“Of course I do.”
Rosemary chose that particular time to inspect what Lawson was doing. Then he spoke to her, “He talks to you all the time, doesn’t he?” She wagged her tail and smiled at him in response, and he tousled the fur on her forehead. “I bet you have him wrapped around your little finger,” he went on to say to her. “If you had a finger, that is.”
“Are you done?” I asked, when the truth was, I could watch him talk to her all day long. I walked over to them with the laptop satchel. “I’m not wrapped around her little finger. I would say I don’t spoil her, but I’d be lying. She’s my best mate. Of course, I spoil her.”
Lawson looked at me then, an amused smirk on his face. “If you didn’t, I wouldn’t be here. Well actually, that’s not correct. I’d be here, but you wouldn’t be with me.”
I scoffed. “Is that right?”
“Yes. What makes you think yours was the only test upon my meeting her?” He raised a daring eyebrow at me. “If I’d have gone to your house and met your dog and it was apparent she was maltreated, I’d have walked away, right there and then, without another word.”
Well, I’ll be. “So I passed your test?”
He fought a smile now. “With flying colours.”
I grinned, then walked over to stand right in front of him. “We might both be technically at work right now, but would you be opposed to me kissing you?”
Something flashed in his eyes like humour, or a challenge. Possibly both. “I’m not opposed. Actually, I rather like it that you asked permission.”
I leaned down until my lips barely touched his. “I rather like that you like it.” I kissed him then, with open lips and I tilted my head enough to make it playful and perfect. I pulled away, and his eyes slowly opened to reveal a dazed look.
“I rather like it a whole lot more when you don’t stop kissing me,” he said.
I chuckled. “If I keep going, then I’ll keep going, if you know what I mean.”
“Oh.”
“And I need to keep some secrets hidden for Date Number Three. I’m going for a hat-trick.”
He licked his bottom lip and took a small step back, clearly needing some distance. “I’m sure it’ll be perfect. No matter what you decide.”
The truth was, I hadn’t decided what I was doing for dinner. I had no clue yet. “So, work. We better get started or dinner tonight will be eggs on toast.”
He opened the first tub and took out his maps. “I like eggs, just so you know. I can eat the finest dining at black-tie galas, but I’m equally happy with eggs on toast. It’s the company that matters.”
I was grateful he was distracted by his maps so he couldn’t see the goofy smile I’m sure I was aiming at him. “Right, then.” I heaved my satchel up on my shoulder. “Work. What are you doing first?”
“Well,” he answered, holding the unfolded map out and changing his stance to face north. “I’m going to do a very basic grid formation. I won’t be heading any further than two hundred metres in any direction.” He then concentrated on his iPad, showing the same map as the paper one at his feet, the same maps we’d dissected last night. He wrote something on the screen, then started to take readings of temperature and barometric pressures or whatever it was he was doing. He was so engrossed in his work, I thought it best to leave him to it.
“Right, then, we’ll just be here. Rosemary,” I called to my dog. She was sniffing at something thirty-odd metres away, but she was quick to come back when I called her. I told her to lie down under the shade of the Defender, and soon enough she was happily snoozing.
I took photographs of the track we’d driven on, good for condition reports and records. I took soil samples, checking for moisture content. I’d have preferred an auger, but doing it by hand was cathartic. I loved being outdoors, getting my hands dirty, and doing hard, physical work was rewarding. It was hot, and I had worked up a sweat by the time Lawson came back.
“Looks hard,” he said, nodding to the hole I was working on. “The ground, I mean.”
“It is. We need rain badly.”
“Yes, I’m still surprised Tasmania is this dry.” He wiped his forehead with the back of his hand. “I understand the entire state isn’t prone to high rainfall, but even farmlands in this area which would be typically lush have browned off. Underfoot is very dry.”
I nodded. “Department of Meteorology says we should get rain next week. Not that it’ll be drought-breaking, but we’ll take anything we can get.” I noticed then he was still holding his iPad. “How’d you go? Find anything promising?”
He shook his head. “Not yet. I’ve covered the northeast areas of what we marked out last night. I’ll start on the south and west now.”
“Need me to help you?”
He gave me a small, thankful smile. “It’s fine. It won’t take me long, and I’d hate to take you from your hole digging.”
I snorted at that. “Soil testing for moisture content, thank you very much.”
His smirk in response told me he was only joking. “I’d like to assess a second area after I’m done here. Is that okay with you, or do you need more time here?”
“I’m right to go whenever,” I said. “I also packed us a lunch, so just give a holler when you’re hungry.”
“Oh.” He seemed taken aback. “Thank you. That was most thoughtful.”
“I try.”
“Lunch and dinner,” he mused. “I’ll have to think of ways to repay you.”
I raised an eyebrow at him. “While I can think of a few things,” I hinted, “I don’t actually expect anything in return.” I gave our surroundings a quick glance. “This isn’t exactly a horrible way to spend my day.”
He smiled, and his eyes never left mine. His gaze was intense and somehow playful. “I preferred my suggestion of repayment, but if digging holes does it for you, then I’ll keep my suggestions to myself.” He turned and walked away, heading toward the line of trees to the south of us.
“I like suggestions!” I called out after him. “You can repay me however you see fit!”
He turned to give me a smile but kept walking. I sighed, resting on my shovel. Damn. He was just getting more and more perfect.
And it was getting more and more hot. Another half an hour of digging baked earth had me a sweating mess, so I took off my shirt. I wiped my face down with it and tucked it into the back of my pants. I was finished digging and was lying down on my stomach, scooping out a sample of soil at 400mm for collection, when someone cleared their throat.
I looked up to find Lawson standing, watching me. And from what I could tell, he liked what he saw. “I got hot,” I explained.
He swallowed hard. “I would argue the fact you were hot before the temperature rose. But I won’t lie, you shirtless and lying down in the dirt does improve the aesthetics.”
I laughed, and putting my hands on the ground near my shoulders, I jumped to my feet. “Is that so?”