Page 21 of Secrets of Riverside

‘I, ahh …’ his shoulders lifted a little, ‘live here.’

‘Yes, I know that, I mean what are you doing all the way down here?’ She watched Scruff meander in and settle on Jarrah’s feet with a contented huff.

Jarrah turned his back to her and his hands dropped to his sides. ‘Oh, Scruff and I were about to have a quick dip.’

‘Oh, right, yes.’ She started her swim of shame towards the embankment, towards him. ‘I’ll just get my clothes back on and get out of your hair.’

‘All good, Millie, take your time getting dressed, but you don’t have to leave once you’re decent.’ He chuckled. ‘And I promise I’ll keep looking this way while you do.’

‘Thank you.’ She reached the edge and clambered out ungracefully.

‘FYI, some of the grey nomads come down here for picnics.’ His voice caught on the breeze and carried over to her.

‘Oh my god, they do?’ She was tugging on her clothes as if she was competing for the Guinness World Record for the fastest dripping-wet, naked woman ever reclothed.

‘Yes, they sure do.’ His light tone was laced with amusement.

‘Well, I’m kind of glad it was you that busted me, then.’ She zipped up her shorts. ‘And not some stranger.’

‘Ha, yeah, me too.’

‘Okay, it’s safe to turn around now.’ She hoped to goodness her cheeks weren’t bright red.

He spun to face her. ‘Go on then, buddy, off you go.’ He waved Scruff towards the water.

Scruff barked excitedly then galloped like a bull at a gate, all four paws splayed as he flew through the air then landed with an almighty splash.

Thankful for the distraction, she laughed at Scruffball’s enthusiasm. ‘I think it’s safe to say he likes the water.’ She glanced to where Jarrah was now standing closely at her side.

‘Where’d you get that idea?’ He offered her a playful sideways glance.

‘You’re a smartarse.’ She grinned, spiritedly shaking her head.

‘I like to think so.’ He turned all his attention to her now. ‘You going to hang here for a bit longer?’

She had a mind to make a run for it, purely out of embarrassment, but then there was a huge part of her that longed to stay there with him. ‘I’ll hang for a little longer, but only if I’m not intruding.’

‘Intruding?’ He laughed. ‘I think I was the intruder in this scenario, don’t you think?’

‘Oh hardy ha ha.’ She loved the way his lightheartedness instantly put her at ease.

‘Come on.’ He tipped his head to the side. ‘Let’s pull up a bit of dirt while Scruff gets rid of some energy.’

They wandered over to a dry patch of ground and she planted herself down beside him, making sure to keep a little space between them. For a few moments they sat in a silence that seemed natural, comfortable, as they watched Scruff nipping at the water while he paddled. It was only when the most magnificent bright blue butterfly caught her attention that she broke the short, companionable quiet.

‘Wowsers.’ She looked to the fluttering brilliant blue wings that matched Jarrah’s lethally blue eyes. ‘That Ulysses butterfly is stunning.’

‘Ain’t it ever?’ He followed the butterfly’s path until it disappeared out of sight, then he looked to her. ‘There’s over two hundred and thirty species of butterflies in this rainforest.’

‘Really?’ She was gobsmacked.

‘Truly.’ He glanced around, as if taking in his surroundings for the very first time, the dreamy smile on his face contagious. ‘And I’ve probably only seen about twenty different kinds of them over the years I’ve been here.’

‘That’s still pretty impressive.’ She pulled a face to convey her awe. ‘I’m lucky to see one butterfly, back in …’ she stopped short of saying Sydney, but only just, ‘… where I come from.’

A small grin quirked the corners of his lips as he turned his curious regard of her back to the gorgeous scenery enveloping them. Pulling her legs to her chest, she rested her chin on her knees and watched him taking in their small part of this big wide world. She loved the sincerity in his gaze, as if he was filing all of Mother Nature’s beauty into his soul, for safekeeping.

‘What is it, Millie?’ He didn’t turn to her. ‘I can feel your eyes on me.’

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