Page 40 of The Dairy Farmer's Daughter

"You know very well who." Meredith glanced around before leaning in conspiratorially. "He's a looker, too. If you hadn't already called dibs, I might have made a play for him myself."

"Meredith! What would your husband say?" Freya scolded her with a smile. Meredith had married straight out of high school and had never admitted to regretting it.

"I'm allowed to look. He's sweet, too. He's been here for hours drinking coffee and he enjoyed my big breakfast. So, tell Greer she's got to up her game."

Freya blew her friend a kiss and climbed the stairs to the loft. She paused at the top to watch Justin. He was angled sideways to her with his head down, staring at the computer screen, hisfingers tapping lightly on the keyboard. He was so focused on what he was doing.

As though he sensed her watching, he paused and turned in his seat to find her staring.

"Hey, you," he said as she walked towards him.

"Hi." She kissed him on the cheek before slipping into the chair opposite. "Meredith tells me you've been here all morning. Have you got lots of work done?"

He nodded. "I have, and don't tell Greer, but the food here is really good. Even the gluten-free things."

"Are you ready for a break? It's stopped raining; we could take a walk."

"Sounds good. I need to burn off some of those calories." He packed up his laptop and followed her down the stairs. They stopped at the counter to pay, and Meredith insisted he come back anytime he needed some peace and quiet. Then, when Justin's back was to her, Meredith caught Freya's attention and gave her two enthusiastic thumbs up.

They walked down the street together, stopping to gaze at window displays, and chat about the things for sale. The lolly shop had an interesting display of exotic and international sweets. The second-hand bookstore had Australian historical novels in the window and across the road there was an art gallery which they explored. They took their time, pointing out and discussing their favourite pieces. Freya had always loved the clay artwork made by another local friend of hers.

But it was in the bookstore, set in a beautiful art-deco style building, that they spent most of their time perusing—everything from the new releases, to the self-help and gardening sections, to the children's section with its bright colours and comfy furniture.

"Has this bookstore been here for a long time?" he asked her.

"As long as I can remember. It's changed owners a few times though."

"I think I remember it from my childhood."

Her heart leapt. She desperately wanted him to feel a connection to the town, and a childhood memory could do that for him. "I remember Mum saying that we would come here for playgroup, especially in winter. Maybe your mum brought you here?"

"She didn't make many friends; that was part of the reason why she left. She didn't have any support."

"That must have been hard for her. Alone with a baby, a husband who was always working, and no close friends." Freya said thoughtfully.

He gave the smallest of shrugs.

"I’ve spent many, many afternoons in here. It's my favourite shop in town." She caressed a shelf full of novels.

"I can see why."

They left the warmth of the bookstore and continued walking until they had seen both sides of Maple Street.

"I should let you get back to work," she said, even though she didn't want to leave him. She enjoyed their time together so much, even when they were just walking around talking.

"If I'm going to take Friday off to help you at the ag show, then I really do need to get more done today." He sighed. "Come over tonight?"

His hand rested on the curve of her back and his touch was so soft, so intimate, and so suggestive.

The hairs bristled on the back of her neck as she leaned into him and whispered in his ear, "What did you have in mind?"

"We could stay in and get food delivered."

"Sorry, no one delivers up here. But I can pick something up, or better yet, we can cook something together."

"I like to eat food but I'm not a great cook," he confessed.

"When you live with Greer and Nina Montgomery, you pick up a few things." She smiled. "We'll do something simple."

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