The Summer They Never Forgot Read online

What a difference from fashionable, revitalised inner-city Surry Hills, where she lived in Sydney. It had more restaurants, bars and boutiques than she would ever have time to try. But it was densely populated and in summer could be stiflingly hot and humid. Driving round and round the narrow streets, trying to find somewhere to park her car, she’d sometimes dreamed of living in a place closer to nature.

  And here she was back in Dolphin Bay, working in a stranger’s bookshop, reconnecting with her first love.

  It seemed surreal.

  She paused, a paperback thriller in her hand. Remembered her pink-inked resolution. Get as far away from Sydney as possible.

  That didn’t necessarily have to mean moving to Melbourne.

  But she had only ever been a city girl. Could she settle for small-town life and the restrictions that entailed?

  The bell sounded again. She looked up, heart thudding, mouth suddenly dry. But again it wasn’t Ben. It was red-haired Kate, the waitress from the hotel.

  ‘Hey, nice to see you, Kate,’ she said, masking her disappointment that the woman wasn’t her tall blond surf god.

  ‘You too,’ said Kate. ‘We all love this shop and the personal service Ida gives us. It’s great you’re able to help her out.’

  ‘Isn’t it? I’m getting the hang of things. Can I help you with a book?’ she asked.

  Kate smiled and Sandy wondered if she could tell how inexperienced a shopkeeper she was.

  ‘Ida ordered some titles for me, but in all the drama yesterday I didn’t get a chance to see if they were in.’

  ‘Sure,’ said Sandy, heading behind the counter to access Ida’s computer. She had the special orders file open when Kate leaned towards her over the carved wooden counter.

  ‘So, I heard you and Ben were kissing on the beach this morning.’

  Sandy was so flabbergasted she choked. She coughed and spluttered, unable to utter a word in response.

  Kate rushed around the counter and patted Sandy’s back until her breath came more easily.

  ‘Thanks,’ Sandy finally managed to choke out.

  ‘Don’t be so surprised. News travels fast in Dolphin Bay.’

  Sandy took another ragged breath. ‘I’m beginning to see that.’

  Kate’s green eyes gleamed. ‘So you were kissing Ben?’

  Again Sandy was too aghast to reply. ‘Well, I...’ she started.

  ‘She who hesitates is thinking of how to tell me to mind my own business,’ said Kate with a grin.

  Sandy laughed at her audacity. ‘Well, now that you mention it...’

  ‘Feel free to tell me to keep my big mouth shut, but...well, I love Ben to pieces and I don’t want—’

  Ben and Kate?

  Sandy felt dizzy—not from lack of air but from the feeling that her heart had plummeted to the level of her ballet flats. ‘I’m sorry, Kate, I didn’t know... He didn’t say...’

  Kate’s auburn eyebrows rose. ‘I don’t mean that kind of love. My mum and Ben’s mum are friends. I grew up with Ben. It’s his brother, Jesse, I have a thing for. Unrequited, unfortunately.’

  ‘Oh,’ said Sandy, beyond relieved that Kate hadn’t marched into the bookshop to stake a claim on Ben.

  Kate leaned closer. ‘You do realise that for Ben to be kissing a woman in public is a big, big deal?’

  Sandy took a step back. ‘It was six-thirty in the morning on a practically deserted beach.’

  ‘That might be private in Sydney, but not in a place like Dolphin Bay. Here, it takes one person to see for everyone to know.’

  ‘I had no idea.’ Sandy felt suddenly dry in the mouth. What kind of pressure did this put on Ben? On her?

  ‘You and Ben together is big news.’

  ‘Then next time—if there is a next time—I’ll make sure we’re completely alone.’

  She spoke with such vehemence that Kate frowned and took a step back from her. ‘I’m sorry, Sandy. But this is a small town. We all look out for each other. If you’re not serious about Ben don’t start something you’re not prepared to see through.’

  Sandy gripped the edge of the counter. She knew Ben had been to hell and wasn’t yet all the way back. She didn’t need anyone to tell her.

  Pointedly, she scrolled through the special orders file on Ida’s computer, looked up again at Kate. ‘I don’t see your order here, but your contact number is. How about I call you when it comes in?’

  Kate shifted from foot to foot. ‘You must think I’m the nosiest busybody you’ve ever met.’

  Sandy didn’t disagree.

  ‘But I’ve only got Ben’s interests at heart,’ Kate continued, sounding hurt.

  Sandy gentled her tone of voice. ‘I appreciate that.’

  She was gratified at Kate’s smile as she said goodbye. Despite the redhead’s total lack of tact, she thought she could get to like her.

  But Kate’s visit, with her revelation about the undercurrents of small-town life, had left her reeling. She’d had no idea that any reunion would be conducted under such watchful eyes. What had seemed so simple on the beach at dawn suddenly seemed very complicated.

  It made her self-conscious when dealing with the customers who came in dribs and drabs through the doors. Were they genuinely interested in browsing through the books—or in perusing her? Her doubts were realised when two older ladies, hidden from full view behind a display of travel books, spoke in too-loud whispers they obviously thought she couldn’t hear.

  ‘She seems nice, and Ida likes her,’ said the first one. ‘That’s a point in her favour.’

  Sandy held her breath when she realised they were talking about her.

  ‘It might be a good thing. Ben’s been in mourning for too long. His mother’s worried about him,’ said the other.

  ‘I wonder what Jodi’s parents will think.’ The first lady sighed. ‘Such a sweet girl. What a loss. No wonder Ben’s stayed on his own all this time.’

  Sandy slammed her hand over her mouth so the ladies wouldn’t hear her gasp. Jodi. Ben’s late wife. The gentle woman Ben had loved enough to marry and have a child with.

  She stared ahead without seeing. Noticed a poster promoting a bestselling new celebrity biography had come adrift at one corner. But she felt too shaken to do anything about it. Would there always be the memory of another woman coming between her and Ben? Could she cope with coming second? With being just a disposable fling while his wife always held first place in his heart?

  She couldn’t meet the ladies’ eyes when they scurried out through the door without buying a book.

  An old familiar panic had started to overwhelm her—the same panic she’d used to feel when she’d been faced with those big waves rearing up so aggressively as she’d stood dry-mouthed with terror on the beach. Ben had helped her conquer that fear and discover the joy of riding the waves—and she’d used the memory to help her deal with any number of challenges she’d faced in her career. But now what she’d thought would be smooth water ahead might be filled with swirling undercurrents. Did she have the strength to battle through the rough water?

  Was it worth it for a four-day fling?

  The bell on the top of the door jangled again. She jumped. More ladies to check her out and assess her suitability?

  Ben shouldered his way through the door, carrying two large take-away coffee containers. The smile he gave her made her heart do the flippy thing—backwards, forwards and tumbling over itself. Her breath seemed to accelerate, making her feel light-headed, giddy.

  Her surf god. In the flesh and hotter than ever.

  He was back in shorts, and a blue polo shirt that hugged the breadth of his shoulders and brought out the blue of his eyes. She preferred the semi-naked beach look, but in true surf god manner he looked wonderful in anything he wore.

  She smiled back in her joy at seeing him again. It was four hours and thirty-five minutes since she’d said goodbye to him on the beach.

  She prayed no customers would intrude. More than ever she needed to be alone with
Ben. To be reassured that the thing between them was worth taking the risks of which she’d been so blithely ignorant.

  Kate’s words had hit home. Made her all too aware of the power she had to wound Ben. After all, she was the one who had left him all those years ago. Then he’d been young and untroubled, and still she had hurt him. Now he was anything but untroubled.

  Could he deal with a walk-away-from-it fling?

  Could she?

  The expectations of her were frightening. But what if the reality of Ben didn’t match up to her memories? What if they didn’t have a thing in common and she wanted to run after the first twenty-four hours? What if he wanted her to stay and she hurt him all over again? Or if she fell hard for him again but couldn’t match up to his wife? Then it would be her with her heart broken again.

  She caught her breath in what felt dangerously like a sob.

  Could she do this?

  ‘You okay?’

  His marvellous blue eyes were warm with concern for her. That sexy, sexy mouth was set in a serious line that just made her want to kiss it into a smile. Wordlessly, she nodded.

  Could she not do it?

  ‘Apparently we were seen on the beach this morning,’ she said.

  ‘Seen and duly noted. Makes you wonder what else people have to do with their time.’

  ‘You’re big news in Dolphin Bay.’

  He put the coffee down on the counter. ‘You’re bigger news.’

  ‘Tell me about it. The predatory city slicker hunting down the town’s favourite son.’

  She’d meant that to sound like a joke. But as soon as it came out she knew it was anything but funny.

  Ben frowned. ‘Did someone say that?’

  ‘Yes. Well, not in so many words. Kate dropped in.’ She couldn’t help the wobble in her voice.

  Why had Kate and those women come in and ruined everything? Made her feel suddenly so self-conscious with Ben?

  She just wanted to fall back into his arms and continue where they’d left off this morning. But the exchange she’d overheard had unsettled her.

  She bit down on her lower lip and looked up at Ben, not certain what to do next. How could she tell him she was having cold feet because she was so terrified of hurting him? Could she find the courage to ask him about Jodi?

  CHAPTER NINE

  TO BEN, SANDY looked as if she’d always stood behind the counter of Bay Books. The short hair he was still getting used to was tucked behind her ears. Just below her left shoulder she had pinned a round metal badge that urged people to get involved with a local literacy campaign. She looked smart, efficient—every inch the professional salesperson. Yet her yellow dress seemed to bring the sunlight right into the corners of the dark wooden carvings so favoured by Aunt Ida, and her vanilla scent brought a sweet new warmth.

  She fitted right in.

  Ida would be delighted.

  But Sandy looked anything but happy—she was wary, guarded, with a shadow behind her eyes. She was chewing her lip so hard she was in danger of drawing blood.

  Fear gripped him deep in his gut. What gave here?

  ‘Hey,’ he said, and went around the counter to pull her into his arms, expecting her warm curves to relax against him. Instead she stiffened and resisted his embrace.

  Why the sudden cold change? Hell, he’d worked damn hard to pull down a chink in those barriers he’d built up. Had she now decided to put up a few of her own?

  It didn’t figure.

  ‘What’s going on?’ he asked.

  Sandy took a step back, her struggle to decide what to tell him etched on her face. She picked up a waxed paper coffee cup, took a sip. Her hand wasn’t quite steady and the froth on the top wobbled dangerously. She put it down and the foam slid over the lid of the cup and dribbled down its side.

  ‘Leave it,’ he said as she reached for a cloth to wipe it up.

  ‘No. It might damage the wood,’ she said.

  She cleaned the spill too thoroughly. A delaying tactic if ever he’d seen one.

  She put the cloth away, started to speak way too rapidly. ‘Why don’t we take our coffee over to the round table?’ She was gabbling, her eyes blinking rapidly as she looked everywhere but at him. ‘It’s a cosier place to have coffee. Y’know, I’m thinking it would be great for Ida to have a café here. Maybe knock through to the vacant shop next door so that customers—’

  She went to pick up the coffee cup again, but he closed his hand around her wrist to stop her. He wouldn’t give her an excuse to evade him. Her hand stilled under his. ‘Tell me. Now.’

  Her eyes flickered up to meet his and then back down. When she spoke, her words came out in a rush. ‘Kate told me the whole town is watching to see if I hurt you.’

  In his relief, he cursed. ‘Is that all?’ He let go her wrist.

  ‘What do you mean, is that all?’ Hands on hips, she glared at him with the ferocity of a fluffed-up kitten. ‘Don’t you patronise me, Ben Morgan. Kate really freaked me out.’

  He used both hands to push down in a gesture of calm. ‘Kate exaggerates. Kate and the old-school people who were here before Dolphin Bay became a hotspot for escapees from the city. They all mind each other’s business.’

  Sandy’s chin tilted upwards. ‘And your business in particular, if Kate’s to be believed.’

  He shook his head. ‘It’s no big deal.’

  ‘Are you telling me that’s part and parcel of living in a small town?’

  He picked up his coffee. Drank a few mouthfuls to give him time to think. It was just as he had predicted. Ben’s old girlfriend is back. He could practically hear the hot news humming through cyberspace. ‘Yeah. Better get used to it.’

  ‘I don’t know if I can.’ Her voice rose to a higher pitch. ‘I’m used to the don’t-give-a-damn attitude of the city.’

  Ben thought back to how the town had pulled together for him after the fire. How it had become so stifling he’d had to get away. He’d thrown himself into high-risk money-making ventures because he’d had nothing to lose when he’d already lost everything. They’d paid off in spades. And he’d come back. Dolphin Bay would always be home. No matter that sad memories haunted him at every turn.

  But why should that hothouse concern for him bother Sandy?

  Her arms were crossed defensively against her chest. Was she using her fear of the townfolk’s gossip to mask some deeper reluctance? Some concern she had about him?

  He chose his words carefully. ‘I can see that. But you’re only here for four more days. We’re not thinking beyond that, right? Why worry about what they think?’

  ‘I just do,’ she said, in a very small voice.

  He put down his coffee, put his finger under her chin and tilted it upwards so she was forced to meet his gaze. ‘What else did Kate say?’

  ‘It wasn’t Kate. There were some other women. Customers. They...they were talking about...about Jodi.’

  Pain knifed through him at the sound of Jodi’s name. People tended to avoid saying it in front of him.

  His feelings must have shown on his face, because Sandy looked stricken.

  ‘Ben, I’m so sorry...’

  She went to twist away from him, but he stopped her.

  ‘I should tell you about Jodi.’

  The words would be wrenched from him, but he had to tell Sandy about his wife. There should be no secrets between them. Not if they were to enjoy the four days they had together.

  ‘Ben. No. You don’t have to—’

  He gently put his hand over her mouth to silence her and she nodded.

  He dropped his hand. ‘I loved Jodi. Don’t ever think otherwise. She was a good wife and a wonderful mother.’

  ‘Of course.’ Sandy’s eyes were warm with compassion—and a touch of wariness.

  ‘I’d known her all my life. But I didn’t date her until I’d finished university and was working in Melbourne.’

  Sandy’s brows rose. ‘University? You said—’

  ‘You wouldn’t
catch me in a classroom again?’

  ‘That’s right. You said it more than once. I remember because I was looking forward to going to uni.’

  ‘You can thank your father for my business degree.’

  She frowned. ‘My father? I—’

  ‘He used to look at me as if I were something scraped off the bottom of his shoe. Left me in no doubt that I wasn’t worthy of his daughter.’ Ben would have liked to apply some apt swear words to his memories of Dr Randall Adams, but Sandy might not appreciate that.

  Sandy protested. ‘Surely he didn’t say that to you? I can’t believe he—’

  ‘He didn’t have to say it. I saw his sneer.’

  Her mouth twisted. ‘No wonder I never got your letters.’

  Teen testosterone had made him want to flatten the guy. ‘But he had a point. To be worthy of his daughter I needed to get off my surfboard and make something of myself. I had deferred places at universities in both Sydney and Melbourne to choose from.’

  ‘You never said...’

  ‘At the time I had no intention of taking either. I just wanted to surf every good break at Big Ray Beach and work for my dad when I needed money to travel to other surf beaches. That summer... I guess it made me grow up.’

  He’d been determined to prove Dr Adams wrong. And broadening his horizons had been the right choice, even if made for the wrong reasons. And now fate had brought Sandy back to him. Now they met as equals in every way.

  ‘You could have been studying at the same uni as me,’ Sandy said slowly. She pulled a face that looked sad rather than funny. ‘I won’t say if only again.’

  They both fell silent. But Ben refused to give in to musing about what might have been. He had tortured himself enough.

  Sandy cleared her throat. ‘What happened after you finished uni?’

  ‘I was offered a job in a big stockbroking firm in Melbourne. Got an apartment and stayed down there.’

  ‘But you came home for holidays? And...and met up with Jodi again?’

  He could tell Sandy was finding the conversation awkward. She twisted the fabric of her skirt between the fingers of her right hand without seeming to be aware she was doing it.

  ‘I had an accident in the surf. Got hit in the face with the fin of my board.’ His hand went to the scar on his lip. ‘Jodi was the nurse who looked after me at the hospital.’