Who was she kidding? It was hard to concentrate on the scenery when her breasts were squashed up against Morgan’s powerful back and her hands were clutched around his waist. She tightened her grip as they hit another small rock on the roughly graded track.
Morgan had been up to the ridge before and they had their phones with them in case Lachlan needed them.
She spoke into his ear. ‘Soretta has been meaning to take Daphne and I up here, but we never seemed to find the time.’
He slowed and turned his head to answer. ‘You’ll only need to be shown once. It’s a good spot. The road is rough but well-marked.’
The track led between two hills and across a wide, dry creek bed that was achingly beautiful, even in its waterless state. They stopped just to drink in the sight even if they couldn’t splash in any water. Billie was pleased to see that Morgan seemed to absorb as much pleasure as she did from the landscape. Stately white gums, some of their trunks arched back like dancers exposing their bellies to the leafy canopy above, while others reached up with long white fingers to the sky.
The deep orange soil of the parched creek was cracked into diamonds and squares of dried mud that had split apart and curled at the edges to look like panes in old-fashioned window frames. The grey-green leaves shimmered above and the occasional leaf and twig drifted down in eddies onto the diamonds as the noisy cockatoos settled into the branches for the late afternoon.
Morgan pointed to the clump of Sturt’s desert pea tucked in a corner behind a rock. The runners of the ground-dwelling branches were covered with downy hairs and the long blood-red flowers rose in clusters on their upright stalks with the black centres like tiny featureless faces midway up the bloom. The pointy greenish ground cover filled the spaces between the red splashes of colour.
Billie had always loved the desert pea flowers. Could remember picnics with her parents at riverbeds just like this and searching for the clumps of red flowers after lunch. ‘I tried to grow those in Sydney but they always died.’ She’d thought of her parents more in the last months than she had for years. It was poignant but maybe time to remember the good times she’d blocked out in the past. She’d been too worried about Mia and Mia’s father to dwell on the loving and wonderful childhood she’d had.
Morgan was still absorbed in the prolific flowers. ‘They manage the dry.’
She looked around. ‘I’ve missed this. Missed even the harshness of the place, the ebb and flow of drought and flood, and the vibrant colours. The sky so blue it dazzles and makes everything else look clearer and brighter. I wanted Mia to appreciate the outback, but she was always busy and keen to stay beach-side. I think now she’s here it’s growing on her pretty fast.’
‘She seems to have settled in well,’ he said with a smile in his voice. ‘You may not be able to move her soon.’
She nodded. ‘Soretta says she’s never seen anyone as good with animals and she doesn’t hand out compliments freely. And Mia’s finally digging in at school. Her grades are great. Wants to be a vet and Lorna’s been helping with her extra homework.’
They both sobered at the thought of Lorna.
‘Homework help is not a pastime for someone with dementia,’ he reassured her.
‘I keep telling myself that.’
‘Come on. We’d better get on or we’ll miss the light, and when we can’t describe it Lachlan will think we’ve been doing something else.’
She raised her brows. ‘I can’t imagine what you’re talking about.’
He looked at her with a tinge of scepticism. ‘I can almost believe that.’ She laughed and climbed on behind him and gave his waist a squeeze. ‘Oh, you mean . . . that?’
He started the engine. ‘Yes. That.’ She grinned into his back. This was nice. More than nice. Exciting. Fun. Not something she’d had a whole lot of in her life and she was actually in no rush to progress to emotional angst. But he did feel wonderful to hang onto. She imagined briefly what it would be like to wake up in the morning with Morgan’s strong body next to hers. A great way to start the day. Imagine!
He turned his head briefly. ‘You okay?’
She stared at his strong neck and shoulders right in front of her nose. ‘Just enjoying the view,’ she said into his ear.
They were climbing up the last part of the track and she could see it wouldn’t be much further to the flat spot on top of the range.
Someone had dragged a rusted 1940s utility as a burial-ground feature against the sparse scenery. It added a surreal quality with the wheel-less chassis resting on the ground and a tumble of larger granite rocks piled around it.
The golden ball of the sun was almost to the distant skyline, and the undulating ranges behind them were dusted red-gold with the reflection. Long shadows stretched from rocks and stunted trees and side of the rusted vehicle cabin, and she leant against it to watch the shadows lengthen.
Morgan opened the creaking door and gestured her in. ‘Where would you like to go?’
She declined. ‘I like a few springs on my seat when I travel.’
He laughed. ‘There’s no pleasing some women.’ Then he shut the door on the empty cab so she could rest against it and they both turned to the view.
‘This is really beautiful.’
Morgan shifted up next to her and touched his hip to hers. ‘Scenery’s good, too.’
She turned her face towards him and he surprised her by taking her hand. His warm fingers stroked hers and he seemed to be waiting for a reaction.
She stared down at their entwined fingers. How long had it been since a man had caressed her like this? Since she’d let one? The gentleness was so beautiful she just allowed herself the luxury of receiving it without comment or movement.
But that wasn’t a good enough response for Morgan, apparently. ‘Dead fish,’ he said and shook her wrist, and she laughed though she felt like a shy schoolgirl on her first date.
‘I was waiting to see your moves,’ she quipped. It was his turn to laugh.
‘Oh. I’ve got moves.’ He kissed her lightly on the tip of her nose. ‘Just want to make sure you’re alive first.’
She blinked and then she stared at his mouth as it hovered. ‘Try again,’ she said.
So he did, gently kissed her lips and the sensation flew through her like a rush of warmth. ‘Oh, I’m alive all right.’ The touch of his mouth rocked her like a shudder had shifted the whole range under her foot. She hoped he didn’t realise how much power he really had.
‘As a move, four out of ten,’ she whispered.
‘That wasn’t a move. That was sussing you out.’ He looked deeply into her eyes. ‘Four? That’s a bit harsh.’
She lifted her gaze to his, her mouth curving, loving the promise of humour between them, something she hadn’t seen in the beginning, and the promise of being swept away by someone she could grow to trust. ‘Maybe a six.’
He laughed and pulled her around so she was leaning on him in the circle of his arms. ‘You lie,’ he said with conviction. His back was solid against the truck and she pressed her whole weight on him. He was like a rock. Even that aura of immovable power was worth a ten.
Then he lowered his head and with darkening eyes he brushed his mouth against hers gently, and then with more pressure, until he took possession and kept it, enticing her until the concept of scoring was blown out of her shrinking mind.
Her legs gave way and he held her, easily, clasping the back of her head as if he couldn’t bear the thought of her moving away and she quite agreed with him. The moment stretched into a hundred moments, some short, some infinitely long, none of them enough. Kissing Morgan properly was like a whole smorgasbord in itself and she didn’t want to stop.
When he put her gently from him, the sun had slipped away unnoticed and she seriously didn’t mind that she’d missed seeing it set. She drew a ragged breath and concentrated on feeling her feet on the ground.
He was looking smug. She tilted her head at him. ‘Where did you learn to kiss?’
>
He shrugged. ‘I may have been a gigolo in a past life.’
She touched her mouth wonderingly. ‘I believe you.’
He laughed. ‘You do not.’ He sobered. ‘In all seriousness I think my kissing definitely improves when I kiss you.’
She couldn’t help the pleased smile she could feel on her face. ‘I think that’s a compliment.’
‘It’s a concern.’ He seemed to study the deep red of the sunless sky. There was a crease against his forehead and his light mood had evaporated. Darn it. Why couldn’t anything be smooth! It wasn’t her fault he’d kissed her and they’d imploded.
‘We’d better get back. I don’t fancy the track in the dark.’ And with those words he changed, became more serious. She knew this guy, too, and she wasn’t sure what his problem was.
It was just a kiss. But the voice inside her head laughed at her. That was not just a kiss.
They made it back to the homestead as the last of the twilight faded. It sat serene and solid like welcoming arms and a promise of solace for the confusion she could feel bubbling inside her. She’d spent most of the trip with her cheek against his back just soaking in the smell of him. The verandah lights glowed as they drove the quad bike into the shed.
Lachlan was sitting at the kitchen table with his chequebook and bills spread over Lorna’s favourite linen. He watched them approaching and gestured to the invoices in answer to their silent question. ‘I’m taking my mind off poor Lorna’s troubles. Soretta’s done a stellar job while I’ve been gone managing the finances. Better than it should be.’
That was great for all of them and she hoped he passed that onto his granddaughter. ‘How is Lorna?’ Billie asked quietly and then held her breath.
‘Still asleep. I just checked her. She looks peaceful.’
Billie let out a sigh. That was a relief. ‘Sleep should help her recover. I’ll wake her later for the next dose of antibiotics.’ She wasn’t looking forward to that if Lorna didn’t recognise her.
Lachlan was looking way more relaxed and now he was smiling at them with a twinkle. ‘How was the sunset?’
‘Beautiful.’ She tried not to blush. ‘Is there a story to that old car up on the ridge?’
He nodded, diverted from teasing. ‘My parents went on their honeymoon in that car. It’s a 1942 Ford Jailbar. When it died my dad took it up there as a joke. So whenever my mum mentioned a holiday he’d take her up there and put her bag in the cab.’
‘You men all have the same sense of humour.’
Lachlan and Morgan exchanged amused glances and she walked over to the slow cooker where Daphne had left a meatloaf cooking early this morning before she left. Aromatic tendrils drifted up when she lifted the lid and seduced her nose. Or was she feeling a little immersed in her senses at the moment? She sighed blissfully. ‘That smells divine.’
‘I put the potatoes on. And there’s enough for you, too,’ he said to Morgan. ‘No offence, Billie, but occasionally male company doesn’t go astray.’
‘Too late. I’m offended.’ She wasn’t. Lachlan did well with all of them and it was nice that Morgan might stay. She was about to ask him if he would when he put down his keys. And that’s when she realised he had been about to leave. So he had been going to run; it seemed their kiss really had rattled him.
He straightened. ‘Of course I’ll stay. It smells great. Thanks.’
Lachlan waggled his shaggy brows. ‘We could tell him we made it.’
Billie shrugged. ‘He wouldn’t believe us.’
Morgan chuckled, finally looking more at ease. ‘Let me guess. Daphne did?’
‘Yep.’ Billie thought about Daphne and Rex away. ‘I hope they’re having a great time.’
‘So do I.’ Morgan’s expression was serious again. ‘Last thing we need is broken hearts all over the base.’
Was that directed at her? The thought sent a cold trickle down her back. She hoped it wasn’t about them. ‘Spoken like the boss. I’m going to get a cardigan for that chill you just brought in. Then I’ll be back to set the table.’
‘I can start that,’ Morgan said.
Was that an apology? Maybe, maybe not. Who knew with him? Mr Hot-Again-Cold-Again. ‘Thanks.’ But she didn’t look at him as she left the room. Just thought about that scorching kiss on the ridge and the fact that now he was all bitter and twisted and running scared again. Like she was the expert here. Well, she wasn’t.
When Daphne and Rex landed at Broken Hill airport, Daphne found herself much more aware of the physical aspects of landing in a 1950s aircraft: the bumping around, the roaring wind, and the incredibly loud noise even through the headphones. It was all very invigorating. She slid open the side window and more noise rushed in with the hot air.
She’d landed here so many times for work it seemed strange not to taxi up to the Flying Doctor part of the apron. Instead they turned right, with the big wooden propeller spinning in front of them. They passed the passenger terminal, the parked jet with its row of windows waiting for its next load off to Sydney. Finally, they drew to a halt outside the civil aviation hangar.
She stayed strapped in and waited patiently, just enjoying the fact there was no anxious patient to worry about, nothing to worry about it seemed, as Rex had everything under control. It felt good. More than good. It felt wonderful to take a metaphorical back seat.
The engine stopped, as did the propeller, and the noise died down so that she was able to pull off her ear muffs. Then, reluctantly, she removed her helmet and stroked the soft leather. This really was one fab helmet.
Rex helped her out and he took both their bags and ushered her across the heating tarmac to the shed. A pencil-thin guy in shorts and a singlet handed over a set of car keys. He gestured to a rental, a comfortable AWD vehicle, and handed Rex a map.
When they opened the door the heat billowed out even though the car had been thoughtfully parked under a tree. ‘We’ll wait a minute,’ Rex said.
Daphne’s gaze travelled the airport surrounds. ‘It looks different from this angle.’
‘We’re tourists.’ He smiled and she smiled back.
While they waited for it to cool, Rex asked, ‘Do you know Broken Hill well?’
She shook her head. ‘I came for my interview, and we did a week’s orientation here and in Brisbane.’ Daphne thought about the blur that had been her first few weeks in the air. ‘I got so tired in the early days on the flights I’d just go home to sleep.’
Rex nodded. ‘They do twelve-hour shifts here, too, don’t they? Until you get acclimatised the decreased oxygen in flight is enough to make you tired.’
He started the car and ran the aircon, and after a few minutes it was pleasantly cool. ‘Okay. Hop in. We’ll head over to the pub where we’re staying and get unpacked, maybe do some sightseeing and take a run out to Silverton. I haven’t been there either.’
Once they were buckled in, he pulled out into the sparse traffic.
‘And we’re going to do touristy things,’ he commanded, his eyes crinkling. She loved it when they did that. They looked so soft and blue, like the sky he prized so much. He was an adorable man from any angle. Too adorable for her.
‘You look sad. You okay?’
She straightened her obviously sagging face. How embarrassing. ‘No. I’m fine. Having a wonderful time.’ She straightened her shoulders higher and lifted her chin. ‘I really appreciate you bringing me.’
He frowned, then did a quick check in the rear-vision mirror, before flicking on the indicator. Slowing down, he pulled over to the side of the road under a shady gum tree. Before she realised what he was doing, he’d stopped and turned off the car, unclicked his seatbelt and turned to face her. His face was serious.
‘Tell me, Daphne. Why do you think I invited you to come with me?’
She forced herself to meet his gaze. Reminded herself that this was Rex, that she knew Rex and had always admired him. Only she wished she hadn’t come now because if she said something stupid this could i
mpact on their working relationship. ‘For company. Because you’d booked two rooms.’
‘And why did I book two rooms?’
She looked away. ‘Um. For company.’
She felt his finger on her chin and he used it to turn her face back towards him. ‘For you.’
‘Well, yes, I understand the other room is for me, now.’
He nodded to himself. As if something had been confirmed. Had she said something stupid? She was so stupid.
He studied her intently. ‘Stop.’
She jumped. ‘What?’
‘It was always for you. I booked that room for you. Took my time, made sure you would have time off, because I wanted you to come. I wanted to spend time with you outside work.’
‘Me?’ Had she squeaked? She settled her breathing and tried again, but all the words seemed stuck. ‘Oh,’ she said finally. ‘Thank you.’ And then she smiled because a tiny bubble of anticipation had slipped under her guard and made its way to her mouth. She grinned at him. ‘So there wasn’t anyone else who let you down and I’m the fill-in?’
He shook his head. ‘Who else could there be?’
‘Oh my.’ Oops, she’d said that out loud.
‘Oh my indeed.’
‘In that case, let’s go have fun.’
He nodded, before leaning over and kissing her cheek deliberately. Like he really meant it. He then turned on the engine and steered back onto the road.
Rex had kissed her. Because he wanted to kiss her cheek. Maybe Rex had wanted to do more. She resisted the urge to lift her hand and stroke the spot she could feel glowing. Apparently, Rex had moved on from his disastrous marriage and now it was time for her to do that, too.
In a normal voice, as if he didn’t know he had just tilted Daphne’s world into a whole new dimension, Rex said, ‘So you’ve never been to the races?’
‘Just the Melbourne Cup.’ Her brain wasn’t really working yet.
The Homestead Girls Page 19
