Inherit the Sky (Lang Downs 1 ) (22 page)

“Yes,” Macklin said. “Kami was already cooking here when I arrived. I don’t know his whole story, but from what I’ve pieced together, Michael took him in much the same way he took me in, about ten years before I arrived at Lang Downs.Why do you ask?”
“Just something he said, that’s all,” Caine replied, not wanting to say too much. “It made me wonder what he knew. He also said Uncle Michael would have been proud of me.”
“He’s right,” Macklin agreed. “I didn’t think you’d make it a week, much less months. I expected you to give up before you had a chance to toughen up. I was wrong. We’ll make a grazier out of you yet.”
Caine smiled. “I know I’ll never be as comfortable with it as someone like you or Jason who grew up with it, but I want this to work. I want the people of Lang Downs to be proud of me.”
“We are,” Macklin assured him. “You won me over, and I was determined to keep my distance.”
“You just want to fuck me,” Caine teased.
Macklin’s breath hissed out at the provocative words. “Not saying I don’t, but that alone wouldn’t have been enough to change my mind,” Macklin insisted after a moment. “There have been plenty of goodlooking jackaroos coming through the station over the years, and I never acted on any of that. Your appearance wouldn’t have swayed me if you’d been a different caliber of man.”
Caine’s heart melted a little at the words. “I’m glad. You are going to fuck me, though, right?”
“Right here in the ute if you don’t stop pushing me,” Macklin threatened.
“Is that supposed to discourage me?” Caine asked with a grin.
“Yes, because there’s not enough space to do it properly.”
“I’m sure you know where the closest drover’s hut is,” Caine said.
“Of course I do, but that’s hardly any better. Narrow bunks and no heat,” Macklin retorted. “Behave yourself until we get to Boorowa, and then we can discuss what we will and will not be doing to each other tonight and tomorrow morning.”

“Or we could discuss it while we drive and then do it when we get to the hotel,” Caine suggested optimistically.
“If we discuss it, we won’t be driving for long,” Macklin said. “Tell me where we are with the organic certification.”
They spent the rest of the drive discussing the ins and outs of beginning the process of organic certification. By the time they hit the main road, they had worked out the remaining details. It would take another month or two to finish putting everything in place, but Caine was hopeful they could begin the certification process in the spring.
They spent the final hour talking about what Caine could expect on the station over the winter. He was a little concerned that the weather had gotten cold earlier than usual, but they would deal with whatever happened as best they could.
“So what’s first on our agenda?” Caine asked when they reached the outskirts of Boorowa.
“We let Paul know we’re in town so he can put together our order for pick-up tomorrow,” Macklin said. “Then we check in to the hotel so we have our rooms for tonight, and then we can think about dinner.”
“Rooms?” Caine said. “Do we need more than one?”
“Only if you want one of your own.”
“After last night, do you really have to ask that?”
“Yes, I do,” Macklin replied seriously. “I don’t want to assume I know what you’re thinking and end up arguing because of it. I know what I’d prefer, but you have a say in this as well.”
“We only need one room,” Caine said.
“Then we’ll check in to our room and then think about dinner,” Macklin amended. “But one room or two, we have to talk to Paul first. I faxed him a list a week ago, but I didn’t have the definite date we’d be picking things up, especially since always before, I’ve gone to Sydney for a week before picking up the supplies.”
“We’ll take a trip to Sydney,” Caine promised, “but because we want a week in the city rather than because we need to hide what we’re doing.I’ve always wanted to see a performance at the Opera House.”
“You’re an opera fan?” Macklin asked as he parked the truck.

“Not especially, but I’ve heard such amazing things about it that it seems like it would be worth it.”
They went inside the store, Macklin calling out a greeting to Paul.
“Well, well, if it isn’t the blow-in,” Paul said when he saw them. “Ready to give up yet?”
“Absolutely not,” Caine said, “although I do have a few more things I need to buy while I’m here besides the supplies Macklin ordered.It’s colder than I expected up at the station.”
“I’ll have your supplies ready next week like usual then?” Paul asked Macklin.
“I’m not going to Sydney this year,” Macklin said. “Too much to do at Lang Downs. We’ll load up in the morning if you can have everything ready by then. The day after at the latest.”
“I can have them in the morning,” Paul said. “I’ve been putting the order together already to make sure I had everything you needed. Let me just take care of your blow-in and I’ll finish the rest.”
“My name is Caine,” Caine insisted.“Not blow-in.”
“Let me just take care of Caine, then,” Paul said, his voice betraying his surprise at Caine standing up to him that way.
“He needs long underwear,” Macklin said. “He’s freezing his arse off without them.”
“I’m sure we have something that will suit,” Paul said. “They’re over on the back wall.”
Caine found the area Paul indicated and selected several sets. He paid while Macklin discussed business with Paul, and then they were done and on the way to the Boorowa Hotel. The receptionist at the hotel didn’t blink an eye at them checking in with only one room, but Caine figured she thought they were simply sharing a room to save on expenses. Now that he knew Macklin better, he would have suggested it even if he didn’t have hopes for the evening, so she wasn’t completely off base.
They left their bags in the room and went back to the hotel restaurant for dinner. As much as Caine wanted Macklin naked in that bed, his stomach was demanding dinner. If they ate first, they wouldn’t have to worry about interruptions later.

C
AINEcouldn’t have said later what he ate or what they talked about. He went through the meal on autopilot, his whole body buzzing in anticipation of the night to come. If Macklin shared Caine’s nerves, it didn’t show, but then Macklin rarely let anything peek out from behind the stoic mask he wore. It made the rare glimpses of emotion that much more precious.

By the time dinner was over and they headed back to their room on the second floor of the hotel, Caine was practically vibrating with his need to hurry. Only the necessity for discretion kept him from grabbing Macklin’s hand and dragging him up the stairs. The moment the door closed behind them, he threw himself in the other man’s arms, diving into a reckless kiss designed to drive them both wild as quickly as possible.

Macklin returned it willingly, but after several long moments, he lifted his head. “Slow down a bit, pup. We have all night. You have some promises to keep.”

“I think you said something about showing me what I’d been missing,” Macklin said. “I don’t really know what that means, but I’d sure like to find out.”

Caine swallowed hard, remembering his promise from the night in the drover’s hut when he’d realized how little experience Macklin had with anything except fucking. “T-t-take off your sh-sh-shirt.”

Macklin unbuttoned his work shirt and tossed it on the chair before pulling his undershirt off. He turned back to Caine, waiting in tense silence. Caine took a moment to appreciate the sight in front of him. Macklin’s face might hint at his age with the lines around his eyes and the weathered skin, but he had the body of a much younger man, his shoulders broad and strong from a life spent working, his waist trim, the entire ensemble covered in hard muscle and a fine dusting of hair, enough for Caine to run his fingers through without crossing the line to hirsute.