Michelle Douglas - Road Trip with the Eligible Bachelor

‘Of course not!’ How could he think she’d abandon him like that?

‘Once we reach Adelaide I’ll make other arrangements.’

‘Okay.’ She bit her thumbnail for a moment, unable to look at him. Adelaide was still six or possibly seven days away yet. If she could make him see how important this trip was...well, then, he might make more of an effort to fit in. Maybe.

She stretched her legs out in front of her. ‘You know what I think? I think we should break the ice a little. I think we should ask the questions that have been itching through us and get that all out of the way.’

He looked so utterly appalled she had to bite her lip to stop from laughing. This man took self-contained to a whole new level. ‘Or, better yet, why don’t we tell each other something we think the other wants to know?’

His expression didn’t change but she ignored it to clap her hands. ‘Yes, that’ll be much more fun. I’ll go first, shall I?’ she rushed on before he could object. She crossed her legs again. ‘I’m going to tell you why Robbie, Chase and I are on a road trip across the continent.’

He shifted, grew more alert. She could tell from the way his eyes focused on her and his shoulders straightened. Oh, he was appalled still, of course, but she hoped his curiosity would eventually conquer his resistance.

‘The olive farm is in the Hunter Valley wine district and it belongs to my aunt. She’s the black sheep of the family.’ She rolled her eyes. ‘And I happen to take after her.’

‘Your family consider you a black sheep?’

A question! She schooled her features to hide her triumph. ‘Actually, in all honesty, I’d be very surprised if my parents thought about me at all these days. They’re from Sydney. I became pregnant with Robbie when I was eighteen. They wanted me to go to university and carve out some mythically brilliant career. When I decided to have my baby instead, they cut me off.’

His jaw dropped. He mightn’t be ‘friendly’ in a traditional sense, but he didn’t strike her as the kind of man who’d walk away from his family when they needed him.

And you’re basing that on what—his pretty smiles and earnest eyes in his television interviews?

Hmm, good point.

‘Siblings?’

Another question! ‘None. So, after my parents handed me their ultimatum, I packed my bags and moved to Perth.’

‘Why Perth?’

‘Because it was about as far away from Sydney as I could get while still remaining in the country.’

He stared at her for a long moment. She held her breath and crossed her fingers that he’d ask a fourth question.

‘Did Robbie’s father go with you?’

She wanted to beam at him for asking. ‘Yes, he did.’ But she didn’t want to tell him that story. ‘When I had Robbie my Aunt Mara—’

‘Of black sheep fame?’

He was totally hooked, whether he knew it or not. ‘The very one. Well, she came across to Perth to help me out for a couple of weeks. I was barely nineteen with a new baby. I appreciated every bit of help, advice and support she gave me.’

He plucked a nearby dandelion. ‘That’s nice.’

‘She didn’t have to. We’d had very little to do with each other when I was growing up.’ Her parents had made sure of that. ‘But those two weeks bonded us together in a way I will always cherish. We’ve been close ever since.’

‘You’re moving to be nearer to her?’

A little twist of fear burrowed into her gut. She shifted on the blanket. She was turning all of their lives upside down. What if she was making a mistake? They’d had a perfectly comfortable life in Perth.

You weren’t happy.

Her happiness had nothing to do with it. She scratched her nose and stared across at Robbie and Chase.

‘Quinn?’

She shook herself and pasted on a smile. ‘Mara is only fifty-two but she’s developed severe arthritis. She needs a hip replacement.’ She needed help. ‘My boys don’t have any family in Perth. I think it’d be nice for them to know Mara better.’

Comprehension flashed across his face. ‘You’re moving there to look after her.’

‘I expect we’ll all look after each other. Like I said, she owns an olive farm and her second-in-command recently married and moved to the States.’

‘And you’re going to fill the position?’

He didn’t ask with any judgement in his voice. She shouldn’t feel as if she’d been found so...lacking. ‘Yes.’

She tossed her head. Besides, she was looking forward to that challenge. Her admin job in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Western Australia had palled years ago. Not that it had ever had much shine.

Still, it had provided them with the security of a fortnightly pay packet. It had supported her and the boys for the last five years. It—

She slammed a halt on the doubts that tried to crowd her. If worse came to worse, if things didn’t work out at Aunt Mara’s, she’d be able to pick up an office job in no time at all. Somewhere.

She bit back a sigh and then straightened her spine. There was absolutely no reason why things wouldn’t work out. She loved her aunt. So did the boys. The Hunter Valley was a beautiful place and the boys would thrive in all of that sunshine and the wide open spaces. They’d go to good schools and she’d get them a dog. They’d make friends fast. And so would she.

She crossed her fingers. The change might even help her overcome the ennui that had started to take her over. She’d learn new skills and maybe, eventually, she’d stop feeling so alone.

Win-win for everyone. Perfect!

She turned back to Aidan and pressed her hands together. ‘This is such an exciting time for us.’

‘And a scary one too, I imagine.’

She didn’t want to admit that. Not out loud.

‘I mean you’re turning your whole life on its head.’

She sucked her bottom lip into her mouth and concentrated on keeping her breathing even.

He stared across at the playground. ‘And it’s not just your life that this decision impacts either so—’

‘Are you trying to make me hyperventilate?’ she demanded.

His jaw dropped. ‘Heck, no! I just think it’s amazing and courageous and...’

She gritted her teeth for a moment before pasting on another smile. She suspected it was more a grimace from the way Aidan eased back a fraction and kept his eyes trained on her. ‘Which is why this road trip of ours is so important to me. I’ve promised the boys that we’ll treat it as a holiday. I’m determined that we’ll take our time and that everyone will be as relaxed as possible so I can answer any questions about this new life of ours, help ease any fears and apprehensions that might come to light, and to just...’

She reached out as if to grasp the words she sought from the air. ‘To help us all look forward to this new beginning and be excited about it.’ She turned to him, willing him to understand. ‘It’s the reason I’ve been chirpy-chirpy-cheeping with all of my might.’

Beneath his tan, he paled. ‘And I’m screwing that up for you.’

‘No you’re not. Not exactly. But now that you know, maybe you can ease up a bit.’

‘And part company with you at Adelaide.’

She slapped a hand down on the blanket between them and leaned in closer. He smelled of something spicy and sharp like eucalyptus oil or crushed pine needles. She breathed him in and the constriction about her lungs eased a fraction. ‘By going with the flow and relaxing,’ she corrected. ‘You’re obviously stressed about this plane strike and getting back home to Sydney, but...’

He latched onto that. ‘But?’

‘We’re all stuck with each other for the six days or so, right?’

‘Six days!’ He swallowed. He nodded. ‘Six days. Right.’