The Wedding Challenge by Jessica Hart

Author:Jessica Hart
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-10-14T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

ON THE third day of the visit, Chase had succumbed and agreed to let the guests take part in the muster. Bea got up even earlier than usual to send them all off with a big breakfast and, while the stockmen were saddling up the horses, Chase gave Bea instructions as to how to reach the stopping place. ‘Can you bring lunch out to us? We should be there just after midday.’

He drew her a map on the kitchen table, but Bea was distracted by his deft brown fingers moving over the paper in swift, sure movements, marking out paddocks and creeks and dams. He was leaning on the table next to her chair, his arm very close to hers, his shirt carelessly rolled up. She could see the fine, flat hairs at his strong wrist and the frayed strap of his watch.

Bea could feel herself being drawn irresistibly into the hard body so close to hers, a terrifying feeling, and the image of giving and simply suckering against him was so vivid that she had to lean right over the other way in compensation. Chase cast her a curious look.

‘Have you got that?’

‘Um…yes,…over the third cattle grid…’

Chase sighed and straightened. ‘Don’t forget to bring this with you,’ he said, pushing the paper towards her. ‘If things get really bad, Chloe can probably show you the way.’

It was a huge relief when he moved away.

Outside, the horses were ready, shaking their heads up and down and jingling their harness, as the guests milled excitedly around. Bea took out some flapjacks for them to have at smoko, and they commiserated with her for being left behind.

‘I don’t mind,’ said Bea, not entirely truthfully. ‘Musters aren’t really my thing.’

They weren’t, of course, but it didn’t stop her feeling left out when she eventually found them all sitting round a fire with Chase and the stockmen, waiting for the billies to boil. The horses were tethered nearby, and wherever Bea looked there were cattle browsing, grateful for a pause in being herded headlong through the bush.

‘Here they are!’ cried Janet, and waved as Bea drew up and parked Chase’s big four-wheel-drive in the shade.

Chase turned to see Bea jump down from the driver’s seat and reach back inside for a basket of sandwiches. She looked gloriously out of place as usual in tailored shorts and a pale pink shirt, with pearls, for God’s sake. He was surprised she wasn’t wearing high heels.

Her hair was dried into a neat, conker-brown bob that swung as she walked towards them, Chloe running ahead. When she got closer, Chase could see that she had her aloof expression on, the one which meant that she was more unsure of herself than she wanted to admit.

He got up to take the basket from her. ‘I see you found us.’

‘Eventually,’ said Bea a little tightly, and Chloe tugged at his arm.

‘Bea got lost. She said your map was stupid!’

They all laughed, although Bea’s smile was decidedly frayed at the edges.

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