Page 32 of Jillaroo from Jacaranda

‘Are you okay, Jonesy?’ Ty said softly after a little while, as if not wanting to ruin the peaceful atmosphere. ‘You seem a million miles away.’

‘Yeah, sorry. I was floating up there with all those fairy-like stars.’ She offered him a sideways glance. ‘Thanks for asking, though.’

‘No worries.’ He regarded her though kind-hearted eyes. ‘Do you reckon we’re going to make it to midnight?’

‘I’d like to say yes, but …’ She stifled a yawn while glancing at her watch. ‘Seeing as it’s only nine-thirty and my eyes already feel like lead weights, the likelihood is fairly slim.’

‘Oh, I don’t know about that. Where’s that feisty Jones spirit of yours gone?’ Grinning mischievously at her, he took a swig from his beer.

‘It’s up and left the building,’ she said with an equally mischievous grin.

‘Oh, come on now. We’re a couple of spring chickens.’ He gave her arm a gentle shove. ‘Midnight is only a couple of hours away, and this isn’t the worst place to be, and I’m bloody awesome company, if I do say so myself.’ He puffed his chest out playfully. ‘So, given all of that, I reckon we can give it a damn good shot.’

‘Ha, I don’t know about the awesome company …’ She paused, chuckling at his face of mock horror, ‘… but yeah, we are young, and I could think of much worse places to be right now, sooo …’ Rose enjoyed their banter, maybe a little too much for a woman trying to keep a safe distance from a very sexy man. ‘Okaaay, I’m keen if you are to pull a midnight stint.’

‘Oooh, you’re on, because I’m as keen as mustard.’ He grinned like a Cheshire cat, his eyes glinting with the flickering of the campfire’s flames. ‘We will get matchsticks if we have to, to keep our eyes open. Deal?’

Out of nowhere, Rose unexpectedly imagined kissing him when midnight rolled around. The very thought of his lips being pressed up against hers sent a jolt of energy shot through her. ‘Awesome. You got yourself a done deal, Parker,’ she said a little louder than she intended to, the butterflies coursing through her overwhelming her senses.

Ty tipped his head, looking at her as if he was reading her every thought. ‘In that case, I’m going to put some tunes on, to help keep us in party mode.’ He shot to his feet. ‘Any requests before I head over to yonder stereo on yonder homestead balcony.’

It didn’t take her long to ponder this. ‘How about a little bit of the Highwaymen?’

Ty clapped his hands together. ‘Awesome suggestion, the Highwaymen, coming up.’ And off he went on his music mission.

As Rose settled in for the rest of what had already been a magical evening, she begrudgingly recalled last year’s kiss, shared after Finley had slipped her engagement ring on. She’d thought her life path had been decided in that very moment. She was going to be Mrs Cole, nothing less, but nothing more. At the time it had felt perfect, but as she’d learnt what that would entail, like leaving all her dreams behind to support Finley’s … well, to hell with that. A year later and look how things had changed. Never would she have believed they’d be separated and she’d be holidaying on Ty Parker’s cattle station, with the man himself.

And if she was being totally honest with herself, she wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.

CHAPTER

10

Thoroughly enjoying every second of Rose’s company, Ty felt time flash by in a blur and before he knew it, they were counting down the seconds.

‘Ten, nine, eight, seven …’

Should he?

‘Six, five …’

Could he?

‘Four …’

Just a gentle kiss.

‘Three …’

Would she kiss him back?

‘Two …’

Am I about to make a huge mistake?

‘One …’

It was now or never. Just like the risk he took climbing atop a bucking bull, he had to take the chance with this astounding woman now or regret it forever.