Page 74 of Outback Secrets

Chapter Twenty-one

As the door slammed shut, Henri sighed and leaned back against the wall, taking a few moments to catch her breath.

Liam had kissed her. Properly this time, not just because someone was watching. And she couldn’t be more pleased. Up until then, she’d thought he’d been giving his all when they’d smooched on the beach or kissed goodnight downstairs for the benefit of the patrons, but now … now she knew that all those kisses had only been a prelude for what his mouth was actually capable of.

And his hands. Oh God. She’d had fantasies about what else he might be able to do with those hands, but her imagination had nothing on the reality. Even through her bra and a whole layer of clothing, the way his fingers played her nipples almost made her come right there in the kitchen.

Damn water main! She actually stamped her foot, causing Sheila to startle.

‘Sorry, girl.’ Her heart rate finally starting to slow again, she went over to the dog and dropped down to stroke her. She still looked forlorn from being yelled at. Poor love. ‘How long do you reckon water mains take to fix?’

Sheila cocked her head to one side as if to say, Do I look like a plumber?

Henri sighed as she reached out to stroke the dog. She was right; they’d have to call Sam or the Water Corp and who knew how long they’d take to arrive. Maybe she should go downstairs and offer to help? Then again, she probably only knew fractionally more about plumbing than Sheila did.

As tight as her whole body felt—as desperately as she wanted Liam to be here right now with her—perhaps this was a blessing in disguise. It would give her a chance to do a little prep. If they were going to cross the line, and it looked as if they were, she wanted to be in tiptop condition. It had been a few days since she’d bothered to shave her legs, and even longer since she’d pruned downstairs. A delicious shiver snaked down her spine at the prospect of what lay ahead.

Normally she wouldn’t worry too much about impressing a guy, but she found she wanted everything to be perfect for him. For them.

A spring in her step, she headed into the bathroom, found a pack of disposable razors under the sink, stripped off her clothes and turned on the shower. Or at least she tried to, but nothing came out.

Dammit. Of course, the water would be switched off.

She deliberated only a moment before yanking her clothes back on. If she was quick, she could go home, wash her hair, shave every inch of her body and come back before he even knew she was gone. She rushed back into the kitchen, grabbed the bin from under the sink and swept all her biscuit attempts right into the garbage, not feeling even one ounce of disappointment as she did. Not everyone could bake, but Henri had plenty of other talents, and tonight she planned to use them!

Without water, it was hard to leave the kitchen spotless, but she did her best to return it as close to its pre-gingerbread state as possible, then she tossed Sheila a treat—one specifically for dogs this time—and hurried downstairs out to her van. She ignored all the commotion coming from the back of the pub, telling herself that she’d help with the clean-up when she returned.

The road to the farm was practically deserted, which was a good thing because traffic would have distracted her from her fantasies. All she could think about as she drove was the feel of Liam’s hands and mouth on her body and her fantasies of having them on her again.

Lost in her own bubble of bliss when she pulled up at the homestead, Henri didn’t notice her mother on the far side of the front garden watering the roses, or the hose stretched across the path, as she climbed out of Cecil and ran towards the house.

Like an out-of-body experience, she heard herself squeal before she actually felt the pain stinging her ankle, but then it was unlike anything she’d ever felt before. Her eyes filled with tears as she lay on the brick pavers trying to work out what on earth had happened.

‘Henrietta!’ Her mother’s footsteps were loud as she hurried over and knelt beside Henri. ‘Are you okay?’

She was too stunned to speak as her mum helped her into a sitting position.

‘Why were you in such a hurry? Didn’t you see the hose? Oh goodness, look at your hands and knees.’

Henri glanced down and saw grazes all over her legs, but it was the absolute throbbing at her ankle that really concerned her.

‘What are you doing?’ Fiona shrieked as Henri tried to get up and test her weight. ‘You don’t want to get dirt in those cuts on your hands. Here, let me help. We’ll get you inside and cleaned up.’

Reluctantly, she allowed her mother to put her hands under her arms and try to help her stand, but it felt like someone was stabbing a knife into her ankle.

‘I can’t,’ she yelped, her tears flowing as she flopped back onto the ground. ‘My ankle. It feels like it’s broken.’

‘Stay there. I’ll get an ice-pack and the first-aid kit, and I’ll call your brothers to come help.’ She glanced at her watch. ‘The medical centre will be shut by now and they’ll probably want an X-ray from Geraldton anyway, so I’ll drive you straight there.’

Henri barely registered anything her mother was saying—all she could think about was what this could mean for her next contract. All the worst swear words exploded from her mouth. Finally, when she was excited about getting in the air again, this had happened! How was she supposed to get from one job to the next with a broken foot? Never mind fly. She’d have to stay here with her mum, longer!

Oh Lord.That thought was almost as painful as her ankle.

Whereas half an hour ago Henri had been dreaming of doing all sorts of wonderfully wicked things to Liam, now she could actually kill him. And her libido. If she hadn’t been so distracted by the prospect of bonking his brains out, she’d never have been so clumsy as to trip on a damn hose.

‘Andrew’s in Perth doing some Christmas shopping with Janai and the kids,’ her mum said on her return, dropping down next to Henri. ‘But Callum’s on his way.’

‘Thanks,’ Henri managed, cringing as her mother laid an ice-pack across her ankle. No doubt her brother would find her clumsiness hilarious, but she couldn’t even bring herself to care.