Free Tumble Creek by Louise Forster Page B

a place to wash their hands when the bathroom’s occupied.’
    Sofie scanned the tiny room. Faded wallpaper of pretty bouquets held together with pale blue ribbon lined the walls. The toilet and handbasin were also pale blue.
    â€˜It all works, but as you can see, Mum loves blue.’
    â€˜Refitting the bathroom would’ve been quite cathartic for you then.’
    Brock’s deep throaty chuckle made her toes curl. His beautiful smile, which crinkled his eyes, made her heart sing.
    Sofie stepped back so he could close the door.
    â€˜I use Mum and Dad’s bedroom, through here.’ He opened the door wide so she could see.
    â€˜Oh my, it’s very blue.’ Giggling, Sofie blinked a few times. ‘That has to be the biggest bed I’ve ever seen, you could almost …’
    â€˜Have a party?’ As if he’d said the wrong thing, Brock cleared his throat and shifted, placing his feet apart, then he crossed his arms and shoved his hands under his armpits. ‘Mum and Dad had a double, I couldn’t fit in it diagonally, had to do something, so I bought a Californian King bed. Mum was a bit confused, but she shrugged it off, sits on the edge for a little while, stroking her shiny bedspread, just looking around and smiling happily. Everything else is as she left it. Dad and I kept some of her clothes in the wardrobe and dressing table. We swap them around on wash day.’
    â€˜That is just so lovely.’ Sofie wiped at tears welling, ready to spill down her cheeks, and sniffed. ‘Beautiful. It’s faint, but I can smell your Mum’s perfume.’
    â€˜Sofe?’ Though he spoke softly, Brock’s baritone voice jolted her out of the warm, emotional state she was beginning to wallow in.
    She pulled herself together. ‘Sorry … um, I’ve never met a family who would go to such lengths to keep their mum so calm and happy.’ Her mouth began to tremble and she quickly ducked her head so he wouldn’t see. The side of Brock’s big index finger pressed under her chin and lifted her face to meet his.
    â€˜This is a small town, and Calum’s a good mate, so I know a little about your parents.’
    That’s all he needed to say. Confronted again with how family life could’ve been, Sofie felt it sitting on her like a heavy weight. Jennifer and her upbringing had been tense, always under pressure to present themselves at their best, but whatever they did, it didn’t matter what or how hard they tried, it was never good enough. By the time Sofie was dating, she rebelled and married a keen surfer, Jett. She became an art school teacher instead of something her parents wanted her to be, for prestige purposes only, like a doctor or lawyer. Then Jett left her and Claudia, and it was all Sofie’s fault for choosing to be with someone like that in the first place.
    She couldn’t stop the tears from slowly trickling down her cheeks.
    His intense, dark-brown eyes captured hers. Brock leaned in, and Sofie stopped breathing, then he kissed the wetness away from her cheeks. So gentle.
    Oh my. She held her breath, hoping for more, hoping he’d move to her mouth. Loving the feeling of his lips against her skin sending tingles straight to that special spot between her thighs.
    She placed her hand on his chest, she could feel his heart thumping under her palm, and his rapid shallow breathing, as if he’d run a few kilometres. Why was he so nervous?
    â€˜You …’ he began on a rough whisper.
    Sofie daren’t move in case it would distract him and then he’d stop right there. Trembling but patient, she waited.
    His finger moved away from her chin, his arms came around her waist and up her back, and he held her close to his chest. Sofie buried her face in his shirt, breathing in his soapy, manly, fresh-air scent. He eased his grip. His hands slid up her ribcage, shoulders and neck. He cupped her jaw, the pads of his