Mia’s hands tightened around the straps of her backpack. She blinked. Stared at him. She should be surprised. Aiden was a vet with no pets. He’d been married and divorced. Now he was a father. A father!
But Mia wasn’t surprised. Warmth filled her chest as her mouth widened in a grin. ‘You have a daughter?’
His shoulders relaxed. ‘Yes. She’s just turned two. Her name is Ella.’
‘Oh, I love that name!’
‘Really?’
‘Of course! Ella? Cinderella? It’s my all-time favourite fairy tale. Hence my horse Cindy.’
Aiden nodded, his eyes lightening. ‘Right. Gotcha.’
Ella and the single dad…that was also like the fairy tale. All that was missing was the wicked—
‘Wait.’ She frowned as Aiden’s words sank in. ‘Sally left Ella too?’
‘Yeah.’ He reached up to scratch his neck. ‘So, it’s been a tough year for me.’
He began walking again. Mia blinked at his retreating back. A tough year? She didn’t doubt it. His wife had walked out on him and their daughter?
Why?
Mia shook herself and hurried to catch up as she realised Lolo and Eka were waiting for them. She thanked Lolo profusely and tipped him generously. It was an unfamiliar custom for Australians, but that was an adjustment one had to make when travelling. Besides, this tour had been dirt cheap and Lolo deserved the extra cash.
‘I don’t think I’d have made it up there in time without your help,’ she said, never speaking truer words.
She climbed into the van and fell into her seat, welcoming the blast of air conditioning. Eka asked about their hike and they each shared their thoughts on the short drive to the hot springs where they had a few hours to soak and relax their tired, aching muscles.
Mia looked forward to it, and to spending more time with Aiden. Her head was full of questions. She couldn’t stop thinking about Ella. The poor little girl… She didn’t need a wicked stepmother when her own—
She winced. No, that wasn’t right. She couldn’t judge Sally. She didn’t know the woman or the whole story. But she was curious. She’d spent hours with Aiden and not once had he mentioned his daughter. He hadn’t talked about himself much at all.
When they arrived at the hot springs, she strolled into the change room and pulled on the new pink bikini she’d bought for the trip. Then, sadly, she covered herself with black boardshorts and a long-sleeved pink sun shirt. She had fair skin and was from North Queensland—sun safety had been bred into her.
Mia met Aiden outside the change rooms and her mouth curved. He too hadn’t taken chances beneath Bali’s hot December sun, wearing a red T-shirt with his blue boardshorts. Together, they set off to find a pool with the most shade.
The hot springs were breathtakingly beautiful. Mia wasn’t sure what she’d been expecting, but it certainly hadn’t been multiple levels of grey-bricked pools spread among lush tropical gardens overflowing with ferns and bamboo trees. She and Aiden chose a small pool shaded by a rocky cliff that had fountains spurting from concrete dragons. She slipped into the warm water with a sigh and swam into the middle of the pool, indulging in the warmth before settling into the shade of the cliff. Aiden relaxed against the pool edge adjacent to her. The soft trickle of the single spurt fountains hitting the water sent a wave of peace rolling through her as Mia brushed her hands absently through the water. She was dying to know more about Aiden and his daughter, but wasn’t sure how to broach the subject.
Perhaps with the simpler question?
‘So…why didn’t you bring Ella to Bali with you?’
‘I’d have liked to, but I didn’t have a choice. Mum said Ella needed “grandparent time” and that I needed to be myself without her for a while.’
‘I guess that’s nice of them.’
‘Yeah. I miss her though.’
She smiled, lifting her gaze from the clear water to meet his. ‘Of course, you do.’
Questions were on the cusp of her lips, but Mia resisted. She could see that being without Ella was painful for him. It’d be best to let him talk about her if and when he wanted to.
So, silence fell. Mia closed her eyes and revelled in the quiet, relaxing deeper into the water. It’d already been a long day and she was ready for a nap.
Why would a mother leave her child?
‘It’s nice here,’ Aiden said after a while.
‘Mm-hmm.’
‘Very green. Tranquil. I thought natural hot springs would be dirt waterholes.’
She laughed. ‘Me too! But I’ll admit, this is nicer.’
‘Yeah. So…I was wondering…’
She opened her eyes to find him watching her. ‘Yeah?’
‘Do you want to catch up for dinner later tonight? It’s just, we’re both here alone and I thought it’d be nice to…you know—’ he shrugged ‘—have some friendly company.’
Mia didn’t let herself overthink it, she just nodded, ignoring the pounding inside her chest. ‘That sounds nice, Aiden. We should get back from this tour by three o’clock and after that, I think I’ll be ready for a nap.’
‘Me too.’
‘But we could meet up tonight and get something to eat.’
He smiled and everything inside her swirled. ‘Sounds like a plan.’
And a good one as having dinner together would be a lovely way to spend the evening. She’d had no qualms about travelling alone. She’d felt excited and even a little empowered to take this trip by herself. Maybe even a little brave. But in the choice between spending time alone or with Aiden? There was no question about which she’d prefer, even if she did enjoy her own company. It was nice to have someone to talk to. Laugh with. Lord knows, she needed to get used to spending time with other people even if tonight was only a platonic dinner. It might even help her get over that first hurdle and into the world of dating, as she didn’t want anything more than friendship with Aiden. They were just two lonely people who’d happened to find each other in Bali. She didn’t know where life was about to take her and he was a single dad going through a painful divorce.
Anything more than friendship could get messy very fast.
The fact that her new friend was damn sexy with a body that made her own heat… Well, she’d need to learn to control that. Fast. Especially when he stood out of the water and his wet clothes moulded to every smoothly defined muscle.
She swallowed and stared at the water.
‘I think I’ll grab a snack. You want anything?’
She shook her head. ‘No, thanks. I can wait for lunch. Although… I could do with a cold drink.’
She started to stand, halting only when he shook his head. ‘It’s okay. You stay there. What would you like?’
Mia’s chest tightened. She didn’t like people buying her things. It made her feel indebted and uncomfortable. But she let it slide this once and thanked him as he left. Relaxing into the warm water, she forced her racing heart back into a normal rhythm. It was strange to feel like this. New. Exciting!
She shook her head and shut off those runaway thoughts.
Aiden returned with two drinks and a tray of deep-fried banana. ‘Seemed like the Bali thing to do, to give it a try.’
She still wasn’t hungry, but when he offered her one of the battered treats on a skewer, she accepted it with thanks. She liked bananas, but as the hot fruit squished over her tongue, Mia couldn’t resist a grimace.
‘Huh…’ Aiden eyed his dubiously, chewing slowly. ‘On second thought, I don’t think I like cooked banana.’
She laughed. ‘It’s not the best, is it?’
They finished the pieces they started, but the rest remained untouched. They resumed their positions in the pool and enjoyed their drinks.
‘So, do you think you could spend your life hiking and studying volcanos?’
‘It would sure keep me fit. But honestly…’ Her heart sank. ‘I don’t think I could be a volcanologist.’
He raised his eyebrows. ‘Why not?’
‘I wouldn’t be able to work in Australia. I could still study geology though and see where it takes me. There are lots of jobs for geologists in the mines.’ Outback Queensland was full of various mines and Charters Towers itself had the largest gold mine in Australia.
‘That’s true.’ He paused and took a long drink. ‘Can I ask though…why do you want to go to uni?’
‘It had always been my plan. I’d finish school, go to uni, and get a job. I want to do something that I love.’
‘And you don’t like working in the bank?’
She sipped her drink, her heart twisting. That was a question she’d asked herself often. ‘It’s not that I don’t like it. It’s served me well and has given me an income. I’ve managed to take holidays and continue training in show jumping. But it’s not what I planned to do for the rest of my life.’
‘Then what do you want to do? Do you want to be a geologist at the mines?’
Mia exhaled, all-too-familiar frustration rising inside her. ‘I don’t know, that’s the thing! I don’t know what I want to do.’
She’d been struggling with this question for months. Years. She’d thought that working at the bank and gaining life experience would give her some perspective. A sense of direction. But so far…nothing.
So, she’d asked herself, what did she like? She liked volcanos and Mother Nature, but she didn’t want to work overseas. She liked animals, but didn’t think she was smart enough to be a vet.
‘What did you want to study while you were still at school? Before your mum got sick?’
‘I wanted to be a teacher.’
‘Really?’
‘You seem surprised.’
‘No, not surprised. Pleased, I guess. That sounds like you.’
She frowned, although part of her was glad to hear that. ‘You think?’
‘Yeah. Did you want to teach primary school?’ She nodded, and he smiled gently. ‘Why don’t you study that then?’
She considered it as she brushed her hand back and forth through the water. Teaching was a viable option. She knew that. Except…it no longer excited her as it had in high school. ‘I guess I could…’
There was a long pause. ‘You sound uncertain.’
‘It’s a big decision, is all.’
‘It is. One you should put a lot of thought into. After all, it’s not just the job you need to consider, but the lifestyle you want too.’
Mia frowned. ‘What do you mean?’
‘Well, any job will affect your lifestyle, right?’
‘Yeah…’
‘So, you need to take everything into consideration. Hobbies. Interests. Family. Like your animals. Do you want a job that’ll allow you to continue show jumping?’
‘Of course.’ There was no doubt about that.
‘Then you need something that’ll allow you to be home. You wouldn’t want a job that would send you away. If you worked fly in, fly out at the mines, who would look after your animals?’
Her eyebrows lifted. ‘I see your point.’
‘I’ve thought a lot about my own life choices lately,’ he said softly. He took a long drink, then exhaled. ‘So, if there’s one thing I’d suggest, Mia, it’s that you ask yourself, what is the most important thing to you? What is the one thing you want in life? And I’m not just talking about a job. Jobs can come and go. Careers change. So, what is it that you want the most? What will fill your heart? Do you want a job that pays the bills while you travel and show jump? Or do you want your career to be your life? What about family? What is the one thing that you cannot forgo?’
Mia’s heart began to race. That was a lot of questions. And he was right. Jobs did come and go, but they also influenced your lifestyle. And if she were honest…she liked her life as it was. She wanted a career that wouldn’t change that. She loved living in Charters Towers. She’d inherited her mother’s house and had seven acres with paddocks and stables for her horses. She loved her silly geese and the lazy chooks. The thought of moving…of leaving that…
She’d always been a dreamer. Her mum had encouraged her to think big, and they’d embraced every possibility. That’s why they hadn’t let anything stop them these past few years and had done everything they wanted to in New York, California, and New Zealand. So, she’d dreamed big when it came to her career too.
But not all jobs would give her the lifestyle she craved, and she was grateful to Aiden for helping her realise that. She didn’t want to leave her home. Being a volcanologist would be cool, but it was impractical. She could be a geologist, but there was no guarantee that she’d get a job in Charters Towers.
One thing, he’d said. Hmm… One thing she wanted was a job that would give her stability. One that would allow her to come home every day to a house where—
She gasped and lifted her gaze to Aiden’s. It’s so clear!
He raised his eyebrows. ‘What is it?’
One thing. There was one thing she wanted, that she’d always wanted, that she couldn’t live without. One thing in life she didn’t want to give up for anything. That she needed to build her career around. One thing that broke her heart knowing her mother would never see.
‘It might sound crazy,’ she breathed, heat creeping up her neck, ‘but what I want most in this world is to be a mum.’
***
Aiden stared at Mia, his heart pounding hard and low inside his chest. He knew he’d said ‘anything’, but that wasn’t a response he’d have expected. Mia seemed so driven to have a career and to do a job she loved. But the one thing she wanted above all else was to be a mum? Why did that surprise him?
He resisted a grimace. He knew why. Sally had unfortunately tarnished his view of the modern woman.
And there he was, thinking about her again. Sighing, Aiden forced his ex-wife from his mind. He drew his attention back to Mia, who looked incredibly cute in her pink swim shirt, her long blonde hair hanging wet over her shoulder. The space around his heart warmed. He could picture Mia as a mum. She had an openness about her that allowed her to embrace anything. He’d only known her a few hours, but he admired her enthusiasm and her passion for so many different things.
‘Really?’ he asked, his mouth curving. ‘You want to be a mum?’
Her shoulders softened. ‘Yeah. I’ve always loved children. There’s something wholesome and energetic about them.’
He recalled the way she’d grinned when he’d first mentioned Ella, and noted the dreamy hue that currently filled her eyes. Everything inside him tightened like a vice. ‘Is that why you wanted to be a teacher?’
‘Yeah.’ She drained her drink and set the can aside. ‘I couldn’t think of anything more rewarding than working with children.’
‘I think that’s a good way for a teacher to feel.’ He sank deeper into the water and pillowed his head on the hard edge. ‘But wanting to be a mum…that tells you a lot.’
‘What do you mean?’
He paused, needing to choose his next words carefully. He couldn’t let his bitterness and own pain influence his advice. The last thing he wanted was for Mia to think he was a sexist pig, but…
‘Well, we’ve established a few things.’ He held up three fingers. ‘One, you want a career that’ll keep you grounded, likely in Charters Towers. Two, you need a job that’ll allow you to continue show jumping. And three, you want to be a mum.’ He dropped his hand as Mia’s eyes softened and she glanced thoughtfully into the water.
‘So, I need to work out how to have all three. How I can balance studying and a new career with my show jumping and the kind of mother I want to be. I mean, I know I can have it all, but I do want to be a mum who’s home with their children most of the time. I’d hate to work away or never be home.’
Aiden pressed his lips together. That was something Sally should have worked out how to balance. Perhaps if she had—
No, he wouldn’t go there. He had his daughter and there was nothing more to be said.
‘So, if you studied geology, you’d only want to work in Charters Towers. Or relocate somewhere similar where you can keep your horses.’
‘But what if I don’t get a job there? I’m interested in volcanos and earthquakes, not mines. That’s the best work for geologists in Charters Towers, and if I worked fly in, fly out, I’d be away from my family for days at a time.’ Sighing, Mia sank deeper into the water. ‘Maybe geology’s not for me.’
‘I’m sure you’d find work that you like,’ he said kindly, not wanting her to dismiss the career entirely. ‘But do you want to be home with your family on weekends and during the evening? Because many jobs aren’t nine to five.’
‘Which is what I have now, and I do like that. But I see what you mean.’ She straightened again and sighed. ‘There’s a lot to consider, isn’t there?’
Aiden shrugged. ‘I’m not saying that you have to, it’s just a suggestion. Because I know how hard it is to balance work and family, Mia.’
She smiled gently. ‘I guess you do. And I empathise with you, Aiden. My mum was a single parent, so I understand how hard it is.’
‘I can’t say it’s easy,’ he agreed. ‘I love being a vet, and it’s all I’ve ever wanted. But I do work weekends and once a month, I spend a week on call where I work throughout the night. It’s pointless trying to do anything else during that week and it can be difficult to organise my life around work. I’d kill for a nine to five job.’
Longing rose inside of him at the thought. He loved his work, and when he saved a pet from the brink of death and saw the tears of relief in an owner’s eyes, it felt wonderful to have saved someone a lot of heartache. But to be that hero, it sometimes meant leaving Ella. It meant he couldn’t commit to performing in musicals. He needed to beg to get off call for family gatherings to ensure he didn’t miss them.
Sometimes, he had no choice. He needed to put work first else risk his job. But if he had to choose between family and work, family would win every time. Especially now that he had Ella. His daughter always had to come first. He would always put her first. Because Aiden knew that he could have work and a family.
Unlike Sally…
Aiden gritted his teeth. He’d never let anyone like Sally hurt him, or Ella, again. Glancing at Mia, a tightness formed in his chest. At least her children would know the love of a mother as she wanted to be a mum. And if he were willing…
No. He wasn’t willing and therefore, Mia must remain firmly in the friend zone. No matter how sweet, caring, or pretty she was as she circled her manicured fingernail through the water.
‘So…I guess teaching does sound the most appealing option,’ she considered.
‘If that’s what you want to do, then go for it.’ He thought it sounded like a solid choice too.
‘Yeah.’ She smiled and lifted her gaze to his. ‘I’ll consider it. Thank you, Aiden. You’ve been very helpful.’
He smiled. ‘You’re welcome, Mia.’
***
Mia groaned as she rummaged through her suitcase. She’d brought nothing except shorts and T-shirts, a far cry from what she’d like to wear when going to dinner with a man. Why hadn’t she thought to pack a dress? Some pretty earrings?
She rolled her eyes at herself. Because she’d packed for a solo holiday, that’s why! Besides, what did it matter?
Exhaling, she sank onto the edge of her bed and ran her hands down her face. She didn’t know why her heart was pounding. Or why her belly twisted into knots. It was only dinner.
Taking a deep breath, she reminded herself of what was important. She was in Bali to have fun. She was being brave. And she’d had a fantastic day with Aiden. The tour wouldn’t have been half as enjoyable if she hadn’t had someone to talk to—if it’d just been her and the Germans. She’d have talked to them, but she’d have happily said farewell at the end of the tour content to never see them again.
But Aiden…
She shook her head. Aiden Knight was unlike any man she’d ever met. He’d opened up during the course of the day, although she still didn’t know much about Ella. By the time they’d left the coffee plantation, they’d both been too tired to talk and had spent the return journey in silence. They’d quickly friended each other on Facebook so they could keep in contact and had retired to their separate rooms.
Mia had enjoyed a nap and had woken feeling refreshed, energised, and tingly at the thought of Aiden. She couldn’t deny it. She was still a woman, and she’d have liked to have a cute dress to wear to dinner after spending the day in her daggiest trackpants and flannel shirt.
But she could work with what she had as she’d packed some nice shirts to wear of an evening. So she chose a snug black top, pulled on her short denim shorts, then slipped her feet into black leather sandals. Mia brushed her hair and styled it into a cute updo, then applied mascara and pink lip-gloss for good measure.
She did it because she wanted to look nice. And if he thought her pretty…well, it’d be a boost to her confidence, anyway.
She smiled at her reflection, gathered her shoulder bag, and headed out the door. Her heart raced, but not with anxiety. More with excitement. After the hot springs, they’d enjoyed lunch at a restaurant in Kintamani, the village south of Mount Batur. The view had allowed her to fully appreciate the steepness of the slope they’d hiked—if her tired legs hadn’t already. She’d marvelled at the lava field that spread down the southwest side of the mountain and had enjoyed the Indonesian noodles and spring rolls while she and Aiden had talked to Max and Felix, who were brothers and hailed from Hamburg.
She’d also given considerable thought to what Aiden had said about choosing a career. He had made some good points. Yes, she wanted to do something amazing with her life. She wanted to enjoy a career that made her happy and filled her soul. But no work would ever give her the joy she hoped to find by having a family. Just the thought of children sent shivers of joy and hope through her body. The greatest relationship Mia had ever had was with her mother. Tabitha Jones had raised two children on her own after her husband’s mysterious disappearance. She’d taken Mia and Michael from their city life in Brisbane and back to her parents’ leisure property, and they’d lived with her grandparents until Michael had started school. Her mum had bought the acreage in Charters Towers for a steal and had worked hard. But there had never been a shortage of love or family time, and Mia couldn’t have wished for a happier childhood.
Except, perhaps, if she’d also had her father.
But her mum hadn’t let his absence dampen their spirits, and Mia put their happiness down to the fact that Tabitha had always put her and Michael first. She’d worked as an accountant, therefore had been home nights, weekends, and had even worked from home during some school holidays. She’d earned extra cash as a dressage instructor, and Mia and Michael had never gone without.
When her mum had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, Mia hadn’t thought twice about putting her own dreams on hold. There was nothing she’d wanted more than to spend every last year, month, and minute with her mother—her very best friend.
Now Mia cherished those memories, and she wanted to honour Tabitha by being the same type of wonderful mother one day. She wanted to be there for her children always. For everything. She knew many mums worked nights, weekends, or even away, but if she had a choice, she didn’t want to be one of them.
The best thing was, she did have a choice. So, when she chose her career, she wanted one that would give her the homely lifestyle she had now. She liked having her weekends and evenings free, and she was grateful to Aiden for helping her realise that. She couldn’t imagine how difficult he had it, managing on-call and rostered hours with a two-year-old. She still didn’t know why he was raising his daughter alone, but over lunch, Mia had asked more about Ella and the things she liked. He’d told her about Ella’s favourite toys, games, and had showed her pictures on his phone. Mia’s heart had filled at the sight of the beautiful, dark haired little girl with big blue eyes.
Ella looked exactly like her daddy.
There was also no doubt that Sally was very beautiful, but Mia hadn’t asked about her as it seemed like a touchy subject. But that didn’t mean she wasn’t curious. Sally had left them. She’d left that adorable little girl. Mia hated to judge, but she couldn’t help but wonder.
What sort of mother leaves her own child?
She shook that thought away as she stepped into the wooden atrium of the hotel lobby. It wasn’t her place to ask. She’d only just met Aiden. If he wanted to tell her, he would. If he didn’t, she’d understand that too.
For now, she just wanted to know him better, except when she saw him waiting, her breath caught. His long legs stretched out before him in dark jeans and a tight red polo clung to his chest.
His eyes brightened as he pushed to his feet. ‘Hey. How was your nap?’
Mia managed to smile while everything inside her tightened. ‘Great. You?’
‘Very good. But now, I’m starving.’
She laughed and her shoulders relaxed a fraction. ‘Let’s go see what we can find for dinner then.’
Together, they left Beach Club and ventured out into the warm summer evening.