A frisson darted through her body, and with the ease of practice, she shoved it away.She’d been a kid, and him an adult.The man was probably married with six children.“I have perishables.”
“I popped in to get milk and won’t stay long,” London promised.
“Sounds great.”Maia waited while London purchased six three-liter bottles of milk.“Wow, big family?”
London chuckled.“No, we have three families sharing a residence.We have private apartments within the house but have communal meals.It sounds complicated, but it works for us.”
Maia nodded, understanding because at least two girls she’d played rugby with in Auckland were solo mothers, and they’d shared with other single mums.It was a cost-effective way of housing a family and paying bills.“I’ll meet you outside.”She picked up her bag of groceries.“Nice to meet you, Ambar.”
“Are you single?”Ambar asked.
“Yes, but I’m too busy for a man.”Maia glanced at the boot camp flyer.Huh.Worth checking out, since she enjoyed varying her training.
“Try two,” Ambar muttered.
That’s what Maia thought she heard before the door closed.She’d parked in the shade and placed her shopping in the passenger side footwell, frowning as she did so.She hoped Ambar and the other local women didn’t decide to fix her up with men.Not interested.Maia had done the dating thing, and it never worked for her.The men never measured up to…
And there she went again.She refused to dwell on the grumpy man who’d ruined her for others when they hadn’t exchanged more than a few words.
Yeah.How whacked was that?
Once again, she pushed the pesky man from her thoughts.
“I’m ready,” London said.
“You have an English accent,” Maia said.
London winked.“Noticed that, did you?Came here on holiday, met Gerard, and fell in love.Middlemarch people are lovely.You’ll see.They welcomed me when I first arrived.”
“I’ll be commuting to Dunedin for rugby and traveling for games, so I won’t spend much time here during the season.I have two weeks before training starts.”
“Why Middlemarch?”
“It’s handy to Dunedin—an hour by vehicle—and living in the country appealed.Real estate is cheaper here than in the city.After living on campus, I craved a less frantic life.”Free of nosy people who wanted to know why she was spending so much time using her computer.
London nodded and gestured at a store.“That’s Caroline’s shop.She designs and sells gorgeous clothes.She also has fantastic knitwear a local girl makes.I buy tons of my clothes from her.If she doesn’t have what you want, she’ll make garments to order.”
“Evening wear?”
“We’re casual around here, but she’s talented and capable of producing formal gowns.”
Maia considered that.Maybe… “We have a formal prize giving, and finding something decent to wear is always a drag.”
London scanned Maia.“You’re tall, and that’s an advantage with clothes.”
London walked through an open gateway and onto a footpath leading to an old house someone had converted into a cafe.Rose bushes edged the path, and the heady scent perfumed the air.Several hanging baskets of purple and white blooms hung from hooks on the verandah.London opened the door, and the hum of masculine voices floated to them.
“Gerard must’ve finished his job early.”London burst through the doorway and hightailed toward a table with two men.
Maia scanned them and the cafe.It was bright and colorful and full of a decadent cinnamon scent that made her tummy sit up and take notice.A blonde woman operated the till, and Maia caught glimpses of another working in the kitchen.
“Maia.”London gestured for her to join them.
Without warning, Maia’s skin prickled.The man facing her had shaggy black hair and pale eyes.Green, she noted when she forced her body into motion.He smiled.
“My husband, Gerard Drummond.This is Maia Jacobs.She purchased Beatrice Ramsey’s place.I ran into her at the supermarket and invited her for a coffee.”
The other man turned, slanting his body while London made introductions.
