Page 1 of The Talk Around Town

Chapter One

Gabe walked besideEmma as she sauntered down her house steps toward his ute.

Sauntered.

There was a word for you. Not one he used all that often, but there it was. She sauntered, and damned nicely if you asked him. She’d had a burst pipe in the bathroom and being Saturday afternoon, couldn’t get a plumber. Harry Deeks had done the neighbourly thing and given her Gabe’s number. Gabe had done some handyman work about Harry’s place a few months ago, when Harry had broken his leg falling off a ladder while trying to clean out his gutters.

That was the reason he was here, standing next to this pocket bombshell of a woman. He’d been kicking around under her house, tracking the pipe back up to the bathroom where the wall had been damaged from the leak.

What made her even more desirable, besides the full, soft mouth and denim-blue, come-to-bed eyes, was her laugh. It was addictive, like a drug that was just out of reach, but you craved with an intensity that shocked you.

The first time he’d heard it he’d nearly fallen off the stool at his brother’s bar. Sitting down to eat quickly before the evening rush, he’d heard that incredible burst of sound wash over him from behind.

Turning around, he’d seen the woman they’d all been making such a fuss about. Her moving to Kurrajong Crossing, apparently from Perth of all places, was the most interesting thing to have happened in their sleepy little town in ages.

The insane thing was that she seemed to have no idea how incredibly gorgeous she looked. He darted a quick glance in her direction. Shorts and a West Coast Eagles AFL T-shirt. He rubbed his jaw to cover his slight smile. She’d need to be educated about the local sports and team loyalty. The subject matter of that shirt could ruffle afew feathers.

Her long, rich brown hair was pulled back roughly into a ponytail, with soft strands falling out all over the place. Covered head to toe in plaster dust, she didn’t look the kind of girl who was deliberately trying to hook a man. The problem was she looked all the more tempting for that fact.

She’d been in town a week now and already some of the guys were wagering on who she’d date first. There was a list. The blame for that could be laid right at the feet of his friend Ryan. Gabe thought it a little over the top, but since he refused to be placed on the list anyway, it didn’t really matter to him.

Not that he’d been asked to be on it.

She kept to herself, having come into the bar only that first evening she was here, and that had only been for directions. She’d hardly been seen since, which was something that had rattled more than a few cages.

“Lady, I think you have a problem,” Gabe said, glancing over at her.

Emma laughed. That unbelievable sound washed over his nerve endings, calming at the same time as inciting them. His breath caught. He had to get away from this little lady. She was trouble. Big trouble.

“Please don’t call me lady, Gabe. It makes me feel a hundred years old. Besides, no one calls anyone that in Perth.”

Gabe turned to face her, ignoring the rush of blood through his body in response to her smile. And that accent. It was amazing. The way she said certain words wormed inside his ears and wrapped around his brain.

“You’re not in Perth anymore. You’re in rural New South Wales. And here, people will probably call you that, particularly the older residents. One of those little things you’re going to have to get used to, I’m afraid. If you like, I’ll try to remember not to. How’s that sound?”

Emma’s mouth curved into a full smile. “Thank you. I’d appreciate it.” She looked at her dual-cab utility truck and shook her head. “Who would ever have thought I’d be driving one of these? They’re so damned big.”

Gabe eyed the large black ute parked on the circular driveway in front of them. He shrugged a shoulder.

“Whatever you’re comfortable with, I suppose. What made youchoose it if you think it’s too big?” he asked, curiosity overriding his good judgement. He didn’t need to know details about this woman.

“It’s safe.”

Her flat tone pulled his attention back to her again.

Very interesting.

Gabe looked at Emma a little closer. This lady had secrets. He raised an eyebrow but said nothing. It was her business. Everyone was entitled to their own personal demons.

God knew, he had plenty.

“That it is. There’re wild deer as well as kangaroos around these parts, so if you’re driving at night keep an eye out, okay? Sometimes they’re hard to spot.”

The tight set left her features, and she nodded.

“Thanks, I appreciate that. When you move to a new place it’s hard to know the little things. The local knowledge. Usually you only find out when you do something stupid. You said earlier you have cattle?” she asked, curiosity making her eyes sparkle in the sunlight.

Gabe nodded and shifted his gaze to the left. Her ear looked very interesting all of a sudden. “Yeah. I have a farm a few miles out, on Hampton Road.” He turned and pointed to the south. “That way. I run a part-time veterinary practice from there, along with keeping a small herd.”