Outback Affair: An Affair Novel (Entangled Indulgence) by Annie Seaton Page A

next to him, cradling Bowser on her lap while he backed the trailer to the water and hooked the boat on. He drove back up the slope and parked beneath the stand of melaleucas and then transferred the crabs into the iced cooler in the back of the truck.
    “Just going to check the forecast, and then we’ll have a cuppa and head off.” He held up the satellite phone, which always worked in the outback—unlike regular cell phones—to Jess, and she gave him a brief smile before he walked around the back of the boat and called Mitch, his assistant manager at Cockatoo Springs.
    “Where are you, Alex?” Mitch’s voice was muffled by the connection. “Clayton’s arrived.”
    “Just turned off the main road; I’m taking the shortcut across.”
    “Why? A bit risky with the rain coming.”
    “Long story, mate. I’ll tell you when I get there. If I need help if the river comes up, I’ll radio in, and you can send the chopper out. Got a good haul of crabs for you, and the barramundi went to Darwin last night.”
    Mitch laughed. “It’s already here. Clayton checked and got it in fresh before they could freeze it. He’s got the first class doing it today.”
    “Great stuff. I can’t wait to meet him.”
    Alex ended the call, lifted the small cooler out of the boat, and walked over to the truck. Unzipping the canvas, he reached in and pulled the old blanket from the back.
    Might as well give Jess somewhere to sit. She’d been very quiet since the episode on the water. He spread it on some soft grass well back from the river before going over and opening the door to the truck. Jess looked at him and anticipation filled her voice.
    “Are we leaving now?
    “Soon. Come and have something to eat, and then we’ll head off for the last leg. I hope.” He was going to be honest about what was ahead. “I want to stop and get our camp set up before dark. It’s raining up ahead.
    “How do you know?”
    “I was talking to my…to my mate at Cockatoo Springs. Rains started over on the coast last night, so we’re going to have to be careful.”
    Jess rolled her eyes at him as she stepped out of the truck. “Whatever. Can’t get much worse, can it?”
    Alex shook his head as she strode ahead of him to the blanket.
    Oh yes it can. If the rains start, we are going to get stranded on this back road, and I don’t know if I could handle being stranded in the outback with you for too long.
    She had determination in bucket loads. He was enjoying her quick comebacks, and although she’d bitched about the heat and the dog amongst other things, she was giving it a go.
    When he’d held her after she’d saved Bowser, a feeling, long-buried, had shimmied up into his chest, and he hadn’t liked it one bit. Jess was playing havoc with his emotions, and he was angry at himself for putting himself into that situation. But the longer they traveled and the more he threw at her, the more respect he was developing for her toughness.
    Even though she’d headed off in the wrong direction on her journey and ended up with him, she was coping despite everything he’d thrown at her. Even when he’d deliberately invaded her personal space and pressed up against her, she’d only looked at him and not commented. But that wasn’t going to happen again, anyway; getting up close and personal with her was not an option. He was going to stay well clear. She was way too appealing, and he wasn’t going to go there.
    …
    Jess lifted the blanket carefully and looked around the edge of the grassed area before she flopped down onto the ground next to him.
    “Don’t worry, I’ve already checked for snakes. Just watch out for those grass seeds I told you about.” He held up the flask. “I’m sorry…no coffee. I’ve only got tea. Wally’s missus puts the tea leaves in the flask, and it’s pretty strong, but it will quench your thirst.”
    “What do you do up here all year?” Jess looked at him over the mug of tea she’d accepted.
    “In the off