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‘You’ve got five on this morning?’ Jock rubbed his chin and smiled at her apologetically.

She glanced back down at the bookings. ‘Yep. Four couples, and then a guy on his own. All good.’

Ellie was pinning the schedule to the board in the hangar office when Kane strode in, dressed in his khaki lodge shirt and cargo shorts. She pressed the last pin hard to control the pleasant tremble that ran through her.

Friends.

He walked into the office with a smile and put his hands on her shoulders. The warmth of his fingers burned through the thick cotton of her shirt. He swooped down with a grin and kissed her briefly, and Ellie couldn’t help the smile that tugged at her own lips.

Okay, maybe more. The feeling fluttered to her lower belly and legs.

‘Sleep well?’ His voice was bright and she knew he was feeling the same buzz as she was.

She nodded.

‘How’s Heather this morning?’

‘Still asleep when I left. I’ll check on her later. I asked her to let me know when she goes to the medical centre.’

‘I called them. They wouldn’t tell me how Bill was but they did let me speak to him. He’s still insisting on going to Darwin today.’ Kane nodded at the flight schedule on the wall. ‘Busy morning ahead?’

Ellie glanced up at the schedule and nodded. ‘Not too bad. Two flights back-to-back and then I’ll have a break and go and see if Heather’s okay, before the last three.’

Kane brought his hands back to her shoulders and laughed when Ellie jumped. ‘Sorry, I could get addicted to having my hands on you.’

Her laugh was self-conscious. ‘It’s new to me.’

He inclined his head to the list on the board. ‘You okay to take that many flights up?’

‘Pfft. I’m used to it. You’ll be earning your pay in a few weeks.’ She realised what she’d said. ‘I mean, you’ll be checking the two machines ten times a day.’

The first couple had booked the short scenic flight over Ubirr Rock in the South Alligator region.

As well as being the highlight of a scenic flight, guided ground tours wound through the low scrub to the rock. The Aboriginal rock art gallery was protected and wonderful to experience, but for Ellie there was nothing to equal swooping over the river and the wetlands up to the high escarpment and then back to Ubirr Rock. It was one of her favourite flights and the tourists always enjoyed the experience. The traditional owners managed it jointly with the Territory government; it was another committee that Bill was on. Ellie frowned as she worried about what had happened last night, but the ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ and questions from the passengers kept her focused on the flight. Gradually a feeling of contentment filled her; it was the most settled she had felt for a long time. Knowing that Kane would be waiting when she brought the helicopter down added to her good mood.

After they had done the circuit, Ellie turned the chopper back towards Makowa Lodge. She took the eastern flight path, deciding to avoid flying over the old farm.

The next flight took her to the south of the park, and the early morning passed quickly. Ellie took a break before the next flight that was booked in for ten o’clock. She secured the bird – there was no sign of Kane – and headed back to her apartment, picking up two coffees from the bistro on the way.

Heather was sitting in the sun on the verandah. ‘I was just about to text you. You don’t mind if I borrow your car and drive into Jabiru to pick up Dad?’

‘That’s why I left my keys out for you. Is he ready to come home?’

‘Yeah. He’ll be ready in an hour. I’m sorry I snapped at you last night.’

‘No problem. Did he say anything else on the phone?’ Ellie probed gently.

‘Just that he’s ready to come home as soon as the doctor checks on him again.’ Heather pulled a face. ‘You know for a while I thought he’d gone back to his old habits.’

‘He gave us a scare, that’s for sure. What time do you start work?’

Heather glanced down at the phone in her hand. ‘I’m at the crèche from one-thirty, so I’ll have time to pick up Dad and bring your car back. He’s got to go straight to Darwin for a meeting.’

‘Will he be okay to drive?’

Heather shrugged. ‘You know what Dad’s like. Can’t be told anything.’ She shot Ellie a nervous smile. ‘Thanks for the bed, Els. I hope me being here didn’t . . . er . . . cramp your style.’

Ellie pulled a face at her. ‘No style to worry yourself about. Kane and I are just friends.’ She rolled back the cuffs of her long-sleeved shirt; the morning sun was hot. ‘He’s a nice guy, now that he’s got over trying to show his testosterone and establish his place in the pecking order.’