Page 141 of Bodybuilders for the BBW

“And be a bit more open to the fact people have their own goals and their own ways of getting there.” I looked over my shoulder to see the guys moving closer. They had my back, I’d learned that pretty quickly, and they always would. “It’d be a whole lot cooler if you accepted you were a fellow traveller on the road, not the only person who can see a way forward.”

That was the moment when her shoulders drooped, her face falling. I hated seeing it, but also needed it to happen as well. Mandie would bounce back and be twice as bossy, but right now I was creating a check point, one I could bring her back to when she got too crazy.

“So can we jump to the part when we hug this out?” she asked in a small voice. “After I’ve said sorry, that I just wanted things to get better for you.” There was a mischievous glint in her eye as she met my gaze. “I mean look at how this all turned out.”

“You did not just say I told you so…” I growled, taking a step forward and she threw her hands up in surrender. “Pretty sure that means you’re on brick heaving duty.” I punched her in the arm. “You’re always rabbiting on about functional exercise in your videos.”

“Nothing more functional than tossing stone bricks into a pile,” Rhys said with a grin, nodding the mound we’d created.

“Fine…” Mandie rolled up her sleeves, then tossed me her phone. “Get this on film.”

“So I can play it back and gloat each time I watch it?” I asked with a grin.

“Because this is good content.” She looked up at the walls and the decaying roof. “And you’re gonna need me to help out with the shelter. I’ll have a GoFundMe campaign up before the end of the day, a marketing plan by the morning. I know a bunch of influencers who’d love to get behind a community project like this. We can get a working bee going?—”

“Lets start with the work first,” Rhett said, shooting her a dark look. “Everything else can be sorted after the day is done.”

“Well, that was long overdue.” Nan wrapped an arm around my shoulders and gave me a squeeze, despite my filthy state. “You always let your sister ride roughshod over you. A bit of push back is healthy for both of you. Now, I made you your favourite sandwiches…”

I ate them sitting down on an outcropping, Bronson panting at my feet. Mandie had ideas, so many ideas about how to make the process go faster. The guys listened patiently, then directed her to move her arse and get it done the way I told her. I smiled and then took another bite.

Chapter72

Several months later, the day of the shelter opening

Katie

I woke the day of the shelter opening with a start, glancing around me to see I was the only one in our bed.

“Shit…” I hissed, throwing the covers to one side. “Shit!”

Had I slept in? Was everybody here already as I was snoring my head off, oblivious. The room in the shearer’s cottage we had commandeered was completely empty. Not even Bronson had stuck around. It was then I heard the sound of the shower going, so I yanked an old t-shirt on and went to investigate.

“Morning.” Rhett stepped out of the shower, and whoa. All that damp, naked flesh shoved my fears to one side and had me refocussing on him. “I was just about to wake you up.”

“What time is it?” I asked, slapping my body as if that would summon my phone, so he looked down at his watch.

“Just gone eight.”

“Eight!” I yelped and then stripped off, jumping in the shower he’d just vacated. “I was supposed to be up at six!”

“And you went to bed at two am.” He grabbed me around the waist and held me close. “All your hard work has paid off. Everything is done.”

“The food—” I said, trying to wriggle free.

“Garrett is down at the main house chopping up onions with your grandmother. Your mum and dad are bringing down the sausages.” His nose wrinkled. “Including those weird vegan ones Mandie insisted on.” His arms went around me and their damp weight was comforting. “Rhys is up at the shelter with Bronson, feeding the puppies.” We’d gotten our first lot of rescue dogs. A litter of puppies were dumped at another nearby shelter and they offered them to us when it was clear they wouldn’t have the space to home them. “And I need to get in uniform.”

I looked up at Rhett then and smiled.

“First time in months. Are you excited? What kind of appliances is the Country Fire Service going to bring? Are they the cool ones?” I asked.

“They’re all cool,” he replied, stroking his fingers down my cheek, “and yeah, I’m excited. The transfer took a little longer than expected, but…” His lips pressed against mine. “I had this really cool chick to spend it with.”

“You could spend some more time with me.” I looked down, noting the way his body was responding. “Scrub my back?”

His lips twitched as he shook his head slowly.

“I want to. Like really, really want to, but I need to impress the boss and be there on time to show him where to set up. The volunteers need to be organised, and we need to review what we’re going to do for the kids…”

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