Twenty-eight
Normally, Cap wasn’t bothered by nerves. But today prickly nerves quickened his bloodstream as dust kicked up from his boots as he entered the shade of Mia’s native nursery. Coarse gravel crunched under his boots, and the heavy humidity rose, but the shade was cooling. It’s where he found Mia in the centre of the many tables filled with flourishing seedlings that rested across the racks.
The kelpie trotted over to greet him.
‘G’day, girl.’ He gave the dog a hearty pat. ‘Mia?’
‘Oh, hey.’ Her smile was pure dynamite that made his heart ka-thump in his chest. ‘I’ve got the boxes sorted for the seedlings we’ll be taking tomorrow, to load up the Tojo tonight. And I stored all the information pamphlets Harper and I made, in my old room.’ She giggled at the words old room .
It was their in-house joke because, even though the first stages of the renovations to his demountable had finished weeks ago, Mia had never slept in her room, and Cap had never slept more soundly than he did with Mia’s warm body against his, with her silky hair brushing against his chest. It’s where he’d tuck her close against him to let her know that she was in a safe space, as his most precious gift.
He’d fallen so hard for her it was terrifying at times.
How could he not be terrified? This was his once-in-a-lifetime kind of love—where you knew instinctively that you’d met your other half, that perfect half of yourself that made you whole. And it was her. All of her.
‘Got a sec? I, ah, want to show you something.’ He was hoping it would help her understand how big a deal she was to him.
‘Sure. Where are we going?’ With Willow following close on their heels, Mia tightened her ponytail. These days she kept her hair away from her face, rather than using it to hide, but she was still hiding at this station.
‘It’s this way.’ He headed around the back of the sheds where he kept the empty beer cans and other recyclables that contributed to the cost of caring for the dogs.
‘You don’t have to like it, or anything.’ He unlocked a solid wooden door, twisted its rusty handle, and used his shoulder to force it open. ‘I’ll oil that later. But I did make sure there’s nothing hiding in here.’ No snakes or nasty spiders, that’s for sure.
Mia wiped the dust off her button nose that only highlighted the smattering of freckles. She was never afraid of getting dirty, and he liked that about her. He especially liked how dirty she got with him after dark in ways that didn’t require clothing, with the body she hid beneath those baggy overalls. It was like unwrapping his Christmas present every night of the week, and mornings had never been more glorious.
‘What is this place?’
‘An old storeroom. Now it’s yours.’ He hoisted some boxes onto the dusty bench.
She peeked inside. ‘Is it for the nursery?’
‘No. It’s for your hobby.’
‘Huh?’
From the box, Cap pulled out a handful of beer bottle caps. ‘I’ve been collecting these ever since we moved onto the station. I had no idea why I was saving them, but I did. And Charlie scored you a box of caps from the local pub and now they’re all yours.’ They had so much in common that he truly believed that meeting her was fate, as if they were made for each other. How could he not when her favourite hobby involved bottle caps, which was the reason he ended up with his nickname, Cap.
‘You said you enjoyed making art with these beer caps.’ He laid out the tools he’d scrounged across the old workbench that sat in the centre of the room. ‘I got you some hammers. I’m not sure if this glue is any good, but we can get you some next time we’re in town.’ If she ever left the place. ‘And I got you some scrap wood to use as bases.’ He pointed to the stack he’d leaned in the corner.
‘I also got you this bar fridge and filled it up with your favourite drinks.’ He opened the small fridge full of colourful cans and a large plastic container. ‘In here, I filled it up with all of your favourite chocolate treats you like but won’t let me bring into the house.’ He didn’t understand that bit. If you liked something, you ate it, right?
Mia remained still, holding a few bottle caps, with her mouth open, wearing an expression he couldn’t read.
Had he gone too far?
‘All of this space?’
‘Is for you.’ He uncurled her fingers and placed a thick key in her hand. ‘I want you to have your own space, to make as much noise as you want out here. You won’t bother anyone. And if, at any time, you just need some space to breathe, this is here for you. As yours.’
‘You made me a safe room.’ Her brow ruffled, and it twisted his guts.
Had he done the wrong thing? ‘You said you liked to do bottle cap mosaics. Right?’
‘I do. Did. I mean… You did this for me?’ Her eyes widened as she turned around in circles.
He nodded. ‘I want you to feel safe, Mia. If it’s too much—’
She grabbed his wrist. ‘You made this for me.’
He nodded. ‘I know it’s not romantic, but I wanted to show you how much I appreciate all your hard work and because I want you to be happy.’ He liked her smile and it had taken her a long time to find it after what her ex had done. Cap just wanted her to keep smiling.
And there it was. That beautiful, glorious, chin-lifting, nose-wrinkling, sparkly smile that plumped her rosy cheeks. He was such a sucker for that smile.
Mia flung herself at him, hugging him around the neck to shower his face with kisses. ‘This is amazing.’
‘So, you’re okay with this?’ He held his breath.
‘Thank you, Cap. Seriously, though, you didn’t have to do this for me.’ She opened the small fridge again, full of her favourite treats and drinks. ‘No one has done anything like this for me. You shouldn’t have.’
‘I wanted to.’ Now it had him thinking of other ways to spoil her. ‘It’s my way of thanking you for helping me achieve my dreams.’
These past few weeks working side by side with Mia had become a part of his daily joy. Sharing lunch together, sitting on the roof of his Tojo, their legs swinging over the edge as they’d eat sandwiches and talk of plans for the paddock they were working on. They’d spend afternoons planting seeds in the nursery, and some days they’d trample through the fresh morning dew, foraging for seeds together. Then at the end of the day they’d sit on his deck to silently watch the sunset, with the dogs at their feet. It was his kind of paradise because Mia was a big part of it.
‘Won’t your brothers want this space for something?’
‘No. They know this is your office, or art room, or whatever you want to call it.’ Dex had warned him it may backfire, while helping Cap to find some tools and the key for the door. It was Ash who had recommended the sugar stash, while hunting for new ideas to do something special for Harper. As for Ryder—he just nodded and went on his way when Cap asked about giving this space to Mia. But Ryder’s silent message was loud and clear about not getting too attached.
But Cap was attached. Big time.
It also scared him that Mia could leave at any time.
‘Are you sure? I, um…’ She twisted her fingers. Mia only did that when she was worried about something. ‘I, we should, um— I should tell you something.’
‘Sure, go ahead. You can tell me anything.’ He waited.
And he kept waiting because he was a very patient man.
She sighed. ‘Forget it. What were you going to say?’
‘Hey, are you worried about my brothers and this room? Don’t be.’ He covered her hands with his. ‘It’s a gift, Mia. You’ve helped us all out, especially with the data. It wasn’t easy teaching us how to use those sampling kits.’ Mia had taught all his brothers how to test the water and soils, where each of his brothers kept a testing kit in their vehicles, collecting data to give to Mia.
Mia had helped Harper simplify their data reports using her templates, and the two women were now a big part of their nightly discussions at the outdoor table, and on their cooking roster making hearty meals that they all enjoyed.
With the bruises long gone, Mia’s personality truly shone through. She was a part of this place, and he wanted her to feel like she belonged.
Although, he hadn’t quite plucked up the courage to say the L word yet, but he’d fallen deeply, madly in love with Mia. He just didn’t know how to say it when Mia only wanted to take it day by day.
Bree was right. He didn’t know how to communicate his emotions with words, but with actions like this room, he hoped she’d got the message.
He just didn’t want her to leave.
Well over a month ago, beaten, bloodied and bruised, he’d found her hiding in the dog cage, and tomorrow they were going back to the town Mia had fled from.
Fate may have brought them together, but it was fear that might tear them apart. Mia might have arrived with nothing, but if she left, she would be taking his heart.