Outback Secrets by Rachael Johns

Chapter Eleven

‘How was the school play?’ Liam asked Henri as they headed over the dunes towards the sand on Friday morning, boards under their arms and Sheila trotting between them. She hadn’t stayed at the pub last night, which he thought he’d prefer, but he’d actually found it a little odd coming into his apartment, knowing she wasn’t already asleep in his bedroom. It was crazy how quickly he’d got used to having her around.

‘You know it was actually pretty cute. They put on this play called How the Bunyip Stole Christmas and my nephew, Silas, was the star. He made such a scary bunyip.’

‘Was it a rip-off of How the Grinch Stole Christmas or does it just sound like it?’

Henri snorted. ‘Well, there were definite similarities between the two, but I think I might actually prefer the Bunyip Bay version.’

Even Liam, who avoided all things Christmas if he could possibly help it, couldn’t deny that did sound a bit cute.

‘To Andrew’s dismay,’ she continued, ‘Silas now wants to become a film star rather than a farmer.’

‘Really? I thought being a YouTube sensation was all the rage among the young ones these days. Film star sounds so passé.’

‘What do you know about YouTube sensations?’ she asked, amused.

‘I’ll have you know I know about a lot of things. You should hear the conversations people have in the pub—I pick up a lot. And most of the young backpackers seem to watch more YouTube than anything else.’

‘That sounds about right. Macy is addicted too. She watches horse videos on there. Apparently, there are even horse-riding YouTube stars.’

Liam raised his eyebrows as they dropped their gear down on the patch of sand that was rapidly becoming ‘their spot’. ‘What’ll they think of next?’

‘Do you have any nieces or nephews?’ Henri asked, and his ribcage tightened a little. He didn’t mind talking about her family, but his was a different story.

‘Nope. You seem to dote on yours though? Do you want to have kids yourself one day?’

Henri ripped her T-shirt over her head. Despite it covering her mouth, her reply was not muffled at all. ‘Hell no. Do you?’

‘I don’t think so.’ Maybe he might have considered it once upon a time, but that was another lifetime. Things had changed. He’d changed.

‘Well, I know so,’ Henri said firmly as she removed her shorts.

He should have been getting used to the sight of her in nothing but a swimsuit, but it still made his mouth water.

‘Don’t get me wrong,’ she added, ‘I like kids. You’re right, I adore my nieces and nephews, but I’ve never had that burning urge to procreate like so many people, especially women, seem to. Tilley was talking about her wedding and having babies before I was even born. The idea never crossed my mind until I was almost an adult and I realised that’s what people just expected I’d want. I don’t know, maybe there’s something wrong with me?’

She sounded vulnerable, a little despondent maybe, and he felt compelled to set her straight.

‘I don’t think so. The world’s richer because everyone is different. And hey, the earth will probably thank us for not procreating, what with overpopulation and everything.’

She nodded and her lips stretched into a smile. ‘Yeah, you’re right. You and me? We’re saving the world, one non-baby at a time. We should be awarded for our selfless decision.’ Then she grabbed her board and ran towards the water.

Grinning at the image of them receiving some kind of trophy, Liam picked up his board and hurried after her. He was probably enjoying his mornings with Henri far too much, but he couldn’t help himself. Quite aside from the view—and no, he wasn’t talking about the ocean—and the thrill he got whenever he managed to actually catch a wave, she was like no woman he’d ever met before. She said things how she saw them, not giving two hoots whether it was the done thing, and she often made him laugh.

He was content with his life, his daily swims, the pub and his woodwork, but spending time with Henri had been a welcome diversion from the monotony of every day. And it was always good to learn a new skill, even if surfing was one that had never crossed his mind until he’d met her. Now that he was more confident, Henri didn’t spend every moment in the water alongside him. While he practised on the smaller waves, she sometimes swam out further and attempted a bigger one. Sometimes he forgot he was supposed to be practising and found himself floating on his board, watching her instead. She was so graceful and watching her relaxed him in a way nothing else did.

She often caught him and paddled back to tell him off for slacking, and if he was honest, that was fun too.

After almost an hour in the surf, they emerged from the water and trekked back up to where Sheila was patiently guarding their things.

‘That was awesome,’ Henri said, dropping her board on the sand and then shaking her wet ponytail. ‘I can’t think of a better way to start the day.’

Liam could think of one better way, but of course he kept that to himself. Instead he picked up his towel and tried to rub the sand from his wet hair, only to open his eyes moments later to find Henri staring at him.

He swallowed as every muscle in his body grew tight. Was she checking him out? Did she feel the heat that arced between them too or was that wishful thinking?

Before he could work out the answer or what he wanted to do about it if she did, she reached out and touched her index finger, ever so gently, to his shoulder.

His pulse raced as heat spread from that one spot throughout his entire body in a matter of seconds.

‘What happened?’ she asked, tracing her finger around the scar.

His heart sank. Of course. It was interest he’d seen in her eyes, but not attraction. She was simply curious, like everyone else.

‘I was …’ His pulse thudded as he tried to remember the story he told the town whenever he had to get his gear off for the annual Undies Run, but he couldn’t for the life of him recall it.

Time seemed to drag. Henri stared at him, her finger lingering on his shoulder, her eyes swimming with curiosity.

What the hell was it?

At that moment, he caught sight of someone walking up the beach towards them and, despite being too far away to see who it was, he dropped his towel, stepped forward and took Henri’s face in his hands.

Only as his mouth sank against hers, did the lie come to him.

A slingshot. He and his friends mucking around with sticks and stones when they were kids. Due to his friend’s bad aim, he’d been struck hard by a rock. That’s what he’d told everyone had happened to him.

* * *

Henri’s hand dropped as Liam’s moved from her face to the back of her head, his fingers curling under her wet hair. Despite the morning sun baking down on them, she shivered.

His lips had totally taken her by surprise, but it didn’t take long for her body to get on board. A delicious hum buzzed through her as his tongue darted out of his mouth and teased hers open.

She let go and gave herself completely to the moment, welcoming him into her mouth as she reached up and steadied herself on his strong, broad shoulders. Her fingers tingled as they swept over his skin. He was hot and damp and there was sand rubbing between them, but he tasted of mint with the hint of coffee, and she couldn’t get enough of it.

Couldn’t get enough of him.

She groaned involuntarily as his hand moved slowly down her back, lingering on her hip and grazing the skin at the top of her thigh as he kissed her like both of their lives depended on it.

Every part of her caught fire and she struggled to breathe, but damn if she could bring herself to break away for oxygen. Kisses like this didn’t come along every day, at least not in her world.

When was the last time she’d been this turned on? Hell, the last guy she’d slept with hadn’t even managed to make her feel this way when he’d been buried deep inside her.

But she didn’t want to think about anyone else. Not when something torturously hard was gently pressing into her belly. Her mind skipped forward a few beats as she anticipated what might come next, then, as quickly as it had begun, it was over.

Liam pulled back, picked up his towel and wrapped it around his torso. He nodded over her shoulder. ‘Morning, Grant.’

‘Certainly looks that way from where I’m standing,’ came the voice of Bunyip Bay’s self-proclaimed matchmaker.

As Grant came up beside them, Henri stood there on the sand, her heart still racing and her nipples so hard they were visible through her bathers, but unable to think straight enough to scoop up her own towel and cover herself.

Was he the reason Liam had kissed her?

Of course. She sighed and finally bent to pick up her towel, a different kind of heat flooding her. Could she be more of a fool?

But if that kiss was Liam pretending, she could only begin to imagine how much better it could be if his heart was in it.

She turned and summoned a smile for Grant, who was wearing tiny black running shorts and jogging on the spot. ‘Hey there. How are you?’

He beamed. ‘I’m great. I’ve been trying to set this guy up for ages, so this is a happy sight. I must admit when I heard about you two, I couldn’t picture it, but now that I’ve seen you together … well, congratulations.’

‘Thanks,’ Liam said, turning a knowing smile on Henri.

Still flustered, all she could manage was a quick nod.

‘You not working today?’ Liam asked.

Grant shook his head. ‘I’ve got the day off. Ryan and I are heading down to Perth to meet a possible surrogate, but I convinced him to let me take a quick run first—helps calm the nerves—while he does a couple of errands at The Ag Store.’

‘Wow. Good luck,’ said Liam.

‘Yes.’ Henry finally found her voice. ‘That’s very exciting. Hope it goes well.’

‘We’re trying not to get our hopes up,’ Grant said, his expression contradicting his words, ‘but I’ve got a good feeling about this woman. Speaking of which, I better finish my run or I’ll be late. You two have a good day.’

‘Thanks. You too.’

With a final wave, Grant continued on up the beach. Henri fought the urge to run after him.

‘Come on, lazy,’ Liam said, nudging Sheila with his toe. ‘Time for breakfast. Frankie’s again?’

For a second Henri thought this was directed at the dog, but then realised he was looking to her, waiting for an answer.

Food was the last thing on her mind right now. While they’d held hands and hugged many times in the last few days, that was the first time Liam’s lips had touched hers and right now she wasn’t sure if she’d ever be able to think straight again. Her heart rate was only just beginning to slow, but the thought of sitting opposite him and making small talk after that kiss set it racing all over again.

‘Actually, I …’ She racked her mind for an excuse. ‘We’ve been here longer than I imagined, so I should probably take a raincheck and get back to the farm.’

‘No problem.’ Liam nodded as they gathered up their things. He seemed to accept the lie, even though they weren’t any later than they’d been the last few days. ‘What are your plans for today? Anything as exciting as yesterday’s concert?’

She forced a laugh and tried to reply in the same easy manner. ‘Thankfully no. Although I’ve still got the annual wreath-making to look forward to tomorrow. And the boys start shearing next week, so there’ll be a bit to do to get ready for that.’

‘Don’t they take a break after harvest?’

‘Callum and Andrew aren’t very good at relaxing—I don’t know many farmers who are—but post-shearing and post-Christmas, Hannah and Janai are dragging them away for a bit. Mum, Tilley and James will head down to Busselton to camp for a couple of weeks too. Getting away from the farm is the only way to get the boys into holiday mode.’

‘Fair enough. Do you ever go with them?’

‘No. I haven’t since Dad died. It’s really more for the kids. And to be honest, I don’t do holidays that well either.’

They walked in silence the rest of the way to the van, then loaded the boards onto the roof.

‘Do you want to come back to the pub to have a shower before you head home?’ Liam asked.

She’d done so the other days to de-sand before they headed to Frankie’s for breakfast. But still … how could he act so normal after what they’d just done minutes earlier on the beach? If the skin around her lips wasn’t still burning from its brush with his stubble, she’d have thought she imagined the whole damn thing.

‘Nah, I’ll have a shower at home,’ she replied, ‘but thanks anyway.’

‘Okay, then I might just walk Sheila back to the pub. Will you be back tonight?’

Henri wondered if she could get away with missing a night—the thought of being in such close proximity to him again so soon had muscles she hadn’t used in months twitching. But if she let one little kiss get to her, how on earth would she get through the next couple of weeks? She needed a few hours’ reprieve, but then she’d be fine. Now that she’d started this, she had to follow it through.

‘That’s the deal, isn’t it?’ she said, her tone sassier than she felt.

He smiled and nodded once. ‘I’ll see you then. Have a good day.’

‘You too.’

Once home, Henri indulged in a long, cold shower and then went searching for her brothers, desperate for a physically gruelling task to take her mind and body off Liam.

It was only hours later, when she was sweating like a pig and elbow-deep in sheep shit under the shearing shed, that she realised he’d never answered her question about his scar.