‘But my feelings aren’t just about the sexy you. You’re generous. Fearless. Limitless. I’m stupendously lucky for what we’ve already had and I’m gambling on the fact that you care for me as well. I missed you too much when you left. And I want you to know this is not a fling.’

And if it isn’t, what then? she wanted to ask. Instead, she said, ‘You do know we come from different worlds?’

‘I know, but they’re worlds that I’m very willing to negotiate.’

She stared up at him and said softly, ‘What does that mean in practical terms, Zac? I’m not a city girl … I doubt I could leave the outback for good.’

‘I know. I’m willing to do what it takes to make our relationship work. Share the dislocation of moving between city and centre. Move to Alice or somewhere like it.’ He paused, looking down in thought and then back into her eyes. ‘Finding something like we have deserves whatever it takes to work.’

She drew in a breath, wondering if he was quite ready to be so far from his old life, or she from hers. Were they both willing to live for six months of the year for the other, to make their relationship work? This needed sorting, but she didn’t know how.

Then he said, ‘Will you kiss me?’ That she could do. Had in fact been waiting all afternoon to do. She slid her arms around him and he lifted her up so her feet left the ground, hugging her to him. She sought his mouth and infused it with all the love she’d been holding back, all the frustration of him being away from her. She felt like she’d been starved of this – that she’d waited weeks, not just days, to be back in his arms.

‘This was why I came to Yulara, to talk about this, to make plans that suit us both, and to share my epiphany from our very short, very intense time in Alice.’ He lowered her gently and released her. ‘It’s crazy, but … I. Love. You.’

Ava still felt the shock of each word.

‘I was going to get to this more slowly.’ He ran his fingers through his hair and she realised she’d missed that gesture. Missed the need to brush it back into tidiness again. Missed everything about him, and now that he was here, her world had righted again.

Zac smiled at her. ‘But we had Jessamine’s babies to deliver and the sunset is getting away. The sunset on Uluru is part of my plan.’ Their eyes met and his were soft with understanding for her confusion. ‘You’ll see. I’ve had time to get used to the idea and you haven’t.’

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