Outback Wives Wanted!: Wedding at Wangaree Valley / Bride at Briar's Ridge / Cattle Rancher, Secret Son

Her old self seemed to have disappeared for ever. “Much better,” she lied.

The playful breeze sent a long golden strand of hair flying across her cheek. Guy reached out to smooth it back, his fingers making contact with her skin, electrifying it.

She inhaled sharply.

“Alana,” he said, his hand slipping to the nape of her neck.

The depth of feeling in his voice dazed her. For a crazy minute she thought something cataclysmic was about to happen, something that would change her life. Was he going to draw her into his arms? Was he going to kiss her? Kiss her in front of all these people? Unbelievably, it felt like it. Her feelings were rubbed raw. She had a sudden overpowering urge to lift her mouth to him, but instead she moved back, the flutter in her voice betraying her state of agitation. “What am I getting myself into, Guy?” she whispered.

His answer was equally quiet and equally intense. “I guess it’s about time to find out.”

“You’ll have to tell me what you mean.” Her voice was charged with tension.

“Just let yourself go with it,” he said, in a near-hypnotic voice.

Neither of them was moving. They were standing perfectly still, staring at one another; two people who were finally admitting they were powerfully drawn to each other. Alana felt her mind and body beginning to reel. She wanted to lie down. With him. She wanted his arms around her. Some part of her had always been tamped down. Now it was breaking out. Or trying to. She could feel it beating strongly against her ribcage. The safe option was to break the link—

only she wanted whatever it was between them to bind them closer together. The ambivalence that had been in her was no more than a defence. How long had she expected to hide behind those defences? She knew they wouldn’t protect her anyway.

“Are you trying to hypnotise me?” The tension in her voice betrayed the emotional storm that was in her.

“I think you could be hypnotised,” he said gently. “Are you brave enough to let me?”

“I don’t think I’m ready …”

“Some part of you has always fought me.”

“I can’t deny it.”

He smiled. “But it hasn’t lasted. Are you going to enter The Naming?”

She dropped her head. “I like to keep a low profile. You know that. Besides, the competition is fierce. It’s not fair that Alex has never been able to enter.”

“Alex is family,” he explained. ‘Besides, she doesn’t need a prize trip.”

“But Alana Callaghan does?” She couldn’t prevent the flare of resentment.

“All I meant is, you ought to do something different, Alana. Win a trip overseas. Enjoy yourself.”

She didn’t look at him. She turned her luminous head away, unaware that even in the semi-dark it glowed. “ I couldn’t enter even if I wanted to. I couldn’t take up any prize even if I won—which is a long way from certain. I’m a working girl. I have to be around to give Dad and Kieran a hand. I have to keep my eye on Dad.”

“How is he?”

Although his voice was full of real interest and concern, she was immediately on the defensive. Guy was a man of immense kindness, who did things for people without drawing attention to it, but she didn’t want to talk about her father, burdened for so long with the worry, the hurt and humiliation of what he had become.

“You know darn well how he is, Guy,” she said, soft vehemence covering her compulsion to cry. “Dad’s a mess.”

“Don’t! I didn’t mean to upset you. I’m sorry.” His hand shot out to encircle her wrist.

She didn’t have the strength to pull away. This man touched her in every way. “I’m not going to embarrass you!” Her pretty teeth were gritted. The light caught the sparkle of tears.

“Do I look like I’m embarrassed?” he challenged.

On the contrary, he radiated a richly sensual tenderness.

“I’m not ever going to cry in front of you,” she vowed.

“You’ll have to take the consequences if you do,” he said enigmatically, not releasing her hand, but stroking her palm with his thumb.

She swallowed hard. Consequences?

“Your father has always resisted grief counselling.” There was regret in his voice. “That’s a pity. There are very good people who can help him. One in particular I’d like him to at least meet.”

She bit her lip. “He won’t do it, Guy.”

“What if I talk to him one more time?”

She made a sad little face. “Dad thinks the world of you, Guy. And I have an awful suspicion you’ve been helping us out financially, but I know you won’t tell me. Even so, I don’t think your trying would do any good. Kieran and I have had to give up. Dad can be very stubborn. Sometimes I think he has a death wish.”

Guy’s hand tightened over hers, causing her to close her eyes at the mounting excitement.

“Don’t say that,” he told her quickly. “There’s been enough tragedy.”

How could she feel comforted and yet delirious with excitement at the same time? It was a fantasy. Did he know what it was doing to her, his thumb on her hand, skin on skin?

“My mother was tremendously upset when your father was killed.” Once again she had strayed into dangerous territory. “When I think back, it was like something deeply personal.”

“Your mother was a truly beautiful and compassionate woman. Leave it at that, Alana.” His striking features were taut.

“I wasn’t … Of course I wasn’t … I wouldn’t dream of …” A disdainful drawl came out of the shadows, causing them to break apart.

“So there you are, Lana,” Violette called. “Simon is looking everywhere for you.”

“Why? Is there some emergency?” Guy turned his dark head as Violette, emanating a powerful jealousy, stalked up to them.

She gave Guy a playful smile. “Why, Guy, you know Simon can’t let her out of his sight for a minute. He’s mad about the girl. Goodness, they already look married. And I’m not the only one to think so.”

“You are the busy little bee, spreading all these rumours,” he pointed out dryly.

“Darling!” Violette protesting took his arm. “I think it’s cute. Those two have been sweethearts almost from the cradle.”

A scream felt like an appropriate response to Alana. Instead she found a smile. “Pardon me if I just run along.”

Once she was inside the house, Simon dived back to her side. “How did the dance go?” he asked eagerly. “You and Guy were really, really good. Everyone was watching you.”

“I loved it,” she confirmed, in a massive understatement. “But actually I crave a cold drink.”

“There’s champagne,” Simon suggested, smiling helpfully. ‘It’s really flowing.”