Chapter Twenty-Three

The night spent under a cloudless sky and the myriad of diamond stars had been perfect. The most romantic night Isabella had ever had spent. Forget the five-star hotels and the Michelin-starred restaurants, she’d never forget this night in a campground by the river in the Pilliga Scrub. Sebastian was a skillful lover, and Isabella knew the memory of that night would stay with her for the rest of her life. It didn’t rain, but they didn’t leave the swag all night.

The next morning, their relationship had taken on a different feel, and it was second nature to stop and hug and kiss as they worked together packing up the campsite.

“Seb?” Isabella waited as he secured the swag on the back of the ute.

“That’s me.” He turned, and the rush of feeling that slammed into her scared her.

“We’re on the same page, aren’t we?” she asked.

“Same page?” He reached down and brushed a kiss across her lips.

“We can stay friends after this bit of a fling?”

“Bit of a fling?” His voice was wary, but his eyes were full of…

Damn, they are full of something that I don’t want to see.

She nodded. When he smiled it was gone, and she thought maybe she’d imagined that look.

“Of course we can. I’d love to be friends with you. No matter how far away you are.”

Since then, she’d been walking on air but at the same time trying to keep in mind that this wasn’t going anywhere. She didn’t want that, nor did Seb. They were two adults enjoying themselves, but she knew they’d stay in touch. He’d said as much.

On Sunday afternoon, she drove over to Prickle Creek Farm for a visit before she left on Friday, but in hindsight Isabella wished she’d called before she’d driven out on the spur of the moment.

Seb, Liam, and Garth were in the yards working flat chat. Seb had dropped a quick kiss on her lips before he’d gestured to his dirty clothes.

“I’ll kiss you properly when we finish,” he promised before Liam yelled out for him to send the next beast through the crush.

Helena and Harry were out, Isabella had passed Angie heading to town, and Lucy had been busy cooking in Helena’s kitchen. Isabella had only been there five minutes when the phone rang and Lucy answered it.

“Yep, okay.” She nodded. “On my way.”

Lucy put the phone down and walked over with James in her arms. “Bella, that was Garth. Can you put James in the cot in the spare room for me? I’ve just got to run this cattle drench over to the guys. I’ll only be five minutes. He said as soon as they finish the drenching they’ll be back in for a cuppa. Oh, and just keep an eye on those scones I’ve got in the oven, in case I’m gone a bit longer. They’ve got about another eleven minutes before they come out.”

“Of course.” Isabella shook her head as Lucy passed James to her. “You are incredible, you know. Babies, scones, helping out in the paddocks and all the volunteer stuff you do in town. I don’t know how you keep up.”

“I love it. I’m happy and I never get bored.” Lucy looked intently at Isabella. “I have a full life out here…and a man who loves me.”

“I’m happy for you. But Luce, don’t go getting any ideas. I’m leaving next weekend.”

Lucy’s mouth turned down. “I know. And you’ve already told me you and Seb are a holiday romance. Nothing more. But I’m going to miss you, Bella. And Seb will, too.”

Isabella held her arms out and a strange feeling ran through her as she looked down at the sleepy little boy when he snuggled into her chest. His plump fist curled into the fabric of her T-shirt, and he yawned before he lifted his head and smiled up at her. Two more cute baby teeth had appeared over the past week. She’d never thought of herself as maternal and didn’t plan to settle down and have a family for a long time. There were too many other things to do before she settled into that. But the feel of the warm little body pressed against her chest stirred something unfamiliar inside her.

The door slammed behind Lucy, and Isabella walked around singing softly to James. “Rock-a-bye baby, in the treetop. When the wind blows, the cradle will rock,” she crooned softly and was rewarded with another cute smile before James’s eyelids fluttered closed. She placed him carefully in the cot and pulled up the light blanket to cover him. She stood there and watched him for a few minutes before she ran a gentle hand over his soft hair and walked thoughtfully back to the kitchen.

The timer clock on the oven buzzed. She picked up an oven mitt and pulled out the tray of scones as Lucy burst back in the back door.

Isabella grinned at her as she hurried over to the kitchen. “I think the only time you sit still is when you’re feeding James.”

“Did he go down okay?”

“He did.”

“That’s good. I’m just going to make a batch of pikelets. Liam said they’re all starving. They’ll be back in half an hour.”

Isabella reached down and picked up a mixing bowl. “I’ll give you a hand.” Since their camping weekend, she’d spent a couple of nights at Prickle Creek Farm and knew her way around the kitchen. She’d been a little bit embarrassed about sharing Seb’s room, but Helena had waved a dismissive hand.

“Don’t be silly, Bella. Just because we’re old doesn’t mean we’ve forgotten what it’s like to be in love.”

Heat had rushed into her face, and she’d looked down before she caught Sebastian’s eye. She had felt his gaze on her, and she knew he wanted her to stay; even though he hadn’t said a word, she knew him well enough to read what he was thinking.

Lucy passed her the eggs, and she took the bowl over to the sink. From the kitchen window, Bella could see the three men working together in the yards. She stood and watched as they moved the cattle through from the side paddock into the crush. Sebastian’s shoulders were set as he balanced on the rail, pulling the gate across as soon as the beast was in. He was focused on what he was doing. Isabella’s mouth dried when he reached up and pulled his T-shirt over his head and threw it over the railing. He leaned forward and his muscles rippled. Those same muscles her fingers had caressed and her lips had kissed. The feeling of loss that slammed into her was physical, and she took a deep breath.

God, I’m going to miss him so much.

An empty feeling settled in her stomach as she cracked the first egg into the bowl. There was no point dwelling on it. She was going, Seb was here to stay, and that was the way it was going to be.

A holiday romance was supposed to be fun and leave you feeling good when it was time to move back to real life. She couldn’t stay here. As much as she loved Sebastian, it wasn’t an option.

She took another quick breath. Where the heck had that come from? How can I love him? It was too fast.

But she knew as clearly as she knew she couldn’t stay here that she had fallen in love with him. He was a great guy, and they had so much in common. She understood his commitment to family, and the farm, but she didn’t have to agree with it.

It meant she wasn’t as important to him as she could have been. But even if she was, she wouldn’t consider staying here. It wasn’t where she wanted to be, and it wasn’t a place where she could develop her career. Okay, so she’d be leaving a bit of her heart behind, but she’d get over it.

Once she was back in familiar territory, she’d be fine.

I will.

“So when do you actually leave, Bella?” Lucy looked at her curiously as she pulled the skillet pan from the cupboard.

“I’m not sure yet. I was going to hire a car, but I don’t fancy the drive to Brisbane.”

“It is a long way and it’s hard to get flights out of Narrabri when you want them.”

“Yeah. When I looked, I had to fly from Narrabri to Sydney and then to Brisbane. And it meant an overnight stop in Sydney. Dad offered to drive me to Brisbane.” She laughed as she put the eggshells into the bin. “But I said it would be a long round trip for him. Truth is, I don’t think I could survive a trip that far in his old beast.”

“Um.” Lucy cleared her throat. “What about Seb? He’s got his new ute.”

Isabella shook her head. “No. I won’t ask him. Like I said, it’s a long way when you have to drive back here.”

Besides, Sebastian hadn’t offered.

Lucy turned around. “I know!”

“You know what?” With Lucy, you never knew what she was going to come up with.

“Gran and Pop!”

“What? Ask them to drive me?” Isabella shook her head. “No.”

“No, silly. You’re going on Friday, aren’t you?” Lucy turned the pan on and leaned against the benchtop with her arms folded.

“Probably. My London flight leaves early Saturday morning.”

“That’s perfect. I’ll give Gran a call now.” She turned to go to the living room, but Isabella held her hand up.

“Whoa right there. What are you organising now?”

“Gran and Pop are leaving for Kakadu this weekend. And I know they’re flying out of Brisbane. So I’ll find out how they’re getting there.”

Isabella bit her lip. It made sense. “Okay. That would be good. I’ll put the mix in the pan while you call. Where are they?”

“They went into town for lunch with their friends. Ted and Julia are going on the trip with them.” Lucy headed for the phone, and Isabella listened as she put the batter into the sizzling butter. As soon as the bubbles appeared she quickly flipped the pikelets over.

“Yes. Sounds good. I’ll let her know.” Lucy put the phone down and came back into the kitchen. She opened a drawer, took out a clean linen tea towel, and folded it in half, ready for the cooled pikelets to be wrapped.

“So?” Isabella waited.

“It’s perfect. They’re picking up a coach in Narrabri and taking it to Brisbane on Friday morning. It goes the back way up through Goondiwindi. Gets in about seven on Friday night. Suit you?”

“Sounds perfect. I didn’t think of a coach. I’ll get online as soon as I get home and book.”

And then if Sebastian suggests taking me, I can say no.

…

Sebastian pulled out a chair on the verandah and flopped into it. He was hot and sweaty and out of sorts. Wiping the back of his hand over his brow, he grimaced when it came away covered in red dirt. He was sitting here to catch his breath for a moment while Liam and Garth let the cattle out into the paddocks, and then he’d grab a quick shower. He didn’t care what Liam wanted. He was taking the afternoon off. He’d been hard at it with bloody cattle all weekend. Liam had insisted on bringing in the herd from the back paddocks on Friday afternoon, and Garth had been free to help them.

Disappointment had made Sebastian gruff. It was Isabella’s last weekend here, and he’d really wanted to go camping. Privacy here at Prickle Creek Farm was nonexistent. Isabella had blushed bright red when she’d stayed over this past week; Gran had tapped on the bedroom door with a cup of tea for them both mornings.

And then had sat on the side of the bed and chatted to them!

Honestly. His family!

When he’d told Isabella they couldn’t go camping over the weekend, his mood had worsened.

“That’s fine,” she’d said with a wide smile. “I’ll spend it with Dad. It is my last weekend here.”

As if I didn’t already know that?

He forced the bad mood away and tried to think of a way to address the problem. Finally, he grinned, threw his hat onto the table, and headed for the bathroom. “Get that cuppa going, gals. I’m just having a shower.”

He had a plan.

Half an hour later, the scones and pikelets were gone, the teapot had been emptied and refilled twice, and the three couples were sitting on the verandah. Angie had arrived back from town at the same time the men had finished in the yards. Sebastian had his arm around Isabella’s shoulders. He had snagged the double swinging hammock chair, and she leaned against him while he played absently with her curls.

“Time we headed home.” Garth stood and shook the crumbs off his lap and reached for the last scone. “Thanks for the cuppa.”

Liam looked at Angie. “Yeah. I’ve got some things to do back at the house. We’ll see you again before you leave next weekend won’t we, Bella?”

“Of course, we all will,” Lucy interrupted before Isabella could answer. “I’m going to organise a farewell barbie. Gran and Pop are going away again, and then Bella will be gone. How about Thursday night? Is everyone free? Your dad can come out too, Bella.”

Sebastian relaxed when Isabella nodded. “Sounds good. You guys head on home. I’ll clean up the kitchen.”

“Thanks, Bella. James is due for a feed. We might just get home in time before he cracks it. I’ll check Thursday night with Ned and Jemmy. We’ll have it at our place. Gran will be too busy packing to worry about having it here at Prickle Creek.” Lucy stood and went inside to collect James.

Sebastian stood behind Isabella at the top of the steps as they waved off the two vehicles, his arms linked loosely around her waist. All week he’d been blocking the thought of her leaving and coming up with ways to try to get her to stay. But that wasn’t fair to her. She had her career, and this wasn’t the right place for her.

Is it the right place for me? Where do I want to be?

Not being able to hold Isabella in his arms, not kiss those beautiful lips, and not wake up beside her—not that they’d had many chances to spend the night together—would be the worst. But at least he would have the memories.

He smiled. Even the one of Gran sitting on the bed with them.

“What are you looking so happy about?” Isabella looked back at him, her soft voice interrupted his thoughts as the cars disappeared around the bend.

“Bed.”

She turned in his arms and pushed at this chest. “You have a one-track mind.”

Sebastian dropped his forehead to rest on hers. “But isn’t it a nice track?”

“It is.” She lifted her head, and her lips brushed softly against his mouth. “How long till your grandparents get home?”

Sebastian pulled her closer and then groaned as the sound of a vehicle reached him. “About three minutes.”

Isabella giggled. “I feel like a teenager.”

He shook his head. “I know Gran wouldn’t mind if we went for a ‘sleep,’ but it’s not private enough here for me.”

“Oh, so what did you have on mind apart from sleeping?” Her throaty chuckle sent desire rushing though his blood.

“I was going to suggest, seeing we didn’t go camping, that we go out and find a nice sunset for some photos, and then I’ll take you out for dinner.”

“Oh, you romantic! A sunset for photos? Very prosaic.” She tipped her head to the side, and he snatched a quick kiss before Gran and Pop drove into the house yard. “Dinner in town?”

“No. In another town.”

“Where?” Isabella stepped back from his arms as Pop drove up, but her smile still sent tingles shooting all over him even without her touching him.

“Trust me. It’s a surprise.” He frowned. “Will your dad mind if you spend the night away?”

“No. He’s got his darts grand final on tonight, so I was going to suggest you come into town.” Her voice was coy as she looked up at him from beneath her lashes, and Sebastian bit back a groan as her beautiful dark eyes held his. He needed to hold her, but it wasn’t the time. He needed to talk to her. He needed to try to convince her to stay with him.

“Okay. You head back to town, and I’ll come in about four. Is that okay?”

“Perfect. I’ve got some things to do online. Now give me a clue. Do I need to get dressed for dinner?”

He burst out laughing and winked at her. “Um, let me think about that.”

She shoved him playfully as his grandparents got out of the car. “You know what I mean. Do I need to dress up or is it a casual restaurant?”

“I think it would be suitable if you wore that gorgeous creation you wore to the races.”

Her face lit up in a smile. “Oh that’s good. But I might wear different shoes. I won’t be too overdressed for taking photos in the paddocks?”

“Trust me, Bella.”