Bella’s demand that Seth be the one to tuck her in had hurt. Amy hated to think she was jealous, but the little girl was falling for Seth fast and hard. She seemed to be totally fascinated by him—utterly trusting, excited and enthralled.
Amy told herself it was because Bella had very little experience of men. Rachel had stopped going out with guys once she’d known she was pregnant, and, of course, Dominic had stayed well out of any scene that had involved Bella.
But now, it was almost as if Bella sensed that Seth was special, and connected to her. It was fanciful to think that the child knew he was her father. But very soon he would want her to know the truth, and, although she was too little to really understand, it would be an important step in cementing their emotional bond.
Leaving her wrap on the veranda railing, Amy leaned against a post and looked out at the inky sky where a silvery half-moon was glowing softly through a gap in the trees. She thought again about the conversation she’d overheard in the kitchen.
It was really silly to be upset about that. She knew very well she was different from Rachel. It was very true they were chalk and cheese. Their differences had kept their friendship in balance. But it was only logical that, if Seth had been madly attracted to cheese, he was unlikely to fall for chalk.
Of course she knew that.
She had never, in her wildest dreams, expected Rachel’s ex to be interested in her. She just wished he hadn’t held her hand this evening, hadn’t made that one slow, deliberate stroke on her skin. She was quite, quite sure she would remember that slide of his thumb for the rest of her life.
But how idiotic was that?
Anyone would think she was a trembling virgin who’d been locked away in a tower for a hundred years and knew absolutely nothing about men. Truth be told, she’d had experience, but she had a terrible habit of picking the wrong kind of guy. Each relationship had ended unhappily.
If she had any brains she’d avoid men completely. How on earth had she allowed this man, this highly unsuitable man, to reduce her to such a pathetic state in such a short space of time?
She was a fool!
At the sound of Seth’s footsteps, she spun around.
‘All quiet on the nursery front,’ he said, smiling.
‘Is Bella asleep?’
‘Just about.’ He came and stood close beside Amy. ‘And judging by the aromas coming from the kitchen, I’d say our dinner’s almost ready.’
‘Something smells amazing. Is it curry?’
‘Seafood curry. One of Ming’s specialties.’
‘Wow. So we’re in for a treat.’
On cue, Ming appeared with a bamboo tray holding a bowl of steaming jasmine rice and a large blue and white covered pot, which he placed in the centre of the table.
‘Thanks, Ming,’ Seth said with the very slightest hint of an amused smile and a courteous dip of his head.
‘Enjoy.’ Ming bestowed them both with an eloquent grin before disappearing discreetly.
Seth pulled out a chair for Amy and, to her dismay, the old-fashioned gesture set her heart speeding again.
She kept her gaze lowered as he sat opposite her and she told herself again to remember that she was the guardian of Bella’s future. That was her role here.
It was time to forget the handholding, the suntan, and the heavenly blue eyes. Seth was her host and she was his guest. No more, no less.
She took a deep breath and smelled their fragrant meal and the scent of frangipani. In the glow of the candlelight, Seth’s shirt gleamed whitely and his throat was a dark shadow above the V of his open collar. She concentrated on safer things—the smooth gleam of silver cutlery, the crisp white napkins and the fine matchstick placemats dyed a deep watermelon pink.
Helping herself to fluffy spoonfuls of the aromatic rice and curry, she made a stab at polite conversation. ‘I have to keep reminding myself that this is a cattle station,’ she said. ‘I feel as if I’m on holidays at a beautiful resort.’
‘Well, this should be a holiday for you. I’m sure you deserve a break,’ Seth said with a smile. ‘But tomorrow I’ll take you and Bella to see the rest of Serenity. You’ll soon see there are plenty of cattle.’
‘How many?’
‘At the moment we have around seven thousand.’
Amy’s eyebrows lifted. ‘More than a few, then.’ Between mouthfuls, she added, ‘This food is sensational.’
‘Ming’s outdone himself tonight.’
Seth looked and sounded amused, which confused her.
‘Do you dine out here alone, when you don’t have guests?’
He shook his head. ‘Hans and Ming often join me here. Sometimes I eat in the kitchen, or over with the stockmen. It varies.’
‘I wish I’d known that. I would have been more than happy for Hans and Ming to have joined us tonight.’
‘What? And spoil their fun?’
Amy frowned.
‘Those guys see so few women,’ Seth explained, gesturing to the candle and the bowl of flowers. ‘Hans adores his garden, and Ming loves his cooking, and they live for the chance to do this kind of thing.’
‘But they probably think—’
‘Relax. I’ve explained our situation to them.’
‘What did you tell them?’
‘That you’re a friend of Rachel’s. That you and Bella are in the north on business. Just passing through.’
Amy nodded, reassured. She wondered if Seth would tell the others about Bella’s relationship to him once she was gone.
As she thought about their departure in a few days’ time, she realised, with a start, how very far away Melbourne felt. Already, it was almost as if she’d lived there in another lifetime.
She looked out into the moonlit garden, to the dark wall of trees beyond, and the twinkling stars peeping above the forest canopy. This alternative reality had already wrapped itself around her senses. Her heart.
‘I love these open verandas,’ she said. ‘They’re such a good idea. Like living in the garden.’
‘The best way to live in the tropics.’
‘But what happens in bad weather? Don’t you have cyclones here?’
‘We have built-in storm shutters that roll down. This whole area can be made completely secure.’
‘That’s clever. Who designed that? Your uncle?’
Seth nodded.
‘Was there a woman involved? It’s all so—so lovely.’
‘No woman. My uncle had a flair for design. He liked to be surrounded by beautiful things.’
A shadow crossed Seth’s face like a cloud over the moon.
Ever so casually, Amy asked, ‘Did Rachel stay here in this house when she was working here?’
Seth blinked and the cloud vanished. His eyes were suddenly bright and alert with more than a hint of wariness. ‘No, Rachel stayed over in the barracks with the other staff.’
‘I see.’ Amy wasn’t sure what to make of that information and she paid careful attention to her food.
‘She also spent some time on one of the islands,’ Seth said.
‘With you?’ Oh, good grief. Amy couldn’t believe