Grand Parade (Show Time Fever Book 1)

by Lilliana Rose

  She nestled back against him, enjoying his warmth, and the feel of his skin on hers. She could get used to this. She did a quick mental calculation. There was only a few days left of the show. Then, he would be gone. She pushed such thoughts away. That was something to think about later.

  “I reckon a quick rest and we can go again.” He nuzzled into the back of her head.

  She giggled with delight. She was tired, but the suggestion sent her juices flowing again. “I’ll hold you to that.”

  ‘Good. I want you to.’ He wrapped his arm over her waist, keeping her close to him. She relaxed into his embrace, enjoying the cuddling after the exertion. “You’re okay, right?” he asked gently.

  “Of course.” She tensed a little, unsure what he was saying. “You looked after me well.”

  “I mean you’re not dizzy or anything from the hit on your head.”

  “Oh.” She relaxed once more. “Yeah, I’m good.”

  He kissed her on the neck. “Good.”

  Her eyes were becoming heavy. Content with Jackson, she started to snooze.

  A rattle on the door startled her.

  “Hey, there’s others who room here too,” shouted a male voice outside.

  “Bugger.” Heat rose to Megan’s cheeks. The last thing she wanted to do was a walk of shame. She was usually much more discreet than this.

  “Give us a minute, mate,” Jackson yelled back.

  “Oh no.” Megan put her hand over her face in embarrassment.

  “Don’t worry, they won’t care.” Jackson shifted away from her. Where he’d been wrapped around her, she now shivered.

  “We do care,” yelled another male voice. “Come on Jackson, get a move on.”

  Megan’s face burned with embarrassment.

  “Hey, keep that up and I won’t open the door.”

  “You bastard. You’ll regret it if you did that.” The door rattled from heavy banging.

  Jackson laughed. “We’ll be out in a minute.”

  We. Megan was mortified. She got up and felt around for her clothes. It was even darker than before. She found her bra and put it on, then her knickers, which was awkward to do in the confined space. She banged heads with Jackson as she shimmied back into her jeans.

  “Ow.” She rubbed her head.

  “I’m so sorry.” Jackson rubbed her head and wrapped her into a protective embrace.

  “It’s okay.” She wanted to stay with him longer, but there were regular bangs on the door, and right now she wanted to get out of here, away from Jackson’s roommates and go home and contemplate the feelings she was beginning to feel towards him. He’s not going to stay here in the city. She couldn’t see herself moving. Even after the blissful session they had just had together.

  “Hey, you don’t regret this right?”

  Once again he’d somehow read her thoughts. “No.” She buttoned up her shirt. “Absolutely not.”

  “Good.” He kissed her, tenderly, making her body turn to jelly. “Because I want to see you again.”

  “I bet you do.”

  “Not for sex.” He paused, looking into her eyes. “Well, it was good, but really I want to get to know you more.”

  “Okay.” It was all she could manage to say, as the door rattled angrily. She took a deep breath. “Guess we should go out.”

  “Ready?”

  She nodded, running her hands through her hair and quickly doing it back into a ponytail. Jackson unlocked the door.

  “About time,” said a guy.

  “Looking a bit jealous there, Tate.” Jackson wrapped his hand around Megan’s waist, guiding her into the aisle. Her legs were reluctant to move. Her cheeks burned with embarrassment.

  “You two might want to get a hotel room next time. We could hear you at the other end of the show.” Tate folded his hands over his chest. He was six foot tall and a slim build.

  “‘Yep, you’re jealous all right, mate,” said Jackson.

  “About bloody time,” said another guy coming up. “I was about to go off and get a crowbar.”

  “Settle down, Aston,” said Jackson.

  Aston was a stocky young man and pushed past them. “You bastard!”

  Jackson pushed Megan forward, away from his room.

  “You used my swag.”

  Megan swallowed hard. Suddenly her legs were fine to move. She hurried away, not wanting to hear further taunts, especially ones that reminded her of Jackson, naked, hot and in her. She was worried, she’d turn back. She’d close the door, and start all over again. She didn’t care whose swag it was, as long as Jackson was with her.

  Chapter 10

  Megan took about a dozen steps before she realised that after all of that she hadn’t cleaned up her jeans. “I’ve got to go home.”

  Jackson took her hand. “You don’t.”

  “Um, yeah, I do. My jeans. Remember?”

  Jackson face planted his hand on his forehead. “Sorry, I forgot.”

  “Guess we were a little distracted.” She looked up at him walking next to him.

  “We certainly were.” He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and squeezed her into him. “Walk you to your car.”

  “Thanks.” She slipped her arm around his lower back, completing the puzzle between them as they exited the show grounds.

  Megan smiled, as they walked. She’d have preferred a longer cuddle session back together when they were naked, but this was just fine. If only the back of her jeans weren’t covered in shit, she would stay with him longer. She rolled her lips together in thought. Longer. She couldn’t believe she was thinking about seeing him again. Or even wanting to be with him more than this one time. But, that pull towards him had always been there.

  “This is me.” She stopped next to her red Ford Hatchback, reluctantly pulling away from Jackson to get her keys out from her bag.

  He pulled her into an embrace. “You really have to leave me?”

  “Dad’s home. You can come and meet him if you like?” She looked at Jackson teasingly.

  “I’d like that.”

  “Really?” Megan glanced up to see him smiling at her.

  “Yes, but maybe not right after I’d had sex with his daughter.” He kissed her forehead. “First things first, can I see you again?”

  Megan nodded. “Yes. And not just because you’re good between the sheets.” She went up on her toes and kissed him. Her hands held him tight around his torso, and she leaned against him.

  He ended the kiss. “Tomorrow, then?”

  “You bet.” Megan gave him one more kiss then pulled herself away. Another kiss would’ve led them pulling off clothes and jumping into the backseat of her car, and she was pretty sure the neighbors around here would see and call the police. That outcome wasn’t worth it.

  “I’ll come and find you?” asked Jackson.

  Megan nodded. “‘I’ll be in the office at 9 am. Unless that’s too early for you?”

  “Not at all, but will you have work to do?”

  “Yeah. I’ve still got to take more photos of the show, plus go to the Grand Parade and get the photos I didn’t the other day.”

  “So, maybe I should see you later? I don’t want to disturb your work.”

  Megan didn’t like that idea. It was bad enough she was going home now. Even though they’d just had sex, she was still hot for Jackson. She didn’t want to hold herself back. She wasn’t actually sure she could, it was difficult enough at the moment. If she wasn’t going to have him for the entire night tonight, then she wanted to spend as much time with him as possible. Before he returned to the bush.

  Her heart sunk a little at the thought of having to wait tomorrow before seeing him again. “If you’re up for it, you can come around with me.”

  “I’d like that. How about I come over after I’ve fed up and then I’m all yours for the day.”

  “I like the sound of that.” Megan kissed him before getting into the car gently throwing her camera bag next to her on the pass
enger seat. She tried not to think of the crap on her jeans that would be on her car seat, but she was sure that it was all dry and crusty now so she didn’t think it would stain the seat.

  Megan pressed the button to lower the electric window. “I can’t wait.”

  Jackson leaned in and kissed her. “Me either.”

  She started the car and drove away, looking in the rear-view mirror to see Jackson waving back at her. His image kept her company all night.

  Clean, fresh, and early, Megan arrived at the show, well before 9 am. As a precaution she even put her overnight bag in her car with a change of clothes, in case she sat in manure again. But, she planned to double-check every surface she sat on at the show, so something like that would never happen again.

  She walked past the area where they were grooming the cattle, pausing to take some photos. Cattle were lined up, tethered to the rings on the old brick sheep pavilion, getting washed down, then dried and brushed. She stopped and took more close-up photos.

  A few of the people were school kids from country schools, down for an educational week at the show. Questions blossomed in her mind. She wished Jackson was there to ask what they were doing, and why they paid so much attention to grooming the cattle, but then she saw how dirty a few were as they were led up to the washing area. There was one question she should’ve asked Jackson last night, one that she didn’t want to know the answer to. When was he going back to his farm? She sighed. He filled her mind a lot this morning, which she enjoyed, but it also strained her heart, because she knew he would be leaving soon.

  She kept her distance while taking a few more pictures, then started making her way to the office. Then she stopped. She didn’t want to go there. She’d stayed up late last night and emailed photos to Helen, so there wasn’t any reason for her to go there until later.

  She doubled back and went down the familiar aisle toward Jackson’s cattle. Megan relished the idea of having him with her during the day. It would be fun to have his company. After they had sex yesterday, his image lingered in her mind.

  Stopping at his cattle, Megan looked around for Jackson. He wasn’t sleeping with them. They were all chewing hay, and their individual water troughs were full, so he was around. Or maybe his parents were. She felt lost, standing there without him.

  “Can I help you?”

  Megan turned to see Julie. “Doubt it.” Her skin prickled with a warning looking at her.

  “You’d be looking for Jackson, I guess.”

  Megan hated the smug look. “You know where he is?” She hoped Julie did, but very much doubted the other girl would share the information.

  “Nope.” Julie smiled smugly.

  A shiver slid down Megan’s back. She turned away not wanting to spend any more time with Julie than what was necessary.

  “You know farm life is tough,” said Julie, her tone taunting.

  Megan glanced back over her shoulder.

  “Don’t think you’d be up for it. City slicker like yourself wouldn’t last a day before you’d go back crying to your mum.” She raised her eyebrow.

  Megan clenched her fists. “My mum’s dead.” Then she turned away and left, hurrying before the tears rapidly filling her eyes spilled down her cheeks. She didn’t like anything Julie had said. I would so last more than a day. But, it was the jeer about her mum that cut at Megan’s heart more than she could bear. She rushed to the office to hide.

  “There you are,” said Helen, as Megan entered the stuffy small room, shuffling some photos around on the desk putting them in order. “I’ve got a new job for you today.”

  Megan wiped her eyes quickly with the edge of her shirt.

  “Are you all right?” Helen’s forehead wrinkled with concern.

  “Damn dirt in my eyes, mixed with a bit of hay fever,” lied Megan.

  “I’ve signed you up for some extra work. You’re to spend the day in the sheep pavilion, taking photos of farmers and their sheep.”

  Megan knew she could handle that. “Okay.”

  “It’s more involved than that. It’s full on, like portrait shots in a studio. It’s just that you are in a pavilion, with a simple gray backdrop, and with sheep.”

  “Really?” Megan put her hand on her hip. “They do photos like that?” She wasn’t sure she really wanted to do that type of photography. The rule of not working with children or animals was very true. It wasn’t going to be an easy day.

  “Yes, for their promotions for the following year.”

  Megan began to understand her role. It was important to get a good photo for them, plus it would be her photos that would be in newspapers and pamphlets. That would be good for her as she worked towards building her own photography business. She hadn’t thought that it wouldn’t be with animals, especially sheep.

  “I don’t know anything about taking these sorts of photos,” said Megan.

  “Frank will come down and help you for a bit, get you started. You’ll be fine.” Helen smiled, the sort of smile that secretly said ‘go off and do what I’ve told you now.’

  “Okay, I’m on to it.” Megan slung her camera bag over her shoulder. “And thanks for thinking of the extra work for me.”

  “No probs. You’ll still need to get some candid show photos today, but you don’t have to hand them in until tomorrow. The ones you sent over last night were great by the way.”

  Megan felt the weight of her camera bag weigh her down. Extra work of course meant just that, extra work. And with the distraction of Jackson she was beginning to feel a little overwhelmed. Her usual determination bubbled inside of her. I can do this.

  “Oh, and hurry. You were meant to be there five minutes ago, and Frank won’t be happy about being left there alone.”

  Megan rolled her eyes. “Thanks.” She rushed back towards the sheep pavilion. I should text Jackson. She got out her phone, fumbling with it and trying to text as she walked, her mind only half on the message. She thought ahead to the amount of work she needed to do today. Would she get a break or not? Would she see Jackson?

  The sheep pavilion was a long building. She wasn’t sure where exactly to go. Megan guessed it wouldn’t be too hard to find because there would be a big backdrop screen set up somewhere. Well, so she hoped. She entered through the nearest door, shoving her phone into the pocket of her jeans. Her nose wrinkled at the sharp smell inside, which was more sharp and acidic compared to the smelly fermenting earthy smell of the cattle.

  “About time,” said Frank struggling to hook up the photography backdrop. Close to retirement he kept a healthy physique. His white hair was receding and he was clean-shaven, wearing a plain shirt and loose jeans.

  “I only just found out I had to be here.” She put down her bag quickly and helped him. So much for being early today. So much for seeing Jackson.

  Chapter 11

  “His back hooves aren’t standing square,’ said Megan.

  After six hours of taking photos of sheep, she’d picked up some of the lingo. Quietly, she stepped forward, so as not to scare the sheep, then pinched the top of her boot on the edge of the back hoof that was out of alignment. Annoyed, the sheep moved his hoof.

  “There.” The ram, she could tell the difference easily now, and made sure that she looked before saying ewe or ram so she wouldn’t be corrected by the breeder, now stood with his back legs standing square. Frank stressed every detail in the photo was important before he had left her alone to finish the tightly booked schedule.

  Megan stood out front. “Chin a little lower.” She told the middle-aged man, who held the head of the ram. A champion ribbon hung on the back of the sheep.

  Click. Click. Click.

  She took a series of photos. Before dashing off, glad to be relieved of this job, Frank had told her, ‘Take a lot of photos. Digital doesn’t cost anything, and all the breeders know if there’s the smallest detail out of place.’ Then he’d added, as if parting with a long kept secret, that it didn’t matter what animal you were tak
ing a photo of, all the breeders were fussy.

  Megan had learnt that very quickly. She wasn’t about to upset any of the sheep owners, or the sheep because even though she was taller than them, when they stepped on her toes, it hurt.

  “I’ll take a few more.” Megan kept the camera up over her eye, and clicked a few more times. “There.”

  “Thanks.” The man nodded. “When will the photos be ready?”

  “Tomorrow.” Another question Megan answered continuously all day. Originally she had said late Friday, but that answer hadn’t been well received, because they all wanted to view the photos before they left the show. She would be working back late tonight getting them ready. Megan hoped it would be worth her while and she had more work in the future.

  Picking up the click board she crossed off Mr Peter Jamison, PJ & TM Jamison, Woolshed Flats, and looked at the list of names she was yet to see. Five more. She sighed. Then, there was probably about six more hours in front of the computer ordering the photos. Another job she knew she was expected to do, because Frank had told her. She hadn’t heard from Jackson all day. Because of her busy schedule, she hadn’t stopped to text him again.

  “Ready for me?” asked an older man, holding tight to a ram. His adult daughter behind him held a ewe. Merino sheep were large. Even though Megan was taller, they made her a little nervous at first. Now, she was more of a pro and knew more about the dos and don’ts about what to do around sheep.

  Megan nodded. It was late afternoon and she’d only managed to get out of the sheep pavilion for a quick toilet break and to grab some food. As the hours ticked on, she was becoming acutely aware that Jackson hadn’t contacted her.

  She resisted taking out her phone, again, to look at the blank screen. He must be busy. She was. It still disappointed her that he hadn’t even bothered to contract her. Especially since they had sex. Her mind flooded with those images. It was bloody good sex too.

  “Where do you want us to stand?”

  Megan glanced down at the list, checking who was next. “Mr Lang?”

  “Yeah. And my daughter, Danny.”