Home Before Sundown by Barbara Hannay Page A

her.
    Gulp.
    Bella was so annoyingly hot and bothered she could no longer remember why she’d been so dead-set keen to speak to this guy.
    Gabe cut the motor. The dust settled.
    Her heart drummed loudly in the sudden silence, but she made herself keep walking towards him and she made herself walk slowly, hoping that at least she looked calm on the outside.
    As she drew closer she saw his frown – nothing new there. She kept walking, watching him warily.
    Gabe hadn’t changed. He still had that special brand of masculine self-assurance that couldn’t be manufactured. It was in the easy way he moved – now, swinging down from the tractor with effortless grace. And again now, as he stood with his thumbs tucked in the loops of his jeans, waiting, watching her.
    His piercing grey eyes held her in a steady, unsmiling gaze.
    In the good old days Gabe had always smiled. His smile had been one of her favourite things about him.
    Other memories flooded her . . . the nut-brown sheen of his hair, now hidden by his hat, the taste of his kisses, the smell of his skin, the sexy sureness of his hands . . .
    Stop it.
    Bella wished she could wipe her suddenly sweaty palms on her jeans, but there was no way she’d let Gabe see she was nervous. Not when he was as calm as a bloody mountain.
    â€˜Bella, how are you?’ His eyes burned, but his voice was coolly polite, almost haughty.
    Bella swallowed, squeezed out a smile. ‘Really well, thanks, Gabe. And you?’
    â€˜Fine thanks. How’s Peter?’
    â€˜Much the same. Still holding on.’
    He nodded and after a brief pause. ‘Welcome home.’
    Still no smile .
    Bella had never felt more awkward with Gabe. Well, yes, she had felt this bad, actually – on a disastrous night and the days that followed, the time she’d prefer to forget.
    â€˜In case you were wondering,’ he said with stiff formality. ‘I’ve collected your parents’ dogs. They’re over at our place.’
    â€˜Oh, yes, Mum mentioned that. Thanks. I’ll come over and get them tomorrow, if that suits.’
    â€˜Sure.’
    She squared her shoulders. ‘So why are you working on Mullinjim land now?’
    Gabe shot a glance back over his shoulder at the cleared track behind him. ‘Pretty obvious, isn’t it? This section’s quite overgrown and––’
    â€˜Did Mum ask you to ’doze firebreaks?’
    He turned back to her slowly, his grey eyes still cool. ‘No.’
    â€˜Was it Luke’s idea?’
    â€˜No, Bella. Your family’s had too much on their plate to worry about this, but there’s a high fire danger right now. I thought I’d help out.’
    Bella swallowed. ‘That’s – very kind of you, Gabe. Much apprec­iated.’ She spoke in a brusque, businesslike tone. ‘But don’t worry about the rest. I can take over now.’
    â€˜I don’t mind––’
    â€˜It’s okay, Gabe.’ It was almost impossible to hide her tension. ‘I’ve come home to take charge. I know how to drive all the machinery on Mullinjim. I can take care of any breaks that need slashing on our land.’
    He stared at her for the longest time, his jaw tight, but his expression annoyingly unreadable. Finally he shrugged. ‘Please yourself.’ After a beat of silence, he added, ‘You always have and I guess nothing’s changed.’
    With that parting shot he turned and swung back into the tractor, and Bella whirled away too, hurrying and wishing she could run, but knowing it was too undignified. She made do with long, angry strides, smarting and cursing all the way back to the car where she jumped in and slammed the door.
    â€˜Bella, what happened?’
    She couldn’t answer her aunt.
    â€˜What is it?’ Liz persisted. ‘Who is that man?’
    â€˜Gabe Mitchell,’ she said finally.
    â€˜Oh?’ Liz