Page 53 of Jillaroo from Jacaranda

She sucked in a shaky breath. Then, taking his hand in hers, she nodded. ‘I like you too, Ty, more than a friend should. But yes, the timing is off. I truly believe that if we let things get romantic, with how broken both of us are right now, we’re doomed from the get-go.’

He offered her a kind smile. ‘So, in the grand scheme of things, we’re both at the same place?’

Her forehead puckered. ‘Sounds like it.’

‘Okay.’ Ty tried to hide coiling emotions. ‘Well … I should let you get some sleep.’ He stood and headed for the door.

Rose joined him. Stepping outside, he watched the light of the silvery full moon reflect off her face. Her fierce independence, stubborn pride, feisty spirit, the way she left tea bags in the sink, they all drove him nuts, but they also drove him wild, and yet, so did her veiled vulnerability and her sweet innocence. She was his beautiful contradiction.

‘I’ll check on you first thing in the morning,’ he said by way of a goodbye.

‘Actually.’ She grabbed his hand. ‘Can you … stay with me?’

There was nothing more in this world that he wanted right now and after their chat, he knew there was no way he’d risk crossing any line with her. ‘Yeah, of course I can.’

‘Thank you.’ She smiled softly.

With neither of them saying another word, he followed her into the trailer, and she shut the door behind them. Removing their boots, but staying dressed, they climbed onto the bed. Ty wrapped his arms around her, pulling her nice and close. She smelled of vanilla and campfire and a scent he could only describe as her; as home.

As she gave a serene sigh, her body softened into his. Something flighty settled inside him, putting his doubts about their friendship to bed, if only for now, if only for this beautiful moment. Taking comfort in all that was Rose Jones, he closed his eyes for a few slow breaths, enjoying how she fit so perfectly into his arms. If only they could stay like this forever, both of them at peace within each other’s company. Now wouldn’t that be a dream come true.

CHAPTER

15

Rose woke in the dead of night to Ty’s loud shouts. Her heart trying to beat its way out of her chest, she sat bolt upright and reached for him. ‘Hey, Parker! Wake up! You’re having a bad dream.’

But he didn’t wake up. Instead, his cries became more insistent, more desperate, as he punched the air like he was defending himself against a vicious enemy.

Shocked, Rose pushed herself out of his reach. ‘Ty,’ she said louder. ‘Please, wake up.’ She poked him with her big toe before yanking her leg out of his reach.

It did the trick and he jumped from the mattress, looking left to right, his fearful eyes as wide as saucers. Taking deep breaths, he blinked, as if trying to focus, before his gaze fell on her. ‘Shit, Rose. Damn it!’ He ran a hand over his face. ‘I’m so sorry.’ He dropped to his knees and took her hands in his. ‘Are you okay?’

‘Yes.’ Although shaken, she nodded, more worried about him than herself.

His anxious gaze searched hers. ‘Are you sure?’

‘Yes, I’m sure.’ She gave his hands a squeeze. ‘Don’t worry, I’m much tougher than you think.’ She hoped to make him smile by flashing him one of her own.

But he didn’t; he just became sadder. ‘Did I say anything?’

‘Nothing really coherent.’ She tipped her head to the side. ‘I think you were speaking a different language.’

‘Yeah, most probably Dari, from when I was in Afghanistan.’ He cleared his throat and shook his head. ‘I’m really sorry you had to see that.’ Rubbing his face, he huffed. ‘My damn PTSD is a right pain in my arse.’ Grabbing his boots, he started tugging them on.

Rose’s heart ached deeply for what he would’ve been through, and for the pain he still carried within him. ‘What are you doing?’

‘Leaving you in peace.’ He stood and smacked his palms against his thighs.

‘No, please.’ Rose shot to her feet and put a hand on his back. ‘Don’t be silly, Ty. Stay. I want to be here for you.’

His usually bright blue eyes profoundly shadowed, he shook his head. ‘I don’t want you to have to see that kind of thing.’

‘Well, I have now, so it’s too late.’ She gripped his gaze as tightly as she could with hers, hoping she was silently getting her message through to him. ‘Please, just like you asked me not to run off last night, now I’m asking you not to do the same thing.’

He drew in a slow, deep breath before sighing it away. ‘Okay, but can you do me a favour and keep what happened just now between us?’

She made a cross over her heart with her fingertip. ‘I promise.’ She looked to her watch. ‘It’s two now, so we can sleep for a couple more hours and let the alcohol wear off.’