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‘What sort of tour?’ His withdrawal was more obvious now.

She lifted her chin. ‘Larapinta Luxury Treks. Why do you ask?’

‘Ah,’ he said. ‘Interesting. Have you just booked it? Since you arrived?’

‘No, why do you ask?’

‘Because I’m going to the same function as you.’

Sandra was confused. ‘Why would you think I just booked it? Because I found out you were going on that tour?’

‘So, you did know?’ His voice was cold.

‘No.’ Sandra felt like stamping her foot. Who was this guy? ‘Of course I didn’t know. How would I? Are you famous or something?’

‘No, I’m not. I just value my privacy.’

‘Well, I’m sorry, Graysen, but you seem to have an almighty chip on your shoulder. I didn’t know you were in the tour, but perhaps if I had known I wouldn’t have booked it.’ She folded her arms and stared ahead. The numbers on the panel beside the door flashed down to the first floor where the function rooms were. She waited for an apology, but there was none forthcoming. He stood straight and silent beside her.

The door opened and she stepped out without a backward glance.

How rude. And how arrogant.

In such a small group it was going to be very difficult to avoid him. Sandra bit her lip.

What should I do?

She couldn’t drop out; the girls had paid for over half the tour. She’d baulked at the amount when they’d shown her the brochure, but they had insisted.

As she approached the door of the Namatjira Function Room she finally smiled. Imagine filling out a travel insurance claim.

One of the guests was rude to me so I decided not to go!

Well, she’d “pull on her big girl panties”—one of Dru’s favourite expressions—go on the tour and ignore Mr High and Mighty Hughes. At least she had one of the trek guests picked before they started.

A buzz of conversation met Sandra as she pushed the door open; there was no sign of him behind her. Who was he anyway? Should she have recognised him? Was he someone famous? She’d get Mr Google working later.

‘Mrs Porter?’ A tall man in a khaki shirt was waiting by the door beside a woman whose shirt had the same logo on the pocket. Larapinta Luxury Tours.

‘Yes, hello, I’m Sandra Porter.’

‘Welcome. I’m Andrew Hill from Larapinta Luxury Tours, and this is my colleague, Jodie Wright. May we call you Sandra?’

‘Of course, Andrew. It’s nice to meet you both.’

‘I’ll be your leading guide for the tour and Jodie is our hostess and chef,’ Andrew said. He was a young man, tanned and rugged looking with light blue eyes fringed with fair lashes.

‘We’re just waiting for one more guest and we can get started,’ Jodie said.

‘If that’s Mr Hughes, he came down in the lift with me.’

‘Good, we can get started as soon as he arrives. What would you like to drink?’ Jodie asked.

‘Champagne?’ I might as well start the tour with a bang, Sandra thought.

‘Of course.’ As Jodie headed off to the small bar, Andrew gestured for Sandra to follow him. ‘Come and meet the others.’

Before he could start the introductions, the door opened and Graysen stepped into the room.