Outback Secrets by Rachael Johns

Chapter Twenty-two

As the fly strips swished open for the umpteenth time Thursday night, Liam looked up and his heart stilled. It was like Groundhog Day, but different. He felt on edge as he waited to see whether Henri would return. Anxious. Nervous. Excited. Hopeful.

Or at least he had been hopeful, but with every minute that passed, every person who came through the door who wasn’t her, that hope faded. He glanced at his watch. Just after ten o’clock. It was starting to look like Henri wasn’t coming at all. If she’d changed her mind about getting naked with him, she only had to say. She didn’t need to run away, which, judging by the evidence, was exactly what had happened.

While he’d been dealing with the water mains drama, he’d been too busy to think about the fact that Henri hadn’t come downstairs to help. But when he’d traipsed upstairs three hours later in even more of a state than he’d been when he’d found her in the kitchen, her absence suddenly hit him.

And he’d done something he never usually did with women—he started second-guessing his behaviour. Had he misread the signs? Had Henri not felt the same way he did? Or had she simply had second thoughts?

Liam went over and over the events of the afternoon. He’d thought about that kiss nonstop ever since and he kept coming back to the same conclusion—she’d definitely kissed him back. Those moans … you couldn’t fake them. And hadn’t it been her suggestion to share the shower? If that wasn’t an invitation to seduce her, he didn’t know what it was.

He shook his head. It had been a manic day on so many levels. They’d been on the back foot all evening with the kitchen opening late because of all the gunky water. Liam hadn’t even been sure they were going to manage to serve meals at all, but Macca and the rest of his staff had worked like mad to bring it back up to scratch. The last thing he needed on top of all that was a confusing woman who gave off totally mixed signals.

Maybe it’d be a good thing if Henri was a no-show. After all, she might not live in Bunyip Bay but that didn’t change the fact that this town was her home. That meant anything between them would always be more complicated than a one-night stand or a fling. Bamboozled by the insane chemistry that arced between them, he’d almost lost sight of that for a while.

Glancing at the row of taps in front of him, Liam seriously considered pouring himself a beer. He didn’t usually drink on duty—hell, he didn’t usually drink 364 days of the year—but the urge felt strong tonight and as things were starting to calm down, one drink wouldn’t hurt. After today, he deserved it.

He was reaching for a glass when Drew and Mike walked into the pub, dressed in their uniform blue and looking as if they’d too had a long day.

Liam tipped his head as they strode towards the bar. ‘Evening, boys. Is there a problem?’

Drew gestured to his partner with his thumb. ‘The only problem is that Mike here isn’t man enough to relieve his bladder on the side of the road and—’

‘It’s not that,’ Mike interrupted, turning red like a beetroot. ‘Aren’t you the one always saying we need to show a good example?’ He turned to Liam. ‘Do you mind if I use your bathroom? We were driving through town and thought it’d be quicker than unlocking the cop shop.’

‘Go ahead,’ Liam said, managing to control his amusement until Mike had disappeared. ‘That guy is a character.’

‘That’s one word for it.’ Drew leaned against the bar. ‘Anyway, how’s Henri?’

‘What do you mean?’ Something in his voice made Liam’s chest cramp.

‘Her ankle.’

Liam swallowed. Thank God—an ankle wasn’t too bad.

‘I was in The Ag Store just before closing and Tilley was on the phone to Fiona. Couldn’t help hearing that Henri tripped and broke it,’ Drew said, giving Liam a funny look, no doubt wondering why her boyfriend seemed to be in the dark.

‘Oh that. Yeah. Poor thing.’

‘Have you seen her since it happened?’

‘No.’ He shook his head, desperate to ask what exactly had happened but not wanting to give away the game. ‘Had a bit of an emergency here this arvo and thought it’d be best to let her rest anyway.’

Drew nodded as if this made perfect sense and Liam exhaled slowly. ‘How’s things out there tonight?’

That was why Henri hadn’t come in tonight, although it didn’t account for why she’d disappeared this afternoon. Had she hurt herself here? In the pub? Perhaps in a rush to escape what they’d almost done upstairs? He’d been so preoccupied dealing with the water damage that a bomb could have gone off and he wouldn’t have noticed. But no. That couldn’t be possible. If she’d broken her ankle, she’d have had to call out for someone to help. Surely her rescuer would have alerted him?

Needing to know, he yanked his mobile out of his pocket only to realise he didn’t have her number. They’d spent every morning and almost every night together for the best part of two weeks—she’d slept in his bed, baked in his damn kitchen; he’d shared things with her he hadn’t shared with anyone in years, and yet not once had he thought to ask for her number. Idiot.

When Mike returned to the bar, the two policemen left and Liam realised he hadn’t heard one word of Drew’s reply.

Was it too late to ring Henri’s mum’s place? He checked the time. It was now almost ten thirty—definitely too late. Most farmers were subscribers to the ‘early to bed early to rise’ philosophy, and after the day Henri must have had, it was highly likely she was already asleep as well. He’d simply have to wait until the morning to talk to her.

The next half hour dragged, but finally Liam called last drinks and not long after that, locked the doors.

‘Henri not coming in tonight?’ Dylan asked as he, Liam and Lara headed for the stairs.

‘Oh my God!’ Lara said, her hand rushing to her mouth. ‘I’m so sorry, but Henri called during the dinner rush. We were so busy I asked if you could call her back.’

‘What?’ Liam’s heart squeezed. ‘Did she leave her number?’

Lara and Dylan both frowned.

‘Don’t you have it?’ Lara asked.

Shit. ‘Of course I do. Sorry. It’s been a long day and I’m just tired.’

‘Yeah, you can say that again,’ Dylan said, taking Lara’s hand. ‘See you tomorrow, Liam.’

‘Goodnight, guys.’