‘Why not? They’re fun.’ She took a deep breath to give herself courage and added, ‘I like going on the internet and I’ll want to keep in touch with my friends, particularly Sarah. And I, um, I write a little.’ She held her breath, praying that he wouldn’t mock her aspirations.

He nodded in instant comprehension. ‘Ah! That’s what you meant when you said you had some “creative options” you could consider, isn’t it?’

‘Mmm.’ Goodness, did he remember every word she had spoken?

‘What do you write? Or do you prefer not to talk about it?’

She stared down at her toes. ‘Short stories so far. I’ve had a couple published in women’s magazines, actually. They even paid me for them. I – I want to try to write a novel next.’

There was silence, then he gave her a quick hug. ‘You’re full of surprises. Nice ones, too. And I’ll be delighted to buy you a computer. I need a desktop for me as well. Laptops are great when you’re travelling, but they’re not comfortable to work on for long.’

He gave her one of his real smiles, the sort that turned him into every Prince Charming she had ever read about rolled into one, and she was beaming back at him before she knew it.

‘You’re looking happier today,’ he murmured.

‘I think I’m a country girl at heart. Do you mind?’

‘On the contrary.’

He was humming as they set off. He had quite a nice voice, actually. She joined in, for the first time feeling relaxed enough to sing in front of him. She wasn’t tone deaf or anything, but she didn’t have a strong voice.

They arrived at the turn-off to his block of land some forty minutes later. It was a dirt track marked by a wooden letterbox on a pole with SAUNDERS painted on it. There was a rusty metal gate across the entrance which wouldn’t keep intruders out for more than thirty seconds.

‘I’ll open it.’ Megan jumped out of the car and swung on the gate like a child as it opened and closed, not minding that Ben was chuckling at her.

The track beyond was appalling, full of ruts and holes.

‘The rain’s washed away some of the gravel,’ he said, frowning. ‘I’d better have it graded by a bulldozer. I’m going to buy a four-wheel drive, I think, maybe one like this, not to mention a good, solid car for you. There are no buses out here in the bush. What sort of a car would you like?’

‘Goodness, anything that goes will do me! Whatever they’ve got in the second-hand car yard.’

He gave her another of those strange looks. ‘I’d rather you drove something with all the latest safety features, actually. And a car for you won’t break the bank, believe me.’