Chapter Three

Three hours later, Sebastian was on his BMW. The thrill of the speed and the wind whistling past his face—not to mention the woman sitting behind him with her hands resting lightly on his waist—had soothed his mood. He wouldn’t admit it to his cousins—or Gran—but he was hesitant about going back to the farm. But he had something to prove, not only to the family, but to himself as well.

His trepidation dissipated as the powerful bike flew along the highway. Sebastian had missed the bush. There was nothing like the colours of the paddocks and the big open sky out west. Even the thought of the red dust and the prickles of the Pilliga Scrub enticed him. The paddocks were full of fat cattle, and the grass along the edge of the road was lush and green for a change. Liam had said they’d had a lot of winter rain, and the glossy coats of the cattle showed how good the season had been.

He grinned beneath his helmet as he leaned into a sweeping curve north of Dunedoo.

Still a country boy, checking out the cattle.

Isabella leaned with him and held on tight. She whooped behind him. It hadn’t taken much to get her sorted for the ride home. He had a spare helmet and leathers in the unit where the bike was stored, and it had taken less than an hour to get them both kitted up and on the highway.

As he slowed for some cattle crossing the road just before Dubbo, he turned to her. “Happy to take another quick break?”

“Sounds good. I have a numb bum.” Her chuckle surrounded him and he smiled as the cattle ambled into the paddock, and the bike surged forwards. The small city of Dubbo wasn’t far ahead. “But this is great. I’d forgotten how beautiful the Australian bush is.”

Isabella had been the ideal pillion passenger. Not one complaint, and apart from an earlier quick stop, they’d been on the bike continuously for just under five hours. After this break they had less than two hours to go before they reached Spring Downs. He’d be sorry to drop her off, but he’d definitely see her again once he got settled.

Even though it sounds like she’s only here for a short visit.

Sebastian turned the bike into the large highway service centre just north of Dubbo on the Castlereagh Highway. Isabella unclipped the helmet, removed it, and as she shook her head her black curls tumbled onto her shoulders. Sebastian stared as she combed her fingers through her hair with a laugh.

“I need coffee, please. I was getting sleepy before you stopped for those cattle.” Her smile was wide and, once again, he was struck by her beauty. He didn’t remember noticing that at high school, but in those days, he’d probably been more interested in motorbikes than pretty girls. She reminded him of that character in the fairy tale.

The one with the red lips, fair skin, and black hair. Rose Red?

“What’s wrong? Have I got smut on my face?” Those pretty teeth flashed in another smile.

Seb was jerked out of his daydreaming. “No, no. You’re fine. I was miles away.”

Her look was curious. “I know you said you’re here to stay, but how do you like the idea of coming back to the Pilliga after two years in Florence?”

“Why do you ask?” he said carefully.

“I couldn’t live here. There’s nothing here for me.” Isabella peeled off the leather jacket and put it on the back of the bike. “But each to his own. Lead on, Sebastian. Coffee calls.”

“I need food.” As he followed her to the café, he mulled over her words.

Sebastian had loved being at the farm when he was a teenager, but in Gran’s eyes nothing he did had ever measured up to Liam, his oldest cousin. So he’d turned himself into a city boy. In his signature black turtlenecks, black jeans, and his long ponytail, he’d roamed the bars with his camera, snapping the in-crowd for the social pages and doing department store catalogues until Lucy had gotten him a start at the agency where she worked. His career had skyrocketed, and the past two years in Europe had put him at the top of his field. To his colleagues, Sebastian was the consummate metro-sexual of the trendy crowd. No one realised a country boy still lurked beneath his city exterior.

There was something for him here. Family. And Prickle Creek Farm.

There was.

It would be enough.

It would.

…

Sebastian was quiet as they sat waiting for their meal and Isabella worried that she’d upset him. She racked her brains for a clue, but they hadn’t spoken much since they’d ordered. Maybe he was regretting offering her the ride.

“Are you stopping in Spring Downs or is your farm this side of town? Would it be easier if I called my dad and got him to meet us out on the highway?”

“No, it’s fine. Our farm’s way out on the other side of town, and besides, I need to get my payment from you for the ride out.”

“Oh, okay.” Isabella was happy to throw in cash for the trip, but she was surprised at him calling it “payment.” “Of course. I’ll throw in for the fuel.”

Sebastian shook his head. “No, no, I was coming this way anyway. All I want is a famous Con’s Milk Bar milkshake. With malt. Those malted milkshakes make up some of my best memories of growing up in town.”

Isabella laughed. “For sure. Not a problem.”

They sat quietly as their late lunch was delivered. She picked at her salad as Sebastian devoured a huge steak sandwich and chips.

“Not up to your chef standards?” He glanced at her barely touched food as he wiped his mouth with his napkin. It was prepackaged, and she wasn’t really hungry.

But she felt as though she was being judged and a little niggle of anger settled in her chest.

“No. It’s fine.” She knew her voice was clipped, but she hated being criticised. “Jet lag affects my appetite. I’m not a foodie snob.”

“I wasn’t suggesting you were.” His brow creased in a slight frown, and he looked uncomfortable. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to sound critical.”

She waved her hand. “No, I’m sorry for snapping. Just another side effect of jet lag. And I guess, if I’m honest, I’m really not looking forward to the next six weeks.” She rushed on when he raised his eyebrows and a flicker of interest sparked inside her as he held her gaze. He really was a good-looking guy. Maybe she’d see him around town while she was here. “I mean, it’ll be great to see Dad and sort him out, but how the heck am I going to fill in time in Spring Downs? I’ve lost touch with anyone I knew back in high school. But I will call Lucy, for sure.”

He nodded. “I guess it’s going to be a bit of a cultural shock for you. No theatres, no coffee shops, no galleries, nothing like what you’re used to in Florence.”

“I know. At least I’ll have a good rest while I’m here. I’ve been working long hours in a restaurant in Florence. I can catch up on lots of reading. And try out some new recipe ideas I have ready for my new job.”

“I could provide you with some social life.” His face lit up in a wide grin.

She tipped her head to the side and smiled back. “You can?”

“You can come out to the farm and catch up with Lucy and Jemmy. And meet Angie, too. She lived in London with Liam.”

“That would be nice. I’ll look forward to it.” An unfamiliar shyness ran through her, so with a forced chuckle she changed the subject. “I do have one goal for when I’m here. I’m going to convince Dad that he has to go back to Italy and visit Mum. Maybe even stay there.”

“That’s what you meant by sorting him out before?” Sebastian held her eyes, and his voice was full of sympathy.

“Yes. Mum went back to Italy to ‘find’ herself. They’re both so damn stubborn, neither will give in. Dad won’t move back to Italy because he’s trying to prove to Mum that he’s the boss, and she won’t live over here. So both of them have settled for second best over the past few years just to prove a point.”

“So what’s your plan?”

“I don’t have one yet. All it would take to get them back together would be for Dad to follow Mum, and they’d sort it out.” Isabella leaned back and crossed her arms. “But unfortunately, or fortunately, for both of them, depends which way they take it, I’m determined. If I have a goal, I achieve it. No matter what it takes.”

“And I guess that’s how you got this fabulous job in England.”

She nodded. “It’s been my dream for the last five years. I’m so excited about it. The restaurant is in a little village near Windsor and it’s called The Three Ducks. The owner is one of those celebrity chefs, and it’s one of the top four restaurants in England. Very sought-after place to work.”

“And you snagged a job there.” Sebastian held out his hand. “Well done.”

“Not so much snagged as put in a lot of hard work to get it.” His fingers were warm against hers.

“You’ll get on very well with Liam.”

“Liam?”

“My cousin. The oldest of the four of us. He’s got a work ethic like you wouldn’t believe, and he’s always trying to—” Sebastian broke off, pulled his hand back, and glanced at his watch. “Enough of that. Come on, let’s hit the road.”

Isabella wondered what he was going to say and what Liam was always trying to do.

She shrugged. It wasn’t her business.