Free Ran From Him by Jenny Schwartz Page B

willing to cope with her enthusiasms.”
    Darkly, Cate wondered just how willing Rob really was. Had their dad pushed him into it, sensing Daniel’s eagerness to have Amie settled into a happy-ever-after scenario?
    “And I think Mum’s about to accept her long term suitor.”
    “Your mum has a boyfriend?”
    “Eric Charlesworth. He’s a retired botany professor and Mum’s mad on roses. They’re currently on a garden tour through Europe. Eric intends to propose to Mum in Monet’s garden in France.”
    “That’s so romantic, but don’t tell me he asked your permission?”
    “No.” Daniel grinned. “He’s so excited he had to show me the engagement ring he’d bought Mum. I think she’s guessed what he’s planning, but she’s not letting on. They’ll be happy together.”
    “Which leaves you free to concentrate on yourself.” Cate added the rice, gave the casserole a final stir, then placed it back in the oven. When he didn’t answer, she looked at him. “Isn’t that what going bush is about, having time for yourself?”
    He straightened away from the bench. “I’m beginning to think that time to myself would be awfully lonely.”

Chapter Four
     
    “I’m beginning to think that time to myself would be awfully lonely.”
    Cate stared at Daniel while his words echoed between them.
    Lonely?
    Standing four square in the kitchen, he looked entirely self-sufficient. He was young, healthy, rich, gorgeous—and lonely?
    For her, recognition of loneliness had come from appreciation of his nearness. After this time together, she wondered if without him, she’d feel quite so confident of her self-sufficiency. With him, she felt comforted, excited, glad, in a way she couldn’t remember feeling before.
    Was it possible he felt the same?
    “Would you like a refill? Mineral water or juice?” He indicated her empty glass, and her foolish, unsettling dreams burst. She was a passing stranger in his life. Freed from old commitments, he didn’t need or want new ones.
    And nor did she. She was independent. She didn’t need anyone. “No, thanks.”
    He walked out of the kitchen into the living room and sank down into a leather recliner.
    Uncertain and curious, she followed, and sat on the sofa opposite.
    “Tell me about your work in Sydney.”
    “We-ell.” In her experience, people were disappointed to hear that journalism was as much routine grind as any other job. “It’s not glamorous.”
    “Nor is big business. People think it sounds wonderful—flying around the world, negotiating million dollar contracts, wining and dining wealthy and influential people—but it’s simply sustained stress and, sometimes, mixing with people you despise.”
    “You handle the responsibility well.” She thought of the hundreds of people his company employed either directly or indirectly. He’d feel responsible for them. More ties. With freedom in sight, he wouldn’t commit himself to a new relationship.
    “No grey hairs yet,” he said dismissively.
    “How do you know?” She shook off her unreasonable disappointment and teased. “You blondies can hide the silver in the gold. It’s us brunettes who have to use hair dye.”
    He grinned, his gaze dwelling appreciatively on her. “You can’t convince me you’ve ever dyed your hair. I’ve seen it in the sun. It has too many shades of bronze and wine in its darkness to be dyed.”
    “You’d be surprised what hairdressers can do now. But you’re right. I’m too lazy to dye my hair.”
    “Lazy?”
    “And busy. I don’t seem to have factored indulgence time into my schedule.”
    “Which brings us back to my question: tell me about your work.”
    Cate tucked her feet under her on the sofa as she considered the request. She felt a need to convince him that she valued her independence as much as he desired his freedom. She didn’t want him thinking of her with even a shadow of the dependent daughter he’d viewed her as six years before. She was her own woman