Page 43 of Outback Reunion

And then Mark laughed too and the tension that had been there when she’d told him about Dante lifted.

‘Do you believe in past lives?’ he asked.

The question surprised her—he didn’t look like the kind of guy to believe in anything so superstitious. ‘I don’t know. Why?’

‘Because... I feel like maybe we’ve met before. And not just eight years ago, but another time. For longer. I feel like... Geez. Forget I said that. I need my head read, right?’ He picked up his beer and downed the dregs. ‘That’s the most ridiculous thing you’ve ever heard. I’m insane.’

Gabi smiled. ‘It doesn’t sound ridiculous to me.’ In fact, nothing had ever made more sense. It was the only possible explanation for how she felt in his company. ‘I feel exactly the same.’

Mark put down the empty glass and hit her with a bone-melting smile. ‘I wonder what jobs we had, who we were to each other and where we lived. Do you think we were Australian?’

‘Sometimes people say I have a hint of a European accent. I thought that was because I’ve been in contact with so many performers from all over the world and their accents have rubbed off on mine, but maybe I was from another country, and you were too. Or maybe we’ve met in more than one life? Maybe you were a knight and I was a damsel in distress in medieval times.’

He coughed out a laugh. ‘I don’t think you could ever be a damsel in distress. I’ve lost an arm wrestle to you, remember?’

But he was wrong, she wasn’t strong. If she were strong, she’d have left Dante or stood up to him long before he died.

‘Okay then,’ she said, trying to banish her husband from her head once again. ‘Maybe I was a queen, and you were my stableboy in Regency England.’

‘I doubt it, I’ve never been particularly good with horses. What if we weren’t even human?’ he suggested. ‘Perhaps wewerethe horses.’

She grinned, enjoying this crazy conversation. ‘You’re right... the possibilities are endless.’

And they kept coming up with more and more ridiculous ones, laughing themselves silly and earning more than a few weird looks from the other patrons, but Gabi didn’t care about anyone but the man in front of her.

How was it possible to feel so relaxed yet also deliciously on edge in someone else’s presence? It wasn’t quite like catching up with an old friend—it somehow felt more than that.

Like he said, somewhere deep inside, she felt like she’d always known him.

‘Last drinks!’ Liam called out across the pub.

‘Last drinks?’ she echoed in sudden horror. ‘What’s the time?’

Mark glanced down at the black sports watch on his wrist. ‘Almost midnight.’

‘Holy shit.’ So much for half an hour. What would Eve say? Hopefully, she wasn’t still waiting in their caravan next to Luna. With any luck, Luna had fallen asleep hours ago and neither of them had realised Gabi hadn’t come home yet.

‘Guess that means you don’t want a nightcap, after all?’

She shook her head, her heart pounding. ‘I’ve already stayed way past my bedtime.’

He nodded. ‘Let me take you home.’

They waved goodbye to Liam and Henri as they left the pub and hurried outside into the near-dark carpark and over to Mark’s ute, which was now one of the few vehicles left. His strides larger than hers, he got there ahead of her and opened the passenger door, putting his palm on the small of her back to gently guide her inside.

Oh lord. That simple touch set every cell in her body on fire.

He smiled at her as he settled into his own seat. ‘I just realised you never told me why you ran out on me all those years ago.’

She blinked, her heart clenching. ‘Isn’t it obvious?’

It took him a second, but she saw the moment realisation dawned. ‘You were with Dante then? Youcheatedon him?’

The shame was so strong she could barely nod.

‘I just assumed you were single too.’ He shoved the key in the ignition and quickly reversed the car.

Gabi’s head thumped against the back of the seat and tears sprung to her eyes. It had been a magical night, and she didn’t want to end it with Mark thinking badly of her.

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