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“Well, you chose a beautiful place to come to. It has an energy about it that is almost calming.” She took in a deep breath and sighed, then looked up and smiled. “Let’s not talk about our pasts. I hope to travel a bit while I’m here, so what do you recommend?”
I would have loved to get the subject back on her breasts but would take the hint for now.
“You should start with Sydney. You could see a show or go to the Opera House. It’s showy, but the harbor is amazing, and you could climb the bridge.”
“You did notice I have only one foot?” She shook her head and chuckled.
“People do it all the time. If you struggle, I could chuck you on my back.”
“That is never going to happen, but I will set it as a goal to do before I go back to the UK. Deal?” She put her hand out to shake on it.
I shook her hand. “Deal. In the meantime, you should see more of the local sights. How are you with heights?”
“I’m awful.”
“Great, then I can see some torture coming up.”
“I could just say no?”
“You won’t. I recognize another stubborn person when I see one. You hate it when something beats you.”
Autumn stared into her wine glass.
Oops. I had obviously hit a sore spot. Me and my big mouth again.
She eventually glanced up. “You’re right. There’s no point in going to the other side of the world and just working. I could do that back in London. I’ll take you up on your offer of seeing the local sights, but I reserve the right to say ‘no way in hell’ if anything is too much.”
“Fine. I’ll cancel the bungee jump then. Not sure the band would fit on just one foot.” She burst out laughing so at least I hadn’t overstepped the mark. “I think it’s time we go to your surprise if you’ve finished.”
“I hope I’m not going to regret this,” Autumn said as she stood.
“You probably will, but you’ll do it anyway.”
SEVEN
Ryan
I insisted on paying the bill, and we headed back to my pickup. It was dark, and she held onto the door as we turned down an unsealed track and the vehicle shook. There was a light and a farmhouse up ahead, and I could see Autumn still looked perplexed. About ten people of all ages were waiting in a shed where there was tea, coffee, and biscuits.
Autumn was giving me that piercing gaze again. “What is this? Why are we in a farm shed? As surprises go, it’s a bit odd.”
“You’ll see.”
A woman walked in. “Hello, everyone. I’m Maureen, the owner. Once you have finished your drinks, we’ll head off. I’ll walk at the front and my husband, Joe, will be at the back. Stay close and on the track. We don’t want any phones or lights, and once we get there, we will all stay still with the flashlights off, and you’ll see the glowworms.”
I peered at Autumn, who had a big grin on her face.
“So, you do like the surprise then.”
“It’s wonderful. I’ve never seen them. Stay close though, I don’t want to stumble in the dark. Being on unsteady ground can be a nuisance sometimes.”
I was more than happy with her request. I would have put my arm around her waist, but that was probably being a bit forward. I should have probably thought about walking in the dark with her unsteady leg, but she didn’t seem to mind. I was still glad I had chosen this.
We followed everyone out of the shed, through a gate, and across a paddock.
“Don’t worry. If there are any crazy animals, I’ll throw you over my shoulder and run for the gate. You walk in a cow pat though and you clean it up yourself.”
“I thought you wanted to be chivalrous?”
