“You what?”

“I was going shopping so I went to screw some money out of him for a change. I wanted a capsicum too, but no-body else was allowed to pick stuff—although no-one would want to except for his cucumbers and capsicums and believe me there’s definitely a limit to how many of those you can eat per week.”

Tom nodded. He was having a hard time keeping his eyes off her legs. His mind kept straying to what lay beneath the clothes. Her beautiful naked body, in his bed, his for the taking. Maybe in time. He licked his lips.

“Is there a point coming soon?”

She ignored the interjection and forged on with the story. “He was in a shed with the door wide open. It’s dark inside and he was in there finding something for that little tractor thing that breaks down all the time. Anyway, I was about to step inside—I called out his name—but right in the doorway there was a black snake. I got such a fright I yelled, “Snake!” and jumped out and slammed the door shut. It doesn’t have a latch inside. But I didn’t know that.”

“So,” said Tom with the beginnings of a wide grin. “You shut Kurt in the shed with a black snake. In the dark.”

“Pretty much—yes.” She laughed as Tom gave a loud guffaw. “I was terrified. I raced off to find Danny. He thought it was funny too.”

In between bursts of laughter he said, “Possibly the reason Kurt decided to go, don’t you think?”

“He was very angry but he forgave me when I apologised so it wasn’t that. He told Danny the bad vibes round the place were sucking the life essence out of him. He meant me.
I’m
the bad vibe.”

Tom stopped laughing enough to ask incredulously, “And you’re upset?”

“Of course I am!” The delectable lips pouted in astonishment. He planted his hands on his hips to stop himself pouncing in for a kiss.

“Why? You didn’t like him. He’s a madman and he has more than enough bad vibes for the whole town. Remember what Mike said? If you can get Kurt to leave you’ll be the Peach Princess.”

“Right! I’d forgotten.” Primrose relaxed, smiled. Her green eyes lightened. “I should visit Mike.”

“I went over on Tuesday. They were hit badly by hail too. Wiped out most of the fruit still on the trees.” He hissed air in between his teeth as Mike’s bitterly defeated face flashed into his mind. Another body blow to farmers already struggling to survive.

“That’s terrible. We were hit but you weren’t. It’s so random.”

Tom nodded. “I was lucky. We’re in a drought and then we get a downpour and all it does is damage.”

“It’s not fair.” She sat down and began hauling her socks on.

He exhaled noisily. Who said anything about Nature was supposed to be fair?

“What did you want to know? Specifically.”

“We need a plan, don’t you think?” The left foot was thrust into her shoe and the lace tied. On went the right shoe. Smooth brown thighs flashed before his eyes filling his vision with temptation.

“A plan?” Who was the “we”? She and Danny or was she thinking...

She jumped to her feet. His eyes moved to her face. “A five year plan. Like under Chairman Mao—the Chinese. It is a commune after all.” She grinned. “We’d like you to come to dinner tonight so we can talk. Plus I owe you one.”

Dinner? What were they eating over there? Capsicums?

“It’s vegetable and tofu curry plus salad and rice. Very nice, I promise,” she said, reading either his mind or the expression on his face. Fortunately she hadn’t read his thoughts a moment or two before.

“All right. Thanks. I’ll bring some fruit for dessert. And cream.” But a completely different sort of dessert would be far preferable.

“Daisy’s cream? Lovely. Come about seven. Earlier if you like.”

“I’d better get moving.” He didn’t want to get moving at all, much preferred to stand here chatting and surreptitiously ogling.

“I was going to have a swim. Why don’t you join me?” She looked up at him from under the brim of her hat. The dimple flirted.

He shook his head. Oh, no, he wasn’t falling for that. Hard enough keeping his hands off her as it was without them both stripping down to bare skin and frolicking about in the water. “Too much to do.”

“Can I help?” His eyes travelled up her body from sneakers through bare legs to skimpy tank top, bare throat and shoulders already turning pink from the sun.

“I’ve got some fences to fix. Flood debris knocked them flat. Don’t think you’d be much use.”

“Where?”

He pointed vaguely along the river bank in the general direction of the long paddock. “I came down here to start the pump.”

“Can I watch?”

“Yes.” Tom began moving toward the pump shed. Primrose snatched her shorts from the branch and followed. He asked, to keep his mind from straying to thoughts of swimming—skinny dipping—bikini clad Primrose—naked Primrose, “How’s Nirupam? Birth must be getting close.”

“She’s looking much better since we saw the doctor but she’s had enough of being pregnant. Her back aches and the heat doesn’t help. Ellie said it could come any time now. I so don’t want her to have it at home and now that Fern’s gone I think she’s changing her mind. Do you know they haven’t decided on names yet?”

“Must be hard to decide.”

“I’ve already decided,” she piped up.

“What? Are you having a baby?” Tom’s legs, and almost his heart, stopped as ripples of shock cascaded through his body. Impossible.

Primrose walked several paces past him before she realised he’d frozen in place. She turned. “No, of course not.” Then she saw his expression and burst out laughing. “Don’t be ridiculous. It was only a week ago! And we used condoms. Several, actually,” she added with a sly little lift of one eyebrow.

“Whew.” He wiped his hand across his brow and his heart resumed its steady thumping. He grinned but Primrose had stopped laughing and was now frowning.

“Why would that be such a disaster?”

“You being pregnant with my baby?”

“Yes.”

He stared while the gears in his mind whirled freely, totally unconnected with any worthwhile thoughts. Was she serious? Her expression would turn the milk. Where to start? Tell her? No way.

“We’re not married or likely to be.”

“Didn’t stop you having sex with me.”

“And vice versa. Afterward it was you who decided you don’t want to have a relationship with me.” He heard his voice rising with all the frustration and disappointment her callous dismissal of him had engendered. Sounding like every spurned lover that ever was. “You made that more than clear.”

“But you don’t want to have one with me, either.”

“I didn’t say that.”

“You don’t want a city girl for a wife. Or children.”

“Wife? Where did wife come from? Who says I don’t want children?” Treading water but sinking fast. Definitely in over his head.

“Generally speaking. You’ve made it very clear.”

Tom started walking toward the pump shed. This was a crazy, painful conversation. How did she do it?

“Rupert,” she said from behind him, “is the name I’ve chosen for a boy. And Nikki for a girl.”

He shook his head and kept walking. Mad as a cut snake. And sexy and entertaining and surprising and totally desirable. And somehow she’d wound her way into his heart and his mind and he couldn’t get her out again. Trouble was she enjoyed these games and he didn’t know where he stood with her. Would he marry her? Yes. In a heartbeat. For better or, more than likely, for worse. But he’d never ask her. She’d play him like a puppet. And she’d drop him like a lead weight when she found out his problem.

“Rupert’s a bloody awful name,” he said.

****

Tom wasn’t sure what to expect when he knocked on the commune door just after seven. He had time to examine the exterior while he waited to be let in. Primrose had painted over the peace symbol. Not with his leftover white but a smart, glossy forest green. She’d done the window frames too. Or someone had. Must have been her—no-one else had ever done any decorating round the place, except for Anne.

Danny opened the door with a grin. “G’day, mate. Come in.”

“G’day. Stick these in the fridge.” He held out the six-pack he’d picked up that afternoon at the pub. The bag with fruit and a big jar of cream dangled from his other hand.

“Thanks. Primrose has wine for dinner. But we can crack one of these now.”

Tom followed Danny into the house. Something tangy danced in his nostrils sending saliva flooding into his mouth. “Smells good.”

“Rosie does most of the cooking. Has to now Fern’s gone.”

Tom grinned behind Danny’s back. Always amused him how the women reverted to their stereotypical roles in this house. Men worked outside, women inside. Even Primrose hadn’t objected. One of the few things she hadn’t objected to.

Oddly, Danny didn’t appear resentful of his presence. Overt hostility wasn’t in Danny’s nature but he might have been put out to have his lifestyle and methods threatened and, moreover, questioned and found wanting. Tom’s father had been. But in this case, Primrose had asked or rather invited him on both their behalves. So she said.

Tom put a restraining hand on Danny’s arm just before they stepped through into the kitchen. “Do you mind my coming over, Danny?”

“Why would I mind? You should have been over before. No need for an invitation.”

“I guess I was brought up to wait to be asked.” Wild horses wouldn’t have dragged him here for a potluck meal surrounded by the likes of Kurt and Anne. “No, it’s not the dinner part. I mean about the advice.”

“What advice?” But before Tom could reply, comprehension fell like a curtain, wiping the smile from his face in an instant. “Rosie.”

Tom nodded. “I thought you and she had talked about it. Geez, I’m sorry. I don’t want to interfere in what you do over here.”

“Not your fault, mate.”

Blank-faced, Danny strode into the kitchen, unclipped two tinnies and jammed the remainder in the fridge. Primrose was nowhere to be seen. Nirupam sat fatly at the table. She looked up with a smile. More colour in her face, a brighter shine in her eyes, hair gleaming in the light. Happier than he’d ever seen her.

“Hello Nirupam. You’re looking well.”

“Thanks, Tom, but I’m fed up. It’s too hot to be this size. Hear that, baby? Time’s up.” She directed the last remarks at her belly. Tom laughed. Had Primrose effected this change?

“They come when they’re ready and not before,” he said.

“Hi, Tom.” Primrose walked in behind them. She came close and kissed his cheek, the brief touch jolting his senses like a lightning bolt.

“Hello.” He caught a whiff of a familiar perfume which sent his mind reeling back to the previous weekend. The blue patterned dress displayed those shoulders and the neck he’d caressed and explored with such delight. Her walk and swim this morning had given the skin a sun kissed rosy tinge. She positively glowed and he wanted more than anything to drag her into her bedroom and taste the sweetness, bury himself in her, force her to feel what he felt. Admit it.

She slipped the bag from his arm, allowing her fingers to trail over his wrist, and peered inside. “Yummo! Peaches and cream for dessert, Nirupam.”

Tom snapped back to the present. She had a cheek. Inviting him over under false pretences then acting all innocent—overtly friendly and covertly seductive at the same time. Playing on his weakness for her. He glanced at Danny. How was she going to broach the subject? This would be interesting to say the least. Together he and Danny had a fighting chance against her gangbuster technique. He’d gladly give advice and he had plenty of ideas but Danny had to ask. Freely. From the look on his face right now Primrose was in for a tough evening and Tom wasn’t about to make it any easier for her.