Page 48

‘Brings out the colour of my eyes,’ he said, before taking the glasses and joining an older gentleman seated at one of the tall tables in front of the big screen.

Images of the Scorpion players stepping off a bus in sports jackets appeared and Indy’s stomach twisted.

She quickly turned away, not ready to spot Carter yet.

Working the industrial grade dishwasher, she pulled out a tray of clean glasses and placed them under the counter before stacking dirty ones in their place.

She was weary, but not from pushing herself in a physical manner.

It was so draining having to remember to be polite, happy, excited to see people and serve them when, in reality, she’d rather the pub was empty and she could sit back, grab a drink and be by herself with her thoughts.

Sensing someone at the bar behind her, Indy started the dishwasher and plastered a smile on her face.

‘What can I get you?’ She did a double take, all pretence vanishing. ‘Nova?’

Nova stood there in a simple T-shirt and a pair of boyfriend jeans. Casual Sunday. Her short blonde hair had been freshly washed and was tucked behind her ears. ‘Hi, Indy.’

‘What are you doing here?’ Silent applause went off in her head for turning her old boss’s question from yesterday back on her.

‘It’s the local watering hole,’ Nova stated, as if it were obvious, but she hadn’t been in since Indy started working behind the bar. Indy raised her eyebrows and Nova let out a long breath. ‘I didn’t get to thank you for coming up to help yesterday.’

Indy grabbed the small chopping board and a knife and started slicing up limes. ‘You’re welcome.’

Nova drummed her fingers against the counter before pulling out a stool and taking a seat.

‘Look, Indy, we need to talk. I know you really love the mountain. That much was obvious by the speed with which you drove up there yesterday. When Carter admitted to being with you, right in front of the auditor from the council, I was angry. So angry. But maybe I let that anger cloud my judgement and jumped the gun on firing you.’

Indy’s hands stilled.

Nova cleared her throat. ‘I’m sorry for the things I said to you that day. It’s not an excuse, but it was coming from a place of hurt. I felt betrayed.’

‘I’m really sorry for lying to you.’ Indy sighed and put the knife down.

‘I never wanted to betray you, especially after everything you’ve done for me.

Your trust meant the world. With Carter …

it just all happened so quickly. I knew how stressed you were with the whole audit, but I couldn’t quit him.

I tried, but I just couldn’t.’ She closed her eyes against the memory of his face, that cheeky grin and the dark curl in his hair.

The image only became clearer, so she snapped them back open.

‘The truth is, I didn’t want to quit him. ’

Nova nodded slowly. ‘Your cabin’s still empty and it’s yours if you want it. Your job as well.’

Indy stared at Nova as if she’d just announced she was running away to join the circus. She could go back to the mountain? Have her job back? ‘But … but I broke the golden rule. I slept with a guest, and I slept with him more than once.’

‘Thanks for clarifying.’ Nova’s tone turned dry. ‘I guess I’m making an exception. Just this once, though.’

As if anyone could come close to following Carter. The thought caught Indy off guard and she gasped. The ache in her chest tripled. It wasn’t for the mountain, it was for the man she’d fallen in love with there.

‘Indy?’ Nova asked, expectantly.

‘I always thought it was the mountain that saved me from ending up like Bonnie—and you, of course. I’ve felt indebted to you and I had you up on an unhealthy pedestal because after Bonnie, I was scared of what would happen if my world changed. How would I survive off the mountain?

‘I’ll always be grateful for the second chance you gave me, Nova.

The life you showed me. I am who I am because of it.

But you were also right when you said I still saw myself as that messed-up kid.

’ Tears stung Indy’s eyes and she cursed.

Emotions were still the hardest thing she’d ever dealt with, but she was determined to get this out.

‘When Sarge was driving me back from the station that day, he told me it wasn’t the mountain or you that saved me, but my choices.

And over the last few weeks, I’ve been thinking a lot about my choices and how I need to keep moving forwards, you know?

Depend on myself and trust that I can make the right decisions.

Not stay somewhere because I’m scared of making the wrong ones.

’ She swallowed hard. ‘I can’t believe I’m saying this.

Thank you for the offer, Nova, but I can’t come back. ’

There. She’d done it.

A smile crossed Nova’s face and Indy returned it, feeling lighter.

‘I thought you’d say that.’ Nova reached into her back pocket then slid a card across the counter.

‘There’s a farmer I know out at Euronga.

Jerry Ridges. He’s getting on and looking to reduce his workload.

The property, Longview, runs sheep and wheat.

He wants someone with stock experience to take over that side of the business while he maintains the crops.

I’ve already given him a reference for you. ’

Indy’s jaw dropped. That sounded perfect. She picked up the card. ‘Wow. I don’t know what to say.’

‘Say you’ll keep in touch. And visit. Emery will kill me if you don’t.’

‘I definitely will.’ Things were getting back on the right path. ‘Thank you.’

Indy followed Nova’s gaze to the big screen.

Carter was on, giving a pregame interview to a pretty blonde.

Butterflies launched an attack in Indy’s stomach.

He looked cool and calm, and what he was saying was popping up in subtitles underneath, but Indy could only stare at him. God, she missed him. Did he miss her?

‘Longview’s only an hour and a half out of Sydney,’ Nova said. She tapped the counter, slid off her stool and left Indy staring at the television and Carter.