“No, she wasn’t. Something they learn very early on living out here. Sure there is anti-venom, but getting you to the hospital in time could have been dicey to say the least.” He sat forward, resting his elbows on his thighs. “Don’t you know much about the Outback, Del, even from television?”
She looked down and plucked at the hem of her shorts. “Ah…no. I’m a city girl through and through. I wasn’t joking when I said I’ve never been out here before. Usually when I take a holiday, it’s to somewhere I can get full room service, you know.”
“And this time you end up here where things are so much different.” He grinned and watched the tinge of pink racing up her cheeks. “We’re glad you’re here anyway. If nothing else, it has been interesting for all of us.”
Delilah looked at him, her mouth dropping open to reveal the tip of her pink tongue in the way that threw jolts of fire straight to his lower regions.
“Me too. Might be the best thing all round, having a holiday somewhere different. At least that was what I was telling myself earlier. Before the snake thing, I mean.”
“I understand. Ready to call John and see if he can look at your contract?”
“Yes please. Do you think you should call him during office hours though?”
Blake shook his head. “No, it’ll be fine I promise. He might charge me if I do that.”
Delilah laughed and he stood up to get the phone from the side board. He sat down beside Delilah as he pushed the buttons. As casual as he could, he leaned back on the couch, letting his hand rest on her leg as he waited for his brother-in-law to answer.
“John? Hi, it’s Blake.” He listened for a moment. “Everyone is fine out here. I was wondering if I could ask for help in a professional manner, but obviously out of hours?”
Del held her shoulders straight and willed her heart to slow. Anticipation ran through her body as she listened to Blake talk. If John could help her out, it would mean so much for her future.
“I have a lady looking after the kids until we can get another nanny and she needs some advice. Would you mind having a quick word with her for me?” He grinned. “Sure.”
Blake held out the phone. “You talk and I’ll make you a cup of tea.”
She took the phone and cradled it to her ear. “Hello.”
Blake stood up and wandered into the kitchen, listening to Del explain who she was and her contract. If she could get out of it without too much hassle, he might try and convince her to stay. Hell, who was he kidding? It was time to move on from mourning his wife.
Things had changed so much since she had arrived in the Outback. Del made him feel alive again, he needed her to stay. Lilly adored her, and Royce was slowly warming to her. He had never warmed to any of the other nannies he’d employed. Bluey thought she was the best thing he had seen in ages. It amused him to see a city girl in the bush doing her best to be one of them, and so far she was winning his admiration.
To say nothing of what she was doing to Blake by being herself. She made him remember what it was like to be a man and not just a person getting from day to day. Her very presence warmed his blood and her touch woke him from a self-imposed sleep. Ellie would want him to move on and not mourn her forever, and it was looking like the right time for him. For the first time in years, he wanted more.
Once the kettle boiled, Blake poured the tea and carried their mugs back to the lounge. He watched her hobble, the phone against her ear as she talked to his brother-in-law about her contract with the studio. A smile hovered on her lips that had him thinking this could be good news.
For the first time in years, he imagined waking up with someone beside him. Someone who could fit in and love the whole family for who they were. He knew in his soul Del was that woman. His heart picked up pace as he imagined her staying with them forever.
If she had to go back to Sydney to fulfil the contract she had, there was very little possibility of them maintaining a relationship. It was too far away and too hard with the farm and two kids to look after. She would get swept up in the life she had left behind and soon, he and the kids would be nothing more than a distant memory. It would break their hearts, and he couldn’t let that happen. Blake had to fight for her, and fight for all he was worth because if he was honest with himself, he would miss her more than anyone else would.
“Thanks, John. I really appreciate it. I’ll email it to you before the morning. Bye.” She hung up the phone and held it out to Blake. “Thanks.” Del took her mug of tea and sipped before resting it on the edge of the couch. “He is going to look over my contract. That being said, he did suggest I might have an ‘out’ clause if my lawyer was doing his job properly, considering I’ve been doing this for some time. It would make sense for my lawyer to have put one in. I just don’t feel easy using him because of his connection to the studio.”
“I hope there is an option, and not just for my sake. It would be nice to see you do what you want to do, not what the studio wants from
