Hone grimaced at his aunt’s last shot and slipped his phone into his pocket. His skin itched in a slightly different way, telling him someone was watching him. He bent to check his shoelace, casually glancing around at the same time. A flash caught his eye, but he didn’t make the mistake of staring. The knowledge was enough. Someone was spying on him with a pair of binoculars.
Interesting.
He’d mention it to Jack and perhaps investigate the owners of the neighboring property. Of course, the binoculars might mean curiosity, but the snoopy neighbor might have seen something useful.
When he wandered back inside, he found everyone in a bedroom. A bedframe and a mattress bearing nasty stains plus several beer bottles and empty crisp packets told an interesting story. “A trysting spot?”
Jack’s brows rose, his somber face lightening. “A tryst? Who says that word?”
“Auntie June,” Hone said. “She said lots of other words just now. Most of them involved subtle matchmaking.”
“Aw, that’s so sweet,” Emma cooed.
“Jack, am I allowed to smack her butt?”
“Hell, no. That’s my job.”
Emma winked at her man. “You’re very good at it too.”
“Do they carry on like this all the time?” Cassie sidled closer to Hone.
Hone grunted. “Isn’t it disgusting? I’m glad you’re here to save me. Auntie June wants us to buy her two dozen oysters in their shells. She said to turn up around six.”
“I’m dusty and grubby after lifting the carpets. I’d like to go swimming. When’s high tide?” Emma asked.
“Later this afternoon,” Jack said. “It should be on its way in now.”
Hone watched Cassie. He couldn’t explain his fascination with the woman. Although he enjoyed women of all shapes and sizes, Cassie’s robust frame and abundant curves did it for him. She wasn’t traditionally pretty with her strong features and bold eyebrows, but the black-framed glasses gave her a cute librarian look, and he adored the sun dress. It cupped her full breasts and fell in a swish of frothy fabric to her knees. The woman had serious legs—long and supple—and her toenails sported bright pink nail polish. His gaze zapped back to her dress. The fabric was blue and covered with cat’s heads, almost cartoonish since each sported a pink bow and pink-framed glasses. His lips twitched as he fought a full-out grin. Any woman who wore a dress like that didn’t take herself too seriously.
“This is the only furniture,” Cassie said. “Would you help me put it outside before we leave? And the old carpet too? Then I can organize someone to dump them for me.”
“You want the stuff out front?” Jack asked. “Near the vehicles?”
“Yes, please.”
“Mattress first?” Hone asked Jack.
“Yup.”
It was almost an hour before they cleared the house.
“Are we done?” Hone asked. “I’m ready to hit the beach and I’m starving. What say we drive to Maraetai and get fish and chips? We can grab our oysters on the way back to Papakura.”
“Works for me,” Jack said. “Cassie?”
“Great idea. I’ll buy lunch. It’s the least I can do after you’ve helped me all morning.”
“We’ll meet you there,” Emma said. “We’re going to lock the doors.”
Hone’s taniwha growled, and he rushed into speech to cover the sound. “You need new locks. The existing ones aren’t worth shit.”
Jack narrowed his gaze, probably as a warning to him to get a grip on his beast. Unfortunately, Cassie fascinated his dragon, enticing him to play. Fine for his dragon but he—the man—hesitated at the idea of confining himself to one woman. His taniwha had turned contrary and seemed to have a permanent arrangement in mind. No wonder confusion rode him, yanking him over to his taniwha’s point of view. He shook himself and planted his feet over the line to the bachelor side. Immediately, a growl vibrated through him.
Hone cursed under his breath. He foresaw turmoil in his future. Probably best if he followed Jack’s advice and stayed the hell away from temptation.
“Thank you for helping,” Cassie said to Emma as she turned onto the coast road. The sea sparkled beneath the overhead sun, and even though summer was well-advanced, some of the gnarled pohutukawa trees still bore their crimson flowers. She’d missed this while she’d lived in the States. Once the pohutukawas bloomed it truly felt as if summer was on the way.
“No problem. It beat doing laundry and housework at home. What’s next for the house?”
