Lucy mounted the steps to the main house. Her heart was heavy and her mind had been in overdrive since she’d spoken to her brother hours ago. She knew she shouldn’t be getting in deeper with Josh, but he’d asked her to supper two days ago and she didn’t want to let him down. Besides, she felt horribly alone and as much as she didn’t want to admit it, she found his company soothed her.
The sun was low in the sky and the mountains were bathed in the pink and blush tones of early evening. The scene before her was so beautiful that she had to pause to take it in. It was like a postcard come to life. Except for the smoke billowing out of the front door!
“Josh?” she called, “Are you all right?”
He appeared seconds later, an agitated look on his face. “Come inside, it’s all good. Just a minor culinary disaster.”
She followed him into the kitchen. The door to the oven was open and smoke was still billowing into the room. He swatted and whisked at the smoke while pulling a tray from an eye-level oven. The two Ridgebacks were scurrying for cover.
“How do you like your duck, Ms. Shepherd? Charred or cremated?” he asked. His eyes watered and he coughed from the smoke.
Lucy couldn’t help laughing. “What the hell happened?” She was now laughing and coughing at the same time.
“Got a bit ahead of myself,” he said. “I wanted to try something I saw on Master Chef. I was trying to make that damn celeriac mash and I guess I lost track of the time.”
“Hmmm. I think you have the oven on a little high here,” Lucy said. “All the fat on a duck breast can be rather tricky.”
Lucy wasn’t a fancy cook, but she was a competent one. When her mother died, she’d taken over much of the cooking duties.
Josh opened all the windows and doors and flapped a dish towel to usher the smoke out. Two charred hunks of duck lay smoking next to the sink.
“So, do we have a plan B?” she asked.
Josh looked a bit frantic and immediately began searching the fridge and the cupboards.
“How about this?” He held up a can of tuna, his expression rather helpless.
Lucy frowned. “Scrambled eggs, perhaps?” She noticed grease stains on his white t-shirt, and his face was flushed. Despite the chaos, he looked imperfectly, messily handsome. Flustered and covered with grease and smoke, this man lit up her senses in a way she couldn’t deny.
“The mash looks good,” she said, unable to hide the sarcasm.
“Holy shit.” Josh looked with dismay at the unappetizing, congealed mushy mash in the pan. “So we go with the scrambled egg then?” he said.
“Absolutely! Get me a fork and a mixing bowl,” she ordered.
He fetched the bowl, a whisker, and half a dozen eggs.
“Who else is here?” Lucy asked.
“Just you and me, I’m afraid. Suzanne is back at work in Cape Town and Mom is at our beach house. She likes to spend time at the coast. Her sister is there.”
“Any chance you could make us some toast?”
“Now that, I can do.” He smiled.
She lightly beat the eggs and placed them in the pan over the gas stove. It was a large, country-style kitchen. A few original antiques, including a century-old Aga stove, gave the room a sense of heritage. Like everything at Mountain Shadows, the past and present were in harmony.
“I’m glad my sous chef arrived,” Josh joked. “I normally leave the boring details to an underling while I create my masterpieces.”
“Masterpieces? Scorched duck and celeriac glue?” Lucy smiled and poured the eggs into the pan. It was fun cooking with him and she was aware of the heat of his body next to hers. He stood behind her while she cooked and placed one hand on her shoulder. She could feel his soft breathing on her neck. I can’t let myself fall into this, she tried to remind herself. Must be ready to pack up and leave.
Josh placed an arm around her stomach and she couldn’t help but tilt her head as he gently nuzzled her neck. Closing her eyes, she inhaled the smell of him, luxuriated in the warmth of his strong body behind hers.
The toast popped, breaking the moment. With darkness falling outside, they settled down to an egg-on-toast dinner.
“How are things going with Mikey Smit? Do you think you can help him?”
“Wow, you really do have an inside track. I didn’t know that you kept up with all the goings-on of the school.”
Josh held up his wine glass. He seemed to be studying the crystal. “Mikey Smit is of particular interest to me, in fact to our entire family. His father died several years ago working on this farm.” His voice was serious.
“It was during the rainy season and one of our trucks was stuck in the mud. Mikey’s father Aaron, a long-time employee of the farm, went out in a tractor and tried to pull the truck out. His tractor flipped and he was crushed underneath. My father rushed him to hospital, but he was declared dead on arrival.” Josh put down his glass and sighed heavily.
“My dad always felt personally responsible. It was on my father’s instruction that he went out that day in the most horrific weather conditions. And he was fond of Aaron. We all were. My dad had so much responsibility on his shoulders. I think it wore him down.”
“And now that responsibility has passed to you. How do you feel about it?” she asked.
“We all have our crosses to bear, Lucy. It’s actually an incredible privilege to be handed this farm. To look after it and its people.”
“Well, to answer your question, I definitely think that I can help Mikey. He’s smart. I can tell from his use of vocab and high level of curiosity. I never have to tell him anything twice.”
Josh smiled, clearly pleased with the answer.
“I’ve already made progress with him.” Her eyes began to sparkle. This was her passion and it showed. “We progressed through the alphabet and now I’m teaching him all the letter blends.”
“You love your work, don’t you?”
“I love it because I understand how it feels to lag behind, to not be able to read.”
“And how is that?” Josh seemed interested.
“I am dyslexic myself. I arrived at kindergarten and was utterly useless. Fortunately, there was a remedial program at my school. Mrs. McCardle helped me.” Lucy smiled at the memory of her old teacher.
“She was about four-foot-ten, but ramrod straight. Red hair in a bun. ‘Just remember, Lucy, just because you have to find a different way to learn doesn’t mean that you can’t. You will always have to find the alternative route,’ she used to say. She taught me to think out of the box long before it was trendy.”
Josh smiled at her as he finished his egg-on-toast. “I think Mikey is incredibly lucky to have you,” he said.
“I think he’s lucky to have you, too.”
“Look, I plan to do whatever I can to help the family. I have given his mom the assurance that I’ll be responsible for his education. It seems that, thanks to you, we’re already over the first hurdle.”
“As long as I’m here, I’ll do what I can to help,” she said, pushing her plate away.
“You’re planning on going somewhere?” His gaze was penetrating.
Lucy winced. She hated lying by omission, but she wasn’t ready to burden him with her sordid story. “You never know where you’ll end up, do you? I’ve gone through some big changes in the past year and I’m still finding my feet.”
“You’re not happy here?” He had a way of piercing through her armor and it made her uncomfortable.
“I’m very happy here. It’s just… I’m processing a lot of stuff and I never like to make promises I can’t keep.”
“Will you stick around long enough to spend the night?” Josh’s dark eyes sparkled with intent.
She felt the all-too-familiar butterflies in her stomach. The memory of their tryst in the schoolroom was raw in her mind. The image of them together quickened her breathing. She knew it was far too soon to be feeling this level of intensity toward a man. She watched as he gathered their plates and tossed them in the sink. He came toward her and without a word, lifted her to the counter.
He drew her close and she arched her back instinctively. His mouth closed on hers and she sought out the skin under his shirt as he kissed her. His embrace was strong and possessive. Every objection her rational mind could muster was dispelled by the heat spreading throughout her body. His hand found her breast under her shirt and he handled it firmly. She bent her head and offered her mouth to be kissed again, but he drew back.
“Upstairs. Now,” he said.
Lucy didn’t hesitate.