Page 6 of Ruby’s Outback Love

“In six weeks. How’s work up in Brisbane?”

“Good, I’m learning a lot being on the streets of the city but I miss home. Miss you.”

Phil had come home a couple of times in the past two years, but the visits had been fleeting and we hadn’t seen a lot of each other. Our friendship appeared to have become distant so his declaration of missing me came as a surprise.

“Me? Why would you miss me? You must have dozens of women up in Brisbane who would be more than happy to keep you company.”

“They’re not you, Ruby. No one compares and I’m tired of fighting this attraction for you. Now you’re an adult, I want things to change. How about we stay in touch, catch up when we can, return here after we have our degrees and see what happens?”

“Are you asking me to be your girl?” My heart somersaulted at the thought.

“I’m asking you to be my woman. I’ve always cared deeply for you and now you’re eighteen, an adult, I would like to make you mine.”

I remained silent, stunned at Phil’s declaration. A worried expression creased his face.

“If you feel the same way about me, of course.”

Phil’s uncertainty about my feelings for him caused me to break into a smile. I climbed to my knees and crawled closer to him. My hands rested on each side of his face. Our eyes locked.

“I have loved you, Phil Thacker, since I was ten years old. I’ve never been, and never will be, interested in any other man.”

He pulled me against his chest, his mouth closed over mine. Our first real kiss was tentative to begin with, each of us feeling the other out, testing the waters. As our confidence with each other grew, my lips parted, his tongue slid inside and danced with mine.

I wrapped my arms around his neck, my fingers brushing the ends of his silky soft hair. As our kiss deepened, tingles danced up and down my spine, nipples hardened to points and the crotch of my swimsuit suddenly felt wet.

When Phil pulled away, I grumbled with disappointment, from the feel of the bulge in his jeans against my hip, he wanted this as much as I did.

“Not here. Not like this. I want the first time we make love to be in a bed – special.”

“How do you plan to manage that with our parents at our homes?”

“I’m going to take you out for dinner, a celebration of your acceptance into Uni and I’ll book a room at the Major Mitchell Motel.”

“I’d love that.”

“What will you tell your mum and dad about being out all night?”

“The truth – that I’m spending the night at a motel with the man I love.”

“Really? No lies, like you’re sleeping over at Briony’s?” The expression on Phil’s face was one of incredulity.

“Nope. The truth, Phil. Only ever the truth. Dad taught us that you need to have a bloody good memory to be a liar and although my memory is good, it’s not that good when it comes to things which happen in everyday life.”

“I agree with your dad. I’ll pick you up at six?”

“I’ll be ready. How long are you down for?”

“I have to leave tomorrow morning, I’m back on duty at four in the afternoon.”

I nodded, disappointed he wasn’t going to be in town longer.

Phil planted a kiss on my cheek and I watched him stride away. Fuck his arse was sexy in those tight jeans.

I flopped back on the blanket and gazed at the sky. The planets had finally aligned and Phil was about to become mine.

***

I stood staring at myself in the mirror for about the tenth time in as many minutes. I’d changed clothes five times and I was finally satisfied with wearing a pair of slim jeans, pale blue blouse and strappy sandals. My hair was waist length these days and I’d tied it up into a ponytail to show off the diamond stud earrings mum and dad gave me for my eighteenth birthday.