Read When Harriet Came Home for Free Online

suppose until my dad gets out of hospital, which should be in a few days’ time. As soon as that happens, I’ll be leaving.” Assuming, of course, her mother could cope with the responsibility of her father’s recuperation.
    “Just a few days?” His lip curled in derision. “Not much of a stay.”
    Her lungs constricted, and an ache settled beneath her ribs. He thought she couldn’t wait to shake the Wilmot dust from her shoes. He was right, in a way. She longed to return to her active, uncomplicated life back in Sydney. In the city she wasn’t reminded of the awkward unpopular teen she used to be. In the city she had transformed herself into a confident, successful, reasonably attractive woman. But that didn’t mean she’d forgotten about her family.
    She focused her gaze on the blue mountain range in the distance. “I thought you’d be pleased by that.”
    “Makes no difference to me.” He tossed the piece of wood back into his truck. “But I can handle biting my tongue in company for a few days if that’s what you want.”
    She eased back on her heels, relieved she’d accomplished some sort of detente between them. Her dad would be happy, but she wasn’t all that satisfied. Bad enough that her old crush on Adam was as strong as ever, but why did she have to grovel to him? It wasn’t her fault his father had turned out to be less than respectable, was it?
    “It’s what my dad wants.” She lifted her chin.
    “Sure.”
    He shifted, and a ray of sunshine limned the slope of his shoulders, glinting across the sheen of honest sweat on his skin. For a second she had an insane urge to place her palm against his chest and feel the deep beat of his heart. Her own heart leaped, and her fingers twitched in anticipation as though they had a mind of their own and would latch on to him at any second. The basket tilted and began to slide off her arms. Adam lunged forward and caught it.
    Blood pounded in her ears as her cheek brushed against his shoulder and his hands slid along the length of her bare arms to close around her elbows. His nearness swamped her senses. She seemed to have forgotten how to breathe. His strength and masculinity invaded her, the grip of his hands turning her legs to jelly, his aroma more tantalising than any chocolate muffin. For a wild moment she wanted to wrap her arms around him and slide her lips across his skin and lick him, nibble him, taste him.
    Sweet criminy. What was Adam Blackstone doing to her?
    She heard his own sharp breathing. He set her away from him very carefully and deliberately and shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans, his face a mask of self-control.
    “Can I ask a small favour of you in return?”
    Her cheek still tingled from the contact with his bare shoulder. She touched the spot, and her finger picked up a patch of moisture there. His moisture. As though she’d been kissed. Wordless, she nodded.
    “My men have enough distractions here with your sister strutting around playing Desperate Housewives without you popping up with baked goods. I’d appreciate it if you didn’t do that again without prior warning.”
    A blush crept up Harriet’s neck at the thought of Cindy parading around in her yummy-mummy clothes. She flicked her hair back and tightened her grip on the basket. “Gee, you’re a tough boss, but don’t worry. This was just a once-off. I’ll just give them the rest of these muffins and be on my way.”
    Without waiting for a reply, she marched back to the two men and set out the remaining muffins on a trestle table before shutting the lid of her basket. “See ya, guys.” She gave them a bright smile and a finger wave, then stalked off back to her car, determined not to give Adam one last look.
     
    “Phew!” Tony gave a low whistle, still eyeing Harriet’s receding figure. “Isn’t she something? I tell you what, Harriet can bake my muffins any day.”
    Adam scowled. Try as he might he couldn’t drag his eyes away from Harriet