The Modern Girl by Diana K Holmes

Author:Diana K Holmes [Holmes, Diana K]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bay Books

* * *

‘Paige.’ I rolled my head to look at him. His eyes were all I could see, they were all that there was. As before, it was as if he looked into the heart of me but, not as before, I felt myself surrender to them. ‘Paige,’ he repeated. ‘It’s time to go.’

His words dissolved the torpor that had stolen over me. I blinked lightly. ‘Of course.’ I rolled onto my knees and jumped up, brushing down the dry grass from my clothes as I re-arranged them.

He took his hand in mine. ‘Do you have any plans for tonight? Do you want to come to the beach, to my place?’

It was all I wanted to do, to drift along with him on a haze of well-being and not think about anything. But that was how I’d got myself into this mess in the first place, not engaging my brain. I pulled my hand from his and ran my fingers through my hair as an excuse. I smiled and looked out toward the beach, pressed my lips together regretfully and shook my head. ‘No, I don’t think so. I was going to do some more research back at the unit.’

‘How long do you reckon you’ll stay there?’

I shrugged. ‘As long as I have to.’ I glanced at the house and felt an overwhelming sense of responsibility and despair. He must have seen something of it on my face because he pulled me to him and hugged me.

He tilted my chin toward him. ‘If you’ve found somewhere nice, I suggest you take your time with this lot. That is what I suggest. And I’m a film director so you know you can trust me,’ he said with deadpan delivery.

I laughed, and rested my cheek against his chest, unable to resist him. I heard his heart beating against my ear and I closed my eyes as I felt his hand cup my head, holding me in place as if he, too, found some comfort in it.

I sighed and pulled away. ‘You’re right.’

He brushed aside a lock of my hair. ‘If you’re to stay here and make this work then you’re in for a marathon, not a sprint. Take your time. And I’m always here if you need me.’

‘Are you?’

He smiled. ‘I’ll always be at the other end of the phone, even if I’m not actually here. And I’ll be here tomorrow before I go to Wellington. So I’ll see you at the barbecue?’

‘I don’t want to intrude,’ I said, sounding distant even to my ears. I so desperately wanted to be a part of this world and it made me vulnerable, something which I’d grown up knowing I could never be.

He looked at me quizzically. ‘You won’t be.’

He held out his hand but I still wasn’t sure and I saw him register my hesitation. What did it matter? What did any of this matter? He would be passing through, he’d said; it was only for now. And I liked now. I reached

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