Page 46 of Road to Rosalee

‘Wow, that is super cool.’

‘And another titbit – they aren’t actually flies, they’re beetles.’

‘Geez, look at you go, Wellstone.’ She was very clearly impressed. ‘You’re a wealth of information, aren’t you?’

‘I’m not just a pretty face.’ He chuckled and so did she. ‘I know something else too.’

‘Oh yeah, what’s that?’ She said it just as she rested her head against his arm, her gaze now glued to the natural spectacular.

He took a moment to consider his next sentence, one that could go either way, but caught up in the moment, he just had to say it. ‘They’re delicate and beautiful, just like you.’

She looked up beneath her long lashes. ‘Aw, Zai, you really are such a sweetheart.’

‘Shh.’ His heart exploded in his chest as he held a finger to his lips. ‘Don’t tell anyone, okay? It’s only for you to know.’

She mimed zipping her lips, then said, ‘It’ll be our little secret.’

He liked sharing secrets with her. One hell of a lot. It made him feel a special part of her life. ‘Would you like to kick back in the tray of the cruiser and watch all this a little longer before we head back?’

She didn’t miss a beat with her reply. ‘Actually, yes, I’d really love that.’

Zai almost floated back to his hard-as-nails four-wheel drive – talk about acting like a lovesick schoolboy. He’d never felt like this in all his life. Leaning over the side, he unrolled his swag so they had somewhere soft to lie. ‘Ladies first.’ He held his hand out and helped her up.

Climbing in beside her, he left a tiny space between them so as not to make her uncomfortable, then clasped his hands behind his head. ‘It’s like heaven on earth, here, isn’t it?’ He almost whispered every word while staring at the blanket of stars above them, and then back to the dancing, radiant fireflies.

‘Damn straight.’ A tiny sigh escaped her. ‘City people don’t understand what they’re missing out on by never making their way out here.’

‘So you’re glad you ventured beyond the bright lights?’

‘Oh god yes. It’s nice to run away from it all, to be honest.’

Zai considered this, weighing his response. ‘You have to ask yourself, though, are you running from something, or to something?’

She nodded, returning his thoughtful contemplation. ‘Hmm, very good question.’ She took a few moments before she answered. ‘Can I be annoying and choose both?’

‘We live in a free country, so you’re allowed to do whatever you want.’ He grinned. ‘Even being annoying by choosing both.’

She gave him a playful slap. ‘You shit-stirrer.’ Her brows rose. ‘So I’m allowed to do whatever I want, hey?’

He met her perplexed gaze, considered, then shrugged. ‘Of course you are. Life isn’t worth living if you don’t do what you want, and that sometimes means taking risks.’ His double-meaning comment planted, he grabbed the bottle of port from beside him and removed the lid. He offered it to her. ‘Sorry, we’ll have to rough it and drink straight from the bottle because I forgot the glasses.’

‘Fine by me.’ She grasped the bottle and took a swig. ‘I’m a risk-taker from way back.’

‘Ha, look at you go, you rebel you.’ Zai adored her feisty spirit, along with everything else that made her the mesmerising woman she was.

Pulling her knees to her chest, Melody went silent for a few long moments, while taking little sips. ‘You know what, come to think of it, I guess you’re right in saying life is all about risks. Because if we don’t take them, we just stay stagnant.’ She pouted a little, as if really pondering this. ‘I mean, if I hadn’t taken the risk of finding my dad, I wouldn’t know how wonderful he is, and I wouldn’t be sitting here with you in the middle of the Australian outback, drinking from a bottle of port while watching the most amazing show I’ve ever seen.’

‘That’s it. Life is all about living it to the full, Mel.’ Zai rested up on one elbow, so he was more or less facing her. ‘So, seeing as we both agree on the risk-taking, are you ready to take a risk with me?’ He wasn’t sure exactly where he was going with this, but hell, he was going to go with the flow of the relaxed yet electrified vibe.

‘Hmm. That all depends on what sort of risk you’re on about, Zai.’ She studied him over the bottle as she took another swig.

In that breath-held moment, he came dangerously near to closing the last little bit of distance between them and kissing her. ‘Do you trust me?’

She didn’t flinch. ‘That depends.’ But her breath quickened.

Zai could smell the sweet scent of port on her breath. He gave her a lingering smile. ‘On what?’

‘What you’re on about.’ She gripped his gaze with hers.