Always Closer Read online

  Contents

  Copyright

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Due to sexual content, this book is not suitable for readers under 18 years old.

  WARNING: Contains; graphic sex, violence, drug references and criminal activity.

  Copyright © 2020 Amelia Harlow

  All rights reserved.

  CHAPTER ONE

  The restaurant had been busier than usual over the weekend, and by the time Monday morning came around my feet were tired from standing all day and night, waiting on customers who were in town to watch the surfing competition at our local break. There was still one week before the finals, and I was only looking forward to it because it meant all of the tourists would start filtering out of town and everything would return to its usual pleasant pace. The restaurant didn’t open until lunch time, but I was at work early with the rest of the team to prepare for another mad rush. The sound of birds singing their morning songs and the clatter of waitstaff shuffling things around was the soundtrack to my mornings now. That familiar tune was suddenly interrupted by the sound of breaking glass that reverberated through the dining room.

  ‘Mae! Get this spill cleaned up out here will ya!’ Shouted my boss as he poked his bald head out from behind the beer fridge door. His skin turned a red colour when he yelled and his crooked teeth always made him look even angrier than he actually was.

  ‘Yes, Bill, I’m on it,’ I said, as I continued to take down the remaining few chairs from the table tops.

  ‘It doesn’t look like you’re on it! Move your arse and get over here now!’ he said.

  There was one chair to go but I left it sitting upside down on the table top as I made my way over to the mop and bucket. Bill had dropped a six pack of beer that left a big puddle on the floor, along with a wet patch on his trouser leg which had definitely helped in lifting my spirits. I picked up the disheveled, soggy cardboard and broken pieces of glass.

  ‘Woman, hurry up will ya,’ said Bill.

  I picked up my already fast pace, trying not to cut myself on the glass.

  In the reflection of the metal fridge I saw Bill casually take a seat. He sat and watched me clean up his mess, breathing heavily.

  ‘When you’re done there, I want the rest of them cases loaded into the fridge, and fast.’

  I looked up at Bec who had been dealing with Bill’s abrasive ways for years, she was standing opposite me and her face of disgust mirrored mine. Everything was telling me to walk out of there, but jobs were tight in this town and unfortunately losing mine wasn’t an option.

  I was emptying the mop bucket out the back when I heard the door bell chime and footsteps casually make their way to the counter.

  ‘Mr Cooper, how are you?’ Bill’s voice sounded more formal and polite than I had ever heard it.

  The voice that answered was deep and smooth. ‘I’m good thanks. Just passing by and thought I’d see how you all liked the latest bottles of wine?’

  Bill responded, sounding very pretentious, speaking of undertones and hints of this and that. He wouldn’t have known if the wine was any good. It would have barely touched his mouth before it ended up down his throat. His staff definitely didn’t know what it tasted like either, because Bill would have consumed every drop by himself. Mr Cooper indulged Bill for a while then politely cut him off. ‘Well, I’m glad you liked it, I’ll make sure to bring some more around soon.’

  The sound of Mr Cooper’s voice was growing so pleasant to my ears and I was very tempted to see who he was, so I began heaving a case of beer toward the fridge.

  I wasn’t going to look in his direction until I placed the case on the floor near the fridge, then I could sneak an unsuspecting glance as I loaded the fridge with beer.

  The two voices became clearer as I approached, and Mr Cooper’s sounded so lush against Bill’s old worn throat.

  ‘Whoah, are you okay with that?’ Asked the man I knew only as Mr Cooper.

  I looked in his direction, but before I could respond, he was already striding over to assist me. His beige trousers tightened around his muscular thighs as he moved.

  ‘She’s fine! Don’t worry about her,’ said Bill.

  ‘Allow me.’

  Mr Cooper ignored Bill and carried on helping me. His long and thick arms scooped the case out from my hands with ease.

  ‘Bill, you should be lifting these yourself.’

  Mr Cooper looked back to me with his striking light blue eyes and asked where I wanted the case.

  I pointed to the floor near the fridge, ‘Just over there is great, thanks.’

  His wide smile stretched across his face, showing his perfect white teeth as he turned and walked behind the bar, ducking under the hanging wine glasses.

  As he crouched down to place the carton on the floor, I couldn’t help but feel my eyes wander over his finely sculpted body. He stood up and walked back around the bar toward Bill, shooting me another smile as he brushed past me close enough that I could smell his cologne. The hum of the fridge and the clinking of glass drowned out the sound of their voices as they moved further away from me. I carried on loading the fridge with beer as the scent of Mr Cooper lingered in the air.

  After Mr Cooper left, Bill continued to lift the cases on his own. He told me I was taking too long and it would be easier if he just did it. Bill liked to pretend he was the one with the ideas. Part of me had wished Mr Cooper hadn’t said anything to Bill. I just wanted to keep my head down and stay out of Bill’s way, but now I could tell he was bothered by me.

  After the minimal amount of work Bill had just done, he’d worked up a thirst and made his way down the road to the same park he’d go to every day to have his morning drink. I don’t know why he bothered trying to hide it. We all knew.

  The leaves in the outdoor dining area needed to be swept so I headed outside with the wooden broom that more often than not left me with a splinter. I noticed Mr Cooper in the parking lot talking on his phone. My eyes were fixed on him as I pushed the leaves around with the broom head in no particular direction. The wind pushed them in the same manner making me look extra inefficient.

  Mr Cooper was standing with his large suede boots firmly planted on the gravel ground. His broad chest filled out his white shirt completely, stretching around every muscle. Even from this distance he looked so strong and tall. I continued to watch him, glancing down at the mismanaged pile of leaves occasionally as to not get caught by him. Though there were quite a few metres between us it became apparent that it was not quite far enough and his sharp blue eyes had in fact seen me gawking at him. He raised his hand in a casual wave and began to make his way over, pushing his phone back into the front pocket of his trousers. I began to sweep with more precision, attempting to hide what little I had accomplished in the last few minutes.

  ‘Hi again,’ he said, as he pulled his sunglasses from his face, revealing those beautiful eyes.

  ‘Oh, you’re too kind! You want to help with this too? That’s so nice of you,’ I joked, as I held out the broom to him.

  We both laughed and smiled at each other while my attention drifted toward his sharply styled, but casually swept back hair. He didn’t look too much like the men around here, they were much rougher around the edges. As he spoke, the stubble on his face framed his soft pi
nk lips very nicely and I found myself looking at them more than I was looking at his eyes.

  ‘I’m Hudson,’ he said, reaching out his hand to shake mine.

  My hand looked so small as it approached his. ‘Mae.’

  ‘Mae, would you mind giving this to Bill when he gets back?’ He held out an envelope.

  ‘Sure,’ I said, and took it from him.

  ‘Thanks, I went back inside to give it to him myself but he must have stepped out.’

  I assured him I’d pass the envelope to Bill.

  Hudson looked to be in a hurry and stepped away from me whilst loosely pointing in my direction.

  ‘Make sure you try some of the wine I’ll be bringing in later this week. I look forward to hearing your thoughts about it.’

  ‘I don’t drink,’ I said.

  ‘Oh, okay, well, if you change your mind-’

  ‘I won’t.’

  He looked at me inquisitively and nodded his head. This was one of the most common reactions I received when I told people I don’t drink, and it bothered me a great deal. I have my reasons, and I definitely don’t like talking about them. I was glad that he didn’t ask me why.

  ‘Okay. Well, I’ll be back later in the week, maybe I can help you with your sweeping then. It looks like you’ll need it.’ He glanced down at the leaves now scattered around my feet that in no way at all resembled a pile.

  I smiled and laughed to myself after looking down at the floor. ‘It would look that way wouldn’t it?’

  ‘You have a gorgeous smile,’ he said, as he walked away.

  A rush of blood pulsed through my body after hearing him say those words.

  The sun had long disappeared over the hills by the time I got home. I pushed the keys into keys into the door without moving them around too much, making my way inside with minimal noise. When I removed my shoes, my feet felt stiff and sore to walk on.

  A loud crashing sound erupted from the lounge room and startled me so much that I jumped back against the wall.

  ‘Oh shit.’ I heard my dad grumble.

  My body instantly relaxed at the sound of his familiar voice. Though, my heart still raced as I rushed toward him.

  ‘Dad? Are you okay?’

  I could see him bending over from his seat in the couch, picking up broken pieces of ceramic and glass among some fallen cutlery.

  ‘Sorry love, I’m always making such a racket.’

  ‘Leave it, I’ve got this.’ I pushed his hands away and cleaned up the mess.

  ‘Thanks love.’ He sat back in his seat and took a deep breath.

  ‘It’s okay. Why aren’t you in bed?’

  ‘The pain’s a bit much tonight, had trouble sleeping.’

  After I threw everything into the bin and sink, I handed him a glass of water and some painkillers. He shuffled off to bed and I went and took a shower.

  When I moved down here to get away from everything and to help my dad, I’d hoped he had been sober, but I kept finding whiskey bottles hidden around the house. It infuriated me, knowing how much damage it had done in our lives, and that it was also contributing to his declining health. I tried to make him speak to counsellors, but it hadn’t helped much. There would always be an improvement in his mood and motivation when he did speak to them, but it would only last a week at most. Then it would be back to sneaking swigs of whiskey when I wasn’t looking. I couldn’t blame him for trying to cope the only way he knew how. He missed mum, and I knew he blamed himself more than I ever blamed him.

  Bec swung by the house the next morning to pick me up for work. When I started working at the restaurant she had recognised me from when I was working at the hospital. She had her fourth miscarriage the day I left the hospital, and I comforted her as best I could in that short elevator ride.

  As I stepped outside, Bec was smiling a cheeky smile at me.

  ‘What’s that look about?’ I asked.

  With her chest puffed out and entire body looking staunch, she did her best impression of Hudson helping me lift the case of beer. Bec made the days at the restaurant a lot easier to get through.

  I laughed as I walked toward the car.

  ‘He had some eyes for you, he did!’ said Bec.

  ‘Shame his life revolves around wine.’

  ‘Don’t be like that, you don’t even know him!’

  She knew almost everything about me, and understood why I tried to avoid alcohol and people who regularly consumed it or made it a big part of their life, but she continued to push the subject of Hudson while I sat silently.

  ‘You do know he’s not an alcoholic?’

  ‘I don’t know anything about him.’

  ‘Maybe you should change that. Maybe he can help you let go of some of that tension I can feel you emitting!’ she said, as she winked at me.

  We laughed and carried on to work, and my mind wandered off to thoughts of Hudson. I wondered if he was interested in me like Bec seemed to think he was.

  Bec dropped me out the front of the restaurant so I could open up while she parked the car out the back.

  I was walking along the footpath when I heard heavy footsteps running up behind me.

  ‘Mae!’ I knew that voice. My heart started beating faster as I turned around.

  Hudson was standing there on the footpath smiling at me, obviously waiting for a response, but I was too distracted by everything I was seeing to form an appropriate greeting. His olive skin was glistening with sweat. The beads of moisture rolled across the bulging muscles on his arms and had soaked through the front of his tank top leaving a dark grey patch down the front of his chest.

  ‘Hudson..’

  ‘Forget my name already?’ he joked.

  ‘I just, umm… It’s so early and I haven’t had much sleep lately. My brain’s running a little slow.’

  I stumbled over my words as he lifted his shirt to wipe the sweat from his face. His strong abs crunched together and distracted me even more. It was like he was doing it on purpose.

  ‘I don’t believe you,’ he said.

  ‘I’m sorry?’

  ‘You look far too good for someone who hasn’t had much sleep,’ he said.

  ‘That is the magic of makeup and under eye concealer.’

  He smiled and let out one deep chuckle.

  I walked toward the restaurant and he followed along side me.

  ‘What are you doing later tonight?’ he asked.

  Distracted by his bright blue eyes, I didn’t see the uneven brick in the path as I kicked my foot on it and fell forward. Before I could fall and smash my face into the sidewalk, Hudson had easily caught me with one arm across my chest. His forearm had unintentionally slid across my breasts, and even through all the embarrassment, it sent my body tingling. I took in his scent and it made the blood rush through my body again.

  ‘And now you smell like a sweaty man. Sorry,’ he said, as he slowly steadied me in his bulging arms.

  ‘I really would have preferred the broken face, thanks for nothing.’

  We both laughed while my embarrassment diminished and I readjusted my shoe.

  Hudson was pointing at my shirt while trying not to look at the area he was pointing to. ‘Sorry, I think I might have…’

  I noticed the top two buttons had come undone revealing a lot of my bra and cleavage.

  Turning around, I pulled the sides of the shirt together over my breasts and pushed the buttons back through the holes with fumbling fingers.

  When I turned back to face him he was smiling a cheeky smile. ‘Nice try with the distraction and all, but I’d still like to know what you’re doing tonight.’

  This wasn’t a good time for me to be getting involved with someone. I had a lot of responsibility and couldn’t afford to complicate my situation.

  ‘I’m working a double, and I really do need some of that sleep that I’m not getting,’ I said. I didn’t hold his gaze, but smiled politely at him.

  ‘All right, no problem, well I better get going…watch
your step!’ he said, before he jogged away down the street.

  His body glistened in the morning sun, and I instantly regretted brushing him off.

  Bill pushed through the front door of the restaurant looking his usual bothered self. He clapped his hands together twice to get the attention of the staff, then called everyone to the front counter for a meeting. We unenthusiastically gathered around with folded arms as if we were all subconsciously trying to shut him out. I don’t think anyone was particularly fond of him.

  ‘A bunch of reps are coming here tomorrow after closing, for a wine tasting. I want everyone to be familiar with the latest wines on our menu. All of you have to be here, so forget about heading off early,’ he said.

  Bec shot me a sly glance. ‘I bet you can’t wait to see Mr Cooper.’

  ‘Well, considering I won’t be partaking in this wine tasting…’ I said.

  ‘Bill will still expect you to be here you know?’

  ‘Yeah yeah… I know.’

  By the time our dinner bookings had arrived I was exhausted. My arms were heavy, my feet were sore and I was certain I no longer looked presentable. In the restroom, I let my hair down and it flowed over my shoulders just past my breasts. As I was gathering it all again into a bun on the top of my head I noticed the colour of my lips had faded, so I touched them up too. Back out on the floor with a smile.

  I could always feel my body become slightly more tense whenever somebody would walk into the restaurant. My muscles wouldn’t relax until the scanning process was over and I could confirm with myself that I didn’t know the person. The fear grew inside me with every passing day that Alex might just appear in front of me, and it always made my mind slip into terrifying thoughts. My wide eyes were tired from paying too much attention to everyone coming through the door for the night and it started to give me a headache. I went into the staff room and took a paracetamol, rubbing at my temples with my eyes closed until the feeling started to subside.

  After closing the restaurant, Bec drove me home. My head was resting against the glass of the passenger window and my eyes were locked on the road ahead, watching each white strip disappear beneath the car.