Chloe rushedto catch the post office before it closed for the day. She parkedher jeep a block away, and picked up her walking stick from thepassenger’s seat so she could hurry without the risk of a fall.When she crossed the road and saw the Baker logo on his officewindow, she thought of Todd. It had been a few days since they hadcoffee, and she actually hoped he would call in again. Hisexpensive cologne had lingered in her kitchen all day, causingfluttery sensations deep in her belly. He said he would drop by,but that hadn’t happened. Deep in thought, she almost collided witha woman at the door of the post office, carrying a box ofletters.
“I’m so sorry.After you.” The woman stood back to let her enter.
Chloe held the door open.“No, it was my fault. After you, please. I was in too much of arush to get here before they closed.”
“Please don’tthink I’m a stalker, but I recognise you from the article in thepaper a few weeks ago. You’re Chloe Armstrong, aren’tyou?”
“Yes. That’sright.” Chloe smiled at the woman, and stopped inside the shopdoor.
“I’m Samantha,Samantha Douglas, my office is next door. Baker Real Estate.” Thewoman moved the box she was carrying to shake her hand.
“Oh, you’re thatSamantha. Todd mentioned you. No, don’t lookworried. Nothing bad, I can assure you. He said you run a tightship. This is asmall world. Nice to meet you.”
“Oh, you knowTodd?” Samantha kept a straight face.
Chloe walked alongsideSamantha. “Yes, he came to see me, to offer to represent me if Iwanted to sell my house, but I’m not on the market. I’mrenovating.”
The queueinside was getting shorter and they slowly made their way towardsthe counter.
“I see. So howare you enjoying being back in Melbourne, Chloe?”
“I’m findingit a little more difficult than I thought I would. I don’t have abig family and no one living in Melbourne. Friends have moved on,so I guess you could say it’s a bit lonely. It will take time tofind my feet again and establish some contacts, I would imagine.I’m kept pretty busy with the renovations though.”
“I know how itis. I’m the last of my family in Melbourne. My parents andbrother’s family live in Queensland now, and I do miss them. I goup probably twice a year with Malcolm, my husband. It’s hard totake the time to travel often when we are so busy with thebusiness. Of course, computers are great, and if I didn’t haveFaceTime on my iPhone I would have missed seeing my nephews andnieces going through all their different stages. They grow up soquickly.” Samantha took another step forward.
Although not called tothe counter at the same time, a few minutes later she walked outwith Samantha.
“It was niceto meet you, Chloe.” Samantha pushed open the office door. “If youever feel like coming in for a coffee, please do. I’m here most ofthe time.”
“I might takeyou up on that. Nice to meet you too. Enjoy yourevening.”
She returnedto her car a little happier than she had been half an hour ago. Sheliked the look of Samantha, and estimated her to be about her age.She came across as open and friendly. Iloved what she was wearing too,very stylish. It wastime to reach out and make new friends. Since arriving inMelbourne, she missed the company of her female friends in thedancing troupe, and the fun that ensues when a group of girls gettogether.
Samanthacounted the petty cash and smiled as she recalled the conversationin the post office. Timing was everything. Todd walked in the frontdoor a few minutes later.
“Hi there. Guess who I literally bumped into at the post officea few minutes ago? Two guesses. Nothing? Okay … it was your newfriend Chloe. Ah, I see thatput a smile on your face. No, don’t look for heroutside. She just drove off.”
“Was shecoming to the office?” Todd cast a surreptitious glance at thestreet.
“No, I don’tthink she was coming here, she was in a hurry to post something,and then she left. I asked her to drop in anytime for a coffeethough, and she said she might do that.”
Samantha watched Todd’sface intently, trying to read his expression.
“Maybe youshould call around later and say hello. She said she was feeling abit lonely since she came back to Melbourne. Buy a bottle of wineand some cheese. The French love a nice Brie, and I am sure she isused to nice food and wine after living over there for so long.”She packed away the petty-cash box in the safe.
She busiedherself with the paperwork on her desk, pleased she had planted theseed. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Todd was sitting athis desk staring into space. No doubtabout it, he really likes her. Work wouldbe the last thing on his mind right now. A certain tall blondeAmazonian woman would be featuring as the leading lady in whatevermovie was running through his brain.
CHAPTERTHREE
Chloe pulledinto the kerb and parked her jeep on busy Beach Road. The sound ofanother powerful car engine pulling up directly behind her causedher to tense up and close her eyes. She clenched the steeringwheel, waiting for the jolt of impact. Nothing. Nada. Zilch.Exhaling slowly, she opened her eyes. She glanced into the sidemirror, bringing the car behind her into view. Todd’s long leanbody unfolded from the driver’s seat. Surprised to see him, shechecked her reflection in the vanity mirror. Butterflies flutteredin her belly. He strolled towards her, signalling her to lower herwindow.
“Hi there.What brings you to Beach Road this evening?” As his woodsy colognewafted into the car’s interior and invaded her senses, shemoistened her suddenly dry lips.
He leanttowards her and placed his hands on her car window frame.“You, actually.”
Flicking herglance down his body, she took in his white linen shirt rolled upto the elbows, and grey pants. Hmmm,relaxed attire.
“Samantha saidshe bumped into you earlier today. She thought you might be
