Page 47 of Journey to You
Was it all a mirage, a vacation romance, afalse happinessthat would collapse once they returned to Melbourne?
She’d talked herself into believing what they had was real. She was good at that, convincing herself to see things in a positive light no matter how dire they were. She was an expert considering she’d done it for most of her marriage.
There was a huge difference between faking happiness and experiencing the real thing and while this last week with Ethan had shown her the difference, she couldn’t banish her doubts.
However, she’d come so far. Over the past year she would’ve wallowed in them, let them drag her down. Not any longer. Taking this trip had not only boosted her esteem, fuelled her confidence, and encouraged her to take risks she never thought possible, she’d also become an optimist. Looking on the bright side was much more liberating than brooding and for now, she’d take each day as it came with Ethan.
As for what happened in Melbourne, she’d find out soon enough. They were due to fly back tomorrow. Back to the real world. Back to a new life for her. She had a job to find, apartment hunting to solidify a fresh start, and a new beginning with Ethan.
Ethan, the man she’d fallen in love with.
Her friend, her lover, her soulmate.
Her mum had been right. Every person had a soul mate and Tamara had taken a detour on the way to finding hers.
They could have a future together, a good one.
This time, she wouldn’t settle for anything less.
Twenty-Three
“Let me guess. You have business to take care of.” Tamara rolled her eyes, but she smiled.
Ethan kissed her. “You know me too well.”
“I do now.”
She placed a possessive hand on his arm and scraped her fingernails lightly across the skin, enjoying his slight shudder before he clamped his hand over hers, blatant desire in his eyes.
“I promise I’ll make it the fastest investors meeting on record.” He glanced at his watch, and grimaced. “I have to run. How about I meet you atAmbrosiaafterwards?”
“Only if you make me one of your world famous hot chocolates.”
“Over your chai addiction already?”
“No, but I remember your fabulous hot chocolate and have a real hankering for it.”
He paused, his expression inscrutable, and for a second a finger of unease strummed her spine. “So much has changed since those days.”
“For the better.”
He nodded, his tight lipped expression not inspiring her with confidence. “I’ve been doing a bit of thinking.”
“About?”
“About making up for lost time. About how much time I wasted not seducing you earlier.”
That surprised her. She’d been anticipating many responses but not that one. “Maybe I wasn’t ready to be seduced?”
“Lucky for me, you are now.”
“You think you’ve got me wrapped around your perfect little finger, huh?”
“Hey, I’m not perfect. Pretty tarnished, in fact.”
“Not to me.”
She wound her arms around his neck and snuggled close, breathing in his fresh, just-showered scent, wishing he didn’t have to dash off.