Page 26 of Andrew’s Outback Love

“Dance with me. I’m not a great dancer but I remember most of what I was taught at school.”

Linda slipped her hand into mine and stood.

“I’d loved to. Remember the warning I gave you at the pub about your toes?”

“Yes.”

“Be warned, I have heels on.”

I laughed as I escorted her to the middle of the room and on to the makeshift dance floor. “I know a nurse who can take care of me if I’m injured.”

I spun her into my arms and she wrapped her arms around my neck while mine circled low on her waist, just above the rise of her arse. I was tempted to give it a squeeze but there was no way I was going to embarrass her in public.

She rested her head against my chest and I moved her around the floor in time with the slow music. After a moment, her head snapped up and I wondered what was wrong. No – I didn’t squeeze her arse! See, I knew what you were thinking.

“I meant to ask, did you get the finance or whatever you needed for Bagaay Downs?”

“I did. I spoke with the bank on Tuesday and they loaned me what I needed against the apartment I own, I only needed to borrow half of what it’s worth and I own it outright so it was low risk for them. I had more than two thirds of the asking price in savings so I only have a small mortgage and when I sell in Sydney and move out there, I won’t have a mortgage at all. I contacted my solicitor and called Joe. If all goes well, it will settle and be mine when we go out there in three weeks’ time. I’m catching up with Joe next week to discuss the possibility of neighbors running their cattle on the land. He’s also arranged for me to meet with the traditional owners.” I knew I must be grinning like a fool but I was so damn happy.

“I’m really pleased for you, Drew. You deserve to have your dream come true.”

“I just have to figure out how to make it work so I can live out there full-time. Most of what I do out there doesn’t pay and I can’t live on fresh air alone.”

Linda laughed. “No, you can’t. What do you think you’ll do?”

“I have an idea, but I need to meet with the board at the hospital and discuss it with them first. If they accept my proposal, I should be able to move out there permanently in a couple of years.”

“In the meantime, you’ll work from your new home instead of Barry’s rooms?”

“I was hoping to but now I’m not sure. I didn’t think that through very well actually. My new property is fifteen minutes by car from town and a lot of people probably can’t manage that. Not the people who need me the most.”

“Hmm. Barry’s rooms are old and could do with renovating. Why don’t you talk to him and see if he’s interested in helping you to build somewhere in town? I’m sure there’d be a small block of land somewhere which you could use and you could have it purpose built with an operating room so you wouldn’t need to use the hospital. It would benefit both of you.”

“That’s not a bad idea. I could use the money I was going to use to build something at Bagaay. If Barry was willing to go in with me, it would work very well. I’ll have a talk with him when I’m in Bourke next week.”

Linda nodded and placed her head back against my chest. I traced circles over her back with the fingertips of one hand and felt her shudder.

“Cold?”

She lifted her head and I noticed her eyes had become dark and smoky. “No. When would it be appropriate for us to leave?”

It was what I’d been waiting for all evening – the chance to take her back to the hotel and worship every lush centimetre of her body.

“I’ll go and say goodbye to a few people, give me ten minutes?”

“Sure.”

I rested my hand on the lower part of her back as I guided her through other dancers and back to our table. After she was seated, I dropped a kiss on the top of her head, winked at Ruby who was watching me, and headed off to a find a couple of people I was obligated to speak with.

***

“DR. LOWMAN. DR. LOWMAN. Can I get an interview, please?”

Fuck, I’d forgotten the news stations would still be outside the building. They would have been informed of my win and I should have known they’d be waiting for me, gathered like wolves ready to pounce. Worst of all, it was fucking Candy who was shouting my name.

I held Linda’s hand tight and hurried to the sanctuary of our waiting limo, I’d called the driver as I was saying goodnight to a few colleagues. Thank heaven I’d had the foresight to do so and we didn’t have to wait for it to be brought around.

The driver had the rear door open and I eased Linda inside. That was as far as I got before Candy pounced. She threw her arms around me and slammed her lips against mine. I wanted to throw up at the feel of her cold, wet lips and her bony body pressed up against me. I could see the flashes of cameras lighting up the air around us as I restrained myself and gently pushed the woman away. What I really wanted to do was sit her back on her arse but my mother hadn’t raised me to harm a woman – any woman, regardless of the circumstances.