A woman’s voice carried across the lodge. British accent, talking to someone at the front desk. “—heard there’s a tour company offering seats? Aussie Adventures something?”
Dakota looked up. The travel writer from yesterday’s flight was gesturing animatedly. The desk clerk nodded, pointed toward the breakfast area.
“Bonnie Morrison, over by the buffet. She’s coordinating the charter.”
Dakota spotted her—a woman with a clipboard and relentlessly cheerful energy, wearing a polo shirt with “Aussie Adventures Premium Tours” emblazoned across it.
He was on his feet before he’d fully decided.
“Excuse me. Bonnie?”
She turned, smile bright. “Morning, love! You were on yesterday’s flight?”
“Yeah. Dakota Rivers. I heard you might have seats available on a charter to Australia?”
“That’s right!” She tapped her clipboard. “Sydney’s shut down too—different system rolled in off the outback last night, could be days before they reopen. But we’ve got a tour-company charter coming in—a private plane, should be here in about two hours. It’s a guided package, five days, ends in Sydney. They had a couple of cancellations. You interested?”
“Definitely. What’s the cost?”
“Well, the full tour package runs about four thousand Australian dollars, but given the emergency situation, we can do three. That includes the flight out, accommodations, activities, most meals through to Sydney.”
“No, for just the flight.”
She raised an eyebrow.
Oh. Right. “So, how long is the tour?”
“Five days. One day in Cairns, two days in the Hunter Valley, one day in Melbourne, then to Sydney for the finale. Transportation and hotels included.”
Okay, so they’d ditch the tour when they landed in Cairns. No harm, no foul.
“I’m in. But I’m traveling with someone. Can you add her too?”
“Of course!” Bonnie scribbled on her clipboard. “Can you remind me of your full names?”
“Dakota Rivers and Jayden Pierce.”
She wrote them down, then asked for his number. “Perfect. You’re all set.” She handed him an information packet and brochure. “Plane leaves at ten. We’ll have a bus to take everyone to the airstrip.”
Dakota took the packet, nodded his thanks, and returned to his table. He pulled out his phone and found the confirmation Bonnie had sent him, and forwarded it to Jayden.
He heard a phone beep from not far away and looked up.
Jayden stood in the doorway, scanning the room. Her dark hair was loose around her shoulders, softened to a quiet wave. She wore yoga pants and a clean T-shirt, and when she looked at him, she smiled.
And it simply lit him up, starting at his bones, working heat all the way through his body.
Oh. Wow.
He shoved the empty chair across from him away from the table with his foot.
She stopped. Looked at him.
“Saved this for you,” he said.
Something flickered in her eyes. Surprise. Relief. Something warmer that he didn’t want to think about.
Calm. Down.
