Read Online No Rescue by Jenny Schwartz - Free Book Online Page B

blueberry muffin in half. ‘Good?’
    â€˜The best. I can’t believe I work down the road and never knew…’ He ate another reverent mouthful. The table was small and rickety and beneath it his foot nudged hers, not on purpose, but he was encouraged when she didn’t shift away. ‘Great breakfast.’ Especially sharing it with her.
    She didn’t offer any conversational gambits and he wasn’t sure where to start. He wanted to know all about her, beginning with — mentally he shrugged — ‘Are you single?’
    â€˜Yes, or I wouldn’t be here.’
    â€˜Good to know.’ He swallowed some coffee. It was as incredible as the pancakes. If he told the guys at work, the place would be over-run. That was okay. He didn’t mind sharing a café. Miri he’d keep for himself. ‘I’m single, too.’
    â€˜So I assumed.’
    â€˜No kids.’ Just putting it out there.
    â€˜I like kids.’
    â€˜Me, too, but…?’ He raised an interrogative eyebrow.
    She ate some muffin. ‘I don’t have any. And isn’t this a bit serious for a trip to the zoo?’
    â€˜Not really. I haven’t asked you to marry me yet.’
    She froze. Stared.
    â€˜Relax.’ He laughed. ‘It’s the woman who cooked these pancakes that I’m marrying.’
    â€˜That’d be Brian.’ She reached for her banana smoothie.
    â€˜As long as he’s single.’
    Her smile over the top of the glass was gorgeous.
    He wanted to insist he paid for breakfast, but he assessed the challenge in her eyes as she dug into her bag for her purse. They split the bill. He’d reserve his fire for buying the zoo and ferry tickets.
    ***
    Miri liked Balmain. It had been built pre-car, so everything was laid out to be within walking distance. She’d filled the last couple of weeks just strolling around it, but it was very different walking with Tad.
    He added energy.
    Awareness shimmered between them. He didn’t touch her, but the way he walked, suiting his long-legged pace to hers, positioning himself so that he was the one who stepped off the footpath when it suddenly narrowed, and subtly inserting himself between her and bulky briefcases as they converged with the stream of commuters approaching the ferry, all made her feel protected.
    And unlike her family’s worried concern, this courtliness soothed her nerves.
    Although she lost the fight to buy her own ferry ticket.
    They stood side by side, waiting for it. Other people fidgeted, but Tad simply stood, relaxed yet alert.
    A policeman to his soul, Miri thought, hiding her smile by glancing down and away. She studied people’s shoes, the stilettos and polished loafers, as well as comfortable walking shoes, and noticed that none ventured too close.
    Tad’s air of calm vigilance had people giving them a little circle of space, wary of intruding.
    She wondered if he realised the sense of authority he exuded, even at rest.
    He was a man who impressed simply by being himself.
    A small curl of joy unrolled in her that such a man wanted to spend his free time with her.
    She let her smile show as she looked at the view. The morning had lost the white-gold shimmer of dawn, but the blue sky provided a stunning backdrop to the view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge across the bay. They’d sail under it and around into Circular Quay.
    The ferry docked.
    â€˜Cabin or deck?’ Tad asked as they boarded. He walked a protective half-step behind her.
    â€˜Deck, please.’ She liked to watch the bridge grow bigger as they drew closer, and had worn a jacket against the morning chill in anticipation of this. ‘Unless you’ll be cold?’
    â€˜Nah.’
    She rolled her eyes. Typical male response. Her brothers never admitted weakness either.
    â€˜I’ll cuddle you if I get cold.’
    â€˜You won’t.’
    â€˜You wouldn’t let me freeze.’ He moved