Page 49 of Lassoed Love

As we drive for about twenty minutes—the scenery changing from rural suburbia to just plains and bush—I can’t help but wonder where the hell he’s taking me and what kind of date he has planned for us tonight. Xavier eventually turns down a long, narrow road, leading to a large lookout overlooking a vast expanse of our Australian bush—a view that would undoubtedly be breathtaking in the daylight. Throughout the drive, I’d been seated awkwardly in my seat, both hands on my lap, a futile attempt to cover up my exposed thighs. My mind involuntarily drifting back to his confusing reaction to me wearing the dress.He is such a perplexing man.

The expanse of the outback unfolds before us, vast and limitless, with a large lake twinkling in the distance under the moonlight. The night sky stretches above us, a canvas of stars scattered like diamonds, and a slight coolness in the breeze now makes me regret not bringing a jacket.

The anticipation builds as he parks the ute, the rear end facing the breathtaking view. We hop out, and he leads me around the back of his ute, where I finally notice a blanket laid out on the tray with afew pillows.

“You just gonna stand there all night?” Xavier teases, a smirk playing on his lips. I respond with a frown, my uncertainty about what to do evident.

“And here I thought you’d planned a dinner or something…” I retort, crossing my arms defensively. The movement catches Xavier’s eye; his gaze lingers on my arms crossed over my bust before moving back up to my face. He clears his throat.

“Thisisdinner. I have everything covered,” Xavier reassures me as he goes back into the back seat, effortlessly pulling out an esky and placing it on the tray beside the blanket and pillows.

“D-dinner, out here?” I stammer, my words betraying a mix of curiosity and a hint of irony. As I turn around to take in the vast scenery, my mind can’t help but conjure images of murderers luring their victims into the woods.Well, this is not ominous at all, I sarcastically think to myself. But then again, I trust Xavier, for some odd reason. The man may be confusing, but surely he’s not planning a horror movie dinner date, right?

“Relax. It’s not like I’m going to drag you into the bush and murder you. Come sit,” he says, hopping onto the tray and patting the space next to him. I chuckle, a nervous yet amused sound. Almost as if he knew exactly what I'd been thinking.

“Said every murderer out there. This oddly feels like a scene straight out of Wolf Creek,” I say with a raised brow.

Xavier chuckles and puts on his best Mick Taylor voice, saying,“What the bloody hell are you lot doing out here?”I laughbut stay rooted in place.

“Just get up here, would you, woman? I don’t bite—unless you want me to, then I’d be happy to oblige,” he teases, winking, and instantly making my panties damp. A silent shudder wracks through my body—it’s become a common occurrence every time he winks at me. Something so simple, yet it has such a dramatic impact. I playfully roll my eyes, deciding to join him on the tray, keeping a respectable distance.

As we both settle on the tray, I stretch out my legs before me, crossing one over the other. Xavier opens up the esky and lays out the food before us. Assorted sandwiches, cut-up fruit, beers, a bottle of wine, and freshly baked muffins create a tempting spread. My curiosity piques, and I can’t help but glance back and forth between Xavier and the delicious offering.

His black t-shirt leaves nothing to the imagination, accentuating his muscled arms that ripple and clench with every movement. My eyes are drawn to his left arm, adorned with an intricate array of tattoos. I had glimpsed it briefly that night at The Loose Lasso, but its full expanse is a revelation.

Tattoos have never seemed more appealing.

As Xavier and I dig into the spread, each savouring a sandwich and me enjoying a glass of wine, I’m pleasantly surprised by how delicious everything is. I shoot Xavier a quizzical look while taking a bite of my sandwich, the flavours dancing on my taste buds.

“So, did you put all of this together?” I gesture to the enticing spread, my eyes lingering on the muffins that still emit small swirlsof steam, a clear sign of freshness. Did he… bake those.

Xavier, swallowing a bite and taking a sip of his beer, grins. “As a matter of fact, I did.”

I raise an eyebrow, teasingly asking, “You baked the muffins?”

He playfully places a hand over his heart, feigning hurt. “Isla Thompson, are you implying I can’t cook?”

With a smirk, I reply, “Well, no, but—”

He cuts me off, admitting, “Alright, fine. Mum baked the muffins, but the sandwiches and fruit are all me.”

I chuckle, impressed. “Not bad, cowboy. Trying to impress me with your sandwich-making skills?”

He winks, making me flush. “Is it working?”

I playfully roll my eyes, hoping the night sky hides my blush. “Mm, that’s what I thought.”

We continue to enjoy our sandwiches. After a short moment of silence, Xavier breaks it with a question, “So, Mrs. ‘You know nothing about me,’ tell me, what was life like in the city?”

I grab a napkin from beside the esky that Xavier has laid out, wiping my hands and mouth before answering, “Busy. Very busy. It took me a while to get used to, I’ll admit, but eventually, I settled into a routine not long before finding my first job working at a practice not far from where I was living.”

God, the city was a whirlwind—reminiscing about the constant hustle and bustle that marked those days.

He prods further, asking why I decided to come back.

“It had started off great, don’t get me wrong,” I begin,contemplating how much to share. “But things took a turn. I had recently gotten out of a long-term relationship that didn’t exactly end on the best terms. I needed a change, a fresh start. And then the clinic shutting down, looking for new management, was the sign I was unknowingly waiting for.”

Funny how life works, I reflect, realising that if it weren’t for those unexpected twists, I might not have found my way back home.

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