Graham stood up, turned in a circle, and flopped down. Jack chuckled, watching as his pet settled to sleep again in seconds. At least he didn’t feel quite so alone with Graham to talk to.
He made fresh coffee and was sitting out on the decking one minute before Ava was due to call. Even then the phone made him jump when it rang.
‘Hey, you,’ he said, a lazy smile appearing.
‘Hey, you,’ Ava replied. ‘Had a good day?’
‘Not too bad. I’ve met with a few contractors who started work today. They’ll be here for the next month or so. They seem a nice bunch.’
‘Sounds great. I can’t wait to see it all finished.’
‘How about you? Mum sends her love. She says she’s already got used to seeing you most days that it seems strange without you.’
‘Aw, that’s so nice. Tell her hi from me. Oh, no, wait, I’ll tell her myself.’
‘What?’ The doorbell went, and Graham started to bark. ‘Hang on a minute, there’s someone at the door. Graham, calm down, lad.’
‘I hope you don’t have a fancy woman in there with you, Jack Broadhurst.’
‘What?’ Jack’s brow furrowed.
‘I need my Jack time.’
He opened the door and gasped. Now it all made sense.
Ava was standing there, a large holdall over her shoulder and a suitcase at her feet.
Ava disconnected her phone and popped it in her pocket, while an excited Graham jumped around her feet.
‘I wasn’t expecting you,’ Jack cried.
‘I know.’
‘It’s a wonderful surprise.’ Jack pointed to Ava’s luggage. ‘That’s a lot of spare pants for an overnight stay, though.’
‘I told Brendon where to shove his job today,’ she said. ‘I was going to ask you when I saw you on Friday if I could stay here with you, but the bull forced my hand. I’d like to move to Sapphire Lake if you and Graham will have me. That’s if you haven’t changed your mind since Sunday and you?—’
Ava had no chance to say anything else because Jack’s lips found hers. She kissed him back, breathing in the scent of him, wrapping her free arm around his neck.
‘Welcome home, Ava,’ Jack beamed. He picked up her suitcase, shooed Graham in, and they followed behind.
Ava sighed with content. Jack was right about one thing. She was definitely home.
CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN
One month later
Jack and Ava walked into the reception of Sapphire Hotel and found it a hive of people. Jack raised a hand and shared smiles with a few of them as they squeezed through, holding on to Ava’s with the other.
‘I didn’t expect so many to turn up,’ she whispered to him. ‘I thought it might be just locals.’
‘It seems word got out. I wonder how that happened?’
During the two weeks Ava had been back, everything had been set in motion to showcase the new project and get the local people involved. Ava had bumped up as much publicity as she could muster.
‘Jack!’ Stella waved from the far end of the bar. ‘Come on through. We’ve been waiting for you.’
‘We’re not late?’ Jack eyed Ava who shrugged.
