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“That doesn’t exactly sound like a compliment.”
He grinned. “After being stuck in the stuffy halls of Canberra for so long, it was very refreshing. Life is never boring when you’re around, my dear cousin.”
“I’m betting Belle’s presence in my life doesn’t hurt either.”
“Belle’s presence isdefinitelya bonus. One I intend to cherish for the rest ofmylife.”
He really is a sweetheart, I said to Belle.
Sometimes saccharinely so, she replied dryly.
And you love it.
I do. Just don’t tell him that.
I laughed mentally but resisted the urge to tease any further. “I guess if I keep avoiding him, he’ll suspect something is up anyway.”
“The man might be a stubborn bastard, but he’s definitely not stupid.”
I pulled my phone out. There were at least two dozen unanswered calls from him sitting on it, and while he’d stopped short of charging into the café to confront me, he’d certainly bailed up Monty and Belle. They’d simply said I needed some time to digest and reflect on everything that had happened in Canberra. Which wasn’t actually a lie. Discovering I was pregnant certainlywastaking some getting used to.
My finger hovered briefly over his number before hitting it. It didn’t ring for very long.
“Liz,” he said softly. “As much as I might wish otherwise, I take it this isn’t a social call.”
His warm, familiar tone made my soul sing and heart ache. Monty was right. I really did need to talk to the man. Given his persistent calling, he obviously had something to say.
Whether it was something I wanted to hear or not was another matter, and yet another reason I’d been avoiding him. Apparently, I’d come back from Canberra a coward.
“I’m afraid not. Monty and I are currently heading down to Blackwood.”
“Another incursion?”
“I’m not exactly sure what the problem is. I’m just sensing a deep wrongness.”
“How far out are you from Blackwood?”
I glanced at Monty. He looked at the GPS and then said, “We’ve just passed Campbell’s Creek, so probably fifty or so minutes.”
Aiden grunted. “I’ll be about ten behind you then. Keep me updated on your location, and if the trail leads into the forest, wait for me.”
“Will do.”
There was a brief pause. “See you soon.”
“Yes.” I hung up before the impulse to add something mushy got the better of me. I glanced at Monty. “Do you know if he’s still staying with a friend in Maldoon?”
Monty quirked an eyebrow at me. “You mean the gossip brigade hasn’t kept you updated with his day-to-day movements? I’m shocked.”
I smiled. “I think the brigade knows better than to gossip about our head ranger.”
Which didn’t mean they didn’t do so in private, of course.
“He moved back to the O’Connor compound not long after his father’s funeral.”
“Not into his family home though, surely? I can’t imagine him and his mother coexisting peacefully in any way.”
“That I don’t know. The only time I’ve been there was when we gate-crashed the council meeting, and Aiden didn’t exactly give us the tour on the way in.”
