Clem looked at her watch.
Enough time to give the house a quick once-over too?
She gave a shaky laugh at the ridiculous thought.As if he’ll notice dusty skirting boards and cobwebs on the cornices.
Now that camp was over, theLove on the Landembargo was the only thing standing in their way, and that wasn’t an issue if they kept things secret and out of the public eye. Desire flickered and flared as Clem pictured Spencer’s clothes falling to her bedroom floor, the feeling of his hands exploring every inch of her skin, and the delicious friction of his body against hers.
It had been a while, but judging by the chemistry between them, and the way her body reacted just imagining their first evening together, Clem suspected tonight was going to be hotter than her jalapeño bagels, with a side serve of steamy.
Biting her lip, Clem fanned her face, crossed her tingling legs together, and reluctantly dragged her attention back to the Narradarra High catering presentation for tomorrow’s parents and friends committee meeting. The software engineerwho designed Powerpoint was clearly a sadist, she thought, glaring at the slideshow that was supposed to be advancing on its own accord.
Why hadn’t she pushed to deliver her pitch in person, instead of agreeing to email it through?
Clem opened YouTube, determined to find a tutorial to nail the slideshow automations.
My prices are fair, I’ve got a great product. I’m offering healthy food options at a reasonable price, and as well as generating an income for my business every week, the school’s profits from the small mark-ups will boost their coffers too.
She thought of Marco and the laminated menus in his cafe, dotted with liquid paper and handwritten updates of outdated prices. With her far more professional offering, surely she was in with a good shot, and it didn’t hurt that Lauren and Jack had friends at the small coastal primary school either.
But hadn’t Fergus and Maggie put in a good word for her at Cockatoo Cove? And she’d still lost that lucrative contract.
Another message came through from Spencer, whisking Clem’s thoughts from paperwork to pleasure.
How’s a girl supposed to concentrate?
With a few sharp clicks of the mouse, she sent the presentation to the school, closed her laptop and headed inside to prepare for the evening ahead.
Spencer wasn’t sure when he’d last walked into the Penwarra Hall with such a spring in his step, but as his footsteps echoed along the dusty boards, he was certain there was nowhere else he’d rather be on a Monday night in mid-November.
Nowhere …?
Flashbacks from the evening he’d spent with Clem flickered through his mind, and he conceded a wry smile.
Of course he’d rather be at Clem’s, her legs wrapped around his shoulders, moving his lips against her sweet centre as she ran her fingers through his hair and gasped his name again and again.
Nowhere I’d rather beapartfrom Clem’s house,he corrected himself. He cleared his throat and, with great effort, pushed last night from his thoughts.
The scents of spring filtered in as he opened the windows and aired out the hall ahead of the rehearsals. Their script was in pretty good shape, they’d had a good turnout at the weekly rehearsals and the props tasks were easily achievable in the two months until the big performance in mid-January.
‘You look chirpy,’ Ian said, striding through the doorway. ‘A few days camping then shifting hives has done you the world of good.’
Ian didn’t need to know that Spencer’s good mood was more to do with the beautiful lady who would be arriving any minute, all ready for a secluded prop-painting session in the back storeroom.
And while he knew Ian and Louisa had been keen for him to find love again, he wouldn’t—couldn’t—tell them about the night he’d spent with Clem. Not yet, at least, not while it was still early days.
Cast members flew in the door, their chatter echoing around the vast hall as they caught up on a week’s worth of news and gossip. Spencer didn’t have to listen too hard to know that his name would be in the mix too, given the thrice-weekly episodes he’d tried hard to avoid. With the amount of local interest, he didn’t really have to watch the damn program himself. He’d had enough cheeky comments from his students today, and even the service station cashier this afternoon, to know how much airtime he’d been given in the last episode, and approximately what stage of the show the program was up to.
If he was portrayed as a first-class bastard, he’d soon hear about it.
Louisa clapped her hands to get everyone’s attention and the cast broke into their groups to practise the lines. Harriet slipped in through the side door, giving him a cheerful wave, but there was no sign of Clem or Indi yet.
Spencer took one more look around before heading backstage. Louisa’s exercises to get people into character were just audible from the props room, and when the sessions were in full swing, nobody would come looking for him.
Once he was set up, he doubled back to the hall kitchen to wash the brushes out.
‘I took a punt you’d be back here.’ Mia stood in the doorway with her baby strapped to her chest and Reggie by her side. ‘Is it lonely back there in the props room, just you, the set you’re working on and the odd spider or two?’
He laughed, drying the brushes. Reggie tore up and down the hallway. Mia’s longing tone made it sound like an all-expenses-paid day spa. ‘I manage. How’s the little champ? Glad to see he looks more like you than Jeff. It would take a while for any kid to grow into an Angelino nose.’ The baby was soft and squishy still, his features defined by dark hair and even darker eyelashes. If Spencer was being honest, Fred didn’t look much like Mia or Jeff, but she seemed pleased with the compliment.
