Page 55 of Stockman's Stowaway

Bree stopped. She was so much taller, and stronger that her shadow engulfed Mia’s. ‘Fine, I’ll say it again. You’re more than welcome to stay as long as you like. Don’t worry about me, I just get cranky sometimes. It happens and I won’t apologise for it, especially when I live here.’ She held out her jug to Mia andclinked it against her glass. ‘You know how family put up with each other’s faults?’

‘Yeah, of course. That’s family.’

‘Do I need to explain what my faults are? Because we’ll be here a month before we even get halfway through my list.’ Her grin was wide, her eyes sparkly, full of mischief.

‘Does that mean we’re family? Charlie told me you’d be an instant best friend.’

Bree’s laugh filled the air as she nudged one of Mia’s shoulders. ‘That. Or you can just call us your found family. But you should also call your family.’

‘I don’t know what to say.’

‘How about telling them where you are, for starters? Was that what you wanted to ask me about?’

‘Um… no.’ She stopped and stared at the dirt. ‘It’s silly.’ Her fingers fidgeted with the cool glass. ‘Is it wrong to be attracted to someone when I’m…’ She pointed at her face.

Bree tilted her head and didn’t speak for the longest time. ‘You and Cap, huh?’

‘I just copped thedon’t hurt my brotherspeech from Ryder.’

‘Really?’ Bree spun around on her boots to face the farmhouse wearing a cheesy grin. ‘Maybe there is a heart beating under that cupcake’s ice façade, after all.’

‘You don’t think it’s wrong? Or too soon?’

‘No one can tell you what’s right or wrong. Only you can know that. My grandmother always said a girl has to trust her intuition. For some it’s that feeling in their heart, or that shifting in the gut, or that tingly feeling on the back of your neck. But it’s there for a reason, if you listen. And I bet its saying nice things about Cap.’

Mia shrugged. What was there not to like about the guy who filled her with hope and warmth. Yet, she did feel a deep gratitude for him every time he asked her a question about thejob she loved, that he’d hired her to do. But it was much more than that. Especially when those malt-whisky eyes locked on hers to give her a curt nod when she did something right, she wanted to smile at the sun.

He’d been so gentle teaching her to work with the muster dogs. Those moments when he’d stand right behind her, keeping his tone low and smooth as if nothing would ruffle him, and how his voice slid across her skin like silk to wrap itself around her, unleashing a shiver to skate down her spine.

‘You like Cap. He likes you. What’s the problem?’ Bree shrugged.

‘I’m supposed to be heartbroken over Gavin.’

‘Oh, right? Because who said so?’

‘I don’t know.’ She tugged at her hair in frustration, feeling the dirt and dust embedded in it.

‘Okay, how long were you with Gavin?’

‘A few months. It was pretty serious. He wanted me to look at the farm, said it could be ours.’

‘So he knew what you wanted to keep you happy?’

Mia nodded. ‘Gavin accepted my faults.’

Bree arched an eyebrow.

‘I—I—’ She swallowed hard. ‘I can’t have children.’

Bree didn’t move, didn’t flinch, didn’t react at all. ‘And this bothers you because…’

‘When I was younger, I grew to accept it. As I got older and with my first few relationships, I didn’t say anything. But when they found out, the good guys left me.’

‘No, sweetie, good guys don’t do that. You’re not a heifer, you’re a human being.’

‘But Cap is a good man, and he’s amazing with his nephew. He’d make a wonderful father.’

‘Sure. He’d be brilliant at it.’

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