Her Outback Surprise

by Annie Seaton

  Liam grinned back at him and jumped into the car. He belted up and waited till the operator turned the cars on. The whirr of the electric motor kicked in as he depressed the pedal with both eyes firmly on his target. Round and round the circular track they went. Every time Angie got closer, Liam pushed the pedal down and wrenched the car in the opposite direction, trying to get to the back to sneak up on her. The longer they played cat and mouse, the more determined he was to win. Screams of delight filled the small space as cars rammed into each other. The wheels rumbled on the timber floor, and the electricity crackled as the whip dragged across the roof. A kid yelled from the car in front of him as the car stopped dead and Liam wrenched the wheel to the left to miss it. He took his eyes off Angie for a second and when the car lurched forward again, he looked up but her car was gone. He twisted his head to the left but she wasn’t there.

  An excited squeal reached him at the same instant a car slammed into the rubber at the back of his car.

  “Winner, winner, chicken dinner.” Angie’s triumphant yell rose above the rumbling noise.

  Liam turned around and she gave him a thumbs-up. Her laugh was wonderful to hear. It was worth losing just to hear that. The cars came to a stop and they climbed out. Angie walked over with a wide smile.

  “Ghost train now.”

  He grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the enclosure and up to the building that the train was in. “I’ll do you a deal. You come with me and I’ll shout you a battered sav and a beer.”

  She batted her eyelids at him. “Oh, how can I resist an offer like that?”

  They waited at the booth for the operator to appear. Gruesome noises and screams came from the building and Liam caught her eye. Angie’s face was flushed with a rosy glow and she looked really happy.

  Liam paid for their tickets and they climbed into one of the small wagons of the train. As it pulled into the darkness, a huge white figure swooped in front of them, and goddammit, if he didn’t jump a mile. Angie cackled and her body shook with laughter.

  “It wasn’t that funny,” he said. “I didn’t get a fright. I jumped because we went over a bump.”

  “Sure you did.” Her giggles lasted for the whole circuit and when they came back into the light her eyes were bright with laughter. “Do you want to go again, or are you too scared?”

  “No, I need to eat,” he said, his lips twitching.

  “Thank you. That was fun.” Angie grabbed his hand. “And the battered savs are my shout.”

  Liam waited at the back of the queue as Angie stood near the caravan that was selling all manner of greasy but great-smelling food. After a few minutes she turned and walked towards him holding two huge battered saveloys on long sticks. As she approached, Liam caught sight of Lucy heading their way pushing the pram. He grabbed Angie’s arm. “Quick, straight to the beer tent. We’re about to get sprung eating.”

  They pushed through the crowd and found a spare table in the back corner near the path that led to the pavilion. The tent was almost full and the conversations washed around Liam as he went to the bar and came back with two cans of beer.

  They sat together, content to watch the crowds walk past as they ate.

  Finally, Angie wiped her mouth with the napkin. “That was disgustingly good.”

  “It was. You want another one?”

  “Oh no.” She held up her hand and covered her mouth. “I’m done.”

  Liam leaned back on the plastic chair and took a drink of the beer. The cold liquid soothed his parched throat.

  “You really have settled well into outback life, haven’t you, Angie?”

  “Yes. I love it here in the Pilliga Scrub.” She lifted her chin as she spoke, as if challenging him to dispute it. “It’s a great community. And I’m staying.”

  “So do you reckon your Grant will come and live out here with you one day?”

  “G…Gr…Grant? Who?”

  When she hesitated, Liam was sorry he’d brought it up. The happy, comfortable mood fizzled in an instant.

  “Oh, you must mean Hugh?”

  Liam forced a laugh. “Drat, if I don’t get his name mixed up every time.”

  “Look, Liam, I have to tell you—”

  Liam waved his hand. “Don’t worry, none of my business anyway. Look, here comes Lucy. She looks like a woman on a mission.”

  “Hey, you pair,” Lucy called from outside the tent. “I’ve been looking for you everywhere.” She looked at them curiously as she parked the pram beside the table. “Everything okay?”

  “Yes, all good. I walloped Liam in the dodge ’em cars.”

  “No you didn’t. I lost on purpose so we could snuggle up in the dark on the ghost train.” This time he dropped his voice suggestively. He couldn’t help himself and the look that Angie shot back as she stood was not pretty, although he was pleased to see the blush that crept up her cheeks.

  “You did not! I beat you fair and square, so man up and admit it.” Angie glanced at her watch. “Thanks for the beer, Liam. I’m going over to the animal nursery now. I’m helping supervise the kids.”

  “I’m going there, too. Coming, Liam?” His cousin’s voice was sweet but the look on her face was far from it.

  “No.” He knew his voice was gruff but he didn’t care. “I’m staying here.” Why had he gone and ruined their fun with that stupid question about that bloke?

  Chapter Thirteen

  “I can’t wait until James is old enough to feed the baby animals.”

  Lucy stood beside Angie as they looked over at the children cuddling a variety of baby animals. Newly hatched chicks, baby lambs, and ducklings sliding down the waterslide provided a source of entertainment for the younger—and many older—show-goers.

  “Don’t wish him to grow up too quickly.” Angie stared out over the young children. The way she was going, she’d never have to worry about that.

  “Come on, Angie, cheer up.” Lucy smiled at her. “This is your first Spring Downs show. Don’t let Liam get you cranky. We’ve got the whole night ahead of us, now that you’ve finished your judging. Besides, you’ve really got him rattled with this man of yours.”

  “I was about to tell him the truth when you called us.” Angie forced a smile to her face, but inside she was miserable. The last thing she’d expected when she moved to Spring Downs was to see Liam here, or to have to deal with her feelings. “Okay, I’m only on the roster here for half an hour. What treat have you got for me next?”

  “Garth can take over James for a while and I think we should do sideshow alley and win you some prizes. What do you say?” Lucy nudged Angie with her hip. “Get that smile back on your face?”

  This time Angie’s smile was genuine. “I think that’s just what I need. A bit of fun, some prizes and something sweet to eat. All I can taste is the grease from—” Whoops. She’d almost slipped up. Lucy had gone to so much trouble to pack a healthy picnic for them.

  “From what?” Lucy frowned.

  “Nothing. Come on, let’s go win a soft toy for this young man.”

  “Okay. You got it! I’ll just go and leave James with Garth, and I’ll meet you there in half an hour? Next to the dodge ’em cars.”

  “See you there.”

  Angie spent the next ten minutes extricating a small girl who’d got her foot caught in the duck waterslide, and passing out brushes to a group of children who wanted to brush the coats of the baby donkeys. By the time she was relieved of her roster duty, and heading to meet Lucy, her good mood was restored. There was no way she was going to let Liam upset her. They’d had such fun together on the cars and on the train, and eating greasy food. If she was honest, he really hadn’t done anything wrong. Until he’d asked about Grant, she’d forgotten about Hugh, or Grant, Hugh Grant, or whoever.

  She was just too damned sensitive. Confidence, she told herself. The time will go quickly. Once the show was over she wouldn’t have to see him again unless he came in with Willow.

  Best laid plans and all th
at, she thought a while later when she and Lucy left the sideshow alley and headed for the fairy floss stall, carrying the three stuffed animals they had won.

  “Ugh, I don’t know how you can eat that stuff,” she said to Lucy.

  “Lucy is renowned for her sweet tooth, aren’t you, cuz?” Angie jumped when Liam appeared beside them.

  “I love it. Makes me feel like a kid again.” Lucy smiled at them as she headed across to the food stall. Liam stood next to Angie, and she focused on staying calm.

  “Still enjoying the sideshow alley, Ange?” He was standing a little too close to her, and she moved away a fraction.

  “I am. I’m having fun.”

  “You fit in well.”

  Angie took a deep breath and injected brightness into her voice. “I love the town, love the people, and love my work.”

  Liam didn’t reply and a strange feeling ran through Angie. She would have loved the confidence to be honest and say what her heart was telling her. What she wanted to say:

  It would be even better if I knew you were going to stay here, too. But Liam Smythe was a career man, and that wouldn’t happen in a million years. The Spring Downs Chronicle, the weekly local newspaper, wasn’t quite the career move for a hotshot journalist.

  Lucy looked at them curiously as she rejoined them. “So what now, guys?”

  “I might head home,” Angie said. Being around Liam was too hard. She had to watch what she said, and he made her thoughts as cloudy as the fairy floss Lucy was holding. The misunderstanding about Hugh was weighing her down, too. Would she ever get over these damn feelings for Liam?

  “Oh, you can’t leave. We’ve got a picnic dinner packed and a big enough rug for everyone to sit on while we watch the fireworks.”

  “Fireworks?” She was stuck here then. Maybe there’d be an emergency call to the surgery, or out to a farm a hundred kilometres away. She could hope for that.

  But probably not. Everyone was at the show.

  “Yes. There’s two firework shows. One at eight so the littlies can go home, and then a bigger display at nine o’clock. Come on, stay and watch with us. I hope I wasn’t assuming too much, but I brought enough dinner for you, too.”

  Angie nodded. “That’s very kind of you, to make me feel welcome. Of course I’ll stay.” She could have sworn that Liam let out his breath when she agreed.

  “Oh Angie, I nearly forgot.” Lucy dug into her pocket and pulled out an envelope. “An invitation for you to James’s christening after Christmas. I meant to give you more notice in case you were going away for the holidays.”

  “No, I’ll be here.”

  Liam turned back to them. “So where’s this sumptuous feast you’ve promised? I’m starving.” The breeze caught his hair, and Angie resisted the urge to reach up and brush it from his eyes. Once she’d had the right to do that, but not anymore. Being in his company was bringing back all of the old feelings. Even though he’d kissed her before—her lips were still tingling—she had no call to touch his hair.

  “We brought most of it in, but there are two food coolers still in the car. I’ll go over and collect Garth and James. Would you two go over and get them out of the ute for me?” Lucy dug into her pocket and passed the keys to Liam.

  “I can get them both. Angie, you go with Lucy.”

  Relief flooded through her. The last thing she wanted was to be alone with Liam again, especially since he seemed to be in a strange mood since he’d brought up Hugh.

  “No, it’ll take two of you. They’re really heavy. Angie, you go with him.” Lucy nudged her.

  Angie fought gritting her teeth. Really, Lucy was being way too obvious. She kept her voice impersonal. “It’s fine, Liam. I’ll help. It’s the least I can do, seeing Lucy is feeding me, too.”

  It was the last thing she wanted to do in the soft evening light—walk all the way through the showground to the car with Liam. Although it would be the time to set him straight about Hugh.

  “Okay.” His deep voice sent a surge of warmth rushing through her.

  The sun had set, and the evening sky was backlit by the lights of the sideshow alley. The sky was painted in a palette of oranges, and pinks, and yellows, and the first star was peeking between the gold-edged clouds. The happy squeals of the children on the rides mixed with the raucous call of crows as they flapped in the darkening sky above them. Angie walked beside Liam as he led the way between the rows of cars. For a while the silence was awkward.

  “There’s much more interest in the show than when I was a kid,” he said.

  “It’s good to see so many people supporting the local community.”

  Their conversation was stilted, and Angie put her hands in her pockets, trying to work up the courage to bring the conversation around to his misunderstanding about Hugh being her boyfriend. The longer she left it, the more it sounded like she was pretty much saying she was available and that was not what she meant—or wanted—at all.

  It wasn’t. If I tell myself often enough, I’ll believe it, too.

  They walked along in silence as Angie’s thoughts scurried around for a way to bring the subject up.

  The last time they’d walked together had been along the Embankment in London, and Liam had taken her up on the London Eye. She closed her eyes for a moment and took a breath as she remembered. She hated heights and he’d convinced her she had to tick it off her bucket list. It had been a few weekends before she’d found out she had to go home.

  He held her hand firmly in his as they negotiated the crowds across the Millennium pedestrian bridge, along the Queen’s Walk to the London Eye Pier. They stopped at Doggetts Coat and Badge pub for a beer and Liam held her hand at the table, rubbing his thumb over her skin. When they got into the passenger capsule, he held her even tighter, because he knew how scared she was. When they reached the top, not worried about the others on the ride with them, he gently brushed her eyes closed with his fingertips and kissed her lips, until she forgot she was more than a hundred metres above the Thames River.

  He’d been gentle and kind in those days, and she’d loved him for his thoughtfulness.

  Angie jumped as Liam stopped ahead of her and spoke. “It’s a bit like the London Eye, isn’t it?”

  God, is he a mind reader as well now?

  “What is?” She kept her voice calm, even though her heart was racing from the memories of that kiss.

  Liam pointed back to the sideshow alley, and she let her gaze follow his finger. The Ferris wheel was lit up as it moved slowly and ponderously in a circle. The colourful lights cast garish shadows on the tents of the sideshow alley where the showmen were hawking their games.

  Angie shivered and Liam smiled down at her. “Do you want a ride on the Ferris wheel?”

  “No. I don’t.”

  “I thought the open buckets wouldn’t appeal. What if I held your hand?”

  “Liam.”

  And then, damn him, he remembered, too. “Or I could kiss you like I did on the London Eye.” His voice was soft but his face was shadowed. “What do you reckon, Ange?”

  “Liam,” she repeated, and her voice was prim. “What are you trying to do? Get me cranky? Tease me? Or what?”

  “Hell, Angie. You want me to be honest?”

  “I don’t know.”

  Liam turned away from her and ran his hand through his hair. “I’ll tell you one thing. I missed you when you left London.”

  “You had no one to cook for you?” Angie’s heart was thudding so hard, it was hurting. Why is he doing this?

  “Don’t be nasty. It doesn’t suit you.”

  “Well, stop trying to revisit the past. Those days are long gone. We’ve moved on, and we have to make the most of it. Being thrown together in this small town is…difficult.” She looked up at him as he turned to face her. “It’s awkward for both of us.”

  “Yes, I’ll admit it. It’s hard, but it doesn’t have to be, Angie.”

  “Oh, yes it does. What do you want to do? Take up where
we left off?” Her voice cracked. “Have a fling until you go back to Sydney, or your career, or London, wherever you end up? And leave me here to pick up the pieces after you go?”

  There was no way she could tell him that there was no Hugh, no boyfriend, after those words he uttered. What did he mean when he said it didn’t have to be hard?

  One word from him and he thought I’d come running?

  “No, I don’t. What pieces?” He moved closer and his voice, soft but deep, was almost her undoing.

  “You’ll move on, and I’ll have the reputation of being available for the occasional fling. I have to live in this town. Surely you remember what gossip mills country towns can be?”

  “So, if it wasn’t for the gossip, I could entice you?” Liam reached out and his hands held her shoulders gently. Angie could feel her bottom lip begin to tremble. Being almost in Liam’s arms was heaven and hell, all wrapped into one.

  She bit her lip to stop it shaking and looked up at him. “Please don’t, Liam. Don’t do this to me.” She tried to step away from him, but the ground was uneven and she stumbled. “Please.” Her voice was a whisper.

  “Do what?” His head came closer to hers; close enough to feel the whisper of his breath on her lips.

  Angie kept her eyes on Liam’s as his head dipped closer. She held her breath and watched as a muscle jumped in his jaw. For all his words, he was as skittish as she was. She lifted her chin a notch, about to challenge him, when his lips swooped on hers. She should have struggled but instead she reached up and gripped his arms. Her lips opened to welcome a kiss that was a mix of desire and anger, and she returned it as though it had only been hours rather than long months since he had last held her in his arms.

  Gradually, the anger receded and his lips clung gently to hers, as though he was reluctant to finish the moment and let her go. Angie held his arms firmly, this time pushing him away as she turned her head from his lips. His mouth slid gently across her cheek and she sighed. The first time Liam had kissed her, he had feathered a kiss across her forehead, slid soft lips across her cheek, until he had teased the corner of her lips. She had never forgotten it. The memory still gave her goose bumps.