and he didn’t want anything happening between them to interfere with the custody agreement. But they’d done a whole lot more than kissing now and it seemed imperative they institute rules when it came to Isla’s future.
He doubted Tash had any expectations where he was concerned. She knew he was leaving town so their night together could only ever be a spectacular one-off—unless Isla had another sleepover scheduled in the next few weeks. But he couldn’t contemplate it. The night with Tash had been special but a repeat could give her ideas, namely there was a chance they’d reunite when nothing could be further from the truth.
He couldn’t have a long-distance relationship. He hated the thought of Tash waiting for him in this tiny town, expecting him to visit during his downtime to dole out scraps of affection. He wouldn’t do that to her, because she deserved so much better. Now that he’d be sharing custody of Isla, maybe she’d have more time for a relationship with someone local, someone who could give her what he couldn’t: stability, permanency, adoration.
So why did the thought of her hooking up with some country yokel leave Kody feeling like he’d been dunked in an ice bath?
This is what happened when sex entered the equation. It screwed with his brain and made him overthink. Which was why the appointment this afternoon was so important. It should be simple: meet with the lawyer; get the custody agreement sorted; contact the band; make plans for the future.
With Isla in his life, he’d have to curtail the touring, which he’d already been hoping to scale back anyway. And he’d have to buy a place in Melbourne, a house maybe, with a backyard and a pool, somewhere she’d enjoy chilling when she visited.
His first real home.
Perhaps Isla would like to help him choose? It made him feel like a god, being able to give his child anything she wanted when his own childhood had been so shitty. He’d do anything to make her happy.
At the risk of making her mother unhappy?
He scowled, wishing his voice of reason would shut the hell up. He knew what Tash would think once he started lavishing Isla with possessions: she’d think Kody was buying her off. But he wasn’t. He wanted to make sure his child wanted for nothing, the way he’d often yearned for a gaming console or a smartphone or the latest sneakers. He’d have to be careful, because he didn’t want Tash to feel like it was a competition between them for Isla. And he didn’t want Isla to undervalue the many important life lessons her mother was teaching her, the kind money couldn’t buy.
Yeah, this coparenting thing would be a minefield, one potential explosion after another, but by getting the legalities sorted out he’d have one less thing to worry about.
As he headed for the shower, whistling the same tune he had to flesh out later, he had a feeling there’d be plenty to worry about when he delivered the agreement to Tash.
CHAPTER
37
As much as Jane would’ve liked to invite Mason back to her place after dinner, she’d resisted, because she couldn’t quite shake the feeling that sleeping with him too soon would set her back. He was the first guy she’d really liked in a long time and she wanted to do this right, so as soon as dinner finished she insisted he head back to the patisserie to supervise the installation of the light fittings and she’d headed home. To spend the night tossing and turning with erotic dreams of a tall, blond baker with particularly strong hands brandishing honey.
But it wasn’t broken sleep making her cranky this morning. The minute she opened her eyes, Jane knew she had to see her mother. If she was even considering getting serious with Mason for however long he was in town for, she wanted to confront her insecurities and that meant a chat with Mummy dearest.
After a quick call that Gladys picked up—meaning she was home—Jane hung up and drove out of town. As a kid, she’d never noticed the poverty of some farms on the outskirts of Brockenridge, or the barren brown land that became drier by the day. She’d been too absorbed by online shopping, ordering the latest designer jeans and T-shirts and make-up. Her father had indulged her and Gladys hadn’t cared what she bought as long as she looked good. She hadn’t forgotten being young, stupid and selfish, which is why she donated so