Page 62 of Jillaroo from Jacaranda

Both women cracked up.

‘So, Rose, have you had a good birthday so far?’

‘Sure have. My phone hasn’t stopped ringing and buzzing all day.’ Rose held out her wrist. ‘Smell this.’

Ty did as he was asked, barely stopping himself from running his nose up her arm and to the nape of her neck, which he longed to kiss. ‘Wow, that’s very nice.’

‘Leah got me perfume for my birthday.’ She looked to her friend. ‘I feel very spoilt.’

‘So you should.’ Ty decided this was the right time to give Rose her gifts. ‘Speaking of which, I’ll be back in a sec.’ He went into his office and grabbed the two wrapped parcels from his desk before hightailing it back to the kitchen. He was so excited to be the one to make her smile now.

‘Where’d Leah go?’

‘To the toilet for the hundredth time in an hour, poor thing.’

‘Here you go. Happy birthday, Jonesy.’

Accepting the gifts with a wide smile, she blinked a few times, as if keeping tears at bay. ‘Oh my gosh, Ty. You didn’t have to get me anything.’

‘I wouldn’t not get you anything for your birthday.’

She carefully unwrapped each. Holding the bookmark up, she looked from it to him. ‘This is beautiful, Ty. Thank you.’ She sniffed the candle. ‘And OMG, this smells like a holiday on some faraway tropical island.’ She inhaled it again. ‘It smells so good, I seriously could eat it.’

You smell so good, I could eat you.

He couldn’t say that, so instead he said, ‘I’m glad you like both.’

‘What do you mean like? I love!’ She stretched up and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. ‘Thank you so much.’

Ty relished her being so close – she felt so petite in his arms. Glancing up beneath fluttering lashes, her green eyes zapped him, sending his pulse skittering. The sudden urge to lower his lips to her and kiss her like he damn well meant it was near overwhelming. He’d never felt anything quite like this. Not even the thrill he got when he rode a bucking bull gave him this kind of adrenaline rush.

As if sensing the heat building between them, she quickly unravelled her arms, stepped back and turned to the oven. ‘I better get this off, before it burns,’ she said, grabbing the saucepan and carrying it over to the sink.

‘Do you need me to help with anything?’

‘No, we’ve got it all covered in here.’ She gestured to the doorway. ‘Why don’t you go and have your run through the dip, then we can all kick back and enjoy dinner.’

‘Righto.’ He slipped into the hallway and headed upstairs, forcing himself to not place too much emphasis on her kneejerk reaction as he had a shower. Tonight wasn’t about how he felt, it was all about Rose. And he was going to do everything he could, to make her special day extra special, just like she was.

* * *

Rose had almost exploded in excitement when, over her birthday dinner, Ty had invited her to join him in the bull buggy today. She’d never sat pillion in one, and she couldn’t wait to start the fun adventure.

As she skipped down the cottage steps, bright sunlight bathed the landscape rolling out in front of her, turning the lower paddock into a golden sea, the long grass dipping and diving like waves reaching the shoreline. It made her think about the gifts Ty had got her, and in turn made her appreciate how thoughtful he was. He was such a special guy – how she wished she could allow herself to fall for him, hook, line and sinker.

Keep your head together, Rose.

Reaching the machinery shed, she stepped into the shade, admiring the view of Ty’s Wrangler-clad butt from where he was leaning over, tinkering with the motor of a Mad Max-esque rig.

‘Hey, Parker.’

He lifted his head from the belly of the beast. ‘Howdy, Jonesy. Are you looking forward to a burn around the station in this wild creature?’ He slammed the bonnet down, giving rise to a cloud of red dust.

‘I most certainly am.’ She rubbed her hands together. ‘With bells on.’

His smile was slow and sexy as his gaze skirted over her. ‘Let’s head then.’

Rose felt both excitement and trepidation as she climbed into the passenger seat. Bull straps with big buckles hung from the top bar above the seats, safety bars were all around, and tyres were strapped to the front and sides, making the buggy look like a dodgem car on steroids.