Summer Down Under

by Pensy, Alison

Chapter Ten

  Without thinking Sam ran up to him, threw her arms around his waist and laid her head against his chest. He hesitated at her reaction for a split second before wrapping his arms around her. She breathed him in, and it was the same spicy masculine scent that haunted her dreams. Then she realized what she was doing and quickly pulled away, casting a sheepish glance to the floor.

  “Um, sorry,” she mumbled as she regained her composure. “Homesickness will do that to you. See a familiar face and you to lose all sanity.”

  “You’re homesick?” he asked with concern.

  She held her thumb and forefinger up and opened them half an inch.

  “Just a tad. It happens when I move onto somewhere new and don’t know anyone.”

  “Well, you do now.” He smiled a warm, welcoming smile.

  “Yeah, I guess so. Anyway, what on earth are you doing here?” She finally got around to asking.

  “I live here. Well, not here in the hotel, obviously.”

  Sam noticed his cheeks flush.

  “I came into town with Mum and Dad,” Daniel continued. “They’re picking up an English gir…” his voice trailed off and his eyes grew wide as realization crept across his face.

  “…To help on their sheep station for the season.” Sam finished his sentence for him.

  “You?” he said, stunned by his own announcement. “You’re Sophie’s friend?”

  Sam raised her eyes to the heavens. Sophie, of course. Sam had told Sophie all about meeting Daniel in Bali. Sophie never even hinted that she might know him. The little minx had arranged all this, and Sam could kiss her right now. No wonder Sophie seemed so anxious for Sam to take the job. Oh, she was good. Sam had absolutely no idea what her friend was scheming.

  “I guess that would be me, yes,” she replied, still reeling from seeing the man who had frequented her every waking minute since last seeing him two months ago.

  Excitement caressed Daniel’s face only to be replaced by a horrified expression a moment later. “Oh, bloody hell,” he blurted.

  “Whatever’s wrong?”

  “You can’t tell my mum or dad that we met in Bali.”

  “Why ever not?” Sam asked, startled by his outcry.

  “Because Dad would never let you work for us if he thought there was anything between us,” Daniel explained. “He’s really old fashioned that way, doesn’t want me having any distractions while I’m supposed to be working.”

  “But there isn’t anything between us,” Sam lied, knowing full well that given the chance, every muscle in her body would betray her right now.

  “Sam, I’m begging you. Please don’t tell him. I thought I would never see you again, but here you are...” he looked around the room and shot her a look of confusion, “...in the men’s toilets.” The confusion in Daniel’s eyes turned to pleading.

  Sam had to admit, she didn’t particularly want to have traveled eighteen hours just to turn around and go back.

  “Okay, no worries. I won’t breathe a word, but we better get out there pretty quick because he knows you’re in here, and I know he saw me walk in here, too.” With that comment, Daniel’s expression changed from pleading to amusement. He raised one of his gorgeous eyebrows in question.

  “What are you doing in here, anyway?” he asked.

  “Wrong door.” She shrugged, as if it was a totally normal thing for her to do.

  Daniel opened the door for her. She noted that he did the gentlemanly thing so well. They walked out into the reception area where they could see his mum and dad standing over by the bar. His parents turned towards the couple as they approached.

  “Oh, I see you found our new jillaroo,” Paul retorted sarcastically. “Odd place to find her, though. Wouldn’t you say, Son?” He faked stifling a laugh, and Sam could feel her cheeks burn.

  Daniel looked at her with apologetic eyes and she smiled back, trying to make him feel better.

  His parents ordered drinks for them both as they explained to Sam there was another fifty miles to go before they got to their homestead, so it was nice to have some refreshments first.

  “Sam...Sam...Sam?” Paul repeated. “Where have I heard that name before?” Then his expression gave away the fact that he remembered where he had heard that name before. He turned to Daniel with a conniving look.

  “Sam,” he said smugly. “Wasn’t that the name of the girl you had a fling with in Bali?”

  Sam’s eyes grew wide and then she narrowed them at Daniel, making sure his parents couldn’t see her. That explained why he didn’t want his father to know who she was. Fling indeed, did he think she was the kind of person who would sleep with someone after just one day? How dare he? He obviously didn’t understand anything about her. She thought she had gotten to know him quite well in the short time they spent together. She was disappointed that the instincts she had come to rely on so innately had done her a severe disservice.

  Daniel’s cheeks looked flushed and his gaze dropped. Sam imagined he could read her thoughts with the look of thunder on her face.

  “Really?” Sam asked sweetly, as she leaned in front of him to get her drink off the bar, pressing the heel of her boot heavily on his toes as she did so. He let out a small grunt but didn’t say anything. She stepped back once she had retrieved her drink and shot him another angry glare.

  “Sounds like you had a good time in Bali,” she continued, sweetness seeping out of every pore. Then she looked at Paul and said bluntly, “Unfortunately Sam is a fairly common name in England. There were four of us in my class at school.”

  Paul looked satisfied with her answer and the conversation moved onto more formal things. He was adamant that they were to be called Mr. and Mrs. Miller and not by their first names. They were her employers, not her friends. Sam pushed back a swallow and felt like she was shrinking into herself. What kind of people were they? Everyone she’d met in Australia so far was friendly. Suddenly, she felt like she should curtsy or something.

  Sam sighed with an understanding. Everything was fitting together now. Sophie had been very clever not writing down their last name on the piece of paper she’d given her. The Australians were so laid back in every aspect of their lives, Sam hadn’t thought anything of it. Being supplied with only first names seemed pretty appropriate at the time.

  Daniel was right, though. His parents were old fashioned, but after cogitating on it for a moment, Sam decided she could live with that. They knew what they expected from someone and laid it out at the beginning, Sam could respect that. At least she would have no doubts where she stood in the hierarchy, right at the very bottom. They did seem like they’d be fair people to work for, even though Mr. Miller had annoyed her by what he just revealed. She was feeling some animosity towards Daniel right now, but walking away was not on her list of things to do. Fate had brought her here, and because she was a great believer in fate, she had to find out what else it held in store for her.

  Daniel was looking very uncomfortable when she eventually turned to look at him again. She had the feeling it had nothing to do with her crushing his toes.

  The four of them finished their drinks and Daniel picked up Sam’s backpack without hesitation or being asked. They walked outside and Mr. and Mrs. Miller got into an awaiting taxi. Sam was somewhat confused as she was expecting them to have a car. Taking a taxi fifty miles out into the middle of nowhere would surely cost them an arm and a leg. Nevertheless, that was none of her concern, so she got in the back seat beside Daniel. A few minutes later, they were pulling into a small airport. They all got out and Sam followed her new employers like a lost puppy, past several hangers and various types of aircraft, until they stopped next to a plane.

  “You have a plane?” she asked, aghast.

  Mr. Miller puffed up his wiry frame with pride, appreciating the awe that was showing on Sam’s face as she looked over the single prop airplane. “My pride and joy,” he said, running his hand along the gleaming paintwork.

  They were standing
beside a pretty little red and white four-seater Cessna. Daniel held out a hand to help her up into the back seat of the plane. Sam hesitated, still feeling a tad miffed. She looked at him, then down at his hand without expression. After a second, she decided to take the hand he offered as it was a big step up into the plane, and, with her track record, falling flat on her back on the runway in front of Mr. Miller was not something she relished at that precise moment. It was probably best if her clumsiness was kept to a minimum, if at all possible. Daniel gave her a half smile as she accepted his hand. It made her heart flutter, which annoyed her even more. One by one they all climbed aboard. Daniel pulled himself up in the back seat beside her.

  He hadn’t said a word to her since his father’s revelation, but his presence in such close proximity was enough to command her every thought.

  Mr. Miller started his plane and within minutes they were taking off and soaring above the plains below. Sam sat in silence for a while, looking out of the window and enjoying the scenery drifting along below her. She could see for miles, but all there was for miles, was a whole lot of wilderness. She concluded, with a slightly nervous knot now growing in her stomach, that she really was heading to the back of beyond.

  Chapter Eleven

  Sam’s thoughts started to drift once more, and the common sense side of her brain kicked in. If Daniel had told his parents that he had a fling with her, that could mean one of two things. Either he wanted to prove something, that he was capable of getting a girl. She wrote that one off immediately. Someone as handsome and caring as Daniel would have no problem getting a girl. Or, that he actually did like her. She was secretly hoping that it was the latter, but couldn’t be sure and made a mental note to find out, subtly of course.

  With that thought, the familiar feeling of self-consciousness and awkwardness came flooding back. Sam found it hard to imagine someone as handsome as Daniel wanting anything to do with someone as plain and clumsy, as she considered herself to be.

  Trying hard to push the feeling aside, she became aware of a sensation of being watched. She adjusted her focus and could see Daniel’s reflection in the window. His eyes were burning into the back of her head. Sam turned slowly, so as to give him the chance to look away if he didn’t want her knowing he was gazing at her.

  To her surprise, he didn't look away and her gaze fell on his. Instantly, her stomach did cartwheels.

  His eyes were full of what looked like an apology and a hope for forgiveness. Against Sam’s will, her insides melted. She found it hard to stay annoyed with him for long. Her eyes acknowledged his silent request.

  Sam smiled, and his expression turned to one of relief. Hesitantly, he slid his hand across the seat to where hers was resting, covered it and gave it a squeeze. Tingles skittered up her arm making her feel as if she had just touched a live wire.

  He pulled his hand away again, not wanting to risk his parents seeing the connection between them.

  The silence was suddenly broken by Mrs. Miller’s booming voice over the sound of the engine. “Nearly there now. Just up ahead in a few miles, you should see Shalroma come into view.”

  “Shalroma?” Sam asked.

  “That’s the name of our sheep station. They all have one. We’re not quite sure what it means,” Mrs. Miller answered.

  The plane banked to the left and Sam could see some buildings far off in the distance. The buildings looked like a small outpost, clustered together as they were. The plane circled around the homestead once, leaving Sam in awe of its size from above. The house was enormous, surrounded by numerous outbuildings to one side and a swimming pool and tennis courts to the other.

  “We’re here.” Daniel leaned over and whispered in Sam’s ear. His soft lips only brushed her ear for a split second, but it was enough to start some fires.

  “Welcome to our homestead,” Mrs. Miller announced after the plane had landed safely on their airstrip and was pulling up in front of the house.

  Sam stepped out of the plane, looking in amazement at the single story house that lay out in front of her. It looked even more impressive from the ground, and it was now possible to see what some of the outbuildings were. There were caged runs filled with turkeys, chickens, and ducks to the right of the house. Next to where they had pulled up, there was a fuel pump, with three motor-cross motorbikes and a four-wheeler standing to attention beside it.

  “Do you use your plane a lot?” she asked Mr. Miller.

  “Yes,” he replied. “We’ll be going up in her tomorrow to find where the sheep are.”

  Her mind toyed with what he had just said, and, finally, the size of this place started to sink in. Their property was so big that they needed a plane to search for the sheep. Realizing she was holding her breath, she slowly exhaled.

  “Come on, Sam.” Daniel said brightly “I’ll show you to your room, and then we can wash up for dinner. After dinner, I’ll give you a tour of the house if you like?”

  “Yes, I think I would like that very much.”

  He took her bags once more, and she followed him up into the entrance of his home. The door was not locked, but then, she thought, it would have to be a pretty desperate thief to come all this way to steal stuff.

  Daniel led her down the length of the screened deck and through a door at the end. Her room was the first door on the right, after that.

  “We share this bathroom and toilet,” he announced, pointing them out to her as they passed. “My room is the next one down on the right. So if you need me, you know where to find me.”

  Sam poked her head in the room he had pointed to. It was the bathroom, fairly small but functional. The toilet was in a separate room next to the bathroom.

  He placed Sam’s bags on her bed and turned to face her, looking around as he did. He stepped closer and she could feel her body tense, but tried to hide the fact that she was feeling uncomfortable. Sam glanced up as he caught her chin in his hand and looked down at her. Her body wanted to sink into his caress, wanted to know how it would feel, but she stood firm.

  “I can’t believe you’re here,” he whispered. “I thought I would never see you again.”

  She allowed a sheepish smile. “Neither did I,” she replied.

  The familiar awkward feeling that was her constant companion started to coil around her. She pulled away. What was she thinking? She should have never agreed to work there when she found out it was Daniel’s parent’s place. Who was she kidding? She’ll never pull off trying to convince his father there was nothing between them when all she wanted to do at that moment was kiss the smile right off his face. But she needed to know she was more to him than just an imagined fling. That he thought more of her than that. To do that, she resigned herself to the fact that she would have to stick around a bit longer.

  “Thank you for showing me to my room,” she muttered to her feet. “I better get unpacked and have a shower before dinner.” With that, she turned and got to work unpacking her backpack.

  Daniel let out a small sigh and quietly clicked the door shut behind him. Sam closed her eyes. This was not going to be easy. How on earth was she going to be able to work so closely with him when every muscle in her body was screaming out to touch him, but every rational thought in her brain was terrified of the consequences if she did? She straightened. Oh, pull yourself together, woman, she cursed at herself. You are not going to let another man have that much power over you.

  Sam pulled her thoughts together and did a closer inspection of her room. It was small but clean. Just big enough to hold a single bed, a closet, and a dresser. Then she noticed something odd. There were two doors. The one she just came in through and another one on the opposite wall next to the closet. Curiosity got the better of her and she wandered over to the other door, quietly opened it, and stepped outside. She found herself standing at the end of a long corridor that continued to her right. Muffled voices and the clanging of pots were coming from the end the corridor. It was no great leap to assume that must be where the kitc
hen was.

  To her left, the corridor opened up into what looked like a formal dining room that backed up against her bedroom wall, and, she guessed, Daniel’s room, too. Off to the right of the open plan dining room, was a beautiful, almost stately living room. It was decorated very formally with plenty of antiques and what looked like family heirlooms. It didn’t look like it regularly accepted visitors, though. To be honest, she thought it looked more like a museum piece than a ‘living’ room.

  Two of the walls had floor to ceiling bookshelves filled to brimming with books. There was an immense fireplace that took center stage on the main wall, with a russet and cream-colored cowhide in front of it. But the thing that grabbed her attention the most was the wall filled with framed photos, most of them sepia or black and white.

  She crept over and stood in front of the wall of photos. Some of the people in the portraits were dressed in Victorian clothing. In fact, there were generations of different fashions being worn by the people in the pictures. Right in the center of them were two large portraits, one of Mrs. Miller and one of Mr. Miller.

  “That’s our family tree,” a familiar voice said behind her.

  She nearly jumped out of her skin and took in a sharp breath in response. Being so engrossed in the pictures, she hadn’t heard Daniel come in and stand behind her.

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make you jump,” he apologized.

  “No worries. This is an amazing collection of pictures. How far back do they go?”

  “Mum and Dad’s ancestors were actually some of the first people to be shipped here as prisoners from England,” Daniel explained. “That wasn’t anything to be proud of back in the day, but being able to say your family were some of the original white settlers to this country is quite a feat nowadays. This sheep station has been in our family for generations. It will be mine one day.”

  “Wow.”

  They stood side by side for a few more minutes while Daniel explained who a few of the people were, then realizing the shower was beckoning, she politely excused herself. Dragged herself away would have been a more accurate description.