generous of you.”
He was dressed in his khaki work trousers and an olive T-shirt that hugged the muscles of his chest. He didn’t have his tool belt, and he’d taken off his work boots, revealing thick black socks covering his feet. When she lifted her gaze back to his face and discovered the tiniest grin there, she realised she’d been caught staring at him, and a wave of heat rose in her cheeks.
“We’ve been driving around the countryside looking for lemon myrtle and honey. I found a wonderful farm growing all kinds of Australian bush foods like bush tomatoes, and native plums. They’ll be able to supply me with all the lemon myrtle I need.” She spoke quickly, aware she was almost babbling, hoping to draw attention away from her hot cheeks. “And honey’s no problem. There are three honey farms in the area.”
“Sounds like you had a productive day at least.” He picked up the kettle and turned on the sink tap. “Cindy lets me have the run of the kitchen, which is handy when my thermos runs dry. I was just about to make myself a mug of tea. Can I make you one too?”
“That would be great.” Her throat was parched after her long day. “I’ve had to sing ‘Little Bunny Foo Foo’ about a hundred times today. It’s the only song Jarrod likes when he’s bored.”
Adam’s grin widened. “And did the Good Fairy turn the bunny into a goose?”
She smiled at him. “You know the lyrics?”
“Hey, I was three years old once, too.” He swung toward the counter as the kettle began to boil.
She watched him make the tea. Impossible to think of Adam as a three-year-old. He was such a manly hunk now—she couldn’t drag her eyes away from him. She found him even more attractive now than a decade ago. His muscled body was sculpted not by gym machines but by hard, honest labour. He didn’t need fancy clothes or cars or an illustrious pedigree to enhance his attractiveness. He wore his masculinity with deep maturity, without a shadow of swagger. His privileged world had been destroyed, and somehow from that destruction, he had carved out his own niche and become his own man. She admired him for that.
“Let’s sit outside on the deck.” He held out two steaming mugs of tea. “That way I won’t muck up Cindy’s place, and we can still keep an ear out for Jarrod.”
They sat down on the wide wooden steps leading from the deck down to the lawn.
“Where are your workers today?” She gestured toward the silent building site of the pool house.
“Tony managed to put a nail through his toe, so Ivan’s taken him to the hospital.”
“Ouch.” She winced.
“He’ll be more afraid of the tetanus injection.” Adam didn’t look very sympathetic as he stretched out his long legs. “They’re good workers, but sometimes the pair of them are like Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dumber. When Tony recovers he’ll get an earful from me about why he didn’t have his safety boots on.” He took a swig of tea from his mug and studied the half-finished pool house. “I don’t have time for stupid accidents. We’re behind schedule as it is, and I have other projects backing up.”
Harriet glanced down at her tea. “I hear Cindy’s been chopping and changing her mind about the pool house. It must be very frustrating for you.”
“It’s my own fault. I knew what she’d be like before I took on the job.” He gave her a long, considering look. “You know, you two couldn’t be more different if you tried.”
“Tell me something I don’t know.” She forced a light laugh to her lips. She paused, thinking about her sister. “Cindy is just like my mother. When Cindy was still living at home, they were more like sisters than mother and daughter. They’d always be doing their nails or talking about fashion and hairstyles.”
He leaned back on one elbow and cradled the mug in his palm. “Did that make you feel left out?”
“Left out?” She studied her fingernails, remembering her mother and Cindy
He was dressed in his khaki work trousers and an olive T-shirt that hugged the muscles of his chest. He didn’t have his tool belt, and he’d taken off his work boots, revealing thick black socks covering his feet. When she lifted her gaze back to his face and discovered the tiniest grin there, she realised she’d been caught staring at him, and a wave of heat rose in her cheeks.
“We’ve been driving around the countryside looking for lemon myrtle and honey. I found a wonderful farm growing all kinds of Australian bush foods like bush tomatoes, and native plums. They’ll be able to supply me with all the lemon myrtle I need.” She spoke quickly, aware she was almost babbling, hoping to draw attention away from her hot cheeks. “And honey’s no problem. There are three honey farms in the area.”
“Sounds like you had a productive day at least.” He picked up the kettle and turned on the sink tap. “Cindy lets me have the run of the kitchen, which is handy when my thermos runs dry. I was just about to make myself a mug of tea. Can I make you one too?”
“That would be great.” Her throat was parched after her long day. “I’ve had to sing ‘Little Bunny Foo Foo’ about a hundred times today. It’s the only song Jarrod likes when he’s bored.”
Adam’s grin widened. “And did the Good Fairy turn the bunny into a goose?”
She smiled at him. “You know the lyrics?”
“Hey, I was three years old once, too.” He swung toward the counter as the kettle began to boil.
She watched him make the tea. Impossible to think of Adam as a three-year-old. He was such a manly hunk now—she couldn’t drag her eyes away from him. She found him even more attractive now than a decade ago. His muscled body was sculpted not by gym machines but by hard, honest labour. He didn’t need fancy clothes or cars or an illustrious pedigree to enhance his attractiveness. He wore his masculinity with deep maturity, without a shadow of swagger. His privileged world had been destroyed, and somehow from that destruction, he had carved out his own niche and become his own man. She admired him for that.
“Let’s sit outside on the deck.” He held out two steaming mugs of tea. “That way I won’t muck up Cindy’s place, and we can still keep an ear out for Jarrod.”
They sat down on the wide wooden steps leading from the deck down to the lawn.
“Where are your workers today?” She gestured toward the silent building site of the pool house.
“Tony managed to put a nail through his toe, so Ivan’s taken him to the hospital.”
“Ouch.” She winced.
“He’ll be more afraid of the tetanus injection.” Adam didn’t look very sympathetic as he stretched out his long legs. “They’re good workers, but sometimes the pair of them are like Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dumber. When Tony recovers he’ll get an earful from me about why he didn’t have his safety boots on.” He took a swig of tea from his mug and studied the half-finished pool house. “I don’t have time for stupid accidents. We’re behind schedule as it is, and I have other projects backing up.”
Harriet glanced down at her tea. “I hear Cindy’s been chopping and changing her mind about the pool house. It must be very frustrating for you.”
“It’s my own fault. I knew what she’d be like before I took on the job.” He gave her a long, considering look. “You know, you two couldn’t be more different if you tried.”
“Tell me something I don’t know.” She forced a light laugh to her lips. She paused, thinking about her sister. “Cindy is just like my mother. When Cindy was still living at home, they were more like sisters than mother and daughter. They’d always be doing their nails or talking about fashion and hairstyles.”
He leaned back on one elbow and cradled the mug in his palm. “Did that make you feel left out?”
“Left out?” She studied her fingernails, remembering her mother and Cindy
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