Outback Sisters

by Rachael Johns

  ‘Ah … seven years.’ Harriet looked up from social media and the expression on her face said she thought that time period a lifetime—and Frankie supposed it was almost half of Harriet’s.

  Frankie couldn’t help but laugh. If she couldn’t be at the pub with Logan, she could think of no place she’d rather be than hanging out with her nieces.

  * * *

  Of all the ridiculous things her sister and daughters had made her do, going on a blind date with a stranger off the internet was up there at the top, thought Simone as she pushed open the door of The Palace. And she was about to do it in full view of half the town; in lieu of any other nightlife in Bunyip Bay, this was where everyone between the ages of eighteen and eighty congregated on Friday nights. What kind of fool did that make her?

  An optimistic one, that’s what, because the moment she’d seen Logan Knight’s photo on her computer screen, her lady bits had hijacked her brain, reminding her of her non-existent sex life. If Logan looked half as good in person as he did in his profile picture, she was going to give this her best shot. She owed it to herself and to her daughters, who, she had to admit, had their hearts in the right place when they’d signed her up for online dating. He’d have to be a nice person as well, of course—she wasn’t about to jump into bed with a nasty pastie.

  As she stepped inside the pub, the familiar smell of beer, cheap perfumes and greasy food wafted over her. The greasy-food aroma had always perplexed her because the food here was uniformly good. Liam, the publican, took pride in his establishment and he was fussy about what came out of the kitchen. Classic rock burst from the surround-sound stereo because that was Liam’s favourite music. He’d had a jukebox for about five minutes a few years ago, but when drunk folk started selecting the Spice Girls and One Direction, he’d sold it cheap on Gumtree. There was usually a pool game to join if you so desired and rarely did things get rowdy. These days, especially with English hottie Drew Noble as police sergeant, people thought twice before putting a foot out of line.

  ‘Hi Simmo, can I get you a drink?’

  She smiled at Drew, who’d appeared beside her. Speak of the devil.

  ‘Would you like to join Rubes and me for dinner?’ he added, gesturing to a table in the dining area. He’d been in Australia less than a year but had already become accustomed to the Aussie practice of nicknaming everyone.

  She followed his gaze to her dark-haired, gorgeous friend, Ruby Jones, who also happened to be Drew’s lucky fiancée. Ruby lifted her hand and waved. Simone wiggled her fingers back and then said to Drew, ‘No, thanks. I’m actually meeting someone.’ She looked nervously around but couldn’t see anyone who resembled Logan.

  Credit to Drew, he didn’t act shocked. ‘In that case, have a good night.’

  ‘Thanks, Drew.’ Simone smiled as he walked back to Ruby. She took a few more steps, trying not to make it too obvious that she was meeting a stranger. What if he didn’t show? Or, gulp, what if he’d somehow already seen her, realised she was years older than her profile picture, and fled out the back? He probably thought her some kind of cougar, preying on younger men on the internet.

  ‘Simone?’ A gravelly voice drawled her name at the same time as she felt a light tap on her shoulder. She spun around and came face to face with a tall, blond man who looked like he’d stepped right off the pages of an RM Williams catalogue. A shiver of awareness slithered through her. He wasn’t wearing a hat but she could imagine him sitting astride a horse and herding sheep. Hell, she could imagine herself sitting astride him and …

  ‘Yes. Hi.’ She blinked—trying to rid that image from her mind before she said something stupid—and held out her hand. ‘You must be Logan?’

  He nodded, shook her hand lightly and then leaned in to kiss her cheek. ‘Sorry about turning up unexpectedly this afternoon, but I was passing through and … well, I couldn’t resist. I’ve really enjoyed getting to know you these past few weeks.’

  Warmth rippled across her skin where his lips had been and she resisted the urge to press her fingers to the spot. It might not have been a raunchy lip-lock but it had been so long since a man had kissed her and it was … nice. His attention made her feel like her own woman, rather than just a mum. ‘Me too,’ she said. ‘Shall we get a drink or find a table first?’

  ‘How about a drink, then we can take it to a table? There seems to be plenty to choose from.’ He smiled warmly and then touched his hand to her elbow, indicating for her to go ahead of him. She felt a number of curious eyes on them as they walked to the bar. They’d be the number one topic of conversation among certain folks over the next few days, but for once, Simone wouldn’t mind the gossip. She had no qualms about rumours involving her and this guy doing the rounds. It would make a nice change from chatter about Harriet and her teenage delinquent boyfriend.

  Simone smiled and waved politely at acquaintances before they finally arrived at the bar.

  ‘Evening.’ Liam dipped his head and assessed Logan. ‘What can I get for you?’ he asked eventually.

  ‘My shout,’ Logan said, turning to her as he pulled a wallet out of his pocket. ‘What are you having?’

  ‘Just a glass of chardonnay, please?’ She made a mental note to drink it slowly, not wanting to get tipsy in front of her new, very handsome, prospect.

  Logan turned to Liam. ‘A chardonnay and a Coke please.’

  ‘You don’t drink?’ Perhaps she should have opted for a soft drink.

  ‘I enjoy a beer as much as the next bloke,’ he confessed, ‘but I’ve got to drive home and I find it’s easier not to have anything.’

  ‘Fair enough.’ She smiled and an awkward silence descended as they waited for Liam to fetch their drinks. It would be good to ask a question to kickstart the conversation but the problem was she hadn’t had enough time to read through all their correspondence. What if she asked him something they’d already discussed? Her hands grew clammy. What had she been thinking? This was a very bad idea.

  ‘How are Harriet and Grace?’ Logan asked, as Liam handed them their drinks and they started towards a table.

  For a moment his question surprised her, but then she remembered he probably knew a lot more about her than she knew about him and of course her daughters would have ensured they mentioned themselves. They wouldn’t want any potential stepdaddies who didn’t like kids.

  ‘Terrors,’ she said, relaxing a little. The girls were an easy topic of conversation. ‘My sister’s at home with them now as I’m not sure I can trust Harriet. Last year she told me she was at a friend’s when she was actually out joyriding in a stolen car with her boyfriend.’ Hah, she bet Harriet hadn’t told him about that.

  Logan chuckled. ‘She sounds like quite a character.’

  Simone snorted. ‘That’s one word for it. Shall we sit over there?’ She pointed to a table in the far corner of the dining area, where they’d have a little privacy from curious eyes.

  ‘Looks good.’ He got there first and held out a seat for her and she smiled her thanks, while silently noting her approval. Too many men these days had forgotten the art of chivalry.

  As he sat, Simone sipped her wine and surreptitiously took a closer look at him. He had a perfect layer of stubble on his tanned face and his eyes were a lovely dark-chocolate brown. It made her think of Frankie’s famous mud cake.

  ‘So what happened with Harriet and the stolen car?’ Logan asked, leaning back in his seat. ‘Did she get in trouble with the cops? Is she still with the boyfriend?’

  His string of questions reminded her he was a journalist. She bet he found it really easy to get female interviewees to spill gossip, although as a rural reporter he probably wrote up much more serious things. ‘Yes, she’s still with Jaxon. He’s not a bad kid really, just bored. We really need to get a youth club or something happening in town as there’s not much for the teenagers to do after dark or on the weekends. Luckily the car they took was a family member’s, so they got off with a warning. The boys had already been in a b
it of trouble, so they had to do community service, but I think they’ve learned their lesson.’

  He grinned. ‘I got into a bit of strife myself when I was in my teens.’

  She quirked an eyebrow. ‘Now that is something I’d love to hear about.’

  ‘Shall we order dinner first?’ He picked up the laminated menu. ‘Anything you recommend?’

  ‘Well,’ Simone said, ‘everything’s pretty good actually. I usually get the pasta of the day and I always finish with apple pie. No-one makes it like Liam, not even Frankie—but don’t tell her I said that.’

  With a smile and a nod towards the kitchen, Logan asked, ‘Is Liam the chef?’

  ‘No, he’s the publican—the guy who served our drinks—but he’s also an awesome pastry chef. His two cooks do all the meals but he won’t let anyone else make the apple pie.’

  ‘I’ll have to leave room for pie then.’ He turned back to the menu. His brow furrowed in deep concentration as he read and it had to be the cutest thing Simone had seen since Frankie’s kittens. A few moments later he decided. ‘I’m having the snapper. Shall I order you the pasta?’

  Simone dived on her handbag, which was resting by her feet.

  ‘I’m paying,’ Logan said firmly. ‘I turned up out of the blue and asked you out, so allow me.’

  She raised one eyebrow, thinking it could be quite fun bantering with him. ‘Technically I asked you, because I said I could meet you at the pub.’

  ‘It’s going to be like that, is it?’ But his wide smile said he wasn’t annoyed. ‘How about you buy the pie we’re going to share later?’ And before she could reply, he swaggered off to the bar to place their order.

  Simone usually didn’t share her dessert with anyone, but she reckoned she might make an exception tonight. Her eyes followed Logan as he approached the bar, watching as he chatted to the couple of people drinking there while he waited. He seemed so confident talking to strangers—she liked that about him—and she noticed a couple of the young single women gawking at him. An unfamiliar surge of possessiveness and pride rushed through her.

  ‘Who is he? And where have you been hiding him?’ Ruby had taken up residence in Logan’s chair. She was leaning forward, her waist-length straight hair falling over her shoulders, curiosity dancing in her eyes.

  ‘It’s a long story,’ she confessed.

  ‘But a good one?’ Ruby asked.

  ‘I’m hoping so. He’s a journalist-slash-farmer from Mingenew and we’ve just started seeing each other.’ A little white lie was easier than the long, convoluted truth.

  ‘Ooh.’ Ruby smiled her approval. ‘Where did you meet him?’

  ‘Um … Kinda on the internet. What do you think of him?’ she asked before Ruby could interrogate her any further.

  Ruby smirked. ‘Well, I haven’t spoken to him but he looks pretty damn fine from behind. Not that he has anything on Drew, of course.’

  ‘Of course.’ Simone laughed and then a fresh wave of nerves hit her. ‘Oh, Ruby, I haven’t been on a proper date in forever. What if I make a total fool of myself?’

  ‘What about Ryan?’

  Simone grimaced. ‘As I said, “proper date”. Ryan Forrester never thought of me as more than a friend and you know it.’

  Ruby shrugged. ‘Just relax and let your gorgeous personality shine through. By the way, you look hot in that dress. I’m half in love with you myself.’

  ‘Thanks.’

  ‘But he’s coming back, so I’ll leave you to it. Have fun and call me later. I want to know all the details.’ Ruby gave Simone a quick pat of encouragement on her shoulder and walked away.

  Logan returned a few moments later. ‘I think the publican might have a bit of a crush on you,’ he said as he sat down.

  ‘Who? Liam?’ She screwed up her face. He wasn’t that bad looking, but he’d never shown any interest before. ‘People in these parts can be very protective of their own.’

  He nodded. ‘He grilled me about my background and my intentions before he’d take our order.’

  ‘That’s hilarious. What did you tell him?’

  ‘I told him my intentions were honourable but none of his business.’

  She couldn’t help but laugh. ‘And here I was hoping your intentions were entirely dishonourable.’

  He winked in reply and the smile she’d had on her face since she’d turned around and seen him for the first time grew a little more. It appeared flirting was like riding a bicycle after all, yet once again she racked her brain for something she could ask him. Conversation needed to be two-sided and so far he’d made most of the effort. Why had she spent so much time worrying about her outfit when she should have been memorising his profile and reading their emails? She couldn’t even remember his star sign, never mind anything about this family.

  She took another sip of wine. Maybe she could ask him for a quick refresher, tell him she had a shocking memory or something. But that might remind him of their unfavourable age difference. Maybe she could say she’d been drunk during their online interactions, but that would make her sound like an alcoholic. Argh!

  ‘I’ve just got to pop to the ladies’,’ she said, practically leaping from her chair and rushing towards the pub’s conveniences. He looked slightly confused at her sudden departure. Great, now he probably thought she had a bladder problem. She’d barely bolted the cubicle door before she had her phone out and Frankie on speed dial.

  ‘Hey, sis. How’s the date going?’

  ‘Can you check Logan’s profile for me? I need a topic of conversation but I don’t want to ask him something I’m already supposed to know.’

  Frankie laughed. ‘Are you serious?’

  ‘Yes,’ Simone whispered, her heart racing. ‘He’s really nice and good-looking and funny and I don’t want to blow this by making him think I’m a forgetful fruitcake.’

  ‘If he sticks around, he’ll find out eventually,’ Frankie pointed out.

  ‘Not helpful, sis. Please?’

  ‘Okay, why don’t you ask him about the articles he’s written lately?’ Frankie suggested after a brief pause. ‘Most guys love talking about themselves, don’t they?’

  ‘Good idea. Thanks.’

  ‘No worries. Where are you anyway? At the bar?’

  ‘No,’ Simone admitted, glancing around the cubicle, eyeing the graffiti scrawled on the dull beige walls. ‘In the bathroom.’

  If Frankie had sounded amused before, she positively cracked up now.

  ‘It’s not funny,’ Simone hissed, thankful no-one else was in the restroom.

  ‘Actually, it is a little bit,’ Frankie said once she’d recovered. ‘But I’m sorry. Have a good night and call me again if you need to.’

  Feeling like a nervous teenager, Simone disconnected, silently thanking the Lord above for her sister. Checking her reflection in the mirror, she reapplied her lipstick, took a deep breath and then went back out to her date.

  Chapter Three

  Logan smiled as Simone approached after her mad dash to the bathroom. Although she was a few years older than her sister, they were physically very alike. Simone had shorter hair—her red locks hung in chaotic waves to just above her shoulders, a little unkempt as if she’d just tumbled out of bed. But aside from that one difference, she and Frankie could almost have passed as twins.

  ‘You okay?’ he asked as she lowered herself into her seat and dropped her handbag to the floor again.

  ‘Great.’ She smiled brightly. ‘So, tell me about some of the articles you’ve written recently?’

  ‘Ah, you don’t want to hear about that.’

  ‘Of course I do.’ She waved her hand and almost knocked over her wine glass. ‘Whoops,’ she said, righting it quickly.

  Was she nervous? He found that endearing and decided that talking about himself for a bit might help put her at ease.

  ‘Well, not too long ago I did an article about online dating in the bush,’ he confessed. ‘That was enlightening. I went into it thinking th
at the success rates would be low, but I was pleasantly surprised. The paper got lots of feedback from people wanting to share their stories.’

  ‘Is that why you signed up to the site?’

  He deliberated, wondering if he should tell the whole truth or just a portion of it. ‘Did we never talk about this?’

  She shrugged one shoulder and half-smiled.

  ‘All right, I’ll be honest. I signed up for Rural Matchmakers simply because I couldn’t get a proper look at the site without being a member. Until then I’d never contemplated meeting potential partners on the internet.’

  ‘Me either.’ She made a face and then added, ‘Until recently I mean. Go on.’

  ‘I like to be thorough in my research, so I uploaded a photo and filled in my details. I didn’t really expect to get much response, but the next morning I woke up to literally hundreds of messages. I deleted most of them—it’s amazing what you can tell about a person from what they say online—but something about you stood out.’ He shrugged. ‘I couldn’t help myself, I responded and … well, you know the rest. I feel like I know you almost as well as I know some of my oldest friends; probably better than I know my family.’

  Her cheeks flushed and she glanced down at her wine glass. Shit, maybe that admission was a little creepy; he didn’t want to scare her off.

  ‘Too full-on?’

  ‘No.’ She licked her lips and smiled at him.

  ‘To be honest, I also started investigating the whole online dating thing because of Angus.’

  ‘Your …’ She sounded as if she’d forgotten who he was. Poor girl was obviously nervous.

  ‘My brother,’ he clarified. ‘As I’ve said, he’s been single a long while now and I think it’d be great for him to get out there again. I thought if the online dating thing worked for me, then maybe I could convince him to consider it.’

  Simone opened her mouth as if to say something, but they were interrupted by the arrival of their meals.

  ‘Hi Simone, Hi …’ The young waitress’s voice trailed off as she put two plates down on the table and looked to him. ‘And who are you?’