Page 106 of Doc Rock
They really needed to talk without being interrupted.
Chapter 37
Mai
“I’m sure it’ll settle down in Burra Creek once they're used to you.”The words were out before Mai had thought about them.
Shit.
She hadn’t meant to tell him that. They needed togettoknoweach other again before she did something daft like tell him she loved him. It had been sixteen years. He would think she was a total lunatic to stillfeelthat way about him.
“I’m sureit will,”Ford said quietly as he got out of the car.
What did that mean?
Mai wanted to call him back, to demand toknowif that meant he wanted to stay. But she didn’t. She pushed the desire down, reminded herself that they had a lot to talk about and opened the car door.
Ford had already grabbed her backpack and the Esky out of the back seat, and Mai held her hand out to him, trying to take one off him, but he ignored her and strode toward the house.
“It’s a beautiful evening, we should eat out here.”Ford placed the Esky of food down on the porch.
“The lasagna will need heating. I’ll go and turn the oven on,”Mai said without thinking. Itfeltso normal to be with Ford and to let herself into his house to use his things.
She hesitated for a moment, her hand on the door handle. Maybe she shouldn’t go in without his permission.
Was she being too familiar?
Maybe he didn’t want her in his space until they got toknoweach other better again. Although he did insist she stay at his house, so he must want herthere.
The door was wrenched open, taking her into the house with it. Mai couldn’t stop herself. She had nothing to hang on to, and she sprawled forward onto the floor. She didn’t even manage to put a hand out to save herself, and she smacked her cheek on the hard floorboards.
“Oh shit, Sie.”Scotty stood above her, his voice full of concern.“I’m so sorry, Iheardthe car, I came toseewhoit was.”He bent over to help her up.
Mai rolled onto her back, then sat up, catching her breath as the fall had knocked the wind out of her. She reached up and probed at her right cheek, which was throbbing in time with her erratic heartbeat.
Before Maicouldtake Scotty’s extended hand, Ford wasthere, pushing him out of the way.
“Are you okay? Are you injured? Shit, Scotty. What the hell, mate?”
“Sorry,it wasan accident, I didn’t realise she wasthere.”
Mai looked between the two men and hated the fact that Ford was glowering at one of his best friends about something that wasn’t his fault.
“Ford. He didn’t do it on purpose. I was surprised.”She didn’t add that she was thinking about Ford, which led to her surprise when the door was wrenched open.
“Are you alright?”Ford dropped to his knees next to her.
He placed a hand on either side of her face, examining her for injury. Her cheek must already be red, as he immediately honed in on where it hurt and his fingers gently probed her cheekbone.
“Shit,”she winced when he touched a tender spot.
Ford pulled his hand back.“Sorry.”
“That’s okay. Do you guys have some ice?”
“Yeah.”Ford was still staring into her eyes, and she didn’t want to look away, despite being very aware of Scotty hovering over them.
Neither of them moved, and the tension increased until Scotty declared,“I’llgetthe ice,”and dashed off to the kitchen.
