Hidden Fire Read Online Free PDF

Aboriginal people. They’re not about to sell off their birthright. Opals have a spiritual value for Aborigines, and in this case, the Dreamtime Fire is extra special. The Aboriginal people aren’t about to give it up.”
    â€œAnd Whitey’s threats?” Gili didn’t know why she even mentioned it. Morgan was one of the most macho men she’d ever met. He wasn’t about to back down over something like this.
    He grinned. “Well, he can try.”
    â€œThe gallery is willing to pay a handsome fee for it. I’m sure the tribe could use the money.” Gili inwardly cringed. How crass of her. Not everything could be reduced to dollar terms.
    â€œYou think money can buy anything?” He shook his head. “Lady, have you got a lot to learn. Just when I think you’re finally getting the picture, you open your mouth and say something like that.”
    â€œWill you at least take me up there so I can talk to the tribe myself?” She didn’t know why she ever bothered asking. She knew what Morgan’s response would be.
    The deceptive calm of the past half hour or so disappeared, replaced by Morgan’s anger. She felt it radiating off him. The room fairly crackled with tension.
    You are such an idiot, Gillian Adams. Why didn’t you keep your mouth shut ?
    She sighed. Okay, scratch any help from Morgan. She’d fall back on her original plan. Get herself up to Winton in northern Queensland, hire a vehicle and drive to the Opalton fields. How hard could it be finding the right mine?
    Morgan balanced his weight on the edge of the desk, long legs stretched out in front of him. “Well, thanks for the warning. Anything else you need to share with me before you leave?”
    â€œI guess not.” Gili sighed, her heart heavy. This wasn’t how she’d wanted this encounter to go. “Just one thing. Despite what you may think of me, I’m glad I saw you again. If only to close the door on what happened all those years ago.”
    Morgan snorted. “Laying old ghosts, Gili? Given the way you walked out back then, I’m surprised that even worried you.”
    Damn him, he had to have the last word. Well, to hell with that. “You were the best almost-screw I’ve ever experienced. I must say your foreplay technique was quite…entertaining. I guess I wanted to see if you’d refined it in the intervening years.”
    She almost groaned as the words spewed out of her mouth, but it was too late to call them back. She hung her head for a second before staring him in the eyes. “I’m sorry, that was uncalled for.”
    She whirled, wrenched open the door and stepped outside. Too upset to bother closing the door behind her, she started down the corridor. Then she stopped, leaned against the wall and sucked in a shuddering breath. Moisture stung her eyes, one lone tear trickling over to run down her cheek. She rubbed it away with a shaking hand.
    God, why couldn’t she have kept her mouth shut? Gili sighed and ran her fingers lightly across her lips. She could still feel the imprint of Morgan’s mouth. Taste him on her tongue. She wanted more of the same, but it appeared Morgan wasn’t of like mind.
    She levered herself away from the wall and had taken the first step along the corridor when she heard a phone ring. Then Morgan’s voice wafted out through the open door of his office.
    â€œHi, Charlie. Yeah, it’s me. Everything alright up there?”
    She lifted her head and stared back at the office.
    â€œYeah, I’m leaving bright and early in the morning,” Morgan continued. “It’ll probably take me the better part of two, two and a half days, depending on the roads.”
    He paused a moment before going on. “Look, I’m fully aware this is time-sensitive, but we have a week before the full moon. I’ll have the opal back where it belongs before then.”
    Gili raised her eyebrows.