Catch Me A Cowboy (11 page)

The consensus on the way back to the contestants' quarters was that nobody could be sure, from now on, exactly who Wil desired and who would be sent home.

Emily was desperate to vent to Xanthi, so after dinner and a shower, Emily snuck out the back towards the thick-trunked tree in the distance.

‘Did you survive the cut?' asked Xanthi when she answered the phone.

‘Yes.'

‘You don't sound very happy about it.'

Emily pressed her head back against the tree and sighed. ‘Wil's a great guy.'

‘And that's a problem because?'

‘Because he asked if I was willing to leave my life for the country and I said yes.'

‘And?'

Emily screwed her nose up and clicked her tongue. Did her best friend not know her at all? ‘Surely, if I win this, they couldn't possibly expect me to move here. I can't cook for starters, and you know I hate housework. What else would I do here?'

‘Who says you'd have to do any of that?'

Emily switched the phone to her other ear. ‘Are you trying to get rid of me?'

Xanthi laughed. ‘No, I'm just saying that if you like this guy, then see where it goes. You have no idea what his expectations are.'

‘I know he wants the winner to move to the farm.'

‘Yeah, okay. But when? I'm sure he'd be just as willing to make sure the relationship works first before anyone is expected to move anywhere. And besides, you may end up falling head over heels for this cowboy and find yourself willing to do anything for him.'

Emily scoffed. ‘I doubt it.'

‘It sounds to me like you may have some feelings for him already?'

Emily closed her eyes and bit down on her lip. She did. She knew it. Because she would never feel this guilty about lying if he was someone she hadn't developed some crude emotions for. But how could that be after such a short time?

She had watched reality shows in the past and thought the contestants were brilliant over-actors, but perhaps she'd been too harsh. Being a part of the show, bundled together on this farm, was a different experience altogether. Yes, it was contrived, but she was real. Her emotions were very real. And she was sensing that Cowboy was the same.

‘I respect him,' she said.

‘Right. Respect? That's a step above doubting his motivations like you were last time we spoke.'

A crackling noise in the distance broke through the silence. ‘I better go. There's someone here,' she whispered.

‘Oh. Okay. Call me—'

Emily hung up and shoved the phone in her dressing gown pocket. She focused on the dim landscape around her. The sound was getting closer. Quick footsteps, like an animal. Emily's heart rate ratcheted. It could be a wild boar, or something equally dangerous. She tensed and spun to rush back to the house when she heard loud panting.

She glanced behind her as a creature sprung out from the long grass and jumped at her legs. Emily bit back a scream until she realised it was a dog. It was wagging its tail and in no way threatening.

A chuckle sounded in the distance, accompanied by long footsteps. ‘She won't hurt you,' came a deep male voice that made her body come alive.

Wil.

He was strolling towards her. ‘Sorry, Daisy got away from me and I didn't want to call her back, in case I drew attention to you.'

Emily shook her head and tentatively petted the dog's head.

‘Not a dog person?' he asked with a chuckle.

‘That obvious?'

‘A little. Come here, Daisy.' The dog rushed to him and sat at his side.

‘What … what are you doing out here?' she asked.

He arched a brow. ‘I could ask you the same question.'

She smiled and lowered her voice to a whisper. ‘I snuck in a second phone. I know it's against the rules.'

Wil laughed softly, being sure not to be too loud. ‘I don't blame you. I'd be lost without mine.'

‘Really? Out here?'

He laughed again. ‘Might be the country, but it's still the same century.'

Emily lowered her gaze and grinned bashfully. ‘Of course.'

‘I was on my way back from my parent's house. They live on the neighbouring property,' he said pointing behind him. ‘I saw you slinking across the field and thought it a good opportunity to get you on your own. Away from the cameras.'

‘On my own? Why?'

He took a step closer until she could see his face clearly under the thin slice of moonlight. He may even look better under this light.

‘I wanted to make sure you were okay. You were a little
distracted
today.'

The guilt in her belly strummed again, but she ignored it. ‘I think I'm tired, that's all.'

He nodded, silent for a moment. ‘Whatever you're worried about, we'll make it work.'

Emily's eyes widened to hear that statement. He took another step closer, then another, until his chest was almost touching hers. His heat stretched across the space between them and caressed her flesh. Reaching a hand to her face, he smoothed a finger down her cheek. Emily's eyes closed at the touch and her missing O stretched and purred. The pads of his fingers were rough and created the most pleasurable friction.

Her belly tugged and pulled when he said with his deep, husky voice, ‘I really want you to stick around, Em.'

Her heart fluttered. She nodded. ‘I want to stay longer too.' And she truly did. She wanted to know this man more intimately. Especially now that she had a taste of him up close. But, she also knew that at the end of the day, this attraction could be nothing more than fleeting, meaningless fun because she couldn't give up her independence for a man.

Yes, she wanted a husband, and this cowboy was very much reinforcing that point, but she didn't want one if it meant uprooting herself from the life and security she'd made in Melbourne.

He smiled warmly. ‘Good.' For a long moment, he gazed at her, his focus flicking between her eyes and mouth, until she wanted to fist his shirt and pull him to her for a kiss. He took a deep breath in and looked towards his farmhouse in the distance. ‘I better go before they find us here together.' His voice was even deeper, gravelly. ‘I'm sure it would break some ridiculous production rule and I'll end up getting a wrap over my knuckles.'

She nodded, still breathless. ‘Probably.'

‘I'll see you tomorrow. Have a good night, Em.'

‘You too.'

She watched him walk away, the dog following beside him, surprised by how being close to him, and alone, made her body hot and tingly. It had been such a long time since a man had made her feel like this.

Emily tilted her head back and peered up at the black sky, full of blinking stars. After that simple gesture of stroking her cheek, no longer was she here to simply win. She was also here to explore every facet of this cowboy. What happened beyond that … could be dealt with later.

Chapter 15

‘You're helping me on the farm today,' said Wil to the girls.

Emily's eyes widened at the news. ‘Helping? How exactly?'

He leant down so his face was closer to hers. ‘Getting your hands dirty.'

All three women looked at each other with widened eyes.

‘Fine by me,' said Becky, tying her long red hair up into a ponytail.

‘Me too,' said Daniella, a petite blonde dancer from Melbourne.

Emily shook her head. ‘I don't know what to do … absolutely no clue …'

Wil laughed. He was finding a perverse pleasure in pushing Emily to her limits. ‘That's why I'm going to show you.'

He marched to the big four-bay shed and grabbed three pairs of gumboots. He handed Becky and Daniella their pair, then held Emily's out for her. She reached for them as he stepped closer and whispered, ‘As sexy as those boots you have on are, these will be more practical.'

A beautiful blush crept over her cheeks—exactly the response he was hoping for.

‘Go drop your shoes up at the farmhouse. I'll meet you here.'

The girls strode off and Wil got to loading hay bales into the tray of his ute. When they arrived back to the shed, having donned their gumboots, he was in the thick of it. The weather was warm enough to wear a short sleeve shirt and he was already working up a sweat.

‘Come on,' he said, ‘there's three more left to load.'

Emily was first into the shed. Bending, she clasped the straps wrapped around the circular bale, hoisted it up into the air and threw it on top of the others in the ute. The heavy scent of straw wafted around them.

She dusted her hands when done. ‘Right, what's next?'

Wil laughed, thrilled by this new determination, as though she'd finally decided to fight. ‘That's what I like to hear.'

Becky and Daniella stepped into the shed and lifted their allocated bales into the back of the ute.

‘Nice work. Now jump in and we'll go deliver these to the cattle.'

‘I'm in the front,' said Emily quickly. Wil bit back his laugh before moving to the passenger door and opening it for her.

‘Thank you,' she said and climbed in. He did the same for the other ladies.

When seated in the driver's seat, Wil glanced across at Emily, unable to stop himself. Her jeaned legs were slightly apart and her hands were on her lap. Her hair hung over her shoulders, hugging her breasts. She was gorgeous. He met her gaze and she giggled bashfully because she was caught giving him the once over too.

He shook his head and chuckled, then started the engine.

‘All ready?' he asked.

‘Yep,' said Emily.

‘Yes,' chorused the girls from the back.

In his peripheral, Wil saw the cameramen were climbing into an adjoining vehicle. They reminded him of the microphone, which they each wore, strapped to his jeans. Irritation swelled inside him. But there was no getting around this invasion of privacy. That was the premise of the show, so he simply had to suck it up and make the most of it.

They soared along the gravelly track that sliced across the property, dirt, rocks and twigs flicking underneath the tyres.

Emily wound down the window and inhaled deeply. ‘There's something so healthy about this air,' she said.

After the rain overnight, the earthy scent of the farm was strong.

‘You've the most beautiful property, Wil. People in the city don't know what they're missing.'

Wil smiled. ‘What about you, Em? Do you know what you're missing?' He looked away from the track to meet her gaze.

‘I do now,' she said.

Wil parked at a fence to an adjoining paddock where a large herd of cattle languidly chewed on grass or stood in small groups, their tails swishing behind them.

Wil parked and jumped out to haul the gate open.

When seated again in his car, he drove into the paddock. ‘You can drive this thing?'

Emily's eyes widened, but she nodded.

He grinned. ‘Good. I'll hop in the back and throw the bales out.'

They jumped out of the car. Wil held tight to the roll bar and hoisted himself up into the tray. He grabbed a bale and threw it onto the ground. ‘Just head forwards about one hundred metres.'

Emily climbed into the driver's seat, wound down the window and poked her head out. ‘Are you holding on?'

He chuckled. ‘Yep.'

She drove a distance and stopped. He threw out another bale then waved his hand, indicating she go forward. The car surged ahead. They did this until all the bales were spread across the paddock and Wil climbed into the passenger seat.

‘Do you … want me to …?'

‘Stay there,' he said.

She nodded. ‘Where to next?'

‘The chicken trailers.'

Emily narrowed her eyes. ‘What are chicken
trailers
?'

‘You'll see.'

‘How did I know you were going to say that?'

They headed out of the paddock. Wil secured the gate behind them and they drove towards the farmhouse, then detoured down to the front of the property.

‘What type of car do you drive at home?'

Emily looked at him and grinned. ‘A Mercedes. I wouldn't even drive it through the front gates here.'

He laughed. ‘I'm sensing you like the finer things, Em?'

She nodded. ‘I won't deny that. But I've worked hard to earn them. But this,' she said slapping her palm to the steering wheel, ‘is a different type of fun.'

‘You can have expensive and beautiful toys here too. There's just a time and a place for them.'

She giggled. ‘Cruising along a muddy track is perhaps not the right place.'

His gaze dropped to her lips; he licked his own. ‘Well, that depends on—'

Becky cut in. ‘I'd like to sit in the front next if that's okay?'

Wil cleared his throat. ‘Sure.'

He didn't miss the tightening of Emily's grip on the steering wheel until her knuckles turned white. He pointed a little further ahead and asked Emily to stop there. She pulled in and cut the engine. Wil waited for the girls in the back to climb out before he turned to Emily as she was pushing her door open and gripped her shoulder gently.

‘Em,' he whispered.

She faced him.

‘I understand. Okay? I get it. How you feel about this.'

Emily strained a smile and nodded. ‘We both signed up for this with our eyes open.'

He sighed. ‘Yeah. We did.'

Emily pushed the door open and climbed out.

They headed down the fields towards the big chicken cages. Wil carried a bucket of feed for them. But first they had to move the cages to new positions. Each cage was fitted with wheels for this reason.

‘Is this usual?' asked Emily, puffing, as she helped pull one of the cages fifteen metres along. It was something he did every morning himself, but he wanted to give the girls a go, get them familiar with his daily routine. The chickens clucked and flapped, and glossy little feathers were stirred up, but they were not at all frenzied or frightened. There was no offensive smell either, just the natural scent of poultry and feed.