Page 22 of Jillaroo from Jacaranda

‘Oh, trust me, I want nothing more than to never have to speak with you again,’ Ty replied. ‘You aren’t welcome in this house, Kelly, and neither is he.’ He stubbed a finger in the air as if poking Ben hard in the chest.

‘He is my fiancé.’

‘Oh, you’re engaged now?’ Cynicism filling him, Ty almost laughed out loud. ‘Isn’t that … nice.’

She held out her finger, displaying a sparkling rock. ‘Yes, and I’m extremely happy.’ She looked over to Ben. ‘We are extremely happy, aren’t we, snookums?’

Ben smirked. ‘We sure are, babycakes.’

‘Well, I’m extremely happy for the pair of you.’ Ty gritted his teeth against saying anything horrible, because that’s what she wanted, more fuel for her fire. ‘I honestly don’t know any couple more compatible. You truly deserve each other.’

Kelly lifted her chin. ‘What in the hell is that supposed to mean?’

‘I’m just being nice, Kelly.’ He glared at Ben, who was saying something beneath his breath, then back to her. ‘Can’t I be happy for you both without being condemned for it?’

‘Who do you think I am, Ty, some kind of idiot?’ Her nostrils flared like a micky bull about to charge. ‘I know you’re being a smartarse, and I don’t appreciate it.’

‘Well, I don’t appreciate you coming into my house uninvited. That’s trespassing, and you know that, seeing as you’re not some kind of idiot.’ He crossed his arms and widened his stance, his glower unwavering.

Kelly held her key up. ‘Not while I have this it’s not.’

‘In that case …’ His reactions lightning fast – one of the bonuses of years in the army – he snatched it from her outstretched hand and held it in the air, out of her reach.

‘Hey! That’s mine.’ She tried unsuccessfully to snatch it back.

‘Possession is nine tenths of the law.’ Tucking the key into his back pocket, he stepped out of her reach. ‘And on that note, you and Ben can get the hell out before I throw you out or call the cops. Your choice.’

If looks could kill, Kelly would have daggered him to death on the spot. ‘Don’t be an arsehole Ty. Gossip spreads like wildfire around here.’

‘Oh, come on, Kelly, what can you go and tell people that you haven’t already?’ Her lies about him being a Casanova were getting old.

‘I haven’t really decided.’ Grabbing her handbag from the coffee table, she slung it over her shrugging shoulder. ‘But I’m sure I can think of something nice and juicy.’

With his soon-to-be ex-wife acting so childishly, Ty had reached his limit. ‘That’s enough, Kelly.’ He took a step closer to her. ‘Get the hell out of my house, now.’ Every word was roared.

‘Hey, easy now, Ty. You don’t want to be charged with assault, do you?’ Ben stood, his face a picture of smugness. ‘Come on, babycakes. Let’s go.’

Kelly pouted. ‘Yeah, let’s get out of this shithole.’

Ty didn’t bite, but followed them to the door and slammed it shut behind them. To say he was angry was the understatement of the century. Enough was enough. He couldn’t wait to send himself broke and get her out of his life for good.

CHAPTER

7

Finley Cole. Ty Parker. Finley Cole. Ty Parker. Finley Cole.

Their names circled Rose’s head. It was incredibly frustrating. She didn’t want to be thinking about any blokes whatsoever, but as she closed the distance between Jacaranda Farm and Wildstone Station, her attention had other plans.

In reality, Ty was obviously going to be at the forefront of her considerations – he was going to be a large part of the next four weeks. As for Finley, he had to fade into the background if she was going to heal the heartache from their break-up. Since the very beginning they’d been the best of friends and the worst of enemies, but their time had come to such an abrupt end, she didn’t know how to cut the cord. But she had to come to terms with it. She forcefully swallowed, trying to stuff down the sorrow as she thought about what they could have had if Finley had remained the kind, loving man she’d fallen for in the first place. But then again, was she still the woman he’d found himself drawn to four years ago?

Quite possibly not.

If only they’d grown together and not apart.

Exasperatingly, she’d spent most of her drive thinking over their rocky relationship – overthinking it, in fact, replaying all the red flags she’d ignored and brainstorming ways she could have done things differently. But other than changing who she was, she knew deep down there was no way they could’ve avoided the inevitable. She’d loved him more than he loved her. She’d given more than he could or would give. She wasn’t the one for him. He wasn’t the one for her.

Like her aunties had said, she needed to rediscover herself before falling for a man again. As an empathic person, if she rushed into anything without fully healing, she’d most likely make the same mistakes again, and she didn’t want to repeat the past. She wanted to write her future with steady hands and a strong heart. She needed to find her core and to centre herself there. Only then would she be ready to search for love once more.