Read Online Heart of the Outback by Lynne Wilding - Free Book Online Page A

had become more pronounced since they’d worked together on a few projects. There. Just below the surface. Not that he’d made a move in that direction. Yet.
    Actually, why he hadn’t he still didn’t understand. Maybe he hesitated to step over the employer/employee line or the obvious social differences between them. There wasn’t much he didn’t like about Francey Spinetti though. She was easy on the eye, as the saying went. Wide-set, huge blue-green eyes, lustrous black hair that seemed to have a mind of its own, just like its owner, and she was unusually tall and slender for someone of Italian extraction.
    He shook himself out of his reverie and became all business. “How’s the plan for the Monroe building going?”
    “Slowly.” She gave him a droll look. “Mainly because Mr Monroe and his board of directors keep changing their minds about what they want.”
    “Problems?” She shrugged her shoulders, giving him a tantalising glimpse of pink lace between the vee of her deeper pink blouse. Her just-a-fraction-too-wide pink lipsticked lips pursed in contemplation. They were very kissable lips. Oh, yes, he’d fantasised about them often lately.
    “Nothing I can’t handle,” Francey told him. “Their indecisiveness slows the process, that’s all.”
    “Well, make the best of it. We don’t want Monroe upset. He’s too important a client. This,” he passed her the fax he’d been holding, “might cheer you up.”
    Francey read the fax and grinned, well, it started as a grin and then it became a wide, radiant smile that lit up her whole face. She re-read the most important part again out loud. “Your design: the one hectare Swayne’s apartment building, shopping complex and marina is confirmed as one of the finalists in themedium density under three point five million freestanding Australian Architectural Design awards.”
    “Aden, this is wonderful.” Her hands went into action and she began to gesticulate wildly. “I can hardly believe it.”
    The Swayne’s complex had been her most ambitious and successful project to date. Completed six months ago, after eighteen months building time, she was inordinately proud of the design which combined the latest building materials and blended them in such a way that they harmonised with the surrounding neighbourhood and the water views of Tambourine Bay. Matthew Drew and Tony Carlyle, Aden’s other partners, had been critical of the innovative design, wanting to opt for something more traditional, but Aden, the senior partner, had the ruling vote and had backed Francey up. He’d given her her head and Alex Swayne had waxed lyrical far and wide about the finished product. The apartments and the small, exclusive stores had sold in record time and the ultra modern marina was filling with permanent berths fast.
    “It is good news. You’re a contender for an award, Francey. Pretty fantastic, considering you’ve not been working that long.” His grey eyes began to twinkle with mischievous anticipation. “Which means you must wear something outrageously sexy when accepting the award.”
    She shook her head from side to side, causing her curly tresses to sway and curve around her face. “Aren’t you being somewhat premature? I have to win it first.”
    “I have the utmost confidence that you will. You see, I’ve seen a couple of the other entries.”
    “Now you’ve done it!” She waggled an accusatory finger at him which made his features take on a bewildered look. “My concentration’s shot for the next half-hour, just thinking about Thursday night.” The venue for this year’s awards dinner was The Regent. She’d been last year and it had been a huge yawn. However, she knew she wouldn’t be bored this year. But she wouldn’t enjoy herself either because all evening she would be a bundle of nerves. Wait until she told mamma and papà. They wouldn’t believe it.
    “Take an early lunch,” he suggested.
    Eat? Who could think about food? But she