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Liam leaned his hip against the counter and put the phone on speaker, hoping that would help him hear over the hammering vibrating through the Tourist Centre from the construction zone. ‘I’ve confirmed all bookings for High Ridge tomorrow. There should be two cabins free, yes?’
‘Yep,’ Wendy replied. ‘Two cabins, then I’ll be almost empty on Friday.’
‘Good, because we have that artist retreat coming in.’ Considering its serenity and isolation, High Ridge was popular for large groups and they’d hosted many events for artists and writers. Grace White had also mentioned the possibility of a yoga retreat. But they catered for all types and often had couples escaping for a romantic getaway, families who wanted to experience the bush and go horseback riding, and retired travellers who sought peace and quiet.
Liam smiled as he clicked to next weekend on the computer. Once, Wendy’s retreat had been small and intimate, but since the Maguire family had bought the Tourist Centre and Liam had got his clutches into the business, High Ridge had boomed. And there would be more to come once the café opened, assuming he could make a success out of it. He didn’t know why he doubted himself some days as he had a solid business plan and everyone loved good food. He even had a prime location with the Tourist Centre being the first stop after the roadhouse for drivers veering off the highway between Port Douglas and Cooktown.
But would his idea be too simple? Were people looking for more than smoothies, coffee, and food they could make at home?
Liam sighed. He guessed that’s what he’d find out.
Simple had worked for him before though because the Tourist Centre wasn’t anything out of the ordinary. Information flyers and local history books filled the shelves and Elizadale’s resident artist Jessica Smithfield had painted a historical town timeline on the wall. Liam tended the gardens himself and had sourced local crafts to sell because that’s what small towns were all about, helping each other out. He was forever liaising with local artists and seeing what else he could promote about the region. The centre still sold mass-produced souvenirs—postcards, magnets, and a variety of plush Australian animals—but also carried homemade jams, chutneys, and gifts. Isabella Brennan crocheted adorable plush bananas and Rebecca Taylor provided a supply of exclusive scented candles. Lucy loved them so much that she’d convinced him to burn them in the store, which everyone said added a country authenticity to the ambiance.
Liam inhaled and smiled, again grateful for his sister’s suggestion. Today, he was burning rosella, his personal favourite.
‘Everything’s okay out there, then?’ he asked Wendy.
‘Yes. Thank you, Liam.’
‘No worries. What are you cooking tonight?’
‘Nothing too fancy. Roast beef with horseradish crust, garlic potatoes, and Yorkshire puddings.’
Liam’s stomach rumbled. He shouldn’t have asked. No one could pass up Wendy’s cooking, least of all her family. Wendy had dreamed of opening her own restaurant and had been working up the culinary chain in Brisbane when she’d visited her sister in Elizadale and landed herself on a farm with the love of her life. She’d sacrificed her city career and had inspired the greatest menu change ever seen at the Royal Hotel. But after Lily had gone to school, she’d renewed her dream and opened High Ridge. Tourists had raved about the food and it’d been a success within a year.
‘Sounds good. I don’t think I’ll make it out there, so I’ll probably make some rissoles or something.’
‘Do you have plans this afternoon?’
Liam slipped his hand into his pocket. ‘Just taking Steph to the park.’
‘That’s always fun. I should get on though and start preparing dinner.’
‘Okay. Thanks, Aunt Wendy.’
When Michael called it a day after lunch, having another project he needed to get to, Liam stepped inside the construction zone to look around. The frame and roof were up, but the wiring and plumbing still hung through the exposed beams.
‘We’ll hang the plasterboard on Friday, I reckon,’ Michael said, standing beside Liam with his hands on his hips. ‘But we’re cruising along nicely.’
‘It’s brilliant, mate.’ Liam’s heart swelled as his dream materialised before him. Once the walls and ceiling were complete, the countertops would go in. Large windows overlooked the highway with the double-door entrance on the corner and an outdoor dining area. Liam would paint the walls a banana-flesh-cream to match the Tourist Centre and with Adam’s beautifully crafted tables, he’d have the intimate café he’d always wanted.
‘Won’t be long now.’ Michael clapped Liam on the shoulder. ‘I also heard Jess Smithfield is painting you a landscape.’
‘Yeah, she won’t say what it’s of though.’
‘Well, you can always trust Jess to produce some quality art.’
Liam couldn’t resist a grin. ‘You still have that horse she painted you, don’t ya?’
Michael gave a lazy shrug. ‘How could I throw it out? First present a girl ever gave me.’ Michael and Jessica had ‘dated’ when they were thirteen. ‘Plus, she’s much better now. I’m sure whatever she gives you will be brilliant.’ He nodded towards the front wall. ‘Should fit nicely between the windows.’
‘That’s the plan. Well, thanks, mate.’ Liam shook Michael’s hand. ‘Catch you later.’
Michael left. Liam greeted an elderly couple who stopped by and chatted to them about local sights for a while. When Isabella arrived at one o’clock for her afternoon shift, Liam caught up on some stock ordering. Helping him at the Tourist Centre was only one of Isabella’s casual jobs, but he enjoyed having her on the team and she was lovely towards the customers. At three, he left her in charge and drove home to pick up Steph for their date with Ana and Louis.
That’s if he should call it a date. Liam wasn’t sure and didn’t think he needed to put a label on it. He just wanted to spend time with Ana. And Steph wanted to go to the park, so it was a win-win all around.
‘Okay, girl. Let’s go see Ana and Louis.’
Steph leapt into the back of the LandCruiser. Liam slipped behind the wheel and continued to talk to her, but Steph paid no attention as she stuck her head out the window. People often gave him grief about having a LandCruiser that was almost as old as he was, but why would he want anything else? He’d paid cash, it ran, and modern LandCruisers didn’t have the rear windows that opened for dogs to enjoy. He was quite content not being in debt for a flashy car.
He pulled up on the corner of Riley Road and Station Drive and let Steph out. Ana was already in there. Dark denim shorts sat snug on her hips, the rolled cuffs finishing high on her slender thighs while a blue T-shirt clung to her torso. Her blonde hair swished in a long ponytail, exposing her creamy neck and pretty hoop earrings beneath her brown hat. Liam stupidly felt the air clog inside his lungs.
Then Louis ran towards her with a stick in his mouth and dropped it at her feet. Ana picked it up and tossed it. Liam squeezed his eyes closed. Shit. He did not just see that.
His stomach tightened as he let Steph into the park. She darted across the grass, nose down, tail up. Ana spotted her and turned to Liam with a smile. ‘Hey!’
‘Afternoon, Ana. Been here long?’
‘A little while. I went home, sat for five minutes, then decided I’d been sitting all day and wanted to move, so we came early. How was your day?’
‘Slow.’ He stood beside her and slipped his hands into his pockets. Louis returned and lay at their feet, chewing happily on his stick. Liam resisted the urge to snatch it from him. Later. ‘I took bookings for the retreat, but that was about it.’
‘Do you have activities at the retreat?’
‘Yeah. We allow guests to help in the guava orchards and I want to start banana farm tours, but because of biosecurity guidelines, Dad and Uncle Henry are a little hesitant.’
‘Yeah, I heard about that. To protect against disease or something?’
‘Panama disease. It’s all about controlling the spread of dirt. It’s a serious issue, but they only found it in North Queensland in 2015, so quarantine methods continue to develop. We did farm tours before that though, so I’ll start them up again eventually. In the meantime, there’s always wildlife spotting in the reserve and bushwalks through the National Park.’
‘That sounds fun. I enjoy walking, especially along pretty trails.’
‘Yeah, the walks are nice. We also offer horseback riding, because horses are Lucy’s thing. She takes people on trail rides and overnight campouts.’
‘Yeah, you can forget about your campouts.’
Liam smiled as he tore his gaze from Louis. Steph had come to say hello, but Louis was too busy focusing on his stupid stick to pay her any attention. ‘You don’t like camping?’
She shrugged. ‘I’ve never actually gone camping but sleeping outside doesn’t appeal to me.’
‘We camped all the time growing up, heading out to find a spot on the weekend to get away from the parents. It was fun, but I’m not exactly the outdoorsman in my family. Lucy loves sleeping under the stars though and Jack and Adam do it all the time. Except, Luce did find a snake in her swag once, which put her off for a while. Adam thought it was hilarious. Thankfully, it was only a harmless python.’
Ana shuddered and clutched her elbows. ‘Do you get a lot of snakes out here?’
Liam grinned. Typical city girl. ‘A few. This area is home to many venomous ones. But don’t worry, I’ve lived here all my life and a snake hasn’t killed me yet.’
She smiled. ‘It must have been fun growing up on a banana farm though,’ she said, moving to sit on the park bench.
Liam joined her. ‘Yeah. There was always work to be done though and with six kids running about, Dad and Uncle Henry had a lot of help. It was usually the slave work, but it wasn’t too bad. If they didn’t have anything for us to do, Mum and Aunt Wendy sure did.’
Ana crossed her legs. ‘I guess your mum and Aunt Wendy get along well?’
Liam nodded, dragging his gaze from her long, tanned legs to meet her eyes. ‘Well, Mum and Aunt Wendy are sisters too, so yeah.’
Ana’s eyebrows shot up. ‘Wow, that’s cool. Do you have any other cousins?’
‘Nope. Two brothers married two sisters. What about you? Is it just your mum and sister?’ It hadn’t escaped his notice that she’d yet to mention her father.
‘Yeah. My dad died when I was five.’
‘Oh.’ Liam’s stomach sank. ‘I’m sorry.’
‘It’s okay. He died at thirty-seven from sudden cardiac death. One second he was there and the next, he was gone. After that, we moved around Sydney a bit as rent prices changed, but Mum made sure Nat and I had everything we needed.’ Ana smiled, the sparkle returning to her eyes. ‘My mum’s great. She, Natalia, and I are more like friends than anything else these days.’
An ache formed around Liam’s heart. Even at five, it would have been hard for a little girl to experience a loss like that. He couldn’t imagine growing up with only a few people when his family was so big and close.
‘Sounds nice.’ And all the stranger that she’d moved so far away. ‘So, with names like Ana and Natalia, do you have Russian heritage or something?’
‘Yeah, my grandmother was from Moscow. Mum’s name is Nadia and I’m actually Anastasia.’
‘Anastasia.’ He smiled. ‘That’s pretty.’
She smiled softly. ‘Thanks.’
‘And your mum never remarried?’
Ana shook her head, her ponytail swishing over her shoulder. ‘Nope. I feel bad for making this move and leaving her, but we both knew it was for the best.’
‘How far away does Natalia live?’
‘Not far, but Nat works six days a week as a GP registrar. She finishes her training in May, but I don’t see her hours reducing.’
‘Fair enough.’ Liam swallowed as he prepared to ask his next question, unsure if he wanted to know the answer. But then Louis pushed his stick towards their feet and as Ana reached down, the focus of his concern changed. He should say something. But what?
She tossed the stick. Liam winced but couldn’t tear his eyes away. The stick landed before Louis could catch it midair and his shoulders softened. But his heart continued to pound.
No, he had to say something.
‘So ... do you often throw sticks for Louis?’
Ana shrugged. ‘He’ll chase anything. He loves his ball and never really took to a frisbee, but when we go to a park, he always finds a stick.’
‘Yeah, dogs will do that when they want to play.’ He cleared his throat. ‘But can I make a suggestion?’
‘Of course.’ She tucked loose hair behind her ear as Louis returned with his stick. This time, Liam beat her to retrieve it. Louis gave him that intense border collie stare, waiting and ready to give chase. But Liam would throw it over his dead body.
He glanced at Ana and said it before he changed his mind. ‘Please bring his ball next time. Sticks are incredibly dangerous.’
She frowned. ‘Really?’
‘Well, yeah.’ The tension inside him loosened as he handed Ana the stick. ‘See how pointy that end is? One wrong move or a midair catch, it could seriously hurt Louis.’
She pressed her finger to the tip and gasped. ‘Oh my God, I never thought ...’ She glanced at her eagerly awaiting dog. ‘No more sticks for you!’
Louis didn’t move, just stared, waiting. Ana turned to Liam. ‘When I was little, my friend threw sticks for her dog all the time. I just thought it’s what you did.’
Liam nodded. ‘I know. I could see you might not be aware of the danger. Many people aren’t.’
Her ponytail swished as she shook her head, her eyes wide. ‘I wasn’t.’
‘But I’d hate for an accident to happen and for Louis to get hurt. Many dogs have been killed while chasing, catching, or by chewing sticks. Balls or other fetch toys you can buy won’t cut their tongues or pierce their mouths.’
‘Oh my God, I never ...’ Ana touched the pointy stick again. ‘Well, I’m not surprised. Thank you.’ She placed her hand briefly over his and everything inside Liam heated. ‘I’ll make sure I always bring his ball.’
He smiled softly. ‘No worries, Ana.’
His heart pounded as she continued to hold his gaze. Then Louis lunged for the stick and she wrenched it away.
‘No. Go run, Louis. Play with Steph.’
Louis sat, panting but still waiting. Liam relaxed into the bench and looked around to find Steph sniffing her favourite bushes. Ana placed the stick between them and Louis lay down. After some time passed in silence, Liam frowned. What had he been about to ask Ana?
‘So ... I guess you miss your mum and sister?’
She nodded with a sigh. ‘Yeah. We’re very close and I’ve never lived this far away.’
His throat tightened. ‘Do you think you’ll go back after this year’s over?’
‘I don’t know ...’ Ana didn’t look at him, but something in her voice alerted his sixth sense. She loved her family in Sydney, so why had she moved to Elizadale on the edge of nowhere? She may have wanted a rural experience and she’d taken this job because it had been available, but something didn’t add up. And he hated to think of Ana being just another blow-in when she made his blood heat in ways he’d never felt before.
‘Well, I think after this year you won’t want to move because you’ll fall in love with Elizadale.’
Ana smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. ‘You think so?’
‘I know so. I may be biased, but there’s nothing not to love about North Queensland. At any moment, the rain should come. Everything will grow greener and the rivers will flow. You’ll have to see Barron Falls in flood, it’s spectacular. Then winter will arrive and you’ll freeze, but that means bonfire night at High Ridge. And once Louis becomes better at agility, you won’t want to leave. You’ll get the chance to renew your contract and you’ll be saying yes, Ana.’ He flashed her a smile. ‘Trust me.’
Maybe by showing her all the amazing places around his hometown, he might be able to convince her of that too? After all, the only way to stop something from blowing away was to help it grow roots.
Ana smiled, her eyes brightening this time. ‘You seem very sure about that.’
‘Oh, I am.’ Unfamiliar confidence filled his chest and he couldn’t bear the thought of not feeling Ana out for a date. Nevertheless, something in the back of his mind told Liam to tread carefully. ‘Elizadale is like no other place on earth, Ana.’
‘I’ll admit I like it. And the country lifestyle.’
Hope rose inside him. ‘Really?’
‘Yeah. But they have dog sports clubs in Sydney too, so I could easily join one of them.’
‘Yeah, but they aren’t as awesome as ours.’
Ana laughed and again moved the stick out of Louis’ reach. ‘Okay, I’ll be saying yes or no in October. But what if I told you I was already falling in love with Elizadale?’
Liam ignored the joyous leap of his heart. ‘Then I’d say you have a great taste in small towns.’
‘I haven’t been to many, but this place certainly has charm. I can see why you want to make sure everyone knows it.’
‘I am passionate about that,’ he agreed. ‘I’m glad I’m finally opening the café, anyway.’
‘Meg said it’s been a dream of yours for a while.’
‘Yeah. It was something my ex and I used to talk about. She was a cook, I had the business sense, so it sounded like a good idea. She left a bit more than two years ago, but after a while, I realised I could do it myself. My cooking’s all right and I have Lucy and Aunt Wendy to help me. I’m just a little worried about the menu because I want to keep it simple. Pancakes, waffles, milkshakes, smoothies. I don’t want to step on the bakery’s toes with too many cakes, but I’m afraid it might be too boring.’
She smiled softly. ‘I think it sounds just fine, and like an exciting venture. Meg said you’re planning a grand opening.’
‘Yeah, I got some ads lined up for local papers and will make a big do of it.’
‘Should be fun. What’s the café called?’
Heat rose in his cheeks, but that didn’t stop his grin. ‘The Bent Banana.’
Her eyebrows lifted. ‘Really?’
He sighed at the laughter in her voice. ‘I know. I wish I could have come up with something else, but it came to me, and I laughed myself stupid thinking I couldn’t name it that. But after a while, it stuck and I’ve decided to roll with it.’
‘I think it’s a fine name. Funny, but not unusual. And it sounds like a place people would want to visit.’
He smiled. ‘Thanks. I think so.’
When Louis reached for the stick again, Ana shook her head. ‘No, Louis. Go play with Steph.’
At the sound of her name, Steph looked over from the bushes, her black ears perking as she tilted her head. Louis’ gaze remained glued to his stick.
‘Come on.’ Ana stood, calling Louis as she walked towards Steph. Louis followed Ana. Or his stick. Liam wasn’t sure which.
‘You want to play with Steph, mate,’ he said, pushing to his feet. ‘You two could have a lot of fun and she tells me she likes you.’
Finally, it seemed Louis noticed Steph and his ears perked as they sniffed each other. Ana laughed as she dropped the stick into the bushes, then crouched to pat both dogs.
‘Aren’t they beautiful?’
Liam ran his hand down Louis’ lush coat. ‘He sure is a handsome dog. Where’d you get him?’
‘A breeder in Newcastle. I went there and played with seven puppies. It was like heaven. Paid a good fortune for him too, which hadn’t been appreciated by a certain someone ...’ Her mouth thinned and she shook her head. Whatever thought she’d fallen into though quickly passed as her eyes brightened and she said, ‘But I wanted Louis, and no one was going to stop me from getting him.’
Liam nodded. ‘Boyfriend?’
‘Yeah.’ She rubbed Louis’ head and sighed. ‘We’d been living together for a couple of months. He wasn’t keen to get a dog but said I could have one if I took the responsibility of looking after it, which I was happy to do. He didn’t like that I’d spent so much money on him, even though it was my money, but I didn’t care. I love Louis and if I wanted to pay for him then I damn well could.’
‘Exactly.’ Liam had paid a pretty penny for Steph too, but she’d been worth it. ‘So ... what happened to him?’
Ana’s gaze returned to his. ‘I left him a few months later.’
Liam resisted a frown. It wasn’t like him to pry, but there was something going on behind Ana’s pretty eyes. Something that made his pulse spike. He wasn’t sure how serious it was as people split up for many reasons, but hopefully it wouldn’t get between what he wanted with her. Because even though she still might leave, Liam wanted Ana. He wanted to date, get to know her, and find out what it would be like to press his lips to hers.
But since it probably wasn’t a good idea to find that out anytime soon, he tore his gaze from hers and glanced at the dogs. ‘So, why’d you name him Louis? You said something about the kings of France?’
Ana smiled, the sparkle returning to her eyes. ‘The breeder was called Royal Border Collies, so I figured he needed a regal name. His full name is Louis Jacob Hamilton. And don’t look at me like I’m crazy for giving my dog a middle name.’
Laughing, he shook his head. ‘I wouldn’t do that. Steph’s full name is Stephanie Dawn Maguire.’
Ana laughed too. ‘Oh my God. People really would think we’re crazy.’
‘As long as we don’t find each other crazy.’
She sighed and stared at him for what felt like an eternity. His heart began pounding again. Hell, he was a goner. Anastasia Hamilton was too beautiful. Her sapphire eyes ... golden hair ... and she was just as dog-crazy as he was.
‘Yeah ...’ She dropped her gaze to Louis. ‘I’ll admit, I’ve become an obsessive dog-mum. But it’s just been Louis and I for so long now and I want him to be happy.’
Liam nodded. ‘Of course.’
She continued to stroke Louis’ back for a moment. ‘So ... Meg said you know about dog training and obedience too?’
‘Yeah, a bit. I did a training course years ago so I could help people and their dogs with behavioural problems.’ He frowned as Ana bit down on her pretty lower lip.
‘Do you charge much?’
Liam resisted a smile. ‘Friends are free.’
‘Oh, you don’t—’
She ceased her objections as he laid his hand over hers on Louis’ back. ‘What’s the problem, Ana?’
Her gaze returned to his. ‘Louis lunges at cars when we’re out walking. It’s incredibly frustrating. Could you help us with that?’
Smiling softly, he nodded. ‘I’d be happy to.’