“That’s great.” Did it mean Faith wouldn’t be staying for much longer? How could he get an answer without being obvious about it? “Do you miss Perth?”
“Not as much as I expected to,” she admitted. “At first there was too much to do helping Mum with her exercises and keeping the house running.” She glanced at him. “I miss the challenge of the work, but I’ve had more opportunity to ride my horse here in the past couple of months than I did all of last year.”
They reached the start of the dunes and he took her elbow to help her up them. The sand was firmer than beach sand, but too dusty to take off her sandals. At the top he let go and she turned in a circle, surveying his land. “It really is beautiful,” she said. “You’re so lucky to live here.”
He studied her. Not many people thought that. They saw the red dirt and dry scrub and considered it hell on earth. Sofia had. But there was nothing in Faith’s expression which made him think she was lying. “I always thought so.”
“You’ve lived here all your life?”
“Yeah. Stokes have lived on this land for over a hundred and fifty years.”
Faith nodded. “That’s right. The Retribution.”
He smiled. “Lara loves the story, though I’ve caught her adding her own embellishments.”
“So the mutiny and the flood never happened?”
“They happened from all reports. It was a cyclone which forced the ship into the gulf, and it crashed on the reef around the island. They managed to save some items from the ship and some livestock, but after they got on the mainland, there was a mutiny, and many were killed before the culprits were hanged.”
“And after all of that, there was another cyclone and a flash flood?”
“Information is sketchy,” Darcy told her. “There was definitely a flood, but it might not have been caused by a cyclone.” He pointed to an area where gum trees were bunched together. “When we get rain, that becomes a river. The low land over there becomes a wetland for a short while and if the rain comes down really heavily, we get a flash flood in the valley by the ridge.”
“Sounds dangerous.”
Darcy shrugged. “The house and yards are built in an area away from the flood plains, and we have plenty of warning from the weatherman to make sure the stock is on high ground. There are showers forecast for next week, so we’re monitoring the situation.”
“It’s hard to imagine,” Faith said. “The ground is so dusty and dry. It doesn’t look as if it ever rains here. Why anyone would decide it was the ideal place to set up a station is beyond me.”
The words hit him like a punch. For a moment he’d thought she understood the appeal, but he’d been wrong. “We should get back to dinner.”
“But the sun hasn’t gone down yet.” She turned to him, the blonde streaks in her hair picking up the sun. She frowned. “I’ve upset you.” Taking his hand, she said, “What did I say?”
“It doesn’t matter.” He gave a self-depreciating smile. “I’ve got issues.”
“It does to me. I don’t want to hurt you.”
Darcy ran his hand through his hair, wishing he had his hat on so he could pull it low over his face.
Faith moved closer, inside his personal bubble, but he had no desire to step away. “In case you hadn’t noticed, I like you, Darcy.”
The words cracked the plating he’d placed around his heart. Her blue eyes stared earnestly up into his. He couldn’t resist the pull. Slowly, he lowered his head. “I like you too.” His lips brushed hers. Warm, soft. She pulled him closer, and he wrapped his arms around her, needing to touch, to hold. Her tongue touched his lips, and he opened for her, dancing, taking the kiss deeper. His body sprang alive. Even after a dry spell longer than an Australian drought, he couldn’t ever remember kissing being this good, this encompassing. His hands roamed over her bottom, pulling her against him, and she gasped.
“Darcy.”
The way she said his name made him feel like a hero. He wanted to lay her down on the sand and touch every inch of her. The thought reminded him where they were. Sand rash wouldn’t be pretty. Reluctantly he pulled back, breathing heavily, and rested his forehead against hers.
“Wow,” she said.
“Wow,” he agreed.
They stood in silence for a moment before Faith said, “Lara’s having a sleepover tonight, isn’t she?”
“She is.” He smiled. “You want to have our own sleepover?” He held his breath, hoping that was what she was hinting at.
“I’d love to.” She kissed him again and then turned towards the sun, which was halfway below the horizon, and slipped her hand into his. “You haven’t told me what I said to upset you.”
It took him a moment to remember, and he rubbed the back of his neck. “It’s really not a big deal.”
