Read Online Outback Ghost by Rachael Johns - Free Book Online Page A

summer. Anyway, I’d better stop yakking and get on with these orders. Chat later.’
    Having been dismissed, Stella trekked back to the table, shaking her head bemusedly at the whirlwind that was Frankie. Despite her possible Adam connection, it was hard not to take an instant delight to the vibrant café owner. Besides she couldn’t imagine Frankie and Adam as an item. He seemed the strong, silent type, whereas Stella guessed Frankie spoke first and thought later. She’d ask him outright if Frankie was his girlfriend if such a question wouldn’t make it sound like she was interested. Which she was not . A girl was allowed to perve, to appreciate a good-looking guy, but perving and appreciation were as far as Stella would ever take it. Heidi was her priority and if that meant sacrificing things women her age were usually looking for, so be it.
    â€˜Did your mum teach you to play that game?’ Stella caught Adam’s question as she sat down to join them. He glanced at her, his eyes twinkling with a smile. ‘She’s got quite a hand on her, your girl.’
    â€˜More like she taught me.’ Stella reached out and tucked some flyaway hair behind Heidi’s ears. ‘You saw that game on Playschool , didn’t you, sweetheart?’
    Heidi nodded.
    And then silence descended on the table. Heidi grabbed her colouring pencils and notepad out of Stella’s bag and got busy drawing while Stella and Adam smiled at each other awkwardly. Stella racked her mind for something suitable to say but seemed unable to get past the issue of whether or not he was single. She was completely tongue-tied. She tried to open her mouth to initiate polite chit-chat but she couldn’t think of one benign thing to say. It was pathetic. Adam appeared to have a similar problem.
    Finally Frankie delivered a massive homemade meat pie to the table, placing it in front of Adam.
    â€˜Hmm… that smells delicious,’ Stella said to Frankie as much as to Adam.
    â€˜Once you taste one of my pies, you’ll never look back.’ Frankie grinned proudly. ‘Isn’t that right, cuz?’ She ruffled Adam’s hair affectionately and then looked to Stella. ‘Your quiche and toastie will be just a moment.’
    â€˜Thanks Frankie,’ Adam said as she returned to the kitchen.
    Cuz . The word rang out in Stella’s head like a victory tune. She couldn’t help but be pleased by this information.
    â€˜Don’t wait on our account,’ Stella said, gesturing to his plate with a grin she couldn’t tame.
    â€˜Of course I will.’ He took a sip of water instead and then asked, ‘How’s your day been so far? Heidi told me you’ve been making castles at the beach.’
    She nodded. ‘I had planned on taking her to the park and also checking out the main street but the time got away from us. The beach was beautiful this morning.’
    â€˜Bunyip Bay has that effect,’ he said. ‘Farming can be gruelling at times but we’re lucky that on the other side of town, we have the kind of sight that most farmers only dream of. And when the lack of rain gets us down, we only have to drive a couple of k’s to see all the water in the world.’
    â€˜Do you spend much time at the beach?’ she asked, trying to ignore the image of Adam in nothing but swim shorts that appeared in her head.
    Seemingly oblivious to her torrid thoughts, he shrugged one shoulder. ‘Not as much time as I’d like. When I was young I surfed a bit but the farm is pretty time-consuming. Especially now I’m doing it on my own.’
    â€˜Did your father used to work with you?’
    He nodded and glanced down at the pie. ‘He retired at the beginning of the year.’ Another pause and then he looked up and met her gaze. ‘You may as well know, he left yesterday.’
    â€˜Left?’ She wasn’t entirely sure what he meant.
    â€˜The reason I