Page 33 of Jillaroo from Jacaranda

Time jarred and blurred, but he blinked Rose’s pretty face back into focus. With the silvery moon and blazing stars overhead, it was the perfect time to do what he’d been wanting to since the second he’d met this mesmerising woman.

A few reasons careened into his mind as to why he shouldn’t kiss her. They were both too hurt, and broken people hurt people. She was leaving, so they shouldn’t get involved. Their friendship had boundaries …

He kicked his voice of reason to the curb, being careful not to shadow her face as he moved in closer and slipped his arms around her waist – he wanted to see her beautiful face, craving to bear witness to the flames of passion he hoped would be dancing in her eyes.

She didn’t resist his touch, softening into it. He could see her pulse beating rapidly in her throat. His own heart pounded as if trying to bash its way through his rib cage. Rising onto her tippy toes, her lips parting ever so slightly, Rose laced her arms around his neck. Lowering his head, he kissed her softly at first, but with her silent request quickly deepened the kiss as he tucked her closer to him. Their kiss was more euphoric than he ever could have imagined, pure rapture. Their bodies pressed up against one another’s and she moaned into his lips as he lifted her from the ground, and she wrapped her legs around his waist. It suddenly felt as if the ground had given way beneath them, and they were weightless, floating in space. The entire world faded into the hazy background and it was just them, together.

With a powerful hunger overcoming him, Ty turned and carried her towards the homestead, their mouths still exploring one another’s as he took one step after the other. They reached the front door and stepped inside. This was really happening – they were going to take it all the way. Once he’d tasted all of her, he knew there’d be no turning back. Every inch of him craved to make slow, sweet love to her, not for hours, but for days. He needed to stake his claim on her beautiful heart and make her his forevermore. He couldn’t let her leave here without knowing how deeply he was falling for her. But he had to give her a chance to put the brakes on. He couldn’t live with it if she woke up tomorrow with regrets.

‘Are you sure you want to do this?’ he asked, his voice husky as he lowered her back to the floor.

Her eyes were heavy-lidded as she pulled back a little and looked up at him. ‘I want this more than I’ve wanted anything in my life, Ty.’

That was all he needed to hear. Reclaiming her into his arms, he went to say the three words dancing on the tip of his tongue …

And that’s precisely when Ty awoke from the blissful dream. Realising he’d slammed back into reality, he rolled over and thumped the pillow beside him in frustration. Why couldn’t he have stayed in dreamland long enough to strip her sweet, soft skin bare and make love to her? Sitting up, he scrubbed his face as desire blazed through him, as hot as a branding iron. He looked to where the sheet was at a standing salute. Groaning, he threw himself backwards, tucked his hands beneath his head, and stared at the ceiling fan, spinning madly. He forcefully thought of what jobs needed doing and the bills he needed to pay. An icy-cold shower was on the cards if his plan of action didn’t work. Thankfully, his morose train of thought did the trick.

With time to spare before his alarm went off – even though it was a public holiday, there was no rest on a cattle station – he remained in bed, his thoughts once again returning to Rose.

At the stroke of midnight, he’d held his ground and remained a gentleman, forcing himself to avoid her lips and instead brush a kiss over her cheek, right before they’d said goodnight and wandered off to their separate beds. In retrospect, what a fool he was, not taking hold of the moment.

No one had ever made him feel like she did. It was both exhilarating and unsettling. If only things were different, and he was free to explore his developing feelings for her. He was tired of the house feeling so empty. Rose would fill all the empty spaces, here and in him, so effortlessly. His life would be filled to overflowing and he’d make damn sure hers was too. There was an ache inside him that only she could ease, a yearning that only she would fill.

What if he’d found his one and only, but at the worst possible time?

A shrill beeping alerted him it was time to rise. Slapping his alarm off, he rolled out of his bed and made his way over to the laundry basket piled high with the clothes he’d been meaning to fold for days – being sidetracked by Rose was proving time-consuming. Not that he was complaining.

Stepping into a pair of jocks, he pulled on his running shorts and grabbed a T-shirt. Tugging it over his head, he strolled out of his bedroom, taking the steps two at a time, then moseyed down the hallway. Stopping off in the kitchen to mix up his Oxyshred – he was going to need it after only a few hours of sleep – he grabbed the last banana from the fruit bowl. He really needed to head into town to grab some groceries at some point.

Slipping into his runners, he stood still for a few moments, staring up into the clear blue sky. He thought about how he was going to stick to his resolution of making this year much better than the last one. He’d probably be living with the shadows of the war for the rest of his life, but that didn’t mean he had to do it alone. Rose had said she was going to make it her number one goal to do anything and everything that made her happy this year, and he’d agreed that was a perfect resolution. If only the anything and everything that made her happy was him. Now, wouldn’t that be nice?

Needing to run his circling contemplations off, Ty slipped his AirPods in and started at an easy jog to the beat of eighties R’n’B. Easing into a run as he passed the cottage where he hoped Rose would be enjoying a sleep-in, he began timed interval sprints. He did this for eight kilometres, up and down earthen tracks, past whinnying horses, lowing cattle and attentive bulls. Despite the coolness of the early morning, sweat rolled down his face as he took the final corner before the homeward stretch. Easing his pace, he came back to a jog before slowing to a brisk walk. Drawing in one deep breath after another, he watched his heart rate lowering on his Fitbit. By the time he’d climbed the steps, kicked off his runners and stepped into the coolness of the homestead, it was almost back to his usual heart rate, though all it would take for it to peak again was for him to lay his eyes on Rose, he thought with a chuckle as he headed for the kitchen. Grabbing his water bottle from the fridge, he gulped it down. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, and headed for a quick shower before getting into the nitty-gritty of his day.

A little after three, the distant growl of a car engine pulled Ty out from beneath the quad bike he’d been servicing. It wasn’t often that he had unexpected visitors. He slipped his sunglasses on as he headed out of the shed and into the brilliant sunshine. He caught sight of an old station wagon but couldn’t make out who was behind the wheel. It rattled over the last cattle grid and rumbled towards him. The beep of its horn cut through air, once, twice, three times. A bejewelled hand flew out the window, waving madly. The multitude of hippy rings finally gave it away. Now close enough to see the horn-blower, he was greeted by a huge smile from behind the dusty windscreen. Her shock of chaotic blonde hair and pixie-like features were a welcoming sight, so much so that he almost launched himself through the open window to greet her with open arms. It had been way too long since he’d seen the only woman who’d never hurt or disappointed him.

‘What in the hell.’ Ty’s joyous muttered words were lost in the roar of the engine followed by the squeak of the brakes as the car pulled to a stop beside him. His smile spreading, he tipped his hat back a little so he could see her better. ‘My god, sis, when did you get back from Bali?’ In the few years since they’d seen each other, she’d evolved from a lanky, pimple-faced girl into a curvaceous beautiful woman.

‘Just this morning. I got in and hired this little beauty from Razzle Dazzle Budget Cars in the Ville. I couldn’t wait to get here and surprise the hell out of you.’ Shoving the door open, she stepped from the car, her tight jeans stuffed into scuffed brown leather boots and the tassels on her oversized boho shirt swishing at her hips. ‘So, tada! Surprise,’ she said, throwing her arms in the air.

‘Far out, it’s so good to see you, Leah.’ Drawing her into his arms, Ty hugged her, and it was only then that he felt something a little peculiar.

Leah hugged him back as tightly as a boa constrictor, almost as if her life depended on never letting him go. ‘I’ve missed you, bro. So bloody much.’ Her voice cracked a little. Untangling, she looked a little sheepish as she stepped back, cleared her throat before shoving her hands into her pockets. ‘So, how’s life treating you?’

Her smile was far from genuine, and Ty could tell she was struggling to hold herself together. ‘Yeah, you know, more downs then ups lately, but no use complaining.’ His gaze travelled from her angelic face to where her rotund belly was showing through the taut fabric – she was most definitely pregnant. And quite far along. It stunned him speechless for a few breaths, but then he said, ‘Should I just go straight ahead and address the elephant in the room?’ He didn’t even know she had a partner, let alone a man she was serious enough about to commit to having a child with.

‘I know I’m a bit on the larger side, but it’s a bit rude to call your little sister an elephant, don’t you think?’ Her attempt to make a joke failed miserably.

Ty’s brows furrowed even deeper. ‘You know I didn’t mean it like that.’ He regarded her through brotherly eyes. ‘So, don’t leave me hanging here, spill the beans, little sis.’

‘Well … long story short, I got a little drunk, had unprotected sex, and then …’ She motioned to her belly with a scooping sweep of her hand.

Dragging in a heavy breath, he resisted the urge to shake his head. ‘Yeah, birds and bees and all that jazz. Who’s the father?’

‘Some guy I met at a beach rave and had a one-night stand with.’ She grimaced, as though waiting for a reprimand. ‘I got in touch with him and told him I was having his baby, and his reply was to abort it.’ Her tiny smile faded, leaving her lips quivering as her eyes misted over. ‘Can you believe it? The bloody arsehole. This is a real life growing inside of me.’

Now shoved deeply inside the pockets of his jeans, his hands curled into tight fists. ‘He’s not going to support you or the baby?’

She shook her head. ‘Nope.’