Page 57 of Return of the Outback Billionaire

‘It worked.’ He looked towards the horizon. To the harsh land that set a person against relying on others to fix their problems. ‘No secrets between you now. Be happy. Reach out for all the happiness you can hold and never take it for granted.’

‘Promise me you’ll stay a part of our lives,’ she pressed.

Her father offered up the ghost of a smile. ‘I’ve got opal seams to find.’

‘Then promise me you’ll visit often and remember on a daily basis how much I love you and want you in my life.’

‘Judah might prefer otherwise. What did he call me? A lying old coot?’

‘Well, you are,’ she felt compelled to point out. He was also her father. The same father who’d given her the time and space in which to heal from her ordeal. The one who’d helped her live her best life.

Bridie leaned her head against the veranda post. ‘I didn’t handle my confrontation with Judah very well. I got all caught up in truth-telling and couldn’t see the bigger picture.’ Breathe in, breathe out and try not to panic. ‘It’s possible he thinks I’m going to dump him.’

Her father lowered his cup. ‘Are you?’

‘No.’ A world of no. ‘I’m going to marry him and protect him and cherish him as best I can, and he’s never going to think I don’t love him for being the man he is. Not for a second. Not even a fraction of a second.’

‘Best get on that.’

‘I will.’

Bridie had a plan. Granted, it would take the assistance of several other people in order for her to pull it off, but the end result was going to show Judah exactly how much she cherished him and all that he was.

Her first call was to Reid, and he offered no quarter, speaking before she’d even said a word. ‘What have you done to my brother? He’s been working like a demon all morning to distract himself from thinking your engagement is off.’

‘It’s not off.’

‘Mind telling him that? In person? Soon? As in, I will come and get you in the helicopter right now.’

‘That’s the spirit.’ Might as well go with the flow. ‘Tell him I love him like crazy and that the engagement is very much on. Tell him that I’m putting together an apology surprise for him and that you’ll pick him up an hour before sunset for a helicopter joyride with me at the end of it. That’s all you need to say. Can you do that?’

‘Better coming from you.’

‘Apart from that, which I will see to, trust me, I need your helicopter and your services as a pilot for the rest of the day. I’ll pay triple the going rate. And sheets. I need every sheet you’ve got that’s not already on a bed.’

‘Sheets,’ he echoed doubtfully.

‘For when I run out of rocks and fallen branches. Oh, and do you have any toilet paper?’

‘No way am I giving up my share of the toilet paper. You’ve gotta be family for that.’

‘Bring it anyway,’ she urged.

‘You’re sounding a little bit mad today. Are you aware of this?’ He really was a sweet and mostly biddable man.

‘I am mad. I’m mad at myself for letting your brother doubt his worth for a second.’

‘I’m going to put you on speaker phone now because Judah’s just walked in, and you’re going to put him out of his misery by telling him that.’

‘Wait! Will you help me? It’ll be worth it, I promise. I’m aiming to create a truly memorable moment.’

‘Speaker phone. Now.’

‘Wait!’ But she didn’t think Reid had been open to influence on this particular issue. ‘Judah?’

‘Bridie,’ he replied evenly.

Right, so...speakerphone. ‘I’m, uh, hi!’ So not ready to confront him yet.

---