Page 64 of The Side Road
‘Oliver, I like you. But a relationship is something else. You’re five years younger than me. The rumour is you’re not staying in Eagle Nest – as soon as you find the money or sort out the will, you and Tash will be out of here. You also have a past life, and…’
‘You forgot to add, I’m unemployed and I have a twelve-year-old daughter. Mia, I’m not going anywhere. And the age difference is nothing.’
‘It’s not nothing. Look at me. I’m thirty-six. There are things I want in life. Do you want to get married and have more children?’
‘Are you asking?’
‘I’m serious.’ She looked bewildered.
‘I know. Listen to me, I started racing when I was fourteen. By the time I was twenty, I’d travelled to every continent.I’ve lived in Italy, France, London, and the US. I’ve been married and divorced. And now I’m raising a child and?—’
‘Wait,’ Mia interrupted. ‘Who did you divorce?’
‘Lizzy.’
‘Posthumously.’
‘No. We got divorced before she died. It’s not a secret. Although Tash conveniently forgets, and Elsie pretended our marriage never happened.’
‘She had cancer, right?’
‘She died in a car accident.’
‘No one told me that. Why did you get divorced?’
‘Because we weren’t in love. What I’m trying to say is, when it comes to life experiences, you don’t have the edge just because you’re a few years older.’
Unconvinced, she bit her thumbnail and shook her head. ‘I don’t think…’
He could make a stronger case, pitch a better reason for more dates or even a relationship, but he didn’t want to coerce her. If he wanted them to be together, a compromise was required.
‘Okay, let’s give it a go. Have you done this before?’
‘No.’ She swallowed. Nervously, she shook her head. ‘I’m a friends-with-benefits virgin.’ She placed her hand on her chest and pressed her heart. ‘What about you? Have you ever done this before?’
‘I’ve had some experience. We should set some ground rules. There is Tash to think about, she comes first. I can’t do Sundays. And no after-hours booty calls.’
‘I understand. Monday is my worst day, so that works for me.’
‘While we’re doing this, we’re not having sex with anyone else. It should be an exclusive arrangement.’
She looked shocked. ‘Why would I have sex with anyone else?’
‘You’d be surprised. We should also be honest with each other.’
‘Okay. I like your rules. Also, I get to kiss you whenever I want. That's non-negotiable. It’s good that you’re currently unemployed; that will make it easier. Why are you looking at me like that?’
‘No reason. Now, next week, why don’t I take you on a picnic?’
‘Really? I’ve never been on a picnic.’ She slipped her arm around his neck, pulled him toward her, and kissed him.
Outside,Oliver wiped a hand over his face. For a man who was about to engage in a sexual relationship with a beautiful, sweet, funny, and somewhat sexually naïve – although enthusiastic – woman, he should feel happier. Somehow, the agreement felt dishonest. He told himself it was her idea, which was true, but he didn’t feel right. It was the picnic. This was outside the scope of friends-with-benefits rules.
She had not referred to adventures or romance, so he refused to rule them out. He was going to romance those cute little socks right off her feet, along with a few other items of clothing. His mind raced ahead: motorbike rides on country roads, long lunches at local wineries, fruit picking – he wondered what berries were in season.
Yesterday, if anyone had asked him to visit an old church, the Pioneers Museum, or the Memorial Rotunda, he would have answered them with a firm shake of his head. Not in his life, but the idea of taking Mia to these places enthralled him. Entering a half-lit chapel built in the 1800s sounded delightful. Visiting the cutlery museum to look at antiqueforks seemed like a great idea. Studying old black-and-white photos of bygone eras and stockman’s routes would surely interest her. Perhaps she would enjoy a pioneering gold experience. He might also put the statue of poet and activist Louisa Lawson – the mother of women’s suffrage – on his list. There was a lot to do, and he hadn’t even thought about country pubs, breweries, and cellar doors. He could keep the woman entertained for months. Obviously, they were going to fall deeply in love. Already, she had opened his heart and stepped inside.
Not seeing her for a week would be difficult. The garden’s unruly beds at the parsonage were going to be pummelled.
