Page 98 of Outback Reunion

As Grant ordered the kids into a straight line with a teacher’s expertise, she gestured for Mark to follow her round the front.

Once they were far enough away from possible eavesdroppers, she turned to face him. ‘What are we doing here?’

His Adam’s apple moved slowly up and down. ‘What do you mean?’

‘Stella said something. She didn’t mean to, but it sounded almost as if this barbecue, everyone coming here, was arranged byyou.’

He gave her a sheepish grin. ‘Guilty as charged.’

Gabi frowned. ‘But... why? What’s going on?’

‘Gabriela,’ he said, taking both her hands in his. ‘I know we’ve only been reconnected for a week, but us being together feels so damn right.’ He paused. ‘I just can’t bear the thought of you leaving town and of not being able to see you every day. I want you and Luna to think about moving here so the three of us can be together properly, and I hoped that—’

‘I thought you said you weren’t in the market for a relationship,’ she interrupted, shocked by his announcement. She’d never have agreed to a fling if she’d thoughthemight catch feelings. ‘You said you needed to sort out the farm and the shit in your head first!’

He nodded. ‘And I meant it. I really did. Or at least, I thought that was the case. I thought I was too broken after Tahlia and the end of my career, but I don’t feel broken when I’m with you.’

Emotion prickled the back of her throat. She no longer felt broken either.

‘So, I asked Grant for his help, and he suggested this get-together—it wasn’t supposed to be sobig—to give you a taste of what our lives could be like if you throw caution to the wind, leave the circus, and move here. I was going to tell you today—later tonight—how I feel, that I’m falling in love with you, but I wanted you to see how good a life you could have here. With me.’

‘You’re falling in love with me?’ She could barely get the words out.

He nodded and smiled. ‘Pretty sure I’m almost all the way there. And I reckon we’d be awesome together. Luna’s already made friends and you’ve been getting along great with everyone too. You’d both be welcomed with open arms, Luna could play footy with me and Heidi, and there are plenty of casual jobs around for you. You could even run circus or dance classes for the local kids. Or you could enrol in a course online or in Gero, retrain in something you really want to do.’

Goosebumps spread across her arms at his words, but they weren’t the kind of tingles his presence usually ignited. She couldn’t believe it. He’d planned their lives all out without even consulting her. Exactly the way Dante used to do.

‘What do you say? Will you consider moving here and starting a life with me?’

‘Are you crazy? We’ve barely known each other a week!’

‘We’ve known each other almost eight years.’

Her heart pounded as she yanked her hand from his. ‘Let me get this straight. You had Grant organise thisparty, gather all these people, just so you could make me fall in love with them and want to move here? To be with you?’

He looked down at his feet, guilt painted across his face like bright coloured zinc.

‘And everyone here knows it’s a ruse.’

‘They weren’t supposed to,’ he said. ‘Grant swore to me he wouldn’t tell a soul, but—’

‘Oh, they know!’ Gabi could feel the prying eyes of everyone in the backyard like sunburn on her skin, but she couldn’t keep the anger in check or her voice low.

It wasn’t only Mark who was trying to manipulate her, but this whole crazy town. It had been bad enough being a pawn in Dante’s cruel games, but this was on a whole other level. ‘I can’t believe this. I told you I couldn’t leave the circus, but you obviously weren’t listening, or do you just think you know better than me? I’m so sick and tired of men who think they can control me. You’re no better than Dante!’

‘Mark!’ At the shout, they both turned to see a tall, thin, blonde woman wearing a tiny, pink and red playsuit, flouncing through the gate towards them. She looked like she’d stepped right off the pages of a designer label website.

Distracted by their conversation, neither of them had noticed her car arriving.

‘What the fuck are you doing here?’ Mark growled.

The woman’s smile only faltered a fraction. ‘And it’s lovely to see you too, husband dearest.’

Husband?

‘Ex-husband,’ Mark hissed.

Oh my God.‘You’re Tahlia?’

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