together a couple of times a week and pull everyone to pieces. In a nice way, of course.’
Zoe couldn’t help but grin. Jessie Lord was a real treasure and if she wanted to indulge in a little gossip, that was okay with her. Provided the old women weren’t ripping someone a new one in public, it was harmless enough.
Following Jake’s lead, Zoe pushed through the tangled garden filled with ancient lavender bushes, sweet-scented old-fashioned roses, and an abundance of other plants and flowers found in any respectable English cottage garden. Except this was the centre of Australia.
‘It’s a wonder any of these plants have survived the heat out here.’
‘Aha, there’s a reason for that. Lots of water,’ Jake said, pushing aside the trailing branches of a weeping willow tree. ‘Check this out.’
Zoe stood and gaped. Hidden by the wide canopy of the weeping willow was a lagoon. About 12 feet across and at least double that in length, it was overgrown with brilliantly coloured water lilies and reed grasses.
A family of wild ducks negotiated the weeds, happily fishing for whatever was available to them. A thick layer of moss covered the area under the tree like a blanket, and a pebble path scooted around the lagoon to the other side and led to a smaller replica of the inn itself.
The outside of the house was a little tumble-down and in desperate need of restoring and renovation, but it was built of the same red bricks as the inn and dressed in dirty white fret work on each of the verandah posts.
‘Wow, this is incredible.’ She flashed Jake a quick smile. ‘I wonder if Jessie would allow me to restore this once I’ve finished the inn.’
‘Jessie can’t, but I certainly can.’ Jake moved closer and relieved Zoe of her sketch pad and camera. ‘It’s on a separate title and actually belongs to me. Simon prefers to live at the inn, but I’m getting a little sick of serviced apartments and thought it might be nice to have a real home for a change. You interested?’
‘Oh, you bet. This would be a dream job.’ She stared at the house, visualising it as it must have been when it was first built. There was something so timeless about homes erected so many years ago. A permanence that had been missing in her own life since she was a kid.
She suddenly had a vision of living in this type of home. Maybe standing at the kitchen window, breathing in the scent of lavender and roses, watching children play among the foliage of the weeping willow tree. And it would be a home, not merely a house, filled with warmth and love. With laughter tempered with the firm discipline of a mother and father…
Flamin’ cows, girl, what are you thinking?
Zoe shook her head. She couldn’t believe what her mind had come up with. That type of life meant commitment. No way in hell was she going to put her head in that noose again.
She’d vowed and declared no man would ever rule her. Been there, done that, still owned the T-shirt. No siree, not this girl!
It was all Jake’s fault. That little interlude in the Garden Room had set her hormones on a wild rampage through her body. No way was Jake the buttoned-up banker she’d first thought him. Hell, her clit still throbbed. Her breasts were swollen, the nipples hypersensitive.
Damn it, the man had turned her on with his raunchy mind pictures and then left her hanging. Although truth be told, that was Rachel’s fault for running in with the fire extinguisher.
She snorted. She couldn’t help herself. She’d been so caught up in the whole scenario she’d forgotten Rachel was even there. Damn, she’d be a basket case at this rate. Sexual frustration was eating away at her sanity and she needed to bring this to an end…before she turned herself into a doormat and begged Jake to make love to her.
So much for being in control.
Zoe grabbed her camera from Jake and ducked her head, pretending to fiddle with the settings. God, she had to get her mind back on track, because,
Zoe couldn’t help but grin. Jessie Lord was a real treasure and if she wanted to indulge in a little gossip, that was okay with her. Provided the old women weren’t ripping someone a new one in public, it was harmless enough.
Following Jake’s lead, Zoe pushed through the tangled garden filled with ancient lavender bushes, sweet-scented old-fashioned roses, and an abundance of other plants and flowers found in any respectable English cottage garden. Except this was the centre of Australia.
‘It’s a wonder any of these plants have survived the heat out here.’
‘Aha, there’s a reason for that. Lots of water,’ Jake said, pushing aside the trailing branches of a weeping willow tree. ‘Check this out.’
Zoe stood and gaped. Hidden by the wide canopy of the weeping willow was a lagoon. About 12 feet across and at least double that in length, it was overgrown with brilliantly coloured water lilies and reed grasses.
A family of wild ducks negotiated the weeds, happily fishing for whatever was available to them. A thick layer of moss covered the area under the tree like a blanket, and a pebble path scooted around the lagoon to the other side and led to a smaller replica of the inn itself.
The outside of the house was a little tumble-down and in desperate need of restoring and renovation, but it was built of the same red bricks as the inn and dressed in dirty white fret work on each of the verandah posts.
‘Wow, this is incredible.’ She flashed Jake a quick smile. ‘I wonder if Jessie would allow me to restore this once I’ve finished the inn.’
‘Jessie can’t, but I certainly can.’ Jake moved closer and relieved Zoe of her sketch pad and camera. ‘It’s on a separate title and actually belongs to me. Simon prefers to live at the inn, but I’m getting a little sick of serviced apartments and thought it might be nice to have a real home for a change. You interested?’
‘Oh, you bet. This would be a dream job.’ She stared at the house, visualising it as it must have been when it was first built. There was something so timeless about homes erected so many years ago. A permanence that had been missing in her own life since she was a kid.
She suddenly had a vision of living in this type of home. Maybe standing at the kitchen window, breathing in the scent of lavender and roses, watching children play among the foliage of the weeping willow tree. And it would be a home, not merely a house, filled with warmth and love. With laughter tempered with the firm discipline of a mother and father…
Flamin’ cows, girl, what are you thinking?
Zoe shook her head. She couldn’t believe what her mind had come up with. That type of life meant commitment. No way in hell was she going to put her head in that noose again.
She’d vowed and declared no man would ever rule her. Been there, done that, still owned the T-shirt. No siree, not this girl!
It was all Jake’s fault. That little interlude in the Garden Room had set her hormones on a wild rampage through her body. No way was Jake the buttoned-up banker she’d first thought him. Hell, her clit still throbbed. Her breasts were swollen, the nipples hypersensitive.
Damn it, the man had turned her on with his raunchy mind pictures and then left her hanging. Although truth be told, that was Rachel’s fault for running in with the fire extinguisher.
She snorted. She couldn’t help herself. She’d been so caught up in the whole scenario she’d forgotten Rachel was even there. Damn, she’d be a basket case at this rate. Sexual frustration was eating away at her sanity and she needed to bring this to an end…before she turned herself into a doormat and begged Jake to make love to her.
So much for being in control.
Zoe grabbed her camera from Jake and ducked her head, pretending to fiddle with the settings. God, she had to get her mind back on track, because,
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