The Sunnyvale Girls (27 page)

‘Yes, actually. Stan found his name in some old records. Simon Templeton is his name.' They stared at each other, both understanding the massive can of worms this had opened up.

‘You did a good thing. That would have been hard, but I'm proud of you.'

His confirmation eased her mind. She hoped Simon was half the man Jimmy was. ‘I'm thinking I might try to contact Simon first, try to spare Flick any shock or rejection before I tell her any of this.'

‘That's a good plan. I'll be with you through it all,' said Jimmy softly as he put their plates on the table and joined her.

Toni unclenched her hand and her leg stopped moving. ‘Thanks, Jimmy.' Now that she'd cleared the air she felt so much more relaxed.

‘Grub's up, babe.'

She loved it when he called her by his pet names. It still surprised her, and gave her a thrill.

‘This smells great.' Picking up a fork, she scooped up some of the rice and mince. ‘Mmm, delicious.' Jimmy hadn't touched his yet, he was too busy watching her. ‘You going to eat?' He didn't move. ‘You might need it for stamina.'

He picked up his fork and started shovelling food in.

She laughed, but the anticipation was affecting both of them and comments like that weren't helping. So Toni steered the conversation back to farming. They talked harvest until the bottle of wine was nearly empty and their plates had been scraped clean. Toni stood to clear the table.

‘No,' said Jimmy, reaching for her hand. ‘Leave them. I'll clean up in the morning.' He pulled her towards him, his arms circling her waist. ‘Dance with me.'

‘You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'' by The Righteous Brothers echoed down the hallway from the stereo as they started to sway.

Jimmy's hands moved down over her backside. He raised a brow. ‘Did you rip off the bottom of this dress?' He didn't wait for her reply. ‘I like it, but as long as you only wear it for me.'

Toni pushed against his chest, his heart pounding strongly. She moved her hands to the buttons on his blue dress shirt and one by one slipped them undone until she could part the material and touch his skin. Light-coloured hairs brushed her fingers as she explored the firm muscles. Jimmy pulled her closer so she couldn't miss his arousal. She kissed his chest, moving up towards his neck, her hands following until they entwined behind his neck. He moaned when she nibbled on his earlobe and whispered, ‘I love you, James.'

He claimed her lips and she no longer heard the music, just the rhythm of their hearts. With strong arms he lifted her up. Toni wrapped her legs around his waist and he carried her towards his room. He set her down beside the bed and Toni unzipped the dress and slipped the straps down. The sheer fabric fell to the floor, leaving her standing in the sexiest briefs she owned.

But her lack of fancy underwear didn't kill the heat glowing in Jimmy's eyes. He shrugged off his shirt and reached for Toni. With gentle hands and warm lips he tasted and teased each breast until Toni was burning with desire. She started undoing the buttons on his jeans, all her previous anxiety falling away as they stood naked, facing each other. She felt nothing but love and passion, and it pulsed through her. Jimmy reached for her, caressing her face.

‘You have made me the happiest man in the world, Antonia Stewart. I love you so much.'

Toni grinned while trying to take in the masculine beauty that was James. So magnificent and strong, but it was his chest that consumed most of her attention, for that was where his heart lay, filled with a gentleness that made him who he was. She traced a finger over his lips, gazed into those jade depths and was ready to give herself to the man she loved.

FLICK'S
bum was starting to go numb. She'd been so excited she'd got to the airport an hour before Stefano's flight was due, which didn't stop her checking every face from every flight that landed.

She chewed her nail as his plane finally started to disembark. But the moment Stefano cruised out the gate, her anxiety disappeared. Any worry that her feelings might have just been a holiday romance fled upon seeing his face. He looked full of relaxed confidence, wearing jeans and a snug white T-shirt. He had a small carry bag over one shoulder and sunglasses on top of his head. It was like all her birthdays had come at once.

‘Stefano!' she called, waving madly. One look at each other and they were running, colliding into an embrace and kissing. Some old guy nearby clapped, bringing them back into the real world. Flick pulled back to study him. ‘Oh my God. You're here. I can't believe it.'

‘Me too. You are just as beautiful as I remember.' He cupped her face and kissed her cheeks softly.

‘
Come stai?
' she said with a grin.

‘I am well, thank you. Have you been practising?'

‘
Forse
.' Maybe.

Stefano chuckled. ‘I can help you learn more.'

Flick was floating on air. She gripped Stefano, hugging him tightly, afraid this was all a dream. He threaded his hand through her hair and whispered her name, causing ripples of delight. She'd missed his scent, crisp and fresh like the lush outdoors of his Montone home.

‘Come on, let me take you home,' she said moments later. The area by the gate had cleared, leaving them partially alone.

‘I like that.' He kept his arm around her and together they walked towards the baggage area.

Soon she whisked him away from the airport and drove him three hours inland, to where the paddocks were long and wide and the earth dry. It was strange to see him in awe of the landscape. It was a total role reversal.

‘I like being the tour guide,' she said.

He gazed back out the window again. ‘I just can't believe the space. I can see so far. And the road. It is so straight, and where are all the cars? Are we the only ones here?'

Flick laughed. ‘It feels like it sometimes.' She'd stopped at the Corrigin roadhouse for lunch and bought him a pie with sauce to try. Watching him eat it had been highly entertaining.

She slowed down along the Tin Horse Highway out of Kulin to show him all the tin horses along the side of the road. She loved watching him experience something new, and answering all his questions about the different things he saw. The big dams were something he found fascinating, and Flick promised him they'd go swimming in them soon. ‘Especially coming into harvest. We'll have hot days that will be over forty degrees.' She knew he'd never experienced that kind of heat before; in Montone they even had snow. Flick felt a desire to go back just to see the village coated in white.

‘Well, this is our home. This is Sunnyvale,' she said as they drove through the open farm gates. Flick pointed out Contractor, the homestead, the sheds and then the old house, where she stopped. They carried his cases inside into her room and she gave him a quick tour.

‘So this is the house Rocco helped to build,' he said, glancing up at the high ceilings.

‘Sure is.' She reached for his hand. ‘Come, I want you to meet my nan before we go to work. Unless you would like to catch up on some sleep?'

‘I cannot sleep. I just arrived,' he said, raising his brow.

‘Are you sure?'

‘Of course. I will sleep tonight. I want to see this harvesting.'

‘All right. This way, quick tour first,' she said as they walked to the homestead. ‘This is Nan and Mum's vegie garden. What do you think? In Italy everyone seemed to grow tomatoes and edible things instead of roses but in Oz we are the other way around.'

‘I am impressed. A lot like Francesca's garden.'

Flick agreed. Inside they found Maggie in the lounge, knitting. ‘Nan, I'd like you to meet someone special.'

Maggie glanced up over her knitting glasses. ‘Oh my,' she said with a smile. ‘You must be Stefano.'

‘
Si
,
Signora
, hello.'

Flick held back her laugh as she watched her nan fumble to put away her knitting before getting up. Stefano embraced her and kissed her cheeks, causing them to flush.

‘Oh, he is a bit dishy,' said Maggie. ‘Do you want something to eat? Drink?'

‘Yes, let's have a quick cuppa before we head out into the paddock,' said Flick.

As Maggie headed to the kitchen to put the kettle on, Flick gave Stefano a look around the house. He stopped at the side table and picked up a photo of Flick when she was eight, riding on a sheep's back during shearing. Her booted feet were kicked out, her head thrown back, laughing as her akubra hat fell to the ground. She did look a bit wild and free, but that was what life was like growing up as a farm kid.

‘I love this.' He touched the frame and shot her a wink.

It was one of her favourites too.

‘Come on, kettle's boiled,' shouted Nan from the kitchen.

Nan asked Stefano about his flight and what he thought of Australia so far.

‘Different but beautiful.' He glanced at Flick as he spoke the last word.

‘Say something to Nan in Italian,' asked Flick.

‘
È stato veramente un piacere conoscerti.
' His words were like velvet.

‘Oh my,' said Nan. ‘I always loved hearing Rocco speak Italian. He taught me a bit but it's all lost to me now,' she said sadly. Maggie took a breath and smiled. ‘But I'm so glad you're here, Stefano. It will be lovely having you around.' She caught Flick's eye and smiled.

Flick reached for his hand.

‘Stefano?' Toni shot in through the door. ‘I just saw the car outside. I can't believe you're here.' Stefano stood up and Toni greeted him with a warm hug like they were long lost friends. ‘Welcome to Sunnyvale.'

‘Thank you. It is amazing.'

Flick was grinning like a fool but she couldn't help it.

‘You haven't seen anything yet,' said Toni letting him go. ‘How are you feeling after your flight?'

‘I am good. I did sleep in the car a little,' he admitted. ‘I'm ready to see more.'

Toni reached out and squeezed Flicks shoulder before turning back to Stefano. ‘It is just so fantastic to have you here.'

Flick couldn't agree more.

There had always been plenty of room in the header when she was a little girl. Now sitting on the esky wasn't as fun. Luckily Stefano was picking up header-driving like a duck to water and she could give her backside a break.

‘Yep, you've got it,' she said as he lined up the field bin and started emptying out the header box.

His dark eyes danced. ‘This is
incredibile
! This header is
enorme
. I can't wait to email my family some photos.'

Flick laughed. ‘A week here will feel like a month.'

‘I'm counting on it,' he said and leant towards her, kissing her cheek softly.

He smelt amazing, considering he'd slept on the plane and was probably dying for a shower. Flick had missed everything about him. She turned her head and found his lips. The kiss deepened and the temperature in the header rose.

‘You're empty there, kiddo,' said Jimmy.

Stefano jumped in surprise. ‘What was that?'

‘Oh, that was just Jimmy on the two-way. You'll meet him soon.' She motioned for Stefano to turn off the auger while she reached for the two-way. ‘Just showing Stefano the ropes,' she replied.

Jimmy's chuckle crackled back down the two-way. ‘I don't think they're the ropes we had in mind,' he teased.

Flick looked out the window and saw Jimmy hanging out his header door with the handpiece in his hand. They'd been sprung.

‘G'day Stefano, nice to see you,' said Jimmy, giving them a wave.

Flick held out the handpiece to Stefano. ‘Just hold that button down when you talk and let it go when you're done.'

Stefano gave her a worried glance and spoke into the two-way. ‘Hello, Jimmy. Nice to see you too.'

‘We'll have beers later and catch up properly,' said Jimmy. ‘Big boss out.'

Flick took the microphone. ‘Yeah, you wish,' she teased, before sliding it into its holder. She watched his header drive into the barley. ‘Jimmy lives with me in the old house so we'll catch up with him tonight, and Nan has organised a big feast to welcome you.'

‘I could get used to this.' Stefano reached for her hand, holding it tight.

Flick grinned. ‘Me too.'

At around seven-thirty, not long before sunset, Toni came and gave them a break on the header. ‘Why don't you take Stefano on a tour?' she'd said. ‘I think his day has been long enough.'

Flick could have hugged her mum to death. Since Toni and Jimmy had become an item, Toni had been so much easier to live with. Happier and more easygoing. Maybe the trip away together had helped too.

They took the quad bike back to Contractor's stall. ‘This is my boy. Contractor, come and meet Stefano.' Flick held out her hand and Contractor shook his head and kicked at the ground. ‘Come on, don't be silly.'

Eventually the horse stepped towards them and let Flick rub his nose. Stefano reached out and did the same. ‘He's big.'

‘I'll teach you to ride him if you like. Good fun.' After checking the water she gestured back to the bike. ‘Hop on, I want to show you something.' Fella jumped up and Flick had to shoo him off. ‘Not this time, Fella, you have to run.'

‘Motorbikes, horses, headers, trucks, tractors. This place is
meraviglioso
, um, wonderful,' he said. ‘Full of fun toys.' He climbed on behind Flick and wrapped his arms tight around her waist.

‘Expensive toys,' she clarified.

Flick took him up to the paddock, which had the best vantage point for the sunsets. Fella followed them at a cracking pace, slobbery tongue hanging out, total exhilaration in his eyes. She stopped the bike by a massive gum tree on the edge of the paddock. The sun was already starting to set, and orange and pink streaks filled the sky where the rays caught on the wispy clouds. She got off the bike, reaching for Stefano's hand, and led him to a smooth spot on the ground for them to sit.

He wrapped his arm over her shoulder and they sat in silence as the sun dipped below the horizon.

‘It's no sunset over the hills in Montone but it's still pretty special,' she said.

‘It's magical. It's so different here.' He turned to her. ‘But everything is magical with you by my side. I'm so glad I came.' He kissed the top of her nose. ‘I have never felt this connection before.'

‘I know. I really feel the same way.' Flick tugged at some straw. ‘So . . . what did Sofia think about your trip?'

He frowned. ‘She not happy at all. I did not realise.' He shrugged.

‘So you finally saw how much she likes you? Mum and I could both see within a few days that she had a little something going for you.'

With his foot he dug at the dirt. ‘Maybe I didn't want to see it. She has been a friend of our family for years.'

‘I'm sure she'll always remain a close friend.'

‘I hope so.' They glanced at each other and smiled. Then Stefano pounced on her like a tiger, rolling her over until she was on top of him and they were both laughing. ‘Now this is much better.' He let her slide to his side and they lay there on the dirt, watching the sun fall from the sky.

And he was so right. Flick never would have guessed that she'd find love on her trip to Italy, nor did she think it would follow her home to Sunnyvale. Life was full of surprises.