Chapter Eight #2
Nyah was so thankful for this magnificent man lying beside her.
She couldn’t imagine living her life back in Cairns without having him nearby.
But for now, tucked within this peaceful corner of the world, with him for company, she found the refuge she’d been aching for, if only for this little while.
She knew deep down in her heart that they’d reforged a bond that went beyond mere friendship, but friendly companionship would have to suffice.
Anything else would jeopardise their connection—a long-distance relationship wasn’t on her agenda.
Nor would it be on his, she was sure of it.
‘Right, Love.’ A mischievous glint danced in Caleb’s deep brown eyes as he stood up. ‘I reckon we go and have a dunk, what say you?’ His lips curved upward in that familiar, disarming smile.
Her breath caught, and she gulped down the overpowering rush of lust. Something close to unstoppable was happening between them, and she was terrified of it gaining traction and taking over her willpower.
‘I, ahhh…’ She hesitated for a moment with her gaze drifting away from him and over to where the waterfall’s touch sent ripples dancing under the warm sun.
Come on, Love, you only live once…
Damn her insistent inner wild child. ‘Oh, what the hell, why not!’ A swim wasn’t going to hurt anyone.
Caleb couldn’t strip down fast enough, revealing the tattooed stories etched across his chest, over his left shoulder and down both arms. The choice of tribal ink suited him, as did the Viking-inspired axe and Nordic verse on his chest that read bravery is half the victory .
Needing a second to stop her eyes from devouring him, she jumped to her feet and tugged her dress overhead, revealing the bright yellow bikini that hugged her womanly curves like a second skin.
At first a little shy, she secretly relished the fact that she caught Caleb staring, very fleetingly, before he quickly glanced towards the water.
Ha, they were both trying the same trick.
She just hoped the water held their wavering attentions while they submerged, dangerously together.
They took a few steps, then with toes dipping into the cool embrace of the swimming hole, they waded in a little deeper.
‘How about a race over to the waterfall?’ Caleb challenged spiritedly.
‘Your Ducati may be fast on land, Hart, but in water, I’m the uncontested champion,’ she retorted with a playful grin before surging forward with an urgency born from years of childhood rivalry.
Gallantly accepting the challenge, Caleb splashed in after her.
When she reached the cascade a few seconds before him, she kicked her legs beneath the water as she punched the air triumphantly. ‘Woohoo!’
Caleb stopped short of her and rolled his eyes. ‘Yeah, yeah, nobody likes a show-off.’
‘I reckon a sore loser is the one nobody likes,’ she bantered, before splashing a wave of water towards him.
Ducking just in time, he rose and chuckled. ‘I let you win.’
‘You did not.’ Her laughter echoed, as did his.
Tumbling within the cosy moment, they let themselves be enveloped by the rush of water, and the ripples it created across their bodies.
As he perched himself up on a rock, droplets cascaded down Caleb’s strapping physique.
Nyah found her footing and stood, waist deep, a safe arm’s length from him.
As they playfully splashed each other, their innocent antics were charged with an energy that only acknowledged the growing connection between them.
And Nyah relished every second of it. Within this secluded paradise, she felt as if it was just her and him in the world, and it felt good to feel so free.
For the next half an hour they swam until their fingers pruned, and still they lingered, floating on their backs and gazing up at the listless clouds that seemed to be painted across the sky by an invisible hand.
‘It feels like true freedom here, doesn’t it?’ Caleb murmured softly, his voice carrying in spite of the crash of the waterfall.
‘It sure does, like we’ve shed everything else, just for this magical moment,’ she replied towards the sky.
Shadows moved across the landscape as time flew way too quickly, and they moved between the water and grass a few times, enjoying as much of the afternoon as they could.
Nyah wished she could pause everything except the right here and right now.
However, the sun eventually began to hint at its descent, and they begrudgingly agreed it was time to head homeward.
After having one final dip, they emerged from the tranquil embrace of the swimming hole, skin still tingling from the cool kiss of water as they wrapped towels snugly around their bodies, then packed up the picnic blanket and basket.
Making their way back to the Troopy, they left behind the tumbling waterfall for the familiar terrain that stretched towards home as the fading sunlight painted the rolling countryside in a breathtaking palette of burnt orange and dusky rose.
Caleb didn’t drop Nyah back at the bungalow, or ask if she wanted him to—which she didn’t—but instead headed back to Hart Homestead and parked beneath the carport as if it was an everyday occurrence for them to arrive home together.
Nyah quietly cheered that she was still with him as they hopped out and trod across the front lawn.
She relished the feel of the cool grass yielding beneath her bare feet, while carrying with her the languid energy of their lazy afternoon indulging in nature and, in a way, in each other.
Arriving on the verandah, Caleb turned to her. ‘I’m going to get us a fire started so we can chill out for the evening, sound good?’
She couldn’t think of anywhere else she’d rather be. ‘Sounds amazing.’
Making sure she was settled on the day bed with a glass of chardonnay, with Jet snuggled into a ball beside her, Caleb gathered kindling and logs from a neat stack by the garden shed.
Then, beneath her gaze, he moved to the heart of his backyard where a circle of stones lay waiting to cradle the night’s fire.
As he worked, the last rays of sunlight caught the edges of his sandy blond hair, creating a golden halo that seemed at odds with the tattoos marking his journey through life.
With methodical attention, he built a pyre for their flames to cling to, carefully placing each piece of wood to create a tepee-like structure that promised to remain lit.
If only she could allow him to work in such an enchanting way on her heart, she knew, if given the freedom to burn bright, their blaze would never die out.
If only, Love…
With a resigned sigh, she pulled her attention back to Caleb, and not the yearnings of her heart.
With a simple flicker of a match and a breath that carried his intentions, he coaxed fire from the core of the structure.
The flickering flames rapidly came alive, crackling and hissing as the scent of burning wood mingled with the earthy aroma of twilight air.
Lifting his gaze to hers, he waved for her to join him, and she didn’t need any more of an invitation.
Settling into one of the chairs that Caleb had arranged around the campfire, she got herself comfy.
Jet followed suit and sat at her feet, with his slobber-covered ball still clamped between his teeth, just in case one of his human friends decided to throw it again.
Caleb pulled up his chair and they sat side by side, with the firelight dancing in their eyes.
No matter how hard she was applying the brakes she could feel herself helplessly tumbling deeper into him with each passing second.
Oh god, she was in trouble.
‘Nothing like a good fire to set the world right,’ he murmured, more to the flames than to her.
‘Or at least make it seem that way for a while longer,’ she added, her voice barely audible above the crackle of the flames kissing the timber.
Nodding slowly, Caleb tucked his clasped hands behind his head and rested back.
Nyah nestled further into her chair, so she could look upward.
In the peaceful setting, surrounded by the sounds of nature and the warmth of the fire, the weight of their memories eased, and their shared past became a bond rather than a barrier.
And as darkness fell and stars emerged in the dusky sky, she cherished how they could simply just be together, without unnecessary chatter or uncomfortable silences.
Dropping her gaze from the sparkling marvels of the sky, she watched with dreamy eyes as the flames leapt and twirled, casting mesmerising shadows upon their faces as the ember of connection between them glowed undeniably brighter, fanned by the breeze of possibility and nurtured by the warmth of their friendship.
A friendship that, if they had the courage, dared to flirt with the promise of something more.
But she couldn’t, wouldn’t, allow that to happen.
As the day finally surrendered to the embrace of night, casting the sky with a glow of deep purple and indigo, the air grew cool, as the sun’s warmth faded like a whispered secret into the darkening landscape of Wildstone.
They chatted casually, enjoying light and soft conversation.
Caleb tended to the campfire, carefully adding another log to coax a brighter blaze from the embers that fought against the encroaching chill.
With second glasses of chardonnay empty, he wandered inside to grab them another glass of vino, this time a nice ruby-coloured red with hints of spice and chocolate.