Home to Eden by Margaret Way Page B

trying to marry me off.” He turned away, visibly ruffled. “I get enough of that from Mum. I have a sex life, Nikki. I’ve bedded my fair share. But you’re my goddess.”
    Nothing could have dismayed her more. “Goddess? Good grief, I hope that’s a joke.” She braced herself.
    Suddenly he was laughing. “When I look at you, goddess comes to mind. You can melt men to honey.”
    â€œOh, stop it.” Nicole was disgusted. She rose from her chair, looking out over the garden with its magnificent date palms and desert oaks.
    â€œIf we weren’t first cousins, would you marry me?” Joel followed her. She stood beside a white column that looked bare, stripped of its thick veil of jasmine.
    â€œWhat sort of question is that?” She was aghast. “We are cousins. Produced by sisters. We’re close family. It’s the only way I love you.”
    â€œDo you think I don’t know that?” He lifted a hand and stroked her smooth cheek, a gentle caress. “Only joking, Nikki. You’re such a special person. I badly need to find someone like you, but I figure that’s impossible. I can’t hide my emotional attachment, but it’s a mystical thing. Don’t you feel it, too? Growing up together, sharing experiences, a little boy and a little girl. It’s an intimate thing.”
    Only, intimate was unthinkable.
    Â 
    D RAKE WAS WAITING for them by his four-wheel drive as they taxied in.
    â€œYou’re not getting out?” Overnight bag in hand, Nicole looked back at her cousin, who made no move to leave the cockpit.
    â€œSay hello to him for me if you have to,” Joel said flatly, making no bones about the way he felt. “I just hope to God he treats you well. Him and that bloody bitch Callista. Talk about attachments! Boy, did she have a problem with her brother.”
    â€œWho’s now dead,” Nicole reminded him quietly. “Callista never created a life for herself unfortunately. Her life was her family. Thanks, Joel. I’ll let you know when I want to come home.”
    â€œYou said tomorrow?” he inquired sharply.
    â€œI mean what time tomorrow. See you.” She gave a little wave. “Drake’s coming.”
    He looked out briefly. “He’d better not try to prolong your visit. Take care, Nikki. If you can’t put up with more than a day, I’ll be back in a flash for you.”
    â€œSee you then,” she said.
    â€œTomorrow or earlier,” he corrected.
    Â 
    â€œJ OEL IN A HURRY to get away?” Drake’s expression was sardonic.
    â€œHe said to say hello. He’s pretty busy. He’s following up on a few of my suggestions.”
    â€œThat’s gutsy, confronting Joel. He’s so darn belligerent.” Drake looked down at her, absorbing her beauty. Her abundant hair was up in some sort of knot except for a couple of long locks that curled forward onto her cheeks. She looked exquisite, but a little pale,he thought. He hoped that cousin of hers hadn’t been acting threatening in any way.
    â€œSometimes I think I am gutsy.” She laughed. “I could have gone under, but I chose not to. Anyway, Eden is mine.”
    â€œSo you can say exactly as you please.”
    â€œWell…within limits. Siggy didn’t like that I had all the jasmine pulled down from the columns. She couldn’t make sense of it and I didn’t explain.”
    â€œBad memories. Perfume has an astonishing ability to remind us of people and places. When we were kids, you had the fragrance of boronia all over you.”
    â€œHow extraordinary you remember. I can explain it. Dot always tucked sachets of it into my clothes and the bed linen.”
    â€œNowadays you wear Chanel’s Gardenia.”
    â€œYou’re too good.”
    â€œMaybe I had a girlfriend who wore it.”
    â€œI assume a girlfriend no longer,” she parried lightly. “I left