The Outback Heart by Fiona Palmer Page B

her and waved. Jaffa leaned back, gave Indi a big smile and whistled. ‘You scrub up nice, Willo.’
    ‘Wow, you look even better than I pictured, Indi,’ Tegan said, leaning in close. ‘So, is this for a certain gorgeous new coach?’ she whispered.
    ‘What was that?’ asked Jaffa. His brow creased as he leaned in closer.
    ‘Just girl talk,’ Indi said hastily.
    Jaffa shot Tegan a frown and waited like he expected to be included. ‘Let’s go get a drink, Teegs,’ he said, reaching for her hand.
    ‘You go ahead, I just want to have a quick chat with Indi about tonight, then I’ll be over,’ Tegan said. Jaffa glanced back and forth between the girls, then shrugged. He pulled Tegan towards him and dropped a kiss on her cheek. ‘Don’t be long, beautiful,’ then he headed to the bar.
    ‘So?’ said Tegan eagerly as she rubbed Indi’s arm.
    When Indi couldn’t conjure up a reply, Tegan smiled.
    ‘You don’t have to say anything, Indi. I can read you.’
    Indi opened her mouth and then pressed her lips together, her light pink lipstick slippery with gloss. ‘Okay, maybe I’d like to see if a certain someone notices. Who knows if it will work. He hasn’t given out any vibes.’
    ‘Oh, I don’t know,’ said Tegan. ‘Don’t turn around, but right now he and half the room are checking you out.’
    Indi felt the heat crawl up her cheeks as she squeezed her eyes shut. ‘Help,’ she muttered. ‘Is he really?’
    ‘Who wouldn’t check you out! You look gorgeous. It’s nice to see you out of those work clothes. They do make you look a bit butch.’ Tegan laughed and hooked her arm through Indi’s.
    ‘Right, I’ll pass that on to the company.’
    ‘I’m sure the lads would appreciate it at harvest. Come on. Let’s get a drink. It’ll help relax you.’
    ‘Willo, since when did you get such fine legs?’ said Spud, openly checking them out as he leaned against the bar, beer in hand. They saw her legs often enough in footy shorts at training but maybe they looked different in a pretty dress.
    ‘For about as long as you’ve had that spare tyre, Spud,’ she replied, giving him a wink. The crowd milling around the bar burst into sniggers.
    ‘Let me buy you a drink,’ said Limp before turning to ask one of the Duckworth boys behind the bar for a beer.
    Indi grinned. The footy boys had made an effort to dress up in jeans and clean shirts, even Limp, whose hair normally looked so greasy. ‘Thanks, Limp.’ She took the beer from him and joined the conversation about who could end up best and fairest this year. Limp wanted to lay bets on who’d win and who’d kick the first goal of the season.
    ‘My bet’s on Willo senior again,’ said Spud’s dad, Ian.
    ‘I just hope the boys manage to win a game this year,’ said Randy Brookman. He hooked his thumb through the belt loop on his jeans, his bent fingers thick and calloused. Randy only had daughters so Limp was his full-time worker.
    ‘Hey, sis?’ said Jasper, touching her shoulder five minutes later. ‘Troy wants to get started. Are you going to read out the list or will he?’
    Indi’s eyes scanned the room for Troy. He was over the other side with a box full of footy jumpers. Her heart leaped. She’d tried not to search the room for him earlier, too scared to see what his reaction to her would be. Now that she had him in her sights her pulse raced. Thank god it wasn’t audible, although it echoed in her ears over the noise of the crowd. Troy wore dark denim jeans and a simple white shirt with black writing on the sleeves. His face was clean-shaven and his hair flopped gorgeously; her fingers were itching to run through it. Troy stood back up from checking something and his eyes went straight to her as if he could sense her gaze.
    She trembled from the contact. Trying to get control, she forced a smile and mouthed, ‘I’ll be over in a tick.’ Jasper was still standing, waiting. ‘I’ll go see him,’ she said. Tegan smiled and gave