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‘More than steady. Are you aware that Kane won’t fly?’

‘I wanted to talk to you about that.’ Jock frowned. ‘Look, it’s a long story, but basically I’d signed him up before I realised how adamant he was about not flying. There was a misunderstanding about the terms of –’

Ellie held her hand up. ‘I know. I found that out the other day when we went up together.’ She didn’t share that Kane had been reluctant to even do that. She was beginning to understand him, and it would have felt disloyal. ‘So what are you going to do?’

‘He’s a damn good mechanic and he’s willing to do other stuff around the lodge so I’ve talked to the Heli-Tour guys over at Cooinda. They have an extra pilot at the moment, so if you’re happy to be on your own, we can subcontract some of the flights out to them. Until I can get another pilot over here.’

‘Sounds fine to me.’ Ellie was pleased with Jock’s solution. ‘Kane is a good engineer and seems very experienced. He’s really thorough with the birds.’

‘Not a cowboy, eh?’

‘Not a cowboy.’

‘Be better if he’d fly, though. Maybe you can talk him into it. He’s got the quals. Ex-military. There’s a story there.’

‘Always is, Jock.’ So her hunch had been right. Ellie stood to leave and then remembered the break-in. ‘Have we had any problems with security lately?’

He looked at her and shook his head. ‘No, why? It’s been pretty quiet since the new cop started at Jabiru.’

‘I think someone broke into my apartment last night.’

Jock frowned. ‘You think? What did they take?’

‘Nothing. That’s the strange thing.’

‘Any damage? To the lock?’

Ellie shook her head. ‘No, nothing.’

‘Are you sure there was someone in there?’

‘I’m sure.’

‘I’ll give the police station a call and tell the staff to keep an eye out.’

‘Thanks. I’ll see you later.’ She turned to leave but Jock called her back.

‘Ellie? Go easy on him.’

She flicked her boss a curious look as she left the office.

Kane was in the hangar checking over the helicopters when Ellie walked in after grabbing a coffee at the bistro on the way back. Despite her feelings, a flurry of butterflies flitted around in her stomach. He reached up to wipe a mark off one of the windscreens and warmth shimmied straight down to her lower belly as the muscles in his arms flexed.

‘They’re both right to go up.’ He jerked his head towards the two helicopters. No ‘good morning, nice to see you, great sex,’ but she was okay with his business-like greeting. He’d set the tone and she was more than happy to follow along.

‘I might be a great pilot but I’m not that good.’

‘What do you mean?’ He leaned against the doorway into the office, pulled a rag from his pocket and wiped his hands.

‘Taking both birds up at once.’ She stared at him. The black T-shirt defined the muscles on his chest but, thank God, they were covered this morning. She kept her eyes away from his biceps as he threw the rag onto the workbench.

‘Look about last night, I wanted to say –’

Ellie cut him off before he could finish. ‘I know. It was a mistake. Don’t worry it won’t happen again. Not wise when we have to work together.’

He shrugged and disappointment flooded her as she wondered what he’d been going to say. ‘I think you’ll have to change your mind about flying. Have you seen the bookings for this morning?’

‘Yeah, I have.’ He returned her gaze, but without a smile. ‘But you know what? That’s not my problem. I told you I was hired as an engineer. I won’t be taking any flights up. Not today. Not this week. Not ever. Talk to the boss if you don’t like it.’