Libby relaxed slightly and waited for more.
“My only excuse was the feeling of hopelessness I found myself in when Aaron said you were coming in and he was convinced he could talk you into taking on the farms. I didn’t need a city person playing at running the place. And then when you stepped out of that broken-down car of yours, I felt like someone had hit me with an ax. Call it preservation if you must, but I didn’t want to acknowledge what you did to me just standing there stranded like that, your clothes rumpled and your hair coming free from its tie to fall over your face.” He dropped another kiss on her neck, making her shiver uncontrollably. “I tried to get Aaron to stop you from coming out, but he wouldn’t hear of it. He said you’d make it here in the country, and he was right. You fitted in like you were born for it, and I’m glad he didn’t listen to me. But I should never have said it, Libby. You don’t belong to Tom, you belong to me.”
“Really.” She turned around and pushed him back. “You have a funny way of showing it, buster.”
“Okay, I’ll admit it. I didn’t want to fall for you. When I saw you on the side of the road, it was a kick in the guts that took my breath away. You looked so damned gorgeous and cranky standing there trying to be tough, it blew my theory of me being better off single out the window. When Tom and Holly got caught in the floods and you called me to help, I lost it. I’ve known Tom all my life, and I was starting to feel just a little bit protective of your family, even if I didn’t have the guts to show it. I was terrified for them, and you bore the brunt of it. I’m sorry. I do want you, farm or not. I don’t care what you do with it. Leave it to the kids; give it to Tom. Do whatever you want with it. I don’t want the place, never did. I don’t need it, but I need you. I want you in my bed.” Nathan swallowed. “I want you by my side every night and every day.”
“We come as a package deal, you know.” She held back from taking him until she got what she wanted...her life sorted out. “My kids, Tom, and Winton. I’ve never had a family like this, and I’m not letting them go. Not even for you.”
“I wouldn’t ask you to. Whatever you want is yours, Libby.” He pulled her close. “But I do have one stipulation.”
Her heart raced as she waited for his next words.
“Just promise me you’ll walk around naked in high heels once in a while for me, okay? It’s been the only thing that kept me going these last few weeks.”
Tears of relief welled in her eyes. “Fine, but we live at my place.” Her voice turned into a hoarse whisper as he started to undress her. “You don’t have a big enough house for me to do that without the kids and Tom catching on.”
Nathan peeled her clothes from her shoulders and let them drop to the floor before lifting her in his arms and taking her back to his bed.
Libby smiled in the protection of his arms. All the uncertainty of the last few months washed away as she gazed up at the man holding her tightly, joy and love shining over his face as he looked at her.
She was home in the country where she belonged.
The End
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Outback Gold
Ann B Harrison
All Rights Reserved 2019
First released 2013
Volume Three
Chapter 1
"Closing time in ten, last drinks," Stacey yelled at the top of her voice. She may as well have offered to do their ironing for all the notice her customers took of her. The laughter and back slapping didn't even subside for the time it took her to call out.
We will see about that. While she appreciated having customers at all, the last few months was taking its toll on her. The small town of Pindon in South West Queensland had been dying a slow death until the mining companies came searching for minerals. Now she struggled to make it through each day with the amount of work coming her way. Too much for one person but not enough to warrant wages in the outback.
A bell chimed in the reception room to the left of the bar and looking around, she saw a tall blond man leaning on the counter. Her breath hitched in her throat and her stomach tightened. Be still my beating man starved heart. He didn't look like the average miner looking for an overnight stay on his way home from a long hard shift. He was wearing a clean crease free shirt that didn't have the mining company logo on it. I wonder if he is a tourist? Few and far between these days just like nuggets of gold in the river. "With you in a minute."
Stacey picked up the ice bucket and bashed it against the bench. "Drink up guys, you are all out the door in five."
Throwing a tea towel over her shoulder she shook her head at the rowdy crowd and walked out through the swing door into the reception side of the hotel.
"Sorry about that. What can I do for you." Stacey looked
