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‘Hello, mate. Where are you from?’ Terry stood and reached across the table to shake Kane’s hand. This would be interesting. Ellie put her elbows on the table and waited for his answer but Steve interrupted before Kane could reply.

‘At least let the guy have a drink before the third degree starts.’ Steve raised his voice over the greetings from the others seated at the table. ‘Watch out, they’re nosy, this lot. No secrets here. Beer for you, mate?’

‘No to the beer, thanks. Just a soda water.’ Kane’s voice was quiet as he turned to Terry. ‘I’m originally from Brisbane but I’ve been around. What about you guys?’

So that’s all they were going to get. Ellie was conscious of Kane’s thigh pressed against hers and she moved away a fraction as the guys told Kane they were all locals.

‘Roster went up this afternoon.’ Heather winked at Ellie and leaned across her to speak to Kane. ‘You get a ground tour of the park tomorrow. I hear you’ve already had the one from the air today.’ A sexy little laugh that Ellie knew was purely for Kane’s benefit escaped Heather’s lips. ‘I’m stuck on office duty and you get to go exploring with Miss Ellie here.’

‘What’s the go?’ Ellie ignored Heather’s flirting. ‘Did you say grand tour or ground tour?’

‘Ground, sweetie. There’s a car in the car park down at Jim Jim Falls.’

‘How did it get there?’

Terry leaned over and spoke loudly above the noise from the now crowded bar. ‘We had a medical evacuation last week. Some guy broke his ankle.’ He shook his head. ‘It wasn’t just that he wasn’t fit enough to make the trek. Would you believe he weighed a hundred and fifty kilos? The idiot jumped off a boulder at the end of the track and busted up his leg. Had to be choppered out.’

Ellie frowned. ‘Are the falls open? Have the park staff finished the crocodile management already?’

‘Yep, they opened up the falls the other day. Crocs are clear.’ Terry drained his beer and stood up. ‘But no one’s had a chance to go down and get the car, so –’ Terry’s white teeth flashed in his dark-skinned face as he turned to Kane ‘– you get the pleasure of Ellie’s company and get to see one of the best places in the park. And I get to go check on crocodile traps along the West Alligator with old Bill. I know where I’d rather be.’

Kane shot her a strange glance and heat warmed Ellie’s cheeks as the laughter surrounded them. ‘You have a nice day out on the water, Terry. At least you and Bill get to go out in one of the air-boats. We’ll be stuck in a car most of the day.’ She turned to Heather. ‘How come you got office duty tomorrow?’

‘No kids booked into the crèche and Jan has to go to Darwin, so I’m in charge.’ Her grin was impish and Ellie resisted looking at Kane to see his reaction.

None of my business. ‘Well, if we’re driving all the way to Jim Jim and back tomorrow, I think I’d better get an early night.’

Steve leaned across the table and placed a soda water in front of Kane. ‘Do us a favour, Els? Be a doll and see to Kane tonight, would you?’

Ellie felt her mouth drop open. ‘See to Kane?’

Heather giggled and Kane’s hands clenched on the table in front of him. Ellie waited for him to make a comment but Steve continued. ‘All I meant was, can you grab the key and show him where his room is, seeing you’re going down to the staff quarters? He’s in number eight, down the back along from your apartment. Keys are in the back of the till. Jan sent them over before she closed up the office.’

‘No worries.’ She stood and put her hand on Heather’s shoulder as she swung her leg over the wooden seat. ‘Night, all. It’s good to be back. I’ll look forward to Sunday night.’ She stood behind Kane and leaned down; it was hard to hear over the noise. ‘Are you ready to come now or do you want to hang around and someone else can show you the way to your room?’ She could almost read Heather’s thoughts: Pick me, pick me.

Disappointment flashed across Heather’s face when Kane stood up. ‘I’ll just finish my drink and I’ll be right behind you.’

Crossing to the bar, Ellie leaned over the counter and opened the till. The key was in one of the large change compartments. She reached over and pulled it out, then turned to find Kane had followed her. His gaze didn’t leave her when she held out the key to him. An unwelcome tremble ran down her legs and she scowled, and then instantly regretted it. Just her hormones going crazy.

‘Come on, I’ll show you where your apartment is.’ She forced a smile onto her face. ‘I thought you’d been here a few days?’

Kane’s fingers brushed hers as he took the key and Ellie looked down and saw that his nails were neat and clipped, with no grease staining his fingers. Certainly not the hands of a mechanic. She hadn’t noticed when they’d been up in the air earlier.

‘Yeah, but I only decided to take one of the apartments today.’

She strode off in front of him along the path to the staff quarters. ‘Come on, I’m . . . I’ll show you where to go.’ Ellie had been about to say she was tired and wanted to get to bed, but that would have sounded rude so she closed her mouth.

‘Thank you. Appreciate it.’ Kane’s voice was close and she stopped at the end of the path, surprised again to find him right behind her. His movements were stealthy and a shiver ran down Ellie’s back.

She didn’t know the guy or his background. Just because he had a job at Makowa Lodge meant nothing. Most of the time, Jock was happy to take on anyone with the right certificates. If he was ex-military, Jock would have jumped at the chance to add him to the staff. Generally, the retired service guys were great to work with, even though they never stayed long. Curiosity filled her and she decided to ask Jock about him tomorrow. Kane’s insistence that he was only there to look after the helicopters was a concern for her, so sussing him out with Jock wouldn’t be snooping into his past. After all, she’d be working closely with him, and it appeared he wasn’t going to be forthcoming if the conversation at the table was any indication.

‘What’s the go with the roster?’ His deep voice broke into her thoughts.

‘We have to go down and retrieve a vehicle. One of the lodge guests got hurt.’

He ran a hand through his short hair. ‘Yeah, yeah, I got all that. But why you and me? We’re flight staff.’

‘No, we’re lodge staff. Our primary role is to take the tourists up on scenic flights, or at least mine is.’ Ellie couldn’t resist the dig. ‘But at the beginning of the season, the bookings are usually light, so we take on other duties.’