Page 40 of Outback Secrets
Chapter Eleven
‘How was the school play?’ Liam asked Henri as they headed over the dunes towards the sand on Friday morning, boards under their arms and Sheila trotting between them. She hadn’t stayed at the pub last night, which he thought he’d prefer, but he’d actually found it a little odd coming into his apartment, knowing she wasn’t already asleep in his bedroom. It was crazy how quickly he’d got used to having her around.
‘You know it was actually pretty cute. They put on this play called How the Bunyip Stole Christmas and my nephew, Silas, was the star. He made such a scary bunyip.’
‘Was it a rip-off of How the Grinch Stole Christmas or does it just sound like it?’
Henri snorted. ‘Well, there were definite similarities between the two, but I think I might actually prefer the Bunyip Bay version.’
Even Liam, who avoided all things Christmas if he could possibly help it, couldn’t deny that did sound a bit cute.
‘To Andrew’s dismay,’ she continued, ‘Silas now wants to become a film star rather than a farmer.’
‘Really? I thought being a YouTube sensation was all the rage among the young ones these days. Film star sounds so passé.’
‘What do you know about YouTube sensations?’ she asked, amused.
‘I’ll have you know I know about a lot of things. You should hear the conversations people have in the pub—I pick up a lot. And most of the young backpackers seem to watch more YouTube than anything else.’
‘That sounds about right. Macy is addicted too. She watches horse videos on there. Apparently, there are even horse-riding YouTube stars.’
Liam raised his eyebrows as they dropped their gear down on the patch of sand that was rapidly becoming ‘their spot’. ‘What’ll they think of next?’
‘Do you have any nieces or nephews?’ Henri asked, and his ribcage tightened a little. He didn’t mind talking about her family, but his was a different story.
‘Nope. You seem to dote on yours though? Do you want to have kids yourself one day?’
Henri ripped her T-shirt over her head. Despite it covering her mouth, her reply was not muffled at all. ‘Hell no. Do you?’
‘I don’t think so.’ Maybe he might have considered it once upon a time, but that was another lifetime. Things had changed. He’d changed.
‘Well, I know so,’ Henri said firmly as she removed her shorts.
He should have been getting used to the sight of her in nothing but a swimsuit, but it still made his mouth water.
‘Don’t get me wrong,’ she added, ‘I like kids. You’re right, I adore my nieces and nephews, but I’ve never had that burning urge to procreate like so many people, especially women, seem to. Tilley was talking about her wedding and having babies before I was even born. The idea never crossed my mind until I was almost an adult and I realised that’s what people just expected I’d want. I don’t know, maybe there’s something wrong with me?’
She sounded vulnerable, a little despondent maybe, and he felt compelled to set her straight.
‘I don’t think so. The world’s richer because everyone is different. And hey, the earth will probably thank us for not procreating, what with overpopulation and everything.’
She nodded and her lips stretched into a smile. ‘Yeah, you’re right. You and me? We’re saving the world, one non-baby at a time. We should be awarded for our selfless decision.’ Then she grabbed her board and ran towards the water.
Grinning at the image of them receiving some kind of trophy, Liam picked up his board and hurried after her. He was probably enjoying his mornings with Henri far too much, but he couldn’t help himself. Quite aside from the view—and no, he wasn’t talking about the ocean—and the thrill he got whenever he managed to actually catch a wave, she was like no woman he’d ever met before. She said things how she saw them, not giving two hoots whether it was the done thing, and she often made him laugh.
He was content with his life, his daily swims, the pub and his woodwork, but spending time with Henri had been a welcome diversion from the monotony of every day. And it was always good to learn a new skill, even if surfing was one that had never crossed his mind until he’d met her. Now that he was more confident, Henri didn’t spend every moment in the water alongside him. While he practised on the smaller waves, she sometimes swam out further and attempted a bigger one. Sometimes he forgot he was supposed to be practising and found himself floating on his board, watching her instead. She was so graceful and watching her relaxed him in a way nothing else did.
She often caught him and paddled back to tell him off for slacking, and if he was honest, that was fun too.
After almost an hour in the surf, they emerged from the water and trekked back up to where Sheila was patiently guarding their things.
‘That was awesome,’ Henri said, dropping her board on the sand and then shaking her wet ponytail. ‘I can’t think of a better way to start the day.’
Liam could think of one better way, but of course he kept that to himself. Instead he picked up his towel and tried to rub the sand from his wet hair, only to open his eyes moments later to find Henri staring at him.
He swallowed as every muscle in his body grew tight. Was she checking him out? Did she feel the heat that arced between them too or was that wishful thinking?
Before he could work out the answer or what he wanted to do about it if she did, she reached out and touched her index finger, ever so gently, to his shoulder.