Page 14

Craig leaned heavily against the wooden hive, tearing off his stockman’s hat to rake fingers through his blond hair.

‘I’m sorry.’ And she was, for putting him in this mess.

‘For what?’ He looked up at her. ‘I don’t understand, Izzy. How am I in danger? From who?’

‘It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have come, but when I got the phone call from Bree—’

‘What’s this got to do with Bree?’

‘Bree was at the rodeo. She saw your accident happen and called me straight away.’

‘Where were you?’

‘In Darwin.’

‘I always wondered how you got here so quickly. What were you doing in Darwin when you live in Sydney?’

She stepped away, but Craig moved fast to grab her wrist, stopping her.

‘No, we’re doing this, right here and now. All of it. No running away. No interruptions and no more half-truths. No one can hear us. It’s just you and me, Izzy. We always promised to tell each other the truth, so it’s your turn.’

He was right.

Pulling her hand free, she faced him. She’d never been afraid of Craig, or their arguments, but she was afraid of what he was going to say when she told him everything. ‘I was flying to Bali.’

‘Why?’ His brow shifted as he stared at the ground. He then looked up at her. ‘Are you on the run? That’s why you have no job.’

She awkwardly shrugged.

His face twisted between confusion and irritation, as if she’d betrayed him. ‘Are you here to hide out?’

Again, another awkward shrug.

‘Izzy, use your words.’

‘I don’t want to.’ She knew if she did, he’d hate her.

‘C’mere.’ Craig pulled her into his chest with his arms wrapping around her, and for that one sweet moment in time the world was safe again. ‘I need to know what’s going on, Izzy.’

‘I’ll tell you, but you might want a drink. I know I do…’ She turned away.

But he pulled her back to slide an arm over her shoulders. ‘Wait for me. I’m not letting you leave me behind again.’

But you might just kick me out.