Page 63 of Where the Heart Is

She wanted him.

And that confused her more than ever.

She’d walked away from this man because she didn’t want him. Because he’d morphed into a stranger over the years. Because he didn’t love her anymore. Because their marriage had become a trap rather than a haven.

So why on earth did she want him now, in every sense of the word?

Jack sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. ‘I think it’s pretty obvious we’re attracted to each other. But I’m not screwing around here, Ads. If we do … this …’—he waved his hand between the two of them—‘it’s going to mean something. At least, it will for me, and I won’t have my heart broken all over again when you leave.’

Her jaw dropped at his honesty.

‘What? Is that too blunt for you? Well, here’s another dose of reality. I know I was a shitty husband to you. I know running the farm consumed me and maintaining my family legacy became all-important.’ Pain shadowed his eyes as his mouth twisted into a self-deprecating sneer. ‘And I also know I should’ve come after you when you left but I was too damn hurt to see straight.’ He thumped his chest. ‘Have I missed you? Hell yes. Have I grown accustomed to living on my own? Yes. And I’m doing okay. But then you strut in here all gorgeous and friendly and I can’t see straight let alone think …’

He sighed and shook his head. ‘I haven’t got a bloody clue what’s happening here, Ads, and it terrifies me.’

That made two of them, and as she laid her hand on the table palm up, and he placed his over hers, she had no idea where they went from here.

CHAPTER

38

Mila wanted to enlist Adelaide’s help in planning the B & S ball, so she headed to her grandfather’s place. It would be nice seeing the two of them together for the first time in forever.

Not that she expected them to be cosying up. Gramps would be hiding out in the cottage; Gran would be keeping her distance in the bungalow. But the fact they were both on the same property could only bode well. She hoped.

As she neared the front door, movement inside the front window caught her eye. More precisely, the movement of her grandparents strolling into the living room.

Holding hands.

Mila gawped, stunned by the sight of the two people she loved most in the world holding hands when they hadn’t communicated in years after Gran broke Gramps’s heart.

So much for her matchmaking plans with the ball. Looked like her grandparents were doing a fine job themselves of rekindling an old flame.

Not wanting to interrupt, she took a step back, and trod on a rake Gramps had left propped beside the verandah. It clanged against the railing and alerted her grandparents to her presence, leaving her no option but to knock on the door. It opened quickly and she struggled to hide her surprise.

Gramps sported a grin the likes of which she’d never seen before.

He looked … happy.

‘Hey, kid, nice to see you.’

‘You too, Gramps.’ She hugged him and glanced over his shoulder in time to see Gran smoothing her hair. Heck, what had these two been up to? On second thoughts, Mila didn’t want to know.

‘Your grandmother is here.’

‘Great. I need to talk to her about something, but thought I’d drop in here first and say hello.’ She paused for emphasis. ‘It’s good to see the two of you together.’

‘We were just talking.’

To her surprise, her stoic grandfather blushed, and Mila knew they’d been doing more than talking.

‘That’s good,’ she said, squeezing his arm before walking into the living room. ‘Hey, Gran. How are you?’

‘Fine.’ Gran’s response came too quickly, and when a faint pink stained her cheeks too, Mila couldn’t help but smile. ‘I was just heading back to the bungalow after a cuppa. Nothing like it to get the blood pumping.’ Addy’s blush deepened. ‘Anyway, thanks, Jack. I’ll see you later.’

For the second time in as many minutes, Mila gaped. She’d never seen her poised grandmother so flustered.

‘We’ll talk more then,’ Gramps said, sending Gran a pointed look that couldn’t be misinterpreted as anything other than‘Running away now won’t solve anything’.

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