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  Her body was still processing what was happening when her mind suddenly kicked back into gear, and she was about to pull away when he beat her to it.

  ‘Sorry.’ He stepped back. ‘Sorry about that.’

  ‘Um, yeah.’

  ‘I don’t know what happened. Sorry, Hannah.’

  ‘It’s okay.

  ‘Okay.’

  ‘Okay.’

  ‘Um.’ He turned to look at his car. ‘Guess I should...’

  ‘Yeah. Okay.’ Her vocabulary seemed to be reduced to only two words, when all it really wanted to say was some kind of Shakespearean response like ‘Oh, my Heavenly Creator, what bliss hath presently bestowed itself upon me?’

  He got into his car, smiled some sort of apology, then started the engine.

  She gave a small wave as he drove off, then went back inside, and sat on the lounge.

  A kiss like that had not factored into her plans for the coming six weeks, and the six weeks hadn’t even really started yet. How the hell would she concentrate now? How could she be around him and focus on business, when pleasure had just launched itself like a rocket into the atmosphere of her existence?

  Chapter 16

  A light breeze floated through the living room window and tickled Hannah’s cheeks, making her look up from the six-week calendar in front of her on the computer screen. Her mind catapulted from business activities to last night, and the memory of his lips tickling her cheeks, and then her own lips. She sighed, her wrists softening at the laptop keyboard and her hands falling onto her lap.

  It had been a battle all morning to concentrate. Another pulse of breeze met her face and she tied her hair tighter into the ponytail.

  Week one: kitchen. Week two: interior design and decorating. Week three: menu planning and staff interviews. Week four...

  She sighed again, touching her fingers to her lips. Had his really just been there only hours ago? It wasn’t like she hadn’t been kissed in too long a time... well, maybe a year was a long time, but she’d had kisses galore before that. But this one... this one was something else. It was like the ones she used to dream about as a teenager. All, tingly and magical and out-of-this-world... like the kiss itself was some kind of bliss-inducing superpower.

  She shook her swirling memories and feelings away and cleared her throat, sitting up straighter in the chair. She looked at her notes on the launch and her mind continued the process of figuring out where each task needed to be slotted. She typed away, adding details to each week, and each day, as an approximate guide to determine how long each task should take, and making sure the last week would be mostly about finalising the finishing touches, rather than a mad rush to the finish line. She didn’t like mad rushes, as they led to mistakes, and there was no room for mistakes in a restaurant launch... if people didn’t have a great experience first go, they would be unlikely to return, and Luca needed return patrons in a small town like Tarrin’s Bay. And when tourists asked ‘where’s a good place to eat dinner around here?’, he’d want the locals to say ‘Home is fantastic, you must check it out.’

  It was his job to make it fantastic, but it was her job to make sure it was all prepared and ready to be fantastic.

  At around the same time Hannah’s stomach grumbled, indicating it was time for lunch, her phone buzzed with a text message. Her breath caught in her throat as her first instinct was that it might be Luca.

  She slid the phone closer and glanced at the screen...

  OMG, I’ve had to wait three hours to reply to you! I have one hour, tell me all.

  Hannah smiled. She’d texted Karen this morning after tending to the chickens, bursting to tell her about the kiss with Luca.

  She noticed the time was just after twelve, and closed her laptop.

  Lunch calls.

  She sent a quick reply saying give me a sec, then grabbed a can of tuna from the pantry, tipped it into a bowl, and added spinach leaves, a cold hard-boiled egg, red onion, and a drizzle of chili and lemon-infused extra virgin olive oil. Gobbling it up, she texted: As I said, we kissed. Accidentally, sort of. But then on purpose. And then we stopped.

  Hannah took a breath, her stomach making a weird sensation that made her feel blissfully unsteady.

  Did he initiate?

  Yep. It started with the cheeks, but playfully. It was late, we’d had a nice night, it was probably just the... endorphins? Probably didn’t mean anything.

  But it did to her.

  Hang on, he wouldn’t kiss you if he wasn’t attracted to you in that way. See? He did see you as more than a friend back then, but you never believed it.

  She replied: Nah, that was ages ago. It’s different now, and like I said... endorphins.

  Were his pupils dilated?

  Huh?

  You know, large. Like big black holes.

  Hannah chuckled. Why?

  It means he likes you, if they’re dilated. Check next time.

  I don’t think there’ll be a next time, it was pretty awkward afterwards. And I’m dreading having to present my plan to him later.

  Her heart beat faster. She might be ready to meet with him at the end of the day, but maybe she should schedule the meeting for Tuesday morning... allow some time for things to settle, and be... forgotten?

  Hannah scoffed at her own thoughts... As if that kiss would be forgotten.

  Anyway, as planned, she would give him a progress update midafternoon, then arrange the meeting. She still had two to three hours.

  Does your plan include more kissing? Karen asked.

  No! I don’t know. No!

  You should talk to him about it. Get things out in the open. Clear the air.

  What do I say?? Hey Luca, you know how we kissed? I’ve been wanting that since we were fifteen. And now that we’ve had it, can I please have some more? I’ll sound like Oliver.

  Who’s Oliver?

  Oliver the little kid who... never mind. Anyway, what I really want is to be able to do my job properly. I can’t let anything get in the way of that, or of my moving to Sydney plans. Everything has to stay on track.

  Hannah, sometimes it’s okay for plans to go astray. That’s how magic happens... In those untethered moments that float between the planned ones.

  Hannah sat still and just breathed for a while, absorbing Karen’s words, and her own thoughts and feelings.

  After a few moments, Karen texted again:

  I could do with some magic too. I haven’t been kissed in ages.

  Hannah gave a laugh. Hun, it’s been about two months.

  I know, like I said... ages.

  Well there’s plenty of men in Sydney, I’m sure you’ll meet another one soon.

  Hope so. But a decent one, I’m sick of the ones who act all keen then disappear, or the ones who can’t stop talking about their ex, and then go back to said ex.

  Hannah sighed, but this time a different sigh. A frustrated sigh. Finding someone decent was difficult, especially in the second half of your thirties. She texted back: How about once I’m all settled in your place and at work, we go out on the town like we used to. Live it up a little. Pretend we’re thirty. See what happens, you never know who we could meet.

  She didn’t know if she really wanted to do that, she’d rather find someone easily and naturally at a cafe, the beach, or a hiking trail, without all the facades and dressing up and partying. But they did have some good memories of going out on the town together in their younger years, maybe it could be fun.

  Okay, sounds like a plan.

  Another text came in: Hang on, what about Luca? Don’t you want to see if you two can have a second chance?

  We never even had a first chance.

  So have one. Take one.

  Hannah finished the rest of her salad, dropping the spoon into the bowl with a clang when she was done. I can’t. Can’t risk it, can’t risk everything.

  Romance is a bugger sometimes, isn’t it? It’s either not there when we want it, or it’s there inconveniently and bloody
gets in the way.

  Hannah smiled. Too true. Oh well. Moving forwards... She added an arrow emoji.

  Karen texted a thumbs up emoji and then: chat later, keep me posted. Good luck with the plans.

  Thanks.

  Hannah slid her phone further up the table to avoid distracting herself when she returned to the table, and went outside for a quick break with Scarlett.

  Dogs were easier companions than men. She always knew where she stood, and always received unconditional love and loyalty. Maybe that was all she needed. Kisses were nice, but they were only temporary.

  ***

  Luca had tossed up repeatedly in his mind the day before whether to ‘talk’ to Hannah about Sunday night, but when she’d texted quite formally on Monday afternoon to say she would be ready to meet with him about the restaurant plans on Tuesday morning at eleven forty-five am, and suggested a local cafe to meet at (instead of privately at the premises), he figured she wanted to forget the whole thing.

  So he’d replied: Sure. Looking forwards to it. See you then.

  He hadn’t received a reply to that either, so he would have to see how she acted around him today. In fifteen minutes to be exact, checking his watch as he walked down the main street towards Café Lagoon.

  When he took a seat at one of the indoor tables near the window, the outdoor ones being a bit chilly, he checked a text message from Stefan, expecting it to say that he had a second date with the woman he’d met on Sunday, which had gone really well, and he’d stuck to his resolve to not take things too far.

  Women are crazy was all it said.

  Luca’s eyes opened wide. He texted back: What happened, bro?

  A few minutes passed, then a reply: Texted her to ask for another date tomorrow night, or the weekend... giving her a couple of options. But... wait for it...

  Luca waited.

  A picture of a screenshot appeared. Luca pressed it and zoomed in: Hey Stefan! Really enjoyed our date, you’re such a nice guy to hang with! (smiley emoji times three). But something amazing happened yesterday on my day off... I met my soulmate! I know, it’s so sudden, but it just happened, and we just clicked right away, like we’d known each other for years. We just really... connected, you know? So I’m just REALLY REALLY sorry to have to turn you down, because you REALLY REALLY are such a great guy, and under any other circumstances I would have happily had a second date, but I don’t want to mess you around. I just know that Ricardo is my soulmate, and he feels the same. We just can’t stop talking and texting and are going to reunite again tonight. I wanted to be honest with you, and I wish you the very best of luck in finding your special woman, because I just know you’re one of the good guys. You REALLY REALLY are. Don’t give, up gorgeous. Xo

  Luca’s mouth gaped.

  He texted back: Really?! I mean, REALLY?!

  I KNOW, RIGHT!! The woman is delusional.

  Sorry man.

  It’s OK. I’m chatting with a new one now.

  You don’t waste any time.

  I don’t have time to waste. Getting old. He added a grey old man emoji.

  Luca laughed, then blew out a breath. Is this what he had to look forwards to if he ended up doing online dating? The thought turned him off.

  And the only thought that kept popping into his mind now was Hannah, and the kiss, and how different things would be now. He hoped it wouldn’t interfere with her work, or his work. But he also hoped that by some magical twist of fate there’d be a way for him to see if there was more between them. Allow things to develop naturally, if they were to develop. Without the barriers of schoolyard politics and other people getting in the way.

  But how could it? She was moving out, he was moving in. He was launching a new business, she was launching a new life... away from here.

  It was clearly never going to work, and they should just try their best to continue on as friends and temporary colleagues for the next six weeks, then cut ties. He didn’t want to hurt her, or himself.

  It took him a moment to realise someone was standing by his table.

  ‘Luca?’

  He looked up. ‘Oh. Hi, Hannah. Sorry, was lost in my thoughts.’

  ‘It’s okay. I only said your name about... she tapped her chin. About seven times.’

  ‘Really?’ He raised his eyebrows.

  ‘Just kidding.’ She gave a quick tilt of her head. ‘What can I order for you?’ She gestured to the counter, where a young man smiled at her and she gave a small wave of recognition.

  Luca went to stand. ‘I’ve got it.’

  She held out her hand in front of him. ‘No, I’ve got it. It’s a business meeting, so it all goes down as a tax deduction.’

  ‘I can still pay.’

  ‘Luca, you bought my house. That’s plenty. Really, it’s better if I do it properly, with a receipt and everything.’

  ‘In that case, sure. Thank you.’ He sat again.

  Yep, as he’d thought, business only. Although she had made an attempt to lighten the mood with her exaggeration about greeting him seven times.

  He tapped the menu. ‘I’ll have the triple turkey sandwich on organic sourdough, please. Extra cranberry sauce. And pepper. Extra pepper. But only a small dash of salt.’

  Oops. That was probably too chef-ish, he should have just said ‘turkey sandwich, please’ and be done with it, but after years in the business he couldn’t order anything as standard. He’d developed his own tastes, and they liked to be satisfied. Nothing wrong with that.

  Hannah gave a nod and turned swiftly. ‘Hey, Jonah, how’s things?’

  ‘Busy busy,’ the young man replied. ‘I hear you’re moving on? We’ll miss you.’

  ‘Gee, news travels fast around here, doesn’t it?’ Hannah said.

  Jonah shrugged. ‘I’m usually the first to discover everything in this place.’ He outstretched his arms. ‘When do you leave?’

  Luca listened as she told him of her plans, only further cementing them into his own mind as well, and dislodging the crazy, magical, twist-of-fate ideas and possibilities that had wafted uninvited into his mind before.

  ‘Luca?’ she said again, and he glanced up. ‘I said, this is Jonah, he and his parents who own the cafe are customers of mine.’

  Luca stood and shook his hand. ‘Nice to meet you.’ He smiled. ‘I hope to be able to continue to provide you with great quality eggs after Hannah goes.’

  ‘I hope so too. We love to support local business, and not everyone does organic eggs around here. Costs more, but we have a lot of customers who come here for our organic omelettes and scrambled eggs each morning, so it’s worth it.’

  Luca nodded. He was feeling the pressure now, and hoped he could pull this all off. ‘Nothing like a good omelette.’

  ‘Indeed. Anyway, guys, your meals won’t be long.’ He smiled and went to serve the next customer in line.

  Luca and Hannah sat at the same time, and as she leaned forwards to shuffle her chair closer to the table, his nose took in a light scent of vanilla, and his eyes were drawn to her neck, and then down over her décolletage, bare after she’d taken off her scarf, and the slight line of subtle cleavage. He cleared his throat, forcing his eyes back up to hers.

  But she diverted hers. ‘Lovely day,’ she said, eyeing the street... a few cars driving past, and a couple of people walking past, talking at the same time and laughing.

  ‘Sure is. Bit nippy though, thought it might be nicer inside.’

  ‘Best table in the cafe, you can just watch the world go by here.’ Her eyes continued to gaze out the window, and Luca tried to use his mind to pry them away from the goings-on outside and return her gaze to him.

  When she did, he said, ‘Hannah. I...’ and gulped.

  Hannah’s cheeks pinkened slightly, and she flicked her hand. ‘Hey, it’s okay. Today is a new day, let’s just focus on what’s next.’ She clasped her hands together on the table and gave a taut smile.

  Luca nodded.

  ‘I’m really excited about
what’s possible for Home. It’s going to be a unique, popular eating place, and with a few special touches to help you stand out, I think you’re onto a winner.’ She gave the taut smile again, then withdrew a folder from her bag. ‘Before I get into the nitty-gritty of each step and our time schedule, here are some visual ideas to let you know what sort of décor and interior I’m thinking of to match the theme and feelings you want to create in the restaurant.’ She opened the folder. ‘Now, I’m not a qualified interior designer, but I do have a good eye for detail and colour, textures and patterns. You are free to hire a designer if you wish, but with what I have here we can certainly organise the interiors based off ready-made designs from companies and manufacturers I’ve dealt with before. It will be cheaper in price, but not quality, and faster, and we are on a bit of a schedule, as you know.’

  Luca simply watched and listened, trying his best to take everything in. It was like she had stepped out of her chicken coop and into an alternate reality where she was businesswoman Hannah. Which of course she was, but it was interesting to see the contrast.

  He eyed the pages as she flipped through brochures.

  ‘This one here has a really nice coastal feel...’ she waved her hand over the page as though doing a magic spell. ‘But this one here,’ she turned the page, ‘has a great mixture of coastal and classy. Elegant while still feeling homely. Do you agree?’ She raised her gaze from the page to his eyes, and he remembered how close he’d been to those eyes two days ago.

  She seemed to be doing a lot better than him at keeping her mind on the job.

  ‘Yes. Yes, I agree. For sure.’

  When they’d finished looking at interior ideas and he’d shortlisted a few designs and pieces of furniture as well as a cost estimate for later confirmation on which ones to order, their meals arrived.