Outback Affair: An Affair Novel (Entangled Indulgence) (8 page)

…

Jess gripped Bowser with one hand and held onto the bar on the dashboard with the other. The slope Alex was driving down was so steep; she was worried the pickup would tip over its front. Her legs were jammed between the large dark blue cooler on the floor on the passenger side, and the constant clicking coming from inside the cooler was unnerving.

“What
is
that noise?” She turned to Alex, who was peering over the front of the dashboard at the drop below as he turned the wheel inch by inch.

“What noise?”

“That clicking noise.”

“Oh, that’s the crabs. As soon as we stop, I need to get them sorted. I didn’t have time to tie them up, and some had already thrown their nippers. They’ll be our dinner tonight.”

“Oh, okay.” Jess turned away as an idea formed in her mind. “Alex?”

“Yes?” His voice was patient, but he didn’t take his eyes off the terrain ahead as he reached down and changed down a gear. A loud grinding sound came from beneath the gearshift.

“Shit, that doesn’t sound good.” The speed of the truck picked up, and he planted his boot on the brake pedal.”

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

“Sounds like we just did a gear.” He cocked his head to the side and listened as he changed gears again. “Maybe not. I’ll check when we stop.” He gingerly lifted his foot off the brake pedal and changed down another gear, and the car still slowed. “Don’t worry, it’s okay. We’re almost down to the clearing.”

Jess turned and looked out the window. The road was narrow, and the branches of the low shrubs were scraping against the glass.

“Oh, my God.” She gulped, closing her eyes as a huge brown snake slid back into the bush beside the pickup.

“What did you say?”

“Nothing.” Jess turned and scowled at him. “I cannot wait to get to the resort.” She held out her hand and ticked off on her fingers. “I really don’t know what’s worse. Snakes? Flies? Crocodiles? Crabs? This old clunking pickup?” She put her head into her hands, and her temper fired as Alex looked down at Bowser and spoke in a conversational tone.

“At least you’re off the list now, little man.”

His tone got under her skin. “Please tell me this resort is really five stars and not one of those wilderness lodges where the guests are expected to rough it and enjoy themselves.”

The smarter her mouth got, the more he smiled.

“No, everything Madame could possibly require is catered to at Cockatoo Springs.” He pointed to her broken fingernails. “I believe there is a day spa where they do hair and nails…and massage. The rooms are luxurious and of course, the food in the restaurant is world class. But I forgot that’s all you are interested in, isn’t it?” He narrowed his eyes. “What will you do if you can’t get a room? Will you catch the helicopter straight out, or will you stay at my cabin?”

Jess paused before she answered, sensing there was more to his question than just interest in her movements. “Of course I’m not going to leave. If can’t get a room, I’ll be very grateful for your offer, thank you. But I’m sure there’ll be a room.”

“I’ll call my mate as soon as we’re unpacked. Anyway, look.” He pointed ahead. “We’re finally here.”

Chapter Eight

“Oh, my God. This is paradise.” Jess opened the door, and the little dog jumped up beside her. “What about Bowser, does he need his leash?”

God, I can’t believe I’m worried about a dog.

The heat in the Top End was turning her brains to mush, along with her usually impeccable grooming. There was no word for how she looked…and felt. She reached up and pulled the string from her hair, shaking it all out, and regretted it immediately. Even though the sun was low in the sky, the heat was still unbearable.

“He’s okay. There are no crocs here. I’ll keep an eye on him. He won’t wander far from me or the truck.”

Jess slid out of the truck and stepped to the edge of the low bluff, looking nervously at the ground.

“Don’t worry, as soon as the truck came in, any snakes would have taken off. If you leave them alone and don’t provoke them, they’ll leave you alone.”

Jess forgot all about snakes as she looked over the edge of the drop. Water cascaded down the face of the rock in front of her to a deep green pool fringed with trees. The storm clouds had receded, and the late afternoon shade covered the western end of the pool. The water beneath the rock face below them sparkled invitingly as the cascading water hit the surface of the pool. Alex walked over and stood behind her.

“I love the Top End. There are hundreds more places like this, all off the tourist track and pristine.”

“It sounds like the environmentalist is still in there.”

“Nah, just someone who appreciates nature at its best. Now come on, let’s get organized, and then we can have a dip.”

“Don’t forget to use the phone and call about my booking.”

“Right. I’ll go and do that now.”

Alex went around to the back of the truck and Jess waited at the edge of the bluff enjoying the view. All was quiet and when he reappeared, he held up the phone with a grim expression.

“Sorry, the battery’s flat. I’ll have to charge it up.”

“How can you do that? I suppose there’s a hidden power outlet in the glove compartment along with everything else?.” She tried to be flippant to cover the disappointment of not being able to contact the resort, and find out if her room had been held for her.

“Almost,” Alex said. “There’s an inverter in the back of the track.”

Jess had no idea what he was talking about so she ignored him and looked out over the water. Perspiration trickled down her neck as they unpacked the truck, and she looked down ruefully at her ruined silk shirt. Alex carted the cooler from the cab of the truck and placed it in the shade beneath an overhanging rock. The heat was vicious, even hotter than last night. She’d thought the air conditioning in her room at the Daly River trailer park had malfunctioned because it had been so hot in there.

Maybe it was this hot in the outback all the time?

“Does it get any cooler through the night?” She swatted a fly away as Alex walked back to the truck for the next load.

“Not a lot.” He frowned at her. “Jess, go and get the Bushman’s out of the glove compartment. Not only are those black files annoying, but the midges will bite you. And the mosquitoes carry disease up here.”

Jess shivered at the thought of something sucking her blood. She hurried over to the truck and pulled herself up on the passenger side. Alex had parked it awkwardly between two boulders, and backed it in as close as he could to the large cliff face behind it, leaving just enough room to get into the canvas tent on the back of the truck. The driver’s side was lower, and she slid in through the narrow space between the door and the rock. She reached across to the seat before opening the glove compartment and poking around.

Of course
. The first thing to fall into her hand was the box of condoms.

Well, he won’t be needing them this trip.
She shoved them to the back of the compartment and peered in. A small light green plastic bottle proclaiming ‘Bushman’s’ in red writing was jammed at the back of the space. She pulled it out and read the label:

Guaranteed fifteen hours of protection.
That should just about see her out of this place and back into a civilized environment. Although, if she was honest, it was one of the most beautiful places she’d ever seen. She couldn’t wait to get into that pool down on the rock platform.

After closing the compartment, Jess climbed out of the door and looked carefully down to the ground before walking around to the back of the truck. She’d find her swimsuit first, and then lather herself in this lotion.

Straining to reach the zipper to undo the back door, she cursed as she snapped another fingernail.

“Can’t reach?” The amused voice came from behind her. “Step back. I’ll climb in and pass some of the stuff out to you. I’ll throw down the heavy stuff.”

Alex reached up, unzipped the heavy metal zipper, and hoisted himself into the back of the truck. Jess peered in and got an eyeful of taut butt in snug-fitting denim jeans. Heat ran up her neck and added to her already overheated state. She fanned herself, but it only moved the heavy hot air a little and didn’t cool her at all. She blinked to remove the perspiration from her eyes; the back of the truck and Alex’s butt blurred. Closing her eyes, she hoped desperately that a room would be ready and waiting for her tomorrow. A nice cool bath, clean clothes, and food were what she desperately needed. She’d had nothing to eat all day apart from the muffin when they’d headed off at dawn. No wonder she was hot and weak. She’d had no idea that driving on these treacherous outback roads would be so slow.

“Whoa, Jess. Are you okay? You’re as white as a sheet.” She opened her eyes. Alex turned around and was leaning out of the back of the truck, looking at her with concern.

“Just need something to eat. I’m okay.”

He reached into the cooler, and passed her a bottle of water and a trail mix bar before he pointed to a small boulder beside the pickup.

“You sit there while I unpack.”

Gratefully, she took the water and the snack, holding the cool bottle to her cheek. She wandered over to the rock and plonked herself down. Too late, she remembered she didn’t even look for snakes…or scorpions…or crocodiles. Sipping on the water, she watched Alex unload the back of the truck. He pulled everything to the back of the canopy, and again she appreciated the view as he climbed backwards out of the pickup. He reached up and lifted her suitcase, and the muscles in his arm flexed as he lowered the bag to the ground beside the truck

“What have you got in there? Rocks?”

“Ha, ha, very funny. Just clothes. I have to look the part when I do the interview.”

Alex turned to her and his gaze traveled up her dirty clothes and to her overheated face and tangled hair. “Ah, yes, mustn’t forget the interview.”

When everything was unpacked and on the ground beside the truck, he climbed down and made two trips across to the shaded area beneath an overhanging rock.

Jess finished the water, unwrapped the trail mix, and wandered over to where Alex was setting up their camp. “Can I help?” She looked curiously at a long canvas bag next to the cooler. “What’s that?”

“That’s my swag.”

“Your what?”

“It’s a combination of a bed, a tent, and a sleeping bag. All rolled up into one compact little bag. Haven’t you ever been camping?”

Jess grinned at him and shook her head as she munched on the trail mix. “No… I didn’t even go to summer camps when I was a kid. My father—”

He looked at her waiting for her to finish.

“Nothing,” she said not wanting to talk about her father. It was too nice an afternoon to start thinking about him and the way he’d treated her when she was growing up. Alex looked at her curiously as he gathered a pile of sticks and brush together. Jess wandered over and sat next to the circle of rocks he’d set up around the makeshift fireplace.

“My father thought camping was a bit ordinary. He preferred to give me what he called enriched experiences. So we went to art galleries and museums and spent a lot of time in places where he could be seen.” She sighed and wiped her forehead with the back of her arm.

“I know a lot about art, and old bones, but nothing about the outdoors.” She laughed. “I also didn’t know a lot about the Outback. I don’t know if I would have come if I’d known what it was going to be like.”

Alex stood beside her, his arms full of bits of wood. “Even for the chance of getting the scoop interview for your magazine?”

“Even for the interview.” She shook her head and looked down at her clothes. “Look at me. I was totally unprepared for this.”

“Well.” He dropped the wood to the ground and squatted next to her. “As a fair dinkum Aussie I’d better give you a better impression of the outback. What do you say about a swim?”

Despite the petulant expression on her grimy face, Alex was surprised by his need to keep looking at her. There was some sort of chemistry in action, and she fascinated him. He’d obviously been away from women too long, and he’d have to get out his little black book out when he got back to Darwin. He’d been missing out on that part of male-female relationships lately.

That’s all it was.
Nothing to do with finding her so bloody attractive.

“What are you thinking about?” she asked. “You’ve got a funny look on your face.”

Caught out fantasizing about taking her to bed, or rather to his swag, Alex cleared his throat. He stood and held his hand out to her. She grabbed it, and he pulled her up, ignoring the warmth of her hand in his. “Come on, we’ll go for a swim, and then I need to cook you a decent meal.”

Alex looked down at her hand. Her fingers somehow had gotten entwined through his. Slowly he lifted his gaze up to her face. She’d pulled her hair back, retied it with the string, and left her face unframed. Her clear green eyes were fixed on their joined hands, and the blood rushed straight to his groin.

“Ready to swim?” he asked softly, ignoring the pulsing in his jeans.

Surprise flickered in her face when she glanced up at him. She didn’t have to look up far; she was only a few of inches below his six three even in her flat sandals.

All rational thought had fled, and her lips beckoned his as she held his gaze steadily, her clear green eyes assessing him, filled with the knowledge that she knew exactly what he was thinking.

Her lips parted a little and he dropped his head, capturing them beneath his. Her hands wound around his neck, and he pulled her closer to him. Her mouth opened, and he groaned, unable to help himself anymore, losing himself in the sweet depths. He lifted his hand and held her face gently while he deepened the kiss. Jess caught her breath on a soft gasp as his teeth scraped hers, and his tongue began a slow, seductive dance with hers. His mind was just beginning to haze like the heat shimmering over the far horizon when she drew back and looked up at him

“And what was that all about it?” she asked.

“I needed to.”

She reached down and held his hand up to her face, taking time to examine it, and he sensed she was avoiding his gaze. He tilted her chin up with the fingers that were still resting against the side of her face.

“Was I out of line?” he asked, willing her to look up at him. When she held his gaze, lazy desire swirled in his chest. Although she quickly looked down, he could see the smile playing about her lips.

“No, I’m a big girl now.” Finally she lifted her head again and met his eyes, and the jolt that hit his chest almost took his breath away.

“I can look after myself. But I don’t know that I was quite expecting this.”

Her face told him a different story. A soft flush sat on her high cheekbones and her lips were slightly open when she looked back at him, tempting him, but he dropped her hand. He turned away, trying to push away the need to take her in his arms and continue where they’d left off.

Too complicated.
He didn’t need any complications in his life.