Thirty
The cows were enormous. They also came with massive horns and should have been classed as colossal white boulders who didn’t want to move.
Not that Harper could blame them. When they had beautiful, lush green fields full of assorted grasses and grains mixed with wildflowers to tempt them.
The day had begun at sunrise where the rich layer of dusky pinks smeared across the horizon, when Ash approached his brothers over their first cup of coffee. At Harper’s careful suggestion, Ash had drawn a diagram in the dirt as if giving a presentation to the board, explaining how he could use the drone for their benefit.
It was enough to give him the go-ahead.
Ash held the remote control for his drone, the dark goggles covered his eyes as he spoke over the radio clipped to a leather holster called a radio pouch.
Right beside him, Harper sat on the side of a small hill, making daisy chains with Mason, as Ash steered his drone. The aim was to muster the cattle closer, to create one large herd to then make the trek back home.
‘Watch your back, Ryder,’ said Ash over the radio. ‘I’m bringing a bunch of cleanskins in from the scrub behind you.’
‘I see them. Well done, Ash,’ came Ryder’s deep voice over the radio speakers. ‘Dex, you with me?’
‘On your ugly side, Ryder. We’ll flank ‘em.’
The dry season air carried a certain vibrancy with its upbeat winds ruffling old leaves free to make way for the new. From her view on the hill, the streams and billabongs sparkled like gin-clear waters. It also gave her a clear view of the show being laid out before her—the muster.
It was teamwork on horseback, but one of a rugged elegance, captivating her with the skill level and power of both Ryder and Dex as they made their horses dance, while whirling the stockwhip to gallop through the thick scrublands. From there, they’d meet up with Cap, playing the Pied Piper, whistling commands to the stocky and fearless cattle dogs who helped corral the cattle closer to Bree. With her thick plait like a red rope, that beautiful Amazon fearlessly controlled the wing of the main herd while Charlie took the lead, like he was promising them a golden ticket to paradise.
Harper understood it was for their safety, too, because this hidden wonderland was in a massive rock arena that had the potential to suffer with a flash flood either cutting off the cattle for good or …
Even with the dangers it was beautiful out here. Charlie called it utopia, and even Bree and the brothers seemed at home in this place, wallowing in the creek to wash off their sweat and dirt at the end of the day.
Then as the sun sank low, they gathered beneath the silent shadow of the Dinner Camp Tree, where Bree created an open-air feast of flavours around the campfire. From seared steaks, and crusty damper doused in a decadent dance of herbs, perfect for soaking up the rich sauces, to vibrant vegetables full of flavour, all cooked over an open flame. It was like she’d found the true taste of the Northern Territory outback within each glorious meal.
The campfire cast a red and golden glow where tiny sparks popped and crackled from the flames to float and disappear among the starry heavens. It became their place to talk, without anyone staring at a phone screen, where Charlie shared stories of his time at Elsie Creek Station.
After dinner, Harper finally got her hot shower, courtesy of Ash, where he’d hooked up a waterbag, hot from the sun. He’d even strung up a tarp for privacy. It was heavenly.
Harper returned to the campfire to find Mason asleep in Ash’s lap. In that position, you could clearly see the similarities between father and son. ‘Where did everyone go?’
‘They’re knackered, and we’ve got another big one tomorrow.’ Ash stood, holding the boy. ‘How was the shower?’
‘Brilliant. Best shower ever.’
‘You’re just saying that.’
‘I’ve never showered under the stars before. It was incredible. Is that why you guys use the outdoor shower all the time?’
‘We’re trained to not trek dirt through the house. If you liked that shower you should try sitting under waterfalls under a full moon. Or the hot springs in winter. Charlie said there are some hot springs on the other side. I’d like to check them out one day.’ Ash carried the boy to the tent, where Harper unzipped the screen door.
With hands clasped behind her back, she shyly dragged the toe of her shoe across the dirt. ‘Are you staying tonight?’
‘Do you want me to?’
She barely nodded, then climbed inside to take her spot on the far side of the tent, with Mason in the middle playing the part of their sleeping chaperone.
A few minutes later, Ash was lying on his swag, leaving only the crackle of their campfire.
‘I don’t hear any snoring,’ she whispered, her head on the pillow.
‘Give it time.’ He sighed heavily.
‘Are you okay?’
‘Yeah. Thanks for helping me today.’
‘Me? I did nothing. I just helped with Mason, playing the nanny.’
‘For giving me that nudge to tell my brothers about using the drone. They’re keen to see how we can use it in the future.’
‘That’s great.’ She could hear the pride in his voice, and she’d seen it in his stance that grew stronger as the day progressed. He was growing up right before her eyes. And it was hot.
‘You know …’
‘Yes.’ She was wary of his tone.
‘I’ve never slept with a woman like this.’
‘Didn’t you ever do co-ed sleepovers?’
‘No. Did you?’
‘No. I never had slumber parties. Not like this.’
‘Can you sleep?’
She was wide awake and fully aware of his aroma, the rise and fall of his chest, and how he was lying on his back. ‘No.’
‘Me neither.’ He rolled over to face her, his breath warm against her skin, and his hand gently stroked her hair. ‘Wanna make out?’
‘Ugh! Seriously.’ She quickly sat up, annoyance flaring inside. ‘I’m not some swag-swapping rodeo whatchamacallit.’
He chuckled. ‘No, you’re not. And keep your voice down, we don’t want to wake up Mason.’ He rolled over, turning his back to her.
Well, she ruined that, didn’t she? ‘I-I …’ She rubbed the bridge of her nose and spilled her biggest secret. ‘I don’t know what to do.’
‘Excuse me?’ He peered over his shoulder, arching an eyebrow at her.
‘I mean, I’ve done hook-ups, but I don’t really date. I don’t know how to do small talk, because I never had time to bother because of work. I don’t do dinners, unless it’s for work. I don’t do drinks, unless it’s for work. I know nothing except work. Certainly not dating or relationships.’
‘And you think I do?’
‘You’d know more than me—you’re the guy who has the reputation of dating a new woman every two weeks. Me,’ she said, stabbing her thumb at her chest. ‘I only did the odd drunken one-night stand with some guy from some other department. But never in-house or with anyone I worked with, because that just made things messy. But hey, I was so busy I never got time to date—which didn’t matter because I wouldn’t know what to do.’ Hugging her knees she sighed to herself. ‘You know, I never had a boyfriend. And the only flowers I ever got on my desk were those thank you flowers for doing a good job.’ She lay back in a huff, her hands covering her heated face. ‘I’ve heard your brothers call me snooty. Even you said I was judgy, and I am with some things, especially with my work, because I was very particular about my job. But outside of the workplace, I’m so freaking clueless, I may as well be a born-again virgin.’ For a girl who never spilled secrets, why the hell did she say all that?
‘Hmph … Well, okay then.’ Ash unzipped the door to their tent.
‘Where are you going?’
‘Stay there.’
She gasped in horror. He’d left her. After she confessed her deepest, darkest secret, Ashton Riggs—the notorious ladies’ man—disappears in the dark.
She drew the pillow over her face to hide from her shame. It didn’t last long, getting too hot. So, she lay there, stiff as a board, trying not to berate herself for stupidly sharing her secrets. Well, not all of them, she still hadn’t spilled the big one, yet.
To really top off her night, the snoring singalong had begun. With no chance of sleeping, she was given no choice but to play the game of which snore belongs to who!
Charlie’s snore was a snuffle. Dex had a deep trombone. Cap, no, he wasn’t snoring—oh, he was just starting. And Ryder’s snoring was as strong and steady as the man who barely spoke to her. It had been a big day for all of them, while Harper played tourist watching them from the hill.
She heard footsteps, then the tent unzipped, and Ash climbed back inside. ‘Here.’ Even with soft silverly moonlight and the glow from the nearby campfire it was enough for her make out the bunch of wildflowers he held out to her.
‘What’s this?’
‘You said no one gave you flowers. So, this is me giving you some.’
Her heart practically doubled in size, as did her smile at the gesture. ‘Thank you, kind sir.’
‘It makes sense, you know,’ he said, sitting back on his swag. ‘The way you are. You’re not snooty, you’re shy.’
‘No, I’m not.’ She was quite fierce in her job.
‘With relationships, you are.’ He sat so close.
‘I thought we were having a strictly business relationship.’ She couldn’t help but lean in closer, like they were magnets. ‘You know, rules. Boundaries.’
‘Normally, I keep to the rules, but sometimes you just have to push some boundaries.’ His hand gently cupped her cheek. ‘Because right now, I want to kiss you.’ He leaned in closer, stopping barely a breath’s distance away. ‘Do I have your permission?’
‘One kiss.’
‘Sure. We can start with one kiss.’ The cocky confidence that shone in that grin and sparkled in his eyes should have offended her, but it only made him all the more attractive.
She barely nodded.
He leaned in and gently kissed her top lip, her bottom lip, then reached up to run strong fingers through her hair before pulling her closer until their lips were fully flush. And then his mouth opened to hers and she found she liked the kissing. She wanted more kissing, because this was a kissing heaven that had her heart thumping loudly.
‘Breathe, Harper. I won’t hurt you.’ His voice penetrated the haze of lust. Even if her self-esteem was at its most fragile, she couldn’t stop. They had crossed a line they should never have gone near, now entering the land of clichés with the boss kissing the nanny. The same cliché that got politicians into trouble filling headlines over their sordid scandals.
But this didn’t feel scandalous. It felt warm, delicious, and gloriously intoxicating. The way he kissed her, with his lips controlling hers, somehow managed to make her feel like she was the one in control. But she was so out of control, especially when his tongue got hot and demanding.
He sucked and nibbled, teased and tasted, until she found herself on her knees, pressing hard against his chest, dragging her fingers through his thick hair. Blood rioted like a swarm of bees buzzing through her ears, she couldn’t tell if it was her or the crickets outside. She didn’t even recognise the hum coming from her throat as she melted into him, when something squishy pressed against her leg.
It was enough to break the connection and she looked down at the small boy that slept soundly between them.
What was she doing? She was here for Mason. Not to kiss her boss in the dark. Even if it felt right, this was so wrong on all levels.
Hand to her mouth, clutching the flowers to her chest, she pulled away. ‘Thank you.’ She got her kiss. That’s all she needed. And lay down, keeping her back to Ash, while swallowing the cool air to calm down her inner heat. She doubted she’d get any sleep now, but at least she had something sweet to think about.