Page 61 of Jillaroo from Jacaranda

Delilah looked up at him with knowing in her eyes. ‘Because a man doesn’t buy gifts like this for just anyone.’

Ty’s eyes widened. ‘Doesn’t he?’

Delilah stopped and stared at him. ‘No, love. He doesn’t.’

He recalled the conversation where Rose told him they needed to respect this was just a friendship and nothing more. ‘Well, then … uh, maybe I should get her something else?’

‘Nope.’ Delilah continued wrapping, obviously having no intention of surrendering the products. ‘If you like a woman, you make sure you remind her, again and again, until she knows you’re for real.’

‘Yeah, fair enough, but … what if she doesn’t want anything more than friendship?’

‘Does she look at you any differently than a friend would?’

He nodded shyly. ‘Sometimes.’

‘Well, in that case,’ Delilah said, sounding every bit the retired English teacher, ‘I’m not going to let you chicken out now, Mr Tough Guy.’

Ty couldn’t help but chuckle. ‘Geez, righto. I’ll buy the candle and bookmark.’

‘Good lad.’ She handed both wrapped gifts over. ‘This special lady, she wouldn’t have long dark hair and striking green eyes, with a smile as warm as sunshine, would she?’

He smirked at her spot-on description. ‘Sounds like her.’

‘She’s a keeper, that one. I could sense it the minute I looked into her beautiful eyes.’

Ty blew an almighty breath. ‘Don’t I know it.’

‘I watched her and your sister rush to the back of the chutes when you got hurt.’ She smiled ever so softly. ‘That woman loves you, Ty Parker, even if she doesn’t want to admit it yet, so don’t let her get away.’

‘I’m trying not to.’ Wandering to the door, he pushed it open. ‘See you later, Mrs— I mean, Delilah.’

‘Bye, love.’

* * *

The morning had arrived with a darkened sky, and ominous clouds had brought the lingering threat of rain throughout the day. His head pounding from all the overthinking the past couple of days, Ty swore into the whipping wind – how was he meant to give up something he’d spent half his life chasing? Bull riding was like breathing to him. And it was helping to pay the bills. Without it, he felt as if a big piece of him would just shrivel up and die.

As for falling for Rose Jones, that was just plain stupid. She wasn’t in the right headspace for a romantic relationship, but he couldn’t help himself – there was just so much to admire and adore. Her wit, her laugh, the way she made him feel. If he had her in his life, he wouldn’t miss the bull riding, not for a second, but with her leaving soon … well, he just didn’t want to contemplate having to give up so much all at once. He had to be allowed to have something good in his life, didn’t he?

With the quad screaming in top gear, he sped along the fence line, the tools in the basket strapped to the front bouncing and clanging. A crack of thunder resonated then the sky opened, bucketing rain down in a firing blast. Going down a gear as he hit a dip, Ty winced against the stinging as the droplets hit his face, raising the collar of his Driza-Bone. He still had so much to do, but it would have to wait until tomorrow. Squinting into the downpour, he headed for home.

When he reached the back door, Ty’s downtrodden heart lifted with the sight of Rose’s thongs kicked off near the welcome mat. He loved coming home to her at the homestead. It felt oddly right.

As he stepped inside, the scents of home cooking lifted his heart even more, as did the cackling laughter of Rose and Leah. It meant the world to him, how well they got on, and it was good for Leah to have a woman like Rose to share time with. Life here could get very lonely when you already felt alone in this big wide world. Without even knowing it, Rose was making their lives so much … well, more.

Striding into the kitchen, his smile widened. ‘Hey there, birthday girl. It looks like you two have been busy.’ With almost every inch of bench space covered in pots and pans, the kitchen was an absolute disaster. But man, it smelt good.

‘We’ve been cooking up a storm.’ Rose’s French braid swung around her back as she peered over her shoulder, and the earrings he had gifted her for Christmas swayed from her ears. ‘Get it? Storming outside, storming inside.’ Her grin was goofy.

‘Ha, good one, Jonesy.’

She laughed and the sound tumbled into him. Seeing her so happy sent exhilaration rushing through him.

He joined her at the stove. ‘Oh, yum.’ What looked like a pineapple upside down cake was cooling on the bench, and he went to nick a little crumb from the side of it.

Leah slapped his hand away. ‘Bugger off, bro.’

He mocked pain. ‘Oh, but please can I have some.’ He pulled a pathetic face.