Max nearly choked on his beer.
“Sorry again.”
He shook his head.Get it over with. He didn’t want to tell her, but he felt the need to want to open up to her. “I was. She was a city girl and didn’t like the country. Well, the isolation of the farm to be exact.” He looked at her, knowing how much his words were probably not helping his own situation.It’s just a fling, this is what we’ve agreed on.
She reached for her glass of white wine. She looked bloody hot, and so much more at ease with the wine instead of the beer he’d seen her drinking at the Jumbuck the last two days.
“It’s in the past now, she’s long gone.”
“So you have a thing for city women?”
Max’s breath caught in his throat.How did she get under his skin like that?She certainly had a skill in doing so.
He moved uncomfortably in his seat then looked her in the eyes. It was a long time before dinner was over. “Just the one sitting opposite me, and I’m wanting more than just a few days or a thing.”
Her eyes widened. The muscles on her neck worked hard to swallow the mouthful of wine.
His mind caught up with what he’d said.Fuck. He was just trying to make her feel as uncomfortable as he did. “We’ve been here long enough. Let’s go.”
Max stood up leaving his unfinished meal and beer. He held out his hand to Zoe.Will she take it after the blundering comment I’ve just made?She didn’t move. He kept his hand out. Waiting. She knew how much he hated waiting.
“If you want, you can go home.” He stepped away from the table, telling the waitress to put it on his tab. Instead of going upstairs to his room, he made his way to the front of the bar. As much as he enjoyed the isolation of the farm, this time at the show was about networking, and he wasn’t doing as much of that because ofher. Zoe.
Why the fuck did I have to go and say that?Then bloody walk away.
It was because of what had happened in his past. He knew damn well, but he didn’t want to acknowledge it. The hurt was there still, below the surface, near his heart.
I just wanted to show her that she didn’t mean anything to me. But she did. Even in such a short amount of time.
He’d wanted to have dinner with her. He needed to know more about her. He wanted more than a fling or a thing, but it was never going to happen. It was becoming more and more obvious as they talked. They were from totally different worlds, and he’d already had a city woman and it didn’t work out. There was no reason in his mind why it would work out this time. Not with Zoe.
He didn’t know much about fashion but he could tell she liked the best. And what she’d worn at the show was way too flashy. There was no need to dress like that on the farm, the cattle didn’t care what you wore, or smelt like, and neither did Bluey.Goddamn it all.It had worked out for one of his neighbours, Smithy and his wife from the city. But she was a special woman, old Gloria, it was as if she was made for the country life. And he just didn’t get that impression from Zoe. His mind seesawed between one side of the argument to the other. Just because it hadn’t worked the first time didn’t mean it wouldn’t work for him in the future.Fuck, I need a beer.It didn’t matter there was no way in hell he would risk it.
Max pushed on the swinging door that led to the front bar. The noise hit him like a punch in the face. He didn’t want to be there either.Had she gone home?It took all his self-control not to go back and find out.She’s a city girl, she can handle herself.
He marched up to the bar and ordered a full strength beer. Something brushed against his arm. He turned to see Zoe standing there, a fire in her eyes and her hands on her hips.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”
He glared back at her, hoping the fuck that no one around had heard her. It would damage his reputation knowing a woman spoke to him like that in public.
“What do you care?” He picked up his beer and drained half of it before slamming it down on the counter.
“Care is the wrong word. I came here expecting sex, and you better deliver.”
Bloody hell she had an edge. By fuck, it turned him on. He grabbed her and slammed his lips on her. She didn’t cower away. Instead, she grabbed the sides of his shirt and held him in close. She had no fear, was courageous, and he loved it.
He pushed her back towards the door. Breaking the kiss. “Come on then, let’s go fuck.”
