"It's lovely, thanks. So, your brother, would I know him?"
"Depends if you’re a footy fan, I suppose. Cade Williams, plays for the Sydney Gulls."
"It's actually my guilty pleasure, Saturday night football." She frowned. "Just a minute, wasn't he injured a couple of weeks ago?"
Russ looked at her, hoping this wasn't going the way it used to when he dated a girl and they found out who his brother was. "Yes, he was."
"That’s such a shame. I do hope he’s going to be alright although from my take on things, I somehow doubt it. The news reported a suspected medial collateral ligament, not sure if it’s torn or not though. Could be a career ending injury." She gave him a puzzled look. "Don't you know what happened?"
"No. I don't watch sport much, too busy working and Cade hasn't told me what the damage is. It's kind of a touchy subject with him."
"That's understandable." Lizzie cleaned up the remains of her entree and sat back with a smile on her face. "That was pretty special."
"This was one of my mother's favourite restaurants when she could drag my father away from his work."
"So, tell me more about yourself. Do you prefer cats or dogs?" Russ smiled at the shocked look on her face. "Come on Lizzie, I won't ask you anything you can't ask me. I think it would be nice to get to know each other a bit better." He held his breath while she pondered his suggestion. Russ was attracted to her but that didn't mean he wanted to make anther commitment just yet. "Look at it like this, we work together, we can be friends. No strings, Lizzie, I promise. Not yet."
After waiting for what seemed far too long, Lizzie spoke. "Cats."
"Chocolate or cheese?"
She laughed. "Can I have both please?"
"Silver service or back yard barbeque?"
"You will think I'm rude if I say back yard barbeque. But I'm really enjoying being here tonight too." She rested her elbows on the table and cupped her chin with her hands.
"I am too. I may as well tell you, my divorce papers are barely dry. One of the reasons I moved back home to a small town. I needed a change of pace and time to get my head around being single again. I promise I won't rush you, Lizzie, but I would like to get to know you much better."
Her mouth opened and Russ watched the small pink tip of her tongue trace her bottom lip. She swallowed before speaking again.
"So, Russ. Cats or dogs?"
Russ managed to get more out of Lizzie than he’d hoped. She’d loosened up after a couple of glasses of wine and relaxed.
When he took her home, they stood on the front porch talking. "I'd better go in," Lizzie said. "It's way past time I was asleep."
Russ cupped her chin in his hand and lifted her face up to his. Her eyes closed and he dipped his head touching her lips with barely a breath between them. She parted her lips with a soft sigh and gripped his arms as she fell into him. Lizzie groaned and Russ slid his arms around her waist holding her firmly against his chest.
With a passion he didn't expect, she ramped up the kiss leaving him shaky at the knees with lust. When she unexpectedly pulled back, Russ was left with an dull ache in his stomach.
"I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me." Her cheeks were red and she couldn't meet his gaze.
"No, I have to apologise. I said I wouldn't rush you and I'm afraid I did." He smiled and stepped back. "Thank you for a wonderful evening, Lizzie. We'll have to do it again sometime soon." He squeezed her hand and walked away, leaving her standing on the veranda watching him.
He risked a glance her way as he drove off. She stood where he’d left her, a look of regret on her face.
On the way home, Russ debated with himself about what he thought was the right move. If he’d stayed any longer, it would’ve been difficult to leave. Lizzie was different. She gave the appearance of being self-assured as one in a position as she was, but he wondered if it was a front she used to keep people especially men, at arm's length. The way she had reacted to his kiss goodnight made him think there was more to her than she said. He aimed to find out more about Nurse Lizzie Stanley.
When he drove up to the house, the lights were still on, sparkling against the cloudless night. Russ parked his car and walked up the yard from the barn, used to the track from the many nights of being outside after lights out.
"So Romeo returns." Cade sat in the back garden on a stone bench under a Jacaranda tree. "Good date, brother?" He slurred and lifted the bottle to his lips, taking a long drink.
"Yes I did, thanks." Russ stopped in front of his brother. "So what is it this time, a celebration or just your normal drinking to deal with life?"
"Fuck off, Russ. You have no idea what's going on in my life."
"So tell me then. You aren't doing yourself any favours getting drunk every night, mate."
"Why don't you mind your own bloody business, brother?" Cade glared at him before taking another swig from the bottle. "I can drink when I want to."
"Is there something you want to talk about, Cade? Maybe what's happening with your leg? So far you haven't said anything."
"What do you want me
