The Buchanan Girls by Emily Madden

Author:Emily Madden
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Mira
Published: 2021-08-02T00:00:00+00:00

The cry of the bush stone-curlew roused Ivy from slumber as the first rays of light filtered through. The window was partly open, and the curtain billowed in the breeze. She blinked once, twice, as she slowly became aware of her surroundings.

Magnetic Island. The cabin. Leo.

His arm was draped around her, holding her tight against his warm body, and her stomach fluttered as she recalled their night together. Memories flashed.

Last night on the beach, then afterwards, lying in his arms, staring up at the stars.

Was it all a dream? But if it was a dream, why was she in his bed?

Just then he stirred, pulling her even closer against him, and she felt his warm breath caress her ear.

‘Good morning.’

‘Morning,’ Ivy replied, wriggling so she could turn to face him.

He kissed her and all speculation that she was in a dream evaporated.

‘I should be getting back to my cabin.’

‘Back? You never made it there last night,’ he joked, running a finger down the bridge of her nose.

Ivy felt her face flame and for the first time since Mavis and Dottie left last night she thought of her friends. What happened to them? Did they find Gwen?

She knew the others would have a fair idea, from her not returning to the cabin, of what had happened between Leo and herself. She also knew that they would not let her live this down, but part of her was excited to share her joy with them. Ever since they had all been sent to Melbourne for signalling training, the four of them had become closer than ever, especially since they shared the same shift roster.

Gwen, Dottie and Mavis were the closest things to good friends that she had. In some ways, she felt closer to them than to Olive. Her sister would be horrified to find out that she’d slept with Leo, even though she suspected that Olive and Lawson had not waited until their wedding night.

She could almost hear Olive say, ‘That was different. I knew I was going to marry Lawson’, as if the rules didn’t apply to her. But Ivy didn’t want to think about her sister in that moment, she wanted to enjoy the here and now.

‘Stay,’ Leo said and then he punctuated his request with another kiss. ‘I’ll make you breakfast.’

Ivy laughed at this because he knew as well as she did there wasn’t a crumb of food in the cabin. ‘How about you get yourself decent and come next door? Dottie has probably whipped up some tea and porridge.’

Leo screwed up his nose. ‘I was kind of hoping for pancakes.’

‘Actually, I wouldn’t put it past her.’

‘How about you have breakfast with the girls and I’ll meet you on the beach in an hour or so?’

The thought of being away from him didn’t appeal, but she was eager to check in on her friends and make sure they had all made it back safely.

‘Are you sure you won’t join us for breakfast?’

‘Can you guarantee me coffee?’

Ivy shook her head.

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