She smiled back. “You know it is.”
And she was right. He put his hands to her face and his mouth on hers, long and deep. The sensation flooded through him like cool water and he could feel her body pressed soft and warm against his.
After what felt like both a long time and not long enough, theypulled apart and Gemma took a breath. Her eyes were bright, her fingertips laced through his own.
“Joel’s going from here to a friend’s house to play video games for the afternoon.”
“Okay.” Falk ran his thumb over her palm.
She closed her hand around his. “So you should drive me home.”
Her house was silent and sun-drenched. They went straight to her bedroom, closing the door on a disgruntled Luna.
“Listen, Gemma, I do actually still need to leave on Friday. I’m giving evidence in court on Monday so I have to get up to speed—”
“It’s okay. This unzips on the side here, not the back.”
“Oh, great, got it, thanks. And I can definitely have another look for clear weekends, but it gets tricky because I’m on a seven-day rotating roster so—”
“I know. I understand that.”
“I just—” He stopped.
“Aaron.” Gemma stopped, too. Her lips were close to his, her fingers on his shirt buttons. “Maybe I’ve been overthinking all this. I mean, people will always come and go. And sometimes you know when, and sometimes you don’t.”
Falk nodded, his hands still.
“And we’re both here right now.” Her eyes had flecks of gold near the center. “So I think we should make the most of it.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. There’s something to be said for enjoying moments while you can.” She smiled and touched her lips to his. “Those stupid Melbourne beer coasters might have had a point.”
He laughed and she hung his jacket on a chair. Then they lay down on her sun-lined sheets under the open window, and he kissed her back in that quiet house as the breeze and the soft lazy sounds of a Sunday afternoon floated by.
27
The barn was empty and the vineyard drive had cleared by the time Falk pulled up in the dark. Light spilled from the cottage and he could hear the hum of relaxed talking and laughter through the open windows. His guesthouse stood dark, but someone was sitting alone out front in the nighttime air. She had her head tilted back and her eyes closed.
“Hi, Rita.” Falk pulled up the other chair. “Your turn to hide from the family?”
She smiled with her eyes still shut. “I’m folding laundry, can’t you tell?”
“Let me give you a hand with that.” Falk went into the guesthouse and came out with a jug of iced water and a couple of glasses. “Have most people gone?”
“Everyone but the family.” She opened one eye. “You’re going to be invited to brunch tomorrow, by the way. I don’t know if you’ve ever been to brunch with five children, but I’d highly recommend a prior commitment if I were you. We’re taking them to the festival tomorrow night for a last run before people start heading off. Say you’ll catch us then instead.”
“Noted. Thanks.”
Rita smiled and straightened in her chair, reaching for her water. “And how about you?” She looked at Falk now, her voice softer. He was still wearing his suit, his tie in his pocket. “Have you had a nice day, Aaron?”
“Yeah. I have.”
He’d lain there with Gemma in the quiet and the warmth until the light changed. As the shadows grew across the room, she’d finally taken her hand off his chest and propped herself up on one elbow.
“I absolutely hate to say this, but—”
“It’s okay. I’ll head off now, before Joel gets back.”
