Heart of the Outback Read Online Free PDF

lashing out at him? He was free of his marriage now. If there was any chance of her having a real relationship with Gareth Morgan, she could only destroy it by endlessly reminding him of the wife he had loved.
    It was probably crazy to hope there might be any chance at all. Yet if there was, shouldn’t she try for it? Not just for herself. She didn’t have only herself to consider.
    “It went beyond control, Alida,” Gareth said quietly. “I don’t know why. A mesh of circumstances, the time, the place, you. There’s no excuse.”
    “No. There’s no excuse.” She heaved a sigh to relieve her pent-up feelings. Before she could stop them, more accusing words spilled from her lips. “If you’d left me alone. Avoided me…”
    “How does one avoid the unavoidable? You’re the most desirable woman I’ve ever met.” His mouth quirked into a little movement that projected apologetic appeal. “I know that’s no excuse.”
    Was he flattering her or telling the truth? Whichever, this dwelling on the past only served to keep stirring the deep bitterness she harboured. Better to put it aside. She had to think about the future.
    She gave him an ironic little smile. “You’re a desirable man, Gareth. That’s no excuse, either.”
    She felt his chest rise and fall against her breasts. Hungry need simmered into his eyes. He moved the hand he was holding to his shoulder, released it, then slowly stroked his fingers down the long silky fall of her hair.
    “I tried very hard to forget you, Alida. I tried to forget what happened between us.”
    The thought of him failing to control himself over her, failing to forget what had happened, was like an aphrodisiac, fanning her memories of the wild passion they had known together. “So did I… try to forget,” she answered huskily.
    His eyes searched hers, feeding off her susceptibility to his words. “I didn’t succeed,” he said.
    “Neither did I,” she replied recklessly. Perhaps he wouldn’t cut her off so cruelly this time. Perhaps he would learn to care for her.
    “You did not seem to be attached to any of the men at your table.”
    Would it deter him if she was? Alida wondered. If she was prepared to give in to him, would he have any scruples about sweeping any other man aside to take what he wanted? How much did Gareth want her this time? How far would he go?
    “I don’t have a partner, if that’s what you mean,” she replied, opening the door for him, telling herself she would act just like Gareth, taking what she wanted. If it led to the kind of relationship she needed with him… But if it didn’t, she would use him as he had used her. Why not? She was thirty years old, unmarried, unloved except by her family. And Gareth Morgan was the only man she wanted.
    “There is no man in your life at present?”
    No man since him, Alida thought in bitter irony. If only he knew. But he would never find that out. It would be admitting too much. She had to know a lot more about the heart and mind of Gareth Morgan, and be sure he was worthy of her confidences, before she could consider revealing all that had resulted from her first encounter with him.
    “Not at present,” she answered.
    His face relaxed. Satisfaction glinted in his eyes. The questioning was over for the time being. He had secured the ground he wanted—everything cleared for him to move in on her. He proceeded to do so.
    The hand that had stroked her hair slid to her back, gently pressing her closer. Alida gave in to the temptation to slide her hands around his neck and lean into him. He bent his head. She felt the warmth of his breath waver through her hair. He stroked her back with light knowing fingers, weaving a web of intense sensitivity to his touch.
    The dance went on, building the tension between them, teasing the memories of all the primitive intimacies they had once shared with each other. Alida felt the forceful stirring of his manhood, revelled in his inability to repress it, moved her