Brad woke slowly, he lifted his head cautiously to look at 'Tanaya who he was spooning. He looked around for his watch and spotted it on the arm of the lounge; he reached for it slowly trying not to wake 'Tanaya. The numbers on the face told him it was nearly time for him to get up and get ready for work.
'Tanaya moved slightly as cool air slipped under the cover and she frowned as she rolled over and reached for him in her sleep.
Gently Brad lifted her arm from across his lower ribs and eased it back under the covers.
"What?" 'Tanaya murmured sleepily as she sat up abruptly.
"It's time for me to get up and get ready for work," Brad said quietly, "why don't you lay back down and have a bit more sleep. You said you've got today off."
'Tanaya looked at him trying to gauge his mood, was he regretting what had occurred between them?
"No, I'll get up and make the coffee that way I can get an early start on the housework I want to do today." 'Tanaya said as she pushed the covers down to her knees.
Brad spared a moment to take a long look at her naked body before turning and heading towards the bathroom. "I'm just having a quick shower, I'll be out in five." He called back over his shoulder.
'Tanaya watched him go before heading to her room to grab her dressing gown and put it on. In the kitchen she filled the percolator and turned it on before stacking the previous nights dirty dishes in the sink.
The coffee was ready and she was sitting down sipping a cup when Brad came into the kitchen.
"Yesterday Hank was saying we'd only be doing about a half days work today to finish off the job. The crew might be stopping by the pub for a few drinks afterwards." Brad said easily.
"Okay," 'Tanaya said with a nod. She wondered if anything would change after the previous night, so far it had been the same as every other morning except for waking up in the same bed.
"How's your shoulders and back?" she asked after several minutes silence.
"Not as bad as I had expected. A bit stiff and tender when I move but other than that not too bad." Brad said as he began making himself lunch for the day.
'Tanaya watched silently as Brad made his lunch then cooked a quick breakfast for himself. She noticed he glanced at her several times but said nothing so she remained silent not sure of what to say or do.
He ate quickly and stopped to look at the dirty dishes in the sink as he went to place his plate on the sink.
"I'll do them today, no drama." 'Tanaya said from where she sat at the table.
Brad turned his head to glance her way and gave a faint nod, "Okay, but I do all the dishes tonight."
"I'll make sure to use every pan I own to cook tea," 'Tanaya attempted to joke but her lips trembled suddenly and she looked away.
Brad watched her for a few seconds awkwardly; he didn't know what to say. Wasn't sure how he wanted things between them. Last night had happened on impulse and this morning in the light of day he wasn't too sure if they could make things work with his relationship with Nicolas and Janey thrown into the mix.
A loud knock on the front door made both of them jump and Brad shrugged knowing it was Brent or Matty signalling they were out the front waiting to be picked up for work.
"I'd better get going," Brad said as he picked up the small cooler bag that contained his lunch. He hesitated a moment then paused to drop a quick kiss on a surprised 'Tanaya.
"I'll talk to you this afternoon," he promised as he headed for the door.
'Tanaya sat at the table stunned, she had thought that Brad had regretted what had occurred between them the previous night but now she wasn't too sure. She got to her feet with a sigh and looked around the kitchen at the cleaning she planned to do, she headed towards her room to get clothes to change into after a shower. No time like the present to get to work on cleaning.
* * * * * Brad sipped the icy cold beer and sighed with satisfaction; it was the hottest part of the afternoon and instead of work Hank and the crew were enjoying a cold beer at one of the local pubs.
Brad was listening to the flow of talk around the group at the table but he wasn't really taking it in. He had been doing a lot of thinking during the day and had realised it would be really hard to make things work between him and 'Tanaya.
They would just have to take it one day at a time and he would have to see if he could mediate a peace between 'Tanaya and Janey.
"Hey Brad! You listening?" Matty asked as he slapped him on the shoulder.
Brad gave a start and looked towards him to see what he wanted.
"We were talking about the blonde that works behind the bar here, I think Brent has a bit of a thing for her. He comes in here at least once a week, but only when she's behind the bar." Gerry, one of the other workers said.
Brad glanced towards the bar where a rather pretty buxom blonde was serving drinks before glancing at Brent to see his expression. He could read no hint of the other man's thoughts on the matter and turned to Gerry with a shrug.
"To tell the truth I hadn't noticed," Brad said.
"What's your ex-missus look like?" Gerry asked with a good-natured grin.
"Pardon?" Brad asked slightly confused.
"Come on, it's all over town. You got your ex-missus visiting you each weekend with your kid. Rumour has it she's not so ex, if you know what I mean." Gerry winked as he finished his statement.
Brad was silent as he stared at Gerry until the other man shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
"There's nothing going on between Janey and I other then me getting to see my son," Brad said in a controlled voice.
"You're talking about young Janetta Wilkinson aren't you?" Hank said in the tense silence.
"Yeah," Brad's tone was guarded; he had learnt quickly to watch what he said in this small town.
"My oldest boy went to school with her sister and my second boy was a year behind Janey in school, from what I know of the family she's a nice girl." Hank said levelly.
"She's doing a great job with our son," Brad said with a sober nod.
"Janey is really nice. Rather quiet and shy but really nice." Matty piped up in her defence.
"Obviously not too shy," Gerry said with a smirk. He caught Brad watching him without any expression on his face and felt a chill go down his spine.
"That didn't come out right, I didn't mean no disrespect." Gerry said awkwardly.
Brad gave a brief nod before finishing his beer abruptly, "I think I'll call it quits with just the one beer." He said as he got to his feet.
"See you later," Hank said.
"Later," Brent said.
The others were silent as Brad left the table and headed for the front door of the pub.
Outside the hot air hit Brad in the face with a blast. He squinted as he glanced at the sun over the end of the street and headed in the direction of the house where 'Tanaya lived. It was hard to think of it as his home, even temporarily.
