Three Words: A Novella Collection Read Online Free

concert.
    “ So. Looks like you’ve got mobile reception in your bathroom,”
Henry commented. “I just got a text from Georgia. She’s going to be
longer than expected. At least an hour. Another squall’s come in
from the coast and some of the roads are covered with
trees.”
    Daisy could
understand that. The road between here and Margaret River was bad
in the dark at the best of times. Huge kangaroos were everywhere
and it was treacherously narrow. A storm would make it ten times
worse.
    “ That’s no problem. The roads are hideous around here at
night. It’d be safer if she didn’t come at all until morning. I can
always make you a bed in the spare room if you want to ring
her.”
    That sounded
calm, didn’t it? And not too much like she wanted to share her bed
with him?
    “ That’s a very kind offer, but she’s already left.”
    “ Oh well. It was only a thought.”
    Henry walked
further into the kitchen, coming to stand close by Daisy’s side. He
smelled of eucalyptus soap and shampoo. “That shower was so good.
Really warmed me up.”
    “ Good. Give me your things and I’ll chuck them in the
wash.”
    He put the
pile of damp clothes on Daisy’s lap. She tried not to turn up her
nose at the stench. She was the farm girl after all.
    “ Do you have a hanger I can put my jacket on? I’ll put it by
the fire for a while.”
    “ Sure.”
    Daisy jumped
up, almost losing the pile in the process. Henry’s shirt floated to
the floor and they both bent to pick it up with a clash of
heads.
    “ Ouch.”
    “ Yeah. Ouch.”
    Henry reached
over and gave Daisy’s forehead a playful rub. His fingertips felt
hot on her skin. Suddenly, he was too near. It was all too real.
The fresh clean smell of him and the simplicity of his touch sent
sparks of longing shooting around her body. She wanted to lick him
to see if he really was as sweet as he looked. God, what was
happening to her?
    He rubbed for
a second longer, then removed his hand. “Better?”
    She couldn’t
speak. All she could do was look into his eyes and nod
silently.
    Henry
indicated her change of clothes. “You’ve changed. You didn’t have
to do that. What you had on before was fine. Though that looks
nice, too.”
    “ I know but I felt like a dick standing there in my PJ’s. They
weren’t even my best ones.”
    “ You probably don’t want to hear that your top is inside out
then.”
    Daisy looked
down. Shit. Now she looked like a fool as well as a try hard. “I
like to wear it with the seams showing. I’m trying to start a new
fashion. Think it’ll catch on?”
    Henry laughed.
“Nice try but I doubt it.”
    Bundling
Henry’s clothes into a knot, Daisy raced to put them in the washer.
She didn’t want to miss a minute of his being in her house. It was
never likely to happen again. She stowed the clothes in the washing
machine, added detergent and softener and turned it to cold. Then
she ripped a hanger from the laundry cupboard and put his leather
jacket on it, hanging it on the rail above the tub. She stopped for
a second only to admire the softness of the fabric. Daisy had never
seen anything like that. It was obviously very expensive. Imagine
being able to afford such a thing. Even with Jack’s wage at the
bakery and her own from the Day Care Centre put together, they’d
had to scrimp to send Avery to boarding school so she could get a
good education. There was no room for luxuries.
    Back in the
living room, Henry had made himself at home. He was stretched out
on the floor in front of the fire, his muscular legs crossed at the
ankle as he leant on his elbow, alternately sipping from his wine
and stroking Marsha’s nose.
    Daisy watched
him for a minute before going to join him on the rug. What would it
be like if he stroked her hair that way? She stared into the fire,
letting the dream become a reality in her head for a second,
knowing it was the only place it ever would.
    “ Thanks for the clothes,” Henry said, handing her one of