All About Sage (A City of Sails Romance Book 2) Read online

  She kept the smile on her face. “Of course. Neighbours. How remiss of me to even consider toasting the happiness of our best friends.”

  “They don’t need our toast.” He took a sip, his gaze never leaving hers. “But I get the feeling we might.”

  “So you're acknowledging there has been, shall we say, a ‘difference of opinion’ between us?”

  “Is that what you call it? A difference of opinion?”

  Her back stiffened. Surely he wasn’t aware of how she felt. That her spine was tingling, along with a truckload more. She took a sip, looked defiantly at him. At his cool blue eyes. At his shaven jaw. At the lines around his eyes that said he’d lived his life, rather than watched it slowly pass by.

  She had far too much imagination.

  For a second, she remembered that moment at Jack’s. When she’d thrown herself at him. It still haunted her.

  He said, “I’m not sure ‘difference of opinion’ is the right phrase.” His eyes seemed to glitter and she didn’t think she was imagining the threat in them. “But then, we get six months to see if you’re right about that.”

  Six months. She felt herself begin to sway again and righted herself.

  “I thought you said three.”

  “It could be.” He took a long sip of champagne. “However. It could also be as long as I want it to be.”

  CHAPTER ONE

  Ethan stared out through the gap in the curtains towards Sage’s house and felt like a stalker.

  He didn’t get it. He’d risked his life in more hellholes than he could remember.

  Endured a childhood that had been a different kind of hell.

  So what was he doing staring out through a gap in curtains at the house of a woman who undoubtedly rescued hedgehogs in her spare time?

  “Pa-bloody-thetic.”

  “I know.” Jack came over and stood next to him. He was silent a moment. “So, ah, what exactly are we looking at?”

  “The curtains.”

  “I thought you were giving that job to Robyn. She’s the designer, remember?”

  “Yeah. I remember.” Ethan turned away from the window, away from the sliver of view he had of Sage’s house. He shoved his hands in his jeans pockets. “I’ll leave it all up to your wife.”

  “A wise decision.” Jack sighed, a smile on his face.

  It was sickening, but then, he was still in the honeymoon phase. Ethan had the feeling he always would be. If ever a couple were meant for each other, it was Jack and Robyn. If he believed in serendipity or divine plan, then they were it.

  “Listen, Ethan.” Jack turned to him. “Robyn mentioned that Sage isn’t all that...” He waggled his hand.

  Ethan’s back prickled. “Isn’t all that what?”

  “Altogether happy with your moving in here.”

  Ethan snorted. “Of course she’s not. The woman would be quite happy if I knocked down this place and planted a kauri forest.”

  “You planted kauri out on your piece of land.”

  “She doesn’t know that.” He jerked his thumb in her direction, through the gap in the curtains, and noticed movement.

  He leant closer, and discreetly enlarged the gap.

  A guy was climbing off his bike.

  A pushbike. He leant it against Sage’s house, and undid his helmet.

  “What’s that?” Jack said, shoving the curtain aside.

  “Shit, she’ll – he’ll – see you,” Ethan fumbled his words.

  He felt Jack give him a sideways glance before he focused back out the window. “Ah. That must be the famous Barry.”

  Barry? He looked like a Barry. His legs were long and skinny in drainpipe jeans. Even from here, Ethan could see he sported a pathetic amount of growth on his gaunt face. Ethan rubbed his hand over his own chin. He hadn’t shaved in a couple of his days. He needed to.

  Barry took his backpack off, reached in and pulled out a paper bag. Then he took off his raincoat.

  He looked like he hadn’t eaten in a week.

  “So.” The curiosity was killing him. “Who’s this Barry?”

  “Her ex. Well, they’re on again, off again. Must be on again.”

  Barry suddenly looked up at the sky, and raised his arms, as if in prayer. Or adoration.

  Everything about this guy was sickening.

  Everything about the situation was wrong.

  Ethan glowered. “I think I better go and say hello to this guy.”

  “Why?”

  “I’m the new neighbour. And if he’s currently on with that barracuda, then that makes him my neighbour. Especially,” he ground out, “if he sleeps over.”

  He went to the front door, pulled it open, and stepped outside.

  At the movement, Barry looked up at him. His eyes widened as he looked Ethan up and down.

  Ethan went down the steps. “Hey,” he called out.

  “Yeah. Hey.” Barry hesitated.

  Ethan strode over to the fence. Barry brushed his hair back from his face.

  “Thought I’d better do the neighbourly thing and introduce myself. I’m Ethan McGraw.” He held out his hand. Barry looked at it, then took it.

  Ethan almost puked. It was the most effeminate handshake he had ever encountered in a man, and he’d encountered a few. The temptation to squeeze hard was intense. He dropped the flaccid palm, resisting the urge to rub his hand up and down his jeans to get rid of the feel.

  He said, “I just bought Robyn’s old place. I’ll be living here the next few months.”

  “So you’re the guy, huh?” Understanding flashed across Barry’s face. “Sage mentioned something about it.”

  She’d been talking about him? No doubt with vitriol.

  Ethan scrutinized Barry discreetly. Close up, he was obviously younger than Sage. The guy looked twenty-five, if he was a day.

  Who on earth named a kid Barry?

  And what did a woman like Sage see in an insipid kid like this?

  “Yeah, I’m the guy.” Ethan glanced over at Sage’s house and wondered what she was doing. “I plan to be around here a few months.” Music came from the house, he noticed now. Probably Harriet’s, judging from the beat. Or rather, the complete lack of discernible melody.

  “So you’re fixing up the place.” Barry squinted curiously at him. “Are you something to do with Jack Fletcher’s business? A builder?”

  There was movement next door and Ethan focused on the door as he said to Barry, “Not a builder. Just a jack of all trades willing to try anything.”

  Barry nodded. “I hear you. I’m working down at Wise Weta. Been hanging out for a job there ever since I graduated.”

  “Wise Weta?”

  “In Mt Eden. The vegan cafe? We do a mean soy latte.”

  “You’re a barista?”

  Barry nodded.

  He really was just a kid.

  Sage was going out with a kid? Why? She was too much for him. Maybe there was some weird, perverted sexual thing going on.

  Heat rose through him uncomfortably. The last thing he needed was to think about Sage and sex. Even though he did. Without Barry.

  There was a noise from Sage’s house and they simultaneously turned as the door opened.

  Sage walked out and stood on the porch.

  She stared confused at them both. Her hair was in a wild knot on her head, curly strands hanging down. She had beautiful thick hair. Ethan knew. He’d run his hands through it one time. Had never felt the urge with anyone else to just stay there and never, ever go.

  He let out a long breath.

  She glanced from Barry to Ethan, and back to Barry, and back to Ethan.

  “Hey, Sage.” Barry held up the bag. “I got you those organic feijoas.”

  Ethan arched his eyebrows. “Aren’t all feijoas organic? Who would spray a feijoa tree? They grow like a freaking weed.”

  Barry looked at him weirdly.

  Sage came down the steps of her porch. Her skirt flowed around her bare ankles, and she wore a tie-di
ed top and cardigan. Earrings dangled as she took the bag.

  “Thanks, Barry.”

  He leant forward and kissed her on the cheek.

  She put her arm around his neck, leaned closer.

  Ethan wanted to vomit. He cleared his throat instead. “Yeah, well, I’ll just leave you lovebirds to it.”

  They pulled apart, and Barry continued to look adoringly at Sage.

  Sage looked straight at Ethan, and he saw defiance in her look.

  Jealousy ripped through him. Get a grip, man. Get a freaking grip.

  “So. You’re moving in already?” Sage slung her arm around Barry’s waist.

  Ethan turned to look at Robyn’s house. Focused intently on it.

  “Yeah, I’m ready to get stuck in. Seven o’clock tomorrow morning.” He turned back. Barry’s hand was resting low on Sage’s hip now, but with his other, he was checking his phone.

  “I’ll try not to make too much noise,” Ethan added.

  Sage lifted her chin. In the light he noticed more laugh lines around her eyes and mouth. It only enhanced the absurd attraction he felt towards her. Totally absurd. He said, “I’ll let you go.”

  She suddenly took a step towards him, towards the fence separating them, and he held his breath.

  Barry’s hand was left dangling.

  “Um. Great. That’s good.” She swallowed, and didn’t move. For the life of him, he couldn’t move either.

  Finally, she gestured to Robyn’s house. “Good luck with the renos. I—I look forward to seeing it. When it’s finished.”

  “You can see it before then,” he said impulsively.

  Her eyebrows arched.

  “Any time,” he said. “You can come over. It’s a work in progress. Maybe you’ve got good ideas.”

  “I thought Robyn and Jack were your ideas people?”

  Her eyes were hazel, he thought now. Grey and green.

  Harriet suddenly appeared out the door, and both he and Sage took a step back from the fence.

  “Hi, Barry,” Harriet said, then her eyes brightened as she saw Ethan. “Hey, Mr McGraw, how’s it going?”

  “It’s Ethan,” he grinned. “And it’s going good.”

  “Ethan. Like Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible.” She came over to lean on the fence. “So you’re moving in now?”

  “Ready to roll first thing in the morning.”

  “I hope it’s not too early. Mum’s shocking in the morning. Puffy face, bags under her eyes, wrinkles you wouldn’t believe. It’s unpretty.” She shuddered. “She looks disgusting.”

  “I do not,” Sage protested.

  “You’re always telling me you do.” Harriet rolled her eyes. “And I never disagree. You said you looked worse than your passport photo the other day, remember?”

  A blush covered Sage’s face. It was strangely charming.

  “Well, as long as she stays inside until she looks presentable, I’m sure we can handle that,” Ethan said.

  Sage glowered. “You sexist creep.”

  “Harriet’s right,” Barry commented, his eyes on his phone. “You don’t look good in the morning.”

  Sage turned on a flounce, went back inside and slammed the door shut behind her.

  “What did I say?” Barry stared after her. “She looks amazing the rest of the time. Who looks good in the morning?”

  Ethan grinned. “Agreed. You’re just telling it like it is.” He avoided thinking how often Barry may have seen Sage first thing in the morning. Barry gave a confused wave, and followed her inside.

  The door shut and Ethan stared moodily at it. What was he doing in there? Apologising? Telling her she looked amazing, and then she’d show him just how amazing she really was...

  “Is Jack with you?” Harriet asked suddenly, peering over the fence.

  Ethan dragged his gaze away from the door. “He is. Do you want to come over and say hi?”

  “Can I? Mum’s missing Robyn so bad. She was always popping over to her place. She’s got no one now.”

  “She can ‘pop over’ anytime. And you too, Harry.”

  He glanced back at the door. Was Barry doing something with organic feijoas for him and Sage to share?

  Ethan shuddered. Get a grip, he ordered himself as he waited for Harriet to come over. Get a freaking grip.

  An hour later, Jack had gone but Harriet was still on the couch, listening to music with her earphones plugged into her phone.

  She’d spent a lot of time on that couch, she informed Ethan. As she’d looked after the twins while Robyn worked late, it had become as comfortable as her own bed. Robyn had left her furniture behind, and he’d taken it all. It made sense since he was living here for now.

  He watched Harriet as he sprawled in a chair. It hadn’t occurred to him that she was going to miss Robyn as much as Sage did.

  He pulled the tab on a beer and wondered what her upbringing was like. Harriet was a great kid. He liked her. She was conservative to Sage’s zany, and she was studious. Sage had named her some weird hippy name but Harriet had rebelled and went by Harriet. More importantly, she ate meat.

  There was a sudden knock on the door and he called out, “It’s not locked, come on in.”

  The door opened and Sage stepped inside.

  His gaze quickly skipped over her. She’d changed into baggy jeans and a loose T-shirt.

  She’d changed her clothes? Why had she taken the other ones off?

  “Just checking up on my girl,” she said brightly. She looked over at Harriet again and added dryly, “The conversation must be scintillating.”

  Harriet opened one eye. “I can hear you, Mother.” She straightened and pulled the earphones out. Sighing, she looked around. “I’m going to miss this place.”

  “You can come over as often as you like. As long as it’s okay with your mother,” Ethan added.

  Sage nodded, but there was a tinge of concern across her face. “As long as you don’t mind her being here.”

  “Course I don’t mind. Harriet’s a great kid.”

  “Kid?” Harriet glared at him.

  Ethan grinned back. “Yeah. A kid.”

  “Does a ‘kid’ think about setting up a profile for online dating?”

  Ethan felt his face drop. “Are you insane? You’re too young.”

  He glanced at Sage. “Isn’t she?”

  “Yes.” Sage cleared her throat. “Um, yes, she is. That’s very astute of you.”

  A compliment. She’d given him a compliment.

  She added, “It’s way too young. Is this something to do with the bouquet at the wedding?”

  “Of course. It’s a sign.” Harriet began to roll up her earphones and said to Ethan. “Have you been married?”

  Ethan went still as he felt Sage watching him.

  “Once,” he said finally. Reluctantly. “Years ago.”

  “Do you still see her?” Harriet pressed.

  Sage now looked away.

  He hesitated. “No. There’s no bad blood, but it was a long time ago. Only lasted a couple of years.”

  “And you haven’t met anyone else?”

  Ethan detected genuine curiosity in her voice. The kid was a romantic.

  “Not enough to want to marry,” he admitted, still reluctantly. Anyone else, he’d have told to mind their own business.

  Harriet was different.

  Sage cleared her throat. “I think that is personal information, sweetheart, and men just don’t like discussing this kind of stuff.”

  “Really,” Ethan remarked.

  Sage looked him squarely in the eye. “It’s a known fact. You prefer to bury your emotions. You throw yourselves into your work or get on the booze big-time.” She gestured to the beer in his hand.

  He took a long gulp, then another for the heck of it. “You’ve got me sorted then. Care to join me?”

  She gestured to Harriet. “No.”

  “Jeez, Mum, I had champagne at Robyn’s wedding. But I shouldn’t get drunk.” Harriet stretched. “
I’ve got an assignment due. Is Barry still at home?”

  Sage looked uncomfortable. “No. He’s had to leave.”

  “Saving something from extinction?” Ethan said.

  “No, and not that it’s any of your business, but he’s gone to yoga class.”

  “Yoga class?” Ethan couldn’t help rolling his eyes. “That boy is a total cliché.”

  Sage narrowed her eyes at him. “Barry is not a boy. He is a 26-year-old man, thank you, and how on earth is taking a yoga class a cliché?”

  Ethan put down his beer carefully, and rose to his feet.

  He turned to face Sage. Her face had pinkened, and he’d seen this look once before. In the front seat of his truck.

  “You were talking about a cliché,” she prodded. “What cliché is that exactly? The caring man who feels deeply for humanity and the planet? Is that the cliché?”

  “You think the fact he rides around on a bike is going to save the planet?”

  “It’s a start.”

  “It’ll require a hell of a lot more than that.”

  She blinked. “So you think the planet needs saving? I thought you were a climate change denier?”

  “I read both sides of the story. Unlike you and the likes of Barry, who blindly follow a party line.”

  She began to turn a different shade of pink, which was oddly enchanting. “Just because I have the intelligence to sort out the lies from the truth and choose to believe the truth when it’s staring me in the face does not mean I am blindly following a party line.”

  “Mum,” Harriet said, shaking her head, “you said you couldn’t bear to read the lies put out by the climate—”

  “Shut up,” Sage yelled.

  Ethan went still as he stared at Sage, then Harriet.

  Harriet frowned. “You alright, mum?”

  “Yes.” She buried her head in her hands. “No.”

  Harriet’s phone vibrated and she checked it.

  Ethan looked from one to the other. “Who are you people?” he began. They both looked at him. “Seriously. You tell your daughter to shut up and then she asks you if you’re alright? I mean—” He ran his hand through his hair. Briefly he wondered if he should grow it like Barry’s.

  He shook the thought before it dug into his brain and stayed there.