AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You do now.” He threaded my fingers through mine. “And I’ve never really had a girlfriend before. Nothing serious.”
My heart skipped a beat. Did this mean he and I were serious? “And now it’s out there.”
“Yes, and now that it’s out there, no one will care if you stay in my hotel room.”
“Because we just owned our story, right?”
“Exactly.” He whispered against her skin where her neck joined her shoulder. “Stacey, all I could think about this week was fucking you in my bed. Will you stay with me tonight?”
It was like every one of my nerves wanted to be in that spot on my shoulder where he was kissing me right now.
How I wanted to stay with him. Let his full lips kiss me where he pleased. No barriers, all possibilities. I’d been thinking about it all week.
Could I do it? Was tonight when I laid myself bare?
But he had friends here this weekend. My breath hitched sharply.
He pulled back and I managed to mask my fear in time. “I’ve so much to do tomorrow so I can join you at the Zanetti’s for lunch. We had to let another stockman go so I’ve got move two flocks into another paddock with Tom, and—”
Harry kissed me gently, silencing my to-do list, and rested his forehead against mine. “Cockblocked by the flock, huh?
I smiled sadly.If only he knew. If only I had the courage to tell him …
“You alright, Firebird?”
“One day, or rather, night, I will stay over.”
“Looking forward to it.” He grinned. “Now, as much as I’d like to do a hell of a lot more in this make-out cupboard, let’s get back before Andy eats my steak and yours.”
22
STACEY
Ballydoon Community Group:
Elsie posted 6.37 p.m.:
My German-made garden gnome (red hat, green pants, blue jacket, with a spade), return it immediately! was last seen midday today. Return Hans immediately! You think stealing gnomes is funny, but I assure you I’m not laughing!
Seven years at university did not equip doctors with the skills to feed chickens.
After lunch and wine tasting, we ended up back at the homestead. I was a little nervous but Mum was delighted I’d brought new friends home for the first time in, well, ten years.
During a tour of the vines at the Zanetti’s, Andy declared he’d never seen a sheep before, other than in a book. They all pleaded to see a ‘real farm’ which escalated into dinner and more wine, at Mum’s insistence. She pried Tom away from his studies in the shearers’ quarters to join us, too.
And it was so nice. Laughter and stories were shared at our kitchen table. Harry kept his hand on my knee while he and his friends talked about work. Tom regaled them with tales about the stupid things sheep do and Mum gushed about Amanda’s wedding plans. Ryan, thankfully, had left two days ago to pick up Amanda and Stuart from Sydney. They were due home late tomorrow, or the day after and Mum was so excited.
Farm chores needed to be done and everyone pitched in to experience a bit of farm life. Mel volunteered for Chookydoon duty while the lads followed Tom and Mum to deliver feed to the sheep.
Mel squealed and laughed as the chooks flocked to her demanding the grain mix. She delighted in collecting every egg too.
“So good to have a girl now in the gang.” Mel placed the last egg in the wire basket. “He’s never had a girlfriend since I’ve known him, until you.”
Harry was near the shed dusting off his hands, laughing at something the guys had said. He looked up then and grinned. Something took flight inside my stomach.
Mel continued. “Whenever we ask what he’s been up to, he always talks about you.”
Did I dare hope we could have a relationship that went longer than his contract? That’s what girlfriends and boyfriends do, right?
