Playing for Love (Summer Beach Vets 1) - Escape Down Under by H.Y. Hanna

a blonde woman reach a possessive arm around Craig’s neck as she posed for a photo with him. Sara decided that she had had enough. Standing up abruptly, she turned and walked away. A moment later, she heard a commotion behind her as Craig obviously saw her departure and broke away from his fans to come after her.
    “Sara!”
    Sara kept walking, her steps quick and angry. She ignored Craig as he called her again and didn’t slow down until he reached out and grabbed her arm.
    “Sara!” He pulled her around to face him. “What’s the matter?”
    How could he ask that? Sara seethed. She tried to pull her arm out of his grasp, but he wouldn’t let go. She looked around them. She didn’t realise that she had come so far when she had stormed off. She had walked all the way around the Opera House to the south side, where the Monumental Steps, a ceremonial stairway 100 metres wide, led down from the Opera House Forecourt to Macquarie Street.
    “Let go of me,” she said breathlessly.
    “Not until you tell me what’s going on. You’re angry about something.” His deep blue eyes searched hers. “What is it, Sara?”
    “I just… I got fed up, okay?”
    “Fed up?” He dropped her arm. “Are you annoyed because a couple of people wanted me to sign an autograph?”
    “It wasn’t a couple of people,” hissed Sara. “It was dozens! And you looked like you were never going to stop! What were you going to do—just sit there all night signing autographs?”
    “These are my fans,” said Craig, his voice cold. “I owe it to them. They’ve been amazing in supporting me and my TV career. I can’t just turn my back on them. Unfortunately, this is part of being a celebrity. An important part.”
    “Yeah, I know all about that,” snapped Sara. “And I know how important it is to do anything to boost your showbiz career!”
    Whirling, she started down the Steps, just wanting to get away from him. But her foot slipped and, suddenly, Sara felt herself pitching forwards. She flailed her arms wildly as she tried to regain her balance—then she was being caught and held against a hard male chest. Her arms went instinctively around his neck as she felt him cradle her close to him. A rush of warmth enveloped her. It felt so wonderful being in Craig’s arms. Even furious at him as she was, she couldn’t help thinking she had never felt so safe and cherished.
    He held her close for a moment longer than necessary, then let her go. Gently, he steadied her as she stood back from him.
    “Are you okay?”
    “Y-y-yes, I think so.” Sara straightened her skirt, feeling a bit foolish. Somehow, the near-fall had taken the wind out of her sails. Her anger had evaporated and she was left with a feeling of wistfulness. She didn’t want this wonderful day to end with them fighting.
    Perhaps Craig felt the same way, because his voice was gentle as he said, “I think we’d better start heading back. Are you okay to walk back to the Jeep? I can go and drive it around, if you prefer to wait here.”
    “No, no, I’m fine. I can walk,” Sara said.
    “Good.” Craig gave her a slight smile, then put a solicitous hand under her elbow as he guided her back along the concourse, around Circular Quay, to where they had parked the Jeep.
    They didn’t talk about his fans again and Sara was happy to sit in a contented silence as the powerful vehicle navigated its way out of Sydney and back onto the freeway. The drive back to Summer Beach seemed to be shorter than coming down the coast that morning, and all too soon, they were turning down a familiar street and pulling up in front of Ellie’s beach cottage.
    The lights were on in the house. Ellie would be waiting, eager to hear the details of their day, Sara realised. She paused with her hand on the handle of the car door, suddenly reluctant to leave the cosy intimacy of the Jeep interior.
    “Thank you. I had a really wonderful day,” she murmured, looking shyly at Craig.
    His face was in