"You tell me about these highlights you would like to see developed and I might just go and look."
Stacey smiled as she described her favorite swimming spot to him. "Fairy Springs is just beautiful this time of year. The stream is running and the water hole is great for swimming. I've always thought it would make a great camping ground with canoes for hire, that sort of thing. Directions are on the brochure I was telling you about."
"Okay, sounds promising. What else is worth looking at?"
"Do you like collecting minerals and rocks or fossils?"
"I don't mind. It's a nice way to pass a few hours and learn about our past."
"I'll give you another map. It has a lot of the old gold mines on it but it also has the only spot in Australia where you can collect Maltese Crosses. Little stones that have a perfect cross on each side due to the way the minerals were compressed thousands of years ago."
"Sounds fascinating."
His gaze was on her while she ate but digging deep, Stacey managed to keep a calm facade throughout the meal. Every bite she took was scrutinized and by the time they were finished her body was humming with need. Breakfast had never been this erotic before. She pushed her chair back. "Thanks for the company but I really must get into it or I'll never be done before the bar opens today."
Morgan insisted on clearing the table for her before picking up a brochure from the reception desk and heading off.
"Do you want dinner tonight?"
"Sure if it's not too much trouble."
"No, but if I don't organize it now, it won't happen." She leaned on the counter fiddling with the pen while he gazed at her.
"If you don't manage, don't worry. I can always get a feed somewhere else."
"There is nowhere else apart from the fish and chip shop and that shuts at six. Or you can call into the corner store, I think they have hot pies. Unless you work at the camp that is. But I doubt they will let you in there. Tourists aren't really welcome at the mine." Stacey frowned when he coughed and looked away.
"I'll be back, don't worry. Now I had better get going or the day will disappear and I will be still searching for the waterhole and I don't want to miss dinner." He gave a flick of his wrist and walked out the front doors.
Stacey watched as his car drove out of sight, sighed and walked back to the kitchen to load the dishwasher. Once that was done she took steaks out of the freezer to thaw while she did some office work before ten o'clock chimed over and she had to open the bar.
Chapter 2
Morgan followed the directions his secretary had given him to the mining camp. He flashed his badge at security and was passed through the gate. Parking in front of the office he cut the engine and looked around. It was almost a relief to be in the outback away from the bright city lights.
The red dirt of Central Queensland against the vivid blue sky blew his mind. Photos of the desert didn't do it justice. Driving out yesterday he was surprised how much he felt like he already knew the place. Miles upon miles of black tarmac stretched out before him and driving through the desert soothed his frayed nerves.
It was at his brothers suggestion he might like to see the site of their new project that spurred him on to leave the city. The 20,000 hectare block had been leased from the crown and their company was keen to extend the operation to take in neighboring properties. If Morgan wanted to approach some of the owners while he was in the area it would be helpful according to his big brother.
He grabbed his hat and stepped out into the heat. Sweat trickled down the back of his neck before he made it to the office. The door opened before he could lift his hand and turn the handle.
"Mr. Taylor, come in." A large man pushed open the door and let him walk in. "I'm Mike Davies, the general manager out here. Your brother called and told me to expect you." He held his hand out to shake with Morgan. "Look like him too, how I recognized you."
"Thanks, great to be here. I thought you could show me over the project before we discuss the exploration plans for the new acquisition which is going to be under my control."
"Let me grab a couple of hard hats and we can go. Better get you to sign in too if you don't mind." Mike pushed the visitors book at Morgan and left him to it while he spoke to his administration assistant. He walked out with two hard hats, put one on his head and handed the other one over. Morgan left his hat on the counter and followed.
"After you," he said holding open the door. He led the way to his four wheel drive and opened the door, climbing in. "I'll take you over to the main shaft first and then we can go out to the processing plant."
"Sounds good. How many locals do we hire here?"
"None really. Most of our staff are fly in fly out guys we hire through contractors. I doubt if there is anyone in town qualified to do anything here." Mike swung the vehicle around a corner and down a dirt road past a series of large sheds. He pulled up at the mine shaft and got out waiting for Morgan.
"So far we are only down to level two but should be pulling plenty of ore out now. If you recall, the test drills showed that was where we found the strongest concentrate."
Morgan nodded his head and looked around. The heat coming from underground made him glad he was visiting in the cooler months. He listened while Mike proudly showed off the equipment and went over the
