Page 67 of Outback Reunion

His heart pounded. Was the kid in the back seat of his crew cab his daughter? His own flesh and blood? Could that be why Gabriela had been so cagey about her?

He didn’t know how to feel, what to do, but no matter how desperate he was to ask her outright, he couldn’t do so with Luna in the car.

Gabriela leapt out of the ute the moment he stopped in front of the temporary perimeter fence. She opened the back door to let Luna out. ‘Come on, munchkin, bedtime. Thanks for the ride, Mark.’

He didn’t know if she meant the lift or what had preceded it back at his place, but all he could think about was the Luna situation.

‘You’re welcome,’ he managed. ‘I’ll come back in the morning to help with the car.’

And to confront her about his suspicions.

Chapter Sixteen

Just after eight o’clock the next morning, Luna burst into the caravan. ‘Mark’s here,’ she exclaimed, bouncing up and down on her toes. She was already in her bathers, the snorkel her grandma had bought her on her head. ‘Can he come to the beach with us?’

Gabi sat up in bed. Usually, she was long awake by this time, but after a third night in a row tossing and turning until the early hours, she’d overslept. ‘Already?! Where is he?’

‘Outside. I told him I had to make sure you were dressed before he could come in.’

Thank the lord.Gabi scrambled out of bed and looked around for some shorts to pull on. Not that it really mattered—Mark had not only seen every inch of her naked body but pretty much touched and tasted it all as well. She shivered at the recollection; her body still not recovered from his magic caresses.

‘Donotlet him inside! I’ll be out in a moment.’

‘Okay.’ Luna shrugged then disappeared again, closing the caravan door behind her.

Gabi fled into the bathroom, ran a brush through her hair, splashed water onto her face and wept at the sight before her in the mirror. Once upon a time she could get only a few hours’ sleep and still wake up looking fresh faced, but those days were long gone. After the year she’d had, she needed a full eight hours to scrape by. But she didn’t have time for a shower or to make herself look properly presentable, because a strange guy on the lot would garner the attention of everyone, and she didn’t want Mark being grilled about how they knew each other, or worse, how her car had ended up stranded on his farm.

Luna might have bought her story about visiting an old friend, but she doubted anyone else would, and they’d all be curious about the man who’d lured Dante’s wife out of her apparent mourning.

Cringing, she tugged her hair up into a high ponytail and threw on a t-shirt, along with some shorts and thongs.

What did it matter what she looked like anyway? She wasn’t trying to impress Mark; they’d already had their one night. She wasn’t even supposed to see him again. Last night was meant to give them closure, but her stupid car had ruined everything.

Okay, not exactly her car. It wasn’t the car’s fault she hadn’t told him about Luna.Whyhadn’t she told him? It didn’t make sense. She wasn’t ashamed of Luna. But whatever her stupid reasons, she knew Mark had jumped to his own conclusions, and only hoped he’d have the good sense not to confront her about his suspicions in front of anyone else.

Just because Eve had guessed about their prior liaison didn’t mean she wanted everyone knowing her business.

‘Mum! Are you coming?’

Gabi jumped at the sound of her daughter’s voice just outside the caravan. ‘Yes,’ she shouted, then took a long, slow breath before heading out.

Loud Mouth squawked from his night cage, wanting to be let out, but she ignored the bird, her attention focused on what was going on only a few metres away.

Her heart skipped a beat at the sight of her gorgeous two-night stand surrounded by her mother-in-law, grandmother-in-law and half a dozen of her colleagues, including the Dangerous Duo and the Saad sisters, the latter three who were flapping around him like moths at a flame. Amina Saad—looking immaculate as usual—twisted her long, dark hair round her index finger as she leaned far too close to Mark as she spoke.

Jealousy flared in Gabi’s chest like heartburn, and she had a good mind to march right over there and shove Amina out of his way. To take Mark’s hand and put her lips on his, to brand him as hers. But he wasn’t hers and she couldn’t blame the other woman. What single womanwouldn’twant to flirt with Mark? Unlike Gabi, he didn’t look like he’d had any trouble sleeping. He looked fresh faced and absolutely freaking fantastic, his tan glowing in the morning sun.

Just like a model on a Hot Farmers calendar.

Whatever month he was, she’d keep him up all year round.

As if he sensed her gaze, he glanced past the little posse and they locked eyes. Although Gabi couldn’t quite read his expression—was he happy to see her or still pissed off that she’d lied by omission?—she sucked in a breath and almost stumbled.

Never before had she gone weak at the knees from just one look. No wonder she lost her head around him.

‘You’re here early,’ she said, already on the defensive as she closed the distance between herself, Mark and their captive audience.

‘The early bird catches the worm,’ he replied. ‘Besides, I didn’t know when you needed your car and didn’t want to keep you waiting.’

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