Page 2 of Where the Heart Is

‘We’re still mates, yeah?’ He took his hands out of his pockets and thrust one towards her to shake.

Mila sighed and shook his hand. ‘Yeah, we’re mates. Though this mystery woman better be pretty bloody special, otherwise I’ll cut all your fences and let your sheep out.’

He laughed and she managed a rueful chuckle, despite the panic building in her chest.

Without Phil helping her finance the proposed farm-stay construction that would save Hills Homestead, what the hell was she going to do?

‘I better go make those calls,’ he said, and she’d never been more grateful that they’d kept the guest list small, confined to Phil’s two best mates, a few farming acquaintances, and his aunt. Mila had invited her grandad, but he didn’t approve so she doubted he’d turn up; her gran said she’d try to make it, but Tally Bay was a long way from Ashe Ridge; and her brother in London had contracted Covid at the last minute so couldn’t make the trip.

He half-turned before pausing, his gaze sweeping over her. ‘By the way, you look sensational.’

She jabbed a finger at him. ‘You don’t get to compliment me after ditching me.’

‘At least it didn’t happen at the altar.’

‘Lucky me,’ she muttered, her dry response earning a laugh.

‘I’ll reimburse you for any costs,’ he said. ‘Just let me know, okay?’

In that moment, the enormity of what she’d lost—namely, a chance to save the place she loved—hit hard, and she blinked away the unexpected sting of tears.

‘Go make those calls,’ she said, harsher than Phil deserved, and a frown grooved his brow as he cast her a concerned glance.

‘Go.’ She made a shooing motion with her hands and turned away, waiting until she heard the grumble of his ute’s diesel engine before allowing a few tears to fall.

She wasn’t this person. She rarely cried, and she’d be damned if she shed tears over a man who’d been smart enough to see the benefits of a marriage based on friendship and for the good of their respective farms, but had fallen prey to Cupid at the last minute.

‘Screw this,’ she muttered, letting the anger she’d been keeping at bay flow. It filled her with a distinct urge to smash something.

Her gaze landed on a mallet propped against a verandah post. She used it for hammering in garden stakes. But now, it would come in mighty handy for what she had in mind.

She picked it up, weighing it in her hand, savouring its heaviness. Perfect. Glancing at the arbour covered in Australian native flowers about two hundred metres away, she channelled every inch of outrage and marched towards it, fury fuelling every step.

When she reached the arbour she would’ve been exchanging vows under in a few hours, she spent a good minute staring at its natural beauty before hoisting the mallet and taking a swing at it.

Those damn tears must’ve blurred her vision because she missed, and the momentum behind her vicious swing sent her sprawling in the red dirt beneath it, landing heavily on her elbow.

Pain ricocheted up her arm and spots danced before her eyes as she let out a curse. Her day couldn’t get any worse.

‘Need a hand, Gumnut?’

Hell. It just did.

That voice. The nickname.

No way.

It couldn’t be.

Then Sawyer Mann chuckled, catapulting her back to the first time they’d met, and she knew this all-round crappy day was about to get a whole lot worse.

CHAPTER

2

Sawyer knew attending this wedding would be a bad idea. But he owed his best mate Will Hayes, so being his proxy at Mila’s nuptials had seemed a small price to pay when Will couldn’t make it due to the dreaded virus.

Now that he was here, staring at his mate’s little sister sprawled in the dirt as she demolished a wedding arbour, he wished he’d never come.

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