Page 25 of Covert

As Ebony left the room, Sam wondered if she’d lost her mind. She worked for a man she grew to like more with each passing day, lying to her family about the true relationship they shared, and hoped the two tall tales would never intersect.

She must be nuts.Or desperate.

All she had to do was last a few more months, then she’d tell her parents the truth: that she’d never been involved with Dylan, that she’d been working for him and proved she could earn a living and eke out an existence without the protection of a man.

Surely they would have to believe her then?

16

Dylan sat on the verandah, enjoying the cool night air. Being at Budgeree never failed to invigorate him, every sound and scent wrapping him in a comforting familiarity.

He’d grown up here, sticking close to his dad, learning the ins and outs of the business his dad valued more than life itself. Until Dylan had matured, or so he thought at the time.

Had it been maturity that urged him to abandon his family to spread his wings, traipsing around the world in search of the next best thing? Surprisingly, it had been under his nose all along, but he failed to recognise it.

And his selfishness had killed his dad in the process.

“Feel like some company?”

He looked up at Sam and bit back his first retort of ‘not really’. Funnily enough, she fitted in around here, and it surprised him. It wasn’t her worn jeans, denim shirts, or leather boots that gave that impression; instead, it was a feeling, an instinct that she genuinely belonged in this isolated countryside.

He gestured at the rocking chair. “Have a seat.”

She settled into the chair, the creaking wood reminding him of nights long ago when he used to perch on his mother’s lap and she’d tell him wonderful stories about bunyips and wombatswhile the night sounds of hooting owls and wheezing possums lulled him to sleep.

“You look like you’re doing some serious thinking,” she said, her tone tentative, as if she didn’t want to intrude.

“Rehashing old memories.”

He gazed at the growing darkness, wishing it didn’t feel so damn comfortable to be sitting here with her. He didn’t want to feel this way about Sam. She’d be out of his life sooner rather than later and he’d had enough of losing people who mattered to him.

“Are you. sure I’m not intruding?”

He heard the vulnerability in her voice and wished they had met in another time, another place. He wasn’t ready for a relationship, no matter how wonderful the woman.

Besides, he had enough responsibilities with the family and his dad’s legacy, and he could never shirk them.

Look what happened the last time he’d done that.

“No, it’s nice to have company out here. Usually I’m on my own.”

“Not that you seem bothered by that,” she said. “I get the feeling you’re a bit of a loner.”

“Psychoanalysing me again, Samantha?”

She chuckled, the light sound eliciting an almost visceral response as his gut twisted with longing.

Damn, he had it bad. Though he’d done his best to keep their relationship strictly platonic, he couldn’t forget the few forbidden kisses they’d shared or the way she’d responded to him.

It has been the reason he invited Ebony out here, to act as some sort of Edwardian chaperone. Unfortunately, that plan had backfired as the wayward Ebony seemed to delight in taunting him, and throwing him and Sam together as much as possible.

Though he’d known Sam had worked for the Larkins, he had no idea the two girls were such firm friends. One woman ganging up on him at a time was more than enough.

“You’re too complicated to figure out. Besides, why should I bother?” Her smile lit her eyes. She was one of few people he knew who smiled like that, with her whole face and not just an upward movement of her lips.

“Aren’t you up for the challenge?” He asked, knowing he shouldn’t spar with her but unable to resist.

A gradual warmth started in the vicinity of his chest and spread outward, making his insides do strange things as he contemplated the ways in which he would like to challenge her.

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