Page 46 of Rough Stock

Craig leaned against the wooden hive, wearing a sexy grin. ‘What do you think? You’ll have them buzzing around before you know it, because I can order the bees today.’

‘But…’ Hearing him tell Finn earlier that he was turning Dustfire into a quarantine station, she knew Craig wasn’t going to sell, not if he was planning future crops. So, this was his way of sweetening the deal to convince her not to sell.

In all honestly, she didn’t want to sell Dustfire—she had to.

‘Listen, my ever-sweet Bee Queen, you’ve always wanted to keep bees.’

‘I wouldn’t know where to start.’ She shouldn’t even be here.

‘You’ll learn fast. I know you will. You gave me the plans to build these hives years ago. From your own research, you told me it was the best style of hive for the bees to handle the outback weather. You’ve always wanted to produce your own honey, and you have this huge list of uses for the beeswax, too. The projects you had were endless.’

‘That’s true.’

‘And…’ He sighed, hands sliding into his jean’s pockets. His voice got low and soft, but his blue eyes never left hers. ‘I’d have to be the only one who knows why you like bees.’

‘Because they pollinate flowers.’ She hugged herself, feeling so exposed. Yet if anyone knew all her secrets, it was Craig.

‘Because busy bees remind you of what you’re like with your mind. I’ve seen you watch them on the laptop, searching for their patterns, and how you stop to watch them in the garden. I know they help keep you calm, knowing that you have to be calm with the bees, so they won’t sting you and die. And believe me, you’re just as sweet as any honey on the market.’

Her ears had to be deceiving her as her fingers ran along the boxed edging, so smooth, yet perfectly joined. ‘You made this for me?’

‘I did. Ages ago. They’re your plans.’

‘You never used it?’

‘I’ve been waiting for you to come home.’

Her heart fell at the words. Oh, how sweet they sounded, like a hum coming from deep in her soul, until her brain caught up. ‘We—I, us…’

‘Hush now…’ He tenderly cradled her face, his blue eyes so intently focused on her. ‘When you said today you didn’t have a job, that’s when I realised why you’re here, because if you were still working for that mob, you’d be on the phone nonstop with the office, tapping away on your laptop, ignoring me, like you used to, long before you got that job in Sydney.’

‘You told me to go.’ She stepped back, feeling cool away from his touch.

‘Because I never wanted to hold you back from your career—where you’ve done some amazing things. Me? I was happy just living on this land and being with you. But I wasn’t going to stand in your way when you needed to see how far you could go. I have always wanted to watch the stars with you, but first, you had to conquer the world. It’s who you are, baby. I get that.’

‘No, it’s not that easy.’ She took another step back with the need to distance herself. Her eyes landed on the hive he’d made for her. A dream hobby that she’d always wanted. ‘Youtoldme to go.’

‘I did. I knew it was something you had to do.’

‘And now?’

He stepped in close, tenderly gripping her arms. ‘This time I’m telling you I don’t want you to leave and I’m not letting you go.’

‘But you did.’ She stepped back, the anger swift. ‘And then you had all those women.’

Thirteen

The scowl Izzy gave him was ferocious. Damn, it was like Craig had gone and betrayed her.

And, in a way, he had.

‘What do you want me to say?’ When he had no way to explain it, either. ‘You left. And it became quite clear that you weren’t coming back—especially when you suggested we live separate lives. That hurt.’ It had gutted him.

‘You hated visiting me in Sydney. All we did was argue.’

‘I don’t do cities filled with morons arguing over car park spaces. And I hated how that job kept you so busy. I felt like the only one making an effort in this relationship, when you put your job first that it stopped you from spending time with me.’ He stabbed at his chest, ignoring the pain in his ribs because a broken heart hurt a hell of a lot more. ‘After that last trip, when I came home alone, knowing it was over, the only way I ever felt anything was when I got on the back of a beast and rode it for eight seconds in a rodeo.’ His chest heaved for air, his ribs squeezing with fire. ‘Yes, it was Russian roulette with the reaper. It was what I’d call my date with Death, wondering when Death was going to call up my name.’

She gasped, stepping away from him. ‘Why didn’t you say anything?’

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