‘It should be okay,’ she soothed him. ‘He said he was bringing the grader home today. That’ll take hours – if he really did leave it at Kileys’ Yard, of course. If you just run me back to the homestead, I can tell him I got a ride back with a tourist, and I’ll check the book first to make sure someone did leave this morning. What?’

Connor was shaking his head. ‘And if Luke should mention me bringing you back? Just in passing? It could happen. Tell him you hung around the camp until I offered to drive you. It’s lies that catch you out, Tilly.’

She shot him a look that he missed as the front wheel crashed into a hole. ‘I expect you’d know. Is the job always like this?’

‘No. We – Customs, that is – are only involved because of the boat aspect. Mostly it’s straightforward inspections of ship manifests, or stop and search operations. This is a one-off.’

‘And when it’s over? If you catch Matt and his mates, what then?’

‘Oh, back to the paperwork and the high seas.’ The vehicle nosed over the ridge and thumped down onto the track before the caves. ‘Thank God for that! Now we can make a bit of time. Yes, more manifests, but not before a break. I’m due some leave, and I should like to spend it with you, Tilly. Not crashing around chasing crooks, but enjoying ourselves. I’m thinking a nice restaurant in Darwin, maybe the Night Markets, a stroll along the Esplanade. I know a pub with a karaoke bar . . . So, what are my chances?’ He snatched a quick glance at her, one eyebrow raised enquiringly, before turning back to the road.

Flattered, and a little flustered by his directness, she said, ‘That last one’s not quite my scene. Are you a Caruso in disguise? It sounds lovely, Connor, but I’m not a free agent. I mean, I have a job and it’s the middle of the season. I—’

‘Well, in theory then – is it something you’d like? Spending time with me? You could find out about my singing ability, and other things too.’

Tilly felt the heat in her skin and found that her heart was doing strange flip-flops. Their eyes met in the driving mirror and she flushed. ‘Yes,’ she said simply. ‘I’d like that. Very much.’

‘Whoo!’ He blew out a long breath. ‘Great! I haven’t been so nervous since my first date. Thank you. Now, hang on tight while I get you home.’

Matt arrived with the grader a little after four o’clock.

‘How’d you go?’ Luke asked, looking up from his magazine as he entered the kitchen. Tilly, sipping coffee in the bird-watching seat, raised the glasses to her eyes, glad that Luke had spoken.