Hidden Fire (30 page)
Authors: Alexis Fleming
Narri clapped her hands. “No more talk until after breakfast. We be running late today what with all the excitement.”
“Great,” Josh said. “I could eat a bear right now.”
“We don't have any bears here, but Pa could probably find you some snakes to cook,” Piri said.
Everyone burst out laughing and the atmosphere around the campsite immediately lightened. Gili grinned at Narri and linked her arm with the older woman's as they departed to serve breakfast.
Once everyone had settled around the campfire, overflowing plates on their laps, Gili turned to her father. “Are you sure you're okay? Jeremy didn't hurt you?”
Joshua swallowed his mouthful and shook his head. “Beyond the fact I think I'll need a new cast on my leg, I'm fine. That bastâ”
He broke off, glancing across at the children. “He tied me up and left me in one of the tunnels. If I'd had my crutches, I would have belted him over the head with them.”
Gili shuddered. She had no doubt Jeremy and Whitey would have hurt her dad if he'd resisted them. Morgan, seated beside her, reached out and clasped her hand. She was grateful. She couldn't have gotten through this without him.
“We've kind of been having our own bit of adventure around here, too,” she said with a glance at Morgan. “I'll tell you all about it in a minute. But first, what are you doing out here? I was so worried when I couldn't get hold of you.”
“We were worried about you,” her dad said.
“
You
were worried about
me
? I was worriedâ” She drew in a deep breath and started over. “I tried calling, but couldn't get you.”
Her father reached across her mother and took her hand. “I sold the house and put the commission back into Jeremy's account. I have no intention of owing that man anything. And I sure as hell don't want you having to work with the rat to get me out of trouble.”
“Oh Dad, I'm so sorry.”
He gave her a hug. “Don't be, sweetie. I'd rather know you were safe from Jeremy Grissom. A building is worth nothing compared to that.”
“You don't have to worry about Whitey or Jeremy any longer,” Morgan cut in. “The police carted them away last night.”
“Thank God for that. Gili, that means you come home without any worries.”
Gili closed her eyes and breathed a sigh of relief. It was all over and she no longer had anything to fear. Well, there was one thingâ¦
“Morgan, did you really mean what you said in the cavern?” Gili knew every emotion had to be showing in her eyes, but she didn't care. This was too important for there to be any misunderstandings.
In answer, Morgan jumped up, caught her up off the log she was perched on and pulled her close. Then he lowered his head and took her mouth in a shattering kiss.
Gili forgot they were the center of attention. Forgot her parents were sitting there watching. Forgot everything but Morgan.
Instead, she gave herself up to the torrent of emotions cascading through her. As Morgan's tongue bathed her lips, she opened to him, welcoming the game of thrust and parry he initiated.
Heat tumbled through her veins and settled in the pit of her stomach. Tension spiked on the promise of things to come. Her breasts swelled, nipples peaked, and she pressed herself closer to his chest as he ravaged her mouth.
When he let her go, Gili moaned, feeling the loss of his touch. Then she remembered where they were as the men started to whistle and the children clapped and laughed.
Heat rushed into her cheeks and she had no doubt her face was bright red. She tried for a smile, but winced and touched her fingers to her lip where Whitey had hit her. “Ouch.”
Morgan chuckled. “Sorry, I keep forgetting. Not exactly the reaction I was looking for. Anyway, does that answer your question?”
“Two halves of the same whole,” Charlie said with a wide grin.
Gili felt as if her heart was about to explode as she turned to face her parents. Who knew that a simple trip to Australia in search of a missing gemstone would give her everything she'd ever desired in life.
“Guess I'm staying in Opalton, Mom. I mean, someone has to keep Charlie and Morgan in line, right?”
Narri jumped up and hugged her. “Welcome to the family, Missy Gili. And if that Morgan steps outta line, you jus' tell old Narri. He's not too old or too big that I can't give him a kick in the britches.”
Morgan held up his hands, waggling his eyebrows at Gili. “Hey, I'm always good, but I can do better.”
Amid the raucous laughter of Charlie and the men, Gili gave Morgan a look filled with sass. “Is that a promise? I may never survive it.”
She turned and flashed a cheeky grin at Charlie. “Hey, Charlie, you don't have to worry about making up excuses not to take me to Winton any longer.” She dug her elbow in Morgan's ribs. “Or you either. I'm not going anywhere.”
Morgan chuckled. “You knew it was just bull, didn't you? I tried to kid myself that I needed you to stay here because that way I'd know what you were up to. But the truth is I'd never gotten over what happened at the dig and I just didn't want you to leave.”
“Who said I wanted to get away anyway?” With another sassy grin, she hooked a finger in the neck of his t-shirt and tugged him along behind her as she headed back to the mine. “Come on, caveman, we've got some fire to make. Mom, Dad, Narri will look after you. I'll see you later. Morgan and I have some talking to do.”
Charlie suddenly burst out laughing and nudged Narri in the ribs. “Talking? That's a new name for it. Lots of fire in the belly here today. Shame we're too old to enjoy it.”
“Speak for yourself, old man,” Narri said as she slapped Charlie on the butt. “I'm never too old to make fire in the belly.”
“You tell him, Narri,” Gili called out over her shoulder before she cast Morgan a suggestive glance. “Want to go light up the outback with me? Oooh, I do so like playing with fire.”
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ISBN: 9780857990556
Title: HIDDEN FIRE
Copyright © 2013 by Alexis Fleming
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All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.
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