Free Her Knight in the Outback by Nikki Logan Page B

hedged.
    â€˜What isn’t?’ And then, when he didn’t respond, ‘The awkward silence?’
    â€˜How many people end up with their first love, really?’
    She wouldn’t know. She hadn’t had time for love while she was busy raising her family. Or since. More’s the pity.
    â€˜So where did she end up?’
    The look he gave her was enigmatic. But also appraising. And kind of stirring. ‘Not important.’
    â€˜You’re very complicated, Marshall Sullivan.’
    His smile crept back. ‘Thank you.’
    Eve leaned across the counter and lifted the hem of his sleeve with two fingers to have a good look at the design. Her fingertips brushed the smooth strength of his warm biceps and tingled where they travelled.
    She cleared her throat. ‘Maybe you could change it to
pristine
, like the ocean? That way, you only have to rework the first two letters.’
    Three creases formed across his brow as he looked down. ‘That could actually work...’
    â€˜Or
Sistine
, like the chapel.’
    â€˜Or
intestine
, like the pain I get from smelling that steak and not eating it.’
    They loaded their plates up with fresh salad and both tucked in.
    â€˜This is really good.’
    â€˜That surprises you?’
    â€˜I didn’t pick you as a cook.’
    She shrugged. ‘I had a rapid apprenticeship after Mum died.’
    She munched her way through half her plate before speaking again.
    â€˜Can I ask you something personal?’
    â€˜Didn’t you already do that?’
    â€˜About travelling.’
    His head tilted. ‘Go ahead.’
    â€˜Do you...’ Lord, how to start this question? ‘You travel alone. Do you ever feel like you’ve forgotten how to be with somebody else? How to behave?’
    â€˜What do you mean?’
    â€˜I just...I used to be so social. Busy schedule, urban lifestyle, dinners out most evenings. Meeting new people and chatting to them.’ Up until the accident, anyway. ‘I feel like I’ve lost some of my social skills.’
    â€˜Honestly?’
    She nodded.
    â€˜Yeah, you’re missing a few of the niceties. But once you get past that, you’re all right. We’re conversing happily now, aren’t we?’
    Give or take a few tense undercurrents.
    â€˜Maybe you just got good at small talk,’ he went on. ‘And small talk doesn’t take you far in places like this. Situations like this. It’s no good at all in silence. It just screams. But we’re doing okay, on the whole.’
    She rushed to correct him. ‘I didn’t mean you, specifically—’
    â€˜Yeah, you did.’
    â€˜What makes you say that?’
    â€˜Eve, this feels awkward because it
is
awkward. We don’t know each other and yet I was forced into your world unnaturally. And now a virtual stranger is sitting ten feet from your bed, drinking your wine and getting personal. Of course it’s uncomfortable.’
    â€˜I’m not...it’s not uncomfortable, exactly. I just feel really rusty. And you don’t deserve that. You’ve been very nice.’
    The word
nice
hit him visibly. He actually winced.
    â€˜When was the last time you had someone in your bus?’ he deviated.
    Eve racked her brain... Months. Lots of months. ‘Long enough for that second wineglass to end up right at the back of some cupboard.’
    â€˜There you go, then. You’re out of shape, socially, that’s all.’
    She stared at him.
    â€˜Let’s make a pledge. I promise to be my clunky self when you’re around if you’ll do the same.’ He drew a big circle around the two of them and some tiny part of her quite liked being in that circle with him. ‘This is a clunk-approved zone.’
    â€˜Clunk-approved?’
    â€˜Weird moments acknowledged, accepted and forgiven.’
    Why was it so easy to smile, with him? ‘You’re giving me permission to be