Page 28 of Jillaroo from Jacaranda

She squirmed beneath his stare. ‘Do I have something on my face?’ Recalling her glass of cold milk and four heaped teaspoons of Milo, she wiped around her lips.

‘Ha, no, sorry.’ He brought his hand to her arm and gave it a friendly tap. ‘It’s just your eyes. I swear, they’ve changed colour overnight.’

The warmth of his touch travelled straight through her – it was no wonder the mare was putty in his gentle hands. ‘Oh, yeah, sometimes they look green and other times blue.’ Heat flushed from her head to her toes and it took her a moment to compose herself. ‘I’m a bit of a weirdo like that.’

He flashed her a sexy smile. ‘That makes two of us.’

Rose always loved a bit of banter. ‘Well, it’s good to know I’m in like-minded company.’

‘That you most certainly are, Miss Jones.’ He looked to the mare, now stock-still at the centre of the roundyard, then back to her. ‘What do you think of our newest recruit?’

Rose loved the way he’d just said ‘our’. ‘I think she’s stunning.’

Holding her gaze, Ty inhaled a breath, pausing briefly as if savouring the moment. ‘I think so too.’

The playful glint in his eyes made Rose silently question what exactly he was referring to, and the idea that it might be her made her stomach cartwheel. ‘Well, I’d best let you get back to it.’ She hoped to god he didn’t pick up on just how much he could affect her. ‘I’m going to head back to the cottage for a cuppa.’

‘Righto, enjoy the rest of your day, and I’ll catch you later.’ Ty touched the brim of his hat before he turned and wandered back towards the horse.

Unable to tear her eyes from his incredible rump, hugged tightly in his Wrangler jeans, Rose ultimately had to force herself to look away. A groan rose as she strolled towards her home away from home. How in the hell was she meant to keep her cool around him, and keep at a safe distance, for four long weeks? She couldn’t deny the carnal undercurrent running between them, but she would fight off the urge to do anything about it. Life was complicated enough.

Catching sight of a feral-looking cat near the machinery shed, she followed its path. It slipped through a crack in the timber planks at the side of the building. Curiosity getting the better of her, she took the corner and stepped through the doorway. Bright sunlight broke through the louvres over the far side, lighting up particles of dust and the massive cobwebs that stretched along the walls and into the corners of the high ceiling.

Shading her eyes, she looked up to where a strident warning meow was now coming from. ‘What in the hell are you doing all the way up there?’ The cat she’d followed stared back down at her from an open beam. It hissed then snarled. ‘Don’t worry, I’m not going to come anywhere near you.’

As she turned to head back outside, something furry landed against Rose’s leg. Her breath hitched. Whatever it was wrapped itself around her shin. Screaming while trying to shake whatever it was off, she stumbled backwards and, after a few seconds of fighting to remain upright, landed on her butt in the dirt. Blinking into the cloud of dust she’d stirred up with her ungraceful touchdown, she was shocked to see a tiny kitten sitting in a very regal pose less than a metre away, its big green eyes vivid against its jet-black coat.

‘Oh my gosh.’ Slowly, carefully, Rose remained on all fours as she edged towards the tiny bundle, knowing it may not be as cute as it looked. ‘Hey there, you sweet little thing. I’m not going to hurt you.’ It was within reach, and she prayed it wasn’t going to claw her to pieces as she knelt, held her breath and scooped it up. The first thing that hit her was the smell of diesel, then came the uncontrollable cooing of her heart.

Mewing the most endearing sound ever, the kitten revealed a set of needle-sharp teeth. ‘Oh wow, you got yourself some chompers right there, little one.’ Tipping its head back slightly to allow a good scratch under its chin, the kitten gazed at her through crystal-clear eyes. ‘How about you come home with me and I get you a bowl of milk and something to eat, huh?’

Momentarily blinded by glaring sunlight when she stepped out of the dim shed, she was then met with the blinding intensity of Ty’s bright baby blues. ‘Oh hey.’ She looked to the purring ball in her arms and back to the man who kept on making her purr. ‘I found this little one in the shed.’

‘So I see. I heard you scream and came running, but by the looks, you’re safe and sound, as is that little one cuddled in your arms.’ The warmth from Ty’s eyes travelled to his smile. ‘And I gather you’re taking her home with you?’

‘I was thinking about it.’ Rose grimaced. ‘Is that okay with you?’

‘Hmm.’ Ty took his time answering. ‘As long as you promise to take this little cutie pie back to Jacaranda Farm when you go.’

‘Oh, uh …’ She grimaced again as the kitten purr vibrated into her chest. ‘I hadn’t really thought that far ahead.’

Ty mimicked her expression. ‘Yeah, sorry to spoil the party. It’s just that once you domesticate them, there’s no going back.’

The kitten mewed and Rose’s decision was instantly made. She gave Ty an affirming nod. ‘We have ourselves a deal, Parker.’

CHAPTER

9

Rose held the phone between her ear and shoulder as she poured the ingredients for her great-grandma’s golden syrup pudding recipe from the mixing jug into the slow cooker. ‘I never thought I’d own a cat either, Mum, but he’s so damn adorable.’

‘Have you decided on a name for him yet?’

‘Ty wants me to call him Diesel, seeing as he reeked of it when I found him, but I think I’m going to name him Wizard.’ Watching the kitten slide and tumble around the lounge room with a golf ball Ty had given her, Rose smiled like a woman besotted.

‘Ooo, I likey.’ Molly’s singsong voice carried down the line. ‘It’s nice to hear you sounding so upbeat, love. It makes me happy to hear you happy.’

Rose gave everything a quick stir before popping the lid on and setting the timer to eight hours. ‘Yeah, after a couple of good nights of sleep, I’m actually feeling great.’ Placing the wooden spoon onto the sink, she rested up against the bench.