The thought of bright, sweet Bindi living out of her car made Elora want to wrap her arms around her and offer whatever financial assistance she could. Owing Jason five grand and having to live frugally to keep a roof over her head made Elora all too aware of how easily she could lose it all and be homeless herself. If she reached that stage, she’d always have her parents for help, but what if she didn’t have that option?
She absolutely had to secure a job with Cruz for Bindi, and with a little luck, Cruz would agree to her other idea: that Bindi could live in the studio. Elora wouldn’t need it for much longer, and even if Cruz hired her to promote the restaurant, she could ask if she could stay in the homestead during her temporary residence—with the added bonus of them continuing what they’d started last night for the foreseeable future.
When Elora accepted the job in Rosevale Grove, she’d never anticipated feeling like she belonged after such a short space of time. She rarely made friends easily despite her outgoing personality, because it was too hard to maintain a facade when people got close.
Maybe that’s why she liked helping Bindi: she knew she had an expiration date in town. Same with Cruz. Though with him, their closeness stemmed from an intense physical attraction, the type of bond she’d never experienced. Jason had been her longest relationship—three months—and even then, she’d wondered if she’d clung to him more out of loneliness than passion. He’d been convenient, a nice guy when she needed someone to depend on. Not so nice, as it turned out.
Elora knocked on the homestead back door before letting herself in. Despite Cruz telling her she had the run of the house, it felt weird to barge in when he was there.
When he strolled into the kitchen a moment later, he was drying his hair with a towel, and had dressed in clean chinos and a buttondown navy shirt.
‘I was just going to have a snack,’ he said, draping the towel on a clothes horse in the laundry tucked in the far corner of the kitchen. ‘Want something?’
‘I’m good.’
‘Probably for the best, as I’m making smashed avo on sourdough, and we both know how you feel about avocados.’
‘Vile green mush,’ she muttered, earning a grin. ‘Actually, that’s not a bad name for your restaurant. Smashed.’
His eyebrows rose, a spark of interest in his eyes. ‘That’s clever.’
‘People love puns and plays on words.’ She blew on her nails and rubbed them against her top. ‘Told you I’m good at what I do.’
‘My dad used to say self-praise is no recommendation.’ He snorted.‘He had a stack of old sayings that used to drive me bonkers.’
‘Why do you think he’s making you stay here for a year before you can sell?’
‘Because he was a prickly bastard who enjoyed making my life a misery and wanted to control me from beyond the grave.’
‘It’s weird. He must’ve known you’d sell in a year anyway.’
‘It’s vindictive, is what it is.’ He plucked an avocado from the fruit bowl on the counter and sliced it open, scooped the contents into a bowl and mashed it with a fork. ‘Though Kyle told me something interesting earlier. He said my dad used to rave about my food, that he ordered takeaway from the restaurant every time he was in Melbourne.’
‘And you didn’t know?’
He shook his head. ‘Never had a clue. Why would he keep something like that from me, when it could’ve been a way for him to mend our relationship?’
‘Who knows why parents do what they do?’ She shrugged. ‘Speaking of old relationships, can I talk to you about Bindi?’
‘This again?’ He sliced two hunks of sourdough bread and popped them in the toaster before opening the fridge to grab a jar of goat’s cheese. ‘I already said I’d consider hiring her for the restaurant.’
‘About that. Things have changed.’
‘How so?’ He twisted the salt and pepper grinders, seasoning the mashed avocado. ‘Did she say something about not wanting the job anymore? I saw you two exchanging numbers last night like a couple of besties.’ The corners of his mouth twitched. ‘Is there anyone in this town you haven’t charmed yet?’
‘I’ll take that as a compliment and, yeah, she texted me this morning to catch up for a coffee in town. She pretty much reiterated how much she wants the job, but there’s more …’ She inhaled a breath and blew it out. ‘But I’m telling you this in confidence, as I don’t know the facts for sure, and I hate meddling in other people’s business.’
‘You can trust me. What’s going on?’
‘I think Bindi is homeless.’
Shock parted his lips, but she continued. ‘I got to our meeting place early and took a walk and saw a woman sneaking out of the public pool after taking a shower. She went to an old car with a unique colour, and turns out, that’s Bindi’s car.’
He frowned. ‘That’s a pretty big assumption you’ve made. Maybe she took a swim and rinsed off afterwards?’
‘The pool looked deserted, so I don’t think it was open yet, and she told me she needs employment ASAP. And when I told her it was my shout, she ordered a gyro and devoured it like she hadn’t eaten for a week.’
‘Now you mention it, she was going to order a small bowl of chips last night until Kyle stepped up and ordered her a steak. For old times’ sake, he said, but maybe he senses something too?’
