'You want to be friends?'
Grace rolled her shoulders. Did he have to sound so surprised? What on earth had prompted her to make that stupid offer anyway? ‘You were always good company. Fun.’
His lips twisted. ‘It’s been a long time since anyone accused me of that.’
Accused? What a strange way of phrasing it. ‘Maybe you’re out of practise.’
He remained silent.
‘C’mon, chop-chop.’ She leapt up. ‘You can help me saddle the horses.’ She eyed his bare feet. ‘Please tell me you brought boots with you.’
‘You think I’ve forgotten the uniform of the Outback?’ He stood too. It made her aware of his height, his breadth…his everything. ‘Elastic-sided boots and an Akubra hat coming right up.’
He disappeared inside and she let out a breath. She could do this. She could be cheerful and fun and breezy. Even if he didn’t want to be friends.
Fine, they’d be what they were—client and tour guide.
He returned a few minutes later wearing boots and a hat, and he looked so good in them she wanted to groan. Stepping off the veranda together, they started across the lawn. Two steps later she pulled up short.
He eyed the grass around them. ‘Snake?’
‘Nope, just realised I’d made a rookie mistake.’ She grimaced. She was treating him the way she had when they were sixteen—as if they were equals. She’d always known his family came from money, but she hadn’t cared back then. She didn’t care now. But he might.
She pressed her hands together. ‘Jamie, if you’d prefer, I can saddle the horses and bring them down.’ He didn’t need to do any of the ‘work’. He was on holiday.
Strong arms folded. ‘You think I’ve become one of those people?’
She moistened dry lips. ‘I, uh…what kind of people are we referring to here?’
‘Spoiled, rich people who click their fingers and have things magically done for them without them having to get their hands dirty.’
His hands clenched. So did his jaw. She didn’t want to say the wrong thing, but… ‘I’m not making any value judgements here.’
‘You might not be, but I am.’
Okaaaay.
‘I don’t believe in that kind of magic, Grace.’
‘Me either, but some people—’ people like him ‘—have the financial wherewithal to pay other people to do the jobs they don’t want to do. However, you’ve made it clear that you’re more than happy to get your hands dirty, so follow me.’
His shoulders unhitched. ‘Glad we got that sorted.’
She pointed at him. ‘The thing is, though, I shouldn’t have taken it for granted, but—’ she shrugged ‘—I’m new at this, and I want to do a good job. The next client might not be so understanding.’
He shook his head. ‘You have good instincts. You always did. You’ll be great at this.’
His words warmed her.
‘But, Grace, I have to ask—what are you doing back here at Kings Reach? From memory, you had other plans for your life.’
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