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‘As directed?’

‘You got it. Read your contract, did you?’

‘Well, as long as I don’t have to do childcare duties, I suppose I can cope.’

Ellie couldn’t help the bubble of laughter escaping her lips. ‘I think that’s the first thing we’ve agreed on today.’

Kane looked across at the narrow alley that led to the steps up to the staff apartments. ‘Where should I park my Jeep?’

‘You can bring it round the back if you’ve got a lot of gear to unload, but then you’ll have to park it down behind the kitchens when you’re finished.’ Ellie pointed in the direction of the restaurant. ‘Or in the main car park up the front. I’ll show you where to put it after I show you where your apartment is.’

‘Thanks. I haven’t got much to unload.’ He stepped to the left and walked along beside her. ‘I travel light.’

Yup, a fly-by-nighter for sure. Well, Heather didn’t mind if they came and went. Ellie pushed away the thought.

‘Just as well, because the staff digs are nothing flash. Just the basics. Most staff choose to live off site. But I’ve lived at the lodge since I started work here.’

‘How come?’

‘It suits me.’ The gravel scrunching beneath their feet on the path was the only sound until they reached the staff quarters at the eastern edge of the complex.

‘The kitchen car park’s down that way.’ When Ellie lifted her arm and pointed, the sensor light came on with a sharp click, bathing them in sudden bright light, and her breath came out in a soft oomph when Kane shoved her behind him in one swift movement. He faced out to the path, peering intently into the darkness and shielding her with his body. Her face was pushed against his back and she couldn’t see a thing.

‘What the fuck are you doing?’ Ellie shoved him hard but it was like pushing into a brick wall.

Kane fell back. ‘I’m sorry. I thought that noise was . . . something else.’ The bright light illuminated his face and there was something in his expression that Ellie hadn’t seen there before. It was as though he was looking right through her.

‘What? Don’t worry, there are no crocs this far from the river, and the fence keeps the dingoes out.’

‘Forget it. I was wrong.’ He held her gaze, his eyes unsmiling. ‘It won’t happen again. I’ll go get my car.’

*

By the time Kane reached the top car park, he’d calmed down and his heart had stopped racing. Christ, one small sound and he’d grabbed her. A bloody security light had clicked on and he’d thought it was a sniper.

He got into his Jeep and drove down to the car park Ellie had pointed out, thinking about how to explain it to her.

The psychologist had warned him this might happen. He’d dismissed it, refusing to admit that he might succumb to post-traumatic stress disorder. Kane disagreed with all that psycho mumbo-jumbo bullshit. It was a weakness he didn’t accept; he was stronger than that.

It was mind over matter, that’s all it took.

Move on. Get over it. Life goes on.

Getting in the helicopter this afternoon had been bloody hard. But he’d done it, so he supposed that was one achievement he could tick off the list on the way to getting his life back to normal. All he needed now was a shower to wash away his stress.

He stopped behind the kitchen, hefted his kit bag to his shoulder and walked slowly up the steps to the verandah. Ellie’s eyes were narrowed as she looked over at his car.

‘That’s your Jeep? That was you this afternoon?’ she asked when he reached the top step.

Shit, what now?

‘Out at the old mango farm on the Arnhem Highway. It was you, wasn’t it?’

‘Why? Is there a problem?’

She turned her head back to stare at him and her expression was decidedly unfriendly. ‘You sprayed me – and my car – with gravel when you roared out of the gate like a boy racer.’ Her voice was icy, and it matched her eyes. They regarded him unblinkingly, as cold as flint. ‘What were you doing there anyway?’

‘None of your business. Wait a minute. That was you parked by the gate?’ Now her hands were on her hips and her chin had lifted. ‘What were you doing there?’ he said.