‘A little bit drizzle of maple syrup, and an entire lotta love.’

‘Good combo.’ She licked the remnants from her fingertips. ‘Would you want me to get cracking with some toast?’

Stirring a hefty dollop of butter into the scorching mushrooms, he nodded. ‘Yeah, that’d be nice, cheers.’

She manned the toaster, all of the whereas unable to maintain her eyes off the best way his again muscle tissues pulled his polo shirt taut, or how good his butt appeared in his board shorts. Startled when the toast popped up, she turned to see one of many items was jammed. After flicking the change off on the wall, she used her fingertip to try to edge it out.

‘Ouch, bugger.’ She raced to the faucet and turned it on, sticking her finger beneath the stream of water.

‘Crap, Sammie, are you okay?’ Tossing his tea towel, Connor got here to her support.

‘Yeah, all good, I bought attacked by the toaster.’

Taking her hand, he assessed the purple pores and skin as if it was product of essentially the most delicate glass. ‘You’re going to have a whopper of a blister.’ He checked out her, far more involved than a barely scalded finger warranted. ‘Have you learnt if there may be any aloe vera within the backyard?’

Chuckling, she positioned her hand in opposition to his chest. ‘Bless your candy coronary heart, Connor Gunn.’ Her smile was mushy. ‘However truthfully, I’ll be wonderful.’

‘You positive?’

‘Sure.’

She set to work buttering the toast, after he’d retrieved the offending piece, whereas Connor dished up their feast. Cosied up on the verandah, they devoured it like a pair of hungry youngsters after which kicked again, with their toes up on the railings of the entrance verandah, and loved their cups of tea that Samantha had made.

‘I suppose I higher head house and get some jobs finished.’ Connor appeared to her, his woeful expression telling her simply how a lot he didn’t wish to go. ‘I may keep right here and fortunately hang around with you all day, however the agisted horses received’t feed themselves.’

‘I can come and assist, for those who like,’ she mentioned, somewhat too rapidly.

‘Yeah, truly.’ His face lit up. ‘I’d love that.’

‘Nice, I’ll go seize my boots and meet you on the LandCruiser.’

‘Righto, I’ll take this lot and dump it within the dishwasher.’ He collected the soiled plates, cutlery and cups from the espresso desk.

‘Depart it, Connor, I can repair it up after I get again.’

‘All good, it’ll solely take me a sec.’ He gestured to the door with a tip of his head. ‘You go kind your self out.’

‘Okay, thanks.’ Samantha couldn’t assist however fall for him that little bit extra, together with his variety, easy gesture.

An hour later and so they’d loaded his ute up with feed. Climbing behind the wheel, Connor took a glug from his water bottle after which revved the engine, circled and so they headed down the bumpy observe. He pulled up at first of the agistment paddocks.

‘If you wish to swap, Sammie, you may drive, and I’ll do the heavy work up again.’

‘Truly, do you thoughts if I do it?’

‘You positive?’

She nodded, wanting to get her arms soiled. ‘Constructive.’

Leaping out after which up on the tray, she set to work, heaving the bales of hay to the sting and over the fence to the ready horses. Connor rolled from one paddock to the subsequent, every time checking in to ensure she didn’t wish to swap. Which she didn’t. She cherished the exhausting yakka. Had missed it, truly. They reached the final paddock that housed Connor’s horse, Banjo, and pulling to a cease, Connor jumped out. Tail excessive within the air, the gelding gave a loud snort, then pig-rooted all the best way over to them. Skidding to a cease simply shy of the timber fence, he flicked his head and whinnied cheekily, his tooth bared in a horsey grin.

‘I believe he’s exhibiting off in entrance of you, Sammie.’

‘Is he now?’ Samantha pushed the final bail out and over the fence, after which laughed at Banjo’s flamboyant arrival. ‘I believe he’s a bit like his proprietor.’

Connor’s sideways look was attractive as hell. ‘Truthful play, Evans.’

She provided him a sassy smile in response. ‘Ha, you adore it.’

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