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

knock
offs during the week. Perhaps Jade would be able to drop him off, as she had
already offered to babysit on the Saturdays while he worked on the Montgomery
job.
    'We need to do
some shopping before we head home.'
    'More
groceries?'
    'Yeah more. A
hungry animal lives at our house and eats so much.'
    'Aw Dad. You
eat lots too.'
    'Well, two
hungry animals that have holla stomachs.' He chuckled, before reversing his
vehicle against the kerb in front of the supermarket. He snapped the automatic
lock after Luke climbed out.
    Jordan stood
beside the meat section thinking a good steak on the barbeque was something he
and Luke hadn't had for a while. As he selected two T-bone steaks and placed
them in the trolley, he glanced up, snagging Zoe in his vision. She headed
toward him.
    She pulled up
with a smile. 'Hi ya'. Doing a little shopping?'
    'Yeah. You
know what it's like.'
    'I'm pretty
limited...with...'
    Luke skidded
to a halt when he spotted Zoe talking to his dad. He held up a book with pink
pictures covering the front cover, and glanced from Zoe to his father. 'Look
what I've got, look?'
    Jordan shook
his head. 'I'm not sure mate. I don't know what girls like?'
    'Well it's
pink, and don't girls like pink?'
    'Yeah they
do,' Jordan agreed.
    'Can I help
with something?'
    Jordan glanced
at Zoe. Luke mimicked his father.
    'Well.' He
leaned forward over the trolley. 'We need a present for a birthday party. She's
a girl.' He grinned.
    'Naturally she's
a girl.' Zoe smiled at his son.
    'Is she your
age?'
    'No, she's
turning six this Saturday. I'm already six.'
    'Six. Wow
that's getting old.'
    Luke puffed
out his chest in response.
    'I saw a
handbag set when I passed the toy section. I think a six-year-old girl would
love that. There is also a set of beads with it as well. A necklace I think.'
    'Can I go and
have another look?'
    'Only to the
toy section, okay mate.'
    Luke tore off
as though the party was within minutes.
    'He's cute.
The reason for knocking off work early I gather. I didn't know you babysat.'
    Jordan
straightened. 'Luke's my son.'
    'Oh, I'm
sorry. I thought you were sing... Never mind. Well, I shouldn't be keeping you.
Um...your wife is probably wondering where you got to.'
    'My wife died
six years ago while giving birth to Luke.'
    ***
    One of the
best things in Jordan's life was his son. When Luke was born his priorities had
changed overnight. He had to learn how to bottle-feed a baby, learn how to
change nappies, shop, and get up late at night when he cried. It took a while
to tackle a routine, but he'd done it.
    At that time,
Jordan had worked for his father. He needed to have the freedom of knocking off
work early, and being available for his son. It'd worked out well so far.
    Jade collected
Luke from school two afternoons a week, which helped him get on with any
backlogs at work. He'd come to love this small town and its people. Although
his father and he didn't see eye to eye on all projects, his mother was the
glue that had kept the family together.
    Jordan turned
up the road heading home. It was a good thing Luke had interrupted him at the
supermarket. He was on the verge of asking Zoe out for a barbeque, and his mind
ran over the possibilities of where that could lead. But with Luke about he
doubted much would have come of it, although it would have been nice to have
her over at his place.
    After some
time, he sucked back a breath of frustration, and concluded there was no one
else he'd rather be with than with his son. Luke had settled into school, his
life was good and he wanted it to stay that way. After all, he had a
responsibility to uphold.
    God, who was
he trying to kid? Six years was a mighty long time to be alone, not have that
one woman beside you, someone to laugh with, to share the day's load, to curl
up beside each other in bed at night, and to fall asleep in each other's arms.
His palms grew sweaty over the steering wheel.
    His mind told
him he was looking forward to working at Montagreen, but