AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She led him out the door and to the right. Aaron stuck so close to her side, he brushed her shoulder with his bicep. “This is Dale’s room,” she said, opening the door at the end of the hallway. Dale’s room was isolated at the end of the wing, affording him a little more privacy. “Although he only sleeps here about half the time. And once he and Daisy get married, he’ll probably move permanently out to Daisy’s place at the outstation.”
“Dale and Daisy are getting married?” he said, poking his head around the door and surveying the room.
Why did he sound so surprised? “Yes, at the end of the year. Once muster is over and the rainy season starts again. They’re having it here on the station. It should be lovely.” Julie hid a sigh of satisfaction. It’d be more than lovely if all Daisy’s plans came to fruition. Julie was so proud to be involved with the preparations. Even though she’d probably never get married, it was nice to see Dale and Daisy, who were so much in love, get what they deserved.
At least Dale had made his bed this morning, Julie noted. The room was big, decorated in dark blues and wood accents, with a large picture window affording a view of the corner of the billabong with the escarpment rising behind it. Julie often envied Dale this room, as it had the best view, by far. All the rest of the bedrooms looked out toward the back of the lodge, at the stables up the hill.
Aaron closed the door and Julie turned around and led him to the door nearly opposite the family room. “This is my room.” Her hand rested on the doorknob, suddenly reluctant for some reason to open the door. “Would you rather check out the other rooms first?” She went to turn away, but his hand on her waist stopped her.
“We’ll get to those in a moment.” He raised his chin to indicate she open her door. “Let me go first.”
She followed him closely, almost tripping over his heels. But he held her back until he made sure the room was safe. His cautious vigilance was unsettling. Surely, the guy wouldn’t dare enter her bedroom? How would he even know where she slept?
“All clear,” he announced, almost as if he’d been expecting someone to be hiding in her room. Which perhaps he had. It was his job to be suspicious, after all.
It felt more than a little weird, watching Aaron stalk around her room, firstly making sure the windows were locked, and closing the curtains, then opening the closet door and checking under the bed. Strangely intimate.
She tried to see her room through his eyes. A large bed took pride of place in the middle of the room. Rustic, wooden headboard and matching side tables. A brightly colored bedspread with a Mexican pattern set the theme for the rest of the room, which was also full of bright colors. A comfy armchair, stacked high with blue and orange pillows, was her favorite reading nook in the corner. It certainly wasn’t prissy or pink, but then she’d never really been a girly girl.
“What’s this then?” Aaron had stopped beside her tallboy dresser. He was staring at a picture in a silver frame on the top.
Jeezes, she’d forgotten all about that photo. How many times had she thrown it in the bin in a fit of rage, only to retrieve it again almost straightaway. The photo was of a much younger version of herself, smiling beatifically, with her arm wrapped around the waist of nineteen-year-old Aaron, who also had a happy grin on his face.
“Why did you keep this?” he demanded, picking up the photo and holding it out for her to see.
