Page 45 of Secrets of Riverside

Pull yourself together, Price. He’s just a man. That you slept with. And now …

There was a slightly awkward pause before he broke her train of thought. ‘How did you pull up Sunday arvo, after such a big night?’

Was he serious? Clearing her throat, she stumbled over a mountain of words as she tried to do the same as him, and ignore the elephant standing between them. ‘Hmm.’ She squinted into the glare of the sun. ‘I was a bit seedy.’ She chuckled in a bid to hide her nerves. ‘And I have to admit that my hangover headache is still lingering.’

‘Well, I got a cure for that.’ He held up two beers that she hadn’t noticed were in his hands, and passed her one. ‘Hair of the dog, works a treat.’

‘Can’t, but thanks.’ Her gaze snagged on the arms that had held her so possessively tight two nights ago. ‘I’m still on the clock.’

‘Now?’ He glanced at his watch. ‘It’s five-thirty, Mills, you should have knocked off ages ago.’

The fact that he shortened her name annoyed her this time around. ‘Yeah, maybe, but I was just getting some prep done.’

‘You work way too hard here.’ He held the beer out again. ‘Knock off for the day and enjoy a well-deserved cold one.’

Her head spinning, she took it from him and gladly took a swig to hide her trembling lips. ‘Ahh, yup, it tastes better than I thought it would.’

‘See, I told you.’ His smile, and dimples, deepened. ‘Should we pull up stumps while we enjoy these bad boys?’

She tipped her head. ‘Stumps?’

‘Yeah, the stumps, over there.’ He pointed to two short upright logs, beneath the shade of the big old gum tree. ‘For seats.’

‘Ha, you meant literally.’ How did this man have such an uncanny way of unburdening her heart in an instant? A feat considering he was the main cause of her load.

‘Or do you want to kick back on my verandah and watch the sun bow out for the day?’ There was something unfathomable within his gaze.

She needed to find out what it was. ‘The verandah might be a little more comfortable.’

‘True that, come on then.’ He waved her towards the homestead.

After a tongue-tied stroll, they sat side by side on the day bed, a decent gap between them as they gazed out at the view that she’d come to love with all her heart. Jarrah’s horsey, leathery scent lured her the entire time they drank their beers and chatted about everything but the obvious. She’d never been so physically aware of a man as she was with him, and her attraction to him was driving her nuts. Oh how she wished she could just get over him. Like he apparently had gotten over her. And now they were back to being friends. Just. Friends. The contemplation angered and hurt her. She bit back the need to tell him. Maybe being here is a mistake. She needed to go. Now.

Quickly finishing her beer, she stood. ‘Thanks for the bevvy, Jarrah, I better get back to it and let you do the same.’

‘Our first one went down way too fast.’ Jarrah shot to his feet. ‘I’m just going to duck inside and grab us another.’ He hesitated. ‘That’s if you want one?’ His gaze pleaded with her.

Even though she was confused by his desperation for her to stay, when he’d very clearly been avoiding her the past couple of days, she nodded. ‘Okay, just one more, and then I’ll go lock up the kitchen and head home for a shower and some dinner.’ Her curiosity as to whether or not he’d raise what they’d gone and done was overriding her level-headedness.

Leaning against the banister while she waited for him to return, both for support from her buckling knees and needing a distraction, she drew in a deep breath as she admired the tropical panorama that Jarrah worked tirelessly to keep looking so pristine. She was so immersed in the exquisiteness of it all, she jumped when she heard the back screen door slap shut.

Spinning around, she couldn’t believe what she was looking at. ‘What in the heck are you doing?’ Her eyes narrowed with amused suspicion.

Offering her a confident smile, Jarrah finished strapping his wacky apron on. ‘I’m going to cook us dinner.’

Her eyes widened, as did her smile. ‘Oh my gosh, Jarrah, you loon.’ She cracked up laughing as she pointed at the nude old-man bod skilfully printed on the apron in a way that made his head look like it was attached to some nudist hippy. ‘That’s freaking hilarious.’

He pulled a confused face. ‘I don’t know what you’re on about.’

‘Oh, stop it, you know exactly what I’m on about.’

He briefly looked down, and then brought his mischievous gaze back to hers. ‘Oh, you mean this old thing?’ He pointed to it. ‘I thought it might give you a chuckle.’

‘Well, your plan worked a treat.’ She accepted another beer from him and went and settled herself back on the day bed while he cooked a couple of scotch fillets.

It didn’t take him more than half an hour to have dinner prepped and on the outside table. Her steak was cooked to perfection, charred on the outside, yet juicy on the inside. And the potato bake, along with his version of an Italian salad, buffalo mozzarella and all – good lord, she was in heaven. She couldn’t help but think he’d planned on having her here all along, in the hope she’d join him. But for what reason? Was he about to say things she didn’t want to hear? No. She wouldn’t let him. She needed to get in first and put a stop to this. It was now or never.

‘Jarrah, about the other night, I ….’

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