Free Riley’s Billionaire by Sunny Cole

was the primary cook. The heavy-set woman seemed surprised anyone would come into her kitchen. She was even more shocked when Riley told her she was just looking for some bread to take with her.
    ‘You need breakfast. I’ll serve you in the dining room.’
    Riley shook her head. ‘I’m not that hungry.’
    The large woman placed her hands on her hips. ‘I cook. You eat.’
    There seemed no getting out of it, so Riley acquiesced. ‘But only if I might eat in here. I’d like to get to know you better.’
    The cook’s mouth dropped open momentarily, but she pointed to a small table at a bay window. ‘This is where the staff eats.’
    With this much food for breakfast, they must not have morning tea. Riley was amazed at the stacks of apple pancakes with maple butter syrup, the heaped scoop of scrambled eggs, and sausages.
    Janet set the plate before her, handed her flatware, and sat across from her, folded her arms and looked at Riley expectantly.
    Planning on only having a few bites, enough to satisfy the cook, Riley launched into questions about the vineyards.
    ‘You need to talk to Samuel — he’s probably in the greenhouse at this time.’ Janet pointed out the window. ‘See? Over there.’
    Before she knew it, Riley had eaten nearly the entire plate of food. She’d taken notes as Janet told her about the last year’s vintage, problems they’d had with mould, and concerns her employers seemed to have about the upcoming planting. Janet didn’t know much, but her offerings were enough to jumpstart Riley’s curiosity and enthusiasm.
    Janet took Riley’s ceramic mug and found a stainless steel mug for the refill. Then she sent Riley on her way with a couple of breakfast scones, the coffee and a bottle of water. ‘Tea is at nine thirty, Missy.’
    Riley had to stifle a laugh. Okay, obviously she was expected back within a couple of hours, and the look on Janet’s face told her she’d better not be late.
    It was a beautiful day. The sun was rising in a cloudless ocean of blue sky, colourful lorikeets screeched at one another in a thicket of palm trees, and a couple of magpies ventured onto the terrace. Riley knew better than to talk to them, much less feed them. If she did, they’d come back and bring their friends, and the mess they’d leave would hardly endear Riley to the Fitzgeralds.
    Cadigal Valley was only a few miles from the Pacific Ocean, and even though she saw no clouds, Riley could sense rain coming from the easterly trade winds that were picking up. It wouldn’t be long before storms brewed, heralding the coming of spring. If they were lucky, they’d have a decent planting season before the hard rains came in summer.
    She stuffed the scones into her backpack, alongside the kit and water bottle, and with only her coffee mug in hand, she began her descent from the house to the vineyards.
    Jack finally found her. She’d missed tea, which didn’t please cook. She’d been missing for hours, and if it hadn’t been for Samuel telling him where she’d gone, Riley might have walked all the way back to Sydney for all Jack knew.
    He rounded the cabin, having not seen her out back, and there she was, perched on the stone bench facing the east, sipping something. She was picture perfect, like something out of a magazine, staring into the distance with a dreamy look on her face. He felt guilty for disturbing her, but she’d given him several hours of worry.
    ‘Don’t you carry your cell phone with you?’ He tried keeping the gruffness from his voice, but even to his own ears he sounded angry.
    Riley turned to him, surprise flooding her features. ‘I didn’t think I needed it here.’
    ‘Well, you do. This isn’t the Outback, but a stranger to the land is still in danger of getting lost until they get the lay of the land.’
    She patted a place beside her. ‘Come, sit. I’ve had the most marvellous morning. Don’t spoil it for me.’
    What? One would think she wasn’t in danger of becoming