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Back The Model Wife
Chapters (48)
  1. Cover
  2. Praise
  3. About the Author
  4. Also by Tricia Stringer
  5. Title Page
  6. Dedication
  7. One
  8. Two
  9. Three
  10. Four
  11. Five
  12. Six
  13. Seven
  14. Eight
  15. Nine
  16. Ten
  17. Eleven
  18. Twelve
  19. Thirteen
  20. Fourteen
  21. Fifteen
  22. Sixteen
  23. Seventeen
  24. Eighteen
  25. Nineteen
  26. Twenty
  27. Twenty-One
  28. Twenty-Two
  29. Twenty-Three
  30. Twenty-Four
  31. Twenty-Five
  32. Twenty-Six
  33. Twenty-Seven
  34. Twenty-Eight
  35. Twenty-Nine
  36. Thirty
  37. Thirty-One
  38. Thirty-Two
  39. Thirty-Three
  40. Thirty-Four
  41. Thirty-Five
  42. Thirty-Six
  43. Thirty-Seven
  44. Thirty-Eight
  45. Author’s Note
  46. Acknowledgements
  47. Excerpt
  48. One

Gabe studied her as if considering her offer. The pause between them was broken by his mobile ringing. The screen glowed and the phone vibrated, adding urgency.

“Thanks, but I’d better get going.”

He reversed away, putting the phone to his ear as he went.

Natalie wandered inside, sad that he hadn’t accepted her offer. Gabe was easy to be with and she enjoyed his company but perhaps a little too much. She was playing with fire but she couldn’t let go of the invigorating feeling being with him brought.

The next day she was disappointed when lunchtime came and went and he still hadn’t turned up. Not that they’d had a set time but after their paddle the night before she found herself watching for him. The day was hot and, desperate for a swim, she hitched a ride to the beach with an older couple who were on a daytrip. They didn’t even get out of their vehicle, were only there for a look, they’d said, before they moved on to the next place.

Natalie stayed on the beach, had a swim and read her book. Four-wheel drives came and went but none of them were Gabe and eventually, as the sun lowered in the sky, no more came. She watched the water for a while – there was a strong breeze and it was rough compared to the previous evening. Finally she turned her back on it and walked over the sandhills to camp. It took her a while and it was hard going. By the time she reached her cabin her calves were aching but she was proud of herself. It had been good exercise but she was quite sure it was way further than the one kilometre suggested in the camp brochure.

Hunger drove her inside. She inspected the contents of the fridge, wondering what she’d make herself for dinner. There were some sausages in the freezer, and a motley collection of vegetables, cheese and eggs. She took some cheese and a packet of crackers from the cupboard. They’d do for starters and she could scramble some eggs later if she felt like it. She’d either have to get more supplies soon or go back to Broome. The idea of travelling back with Gabe was agreeable but then this holiday would be over. She looked around her little cabin and through the window to the garden of assorted flowering shrubs, the palm trees that towered high overhead, and she knew she wasn’t ready to leave.