Page 33 of Outback Heat
“I’ll make your life a living hell if you hurt that girl.”
I gulp audibly. “Yes, ma’am.”
Ida smiles kindly at me and releases her vice like grip with a pat on the back of my aching hand. “Good boy. Now, how is my rodeo star?”
I blink at the lightning fast change in conversation and take a sip of water. The ice cubes clink against the sides of the glass as the cold liquid slides down my throat.
“I’m fine,” I say, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand. “I quit the rodeo circuit, ended my PBR contract, and bought old Johnson’s house five doors down.”
Ida chokes mid sip.
“Excuse me?” she splutters.
“I bought Johnson’s place and the paddock he owns where the annual rodeo is held. He has been trying to sell it since he moved closer to his grandkids last year, he just about jumped down my neck the moment I suggested it two days ago.”
Ida blinks at me owlishly. “You decided all this only two days ago.”
“My aura sickness has finally done something good for me. Impulsively deciding to buy a house and rodeo grounds to live with my mate seems pretty responsible for a loose cannon like me, don’t ya think, Ida?”
Ida doesn’t respond. Instead, her eyes are clapped in the kitchen doorway behind me.
“What did you do, Mayhem?”
I stiffen in my seat at the sweet voice. My Omega. She’s not supposed to be back from work until later!
I turn my head, and my eyes widen at the sight of her.
She’s wearing the light blue work scrubs I’ve seen glimpses of in photos and video calls. I’ve been fantasising about them for a month. Playing injured rodeo star and nurse is my current top naughty daydream.
And she’s wearing my hat. Heat floods my veins as my Alpha instincts roar to the forefront of my mind. She’smine.
“Surprise?” I say with a grin.
Seventeen
Matilda
Halfwaythroughthemonotonouspile of patient chart updates, Doctor Nichols appears in the doorway and tells me something surprising.
“Frank Ballintine just saw a particular knuckle-headed Alpha’s ute and horse float roll into town,” he drawls, in his usual measured way.
“What? Murphy’s in town?” I splutter.
He gives me a knowing look and raises his brows at me. “He is. I’m heading out to the rodeo grounds tomorrow to meet with him and discuss the medical plan for the upcoming rodeo. Sounds like the wild child is getting his shit together – never knew he had it in him to actually organise a rodeo.”
My heart pounds faster, my palms grow sweaty, and I can feel the heat rising to my cheeks at the thought of seeing Murphy. It’s been four long weeks since we’d last been together, but this time apart has only made me realise how much I really want to be with him. My Alpha’s impulsive aura might have drawn us to each other initially but now I am certain there’s a genuine bond between us beyond just auras, instincts, and our scent match.
“Go on then. Take the rest of the day off and enjoy your weekend,” Doc says with a knowing smile before lumbering off to speak to a patient who just came through the clinic door.
I barely wait for him to finish speaking before I’m out the door and striding towards Ida’s home. I’m not sure what I’ll find when I get there but I have a good feeling about today. My anticipation grows with each step - is this finally the moment where Murphy claims me as his mate? The mere thought of being Murphy’s bonded mate with his bite mark on my scent gland makes my stomach flip with excitement. My strides lengthen, eager to find out if my dreams are about to come true.
I don’t know what the future holds, especially with my Alpha’s rodeo career. Maybe I could be the circuit nurse and travel with him? I cringe at the idea. I don’t like the thought of living on the road and even less the thought of all the strong Alpha auras I’d encounter.
It doesn’t take long to get anywhere within the small town of Bodella. The region itself is massive, but the little cluster of shops and houses are all within walking distance. My boots slap on the cracked pavement as I hurry past the only pub. Locals call out to me, familiar with the sight of me in my light blue scrubs. With the help of Ida, it’s taken no time at all to settle into country living. The locals’ trust Ida’s judgement and, as a result, I’ve been accepted as a member of the Bodella community. I don’t know when I started thinking of this dusty, remote town as home, but it’s settled in my heart the same way Murphy has.
As I walk up Ida’s garden path, my heart flutters in my chest.
This is where I belong.
