CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Alf and Ric had made a few calls and had organized for a few other friends to join them for a drink at Noah's. Sally, Flynn, Leah and Dan had just arrived and were chatting happily with Macca. And Martha's dad was in a deep conversation with Tony, Beth and Alf.
"So, I guess we're all going to be one big family now that my girl is having a baby with your boy," Ray smiled at Tony.
"The more the merrier. Welcome to the family," Tony raised his glass to clink with Ray's.
Martha smiled to herself. It was great seeing her dad getting on so well with Tony. Martha looked towards the door; waiting anxiously for Jack to arrive. When she had called Tasha and Robbie and had told them to come down and meet her dad and Macca, they had told her that Jack was at their place. So he was getting a ride with them.
Martha excused herself from present company and walked over to where Macca was now standing, talking with Ric. They seemed to be getting on like a house on fire.
"So where is this copper boyfriend of yours?" Macca asked her.
"He's on his way. And like I already told you, we are not together at the moment," Martha groaned. "Also I'd really appreciate it if you kept all smart comments to yourself, and please don't embarrass me," she smiled at Macca.
"I would never do such a thing," Macca laughed.
"He would," Martha told Ric. "When I first turned fifteen, his sole purpose in life was to embarrass me in front of any boy that I liked. And then he, along with my two other brothers, would chase them down the road with shot guns; warning them to keep their dirty hands away from me," she explained as Ric practically howled with laughter.
"Oh come on bug, you should be thanking us. We were just looking out for you," Macca laughed. "And besides, look what happened when me and the boys weren't around with the shot guns; you got pregnant," he pointed at her stomach.
"I'm a big girl, I don't need your protection anymore," Martha insisted.
"I know that. But that doesn't mean that I won't keep my shot gun handy," Macca joked.
"They're here," Ric then pointed out.
Martha spun around, and noticed that Jack was standing at the bar with Kim. A few moments later Robbie, Tasha and Kit walked in. "Come and meet my friends," Martha pulled on Macca's shirt.
"Which one is he?" Macca wanted to know. "There's three guys standing there, and I need to know which one touched you," he joked.
"Just be patient," Martha sighed. Martha practically hauled him across the room until she reached her friends.
"Everyone, this is my brother Macca," she said. Robbie went to introduce himself but was cut off by Macca.
"So, which one of you blokes banged my sister and got her knocked up?" he grinned.
No way did he just say that, Martha thought. "Macca," she screeched as she elbowed him hard.
"I was just asking a simple question," Macca gasped as he held his stomach. "No need to get violent".
Robbie and Kim were snickering, and were in the process of getting pulled away in another direction by Tasha and Kit.
"So you must be Jack?" Macca held his hand out to shake, when he realised that the other two blokes had snuck off.
"Ah yeah," Jack said reluctantly, as he shook hands with Macca.
"Hey mate, I was just messing around before," Macca laughed. "I just wanted to see how riled up I could get Martha. I promised her that I wouldn't make any smart comments or embarrass her, but I guess I lied," he continued to laugh.
"It was so funny," Martha laughed sarcastically.
"Hey, what's going on?" Ray asked as he walked up to them.
"Dad, this is Jack. And Jack, this is my dad; Ray," Martha introduced them.
"G'day, it's great to finally meet you," Ray shook Jack's hand.
"Yeah, you too," Jack smiled.
"As you will see, not everybody in my family is a total moron," Martha said to Jack, and then gave Macca a dirty look.
"Hey," Macca whined.
"So, Martha tells me that you're a copper," Ray started. "It's good to know that my daughter and grandchild will have somebody responsible taking care of them," he continued.
Oh, here we go, Martha thought to herself. Sometimes she thought that her family purposely liked to embarrass and make her feel uncomfortable.
"What was it that I said about morons," Martha muttered as she started to walk away.
"Hey, where are you going?" Ray called out.
"I need to pee," she answered and kept walking.
"What's her problem?" Ray asked Jack and Macca.
"She thinks we're trying to embarrass her," Macca smiled.
"Gee, she should be thankful that we're not chasing him away with a shot gun," Ray exclaimed.
"Hey, what?" Jack laughed.
"Long story mate," Macca told him.
"I'm all ears," Jack smiled.
Macca watched as Martha and Jack stood together talking. Occasionally he would see Jack reach out and touch Martha gently, or brush a piece of hair away from her face. It was great seeing a guy treat her so well. She'd had bad experiences with guys before, and it was really good seeing someone treat her with respect for a change. He really liked Jack; he seemed like a top bloke.
"Martha was always telling me over the phone about how much she loved Jack, so I know how she feels," Macca said to Robbie and Tasha. "But what about him, does he love her?" he wanted to know.
Robbie laughed a little. "Everybody around here knows how much he loves her. A lot of people can just tell from the way he looks at her," Robbie started to explain. "Jack Holden has been head over heels since the moment he set eyes on her," he finished.
"Why aren't they together then? It's obvious to me that they want to be," Macca said.
"It might have something to do with the fact that Martha is as stubborn as all hell," Robbie exclaimed.
"Why doesn't that surprise me," Macca laughed. "She's been like it practically her whole life. Always throwing tantrums when she didn't get her own way," he continued.
"Mate, you don't have to tell us that," Robbie laughed aswell. "We've seen it first hand, don't worry".
Some things never change, Macca smiled to himself.
Noticing that she was being watched by her brother, Rob and Tasha; Martha started to feel slightly uncomfortable. Macca seemed to be watching every move she made while she was talking to Jack. It was like he was analyzing her.
"We have an audience, come into the store room with me," she pulled Jack behind her.
"Ah, why?" he asked. She was acting weird, and seemed a little nervous.
"Because I want to talk to you, alone," Martha pulled him away. Actually, what she wanted to do, didn't involve talking.
"So, what's wrong?" Jack asked when they were alone.
"Well for starters, I just want to apologise for what Macca said earlier. You know, the whole thing about getting me knocked up. He just likes to tease; it wasn't serious," Martha explained.
"I know he was just messing around," Jack laughed. "And besides, when you think about it; what he said was true. I did get you knocked up," he pointed out.
"I guess," Martha sighed.
"Was there anything else?" Jack asked.
"Are you happy? About the baby, I mean," she really wanted to know.
"Of course I am," Jack reassured her as he moved to stand in front of her. "It's a part of you, and a part of me. It's something that we created together. How could I not be happy," he said softly as he ran his hands over her stomach.
Martha smiled lightly. "That's the first time you've touched me like that on the stomach since you found out. It's nice," she said honestly.
"Maybe I should do it more often then," he smiled back at her.
"You should," Martha agreed.
Martha raised her eyes to look at him again. He was watching her closely and she could feel the heat coming off his body. He was so close, and she could smell his beautiful scent.
"You smell………….nice," she said a little breathlessly. God, she couldn't believe that she just said that out loud.
"I miss you," she whispered to him.
"I miss you too," he moved closer to her and wrapped an arm around her waist.
Martha moved forward until her body was pressed against his and her face was buried in his neck. She grazed her lips across his skin until she found his pulse point; sucking on it softly. She then moved her arms around his body; wanting to feel him even closer. She then started moving her lips up his throat, until she finally latched herself onto his own lips.
Jack immediately deepened the kiss. His tongue ventured into her mouth; enticing her until she let out a small moan. He'd been waiting for this for over a month. He couldn't believe that it had been so long since the last time he had touched her so intimately.
Seductively, his hands started roaming her curves; sending tiny bolts of pleasure coursing through her body. He then moved his hands lower; moving them under the material of her black skirt, until they were caressing her bare thigh. He ran his hand up, teasing her soft skin.
Martha pulled away from his kisses; but their lips were still touching. Her breathing was heavy and chest was heaving. "Maybe we should go some place," she said in a raspy breath.
"Or not," Jack smiled.
"What?" Martha continued to breath heavy.
Jack knew what he was about to do was cruel, and hell, he didn't want to do it. But she needed to be taught a lesson.
"Pay back's a bitch," he smiled as he moved further away from her.
"What?" she looked at him stunned.
"Go home and take a cold shower Martha," he whispered in her ear. He then moved away; his eyes roving up and down her body. "It looks like you need it," he smirked.
No friggin way, Martha thought to herself. That jerk just played me.
Jack opened the door and walked out; leaving Martha with a stunned look on her face; and in definite need of a cold shower.
NEXT CHAPTER: Martha talks with her dad, and Macca. And even has a serious conversation with Jack.
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