Gemma had met her father twice, once when shed barged into his office on her twelfth birthday and the other on the day shed turned eighteen, when shed demanded he pay for her university tuition at University College in Dublin. He had his own family, including a wife not ten years older than Gemma, so he had sent her away with a promise. He would pay if shed never approach him again.
But throughout her childhood, Gemma had dreamed of someday being part of that family, of living in a posh house, of having servants to wait on her, of never having to worry about whether they could afford to pay the rent that month. And the emerald had come to represent that dream, something precious and beautiful.
Finding the Emerald of Eire was her chance to claim her birthright. Whether it fixed things with the Parnells or she just threw it in her fathers face, it would prove that she had Parnell blood running through her veins, even though it had been tainted by the Irish of the Moynihans.
So shed gone to university, thanks to the Parnell scholarship. Gemma had focused her studies on medieval Irish history and after receiving her doctorate, shed been offered a teaching position. One day, last year, while researching an article on medieval prisons, shed decided to see if there was any truth to the family legend. To her astonishment, everything her mother had told her was therethe emerald, the theft, the trial of the pickpocket, Crevan Quinn.
Yes, there had been an Emerald of Eire, a 72-carat jewel that Stanton Parnell had bought in Europe to give to his young bride. Hed been carrying it in his coat pocket on the streets of Dublin in February of 1848 when a local pickpocket had stolen it. Though Crevan Quinn had been tried and later shipped off to Australia for his crime, the jewel had never been recovered.
Even now, she imagined the headlines in the papers, the proof in black and white that Gemma Moynihan, illegitimate daughter of David Parnell, was an heir to the Parnell millions. Though her mother refused to ask for a DNA test, the emerald would be Gemmas bargaining chip. If they wanted it back, then David would have to acknowledge her as his daughter.
Shed completed her research in six months and was armed with a list of leads, all of which led her to Australia and the descendants of Crevan Quinn. One didnt possess a jewel like that without either selling it or passing it down as an heirloom. And since an emerald that size would have caused some notice had it been sold, it was probably still in the Quinns possession.
Can you hold these?
Gemma brushed a strand of hair out of her eyes, startled back to reality by the strangers voice. He handed her the nuts. That was quick. I dont think Id ever have been able to get those off on my own. II hope Im not keeping you from anything, she said.
Nothing important. He stood and wiped his hands on his jeans, then walked to the tailgate to retrieve the spare. You should get the tire repaired straight away. You dont want to get stranded out here again without a spare. He shoved the spare onto the bolts and she handed him the nuts, one by one.
Good advice, she murmured.
Youre from Ireland. He looked at her again, this time with a rather odd expression. Are you here for a visit?
It was the closest theyd come to a two-sided conversation and Gemma jumped at the chance. She was known to be quite charming, with a ready wit. But she hadnt had a chance to prove herself with this man. I am. Im staying out at Kerry Creek Station. Do you know it?
She saw his shoulders stiffen. Is that where youre headed now?
She nodded. And you? Do you live out here or in town?
He pointed off toward the west. Right out there, beyond the black stump. In the back of nowhere.
Well, if she wanted to find him, it wasnt going to be easy with those directions. Was the black stump a local landmark, or just another Aussie saying? For such a gorgeous man, he was impossible to flirt with.
Gemma stared down at his back as he let the car down with the jack, fascinated by the way his dark hair curled around his collar and his muscles flexed beneath the fabric of his shirt. Her fingers twitched as she fought the urge to touch him again. She held her breath in an effort to focus her mind.
When hed finished, he bolted the flat to the rack on the tailgate and tossed the jack inside. There you go, he said, wiping his hands on his jeans. Good as new. Or almost.
You must let me pay you, Gemma insisted. Or let me treat you to lunch. Theres a lovely coffee shop in town. They make the best meat pies.
No, thank you, he said. Im happy to oblige, miss. He hesitated and she was certain he was about to change his mind, but then he moved toward his truck. Gday, miss. Drive safe. He gave her a quick tip of his hat and walked away. She watched as he hopped inside, then slowly backed the truck out of the gully and onto the road. As he drove off toward town, Gemma stared after him.
She pressed her hand to her chest, her heart beating furiously beneath her fingertips. Idiot, she muttered. Shed made a botch of that. All the other men shed met here in Australia had seemed to like her. He was probably involved, or married. Or not attracted to her in the least. Maybe Australian men didnt fancy pale Irish girls with red hair and small breasts.
Besides, not all white knights were supposed to fall in love with their damsels in distress. It was a historical fact. Once she got back to Dublin, shed research it thoroughly and write a paper. Gemma smiled to herself. Whenever she found herself faced with a dilemma, it always helped to put it in historical context.
I SAID I WAS SORRY.
Cal stared at the toes of his boots as his brother apologized. Though he knew he ought to kick Brodys arse for his behavior, he was tired of being his brothers keeper. If Brody wanted to stuff up his life, then that was his choice. Cal was much more interested in thinking about the woman hed met on the road.
Gemma Moynihan. When Mary had mentioned her, hed assumed the genealogist would be older, a granny sort with gray hair and glasses. Instead, she was stunningly beautiful, with flawless skin and a riot of auburn hair that fell in waves around her face. Though she looked quite young, Cal guessed she was probably about his age, give or take a few years on either side.
From the moment he heard her speak, in that lilting Irish accent, Cal had wondered if she was the one. And when he learned her name, he thought of introducing himself right then and there. But shed already left him tongue-tied and he didnt want to make a fool of himself right off. He needed time to gather his wits about him.
It had taken him the entire ride into town to calm his racing pulse and consider what their encounter had meant. Though hed maintained his calm while speaking to her, it had taken a tremendous effort not to stare at her, to analyze her every word and to fantasize about what shed look like naked.
He rubbed his hands together, remembering the feel of her silken skin beneath his fingertips. Would he have another chance with her? Or would things change when she found out who he really was? Suddenly, he wanted to get out of Bilbarra and return to the station to find out.
Youre turning into a fair wanker, you are, Cal muttered. You could find something better to do with yourself. Like lending a hand on the station. We could use your help mustering now that Teagues practice is starting to take off. Hes been taking calls almost every day. And when hes home, he spends his time doing paperwork.
I havent decided what Im going to do, Brody replied. But it bloody well doesnt include stockmans work. Now, can I have my keys? Ive got some place to go.
Cal reached in his jacket pocket for the spare key to his brothers Land Rover. Buddy doesnt want you back at the Spotted Dog. Youre going to have to find yourself another place to get pissed. Or you could give up the coldies. It would save you some money. Cal patted his brother on the shoulder. Im sorry things didnt turn out the way you wanted them to. Sometimes life is just crap. But you pick yourself up and you get on with it. And you stop being such a dickhead.
Brody gave his brother a shove, then stood up. Give it a rest. If I needed a mother, Id move back to Sydney and live with the one I already have.
Brody snatched his keys from Cals hand, then jogged down the front steps and out into the dusty street. Ill catch you later.
Cal watched him stride toward the Spotted Dog. He heard the screen door of the police station creak and Angus Embley, the town police chief, stepped outside.
How much trouble did he make? Cal asked.
Nothing too serious. Just a broken mirror.
Well, if he cant drink at the Spotted Dog, hes going to have to drive halfway to Brisbane to find another pub.
Give the boy a break, Cal, Angus said. Its got to be an adjustment coming back here after all that time away.
Cal slowly stood and adjusted the brim of his hat. Thanks for taking him in, Angus. I dont like the thought of him driving back to the station when hes pissed. Its good to know he has a place to sleep it off.
No worries, Angus said with a nod.
Cal walked back to his ute and jumped inside. Though he had Marys grocery list in his pocket and orders to stop for the mail and her library books, he was tempted to head right back to Kerry Creek.
It felt odd to be preoccupied with thoughts of a woman. Running a successful cattle station usually consumed all his attention. But there were times when Cal worried needlessly over business because there was nothing else in his life to think about. The genealogist was worth additional consideration.
He steered the ute towards the post office. Many of the outback stations got their mail by plane, but Teague and Brody spent enough time in town that they usually picked it up and brought it home, saving the mail plane a trip.
He grabbed a stack of letters from Mel Callahan, the seventy-five-year-old clerk, then returned to his ute. But one of the envelopes caught his eye and he stopped to open it. You have been matched with three lovely mates, he murmured, reading the note inside. He flipped through the three photos, then continued reading. To learn more, visit their profiles on the Outback-Mates Web site.
He looked at the three candidates again, studying them carefully. There wasnt one who came close to Gemma Moynihans beauty, though they were all quite pretty by anyones standards. But there was something about the Irish girl he found compelling, something that made him want to get to know her a lot betterand more intimately.
Sorry, ladies. Cal jumped back into the pickup, then opened the glove box and shoved the envelope inside. For now, he was taking himself off the menu. As long as Gemma was staying at Kerry Creek, hed focus his modest charms on her. After all, what did he have to lose? She was beautiful, intriguing and close at hand, three qualities that he found irresistible.
Cal reached for the key, then stopped. What if he fell in love with her? Still, that wasnt likely. Hed never been in love before, so he probably wouldnt know it if it dropped out of the sky and hit him on the noggin. But he did know about lust. And his feelings for Gemma were definitely of the lustful variety.
After she left Kerry Creek, hed get back to his search for a wife. Cal pulled out onto the street and headed out of Bilbarra toward the station, the groceries forgotten. Unfortunately, the ride dragged on forever. Hed covered the distance between the station and town so many times it had become second nature. He knew all the landmarks and could probably find his way home blindfolded. But now that he had something important to do, every kilometer passed at a grindingly slow pace.
By the time he pulled into the yard, Cal figured he was about an hour behind Gemma. It was nearly time for lunch and if he was lucky, hed find her sitting at the kitchen table with Mary. He took the steps two at a time and pulled the screen door open. But the kitchen was empty.
A huge pot of mutton stew bubbled on the stove and Mary had freshly baked bread to go with it. Cal decided to use the extra time to clean up. He hung his hat on the peg, then strode through the house to the stairs. He met Mary coming down.
Oh, wonderful. Youre back. Im almost out of coffee and I need yeast to
I didnt get supplies, Cal said. Sorry. Well call Teague. He can pick them up when hes in town today. Where is Gemma Moynihan?
Mary gave him an odd look. Shes in the bunkhouse unpacking her things. She drove into town at dawn to get them. She said she had a flat tire on her way back to the station but some bloke stopped and changed it for her.
Yes. That was me, he said.
So you met her? Mary asked.
Not properly. Why didnt you tell me she wasyou know.
Young?
Pretty, he said.
I thought youd find out soon enough.
Did you invite her to lunch? Cal asked.
I told her Id take her out something to eat after the boys were fed.
Leave that to me, he said. Im just going to change and Ill be right down.
He ran up the stairs and into his room, stripping off his shirt along the way. Though hed taken a shower before breakfast, he figured another wouldnt hurt. The road had been dusty and his hair was sticking up all willy-nilly. He only had one chance to make a first impressionor a second impression.
He managed a shower in less than five minutes, then grabbed a towel for his wet hair. Luckily, hed taken the time to shave off three days of stubble that morning. A splash of cologne was probably overkill, so he set the bottle back on the shelf.
Cal stepped into the hallway, rubbing his head with the towel until his hair was barely damp. But when he pulled the towel away, he found Gemma standing next to the linen closet, a blanket clutched to her chest, her eyes wide. A tiny cry of surprise slipped from her lips as the blanket dropped to the floor.
They both bent to pick it up, Cal getting to it first. He held it out to her as he rose. Gemma straightened, her gaze drifting along his naked body. He struggled to wrap the towel around his waist, but with only one hand, it was impossible to do. It seemed like an eternity before she took the blanket from him.
A long embarrassed silence followed as he tried to come up with a clever line. Of all the scenarios hed gone over in his mind, this was not the way hed intended their first meeting to gohim starkers and her all fascinated with his bits and pieces. Cal swallowed hard, realizing there was only one thing to say. Hello, he said.
Her gaze quickly returned to his face and a pretty blush stained her cheeks. Wha-what are you doing here?
I live here, he said. Though this wasnt exactly the way he wanted it to go, hed have to make the best of it. Im Callum Quinn. Cal.