weren’t having lots of fun?” He followed up with a question.
“No.” She felt a momentary chill as the past brushed up against her.
“What do you intend to do with yourself while you’re here?” he asked, his tone brisk.
“Do with myself?” Her voice was startled. “As a matter of fact I haven’t thought that far. It’s enough to be here.”
“You’ve got yourself in a state if you had to disappear.”
Her eyelashes quivered. “A breathing space. No more.”
“I see.” He exuded disbelief.
“Sarah has been marvellous to me. I’ve been staying with her until I find a place.”
“What? In the haunted house? Lucky old you!” His laugh rumbled deep in his chest.
“I’d only been in town ten seconds before I heard about it. But ghosts don’t frighten me as much as real people.”
He spun his head to stare at her, the dappled shade highlighting his broad, darkly tanned, handsome face. All he needed was a gold earring and he’d be perfect as a swash-buckling pirate. “Let’s get this straight. Your boyfriend was frightening you?”
It was evident he’d never considered for a moment she was married. Did she look so young and inexperienced when she had known such terrible turbulence? “Ye gods! I didn’t say that.”
“Ye gods?” he gently jeered. “Where did you dig that out? I haven’t heard that for years.”
“My father used to say it.” A sad expression came into her eyes. “He was killed in a car crash when I was eighteen. I adored him.”
He nodded, never very far from his own grief. “I miss my father terribly. We were very close.” He looked away to where a large flock of pink and grey galahs were busily picking over the grass seeds.
“He died?” she said gently.
“Also in a car.” He didn’t add that he had been murdered by terrorists Evan’s own lover had put in motion.
“Are you an only child?” She tried to picture him as a boy. Couldn’t. He was so adult. So big. So commanding—even in a short-sleeved blue cotton shirt and jeans, boots on his feet. He made her feel like a doll.
“Like you? Continue the inspection,” he invited dryly. “I’m used to being looked over.”
She blushed. “You mean by the women of the town?” She heard about this, and understood now she’d meet the high level of feminine interest.
“Women are always looking for a mate,” he said, a smile flitting around his handsome mouth.
“But you don’t need one.” He seemed enormously self-reliant.
He was silent a while. “Of course I need one. But I have to get my life back together before then.”
“Your experiences have affected you deeply?”
“Things I don’t want to talk about, Laura.” Killing fields. Unimaginable brutality.
“So I’ve learned a lot and yet nothing about you.”
“Same here. But you’re such a clever thing I’m surprised you can’t read my mind.”
“I’m doing my best. Do you like music?” she digressed. “Or do you merely pretend? No, you wouldn’t pretend, would you?”
“It’s never struck me to pretend about such a thing.”
“But about other things?”
“We’ve all got secrets, Laura. Some people have nightmares.”
Like me. Laura closed her eyes and knocked a hand to her breast.
“Why did you do that?” He was surprised and rather perturbed by her gesture.
“I don’t know. Reflex action. I’m not a very brave person, I’m afraid. Sometimes panic rises up inside me like a flock of birds.” As she spoke she looked towards the noisy galahs.
“You’re like me. At this point in our lives we need the vastness of the Outback to breathe in. Speaking of music, the highly persuasive Harriet Crompton—that’s the town school-teacher—”
“I know Harriet. Sarah introduced us. She’s quite a character.”
“She is.” His eyes glittered with amusement. “Dear Harriet drafted me into the town orchestra. I play cello in the string quartet as well.”
“Do you really?” She turned in her chair to stare at him.
“Why the arched brows, miss?”
“I thought you looked a little like Beethoven,” she teased. “No, seriously, I look on your playing with the orchestra as wonderful. It’s just that you seem a very physical man—as in action. It wouldn’t surprise me in the least to find out you’d been a commando in your other life.”
He grunted wryly. “I can’t believe the number of guesses you’ve had. I told you I’m a wood worker. I’ll make you something, if you like. A chair. A table. A jewellery box. Did you bring your diamonds, emeralds and pearls? I bet you’ve got them.”
“Why ever would you say that?” Her voice shook slightly.
“Whatever you’ve been, Laura, you weren’t broke.”
She let her long hair slide forward to hide her profile. “It’s really weird, the way we’re talking so freely, don’t you think? We only met an hour or so ago.”
“Don’t let that bother you. The truth is people have always come to me with their troubles.”
“I’m not telling you mine.”
“Not even the first chapter? Clearly you don’t know how to choose boyfriends. Why in hell are you running anyway? Won’t he take no for an answer?”
“Be nice. Get off the subject,” she begged.
“Okay. Providing we can continue at another time. You’re not dieting, are you?”
“Good grief, no. Can’t you see? I ate the sandwiches.”
“Then eat the cakes. They cost good money and I’ve no intention of throwing them away.”
“All right, then.” She picked up one of the little home-made cup cakes. “Have you finally found your role?” She glanced mischievously at him out of the side of her green eyes.
“As in big brother?” he asked sarcastically. Far better to treat her that way. “I feel almost geriatric beside you.” She carried with her the innocence and freshness of spring.
“At thirty-seven, thirty-eight?”
