“I don’t want to hurt him, honestly I don’t.”
“Well, don’t then.” He looked at her with a dead pan expression on his face, his normally lively blue eyes cold and unsympathetic as she struggled for words.
“It’s not that simple. I don’t fit in here, but I don’t think I want to be where I was anymore either.”
Bluey pushed his chair back and stood up. “Looks like you have some sorting out to do then. Best I get going.” He walked away, grabbing his hat as he stepped out of the back door.
Del pushed her reservations aside. She quickly cleared the table before getting a small pack of fruit ready. Happy the kitchen was clean enough, she grabbed her crutches and hobbled down the stairs.
When she got to the barn, the boys were already mounted on their horses and Lilly sat in the ute waiting for her. Blake came out of the barn, his hat low over his face, and smiled when he saw her waiting at the side of the vehicle. In his hand he carried a rifle which he put behind his seat. “Been some wild dogs bothering the sheep. If we see them, I need to sort it out. We can’t afford to lose any lambs this season to the mongrel animals.”
He walked around to her side, holding his hand out for her crutches when she slid in beside Lilly. Blake put them in the tray of the ute beside a bale of hay before shutting her door and walking around to the driver’s side. “Lead the way, Bluey. We’ll be right behind you.”
Adrenaline pumped through her veins as they drove down the rutted path to the first paddock. Royce leaned down and unhitched the gate. She had enjoyed her last sheep round up until committing the stupid act of hurting herself. Today she would be more cautious.
“You just sit tight. I’ve got this.” Blake grinned in her direction as if he was reading her mind.
“Thanks.” She watched him pull through the gate and leap from the vehicle. Her mind wandered as she watched him stride back to the car. Visions of her current work in progress crossed over with what was happening in front of her eyes.
“Earth to Del, you alright?”
She started and looked across at Blake. His tanned face was crinkled in a wide smile as he stared at her. Piercing eyes melted her insides and it took all of her resolve to glance away and break the connection. “Fine. Daydreaming, I’m afraid. It’s a writer thing, being in the present and my book all at the same time, getting my characters mixed up. Sorry.”
He set the ute in gear and followed down the bumpy trail behind the horses. Their feet sent small puffs of dust up around them. “No complaints from me. I’m glad it’s all coming together for you.”
“Yeah, I’m surprised too to tell you the truth. I guess Kim was right; I needed to get away from the city and let my batteries recharge.” Del searched the wide open spaces and wondered if she could possibly get used to it.
“Bet she’s going to be thinking it was a bad move once she finds out you want to quit the series.” He leaned his arm out the window and gripped the railing along the roofs edge. “I hope you get the news you want tonight when you speak to John. It would be nice to see more of you if you weren’t tied to the city.”
Del looked at him over Lilly’s head, her heart beating a mad rhythm at his words.
“I know you want to take it easy, and I get that.”
“Do you think we should talk about this later?” She glanced at the child beside them.
“Not saying anything she shouldn’t hear, are we? Just putting my case forward while I can.” A sexy smile curved his lips and a gleam came into his eyes. “You have a knack of avoiding the subject. Now I have your undivided attention, so to speak, I’m putting it out there.”
A small laugh escaped her lips and she leaned her head back on the head rest. “You’re right. I hate confrontations and didn’t want one with you.” She glanced over at him. “Let’s go with the flow on this and see where it leads, okay?”
“Sure.”
“I mean, I may have to go back to the city if things don’t go the way I want them to. There is always that possibility.”
“I hear you. Let’s get these sheep in.”
The ute came to a halt and dust rolled around the vehicle. Blake had parked near a post and rail fence under the shade of an old tree. Fallen logs littered the area, giving it a desolate look.
Delilah opened the door and slid her feet to the ground.
“Hang fire. I’ll get your crutches.” Blake was around her side of the ute before she could stand. “Don’t go overdoing it. I know you think you’re bulletproof, but you’re not.”
He tucked the crutches under her arms and leaned in, as if to kiss her. Delilah closed her eyes, the earthy smell of hard work and sweat rolling over her skin. Her mouth opened as she lifted her face to meet his lips and she opened her lids enough to see the fire in his eyes as he dropped a light kiss on her mouth. “Last thing you need is for it to swell up and not be able to get around.”
A cough reminded her they were not alone and she stepped back, a flush of heat no doubt staining her cheeks. Bluey was watching them as he rode past toward the herd of sheep.
Lilly climbed unaided out of the ute and up into the tray on the back. She sat herself on a bale of hay and smiled down at them. “I’m staying up here to watch you.”
“Sounds good, honey. I’ll go and help the boys. You look after
