The Girl in the Hard Hat (44 page)

While the destruction around her was mind-boggling, she was up to the challenge of setting everything to rights. In fact, she was up for anything.

Gavin’s presence by her side gave her a buzz that wouldn’t abate. Their courtship had been so fraught with uncertainty that to have his attention with no hidden agendas was like walking on clouds. She didn’t want to lose the feeling any time soon.

Barnes Inc flew most of its men home, retaining a small staff to assist with the reconstruction of the camp. Damage to the wharf and surrounding plant was actually fairly minimal as it had been designed to withstand the worst a cyclone could throw at a structure. The site offices had not fared so well but repairs were already underway.

Bulldog and Lena got engaged – a circumstance that surprised no one. And Fish sent them a postcard from Queensland, wanting to know if any fish had washed up on the bank because of the cyclone. And if so, did they collect them?

Nobody bothered to reply.

Though both Wendy’s Perth parents called to see if she was okay, neither of them made mention of each other and she didn’t care to ask. Her conversation with Parry was awkward. She told him that she knew the truth about Mike. He seemed relieved to hear it but he also asked for her forgiveness for not telling her the truth. It gave her hope that one day they would repair their relationship.

A few days after the cyclone, Gavin and Wendy were lying on a blanket at Honeymoon Cove, drinking in a star-streaked sky and a bottle of wine.

‘You know I can’t believe everything that’s happened to me since I got here,’ Wendy mused. ‘I feel like a coin that’s been flipped.’

‘Really?’ Gavin’s voice seemed cautious so she rolled onto her side and propped herself up on her elbow.

‘What?’ she prompted. ‘Do you know something I don’t?’

‘You can read me that easy now, Sarge?’

‘It’s an art I’m perfecting.’

He paused. ‘There is still one thing I haven’t told you. Not because I didn’t want to but because I was waiting for someone else to do it first.’

She frowned. ‘Someone else?’

‘Mike Hopkins, your uncle.’

She allowed herself to re-settle onto her back. ‘You mean my father.’

There was a sigh beside her. ‘He told you.’

‘You
knew
?’

‘I kind of put two and two together when I discovered your broken air conditioner in his donga, along with your damaged window and broken desk. The clincher was his foot. Not many guys can boast an accident like that.’

‘
He
was the one who fixed my donga? My fairy dongamother?’

‘Yep. Told me to stay away from you too when the rumours were doing the rounds. Said he’d make me sorry. Didn’t want a loose cannon like me messing with his daughter. Who knows?’ His expression was incorrigible. ‘Maybe he was justified.’

She ignored this attempt at a joke too. ‘He
threatened
you?’

‘I guess so.’

‘But you’re twice as big as he is.’ She frowned. ‘Not to mention, twice as young and . . .’

‘Twice as good looking.’

She snorted. ‘And half as smart.’

‘Okay, okay,’ he chuckled and she finally smiled.

‘I think the point is that,’ Gavin continued solemnly, ‘in his own way, Mike does care about you.’

She was silent.

‘You don’t think so?’ His voice was tentative.

‘It’s just hard, you know . . .’

‘To trust again?’

‘I guess it’s something to think about,’ she answered after a moment.

And she did for a month or so. She had time. Mike had flown home with the first lot of men sent back to Perth while Wickham recovered from Cyclone James.

The next time she heard word of him, it was from Chub. The man had tendered his resignation and was staying in Perth. The news didn’t sit well with her so she gave him a call.

‘I heard you’re not coming back, Mike.’

There was a heavy pause down the phone. He said finally, ‘I thought you might like some space.’

‘I don’t need that much space,’ she assured him. ‘Don’t resign on my account.’

‘Are you sure?’

‘Yes.’

‘All right.’ His voice sounded lighter. ‘I’ll see you in a few weeks.’

‘Yes, you will.’

It was only a small step, but it was something.

As she was hanging up the phone, Gavin walked into her office donga looking positively buoyant.

‘What’s up?’

‘Well, I’m finally going on R and R and, as we discussed, I asked Carl whether you could have some time off at the same time.’

‘He said . . .?’

‘That I had a lot of fuckin’ nerve,’ Gavin grinned. ‘But he agreed anyway.’

‘Oh great!’

‘I was thinking,’ he offered tentatively, ‘instead of going to Perth, would you like to come to Melbourne with me? I’m dying to see my family and would love to introduce you.’

Her heart filled. ‘I’d love that.’

He sat down in the visitor’s chair opposite her desk. Tapping his fingers on the edge, he studied her carefully. ‘There’s just one thing you kinda need to know first.’

‘Oh?’ She braced herself. ‘What’s that?’

That cocky lilt curled his mouth as he pulled a pack of cards from his pocket. ‘How to play poker, Sarge.’

When I think about all the people who have come to my aid in helping get this book finished by deadline, I count myself extremely blessed.

When I agreed to write
The Girl in the Hard Hat
, I was not only a full-time mum to three children under five but I had just found out I was pregnant with my fourth baby. There was no way, short of a miracle, I could have written this book without help.

In particular, I would like to mention my wonderful mother, Juanita, who has sacrificed so much in life so that I might embrace any opportunity that comes my way. She did the lion’s share of the babysitting so that I could get this book done at the expense of her own very busy schedule. Secondly, I want to express thanks to my aunt and uncle, Moira and Richard, who were there every Monday morning to help out with the kids and the housework – whatever I needed really. Their support was very generous. And thirdly, to my wonderful husband, who did his best to give me every Sunday to spend with my characters while he took over the family duties. His belief in my work and my journey as a writer has always been strong since the beginning.

I want to convey my gratitude also to my mother-in-law, Shirley, who came to stay with us for three weeks as the deadline was looming closer. The extra concentrated time she gave me to write and also to recover from being sick with the flu was a real lifesaver to me.

Without the love and care of these people,
The Girl in the Hard Hat
never would have been written.

I must also recognise those people who helped with the technical side of this book. Rob Doy, an old friend and colleague from my Cape Lambert days, was very generous with his time and advice regarding the role of a safety manager on this site. I was very lucky to be able to tap into his extensive occupational health and safety knowledge banks and also his willingness to read short extracts of the book to see if I was on the right track. If there are any mistakes to be found, rest assured they are mine – his eyes never saw them.

Other industry professionals I consulted included Carmen Hermann and David Grenfell.

Two big hugs must go to my dedicated critique partners, Marlena Pereira and Nicola E Sheridan, who have been with me every step of the way. Their fresh eyes, insight and ideas were invaluable to the strength and quality of this story. I also want to thank my back-up team, Kym Brooks and Cath Ryan, who also helped boost my confidence in this manuscript when it was faltering.

Thank you to my agent Clare Forster for her enduring faith and patience with me. And also to Beverley Cousins, my enthusiastic publisher, who has been such a pleasure to work with. The team at Random House has, as usual, pulled out all the stops. Thanks to everyone who worked on this book.

To all my friends and family, who have put up with my bad moods, my illness, my whinging and my complete lack of energy, especially in the final stages of pregnancy. You know who you are. I send you all my love and gratitude.

If you enjoyed
The Girl in the Hard Hat
,

look out for Loretta Hill’s hilarious romantic novella

ONE LITTLE WHITE LIE

When one little white lie turns into a red-blooded reality . . .

What do you do when your best friend is the serial match-maker from Hell?

Single girl Kate Dreson knows that her friend Lisa is not going to leave her alone unless she tells her that she is happily dating someone.

Who knew that one little white lie could so blatantly backfire?

Because the imaginary boyfriend she described so lovingly to her friend has suddenly walked into her life and started making himself comfortable in it.

Trapped by her lie, poor Kate is powerless to stop him. But the real question is, does she really want to?

Available as an ebook from February 2013.

Read on for a taster.

‘So, baby, did it hurt?’

Kate Dreson choked. ‘I beg your pardon?’ she spluttered, lowering her glass of lemon, lime and bitters and pressing a hand to her throat.

‘You know.’ The man next to her cocked his head to one side and winked rakishly. ‘When you fell from Heaven?’

Kate shut her eyes.
Please disappear, please disappear
.

But when she opened her eyes again he was still there, draped all over the bar and grinning at her like a gambler with a winning ticket.

Why me? Why does this always happen to me?

The guy was the physical embodiment of a hangover-in-waiting. The only thing currently holding him up was the stool he was sitting on. She knew what he wanted. It was written all over his face. And his eyes! They couldn’t stay above her collar bones for more than five seconds. Her grip on her glass tightened. She really couldn’t handle this for much longer. Where was Lisa? Was that girl
ever
going to come back?

Wait a minute . . .

A sudden dread filled her. Knowing her best friend’s track record, she was probably staying away on purpose. Kate’s suspicions solidified as she remembered Lisa’s cryptic remark from earlier that evening.

‘Wouldn’t it be great if you met someone tonight?’

That sneaky little –

The man beside her recalled her attention when his hand started edging its way across the bar towards hers. ‘I was thinking,’ he flicked his head, indicating the exit over his shoulder, ‘maybe I could show you my place.’

O-kaaay.
Kate put her drink down and firmly pushed it away from her.
The camel’s back is now officially broken.

What on earth had Lisa been thinking anyway? Of all the men she could set her up with . . .
this guy
? Did she honestly believe she would like him? It was beyond a joke. No, actually, it wasn’t a joke. It was an embarrassment.

‘Look,’ she began as he nodded knowingly at her silence. ‘I think –’

He put a finger to her lips. ‘Don’t fight it, honey.’ He leaned in towards her. ‘It’s okay to want me.’

Kate’s skin crawled. Was this guy for real?