Page 80 of Outback Secrets

Chapter Twenty-four

Henri cursed as her mother’s voice followed quickly after the knock on her bedroom door.

‘I don’t want to interrupt anything but … I was just wondering if you’re going to stay for lunch, Liam? It would be lovely to have you join us.’

Henri fully expected him to say no, so she almost fell off the bed when he called back, ‘Sure, that would be lovely, thanks.’

‘Excellent. I’m just putting it on the table now. Come on out when you’re ready.’

‘Are you crazy?’ she hissed as they listened to her mother’s footsteps patter back down the hallway. Were they not in the middle of something here?

‘What?’ Liam shrugged one shoulder as he hit her with the most infuriating grin. ‘I’m hungry and it felt rude to turn her down. Shouldn’t I be trying to stay on your mother’s good side?’

Ah, that’s right. The stupid farce.

Henri felt like crying. Would she and Liam ever be able to follow through on what they’d started? Then again, did she really want to have sex with him for the first time on her tiny childhood bed with her mother just down the hall?

Still, as her heart rate returned to normal, she couldn’t help being disappointed. She didn’t want to sit through lunch making small talk with her mum; she wanted Liam to whisk her back to the pub so they could both have their wicked way.

‘Come on,’ he said, climbing off the bed and reaching for her crutches. ‘Let me help you.’

Not usually one to accept assistance so easily, Henri didn’t object as he slipped his arm around her back and lifted her into a stand.

‘You smell so good,’ she whispered, leaning into him, resisting the urge to lick his neck. Her mother was a good cook, but nothing she could possibly serve would taste as delicious as him. ‘What cologne do you use?’

‘Nothing. Just soap and a can of whatever deodorant is on special at IGA.’ He handed her the crutches, and she missed his touch as she allowed them to take her weight.

She sighed. ‘Come on, let’s get this ordeal over and done with.’

Liam gave her a look. ‘It’s only a bit of lunch.’

But where Henri’s mother was concerned, nothing was ever only a bit of lunch.

‘Let’s hope so,’ she said as Liam crossed the room and opened the door.

He walked right beside her as she hobbled down the hallway and into the dining room, which was adjacent to the massive country-style kitchen.

‘Such a shame about Henri’s ankle, but it’s great that you can join us for lunch,’ said Fiona.

‘Why is that on the table?’ Henri cried as she spotted one of their family photo albums resting between a jug of water and her mother’s beloved dog and cat salt and pepper shakers.

‘I thought Liam might like to see some photos of when you were a kid.’

‘Of course he doesn’t,’ Henri snapped.

‘Actually, I do,’ Liam said, an annoying twinkle in his eyes. ‘Very, very much so.’

If she were more mobile, she’d grab the album and hurl it out the window, but she still hadn’t completely conquered the crutches so that would be near on impossible.

‘You two sit down,’ Fiona ordered as she headed into the kitchen.

‘Is there anything I can do to help?’ Liam called.

‘Of course not. You’re our guest.’ She sounded offended to have been even asked such a question. ‘Sit down and relax.’

Liam helped Henri into a seat, then he took the one beside her. He’d barely been sitting five seconds when she felt his hand land on her thigh, just below the bottom of her short denim skirt. She inhaled sharply as her damn Kegel muscles jumped to attention.

Her mother returned carrying a steamy hot quiche in her ovenmitted hands. ‘It’s lovely to have you here, Liam.’ She set it down in the middle of the table. ‘I’ve always wanted to ask how you came to buy a country pub?’