Page 71 of Where the Heart Is

He didn’t swear much, but the thought of Mila marrying Phil for comfort made him want to thump him.

Mila laughed. ‘You’re being too hard on him. He’s a friend who’s having a rough time of it, with the townsfolk hating him for ditching me.’

Just a friend? Yeah, right. Tell that to Phil.

‘I know he’s your neighbour, but maybe I can find someone to buy him out, so you don’t have to see him ever again.’

She grinned and bumped him with her hip. ‘Are you jealous?’

‘What if I am?’

‘I’d think you’re even more adorable,’ she murmured, pressing a quick kiss to his cheek. ‘And thanks for trusting me enough to tell me about your diagnosis.’

‘You’re one of few people I trust in this world,’ he said, fearing he’d said too much when confusion clouded her eyes. ‘You and Will have always been there for me and I appreciate it.’

His clarification did little to dispel the sinking feeling in his gut that he’d just revealed too much. That she’d see straight to his soul and realise he was well on his way to falling for her.

But he didn’t do long-distance relationships and she couldn’t leave the farm, so he’d be smarter to quell his burgeoning feelings and enjoy this relationship for what it was: two friends indulging in some very sexy benefits.

‘You’re one of the good guys, Sawyer Mann.’ She raised his hand to her cheek and rested against it. ‘But for the next hour or so, I’m hoping I can corrupt you to be bad.’

She winked, and relieved they’d reverted to banter, he brought her hand to his lips and trailed his lips across her knuckles so softly she sighed.

‘When you offered me a room, I had no idea I’d be expected to perform—’

‘Shut up and kiss me,’ she said, sliding her arms around his waist and tilting her chin up.

Sawyer did as he was told.

CHAPTER

43

Something had changed between Adelaide and Jack.

Ever since he’d seen her painting of Tally Bay earlier, he’d withdrawn. Sure, they made polite small talk over a simple pasta dinner he’d whipped up, and he laughed at her anecdotes, but she could see the shadows in his eyes. And it annoyed her anew.

She liked the new and improved Jack, so to see him revert to his taciturn best … not good.

‘Here’s your coffee.’ He placed a mug on the table, but rather than resuming his seat he turned his back on her and headed for the sink.

‘I said I’d clean the dishes. It’s the least I can do after you fed me.’

‘It’ll only take me a second to rinse and stack the dishwasher,’ he said, his tone reserved.

Normally, she wouldn’t care they’d reverted to stilted. After all, isn’t that how a couple about to be divorced should behave? But their make-out session had changed everything, and she couldn’t sit here and pretend like they were two strangers tolerating each other.

‘I don’t need to be treated like a guest, Jack.’

He stilled and she saw his neck muscles bulge with tension. ‘Isn’t that what you are?’

His bland response riled her, and she stood and crossed the kitchen to stand beside him.

‘What’s changed?’

He turned on the taps and started rinsing crockery, carefully stacking it in the dishwasher. ‘In the last fourteen years, you mean?’

‘Stop being so bloody childish,’ she snapped, unable to contain her angst any longer.

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