Page 20 of Crossed Wires: The Complete Series

“You still with me?”

She flushed, heat rising to her already too-warm face. “Sorry. Um. Zoned out. I think I’d rather ride with you.” The admission on the heels of her sex fantasy sent her mind straight back to the gutter, and she imagined Hunter’s fingers gripping her ass, urging her to go faster, harder.

Hunter gave her a funny look and she prayed he couldn’t read minds. He put their lunch in a pack attached to the back of the saddle, then mounted the horse.

Reaching down, he offered her a hand. “Put your left foot in the stirrup. I’ll pull you up.”

She placed her hand in his, marveling at the strength in his grasp. She’d never known such a physically powerful man. The men she’d dated in the city tended to be slimmer, more lean than muscular. Their hands hadn’t been rough with calluses, like Hunter’s.

His skin wore a natural golden tan she suspected was there year-round. She bet he never succumbed to the winter-white complexion that plagued most New Yorkers during the long, snowy months.

Once she was seated behind him, she knew she was in for a long afternoon of unending horniness. Her crotch was snug against his far-too-sexy ass and when he grasped her hands and pulled them around his waist, she clasped them together quickly, lest she be tempted to rest them somewhat lower.

“All right then?” he asked.

She nodded, tightening her grip as he flicked the reins and the horse began to move. They rode in silence for several minutes as Annie tried to batten down her physical urges. Hunter had made it clear nothing could happen between them. She’d come here to meet Dylan, though that reason seemed to matter less with each passing hour. In fact, she’d tried to call Monet the previous day, but the time difference and life weren’t being very kind to her. She recalled the message she’d left on Monnie’s machine and winced. Her friend would think she’d gone mental.

“Hi Monnie. I just…I just wanted to say hi. Australia is amazing. Hunter is…has been showing me the station. I hope Dylan is okay. I really need to talk to him. There’s something I need to… I really need to talk to him. Please tell him I said hello. I hope you’re looking after him. Love you.”

While she and Dylan had formed a fun friendship, complete with flirting, she didn’t think either of them had seriously engaged feelings. At least,shedidn’t. She wasn’t sure about Dylan, but she needed to find out…and soon. Hunter’s hesitance to give in to the mutual attraction between them made her wonder if Dylan had said something about their online relationship being more serious.

Annie had jumped at the chance to travel to Australia because—in addition to wanting to meet Dylan in person—she’d wanted to get the hell out of the city before the Thanksgiving holiday kicked in. She needed a break from her family, her job, the paparazzi.

She glanced around. There wasn’t a single camera pointed at her, no one following her, shouting questions and inappropriate comments. For the moment, it was as if she and Hunter were the only two people on the planet.

Despite the ungodly heat and flies, she was starting to believe she’d found heaven on earth.

Hunter broke the silence first as he gestured to some outbuildings, explaining the purpose of each. As they rode, he pointed out various things—fencing, cattle grazing, trails they used for four-wheeling. The land was beautiful, isolated but useful. Everything seemed to have a purpose, a reason for being, and once again Annie felt like the stray piece of a puzzle, the one that didn’t fit.

She pushed the thought away. There wasn’t room for that today. She was too happy and unwilling to let go of that emotion.

They rode for nearly an hour as Hunter told her stories about growing up on the cattle station. She’d been shocked to learn he hadn’t gone to a proper school. Instead, his education had been achieved by some School in the Air, a rather bizarre concept where all the kids communicated with their teacher via radio. As he spoke, she marveled over how different their lives were. And yet, for some odd reason, she felt more connected to this stockman than she did with her friends from home, or even her sisters.

“Oh look,” she said, pointing to her right. “A lake.”

Hunter glanced over his shoulder. “That’s where we’ve been heading all this time. And love, that’s abillabong.”

He directed the horse toward a clearing. Hopping down, he reached up for her. Annie leaned forward, placing her trust in Hunter as he caught her, delivering her safely to the ground. He kept his arms around her as she struggled to find her footing.

“My legs are wiggly.”

He laughed at her description. “You’re not used to spending so much time on horseback. It gets easier.”

Once she’d gotten her sea legs back, Hunter released her, grabbing their lunch and a large blanket from the pack.

Annie walked closer to the water, enjoying the fresh, clean air and smell of wet earth. It was a welcome change after several days spent in the dry heat surrounding the homestead.

“It’s beautiful here.”

Hunter spread out the blanket and sat down. He patted the spot next to him. “Hope you’re hungry. Mum packed enough food for an army. You like roast beef sandwiches?”

She nodded.

“After we eat, we can take a dip if you want.”

“I didn’t bring a bathing suit.”

Hunter gave her a wicked grin. “Skivvies work just as well.”