“Out here, you just do what you have to. Just the way it is.” Bluey nudged Blake in the arm. “Blake here couldn’t bring himself to slaughter an animal until he had the choice of eating or starving either. At least our animals have a good life. Can’t do better than that.”
“I guess you’re right.” Delilah placed a bowl of soup for herself on the table and sat opposite Blake again. “So, what’s on the agenda this afternoon?”
“We have to bring in the last on the sheep for the shearers and sort them out. Want to come out and get some fresh air?” Blake waited as her gaze met his. Her mouth parted and the tip of her tongue traced the small heart shape of her top lip. His stomach dropped, leaving a hollow feeling in his gut. He ached to reach out and run his tongue around her lips, regardless of the others watching them. He wanted to taste and tempt her to mould her body to his. She closed her mouth and the air thickened between them. Her eyes widened as he opened his mouth to speak. The blood roared in his ears, shooting to his groin and he swallowed, shifting in his chair.
“Hell, say yes and put the poor bugger out of his misery, why don’t you?” Bluey pushed his empty plate away and leaned on the table.
Chapter 7
“Sure, I’d like that.” Delilah spooned some of the soup into her mouth, blushing at the smile Blake sent her way. So much had changed in the week she had been exiled from Sydney and everything she knew. At first it was an adventure forced upon her that turned out wrong. Then the initial meeting with Blake had her almost dead libido getting a major shakeup and her girly bits were now aroused whenever he looked her way. If he lived in the city, it would be different. If he wasn’t a widower with children it would be so different.
Damn it, nothing is as easy as it should be.
Delilah spooned her soup down before grabbing a toasted sandwich, breaking a portion off, and wiping it around the edge of the plate to mop up the dregs of her lunch. She popped it in her mouth and closed her eyes, chewing contentedly.
The room was quiet and she opened her eyes, looking across at Blake. He squirmed in his chair, a pained expression on his face. She could hear the shallowness of his breathing and see the hunger in his eyes. As he shuffled the chair, moving it closer to the table, Bluey nudged him before roaring with laughter.
“What is so funny?” She frowned.
“Nothing, Del. Let it go, Bluey. You can make the coffee for that.”
The older gentleman got up and, still laughing, walked over and put his plate in the sink. He checked the water level in the kettle and flicked it on before taking cups from the cupboard.
“Well, if everyone has had enough, I’ll clear the table.” Del looked at Blake sitting in his chair watching her. She tilted her head and then shrugged her shoulders. Never mind, it had to be a bloke thing between the two of them. With the dishes stacked in the sink soaking, she sat back down and wrapped her hands around the cup of coffee Bluey had made for her.
“So, tell me, what is the next step with your book?” Blake watched her.
“I have to get it written obviously, but there is nothing to stop me submitting a synopsis to a couple of publishers. You know…a breakdown of what the story is all about.” She pursed her lips thinking out loud. “Funny thing is, at least two I know have been asking me for something off and on for years.”
“Well, that should give you something to think about. It sounds like it could all work out for you then. When I come in tonight, I’ll give John a call. He’s the lawyer I told you about—my brother-in-law, actually.”
“Thanks, I’d appreciate it.” Del sipped the coffee. “Do you want me to fix anything to take out this afternoon? Snacks or anything?”
“I have water on board, always do out here. Maybe a bag of fruit will be a good idea in case the kids get hungry. We won’t be out for that long. Don’t want to wear you out either. Seems you have been doing a fair bit on that sore ankle. Last thing we want is for it to flare up and annoy you again.” He smiled before standing up. “Get your shoes on, Lilly. You can come in the ute with me and Del. Royce and Bluey will be on horseback again.” He dropped his cup in the sink and took his hat from the hook behind the back door. “See you all down there shortly.” Pushing it on his head, he turned and walked down the back steps and away from the house.
Lilly and Royce ran to follow their father. Del drained her cup and stood up.
“Don’t go letting him fall for you, and then up and leave him high and dry.”
Del looked at the old man, his gaze pinned on her face. She bit her lip, torn between telling him to mind his own business and explaining the situation she found herself in. “I—”
“Save it. I don’t need any long winded stories about you being unable to do this for the long haul. I get you are only here for a short time and probably against your will, but remember this…if you get involved with him, sooner or later you’ll break his heart. You don’t belong here in the Outback, Del, no matter how much we might want to think otherwise.” He ran a tanned hand over his grey whiskers, scratching his chin. “You’ll go home to the big city, sort out your problems, and forget all about us out here in the sticks. We’ll survive because that is what we do out here…survive. Even broken hearts mend with
