She sighed, gazing at Stone, the handsome pilot with an empathetic soul, who cared about people—he just didn’t like them to see that.
There was more to Stone than he let on.
‘You may have made me sign that NDA, but I wouldn’t have needed it.I wouldn’t have used the poor Rowntree’s situation of stolen stock to sensationalise it into a film like Julian would have.Like most journalists would have… But I am not a journalist, and I don’t create films about people.I do documentaries where Mother Nature is the star of the show, and I follow her lead.’Where it was a dynamic world filled with wonder, she never got tired of watching.
Stone looked at her differently, in a way that was both unnerving and hypnotic.‘If you say you’ve learned your lesson, then why are you holding back from producing a film your way?’
Twenty-four
Stone’s heart fell for Romy in a way it shouldn’t.But she looked so miserable, it made his heart bottom out to roll along the deck, dragging him down with her.
Which wasn’t hard when he’d been in a foul mood, ever since the croc attack at Chook’s place.
He should never have put Romy at risk like that.
Yet, he had no right to tell her what to do.Whether Romy made a film or not was none of his business.There was nothing in it for him, certainly no financial gain—yet lately, he’d been investing a lot of himself in her ideas.
At least she had put the privacy issue to bed.Or had she?
How was Romy going to react once she found out who he was?
It’s why he’d been testing her, hoping to push her away, and dodge this entire conversation.Yet, he couldn’t bring himself to just get up and walk away.
‘What’s your excuse?’Romy glared at him over her wineglass.He’d obviously pushed her buttons.And hard.
‘For what?Eating red meat over white?Drinking this brand of beer instead of another?’
‘You know what I mean.’
‘No.I’m not a mind-reader, shortcake.’
Again, she frowned.
‘Careful, the wind will change, and that frown will become permanent.Sorry to tell you this, but yourI-hate-Stonescowlis not a good look for you.’
‘Be serious for a second.’Her stern tone echoed around the garden.
‘Careful, we have some delicate wildlife here.’Stone pointed his beer at the turtle at his feet.
‘I’m sorry, Finley, it’s just your owner doesn’t play fair.He asks, talks, tells, but when it comes to his own story, he doesn’t share.’
‘I do.’
‘No, you don’t.You’ll tell Finley’s story, the boys’ story, but never your story.’
‘There’s not much to tell.’Because he liked it being private.
‘But I bet there is…’ She aimed her wineglass at him.
Stone sat back, unsure if she was going to throw it at him or drink it.
‘Fine, if I must…’ She slapped her hand over her heart and said, ‘I swear on my parents’ life—who are the best people on the planet—that I won’t discuss anything with anyone, except Finley and the other house pets, about whatever story you want to share.I can keep secrets.’
‘Did you call your mother?’
‘Yeah.She wants photos of our adventures.’She grinned behind her glass, only to frown.‘Stop that.’
‘What?I did nothing.’It was a struggle to not grin at her cute little frown.
