Page 63 of Into These Eyes
“Sorry?”
“You’re the first person on the outside to treat me like I’m normal, not some disgusting piece of gum that requires scraping off the bottom of a shoe. That makes me wonder … who you are.”
“I’m just me.”
“You’re notjustanything. The more time I spend with you, the more I want to know. Have you ever felt like that about anyone?”
I catch my bottom lip in my teeth. He wants to know more aboutme? No one’s cared enough to be interested in me since Mum died. Dad saw me as his daughter and someone to look after Anika, and Anika saw me as a pain in her arse most of the time. I was there for them, but I’m not so sure they saw me as a real person with my own hopes and dreams. Which, I admit, wasn’t their fault. When did I ever really let them in?
Apart from my family, I haven’t come across anyone I’m fascinated with.
Until now.
I want to give him the truth. And I promised not to lie.
So, I simply nod.
Chapter 22
Gavin
Waiting for Jamie to arrive, Benny and I stand in the parking lot and try not to melt. It’s only 8am and already hot as hell.
After Jamie called me late yesterday afternoon to let me know she’d located Liam, and that he’d be thrilled to have her draw up an affidavit for him, I wanted to cry with relief. Not only has she followed through on her word, but it actually looks like I might have a shot at clearing my name.
She also explained that Liam needs to fly out tonight for a two-week stint in the Western Australian mines, so she’s taken today off work to hightail it up the coast.
In an effort to get Benny out of his little box, along with the fact that I want him to meet Jamie, she’s agreed to him coming along.
While we wait for her, I wonder again why this two-and-a-half-hour trip up the coast isn’t happening over the phone or online, but I’m not stupid enough to question it. This way, I get to spend most of the day with her.
“Thanks again, Gav. I’m pretty fuckin’ grateful ta be gettin’ outta that hot-box. Not ta mention finally meetin’ your obsession.”
“Jesus, Benny. You’ve already forgotten?” I snap.
“Think I’m gettin’ dementia,” he chuckles.
“I mean it,” I say, turning to face him. “Donotembarrass me. This is nerve-wracking enough without you spouting off your nonsense.”
He rolls his eyes. “Christ on a cracker. No fuckin’ fun, are ya?”
“Remind me,” I demand, my heart juddering in my chest at the thought of Benny saying something that’ll have Jamie believing I’m a crazed stalker.
“Fine. Don’t tell her ‘bout ya sketches. Don’t tell her how much ya stared at them. Don’t tell her you’re all mushy inside for her.”
After his simplified version of my rules, he gives me a quick one-two in the stomach. Fortunately, I’m so fucking tense, I barely feel it.
Then her car pulls in and drives toward us. “Here she is. Behave.”
Benny puts both hands up in surrender. “I gotcha back, Gav. Relax.”
I’ve never witnessed Benny’s behaviour around a woman, so I have no idea what I’m getting myself into. But the guy needs toget out of this caravan park, do something different for once, and meet someone other than the scum living here. And I don’t know anyone besides Jamie.
When her car pulls to a stop, I reach for the passenger doorhandle and open it. But before I can get in, she climbs out.
I watch over the roof of the car as her ponytail swings behind her, sunnies blocking my view of her eyes. When she rounds the rear bumper, my heart wants to leap from its cage.
She’s wearing a pretty summer dress that dips in a low V-neck, cinches in at her waist and flows loosely a few inches above her knees, caressing her bare thighs. When my gaze reaches her toes in strappy sandals, I notice they’re painted a delicate shade of pink. I’m sure she wasn’t wearing polish the other day. But best of all, when she places her sunnies on top of her head, her eyes radiate warmth.
