‘I know, right?’Amara playfully rolled her eyes, the grin friendlier now.‘Did they tease you about poking the possums in the roof for the night-time ambience?’
Taryn laughed as she nodded.‘Did you stay there, too?
‘A lot longer that I should have.Living out of a suitcase, assuming that this was all temporary.’Amara glanced around the office.‘Eventually, it wears you down.This place… it doesn’t open up easily to strangers.The locals take their time to see if you’re a good fit for them.Finn knew that.That’s why he got Craig and Stone involved, to get aninwith the station owners, the stockmen, and the rest of the locals.And it worked.Showing them he wasn’t here to judge or interfere but to help… But it was Porter who helped me see that there’s more to this place than just a job—along with a big lesson on teamwork.Porter is big on teamwork.’
‘I noticed.’And she’d noticed how much Amara loved her job, the team, and her partner.
‘Porter not only showed me this town’s incredible depths of community spirit, but he also helped me find…home.’ The smile was adorable, full, wide and beautiful as she shared a nod, then left the room.
But the wordhomelanded heavier than Amara probably meant it to, shifting something inside Taryn’s chest.A word that still felt intangible, like a dream she used to have when she’d stay at her grandfather’s for the summer, chasing shade on his old verandah, sipping sodas and swapping girlish secrets with her cousin—when they were still alive.
Everywhere else had just been a posting.Just another military base on another rotation to not settle into a home.Only her grandfather’s had been the place that felt constant.
Taryn tucked the thought away, to sort out her notes, just as the Batcave door swung open and in walked Romy.
Stronger and shorter than expected, wearing a big friendly smile while lugging a heavy camera case over one shoulder.Dressed in cargo pants and hiking boots, Romy looked like she’d just stepped off the set of a wildlife documentary.
David Attenborough, eat your heart out.
‘Morning,’ she chirped.‘You must be the one poking around all our secrets.I’ve been warned.’
Taryn raised an eyebrow.‘Warned?’
Romy grinned, stepping around the table.‘Stone said not to flirt, unless I’m getting tasered.Izzy said not to overshare.And Amara just gave mea lookthat could be interpreted in so many ways—knowing my luck, all wrong.As for Finn?He just grunted and walked off muttering something about not bleeding on the carpet.So naturally, I came to talk.’Romy set down her case with a thud, then offered a hand.‘Romy Radford.Consultant-slash-drone-wrangler, so says Stone, but mostly I’m a wildlife videographer.And you are?’
‘Taryn Hayes.’
‘Lovely to meet you.Do you prefer Taryn, Hayes, or justthe Fed?’
‘Taryn’s fine,’ she replied, half-smiling at the newcomer.
Romy casually flopped into a chair like she owned it.‘Great.So, the short version is, I came up here to film a documentary about crocodiles, met Stone, and accidentally helped the team crack theCold Stock Caseby using my drone.’
‘Cold stock?’
‘Crocodiles.Hatchlings and eggs—over a hundred.Huge scandal.Big bucks.French fashion houses.Family legacies.Generational drama.’Romy waved her arms wide, eyes sparkling, with an excited energy that was addictive.‘As much as I was ticked off that I couldn’t use any of my drone footage at the time for my own films, and we’re talking incredible cinematic imagery gone, all because Finn made me sign an NDA.But he did pay for the footage—’
‘I’ve got the invoices.’Taryn tapped the paperwork resting on the table.
‘So you’ll know that I’m technically a consultant.Whenever Finn calls, I follow Stone.’Romy leaned in, all conspiratorial.‘The cameralovesStone.’
Did Romy just purr?
‘Anyway, we’re on the hunt to explore the mysterious Spinifex Highway, so I can’t stay long.Like I said, I mostly film wildlife documentaries when not helping Finn, and I cannot wait to do one on the banteng.Especially after that last bust, when Amara got lost with Porter and nearly died with that super expensive stolen horse, which ended up shutting down their illegal way station and recovering all that wild stock.’
Taryn blinked.‘What?’
Did the woman even breathe?
‘Oh, wait.Was I supposed to tell you that?Izzy mentioned confidentiality.’Romy tapped her chin.‘Stone said not to give away too many company secrets.’She winced.‘Oops.’
Taryn blinked again.Once.Twice.
‘You’ll need to talk to Finn for the details.’
‘Naturally,’ Taryn murmured.
Romy beamed.
