Page 5 of The Dairy Farmer's Daughter

"Nice to see you," she said to the Deslops who smiled and waved them off.

Freya leaned in close to Justin, and he felt her breasts brush his arm. "I'm dying for a coffee."

The sigh escaped his lips before he could stop it. "Me too."

"Let's get all the good stuff before it’s gone," Freya said as they arrived at the table full of sweets and savouries. "Have you tried the carrot cake?"

"I haven't had a chance to eat anything yet."

"We can't let you go hungry. Mum and Greer spent hours cooking up this feast, so you have to at least try a taste."

Dutifully, he picked up a plate and loaded it with everything she pointed out, then watched as she poured two cups of coffee. He was just about to tell her to make his black when she lifted the milk jug.

"This milk is direct from Boyd's farm. It makes even instant coffee taste amazing." She poured it into the cups and stirred. "Let's go out the back. It's such a beautiful day, and I need some vitamin D." She carried the cups while he held the plate piled with food and followed her through a side-gate.

The day was warm despite being the middle of winter.

Freya led him to a bench seat under a huge tree. They sat separated only by the plate of food and their mugs of coffee.

"What a great spot," he said as he gazed down onto the town below.

Freya shifted closer to him and extended a long slender arm. "Do you see the supermarket?"

He inhaled her floral scent and looked where she pointed. "That big building?"

"That's it. They sell all sorts of local produce in there. Tourists come to Maleny just to shop there."

Justin noted the pride in her voice.

"Over there is the community centre.” She pointed across the street at an impressive two-storey building. “Lots of functions happen in there, including the dance school recitals, movie nights, and all the other events Maleny has on. There's always something going on."

"Have you always lived in Maleny?" He slid her a sideways glance.

"Sure have. I was born in the local hospital." She pointed in another direction where trees were heavily planted. "And I went to the local primary and high school. You can see the primary school, just up there."

He studied where she pointed and could just make out an oval and cluster of buildings. "If Mum hadn't left, that's where I would have gone to school." The words escaped him before he could stop them.

"Yep. You probably would have played soccer for the Maleny Rangers and worked at the supermarket in the holidays."

He frowned at her. "How did you know I played soccer?"

She laughed. "Most boys play either soccer or rugby, and you don’t look like a rugby player to me.”

Warmth spread through him. “Really? What else do I look like to you?”

She tapped a finger against her glossy lips and furrowed her brow. “You’re not a farm boy, so you couldn't fix a tractor. But you are smart. You would have gone to university in Brisbane and climbed the ranks quickly. Judging by that fancy suit, you probably earn a descent salary too."

He looked down at his black jacket and trousers. She was right, of course. How different his life would have been if he had stayed in the country. If, instead of spending his weekends in front of a computer, he had been on the farm learning about cows and machinery. Working with his hands and helping to produce a product that fed the nation.

"What's your story then, Freya Montgomery? Have you ever been to the big smoke?"

She threw him a wide smile, and he got the impression she never let anything bother her. "Actually, I studied business management at the University of Queensland at St Lucia for ayear. Then I transferred to the University of The Sunshine Coast and changed to business marketing."

He gave her an apologetic look. She appeared too good to be true. "Are you married?"

"I'm not married, no." She blushed. It was adorable and did nothing to curb his burgeoning attraction.

A young boy came running over then, and threw himself at Freya.

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