Outback Sisters by Rachael Johns Read Free Book Online

‘In fact I think it constitutes child abuse.’
    â€˜I’m sorry, you’re right,’ he conceded, shoving the last piece of his fish into his mouth to stop from cracking up again.
    â€˜Thank you.’ She nodded her approval. ‘So do your parents still live on the farm as well then?’
    He almost choked on his snapper. ‘My parents are both dead,’ he reminded her when he’d swallowed. They’d had the family discussion quite early on in their emails. Simone had shared hilarious tales about her sister, her two daughters, her runaway father and her mother, who’d finally found love in a second marriage and now lived in Perth. And, in turn, he’d spilled his whole sorry life story as well.
    â€˜Right. I’m sorry.’ She blinked, her cheeks turning crimson. ‘I knew that. I feel terrible for bringing it up. It’s just—’
    â€˜It’s all right. Easy mistake.’ He forced a smile, trying to relax her again. ‘We’ve covered a lot of ground in a short time. Can I get you another glass of wine?’
    â€˜Yes, thanks. That’d be great.’
    â€˜I’ll be right back.’ Silently cursing himself for making her feel bad about her faux pas, Logan pushed back his seat and headed off to the bar. The fifteenth anniversary of his mum’s death had passed a couple of months ago and his dad had been dead well over a decade, but whenever someone asked him about his parents, he still felt a sharp spear of grief to his heart. He guessed it might always be that way.
    He ordered another chardonnay and then, vowing to get the conversation back on track, he returned to the table and smiled at Simone as he handed her the glass.
    â€˜So … why’d you join online dating?’ he asked.
    * * *
    Frankie had finally succumbed to sleep on Simone’s couch, but woke just after eleven o’clock to the sound of the front door opening. Her nieces had deserted her but the television still flickered in the corner. Lifting the remote, she muted the already low sound as her sister walked into the room. One look at Simone’s face told Frankie the night had been a success.
    â€˜Hi, little sis,’ Simone said, throwing her handbag onto the floor and squeezing in next to Frankie on the couch. ‘Good night?’
    â€˜Not as good as yours by the sound of things.’ Frankie sat up, yawned and psyched herself up to hear about Simone’s night. How the tables had turned. Simone had married her high-school sweetheart young and already had Harriet by the time Frankie started flirting with the opposite sex. So many times, Frankie had called her big sister in the early hours of the morning and shared the highs and lows of her relationship rollercoaster, desperate for Simone’s sage advice. Not that it had helped in the end.
    â€˜Were the girls good?’ Simone asked, also stifling a yawn.
    Frankie nodded. ‘We ate and then Harriet went off to her room and Grace and I watched a few episodes of Outlander . I must have fallen asleep and I guess she went to bed. I’ll go check on them.’
    Simone grabbed hold of her arm as Frankie attempted to stand, pulling her back onto the couch. ‘They’ll be fine. They’re not babies. I’ll check in a moment. Sit with me a while. I’m too psyched to sleep just yet.’
    â€˜Okay.’ Frankie didn’t really want to hear her sister rave about Logan. Any other guy and she’d be over the moon that Simone was getting herself out there again. Ten years was a long time to be alone and just because Frankie was in an extended dating drought, didn’t mean she didn’t want her sister to find happiness. Guilt tightened her chest.
    â€˜Aren’t you going to ask me how it was? What he was like?’ Simone was practically bouncing in the seat.
    â€˜How was it?’ Frankie feigned enthusiasm. ‘What was he like?’ Of course, she