Page 161 of Seduction Under the Southern Stars

“You said all this to my dad?” I ask.

“Yeah.”

“What did he say?”

“He said ‘you might be right.’ I think that’s the closest I’m going to get to an endorsement.”

I watch Howard cavorting through the undergrowth, then smile up at Linc as he tugs my hand, bringing me to a stop.

“You okay?” he asks, wrapping his arms around me.

“I’m wonderful.” I look up into his beautiful green eyes, feeling a swell of love for him. “I’m so touched that you’re willing to give me time to think about it.”

“Of course. It would be a huge move for you, and I would never assume.”

“I won’t keep you waiting long.”

“Take as long as you need, sweetheart. And if you want to talk about it at any time, I’m going to be right by your side, so you won’t need to go far.”

He cups my face in his hands, brushes his thumb across my bottom lip, then lowers his head and kisses me, while Howard snuffles and hunts for rabbits, and the summer sun paints us with droplets of gold.

Chapter Thirty-Five

Elora

Linc and I decide to stay the night at Hanmer Springs, and we all spend the evening sitting out on the deck, while Dad and Fraser fire up the barbecue and argue about whether the burgers are done and cook steak and chicken kebabs to eat with Mum’s famous potato salad.

They both ask Linc lots of questions about his work and his life in the UK. He chats away, telling them about iDigBritain and the excavations he’s been on, but I know him well enough to understand how he’s carefully sidestepping details of his life in England. He doesn’t want to make me feel as if he’s trying to influence my decision, which I appreciate. Still, I can see in his eyes the passion with which he talks how much he loves his job over there.

Feeling the need to be alone for a few minutes, I pick up a pile of plates and take them inside, and begin washing them in the sink, looking out through the window at where they’re all sitting on the deck.

Of course I love my job here, and I’m in the middle of doing my Masters. It is an online course, so theoretically I can do it anywhere, but I’d have to change the focus, as I wouldn’t be able to access the New Zealand bird bones over there.

I know I mustn’t give up my life here for him without careful thought. I’m enough of a modern woman to believe that my job and career are as important as his. But one of us is going to have to make a sacrifice if we want to be together.

I don’t want to go with him just because I’m afraid he’ll get bored with life in New Zealand. I mustn’t make my decision for him. I need to make it for me. What would be the best thing for me?

“You know they still have a dishwasher.” It’s Joel, bringing a handful of glasses and the dish that’s still half-full of potato salad, because Mum always makes enough to feed five thousand.

“I know. Just needed five to myself.”

He tears off some plastic wrap, covers the bowl, and slides it into the fridge. Then he comes and stands beside me. “Want me to leave you alone?”

I glance at him. He’s six-one, and he has to keep fit for his job as an underwater archaeologist, so he’s lithe and muscular. He has scruffy dark hair and he’s unshaven. He can be gruff and dismissive, but he’s a nice guy, and, just like Fraser, he’s been a rock for me.

Zoe’s been cagey with her texts, but I’m pretty sure the two of them hooked up while they were in the Northland. I know there’s no point in asking him because he won’t tell me, but I’ll grill her about it when we all get back to Wellington.

I hand him the tea towel. He takes it with a wry smile and starts drying up.

“Looks as if Linc and Dad have made up,” he says, nodding toward where they’re sitting next to each other outside, currently laughing at something Fraser said.

“Yeah. I’m glad. I did wonder whether we were going to have to help Dad bury a body this evening.”

He laughs, putting the dry plate away. “I didn’t think Dad would apologize, I have to say.”

“No, me neither.”

He picks up another plate. “So… you’re going to marry him?”

---