Echoes Of The Past (Fermosa Bay #1) by Iris Blobel Read Free Book Online

everything, from her sexy looks, sassy replies, love of life, to her caring nature. It’d been years, if ever, that he’d felt so comfortable in someone’s company.
    Harriett came to his mind.
    Closing his eyes, he tried to recall her image in his mind. They’d been in a steady relationship for almost a year until she’d cheated on him. He’d felt more disappointment than anger and had known then that it’d hadn’t been right. They’d both spent too much time on their careers than together. She’d needed him more than he’d needed her.
    His eyes flew open when he heard Emily’s steps coming closer. When she stood next to him, she held up a photo.
    “Have a look. I found this the other day.”
    The photo showed five young children near the water with their boogie boards. He chuckled. “The Fermosa Bay gang, I suppose.”
    Moving the chair, she sat next to him and the sudden nearness stirred something inside him. Her soft scent didn’t go unnoticed. Neither did her soft breath against his skin.
    “This is Ethan, Skye, Niall, me, and I hope you recognise yourself.”
    He looked at her, but she ignored him. “Ethan’s little boy just looks like him when he was young. Has the same temperament as well.” She laughed. “Thank God, ’cos Skye turned out to be a little handful.”
    Her eyes didn’t give much away, but the expression on her face had changed.
    “What happened?” he asked.
    Leaning back into her chair she said, “Ethan’s not big on talking about it. I think the gist of it was we were in Sydney for a big cricket game. Jack had organised the tickets. While we watched the game, Skye explored the city. I had a big fight with her that night, accusing her of wasting Jack’s good money. She didn’t want a bar of it and left the hotel room. Ethan went with her to keep an eye on her.” She closed her eyes. “Apparently they got so drunk that night the only proof of their one-night stand is Nicholas.”
    “Where’s she now?”
    “Somewhere in Queensland,” she replied with a snort.
    “Does he hold any regrets?”
    She didn’t say anything for a long moment. “I suppose he’s got many, but not ending up having Nicholas. He sure loves his boy. There’s no doubt about it. We all love him.”
    She opened her eyes and met his gaze. A jolt went right through him when he realised how much he liked her. More than liked, how much he wanted her. He’d never met anyone like her before. Honest, impulsive, loyal, and it seemed a little stubborn as well.
    “That reminds me, I put your name down for the Christmas concert.” Placing a hand on his arm, she added, “And we need to put up Jack’s Christmas tree. He’s such a stubborn bugger saying he won’t be around for—”
    His gaze travelled to her lips as she spoke, and the next thing he knew, he kissed her. He pulled back from the kiss and said, “Not sure what made me do it,” but kissed her again. Emotion flooded through him so pure and intense that he felt lightheaded.
    A thumping heartbeat later, she broke the kiss, looking flushed and startled. He didn’t blame her, he was surprised as well.
    She stared at him, but he wasn’t able to read her expression to know whether she was angry or not.
    “I must say you have improved on the kissing front,” she finally whispered.
    Choking back a laugh, he traced her chin with his finger. He couldn’t help himself; he needed to touch her.
    She tilted her head and said more into the distance than to him, “I know why I’m giddy when you’re touching me, but I’m not so sure where that kiss came from. You wouldn’t take advantage of my crush on you to make your stay here more interesting, would you?”
    He frowned. “Is that what you think of me? In need for some distraction?”
    Everything inside told him to leave as he stood and stepped to the railing. For a moment he lost himself in the beauty of the sunset. No wonder Emily was so adamant in not wanting to move anywhere else. The colours