Page 46 of Outback Hearts

‘So,’ Jill said casually. ‘You and Jake looked cosy.’

‘We danced,’ Amelia said.

‘You did more than dance,’ Sophie accused. ‘You disappeared for twenty minutes.’

‘We talked.’

‘Mmm. Talked. With your lips on his lips.’

‘Maybe,’ Amelia admitted, blushing.

‘And?’ Sophie demanded. ‘What happens now?’

‘Now we wait,’ Amelia said firmly. ‘Until the project’s done.’

‘That’s very mature and professional,’ Jill observed.

‘It’s the right thing to do.’

‘Look at you, being all grown up and responsible,’ Sophie teased.

But she was smiling, and so was Jill, and Amelia knew they understood.

Back at the worksite, people peeled off to their tents and vehicles, still talking, still energised. The campsite glowed with lights, laughter carrying on the night air.

She climbed into Vera, where Sophie and Jill were already in their sleeping bags, both pretending to be asleep but clearly listening.

As Amelia settled in, her phone buzzed with a text from Jake:

Worth the wait. You’re worth any wait. Sleep well. - J

She smiled in the darkness, typing back: So are you. See you tomorrow.

Tomorrow they’d go back to being professional and careful.

But tonight had changed her, and Amelia knew Jake’s promise was real.

Chapter Ten

The buzz from the “meet and mingle” carried through Sunday, everyone still smiling and talking about it. Mick had Charlotte’s number and had already texted her three times. Davo and Emma had made plans for dinner in Emerald on Wednesday. Even Ratty seemed energised, having spent an hour talking geology with a scientist passing through town. He’d organised to do some local fossicking with him when he came back, though, next weekend.

But Monday brought harsh reality crashing back.

Amelia was first to arrive at six a.m., eager to start work after the weekend break. She stood and stared at the building, unable to process what she was seeing. Paint splashed across the newly installed roof sections—cheap house paint in garish orange, dripping down the iron. Windows broken on the ground floor, glass scattered everywhere. Scaffolding was dismantled haphazardly, pieces thrown around the site. Tools were missing from the locked storage container, which had been forced open.

And spray-painted across the front wall in massive letters: CONDEMNED.

She stood frozen, staring, feeling sick.

Jake’s truck appeared moments later. He climbed out, took one look, and his face went white.

‘Who—’ he started, then stopped, fists clenched. ‘I’ll get everyone here. Can you call the police, please, Amelia?’

By nine, most of the town had assembled, staring at the destruction in shocked silence. The police—a single constable from Emerald who’d driven an hour to attend—was taking photos and notes.

‘Any idea who might have done this?’ Constable Davies asked.

‘I have suspicions,’ Jake said tightly. ‘But no proof.’