Page 6 of Steel Beauty

“Guilty as charged.”

“Did you relocate to Australia, or are you here temporarily?”

“Just here the next three months while on assignment with Soul Sync.”

Three months for now, but what happens to our Australian sister branch after that? Will Gabby hire people locally in Australia? Will she rotate the team every few months? No, that doesn’t make sense. It’s too costly to keep sending people back and forth. Surely, she’ll hire locally and establish a team here once we’re fully settled.

“Are you enjoying your time in theland down under?” His deep voice carries a playful rhythm, almost singing the words in the unmistakable style ofMen at Work, mimicking the famous song I’m quite familiar with.

A surprised grin spreads across my face at his humorous impersonation, and I let out a small laugh. Who knew this guy with the jitters had that in him?

“I’d love to say yes, but I haven’t had much time to get out and explore. It’s been a whirlwind of work since I got here.”

“That’s too bad. Sydney is an amazing city with so much to see and do.”

My research on Sydney has been extensive, but there’s nothing like hearing suggestions from a local. “What should I do when I actually find some time?”

“For starters, you should definitely check out our beaches—Bondi, Coogee, Manly. They have some of the best surfing in the world.”

The thought of surfing makes me cringe, and my body still cries out in protest at the idea of trying that again. “I love a good beach day, but it’s a no for me on the surfing. I’m absolutely terrible at it. I spent more time wiping out and swallowing saltwater than actually standing on the board.”

He chuckles. “Sounds like you haven’t had the best teacher. With the right guidance, I bet you’d be riding waves in no time.”

“You wouldn’t say that if you saw me in action. I wiped out so spectacularly that even the hungriest sharks skedaddled.” The memory of it is forever scorched in my brain—an epic disaster on water.

He gives a thoughtful “hmph,” like he’s turning it over in his mind. “Well, even if you’re not surfing, watching the pros is something else. But you don’t need to surf to enjoy the beaches—the views alone are incredible. And if you’re into nature, the Blue Mountains are a must. Great hiking, stunning scenery. Definitely worth it.”

“My to-do list is getting longer.”

“You can’t skip the Sydney Opera House. It’s one of those places you’ve got to see while you’re here. If you can, catch a show. They’ve got way more than opera—there’s theater, concerts, all kinds of performances happening year-round.”

I have eclectic taste in music, but opera? That’s never been on my radar. Growing up the way I did, it wasn’t exactly part of the landscape. “I had no idea they offered so much variety. I’ll have to check it out.”

“And if you’re feeling adventurous, there’s climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Not that I’ve ever done it myself. Or ever will.”

I hold in a laugh, unsure how he might react if I let it slip. “Sounds like someone is afraid of heights.”

“Extreme heights and I aren’t exactly on friendly terms.”

There’s something surprisingly endearing about this man openly admitting his fear. Most men would keep something like that to themselves unless absolutely necessary.

“I’ve got to be honest with you, miss. I don’t really understand how talking to someone with a wall between us is supposed to help me find a wife.”

His hesitation is understandable. This isn’t the normal way of meeting someone, and I can’t blame him for feeling unsure about it. “It’s different, for certain, but that’s the point. A lot of the work has already been done for you—things like weeding out incompatibles. The wall helps keep your identity safe, especially if you’re well-known. It encourages more honest conversations. There’s no danger of sharing your darkest secret and then seeing it splattered all over the internet the next day.”

“I suppose you’re right.” His voice softens, calmer now. “This setup makes me feel safe—like I can actually talk to a woman for the first time in a long time.” His words take me by surprise, and I’m not entirely sure what he means. Safe? What’s made him feel unsafe before? I don’t want to brush past it, but it’s not my place to push him to share something so personal.

Instead, I aim to keep things light. “Look at you, already so comfortable talking to me. I bet you’re kicked back in that cozy big chair with your feet up on the ottoman right now.”

He lets out a low hum of amusement. “Fair call.”

“And you’re finding it easy to talk to me, right?”

“Yeah, I must admit that you’re very easy to talk to. Your voice is… soothing. And I like your accent very much.”

The tension in my body eases as the conversation flows with little to no effort. “I like your accent as well.”

“You’re in Australia. Everyone here has my accent. It’s nothing special.”

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