Seven-Day Love Story. Nikki LoganЧитать онлайн книгу.
black panthers and enigmatic mystery women certainly qualified.
CHAPTER TWO
Saturday
JAYNEâS heart hammered hard enough to break a rib, but she couldnât break free of the jumbled mess of images. They no longer played out like grim movies in her mind, but the disturbing montage had a way of leaking, unwanted, into her dreams.
They saturated her with old feelings: suspicion, self-doubt, the dark, clawing fear sheâd lived with for two years. No matter how hard she worked during the day to keep them at bay, they simply waited for nightâand her eyelidsâto fall.
The cold, wet nose of reality helped draw her back. She cracked one eye open and stared into deep black gems. Her hand slid out and curled around silken ears.
âOllie â¦â
Satisfied his work was done, Oliver padded back out of Jayneâs bedroom on a gentle click-clack of claws, leaving her to rise unassisted. His job was pulling her out of a nightmare. Her job was pulling herself out of bed. The place she could easily spend the entire day if she hadnât promised herself she wouldnât do that any more.
She showered and dressed in super-quick time, not prepared to take any chances. If there was going to be a stranger hanging around the place she wanted to be as prepared as possible. Her eyes flicked habitually to the small sports bag behind the front door. Spare keys, passport, cash, clean underwear. It sat gathering dust except for those bleak times she scrabbled through the contents obsessively, to make sure everything was still there for when she needed it.
If she needed it.
âBreakfast!â Four dogs came running as she clanked their bowls together loudly. It was the one time of the day Ollie showed he had more to his personality than cautious regard. Then she set to chopping fresh fruit and veg for her rehab critters.
Her own breakfast was a more leisurely affair. A treat to herself out on the back veranda, served on real china with tea from a teapot, amid the sweet perfume of native jasmine with the mid-morning sun to warm her. She used the ritual to force herself to slow down, to remember where she was, how anonymous she now was. How safe.
âGood morning.â
Ollie went berserk inside, but Dougal, Jaz and Fergus came galloping around the house and careened with enthusiasm into the man whoâd appeared silently at the side of the veranda. Jayneâs pulse leapt painfully in her throat and she lifted a shaky hand to it, clattering her teacup noisily into its saucer. She used the brief moment as he rough-housed with the dogs to recover.
Then he straightened and met her eyes. âIâve startled you again. My apologies.â
Her voice failed her the first time. She cleared her throat quietly, then tried again. âNo. Itâs fine. I was a thousand miles away. I didnât hear your car.â
She stared at all six feet plus of him, standing spread-footed on her land like a giant eucalypt rooting itself into the earth. Her fluttering heart took its time settling in her breast, and she forced her voice to fill the silent void. âWould you like a cup of coffee? Tea?â
He smiled and rummaged in his jacket pockets while the smaller dogs darted around his feet like skimper-fish on a reef. âI should get these forms back to town as soon as possible. Thank you, though.â
Jayne frowned. He wasnât supposed to say no. Not that she wanted to have coffee with him particularly, but sheâd asked ⦠and asking had taken some doing on her part. âExcuse me just a moment, then.â She gathered together her dishes and then took them inside to soak in the sink. When she returned he had the forms out and ready at the base of her back porch steps. It took just a few minutes for her to detail them and sign. Male eyes rounded when she produced a roll of cash from which to peel off the modest application fee.
âDo you always carry that much cash on you this early in the morning?â he asked.
Yes, always. âI wasnât sure how much the fee would be.â
He took just two notes, then bundled the paperwork up with it and shoved both into an inside pocket in his Rangerâs jacket. Then he looked out at the piles of materials lying scattered around the enormous fenced yard behind the house. âAre you going to be okay building those enclosures by yourself?â
âHow didâ?â
âMesh. Timber. Wildlife. Doesnât take a genius. Can you build?â He looked as if he already knew the answer to that.
She straightened her back. âIâll work it out.â
âYou have to submit drawings with your application. So the Shire knows the animals will be adequately housed.â
Jayne groaned. Why was everything so hard? She was trying, wasnât she?
Blue eyes studied her and he seemed to come to a decision. He cleared his throat. âI was wondering whether you needed any help. Iâm pretty good with my ⦠with construction.â
Turmoil ruined her tranquil morning. On one hand she did need helpâdesperatelyâespecially if drawings were required. And Ranger Blackwood wasnât a complete stranger now.
Which didnât mean she was comfortable around him. But having his help meant heâd be back. And back. And despite all her progress she still struggled with strangers.
âI can draw up enough to keep the Shire happy and then come by after I knock off work each dayâhelp out for a couple of hours. If you like?â
Jayne stared. It was the answer to one of her primary problems. Sheâd never even put together a flat-pack bookshelf. âIâd pay you â¦â
He smiled indulgently and waved his hand. âNot necessary.â
Oh, it was very necessary. She needed him to stop treating her like a senior citizen. Right now. Paying him would put it all back on a professional footing. She straightened her shoulders. âMoneyâs not a problem. Iâd feel better if I paid you.â
Even the bush crickets held their breath.
He studied her closely. âWhen I first got to Banjoâs Ridge a few of the locals really helped me get established, and I appreciated it. I just want to pass that help on. But if you feel better paying me, we can work something out.â
He patted the side of his jacket, where her forms were tucked away. âIâll come back as soon as my shift finishes. If we get lucky weâll have your preliminary approval ready to go.â
Five hours later Jayne hovered in the doorway, chewing her lip. Ollie looked up at her with soulful, trusting eyes.
She smiled at him. âOkay, Iâll ask.â She found the ranger at the back of the property, pulling piles of mesh sheets into position across a gravel clearing.
âExcuse me, Mr Blackwood â¦â
He straightened slowly, his blue eyes steady and blessedly neutral, his rolled-up sleeves revealing strong, tanned forearms. âCall me Todd. What can I do for you?â
âI ⦠If youâre going to be here a few days I canât leave Oliver locked up all that time. I was wondering if I could â¦â
He smiled, and her stomach did a clumsy somersault, but it had nothing to do with fear. His smile reached all the way to his eyesânot all smiles did that, in her experience.
Not all of them reached clear into her gut either.
âSureâbring him out,â he said. âHe and I have to come to terms