Her Happy-Ever-After Family: The Cattleman's Ready-Made Family / Miracle in Bellaroo Creek / Patchwork Family in the Outback. Barbara Hannay

throat. She swallowed it back down into her chest and tried to pop the bubble with silent verbal thrusts. He’ll be gone soon. But her brain refused to cooperate. It was too busy revelling in the undiluted masculinity on display. In low-slung jeans, soft with wear, and a faded cotton twill work shirt—with buttons…buttons that could be undone—he made her fingers itch to run all over him in the same way they did whenever she was near a piano.

      She took a step back. ‘Hello, Cameron.’

      He blinked and that was when she realised he’d been staring at her as intently as she’d been staring at him. Her skin flared hotter. They both glanced away.

      ‘Are you coming with us to the working bee?’ Krissie asked.

      ‘Working bee?’

      He glanced at Tess. She frowned. Hadn’t Lorraine spoken to him?

      None of your business. She cleared her throat and folded her arms. ‘The town’s organised a clean-up of the cemetery. We’re just about to head out there now.’

      ‘I didn’t hear about it.’

      She unfolded her arms. Well, why not? It—

      None of your business. She folded her arms again.

      ‘You have to come,’ Ty said. ‘It won’t be the same if you’re not there.’

      That was one way of putting it.

      Cam smoothed a hand down his jaw. ‘The thing is, buddy, I was going to start on your vegetable garden today.’

      ‘But we want to help you do that, don’t we, Auntie Tess?’

      ‘We do.’

      ‘And the working bee is for our mummy.’ Krissie slid her hand into Cam’s. ‘Please…you have to come.’

      Tess had to choke back a laugh. Talk about emotional blackmail! She clapped her hands briskly. ‘Okay, kids, grab your hats and, Ty, make sure you bring Barney’s lead.’

      The kids raced off.

      Cam stared at her. She sucked her bottom lip into her mouth. He followed the action and his eyes darkened. She released it again, her pulse pounding in her throat. She wheeled away to stare blindly at the backyard. ‘I don’t feel right about you working here without us being around to help. I want to learn.’

      ‘It’ll mostly be brute work today.’

      ‘Nevertheless.’

      There was a pause. ‘Is that a roundabout way of saying you’d like me to come to the cemetery instead?’

      ‘I’d love you to come.’ And she meant it. She really wanted him to be part of the working bee, but she wasn’t quite sure what that meant. Except she needed to be careful. Very careful.

      She needed to fight her fascination for this man, or it would all end in tears. If they were only her tears that wouldn’t matter, but…She glanced towards the house. ‘I think it’s only fair to warn you that I expect your mother, Lance and Fiona will all be there today.’