Page 54 of Bay of Plenty

With a small groan, he moved one of his hands behind my head and ran his fingers through my hair, raking hard along my scalp, clutching me closer. How did he know how much I liked that? I stood on my toes, raised my arms around his neck, and felt the nerves in every part of my body rush to my lips. They pressed into his, merging and sighing.

His mouth still on mine, he moaned and parted his lips until I could feel the warm, wet inside of them. He teased my mouth farther open with his tongue.

That was it. My feet stretched higher so I could get closer and closer to him. Until it was just him and me in this world, not even people with our names, two bodies crushing against each other. It felt like we could go on kissing all night. He chuckled like we were so clever discovering this thing that felt so good, but the sound caught in his throat and dropped to a groan as I moved my hips against him.

A car horn honked. We flew apart.

“C’mon, you two lovebirds,” called Snow through the car window. “Wind it up. The sailor’s heading out to sea.”

Declan pulled me up against him. He whispered into my ear, “I’ll miss you tonight.” My ear buzzed hot from his huskyvoice, and his words sent signals deep into all my body’s corners. Before I could think of a reply, the place where his strong, hard, unfamiliar body pressed against me was empty air. Dazed, I watched him climb in next to Snow.

*

After a few dumbstruck minutes, I shook myself. With Snow gone, this might be my chance to get CeeCee alone.

Inside, I grabbed a bottle of wine from the fridge and slid it into my backpack. Seeing Mum’s questioning glance, I wanted to explain. “I’m going to ask CeeCee about what Sarge said. She’s good friends with him, and she knew Janey.” I couldn’t tell her the full truth about what I wanted to ask.

She tapped her lips. “Good idea. Just wait.” She sliced a hunk of her chocolate cake into a container and slipped it into my pack. “Make sure you arrive at the back of the cottage through the sand dunes. It’ll be harder for her to fob you off because you can sit outside.”

My face brightened and I gave her a hug. “Thanks, Mum.”

To do it Kui’s way, I couldn’t ask outright questions about the winery, so I’d have to think on the fly. I approached from the dunes, slowing to a glacial stroll. I got a perfect view of the kitchen, the main bedroom, and the spare bedroom. I heard movement inside. Not wanting to look like I was snooping, I knocked on the kitchen door.

CeeCee appeared. I tried to absorb the details quickly. The shiplap walls were painted periwinkle blue, sheepskins were draped on white rattan furniture, vintage teacups on old shelves. It was cozy and charming like her boutique. Startled, she opened the door dressed in old sweats, her hair pulled back.

I smiled, presenting my wine and some of Mum’schocolate cake. “The boys are headed out to sea. Thought we could have a glass of wine together?”

She gave a panicked glance at the kitchen. “Oh God, the place is a total mess. Snow has paperwork strewn all over.” I checked. The surfaces looked clear. “I mentioned how he guards his privacy.” She looked genuinely fearful.

I shrugged and nodded to a small driftwood table and two chairs nearby. “No worries, it’s lovely out here.” I was pushing enough that I couldn’t push more.

She looked back inside. I followed her gaze to the old kitchen clock.

“I’ve got fifteen minutes until I have to leave. Just a quick one?” she said.

I made a mental note of the timeframe as she dashed inside and fetched two glasses. I tried to position myself so I could survey the three rooms without making it obvious.

She joined me, set down the glasses and poured the wine. “Hey, I wanted to say, don’t take any notice of Sarge. He’s grumpy at the moment because his knee gives him a lot of gip. But that’s no excuse for lashing out at you.”

Why did everyone stick up for that man?

“I was upset by what he said about Janey. He said she was not who I thought she was.” I searched her face. “What do you think?”

She narrowed her eyes and took a slow sip of her wine. Finally, she said, “I don’t want to speak ill of the dead.”

What did that mean? “Of course not. But you were a friend of hers—so, does that ring true?”

“Friend?” Her top lip curled, distorting her pronounced Cupid’s bow. “She wasn’t what I’d call a friend. I was terrified of her.”

I jerked forward, bumping my wine. “Terrifiedof her?” I stilled the glass.

She took a deep breath. “We all were, even Cazza and Lolly. She fucked with us so badly, it kept us all on edge. She’d be charming and charismatic, loving everything about you. Your expressions. Your friendship bracelets. Your beauuu-ti-ful tan. And then she’d make a fool of you in front of everyone for the exact same things. She was a bloody nightmare.”

My world jolted on its axis. I stared at her in a trance. “What? I always thought she stood up for people. That’s what I liked about her.”

She yanked her chin back in surprise. “Like who?”

I gave two names of the many bullied kids I’d seen her help. One boy was constantly taunted for being gay; the other was a mousy, timid girl.

---