Charming the Outback by Leesa Bow
Published by: Destiny Romance
Publication date: September 2nd 2014
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance
Synopsis:
When jaded city girl Maddy McIntyre packs up and leaves Adelaide for a new job in the country, it’s not only a chance at a fresh start. Six months ago, the first guy she’d ever loved shattered her heart before moving home to Broken Hill. Deep down inside, Maddy is hoping that living in the same town will give her an opportunity to prove to Luke that she’s one temptation he can’t resist.
But when she arrives in Broken Hill, Luke White is not the same guy she knew in the city. And it soon seems very clear that he doesn’t want her there. Although Maddy settles in quickly, excelling at work and partying with her new friends, she can’t understand why Luke is remaining so distant. Particularly when all her instincts are telling her that they’re meant to be together – and that he feels the same burning attraction.
As Maddy learns more about Luke’s family and background, she begins to understand that his mixed messages are caused by balancing what’s expected of him with what he really wants. Maddy gave Luke her heart long ago and, despite their differences, she knows she’ll only ever be happy with her hot country boy. But how can she convince him that she’s the risk he needs to take?
But when she arrives in Broken Hill, Luke White is not the same guy she knew in the city. And it soon seems very clear that he doesn’t want her there. Although Maddy settles in quickly, excelling at work and partying with her new friends, she can’t understand why Luke is remaining so distant. Particularly when all her instincts are telling her that they’re meant to be together – and that he feels the same burning attraction.
As Maddy learns more about Luke’s family and background, she begins to understand that his mixed messages are caused by balancing what’s expected of him with what he really wants. Maddy gave Luke her heart long ago and, despite their differences, she knows she’ll only ever be happy with her hot country boy. But how can she convince him that she’s the risk he needs to take?
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the Outback Purchase Links
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Charming
the Outback Blurb and Excerpt
When jaded city girl Maddy McIntyre
packs up and leaves Adelaide for a new job in the country, it's not only a
chance at a fresh start. Six months ago, the first guy she'd ever loved
shattered her heart before moving home to Broken Hill. Deep down inside, Maddy
is hoping that living in the same town will give her an opportunity to prove to
Luke that she's one temptation he can't resist.
But when she arrives in Broken Hill,
Luke White is not the same guy she knew in the city. And it soon seems
very clear that he doesn't want her there. Although Maddy settles in quickly,
excelling at work and partying with her new friends, she can't understand why
Luke is remaining so distant. Particularly when all her instincts are telling
her that they're meant to be together – and that he feels the same
burning attraction.
As Maddy learns more about Luke's
family and background, she begins to understand that his mixed messages are
caused by balancing what's expected of him with what he really wants. Maddy
gave Luke her heart long ago and, despite their differences, she knows she'll
only ever be happy with her hot country boy. But how can she convince him that
she's the risk he needs to take?
Chapter
One
'It's
like something out of Wolf
Creek.' Aubree's brow furrowed as she gazed at the long, straight road
ahead.
My
fingers tightened around the steering wheel as I squinted through the haze
reflecting off the sizzling bitumen. 'Sure is,' I mumbled. 'Where the hell are
we?' Saltbush dotted the landscape on either side of the road, and in the
distance three rocky pinnacles broke through the flat, barren horizon. I
swallowed, hoping we weren't lost.
Aubree
dropped her iPhone into her bag. 'No internet.' She pulled a map from the glove
box and unfolded it. 'Have we passed through Yunta yet?'
'Yeah,
you blinked,' I said and laughed. 'You dozed off for a few minutes.'
Her
finger trailed along the paper. 'Okay. So we should make it to Broken Hill in
about an hour. Do you have another map of the town so I can work out how to get
to your new home?'
New home. My
stomach rolled with excitement and nerves, hearing her say the words. Two
months ago I signed a teaching contract, believing it to be an opportunity to
prove myself, take responsibility for my future, even if it was 500 kilometres
from home.
'Nope,
don't need one. The real estate agent said to follow the road into town, pass
the cemetery, turn right before the school, travel a kilometre down the road
and turn left into Cornish Street.'
Aubree
fetched her phone out of her bag for the zillionth time. 'I've got nothing. No
mobile coverage, not even one bar. We're all alone out here.'
'Look.'
I pointed to something red at the roadside ahead.
'Oh
God,' she said. 'Please don't tell me it's another kangaroo carcass. I feel
sick thinking that a joey could be alive inside.' She turned her head to the
window. 'Wait. Stop the car.'
'They're
only wildflowers. What's your problem?' I veered to the left and slowed to a
safe speed on loose gravel.
'I've
read about these wildflowers. The Sturt Desert Pea,' she said excitedly.
'They're exquisite.' Aubree jumped out of the car and walked to the plant
growing alongside the gravel. She kneeled in a delicate manner so as not to
dirty her lemon maxidress.
I opened
my door and followed. I gasped when she started picking handfuls of the red and
black flower. 'What are you doing?'
'Collecting
some for your house.'
I
flicked flies from my face before saying, 'It doesn't feel right. I mean, are
you allowed?' We both jumped when a truck roared past on the opposite side of
the road and sounded the horn. 'See?' I said.
Aubree
rolled her eyes. 'You're wearing tiny denim shorts, Mads. I think he's honking
at you.'
I
ignored her comment. My shoulders burned under the midday sun, introducing me
to the extreme weather of outback Australia. Flies hammered my face and had
formed a polka-dot pattern on Aubree's back. Gross.
Before
climbing back into the car we flapped our arms as though we were about to take
flight, ensuring no flies snuck inside. I turned the air con to max and glanced
at Aubree, fiddling with the flowers.
Oh shit.
She wasn't wearing her ring. I clearly remembered Hunter – my cousin
and superstar football player – telling her in no uncertain terms
that she was to wear the pink diamond ring, a twenty-first birthday gift, on
her wedding finger while accompanying me for the weekend. I cleared my throat.
'Where's
your ring?'
Aubree
pulled her hair-tie out of her long hair before looping it around the flower
stems. 'Oh, I left it home in case I lost it.'
'What?
You know Hunter will be pissed.'
'I hid
it so he'll never find out,' she said, and waved her hand in a nonchalant
manner.
I
groaned. 'You want to hope he doesn't. The last thing I need is Hunter showing
up and ruining everything for me.' I gave her a look before turning my eyes
back to the road.
'First
of all, I don't need a ring to protect me from guys wanting to talk with me.
And second, I'm not sure how he'd ruin things for you.
Unless . . .' I could feel her eyes on me, scrutinising. 'Be
honest, does your decision to move to Broken Hill have anything to do with
Luke?'
I
glanced at her. 'No, why would it?'
'Because
you never really got over him. And now you're taking up this teaching
position – and I get that it's a great opportunity – but it is in the same town he moved back to
six months ago.'
My
heartbeat stuttered. 'It has nothing to do with Luke,' I said, louder than
necessary. 'I was offered three teaching contracts: two were based in Adelaide
working three days a week, and both an hour from my home. I needed full-time
work and the only full-time contract was in the country. Plus there's isolation
bonuses, so I thought if I stayed a couple of years, I'd return to Adelaide
with savings.'
'So you
don't ever think about him?'
'I
didn't say I don't think about him but he's not the reason—'
'I knew
it.' She folded her arms across her chest. 'He might not be the reason but he's
the incentive.'
'Don't
read into it, Aubs. I only think about the things he used to say, that's all.'
'Aw,
that's sweet.'
'You're
a drama queen,' I quipped in a deep voice, mimicking Luke. 'Can't you go
anywhere without being the centre of attention?' I shook my head. 'When he
said it, it didn't sound so sweet.'
'He
really said that?'
I nodded
and pointed to the side of the road. 'Four,' I said, totalling the number of
dead kangaroos I'd seen on the side of the road.
Aubree
groaned. 'Ew.'
We sat
quietly for a few minutes before she broke the silence. 'You know, you never
told me the real reason why you two split. I thought after ten or so months you
were both happy.'
It
pained me to reveal the details of our breakup even to my best friend.
Irreconcilable differences, isn't that the term used? Except, in my mind, we
were compatible and happy. It was Luke who – out of the
blue – announced he no longer wanted to be part of a relationship,
since he was returning home. He didn't see the point. Hell of a way to make me
feel special! I coughed.
'I was
happy, but Luke . . . Before he left he'd said that he'd
found work back home as a geologist and was also helping out his uncle with the
family business. He emphasised that he didn't believe in long-distance
relationships, plus he'd be too busy to worry about a girl.'
'That's
rough.'
'Yep. I
was stupid enough to even beg him to give us a chance.' I sighed, remembering
the empty look on his face. 'He didn't hesitate, just said no.'
'Wow.'
'So I'm
actually hoping not to see him, as I'm still embarrassed about the whole
thing.' Truth was, I hadn't stopped thinking about Luke and deep down hoped to
run into him – although not until I was settled, so he could see how
well I'm doing.
'Oh
God,' Aubree murmured. 'It's not one of those look-at-what-you-could've-had
plans is it? Where you go to extreme lengths to prove yourself?'
'Of
course not. Why would you think that?' I cringed when Aubree said it out loud.
'Because
you and Hunter are exactly alike,' she admonished. She reached out and touched
my hand. 'I love you both but . . . just be careful. No one
knows you here.'
'That's
my point,' I said quickly. 'It's a perfect scenario. I'm sick of being known as
Hunter's cousin and getting attention for all the wrong reasons. I can actually
meet new friends with a clean slate. It's like having a new identity. Luke
thought I was an attention seeker and it bugged me. So, the last thing I want
is Hunter showing up and causing a circus. And I hope there is no need for him
to come here looking for you. So he better not find that ring.'
My gaze
remained fixed on the road, although I could feel Aubree staring at me.
'I'm really
proud of you and don't worry about Hunter, the ring is safe. Besides, he'll
have his hands full looking after Honey. She's been naughty lately, ripping up
his football socks and burying them in the backyard.'
I
laughed, and at the same time strained my eyes to the distance. 'Look.'
Aubree
turned to the road and we both stared in silence. The sun reflected off
rooftops rising out of the red dirt in the middle of bloody nowhere.
We met
with the real estate agent to pick up the keys to my new rental property and
found the fully furnished house without much trouble. It had character, not the
standard brick, rendered or Tudor-style home often seen in the city; at a
guess, it looked over one hundred years old. A black, bull-nosed verandah ran
the length of the cream single frontage. Inside, we found a long hallway with
doors on the left leading to rooms. The first two doors were bedrooms and the
third was the living room, featuring a red modular lounge. The hallway
continued to the kitchen, where the house expanded: there was another bedroom,
the bathroom, a laundry and the back door.
Aubree
helped me to unload the car. After carrying the luggage inside, we headed out
to a shopping centre for essential groceries. We sorted and reorganised the
kitchen, then I unpacked my suitcases. Next, Aubree suggested we check out the
backyard. She opened the back door and my jaw dropped. A pergola overlooked an
inground pool, with palms bordering the long fence line. The entertaining area
included a pull-down screen attached to a beam for movies, for use, I imagined,
while swimming in the pool or just lazing around. Images flashed into my head
of pool parties with new friends.
'This is
pretty cool.'
Not sure
if the forty-five degree heat had affected my grey matter, I turned to Aubree
and said, 'Last one in has to buy a bottle of Pinot.' I then sprinted to the
pool and jumped in. Aubree made a splash behind me. When we surfaced, we
erupted into giggles.
We
pulled ourselves out of the water and flopped onto the poolside lounges, not
worrying about towels, knowing we'd dry quickly in the country heat. My
drenched clothes didn't concern me but when I glanced at Aubree's yellow dress
I momentarily panicked, thinking the chlorine would damage its delicate
material.
'Your
dress?' I said in a high voice.
She
shrugged. 'Don't worry, I'll hand wash it later. I needed that dip.'
I
grinned at her. 'Doesn't change the fact you were last in, so you lose.'
We sat
back on the lounges, shaded by an umbrella, and gazed at the sunburnt sky as the
sun set. It was pretty darn amazing and unlike my backyard at home, I could see
a whole lot of sky. Orange shades drowned into pink, with a splash of brilliant
yellow colouring the horizon.
Aubree
moaned. 'I love the relaxed feeling of sitting outside at twilight on a hot
summer night. It reminds me of Hunter's holiday house in Victor.'
'Well,
we're far from the beach here,' I added. 'But I heard there's a lake where the
locals ski.'
Aubree
turned to me. 'I really think you're going to like it here. I have a lot of
faith in you, Mads.'
Later
that night we headed into town, starving and craving a cold white wine after a
long, yet productive, day. We dined at a pub named the Cross, ordering the
steak special.
'It's
crowded in there,' Aubree said and nodded towards a door that swung open and
led to the front bar. 'We should go in and meet some of the locals.'
I pushed
my plate aside. It was silly to be nervous about meeting new people but I
wanted to make a good first impression. At least I wouldn't look like a loner,
having Aubree by my side.
'Can I
get you anything else?' the waitress asked after collecting our plates.
'No,
thanks,' I replied. 'Could you tell me what time the pub closes?'
'Midnight.
Are you from outta town?' We both nodded. 'Well, there are clubs near the
railway and some on the main street stay open till later. See Randy behind the
bar,' she nodded in the direction of the front bar, 'and he'll give you the
names and directions.'
After
paying the bill we headed to the front bar. I glanced at Aubree. 'Here goes.' I
pushed through the adjoining door, and was stopped abruptly by the bodies
filling the room.
'Allow
me,' Aubree insisted and stepped in front, leading the way. Being almost a foot
taller, she made a path to the bar. My heart swelled, seeing her walk with
confidence, and I knew Hunter was partially to thank for the change in her. It
wasn't that long ago that she'd have cowered behind me, regardless of her
height.
The hum
of chatter and laughter echoed off the walls, almost louder than the music
piping through speakers at the back of the room. The centrally located bar
allowed me to see to the other side, to a group of guys playing pool. I noticed
there were more guys on that side of the room, with the women on this side,
although a few men had infiltrated the girl groups. I glanced at my phone. Ten
o'clock.
Just as
I ordered drinks, Aubree pulled her phone from her bag. 'Shit, it's Hunter. I
better take this outside.'
Now
alone, I stepped sideways in an attempt to worm between bodies to the back of
the room to remain inconspicuous. I bumped into a girl on my left and she swung
around with an accusing expression.
'I'm
sorry,' I said quickly.
'Hey,
all good.' She eyed me curiously. 'You don't look familiar. Where you from?'
'Adelaide.'
I smiled at her. 'I'm Maddy.'
'Hi,
Maddy, I'm Kristen, and these are my friends Lauren, Olivia and Steph.'
'Hi,'
they said together.
My gaze
wandered to the three girls' tanned faces. 'My friend Aubree has just stepped
outside to take a call,' I added, wanting them to know I wasn't hanging out
alone. 'Boyfriend troubles.' I rolled my eyes.
'God,
talk about it,' Kristen said, pushing long brown hair behind her ear. 'That's
why we're out. Steph's ex-boyfriend is causing her grief so we thought we'd
take her on a girls night. Only problem is, he's over there.' She jerked her
finger to the group of guys playing pool.
I looked
where she pointed, and my gaze fell on each guy before stopping on the blond
leaning on a pool cue in the corner. A shiver ran down my spine. My heart
thumped before continuing at a quicker rate.
Fuck.
My eyes
locked with Luke's. A number of emotions crossed his face and for a moment I
recognised something we had once shared before it was replaced with something
else. He looked so bloody hot. His hair looked blonder than I remembered. Maybe
because of his tan, which made his white T-shirt appear even whiter. It only
took a couple of moments for realisation to set in and then those brown eyes
narrowed. Clearly, neither of us expected to see the other. Noticing I was
holding my breath, I breathed out and forced my gaze away just as Aubree came
striding through the door.
'All
sorted,' she said without giving me time to dwell on the Luke thing.
'Good.'
I downed my drink and resisted the urge to turn back to him. If I wanted to
stick to my plan, then I needed to not mention him, especially in front of
Aubree.
'Hi, you
must be Aubree,' Kristen said. 'Boyfriend troubles, eh?'
Aubree
shot me a confused look then smiled as I introduced Kristen and her friends.
They stood shoulder to shoulder, and I realised how similar Kristen and Aubree
looked. Both were tall with long brown hair and slim figures, only Kristen had
blue eyes and Aubree green.
'So,
Hunter's okay?' I asked, making conversation so I wasn't tempted to look over
my shoulder to Luke. But it was damn hard, knowing he stood only metres away.
For months I had imagined what I would do, what I would say to him if I got the
opportunity. And now, I had nothing.
'Yeah,
just asked where I was.'
Before I
had a chance to speak, the noise level in the room dropped to whispers and
gasps, a reaction I was familiar with. I spun around to the front door and saw
Hunter standing a good head above the tallest person in the room, his gaze
scanning the crowd.
Damn
you, cuz, not tonight.
'Oh
fuck.' I grabbed Aubree's arm. 'Are you sure that's all he said? ʼCause he's
here.'
Aubree
spun around and their eyes met. 'Shit.' She turned to me, her beautiful face
lined. 'I'm sorry. I know this is not what you wanted.'
Heads
turned to Hunter like falling dominoes. Not only was Hunter a football star, he
was gorgeous, and my heart swelled knowing I was related to him. With blue eyes
fixed on Aubree, he made a beeline towards us, the crowd separating to let him
pass.
'Evening,
ladies.' Hunter's smooth voice washed over our circle. 'I believe you forgot
something, Aubree.' He pulled a ring from his jean pocket and slid it along her
finger.
'You
didn't . . .' She shook her head in disbelief. Then Hunter
pulled her close and kissed her.
I
glanced at my new friends, who were watching with mouths gaping. Standard. I
elbowed Hunter and said, 'I'd like to introduce you to our friends. Kristen,
Olivia, Lauren and Steph, this is my cousin—'
'Hunter
Stone,' Kristen finished, wide-eyed.
'What
the hell just happened?' Steph asked. 'Am I at the Cross or have I died and
gone to heaven?'
'Depends,'
Hunter said. 'I'm thinking of stringing Aubree up on a cross.' Aubree covered
his mouth with her hand and shook her head.
'So
Hunter's your cousin,' Kristen said. 'I can see the resemblance. You have the
same blue eyes and black hair, but you're prettier.' She grinned. 'I'm not
really a Blackbirds fan.' I laughed at her frankness, especially in front of
Hunter. Although it fell on deaf ears, as his attention remained on Aubree.
'How
long are you staying?' Olivia directed her question to the three of us although
when her eyes found Hunter, she twirled a strand of brown hair around her
finger.
'Hunter
and Aubree are here for the weekend and I start a teaching contract next week.'
'Well,
if you want to see any of the sights let me know.' Steph pulled a business card
from her bag and handed it to me. 'I work at the tourist centre.' She smiled.
With her slim frame and dark hair cut short, she reminded me of one of those
vampires in Twilight.
'Which
school?' Kristen asked, turning her attention back to me while her friends
swooned over Hunter.
'The one
near the cemetery. I'm teaching junior primary.'
A smile
spread across Kristen's face. 'You're not going to believe this, but I teach
year two at the same school.'
'You do?
That's awesome!'
Suddenly
I was shoved as the crowd surged forwards with people trying to get closer to
Hunter. I turned away as phone cameras flashed in the air above the crowd.
'I'll
take him back to yours,' Aubree suggested. 'Give me your keys.'
I
shrugged. 'It's fine, don't bother. Tongues will be already wagging.'
She gave
me her I'm sorry look. I turned to the bar and peeped
at the corner of the room. Luke was still there. This time when our eyes met,
the raw emotion had disappeared. He shook his head and turned away.
Yeah, I
was already the centre of attention.
Leesa Bow grew up in Broken Hill and later worked as a nurse at the local hospital before moving to Adelaide in her early twenties. Leesa began writing seriously when her second daughter became sick with cancer. Initially writing was therapeutic, but when her daughter got the all clear, she decided to continue writing seriously.
On weekends Leesa enjoys reading, watching basketball and football, having beach days with the family, catching up with girlfriends, and daydreaming about strong heroines for her next book.
You can find out more about Leesa at:
On weekends Leesa enjoys reading, watching basketball and football, having beach days with the family, catching up with girlfriends, and daydreaming about strong heroines for her next book.
You can find out more about Leesa at:
Facebook party:
The author is having a Facebook Release party on Friday 5th (TODAY) September 4.45pm PDT and everyone is invited. There will be 20 authors giving away books as prizes!!
https://www.facebook.com/events/260790934109846/?ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming
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