White Ginger

chapter 11



“Wake up, Melie.”

Lani was bouncing on her bed. What was she doing in her bedroom? Momentarily confused, Amelie recalled bringing an overly excited Lani home for a sleepover. Was it morning already? She lay wrapped in the warmth of her dream, still feeling Arne’s arms and lean, muscled body folded around her.

Mmmm… The sensation was too delicious to give up. She kept her eyes firmly closed, wriggling closer to her dream Arne. Why were they wearing underwear? If this was her dream then it should conform to her desires, shouldn’t it?

“Unca Arne? Wake up!” Lani bounced some more.

Arne? The last thing she recalled was sitting with Arne on the veranda, sipping a Cointreau. He must have carried her to bed and undressed her. But why was Lani telling him to wake up?

A bristly chin rubbed against her shoulder. A thigh shifted against hers and she realized Arne was wrapped around her.

Arne! In my bed! How…what…

Her eyes flew open. The bed rocked and there was Lani, all too observant for her age, bouncing on the bed they were sharing and grinning hugely. Heat spread up her cheeks.

“Sorry.” Arne leaned up on his elbow, a wicked and unrepentant glint in his eyes. “I thought I’d be awake first.”

She grabbed the sheet to cover her scanty lace bra. “And that really worked out for you.”

Arne smiled wryly and looked at Lani. “Go to the kitchen and find something to eat, sweetheart. We’ll be out soon.”

“Okay, Unca Arnie.”

“And shut the door,” he called. Amelie heard the door click, followed by giggling and the sound of running feet.

“I’ll get up to help her. Not that I’m hungry. More embarrassed.” She rolled over to face him, holding the sheet to her chest. “Do you want breakfast?”

“Maybe. What did you have in mind?” He kissed the tip of her nose and ran his hand down her sheet-covered form, shaping her bottom. His erection clamored for attention against her hip and the hunger in his dark-eyed gaze set her heart thundering.

“Nothing out of a box,” she whispered.

“Something not on the menu, perhaps?”

His fingers skimmed the sensitive skin from her stomach to her thighs. Her nipples peaked and her thigh muscles tightened. Reaching around to cup her bottom, he tipped her onto her side until they were nose to nose, hip to hip. His arousal pressed against her stomach.

She ran her foot along his calf, creating a subtle friction where their hips joined, and his breath hissed against her cheek.

His lips slid from her chin, along her jaw and up to her ear. He nibbled her lobe. “I wonder how long Lani takes to eat her breakfast?”

He feathered caresses on her inner thighs. She bit her lower lip and held back a tiny moan. With agonizingly slow sweetness, he trailed kisses down her neck, his warm breath raising goose bumps down her arms and legs. Could a girl die from sheer bliss?

He rolled her beneath him, taking his weight on his elbows, and kissed his way down to her stomach, pausing to circle her navel with his tongue. Stubble scraped her belly as he looked up, a roguish smile playing round his mouth. “You know, I never expected to actually sleep with you.”

She grabbed his head and drew his lips to her stomach again. How delicious would it be to stay in bed all day? Running feet gave them just enough warning to pull the sheet back up before Lani burst into the bedroom.

“Your phone was ringing so I answered it and Mum asked why I did and I said that you and Amelie were in the bedroom and hadn’t got up yet. She wants to talk to you.”

Arne laughed, taking his phone from Lani’s outstretched hand. Amelie groaned and pulled the sheet over her head.

“Hello, Lili…Yes, we’ll drop her home after we’ve had a swim.” He listened a moment. “You’ll just have to wait to find out.”

Amelie peeked over the top of the sheet as he flipped his cell shut. Catching her glance, he winked wickedly. Groaning, she pulled the sheet back over her face. She knew what Lili had asked.

Arne laughed and tugged the sheet down to her chest. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll tell her it was all perfectly innocent. Unless you’d prefer to make it what it looks like!” He traced an erotic line down her throat.

“Arne…!” Amelie nodded toward Lani, who watched intently with her big brown eyes.

Lani bounced again. “Are we going for a swim now?”

Arne nodded and she bounded out of the room, whooping with delight. In her world, everything was just fine, but Amelie wondered how she was going to look Lili in the eye.

Arne offered to cook breakfast while Amelie changed into her swimsuit. “Unless you need my help?” He quirked his eyebrow.

Her well-aimed pillow gave him her answer. He escaped, and soon the sounds and smells of coffee pot and sizzling bacon drew Amelie out to join him.

Playing on the beach with Lani wouldn’t be a good road test for her new bikini. Her old one piece was still on Arne’s boat, so she improvised with a sarong, tied halter-style around her neck. When she emerged from the waves, the light material clung as she strolled into knee-deep water.

Elbows wide, she lifted wet hair from her neck and turned to see if the others were coming in. Arne bodysurfed a wave in behind Lani, who ran laughing along the beach, arms spread wide.

He stood, water streaming off his bronzed shoulders. Wiping his face, his gaze locked with hers. She licked her lips to ease the sudden dryness. Slowly, he waded toward her and the scene from that old movie flashed into her mind. Waves running up the beach, crashing over two bodies entwined. She stepped toward him and he reached for her. Holding her shoulders, he bent his head…

“Hey, Unca Arnie, wanna play tag?” Lani circled them, splashing as she ran, and the moment was gone.

The rest of the morning passed pleasantly, playing in the sea below the cabin. She swam well, proudly displaying her skill by beating her uncle in a race back to Amelie.

“I’ll bet your uncle taught you to swim.”

“Yup. And I’m gonna be a rescue swimmer too when I’m old enough.”

By the time they got back to the cabin, it was lunchtime.

Leaning close, he murmured into her ear. “If we don’t take Lani home soon, she’ll demand to stay another night. And I have other plans.” Her breath caught at the promise in his dark eyes.

Sure she’d feel embarrassed seeing Lili when they took Lani home, she was thankful when Lili said nothing. Not even sisterly teasing, knowing it would discomfort her guest.

Promising to return before dinner, Arne dropped Amelie back to her cabin. “I wish I could stay but I’ve paperwork I can’t put off any longer. I’ll bring the meal and tonight, no Lani and no interruptions. Does that sound good?”

“Yep. No interruptions.” Her lingering kiss promised much.

* * * *

Arne pulled up late in the afternoon behind an unfamiliar rental car parked in his spot. A stranger sat on Amelie’s veranda.

“Hi, can I help you?”

“G’day. Well, if you know where I might find Amelie…” The man’s Australian accent chilled Arne’s heart. He knew who the man was. The big question was, did Amelie know he was here?

“Is she expecting you?”

And if she isn’t, how will she react?

“I doubt it. I had to do some digging to find out where she’d gone.”

Arne’s hand fisted. He should flatten this guy for hurting Amelie. But who was he to say what suited Amelie? Maybe she still had feelings for the guy? A little friendly conversation on a strict need-to-know basis wouldn’t hurt.

“You’re a friend of hers?”

“Well, now, let’s say a little bit more than friend. I’m Victor. So she’s told you about me.” Victor tucked his thumbs into his belt.

“Actually, no. She hasn’t mentioned you.” It was true. Amelie hadn’t told him anything about her ex-fiancé. But she had told Lili, who’d passed on enough detail to make him want to kick this guy off her property and all the way back to Australia. What a jerk. He was smug and cock-sure and definitely not worthy of her. Arne took a deep breath and forced his muscles to relax.

“And who are you?” Victor asked.

Why didn’t we have that talk before now? Who am I to Amelie? How does she see me?

The squeaking of sand from the cliff path heralded Amelie’s arrival. She ran the last few yards, eyes bright and her smile, warm until she saw Victor.

“Victor?” She pulled up short, her smile frozen.

He jumped down the stairs and took her in his arms, leaning in to kiss her mouth.

She turned her head aside, the kiss landing on her cheek. Pulling back, she stood, hands on hips.

“What the hell are you doing here and how did you find out where I was? Madeline wouldn’t tell you, so who did you con to get the information?”

Victor pulled her back into his arms, pushing his hips into hers. Arne thumped the bonnet of his jeep. Every instinct screamed at him to pull Amelie from Victor’s arms. With steely self-control, Arne waited. He had to know. Did Amelie still harbor tender feelings for her ex-fiancé?

“Well now, when I got back to Brissie and you weren’t there, I called in to your office.”

“Nobody there would have given out personal information.” Amelie pushed against Victor’s chest. He adjusted his hold and continued.

“There’s a new secretary. She’s only been there a few weeks. Seems she’s a sucker for a love story. I spun her my ‘heroic war correspondent returns to visit his fiancée before his next dangerous assignment’ line. She all but tripped over herself hunting up your new address. And here I am.”

“You always were good with a line.” Amelie pushed Victor away and came to stand beside Arne. Turning to face her former fiancé, she folded her arms. Arne unclenched his fists and dared to hope.

Victor continued, clearly unaware of the signals her body was sending. “I thought we could have dinner if there is somewhere to go out in this back of beyond. Why on earth did you come so far away, Amelie?”

“I needed more creative stimulation for my work than I was getting at home. Here is…very stimulating.” She glanced at Arne and grinned. His muscles relaxed and he smiled.

This guy was a prize idiot, or incredibly thick-skinned. He still had no notion Amelie hadn’t thought of him at all. “I’ve put my bag inside, and after your friend has gone,” he indicated Arne with a nod of his head, “we can catch up.”

Amelie grimaced and reached for his hand. Lacing her fingers through his, she smiled up at him and then turned back to Victor. “Victor, so kind of you to drop in but, as you can see, I’ve other plans for the evening.”

So have I. And for the rest of my life!

“Amelie, we’re going to be late for dinner at Jimi and Lucy’s if we don’t head off soon.”

“Of course.” She picked up his cue and they headed to the stairs before she turned at the door. “I’ll be changed in ten minutes. So sorry we can’t stay longer to…catch up. ’Bye, Victor.”

“Wha…” Victor’s smug smile dropped away. Arne reached inside for Victor’s suitcase, and then tossed it at his feet.

“I’m sure you’ll still be able to get a room in town for the night, and if you’re quick, the internet café may still be open. Oh, and by the way, I’m the man who’s going to marry Amelie.” He banged the screen door satisfyingly behind him.

A few moments later an engine started, followed by a dropped clutch and wheels spinning as Victor exited their lives.

Knocking at the bedroom door, he entered Amelie’s room with the news that Victor had departed. “And Jimi and Lucy really have invited us to dinner.”

Amelie pulled her damp bath towel tighter around her breasts and paced. He leaned against the door frame and shoved his hands into his pockets. Otherwise, he’d reach for her and they’d never get to Jimi’s.

“So, how do you feel now he’s gone?”

She thumped the wall as she passed the bedside table. A frown creased her brow. “He seemed to expect to just pick up like nothing had happened.” She pressed her lips together and looked down at her hands. Had he misread her earlier smile? Was she regretting sending Victor away?

She perched on the edge of the bed, arms folded across her chest. “We were going to be married but he left me. I guess his work was more important than me. So I came here, partly to work of course, but also to get away from him. Now, well…I don’t want to see him again.”

“Do you feel anything for him now? Maybe you’re angry he showed up unexpectedly.”

“No, Arne. Don’t go there. Once and for all, I’m over him. He’s arrogant and insensitive and”– she bit her lip and huffed a sigh– “and I’m glad he’s gone.”

“Okay. Chapter closed?”

“Chapter closed. So, are you cooking like you promised?”

“Actually, Jimi did invite us to dinner tonight. Lucy is close to having the baby, but we thought you would like to meet her before it’s born so I accepted.”

She nodded. “Jimi’s such a lovely man, and I’d love to meet his wife.”

“I’ll let you get dressed then.” He closed the door and went to make a coffee. Close as he and Jimi were, he had to swallow his disappointment. Tonight had been meant for a different discussion, under the stars, with a bottle of wine, not travelling in a car. He sighed and hoped anticipation would sustain him.

She came out of her bedroom wearing a light blue fitted sleeveless dress that complimented her skin and hair and figure in a way that had Arne wishing Jimi and his dinner invitation elsewhere. Offering an unzipped back for his help, she held her hair out of the way with a pale golden arm. He swallowed and took a long moment to master the desire to wrap her in his arms and never let her go. Just this morning her silken skin had pressed against his chest. Knowing how soft and sweet she was, left him hard.

Resist! Lucy would not forgive him missing dinner. Amelie probably wouldn’t either.

He took the pleasure of a single kiss on her bare neck and then traced her spine with a fingertip all the way down to the zipper. She arched as he skimmed her waist. With reluctance, he did the zipper up.

She turned and loosely linked her arms around his neck. “What would I do without you here?” She kissed him lightly and he thought longingly of grabbing her and bolting to her bed.

“So, what time did you say we’d be there?” He bent his forehead to touch hers and swallowed the groan of frustration. Hands on her hips, he rubbed his thumbs over the curve of her waist, then resolutely stepped away.

“Eight. We should go now.”