Obsession Down Under

by MACADAM, LAYNE

“Aren’t you full of surprises? You never told me that.”

  “Well, honey, it never came up.”

  Jessica chuckled and palmed his groin. “I don’t know about that,” she teased.

  His hands tightened on the steering wheel. “Mmm, there’s a lot you don’t know about me, but I’m willing to teach you.”

  “I might hold you to that.”

  “I’m counting on it.”

  When they reached Emu Plains at the foot of the mountains, he explained before she could ask, “It’s named after one of our native birds, the Emu, which incidentally is also on our Coat of Arms.”

  “Do you think we might see some?”

  When she lifted her eyes skyward, he laughed.

  “Not up there you won’t, sweetheart. They’re flightless, but damn, babe, they can run fast. Much like an ostrich to look at but not so pretty.”

  As the car climbed higher they settled into a comfortable silence, Jessie Rose content to enjoy the passing scenery while he concentrated on the road as it wound up the mountain.

  When they reached Katoomba, he cruised into the parking lot at Echo Point. The vista overlooking the gorge and the triple rocky outcrop known as the Three Sisters really was a sight to see despite the dull weather.

  “It’s like a mini Grand Canyon,” Jessie Rose remarked.

  “Yeah, but on a much smaller scale. When you’re finished checking out the view, I thought we’d grab a bite to eat. Travis recommended a café they ate at the last time he and Annie were here, so I thought we’d give it a try.”

  “If it’s good enough for your brother and sister-in-law then I’m sure it will suit us fine.”

  Not much more than an hour later they were back on the road again. Jessie Rose fiddled with the radio dial until she found some country and western music.

  “I must say, I like you’re taste in music,” Whip said.

  “Really? Because not everyone does.”

  “If you look in the console you’ll see quite a selection of country CDs.”

  Jessie Rose rifled through his collection as the miles sped by. They talked about music and sang along to whatever the radio churned out. It didn’t matter that she sang out of tune her enthusiasm made up for it. Just one more thing they had in common.

  Chapter 9

  “Good afternoon, Sleeping Beauty,” Whip said as he detected movement beside him much later.

  “Where are we?” Jessica asked, easing into a stretch.

  “Just outside of Parkes. We can make a pit stop if you’d like, get something to eat, stretch our legs.”

  “Mmm, I could do with a coffee and a pit stop, but not necessarily in that order. I dropped off to sleep, didn’t I?”

  Her tone was apologetic, her face flushed from sleep.

  “Don’t sweat it, it’s no biggie, and you’re still probably getting over the jet lag,” he reassured her.

  “My God, what on earth is that?” she gasped and pointed as the huge dish that dominated the backdrop of the rolling landscape came into view.

  He chuckled. “It’s a radio telescope.”

  “But it’s gi-normous! Seriously, that thing must be a hundred feet or more across. What would you use something like that for?”

  “I guess the most famous would be the Apollo 11’s moon landing.”

  “No way. You’re kidding me, right?”

  “Nah, honest. The world watched Neil Armstrong take his first steps on the moon courtesy of that telescope.”

  “Really?”

  “Ah-huh, unless you’re a conspiracy theorist. NASA asked for The Dish, as we Aussies affectionately call it, to be used in the mission. Two other tracking stations also received signals, but the upshot was that the Parkes’ pictures were so much clearer, NASA stayed with them for the telecast, and Australia saw the moonwalk six seconds before the rest of the world.”

  “Wow, I never knew.”

  “Well, it’s ancient history now,” he said as he pulled into a service station.

  They both got out and used the facilities and then had coffee and a snack before heading back to the car.

  “Would you like me to drive?”

  No fucking way. “Thanks, babe, but I’ve got it covered.”

  “You’ve been driving for hours, Whip, you must be tired. I’ve just had a nap. I’m happy to take a turn.”

  “Gee, ah, it’s a nice offer, Jessie Rose, but nobody drives The Beast but me. You just sit there and enjoy the scenery.” He held the passenger door open for her and waited.

  “The Beast?”

  “That’s what I call this baby.” He tapped the roof twice and slid his Akubra lower on his forehead. “There’s a lot of grunt under the hood. Eight cylinders, to be exact.”

  “Oh, and you don’t think I can handle it?” She squared her shoulders and her chin came up. The look she gave him was just shy of a glare. “I’m quite capable, you know, even if you do drive on the other side of the road.

  “I’m sure you are, and it’s not that. I just, ah, thought you’d, ah, rather take in the scenery.” He rubbed the back of his neck as he spoke.

  Her raised eyebrows and tight lips had him thinking she was going to insist, but she climbed in. He closed the door and walked around to the driver’s side. Call him a chauvinist if you like, but no way was he going to be chauffeured around by a woman. Hell, he even disliked his brothers driving him. But when he was in The Beast, he was in the driver’s seat. End of story.

  As he engaged the gears, he was glad she hadn’t pushed the point and rewarded her with a grin. “All set?”

  “Yes, ready and eager,” she replied with a wink, and he set the car in motion.

  They settled into a comfortable silence as the road snaked in an endless obsidian ribbon over the undulating hills. They were heading for Dubbo, a large rural town less than two hours away where they would spend the night.

  The scenery changed the farther they motored, and the drought conditions became more obvious as they neared the city.

  “Is there anything special to see in Dubbo?” she asked as their destination came into view.

  “Sure, there’s the Western Plains Zoo and an old convict jail, both are worth a visit if you’re interested.”

  “Is there time for both?”

  “It’s your holiday, babe, there’s time for anything you want to do.”

  “I’m in your hands, Cowboy, wherever you take me will be just fine,” she replied as he turned into a motel just off the main street.

  The rest of the afternoon was taken up checking out the old jail and shopping for souvenirs. Jessie Rose must have taken a hundred snapshots and walked them almost as many kilometers up and down the streets, looking for the perfect gifts. After a late-afternoon coffee, they agreed on dining at a Chinese restaurant that was within easy walking distance of their motel. On his suggestion, she selected dishes to share while he chose a white wine from the Margret River region on the West Coast.

  As they strolled back to the motel, his arm wrapped around her waist, Jessica said, “Thanks for a delightful day and for dinner. It was great, Whip, but next time it’s my treat, and I don’t want to hear you making a fuss about it either.”

  “Listen to me Jessie Rose,” he replied, unlocking the door to their room. “I’m the man, so I’ll pay. Besides, you’re in my country on my invitation, so it’s my treat. Agreed?”

  Her mouth straightened into a tight line. “Paying for my airfare was more than enough.”

  He softened his tone and stroked her arm. “Humor me, babe. I don’t want to see you reaching for your purse every time we have a meal, okay?”

  “And I don’t want you paying for me at every turn, okay?”

  She gave him a smile, and he returned it with interest. S
talemate.

  Jessica studied Whip. The man was an enigma. Big, strong, and so damned old-fashioned, but that was part of his charm. And, truth be told, she found it rather endearing. She’d been taking care of herself for a lot of years now and didn’t like feeling beholden to him, but his sexy eyes held determination. She was sensible enough to choose her battles and this was one she’d save for another time.

  “Whip, I know you have strong feelings about this, but please understand this is hard for me to accept when you’ve already been so generous.”

  “Don’t worry about it. Money is not an issue. You just have a good time and leave the finances to me,” he said as he began to nuzzle her neck.

  He really was incorrigible, but so darn gorgeous. She slipped into his arms, and the thought skittered across her mind that if she wasn’t careful, she could find herself head over heels in love with the Cowboy.

  The next morning was spent at the zoo. Not your typical caged-animals zoo. These animals roamed free in large, fenced paddocks. Whip had opted to drive from one enclosure to the next rather than cycle or walk, due to time constraints.

  “Wow, it was like being on safari,” Jessica said as they left Dubbo behind and started on the last leg of their journey to Highland Glen.

  “Glad you enjoyed it.” He took the mobile phone from his pocket and handed it to her. “Give Travis a call for me. Tell him we’ll be home about half seven and we’ll be expecting dinner.” When she gave him a questioning look, he said, “The cops take a very dim view of anyone caught chatting on the phone while driving, and my blue tooth’s in for repairs.”

  “Sure, okay.” She scrolled through the contact list. There were a few numbers under Travis, so she chose his cell number. “It’s ringing.”

  “About time you turned your fucking phone on. Drew and Mark are driving me nuts bitching about doing your chores while you’re down in Sydney too busy banging your brains out to even give us a call. So I guess your lack of communication means she wasn’t hit with the ugly stick.”

  When Travis drew a breath, she butted in, “Well, I don’t know, Travis, perhaps you can judge for yourself when we meet tonight. We’ll be in about seven-thirty, and Whip would like us all to dine together.” She contained a giggle and waited for him to respond, but the silence on the other end was profound. “Are you still there?” she prompted.

  “Um, yeah, ah, sorry about that, Jess. I thought, ah, um . . . oh, forget it. I’ll see you tonight when you get in. I’ll be the one with ‘dumbass’ written across my forehead.”

  “I’ll look forward to it.” She laughed and disconnected the call. “I think I’m going to like your twin. So ugly stick, hey?”

  “What can I say? My brothers are idiots, but don’t take offense. My name will be mud, but you’ll get a lot of mileage out of that little blunder. Travis will turn himself inside out trying to make amends.”

  Chapter 10

  It was just on dusk and the crimson sky was fading to navy as Whip turned off the highway and slowed to a stop.

  They’d arrived. The entrance to the property was impressive. A rendered cream wall fifteen feet long stood on one side of the gravel road. At its peak the highest pillar reached six feet and curved down in a sweeping line to its lowest point of three feet. A mirror reverse wall stood on the other side. Thick charcoal lettering depicted Highland on one wall and Glen on the other. A black-barred metal gate hung between the two columns and proclaimed the entrance to Whip’s home.

  “I’ll get the gate,” she offered, sliding out before he could move.

  Whip drove on through, and she pulled the big gate closed and secured the latch.

  “One down, two to go,” he informed her as she climbed back into the Ute.

  After she’d closed the third gate and gotten back into the car, Whip continued along the uneven road. The property was much larger than she’d imagined, and the big house when it came into view was a pleasant surprise. Magnificent and dazzling were two words that popped into her mind.

  Someone had turned on the outside lights, throwing the huge two-story sandstone house into display. A grand dwelling from a bygone era. She couldn’t have imagined a more beautiful home. It could easily have been built in the late eighteen hundreds, but you wouldn’t know that from the impeccable condition. She could hardly wait until morning to get a proper look.

  The vehicle came to a standstill in front of the house, and Whip cut the engine.

  “Be it ever so humble.”

  “There’s nothing humble about your home. It looks amazing.” This was so different from the three bedroom bungalow she’d envisaged.

  “Here comes the welcoming committee,” Whip announced, indicating the three men and a woman who spilled out onto the wide wraparound veranda. “Didn’t think it’d take them long once they heard The Beast. You ready for the onslaught, babe?”

  Before she had time to nod or say yes, her door was yanked open, and a younger version of Whip stuck his head in and took her by the arm.

  “Welcome to Highland Glen Jess. I’m Mark, Whip’s youngest brother, the good-looking one,” he said by way of introduction and helped her out of the car.

  “If you believe that, Jess, you’ll believe anything.” Another young man appeared, shouldering Mark aside. “Hi, I’m Drew, and as you can plainly see, I’m the good-looking one. He’s the comedian.”

  “Would you two clowns back off and give the girl some space?” Whip materialized at her side.

  Jessica extended her hand to the young men. “No ugly sticks here either, Whip. They’re both handsome.” She laughed, joining in the fun.

  “That’s a matter of opinion.” Whip groaned and, grasping her arm, led her up onto the veranda. “Do us a favor you two and bring in the luggage,” he threw over his shoulder.

  The woman on the veranda, a petite redhead, was dwarfed by the man standing beside her. Jessica knew at once he was Travis.

  “Welcome, Jess, it’s going to be so much fun having you here.” The redhead stepped forward and gave her a hug. “I’m Annie, and this big dope here is my husband, Travis, who only opens his mouth to change feet.”

  “What can I say, Jess? I’m a mere male. Do you forgive me?” His sheepish expression had her heart fluttering. He was the dead ringer of Whip.

  “With a face like that, how could I not?” She stood on tiptoes and planted one on his cheek. “All is forgiven.”

  “This is all very cozy, but isn’t anyone going to say g’day to me?” Whip asked.

  “Oh you big baby, of course we missed you, and it’s good to have you home so soon.” Annie hugged Whip, then gave him a playful punch in the upper arm.

  “Next time when I tell you to call me, call me.” Travis chimed in, throwing his twin a stern look.

  “I hope everyone’s hungry,” Annie said.

  “I don’t know about anybody else, but I could eat the crutch out of a low-flying duck,” Drew answered as he dumped the bags by the stairs.

  “Me, too, I’m starving,” Mark agreed.

  “Well, you’re both out of luck because duck crutch isn’t on the menu. I’ve cooked a lamb roast, so both of you get yourselves into the kitchen and help me dish up.”

  “I’ll help,” Jessica piped up. At least by pitching in she could show her gratitude. She wasn’t the type who needed to be waited on hand and foot. Her upbringing had seen to that. Although an only child, she hadn’t been spoiled or pampered. Her parents had been very strict and set daily chores she didn’t dare shirk.

  “Thanks, Jess, but there will be time enough tomorrow for you to find your way around the kitchen. Just take a seat, and Travis will pour you a drink.”

  “Okay, but I’m not a bad cook, so tomorrow night it’s my turn, agreed?”

  “Um, okay, if you insist.”

  Di
nner with the family was a noisy, rambunctious affair with ample food, free-flowing beer and bubbly, a little needling, and a lot of laughter. Jessica, despite being the center of attention, wasn’t overwhelmed. She was made to feel like one of the family, answering questions and giving as good as she got. But by the time coffee and dessert were finished, it was late.

  She placed her coffee cup back on the saucer. “That lemon meringue pie was delicious, Annie,” she praised, dabbing her mouth with the napkin to hide her yawn.