Outback Flames: Australian Rural Romantic Suspense by Suzanne Brandyn Read Free Book Online

can't be too careless.'
    'I'll keep an
eye out for you, if that's okay. I won't let anything happen to you.'
     
    Her lips
thinned. 'Thank you. I'd like that.' God what was she doing? But sitting here
with Jordan everything seemed right. Fate was dealing her a deck of hearts and
she didn't mind his company, in fact she loved his company.
    He looked at
the album, gave it a few taps and picked it up. 'They're great photographs.
There's a couple of your mother and father taken about six months before the
fire.'
    Zoe wanted to
reach out, wanted to see for herself but something inside prevented her from
lifting a page for a sneak peek into a past that haunted her. Her aunt said the
opposite to everything she'd found out so far, and she wondered how many more
lies she'd uncover. 
    Jordan moved
the album between the two of them on the table and opened it to the first page.
'You ready?'
    She swallowed.
'I'm not too sure. Although I've had years to prepare for something like
this.' 
    'That's your
Mum and Dad. Rebecca and James. They were great people, well respected in Munna
and the surrounding area. Your mother always fussed when having visitors.'
    Zoe lowered
her head.
    Oh my god.
Oh my god. My mother. My father. Me. Who's that boy? Who? Mum, Dad. Tears
filled her eyes and she tried to blink them away. Her right hand moved to the
album, her left hand followed and she picked up the album, brought it closer
and studied the first photograph. She ran a shaky index finger over her
mother's hair, and over her beautiful face. Zoe realised she looked much like
her mother with the same hair colouring and eyes. Swallowing was difficult. Her
father had dark hair with streaks of grey at the temples. He appeared a little older
than her mother. Her hands trembled and she set the album down.
    'They're...they're
beautiful.'
    'I could leave
them with you, if you like. It's almost knock off time.'
    'Thank you...'
Tears rolled down her cheeks and she sniffled.
    Jordan slipped
an arm over her shoulder. 'Hey. They're supposed to be happy photographs. Your
parents loved you heaps, Zoe. You were special to them and you always will be
no matter where or what form they're in...'
    Small
whimpering sounds emitted from her throat. She sniffed. 'I know. Thank you.'
    He gave her a
tight squeeze, trying to reassure her she wasn't alone.
    'I hate to
leave you like this. But I do have to go.'
    Zoe licked her
lips and glanced up. 'I'm okay.' She lowered her head to look at the
photographs. This wasn't the first time she'd cried. She cried every night at
her aunt’s during the first few years.
    'I was skinny
wasn't I?'
    'No you
weren't. You were perfect.'
    Zoe looked at
the photographs again, only to whip her head back up, glaring at Jordan.
'You're the little boy, aren't you? I can see the eyes, the resemblance.'
    'Yeah. That's
me.'
    'Wow I look
happy, don't I?'
    'You sure
were.'
    'So the house
partially burnt. I still don't know who caused it or why.' Zoe tucked a stray
piece of hair behind one ear, and looked up at him. 'I'll ask the police like I
said. It's okay. No big deal.'
    'All I know is
that someone wanted your parents dead. No one knows why. There wasn't anything
to go on except a prehistoric bomb that looked as though it could have been
made by a kid.'
    'A kid.'
    'Yeah. A kid.'
Jordan eased upwards to his feet.
    'Where are you
going?'
    'It's three.
Knock off time for me although I'm not working. I've got things to do.'
     'I thought
you'd work at least until sunset.'
    'Not in your
life. Nope, knock off is before three. Keep the album, copy them, do whatever
you want. I'll see you tomorrow.' He leaned in and pressed his lips to her
forehead, and drew back. 'You have my mobile number if you need someone to talk
to.'
    Zoe nodded and
watched him leave while her insides did a crash dump. Her mind followed as
emotions tumbled through her body. When he drove away, tears pricked the back
of her eyes, and sprinkled down her cheeks. She wiped them away and