Page 61 of Clear Skies (Stormcloud Station)

So, after much discussion with her professors, she switched her degree from environmental law—which she still had another year to go—to sustainable development, with a major in agribusiness. With credits from her first degree, she would need to complete another two years. But she was happy with that. Her professional life seemed to be on track. The only part she wasn’t happy with was it’d take another two years of being separated from Dale.

That was when lightning had struck. One of her new professors asked if he could introduce her to the CEO of Angel Gold. He was a colleague but also a personal friend, and he knew the mining company was looking to do some of the things that Daisy had been talking about implementing. A way for the mining company to give back to the communities, as well as a way to make themselves more sustainable in the long run, more environmentally friendly.

The company agreed to pay for her degree, if she would come on board and work as a consultant while studying at the same time. It wasn’t unusual for a company to take on an intern, especially when they had a specific project in mind. The company also had a mine site near Cairns, and the cogs in Daisy’s mind immediately began to turn. Could she do her study online? The answer had been yes.

A horse gave a loud whinny right next to Daisy’s shoulder, startling her. She and Dale were still standing next to the horse yard, the forgotten haynets resting on the ground next to them. But the horses hadn’t forgotten, and some were stamping impatiently, desperate for their dinner.

“Why don’t you feed the horses first, and I’ll tell you all about it later. I’ll give you a hand,” she added.

It was good to help Dale distribute the hay. And she was glad she remembered how to do it. He could hardly take his eyes off her, and he dropped one of the nets on the ground in his haste to tie it onto the fence. There were six more hay nets to hang up, and they worked quickly, in relative silence, until all the horses were fed and happy.

As soon as the last bag was hung, Dale scooped her up in his arms again. “Dinner service will be up soon, did you want to come and eat? Skylar is cooking kangaroo tonight.”

Daisy’s salivary glands worked overtime at the mention of Skylar’s food. But she had an even more urgent need. And that was to get Dale naked as soon as possible.

“I’d rather check out your bedroom,” she said with a come-hither smile. The look that Dale shot her, full of dark-eyed hunger, made the grin fade from her face. Replaced by a desire so strong it nearly bowled her over.

“You don’t have to ask me twice,” he growled, taking her by hand. They walked in the growing dusk around the side of the lodge. Daisy glimpsed the billabong, looking as serene and beautiful as she remembered, before Dale whisked her inside, through the family side entrance.

He led her down the hallway and into his bedroom. The door was hardly shut behind him, when her insistent fingers found the buttons on his shirt, undoing each one as quickly as she could, revealing all that wonderful male chest with a sprinkling of curls, then those hardened abs. Her hands wandered over his warm skin and a feeling of contentment, of coming home, settled over her.

Dale dropped his hat on the bedside table and lowered his head so he could nuzzle the soft skin of her neck.

“I missed you. I’m so glad you came back,” he murmured. “I’m sorry I didn’t call, but I—” She put a finger to his lips. There was no need for justification. She was here now, and he wanted her, and that was all that mattered.

“No,” he said, pulling gently away from her finger. “I need to tell you something. I should’ve said this before you left, but I was an idiot. I fell in love with you. I’m still in love with you.”

He’d said those magic words. Her whole move over here had been based on him saying those words. But it was still a shock. Her heart was beating so fast, she could possibly be having a heart attack.

She licked her suddenly dry lips. This was real. It was really happening.

“I fell in love with you, too,” she whispered. How could she not? Her own real-life, courageous cowboy.

This would not be easy. His mother would be less than pleased, but at least she already knew about her plans for planting bush foods with Skylar. And unless she was a fool, she would’ve already put two and two together. Steve and Skylar would be fine with her, she already knew that. They’d go and face his family soon enough. But tonight, it was all about her and Dale. Reconnecting. Reigniting their love. Planning a life for the future. A bright future here in far north Queensland, with the man of her dreams.

* * *

Dale couldn’t quite believe this was happening. She was really here. Really in his arms. He wanted to pinch himself, to make sure he wasn’t dreaming. Because he had dreamed of Daisy every night after she left. But his dreams had never been this good.

On the surface, he’d done everything he was supposed to do. Worked hard, fulfilled his mother’s every wish, showed interest in the running of the station. He was a fully functioning adult while he was in company. But at night when he was alone, he’d often take a bottle of red into the laundry and sit and think and drink and allow the melancholy to overtake him. There was a part of him missing. Only Daisy could fill that hole. Why had he let her go? The question rolled over and over and over in his head. He’d had no choice, really, but at least he could’ve said something. Let her know how he felt. Instead, he’d let her slip away. He talked to her over the phone, but the conversations had been stilted and painful. He just hadn’t known what to say. And she’d made it clear her life was in Perth. So, what was the point of it all? Call him a coward, but he couldn’t do it anymore. He hadn’t stopped loving her, but perhaps he’d given up on a life with her in it.

Thank God she hadn’t given up on him. Thank God she’d come back to him.

And now she said she loved him. It was the sweetest gift of all. His life had changed in the blink of an eye. For the better. He was a better man when she was around. His blood crashed through his veins. The heat of his desire and love boiling through him like lava. He loved her so much; he thought he might explode. And there was one way he could definitely prove that to her. By showing her with his body. By cherishing her, setting her aflame with his desire.

He picked her up in his arms and carried her to the bed. With tender fingers, he undid the buttons on her blouse, trailing kisses down her stomach.

Soon, they were both naked. He lay next to her on the bed, stroking her face, embedding every tiny detail of her features in his memory. The hair tie on her braid came loose, and he gently tugged the strands until her hair cascaded over her bare shoulders. Her hand touched his face, then trailed down his neck, across his chest and followed the contours of his back to his buttocks.

“Oh, God, I missed you. I missed this. I need you to make love to me,” she groaned.

He could certainly do that. Levering himself up onto his elbows, he lay his body along hers. Oh, the feel of her skin against his was a certain kind of heaven.

A long while later, they lay together, propped up on his pillows. The room had grown dark, but the window let in enough light from the half-moon so he could clearly see her face. Earlier, he’d gotten up and opened the window, letting in a cooling breeze and the sounds of the night. Frogs singing down by the billabong, a night owl calling. The screech of a possum in the large river gum. He reveled in the afterglow of their love, feeling complete and whole once more.

It was a big move Daisy was making. It proved how brave and fearless she was. He couldn’t believe he was lucky enough to have her in his arms. She’d told him how she’d switched her uni degree. It made sense. She’d always shown such interest in what Skylar was doing with her food. It was something she was passionate about. While at the same time, it was a way she could help her culture and stay connected to her people.

“What does your mother think of this? You and me, and I mean,” he asked, absentmindedly stroking the sensitive area underneath her wrist.

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