The Innimincka Affair Read online

  Cooper was not especially being quiet though. He was thinking, and he was especially thinking about the woman sitting next to him. ‘She is real class. Not just good looking - she is really really good looking.’ He could feel the aura of self confidence about her. He knew she would be very good at her job, and although she looked all soft and very … female, Cooper told himself he had better beware of this one. He found himself lost for how to best describer her to himself. He had been expecting some high-flying tootsie from a sharp New York or London office, all suit and tie, bobbed hair cut and sharp attitude to match her sharp gold nib one-off fountain pen. He had not been expecting this person, and that was for sure. He had been prepared to be polite, but firm and after some preliminary discussion in the security of his own homestead, send her on her way - but now? He was not sure he wanted to ever send this woman on her way. Which was crazy he knew, as he’d only just met her less than fifteen minutes ago.

  Rebecca settled back in the luxury of the leather upholstery and looked out of the window. She never tired of seeing new places. She never tired of meeting new people, and more like Cooper would be a real bonus, but they were few and far between.

  She knew from her pre-trip research that Cooper was not married, and had never been married. He was thirty three, just a few years up on her actually. There was no detail on his current... interests, but someone as good looking as he was would not be wanting for the company of good looking women. She closed her eyes as she lay back against the soft leather. The car was almost silent, the outside traffic noise just a soft shushing in the background. Rebecca was thinking of the soft smile of the man next to her. His strong brown arms and clear blue eyes. The almost neutral smell of him as she had stood oh so close to him in the airport. His lean hard body that seemed to stand like an Oak tree, immovable against her softness. What would he be like in bed? That firm butt emphasised the perfection of the man. Rebecca could feel his stomach muscles rippling under her fingers as she stroked her hand over his midriff, just brushing his leather belt. No fantastic over decorative belt buckle for this man. His didn't need to over state his presence. His upright confidence told all that needed to be told. She let out a soft breath as she saw her finger tips brushing the hardness of his thighs...

  Rebecca sprang upright in the seat, eyes blinking open in dismay and the seat belt cutting an unflattering line between her breasts.

  "Oh. I.. um, I.' She stuttered. Trying to turn to Cooper, she only succeeded in making the seat belt tighten against her. Her breasts were outlined in their perfect proportions, and Cooper was looking straight at them. How could he not? He flicked his eyes back to the road.

  "Arrh!" She almost yelled and snatched her hands to her lap to ease the seatbelt. She had dozed off for a second.

  "Sorry Cooper. I normally handle jet lag better than this." She didn't even believe the statement herself, but it was the best she had right now. If red was the colour of traffic lights, she would be able to stop whole lines of cars right now.

  Cooper reached over with his left hand and took her right hand.

  "Rebecca, don't worry yourself. The trip has been long and tiring. I know they always are, and skipping time zones is very trying. We need to get you to the hotel and rested. After a shower and a nice light meal, you will feel one hundred percent better."

  Coming from anyone else, Rebecca would have been alert on the instant. But no, this man meant what he said. She would shower, eat and sleep, while he went to his own rooms. Dam. Did he have to? She knew it was for the best, and there was a lot of work to do. Somehow she had to convince this man that her plans - well, the plans of her client, were the plans he should follow. Never mind what he wanted. For the first time in years, Rebecca felt unsure of her mission.

  There was the problem. With a capital P for Problem. One look at this man and you could see that he would never, ever, do what others wanted if it went against his grain, and Rebecca knew that he held onto the property he had because it had been in his family for generations. He was the last heir to a vast cattle property that in any other context would have been called a country. It was all his. No holding companies, no management companies. He lived on the property, in the grand homestead, and he ran it with seeming ease. There were hard men working in the Australian outback, and underneath that smiling exterior sitting next to her she knew lurked a man of iron will. He would have needed it, or the property would have been split up or failed years ago. He was very well educated, with a university degree under his belt, and wealthy beyond the dreams of most men his age. What was it that kept him out there in the lonely central regions of Australia, where the country was really mostly desert? Rebecca vowed to keep this in mind. He was 'oh so nice', but she remembered the old adage. Still waters run deep.

  The car rolled to a stop outside the hotel doors, and the concierge hurried to open the door on Coopers side. Cooper asked him politely to help the lady first, and amid a flurry of apologies the man hurried around the rear of the car to her side and opened her door. Cooper popped the lid of the trunk so the bags could be retrieved. The bell boys handled Rebecca's small suitcase and carry-on easily. She had kept her laptop with her. Rebecca liked to travel light, and this was her limit. She always travelled first class, so baggage limits on flights were no problem, but it was just so difficult to manage more than one suitcase when travelling alone, so she always did travel light.

  Her clothes were all designer labels, but rather than the height of fashion they were more from the business wear end of the market. What ever she wore would look good on her, and she prided herself on looking good when she stepped from the aircraft, no matter how long the flight. Self awareness, confidence, posture, self-assurance, health, minimum makeup, these were all traits that had been instilled into her by her mother and father, and maintained throughout her college days, and were now just a normal core part of her. It had been a good investment, because when she walked into an office or restaurant, or a court room she turned every head. She had the same effect in hotel foyers. The concierge knew class when he saw it. This woman was of the finest and he hurried to escort her to reception. It took but a moment and her bags were whisked away to her room on the fourteenth floor. The formalities at the desk completed, Rebecca turned to look for Cooper. He was no where to be seen. She turned back to reception, noting that it was just after three pm, and she admitted to feeling a little bit jet-lagged. A freshen up would be nice.

  "Excuse me, but did you see where Mr Anders went? The gentleman with me a moment ago."

  The girl blinked and shook her head. "I'm sorry madam, I didn't notice." She said.

  "No matter. Thank you all the same."

  The concierge escorted her to the lift and indicated the fourteenth floor button.

  “Enjoy you stay with us madam. I set the lift to take you directly non-stop, for your convenience. Mr Anders has asked if you will join him in the Privé 249 restaurant and bar when you are rested." With that he withdrew, leaving her alone while the lift whisked her up to the fourteenth floor. A short walk took her along the hall to room four, one of the Superior Rooms. There were others on floors above, luxury rooms far in excess of her needs. This was a business trip of course, and she needed space to be in, rather than somewhere to simply enjoy the luxury for it's own sake.

  The rooms were lovely. Spacious, and with a sweeping view of the city. Entering the bedroom, she carefully slipped off her waist-coat and blouse and hung them in the wardrobe, the trousers followed next, letting them slip to the floor with a whisper of material. The long mirror on the door of the wardrobe showed her to full advantage, and she turned slowly in front of it, checking for blemishes that may have magically appeared during the flight. She smoothed her palms down over her full breasts and on down over her stomach, and smoothing around over her firm butt. She liked to wear a thong normally, but for travelling preferred her almost prim ‘cotton-tails’ as she called them.

  Rebecca enjoyed her body and was quietly pleased that she
was a beautiful woman. She knew she was, with that confidence that came from her inner core. She looked now at her shape, and wondered how it would fit against the solid shape of Cooper. It would be interesting to find out. Suddenly she unhooked her bra and snapped down her panties, tossing both onto the bed as she headed into the shower. The water gushed from a large shower head and fell in a torrent like tropical rain, washing down over her and washing away the tensions of the trip. She smiled as she imagined Cooper sharing the shower with her. What would he be like. Passionate, quick, too fast for her? Or slow and careful, able to bring her slowly to a climax. Well, perhaps she would get a chance to find out.

  Rebecca was a little surprised with herself, and her obvious reaction to the presence of Cooper. This had the promise of being a good trip. A pleasant interlude. A very presentable man to dally away the spare time with. The prospects of a good husband even.

  Rebecca stood bolt upright in the shower, and switched the control off, ending the water spay immediately. Where on Earth had that come from? A husband. Not on your sweet life. What was happening to her? She stood in front of the bathroom mirror, towelling herself dry a little over vigorously, and muttering.

  "What are you thinking of? That came right out of left field. The last thing I want in my life now is a husband. Got it?" She waved a finger at the reflection in the mirror. "Got it!" She repeated.

  She went back into the bedroom, and drew her clothes out of the suitcase and began to hang them in the wardrobe, and put the personal things in the side table draws. Her clothes required nothing more than a shake to have them looking like new. They were expensive clothes, and she expected no less from them. She slipped on a pair of her favourite briefs, a bright red rose over pale blue silk. Totally un-business like, but then she never expected she would have to display them at a board room table. The thought made her chuckle. Bra and blouse followed, and she slipped on a modest knee length evening skirt, dark green to match her eyes, and the little blue flowers sprinkled across her blouse. Top button undone? Maybe top two buttons.

  She was back on target. Not a husband, but a successful conclusion to her task was the mission.

  Chapter 2

  Cooper waited patiently in the lounge bar. There had been no real reason to meet with Rebecca, other than curiosity. He knew why she was here of course, and rather than have a room full of his own lawyers deal with her, he thought he would be much better off dealing with this issue directly. He had no intention of selling what was in effect his birth right, but he was interested in the sudden interest being shown by a foreign company. Cooper’s father had died after a long illness some years before, and his mother had died when he was a child. There were no siblings, so the property was entirely his. It was not only his birth right, but he loved it. He loved the wide open spaces, the hardness of the land, it's stark beauty. The quietness. On a cold winter night under the stars, when even the insects had been stilled, you could almost hear the earth turning. He had to admit to himself though, that he was growing a little tired of being on his own out there. So tinged with his interest in the foreign company, was the vague notion that it might be time to see what a busier world had to offer. A world with Rebecca in it perhaps? Perhaps put his university degree to some use. He had originally gone back to the property to help his father, but now he too was gone and Cooper had to admit to himself in his quieter moments that it all seemed a little directionless. He hadn’t even managed a girl friend for so long now he was wondering how he would manage one now, such was his unfamiliarity with the fairer sex. Familiar people in his life had slowly drifted away with their own lives to worry about, and his life was getting quieter and quieter.

  Rebecca entered the lounge, looking casually about for Cooper. She wanted to know what his plans were. She had her own ideas of how any business discussions should proceed, and didn't have the slightest intention of flying anywhere with anyone. Certainly not with Cooper Anders.

  "Rebecca." She heard her name spoken softly. Cooper stood next to an elegant table to one side of the entrance. "Would you care to join me?" He asked. Rebecca paused and gave him a long steady look and a nod before continuing past him and approaching the small bar. She took in his strong jawline and finely chiselled nose in a face, that while given a pleasant cast by his beautiful eyes, was none the less the face of a strong character. His skin was smooth and tanned. He didn't sport the latest fashion of a few days’ stubble growth. Rebecca was pleased about this, for one she thought it an affectation, and two - he didn't need to make any statements about his masculinity. His obvious confidence in himself as a man was all he needed. A slight smile crinkled the corners of his mouth.

  Rebecca had forgotten for a moment why she had gone directly to the bar. Cooper's good looks and animal magnetism, his underlying sexuality, had sent butterflies skittering through her stomach. She had never been so strongly, so physically attracted to a man before in her life, not since her lost love, and she hardly knew this man at all. She drew a deep breath and turned to the young woman behind the bar. "Could you pass me any messages to Rebecca Boucher, please. I'm expecting word from London at any time."

  "Certainly ma’am," the girl replied, and scribbled a note for the reception staff as well.

  Rebecca walked slowly back to the table where Cooper sat waiting for her. She took her time, moving very slowly. She wanted to take him in visually before she started talking to him. Up to now she hadn't had much chance, having been taken by surprise at the airport, and at that time still very much disoriented from the long flight. He had risen to his feet again, the perfect gentleman.

  "Cooper. You do realise that essentially we are not on the same side of this business arrangement?" Rebecca said.

  "Rebecca, please. Let's not talk business right now. Come, join me. Enjoy some down time with me." Cooper pulled back a chair for Rebecca.

  As much as this man electrified her, she had to remember why she was here. It struck her that he may actually be trying to disarm her. Get her to drop her guard. It was always much more difficult to drive a hard bargain with someone you loved .... liked! Liked. Not loved. Rebecca almost stamped her foot. OMG, he was gorgeous. So no, she would not kick back and relax with him. She would share a table and a drink as any civilised person would be expected to do, and then order dinner.

  Rebecca sat on the opposite side of the table to Cooper.

  She raised her gaze to his intense blue eyes. He was focused entirely on her. Oh, that felt nice.

  "Where exactly is your - um... homestead? that is, in relationship to where we are now." She asked.

  "Well, basically due west, and a little bit south of west. We straddle the borders of the states of South Australia, The Northern Territory, and Queensland. Probably a bit of New South Wales as well. You might say the place is in a good position. The homestead is in the South Australian part."

  Rebecca couldn't help but look a little puzzled. It sounded like he was describing a small country out there somewhere. Cooper flicked over a coaster and did a quick sketch with his pen. "Do you know the size of the place we are talking about?" He asked.

  "Well no, not really. The paperwork seemed a little vague about that. I assume it's an error in transcription. Because the size mentioned is thirteen thousand five hundred and fifty two square kilometres. That's at least six times the size of the largest ranch in the US."

  "Yep," replied Cooper. "That'd be about right. It's pretty big, but mostly marginal country. You know, desert, sand dunes, that sort of thing. Of course, I'm not there alone."

  Rebecca's heart sank. Here it comes. 'not alone'. He was married, and it had not made it into her paperwork. She didn't know why, but she felt disappointed.

  "Oh, well of course not." Rebecca said. She struggled to keep her voice neutral. "I mean, a man needs company, just as a woman does. Which leads me to ask, why didn't you bring her with you?"

  'That stopped him', thought Rebecca. Cooper was looking at her with a strange look on his face.

&nb
sp; "Her?" He asked. "Who her? Bring who with me? " He was now looking confused. 'Was this woman slightly off her trolley? What, or actually who, was she talking about?' He didn't have any female staff out there.

  "I don't have any female staff on the station," he said. "And as for female company, well there is no shortage of very attractive young ladies scattered across the outback. Just none working for me or living near me, and none resident... at the moment." He added after a pause. For the first time since he had met Rebecca, Cooper began to see Rebecca in an entirely new light. Why had she suddenly gone all spiky at the mention of other people - other women in fact, in his life. He gave her an appraising look from under his long eyelashes. There was no doubt she was a stunner. Very slim, long straight legs that seemed to go on forever and the cutest bottom he had ever seen. Small waist and well proportioned breasts. Beautiful clear green eyes that were watching him watching her, with a lively intelligence behind them. Not over long hair, now swept back in a functional rather than a fashionable style. He was not a man given to day dreaming, but looking at this woman had started his blood racing, and he crossed his legs by the table to hide any sign he felt would give him away in an instant if she noticed. He coloured faintly around the collar of his shirt.

  What had he been doing. He hadn't found himself responding so strongly to a woman in a long time. A woman he hardly knew, other than what he had been told. Was she expecting him to have a wife? Surely his file would indicate the lack of one. Perhaps it was not detailed enough to include girl friends, but that hardly counted. He didn't think he was ready for a wife yet. He thought he had his life planned out ahead of him, for himself and the cattle station. There was no where in the plan for a wife. The distraction of a wife. Children, pets, relations, there was too much work to do.