Chapter One #3
“A woman travelling on her own is not a good idea.” His serious eyes lock with mine for a split second. “Travelling in pairs is always a safer option.”
“Of course.” I don’t challenge his no-nonsense tone because I like the protection it offers.
“It must be hard settling into a new country. How’s the social life going?”
I sigh out, “Not great. I’ve had no free time so far.”
“The dinner tonight should be a good chance for you to meet some new people,” he continues, while my inner stream of butterflies’ somersault.
They’re all down to him. Does he feel it too?
I should be on my best behaviour because of who he is, but I don’t want this feeling to stop.
He is gorgeous, tall, and oh so lickable.
I wonder what his lips taste like, how his skin would feel next to mine.
I want to study every feature of his beautiful face, but I have to pull myself together.
He’s my boss, for Christ’s sake! If Richard got so much of a whiff of what I’m thinking, I’d be in a whole load of trouble. I have to gain some self-control.
He points to a greener, steeper part of the landscape and I’m sure I can make out some kind of stream ahead.
“It’s a bit of a trek, but worth it. The view is incredible.
” For less than a second, his finger brushes my back.
All sensible thoughts of pulling myself together are lost. Especially when he smiles. “Tell me about London.”
I’d much rather hear about him. I could drown in his baritone voice, which steals my breath.
“It’s hard to think about when you’re standing in front of this view,” I say while trying to concentrate on where I am rather than how fabulous his arse is.
“But London is cold and often foggy. That’s not a myth, by the way.
” He laughs before I continue. “But I love it. Something about the city excites me. It has an atmosphere like no other. On the other hand, I’m falling in love with Sydney too.
It has a similar buzz to London, but with better weather and not so much smog.
And the people seem happier and laid-back.
The sun shines continuously and you live life to the fullest. Everyone surfs, swims, sails, you name it.
” I stop mid-step and look up at him. “You’re so lucky to live here. ”
He seems lost in thought for a moment. “I haven’t gone to the city for a while now.
I’m more of a country boy. The air feels fresh, the pace of life is slower and I feel more at ease.
There’s no pressure, no sense of urgency.
I like that.” He talks so passionately, and I’m mesmerised by him as he stands with one leg arched against a rock.
“How could anyone be unimpressed by this?” A mountain range unfolds into unique shades of green as it spreads across the landscape with only faint clouds in the sky now.
The sun continues to beat down and illuminate the rocks while displaying so many colours.
From here, it looks as if a carpet of land sits on each shelf.
We must be the only people around for miles.
It’s as if we’ve walked over a hill to discover something so overwhelming and beautiful, that no other person knows about it.
My breath is literally heaving from my lungs.
“You were right, it is amazing out here.” We stand in silence for a while, taking in our panoramic view.
He turns towards me, offering his hand to help me down a steep ridge.
When I take it, the prickle of electricity heats my skin, but I mask my reaction as we begin our descent to the farm.
“How do you make all this work? Being out here and having the office in Sydney, I mean.”
“I can do everything from here or my house in Seaforth.”
“Oh, so you don’t live here?” I say while regretting letting go of his hand so quickly.
A look of horror crosses his beautiful face, “Christ, no. I love my parents, but I couldn’t live with them.”
“I can relate to that,” I say, swatting another annoying beastie. I have no idea what just flew past my ear and I don’t want to get close enough to it to find out.
It’s while I’m swatting at the unidentified flying object that I notice the most incredible sight.
I’m not sure if they’re parrots or cockatoos.
They could be a mixture of both. I watch in awe as green, yellow, red and even black feathered birds fly above my head with such normality.
To me, this is not normal. This is a stunning sight and one that surprises me mostly because these birds are wild.
I’ve only seen them in a zoo or in a cage in someone’s lounge.
Out in this beautiful, wild country, they converse around us.
This must be an everyday occurrence. I breathe in my surroundings because I might never witness anything so incredible again.
“Special, aren’t they?” I haven’t noticed he’s looking at me until I hear his words.
“Breathtaking,” I sigh, as our eyes connect.
We take our time exploring this heavenly, hot countryside, and conversation is easy. All the while, I worry I might say the wrong thing. He is my boss .
“You were about to tell me about home,” The smile reappears in his eyes.
I nod, “I was. Well, what can I tell you. My parents are bonkers.” He laughs and looks towards me sideways, touching my back. “Your words or theirs?”
My insides may just explode with energy.
“Mine,” I say, giggling out my words. “Definitely mine.” I breathe in and try to compose myself.
“They love London life and have a lot of friends. I never have to worry about them. They are always busy and believe in independence and not wasting a minute, hence this trip. They think it's a fantastic opportunity to spread my wings. They’re very supportive.”
He smiles. “That’s good.”
“Yeah, it is.” I’m lost in something and I am sure it’s not my imagination. The occasional glances and bumps to the shoulder; the brush of his hand against my back or the spark and thrill connected with every touch. I can feel it. I just can’t put my finger on what ‘it’ is.
“And then there’s my friend Lucy. Now she really is a great laugh and my constant rock.” My fingers dance around one another as a distraction to hold in my emotions, but he spots it. Just when I thought he couldn’t sound any sexier, his voice takes on a lower tone.
“Don’t be embarrassed. You’re homesick, plain and simple, but I also think you must be very brave coming all this way on your own.”
I smile and kick at the rough ground as I walk. “I’m not technically on my own. I have Richard to help me.”
He laughs when he answers, “I know, but it’s not the same as family and friends. He’s your boss and there’s an invisible line with your superiors, there has to be.”
It’s as if he’s poured a bucket of icy water over my head.
We’ve become too casual, I was losing sight of the person I was with, so in order to put things right, I find myself saying, “You’re so right Mr Grant.
” He brushes my arm, so I stop in my tracks.
“Mr Grant?” he asks with some confusion.
“What happened to Daniel?” A second passes and he must have a lightbulb moment, “Oh, I see. I didn’t mean—”
“No, no, it’s fine. I was joking.”
“It’s not fine.”
“With all due respect Mr Grant-” I smile up at him.
“Daniel.”
“With all due respect, Daniel, you’re the Chairman’s son, so on reflection, it’s probably better not to be so familiar.”
“Hannah, you’ve taken this the wrong way. Hey…” Unexpectedly, his palm brushes my shoulder. He doesn’t realise how his touch and words have triggered my skin to contract and prickle and he has no clue of the urge inside to hold his beautiful face and kiss those open lips right now.
We continue along a small embankment that holds a flowing shallow stream. I welcome the cooler air, but there’s no getting away from the heat and atmosphere thick with energy. I should put a stop to this before I make a fool of myself.
“I think I should go back and check-in with Richard. I haven’t seen him for a few hours.”
His brow furrows, “But we’ve got so much more to see.”
I shake it off, “I’m sorry and it’s a shame, but time’s getting on.” I remove Daniel’s hat and offer it back.
“Keep it,” he says, waving his hand away.
I laugh, “Thank you, but it’s a little too big.” I hand it back and immediately regret not holding onto it and burying my nose in his gorgeous smell. “Although I appreciate the offer.” I take a few steps but he calls after me, “Let me walk you back at least?”
“I can find my way. I’m okay,” I tell him, not meaning a word of it. I’m internally dancing when he ignores my protest .
“It’s my duty. We can’t have our newbie getting lost in the bush.” His persistence tells me a lot about the man inside and if I’m honest, I have no clue where I am as I look around this imposing, lush valley. “I suppose,” I say as I walk backwards.
“Plus, my mother would kill me if she knew I’d abandoned a lady.” He is very hard to resist. “Okay, but only because it will save your life,” I giggle.
“Sensible girl,” he winks, causing those butterflies to stir once more.
He jogs towards me, then offers the crook of his arm.
A familiar tingle rises through my body as I hook my fingers around his bicep.
I wish I could stop these sensations. It’s getting harder to keep a lid on my visible reactions.
On the way back, he does most of the talking and I’m happy to listen.
Once the farm is in sight; I slide my fingers away from his arm and he slips his hands into the pockets of his jeans.
His body is one step from mine, but I have an inability to make eye contact.
I feel like a teenager at the end of her first date.
“I’ve enjoyed your company today.”
My smile is shy. “Thanks for the tour and I’m—” His index finger smooths across my lips.
For just one second, I lose myself in his touch, my eyelids flicker and close, savouring the moment while my senses become hyper aware.
It’s hard not to get carried away, but then my eyes flash open with the reality of what is happening.
He whispers before I say a word. “I’m sorry, I couldn’t help myself.”
I nod and touch my lips at the loss of his fingertips… and a moment we shared.
“Hannah! Hannah, I need you. Can you come inside for a second, please?” Daniel and I step apart abruptly when Richard bellows from the veranda. I feel even more adolescent now. “I’d better see what he wants.” But when I turn to walk away, Daniel surprises me .
“Would you join me for dinner tonight—at my table, I mean?”
Internally, I thank God, happy dance then spin on my heels, “Um…”
“You don’t know many people.”
“I know Richard.”
“Well, yes.”
“And your mum and dad now.”
“Hannah, you’re not making this easy.” A boyish grin appears.
Maybe I’m just too bloody British and should loosen up a bit.
I knew when I came to this country I wanted to have some fun and live a little.
I wanted to take some chances and reach out of my comfort zone.
I don’t always have to do the right thing.
My thought process stops because he’s made his mind up. “You know what, I won’t take no for an answer.”
Decision made. “In that case, I better say thank you. I would love to.”
Daniel’s smile reaches all the way to his eyes as I accept, then he tips his hat in Richard’s direction.
He gently brushes his fingers over my palm.
“Until tonight then, Miss May.” The tone of his voice ignites me internally.
Then he turns away, still holding my hand for as long as possible before it falls to my side.
I call out to him, “Daniel?” And he spins around, still smiling, I tell him, “Please, Hannah will do just fine.”