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The possibility of spending time relaxing with Gina and the kids was becoming less likely every time his phone dinged, but David knew he needed to focus on family for the next two days. He didn’t want to lose his wife’s respect too.

The promise of ice-cream quietened Andrew and there was silence from the back seat except for the low music from his game. They’d been on the road since dawn and were now only a few kilometres from the resort. Gina was not happy that he was going to leave them there when he headed back to the city – alone – on Sunday night.

‘What if the baby comes early? Is there even a hospital out in the wilds here?’ She’d widened her green eyes at him and placed her hand on her stomach. ‘I’ll be by myself with the children. I’ve only got eight weeks left. You do know that, don’t you?’

‘Of course I do, and no, it won’t and yes, there is.’ David had pulled her close and buried his face in her hair, inhaling the lavender fragrance that always calmed him. ‘And it’s not the wilds. It’s only a couple of hours away from Darwin. You’ll be fine.’

‘Why all the secrecy, David? Why do we have to hide?’

The wheels of the car hummed on the tar as the sun rose in the winter sky, and the dawn light touched the charred savannah grasslands that had been burned off along the highway. The morning mist hung eerily as the watery sun tried to break through the smoke-laden fog and David tried to forget the emails waiting for him, and his briefcase full of papers in the boot of the hire car, as they turned right at Jabiru and sped down the Kakadu Highway towards Makowa Lodge.

*

Gina checked into the lodge while David waited in the car with the kids. They’d paid for Friday night so they could get an early check-in this morning. It was still early and there were no other guests at the reception desk.

‘Welcome to Makowa Lodge, Ms Perini.’ The pretty Aboriginal girl behind the counter had a deep, husky voice. She took Gina’s credit card and swiped it over the terminal, before handing over the security card for the room. ‘I hope you enjoy your stay with us. There are many activities on in the lodge, and there are brochures in the compendium in your room outlining the tours available.’

‘Thank you –’ Gina glanced at the girl’s name badge ‘– Heather.’

‘And make sure you look at our day spa. It’s won national awards.’

Gina smiled and nodded before she put her credit card away. ‘So I have heard. I will, thank you.’

She decided to see if there was an appointment available at the day spa this afternoon. David could look after Andrew and Binny. Then they could have a romantic dinner in the room tonight after the children went to sleep.

David had parked the hire car in the middle of the car park and Gina put up her hand to shade her face from the sun. Despite the early hours, the heat was lifting in waves from the concrete. She smiled as the children’s happy giggles reached her. They would make the most of the weekend together and then she would try to enjoy the rest of the time when David was away.

She shook her head as he slouched down in the driver’s seat and pulled the baseball cap low over his eyes.

‘It’s okay, James Bond, it’s only me.’ Gina opened the door and looked at him with a wry smile.

David flicked her a glance and didn’t acknowledge her joke, and she turned away to the back seat. There was only so much she could take of this ridiculous behaviour. ‘How about we go and find some ice-cream after Daddy unpacks the car?’

The squeals from their two children showed her that someone still loved her anyway.

‘Which building?’ David started the car and she looked at the security card.

‘Over there. Block C.’ Gina checked the lodge plan that the receptionist had given her and pointed to the building on the other side of the pool.

‘Good.’ He reversed the car and drove across the car park before parking in the shade. The lodge was in the shape of a crocodile and they were in the wing at the end of one of the back legs. He came around, opened her door and held his arms wide as she stepped out. ‘I’m sorry, sweetheart. I should have parked closer. I didn’t think.’

‘You haven’t been doing much of that lately,’ she said, but the feel of his arms around her and the steady beat of his heart against her cheek as he pulled her in for a hug softened her mood a little. ‘I’m sorry. It’s just that you have me worried with all this . . . this secrecy.’

David dropped his head and brushed a light kiss across her lips. ‘You take the kids inside and I’ll unpack.’

‘What if someone sees you? Is that safe?’

David cupped one hand around the back of her head and pulled her close. Gina stared at him and a shiver ran through her at the expression in his eyes. Uncertainty and . . . something else. This was not the man she’d shared her life with for the past ten years.

‘Please don’t hide things from me, David.’

He held her gaze for a minute and then let her go. ‘I promise.’ Gina opened the door and leaned in to unbuckle the children from their car seats.

David raised an eyebrow when he pulled out the first suitcase. ‘You really need this much for two weeks?’

‘Don’t forget the other bag on the floor of the back seat too,’ Gina said with an airy wave of her hand. ‘It’s full of toys.’

He grinned and her stomach did a little flip. She was carrying their third child, and even with all the worry surrounding them at the moment, he could still entice her with that sexy smile. Problem was she didn’t get to see it – or him – much lately. ‘You should know by now what I’m like when it comes to travelling.’