She shrugged. “He’s drunk.”
“You’re far too soft.” Cody shook his head.
“I never heard you complaining before,” The words slipped out, and she wished she could take them back. Heat filled her cheeks, and she shuffled her feet, not sure what to say. “Sorry. I gotta go.”
When he hung his head, her heart hurt just a little. She wanted him to argue with her. To tell her to stay. To tell her everything was going to be okay, that he loved her. She wanted to fall into his arms, to dance with him, and forget everything that had happened. She wanted to believe him nothing had, but she knew what she’d seen.
She turned hesitantly before taking a step, someone stumbled into her path, and she spun back around to find Cody gone. Searching the crowd, she saw a sea of people dancing, their cowboy hats bobbing up and down, the dust kicking up around their feet as the band struck up yet another crowd favourite. Well, she guessed that was it. It was all said and done. Over.
Chapter Sixteen
He had tried to put her out of his mind, but it was impossible. The boys were right; he really did have it bad for his boss. He had rejected Heidi’s advances. He had zero interest in her bleached blonde hair and her fake tits after having the real thing. There was nothing fake about Callie. She was all natural, and all woman. Over the past few weeks, she had become a lot more than just his boss. Her kids were terrific too. For the first time in his life, he had felt like he belonged, part of a family. Something he always craved.
He’d been chilling at the bar when he saw the man approach Callie. He should have recognised it was the kids’ teacher. They had brought school photos home a week earlier. Callie had been in an odd mood after her meeting with him earlier in the week. She hadn’t wanted to talk about it, and he assumed it was something to do with Austin’s grades, but seeing him lay his hands on her, and her reaction, awoke something primal deep inside of him. Was it jealously?
He wasn’t a fighter. Aside from a few boyhood scrapes at school, he had never fought anyone. Rodeos got rowdy, and the cowboys would fight over this or that, usually girls. As he marched over to the pair, Cody’s blood pumped so hard in his ears he felt he could rip Joel Olsen apart with his bare hands. Luckily, security jumped in and dragged him away.
Then it had just been the two of them again. He had given her space, assumed she was stressed due to the event preparation, didn’t want to push her. Standing there, alone with her, in a crowd of people, he had wanted to kiss her and tell her he wanted her, that he wanted to stay, but she had made an excuse and turned her back. He had told her she was soft when the truth was, he was the soft one. He had fallen for her; he would give up anything for her.
Dumping his empty beer can in the bin, he made his way to the gate. He’d had enough for the night. He wasn’t in the mood for partying. It was a long walk back to the quarters, but one he needed. It would clear his head. An ocean of tents had sprung up in the paddocks during the day. A few campfires burned in the distance. Most of the crowd remained, but some had headed back to their camps to spend time with their lovers. The thought twisted inside of him. What he wouldn’t give to hold Callie in his arms right now.
As he neared the homestead, he was surprised to see light emanating from the house. He knew Callie had stayed behind, and a sickening feeling settled in the pit of his stomach. Was someone trying to rob the place? Picking up his pace, he made his way to the front veranda, taking the steps in one leap, he moved to peer through the window. He hadn’t given any thought as to how he would approach an intruder, but he’d be damned if he would let them get away with stealing from his family.
When the swinging seat creaked, he almost jumped out of his skin.
“What the hell?” he asked, placing a hand over his racing heart as his eyes adjusted to take in the boy swinging softly back and forth. “Austin? What are you doing here? I thought you went with your dad.”
Austin’s head hung low as he mumbled something incoherent.
“I thought someone was breaking into your house when I saw the light on. Does your mum know you’re here?”
“Yeah,” he said, only lifting his head slightly.
“Why are you here? Are you alright?”
Finally lifting his gaze, he noticed Austin’s tear-stained cheeks.
“My dad doesn’t want me anymore.”
Cody’s eyes widened. “I’m sure that’s not true, mate. What happened?”
“I was packed. Ready to go. He rang and said he wasn’t coming after all. Something about a last-minute change of plans.” His face screwed up, and he looked like he was about to cry. “He’s got a new family now. He doesn’t need Grace and me anymore.”
“Oh, boy, that’s tough,” Cody sighed, leaning back in the swing as he tried to gather some words of wisdom. “I remember feeling like my parents didn’t want me anymore.” Austin turned to look at him, so he went on, perhaps sharing his own story might help. “I was sent to Sydney when I started high school, so not much older than you are now. I had to live with my grandma. She was really old.” Austin scrunched his nose, and he went on. “It wasn’t that she was a bad person. She wasn’t mean or anything, but I didn’t know her, and I wanted to stay with my parents.”
“Why
