Free Meant To Be by Fiona McCallum Page A

said.
    â€˜No, don’t worry about it. We can sort it out later. Or, I can take it in kind,’ she said, leaning towards him and planting her lips on his.
    â€˜Aren’t you becoming quite the little minx?’ he said. ‘I don’t want you to go now.’
    â€˜Hmm.’ Emily enjoyed the effect her kisses had on him.
    â€˜Okay,’ he said, running a hand through his hair and drawing a line in the conversational sand. ‘That’s some list you’ve got there,’ he said, leaning over.
    â€˜Uh-huh,’ Emily said, trying to banish thoughts of Jake’s naked body from her mind. ‘It’s mostly stuff I want to check out – you know, furniture and decorating ideas for the study.’
    She had initially wanted to add curtains, quilt cover, sheets and towels, but had stopped herself. While it would be nice to start afresh, she couldn’t go blowing money just for the sake of it. Itwould be far too easy to leave behind her lifetime of frugality and go crazy.
    â€˜I’d like to visit a few antiques and bric-a-brac shops. You know, to find some one-off pieces with character. But it won’t hurt to check what’s available new.’
    Suddenly there was the sound of a friendly toot toot of a car horn.
    â€˜Well, that’s me,’ Emily said. She leaned over for what was meant to be a quick peck, but Jake grabbed her around the waist and pulled her onto his lap and the kiss became more passionate.
    â€˜God you’re sexy,’ she growled, shaking her head with frustration as she eased herself out of his clutches.
    â€˜Jesus, you can’t say something like that and then just walk out the door.’
    â€˜Sorry,’ she said. ‘Hold that thought until tonight.’
    â€˜Do you want to drive me crazy?’ He groaned and put his head in his hands on the table.
    The truth was, if Barbara wasn’t outside waiting for her, she could imagine them tearing each other’s clothes off right there in the kitchen. Emily was a little shocked at the strength of her feelings. She took a deep breath and shook her head.
    â€˜Bye Gracie.’ She gave the dog a brief pat before retrieving her handbag from the nearby chair.
    â€˜See you later. Have fun,’ Jake said.
    â€˜I will, you too,’ Emily called, already halfway out the sliding door. She gleefully skipped down the path before leaping into Barbara’s car.
    â€˜Ready for a fun day of shopping?’ Barbara said after they’d exchanged quick kisses and hugs.
    â€˜Yes, onwards James!’ Emily said, clapping her hands together.
    As they drove onto the main dirt road, Emily noticed a ute coming towards them. They returned David’s wave as he drove past.
    â€˜What are those two up to, anyway? Jake was weirdly vague.’
    â€˜Dunno. You know men,’ Barbara said with a shrug. ‘Probably just pottering around on the farm; secret men’s business and all that.’
    Emily glanced at her friend. Was Barbara trying to avoid saying something? ‘Well, we’ve got our own secret women’s business going on,’ she said, and slapped her hands on her knees a little more forcefully than she’d intended.
    *
    Emily spent the whole day unable to wipe a slightly ridiculous grin off her face. She couldn’t help it; it was just so wonderful to be out with her best friend, shopping, and with not a care in the world.
    After an hour-and-a-half drive, they arrived at the shopping street that ran along the picturesque foreshore of the seaside city. They found a park right outside their chosen café and headed in. Without consultation, they both ordered lattes and carrot cake, laughing at their synchronicity.
    â€˜How totally decadent,’ Emily declared as she pushed her fork into her cake with its luscious cream cheese icing.
    â€˜Yes, should be more of it,’ Barbara agreed.
    After coffee and cake, they shopped, ate a lovely café