The Royal Show Affair Page 6

  “You’re lucky I noticed this morning.”

  “Absolutely.” It would’ve been likely that only another breeder would’ve noticed anyway, and at least they all had his phone number and knew to call him. The stewards as well, though less likely. They might’ve panicked and called a vet straight away. Nothing wrong with that, except the bloody expense, but it was entirely unnecessary at this point.

  “Lucky all is well.”

  Ben nodded. He didn’t correct his friend that he was slightly overreacting. It had been a rude wake-up this morning having to rush down like this. His heart was still hammering hard in his chest.

  “I might go try to find some rope to section off this area.” Ben pushed away from the fence. ‘You got any?”

  Jason shook his head. “Want me to watch her?”

  “She’s good for a little while at least. If you’ve got something to do, she’ll be all right.”

  “Sure?”

  “Yep. I’ll keep checking on her.”

  “Let me know if you want me to do anything.”

  “Will do.” Ben strode off to try to find some rope. He couldn’t believe how calm he was about it all, though this was all part of what he was used to. He knew the signs to look for. He knew when he wouldn’t be able to help and needed a vet, and hopefully, that wouldn’t happen.

  “Hey, Romeo,” Dan called out from a pen. He was busy mucking out some fouled straw.

  “Morning.”

  “See you’re a bit late, had a good night with that girl I saw you disappear with last night? We all saw it.”

  Of course, you all did. “Got an alpaca deciding it’s time to give birth, got any rope.” He saw some bales of clean straw. He needed that too. Other than that, everything was going to be up to Evie. “Or straw.”

  “Don’t try and change the subject. From the looks of you, it was a good night.”

  If only you knew nothing actually happened. At least not last night. “I need to get the row roped off, so none of the public disturbs her.” That was his biggest worry right now.

  “That good, hey.” Dan winked.

  Ben didn’t quite like referring to Raven so casually even though that was exactly what it was meant to be between them. I need to talk to her. It wasn’t like he knew the best way to do that. How did things change? I haven’t even seen many people. “Not now, Dan. I’ve got to make sure Evie is settled and stays calm.”

  “I’ll get it out of you.” He nodded over his left shoulder. “Over there in my storage pen, there should be a rope or two in a bucket you can use.”

  “Thanks.”

  “I’ll be wanting details later, good way to unwind tonight over a beer or two,” Dan called out as Ben walked around to the other side of the row.

  “Yeah, yeah,” he muttered. No way he was about to kiss and tell about Raven. Not now, not when he wanted it to be more. He couldn’t help trying to think of the best way he could approach the subject with her. What he needed was to spend more time with her, and time when they weren’t having sex. Like last night. Things were naturally changing between them. Maybe I don’t have to do anything.

  He opened the gate to the storage pen and looked in the closest bucket. There were two ropes inside. Great. He took them out.

  “Hey, can I have some of your bales of straw?” He yelled out to Dan.

  “Help yourself,” Dan replied. “Though I’ll need payment. Details, mate, details.”

  Ben knew Dan was teasing him. But it was starting to get on his nerves.

  “No details,” he mumbled.

  “Must be serious, then.”

  Ben rolled his eyes. Not that he needed confirmation that things were starting to feel serious between him and Raven. It was probably getting to the point of not being able to ignore how he felt. And how she felt. He was partly surprised that she was still there in the morning. She hadn’t snuck out. That had to count for something, didn’t it?

  He put the ropes on top of a bale of straw, picked it up holding it by the baling twine and hobbled back with the heavy load to Evie’s pen. It kept his mind off the agonizing wait until the baby would be birthed. Out of habit, he kept glancing at Evie making sure that there were no signs of distress. It always amazed him how the animals just knew what to do. With the row sectioned off with ropes, he decided to move the other alpacas away from her so that she had more privacy, and so he could remove one of the dividers giving her double the pen size. Dan and Jason came and helped him. They just managed to get it all done before the doors were opened to the public.

  “Now to wait,” said Ben. He suppressed a yawn. This had been a hell of a start to the day, and it was long from over.

  “I’ll go grab you a coffee?” asked Jason.

  Ben’s stomach rumbled. He hated the food at the show, it was ordinary at best. Certainly, nothing that was suitable for breakfast on the fly. Or while waiting for a baby alpaca to be born. A hearty beef pie would keep him going until he had a moment to leave. That could be hours away and well after lunch. “Thanks, and do you mind getting me a pie?”

  “No time for breakfast this morning?” Jason raised an eyebrow.

  “Because you called me.” Ben rolled his eyes. “Give it up, mate.”

  Jason laughed. “Okay, okay. I’ll get you coffee and a pie.” He patted Ben on the back as he left.

  Trying not to fuss too much, Ben took a little time to quietly take out some of the dirty straw from Evie’s pen and add a lot more in there to make it as cozy as possible for her. Her ears flicked a little with agitation, so he moved quickly, then stepped away.

  The other owners had moved their alpacas a few pens down, so it was only her and no other alpacas to bother her. If he were on the farm, he’d potter around in the shed doing a few jobs, fixing a tire, or the door on the old meat shed that wasn’t closing easily. But here at the show, he had all the time and no jobs. He hated having nothing to do. A quick look at his phone didn’t offer him any distractions either. With nothing else to do, he decided to sit down and try and chill while he waited. Jason would be back soon enough, and at least his mate would stay and chat for a bit, though there was an alpaca breeders’ meeting later on. Ben figured he’d be missing it. His dad had been heavily involved, and he planned to offer his services, maybe as treasurer since he was good with numbers. Next year. Considering there weren’t many alpaca breeders in South Australia, he could well be nominated and elected without even being there. Merino sheep were still the number one wool producers in the country.

  Ben rearranged some extra bales of straw in the pen opposite Evie, so he could sit and easily keep an eye on her. He sat down. Straight away he thought of Raven. He had a big urge to text her, except he didn’t have her cell number. I should get it.

  His stomach churned tightly with a mix of nerves. Would she give it to me? It was going to be a long enough day watching out for Evie, let alone waiting until tonight to see Raven. If it happens. In his rush to get to the showgrounds, he’d not sorted out the details of meeting up with her. Oh well, what will be, will be. They’d managed to keep meeting up in the past, and despite her being late last night, they still saw each other. The reminder of the night sleeping next to her eased his nerves. After all, there wasn’t much he could do. He didn’t have her number or address, only had a vague idea that she worked in the city somewhere as a graphic designer. That wasn’t enough to search her out.

  “Here you go, mate.” Jason strolled up to him, coffee and pie in hand.

  “Thanks.” Ben took the coffee and pie. Usually, it would be a beer and pie, but it was too early to drink, and he needed the caffeine to keep his wits about him.

  Jason moved inside the pen and sat down on the bale of hay. “I’ll keep you company.”

  “Thanks. What about the AGM?”

  “I’ll nominate you for president.”

  Ben nearly choked on his coffee. That was the last job he wanted. It was way too much responsibility. Maybe in a few years but not now. And not when he
was distracted with an alpaca that was about to give birth, let alone that Raven kept coming to mind.

  Jason laughed. “Thought you’d appreciate that.”

  “I bloody hope this baby is born by then. Otherwise, I’m going to be in trouble.”

  “Don’t worry, I’ve got your back.”

  “Not if you nominate me for president.”

  “Ahh, you’ll be all right at it.”

  Ben shook his head. “I better go so I can nominate you.”

  Jason grinned. “I reckon she’s not far off. But either way, you’re going to be stuck here and missing the meeting. You’re at my mercy.”

  “How about a wager then? I reckon she’s at least four hours away.”

  “More like three.” Jason held out his hand, and they shook on the bet.

  “Just to make it clear, if I win, you’ll be nominated for president.”

  “Good thing I’m going to win, then.” Ben leaned back on the bale of straw behind him and took a bite of his pie. Come on, Evie, don’t let me down on this one. Sitting here waiting for another alpaca made him realize this was going to be the first alpaca born that was the result of the breeding program he set up and not his dad’s. He took a deep breath settling the grief that threatened to spill out. Things were changing in his life. Quickly. And he was holding on for dear life hoping it would work out. Like being able not just to see Raven again, but to have a chance of a relationship with her. While he waited, in his mind, he crossed his fingers hoping that it would come to fruition.

  Raven walked through the showgrounds’ entrance. Where the fuck are the alpacas? She didn’t usually go to the Royal Show and wasn’t that familiar with where everything was located. Spying a poster-size map on the wall of the Goyder Pavilion, she moved through the crowd of mostly kids and tired-looking adults. She stared at the map trying to make sense of it. A quick trip home, shower, breakfast, and she was feeling much better. The phone call to work calling in sick went off without a hitch. Sarina seemed to be empathetic for a change. The lie hadn’t sat well with Raven, but neither would’ve walking in so late. She put on clean jeans with her favorite blue t-shirt with golden stars embroidered on the front, and with sneakers, the only flats she owned, she considered her wearing attire suitable for being around animals. At least that’s what she hoped. She couldn’t help feeling that, in a way, she wanted to impress Ben and show that she wasn’t completely clueless as a city girl to the sort of life he led on the farm. Even though, of course, she had no idea what farm life would be like.

  There. The alpacas were on the opposite side of the showgrounds. Of course. Raven took note of where she needed to go and set off, dodging a pram that was loaded up with show bags and not a baby.

  She made her way along the food court. It was midday, and a lot of people were gathering to get food, hot chips, burgers, hot dogs, and baked potatoes. The greasy food smelled oddly appetizing to her even though it wasn’t that long ago since she’d technically had breakfast.

  Raven pushed through the crowd trying to keep her bearings. Her mind kept whirling through the same thoughts. Was this really a good idea? What message was she really telling him by showing up like this? And why now did she want something more than just a yearly meet-up with him. They didn’t even live close to each other. And the biggest question that kept coming to mind was would he be there and what would she do if he wasn’t?

  If only I had his phone number. Then she would’ve messaged him to set a proper time and place to meet him. The last few days felt like a blur that somehow, since meeting Ben, this time her life was changing in so many ways. Not just with him but with work as well. She wasn’t sure if she was really ready, but everything seemed to have taken on a momentum of its own. Like last night, sleeping together like they’d been in a relationship for years. And then this morning, him leaving quickly, the way he kissed her with such a lasting familiarity that spoke of a definite future together, for the second time in as many days.

  I’m getting carried away. I’m imagining all of this. That was partly why she wanted to see him now. She needed to talk to Ben and see if he felt the same. Plus, she wanted to see a baby alpaca.

  Raven turned right at the end of the Taste SA Pavilion, past the very crowded area where there was pig racing, and with relief, spied a sign on a big shed to her right saying ‘Alpacas.’

  Thank goodness. She had half been expecting that she was going to get lost. The grounds were much bigger than she’d remembered, though the last time she’d been at the show was probably when she was ten. She’d not even been to the show to see Ben since there had been no need to. They were only meeting for sex, and the last two years that was all that filled her mind about Ben. This year, it was more than just sex.

  She stepped into the shed, and the smell of animal waste hit her senses. She wrinkled her nose, but that did nothing. She breathed through her mouth looking around hoping to see Ben. There were rows of pens, some with alpacas and others with goats. She walked hesitantly toward the alpacas. She didn’t think there was any going back now, but when she reached the end of the row and hadn’t found Ben, she was thinking about simply giving up and going home. I don’t want to make a fool of myself. Coming here she was beginning to think she might have just done that.

  I’m sure he’s busy. She couldn’t go any further on account of some rope that was strung in the way. She turned, disappointed she hadn’t seen him.

  “Raven?”

  She stopped. Her hair prickled at the sound of his voice. She couldn’t believe she knew straight away that it was Ben, and he hadn’t yelled out her name. Her heart picked up speed as she turned around. He was coming toward her from the other side of the rope motioning for her to come to him. Her legs felt like jelly as she went toward him. How was he going to react to seeing her here?

  Ben’s smile was warm, reaching his eyes, and lighting up his face in a way that melted her heart. “I’m glad you came.”

  Ben couldn’t believe Raven was here. At first, he wasn’t sure it was her. The chance to see her during the day, to hopefully get to know her more, motivated him to call out to her. He was expecting it to be a mistaken-identity incident. Thank goodness it hadn’t been.

  She grinned at him. “How’s the mom-to-be doing?”

  “Doing well so far.”

  “That’s good to hear.”

  He still couldn’t believe that she was standing there in front of him at the show. All the worry about whether or not he’d see her tonight was a waste of time. She was here right now, and there was plenty of time to see how things went. He hoped.

  “Don’t you have work?”

  She coughed. “I’m sick.”

  “Oh, don’t give it to me.” He took a step back.

  She giggled. Then it dawned on him. She was faking it.

  “Hang on, you don’t look sick.”

  “Shhh.” She put her finger on her lip and winked at him. “I fell asleep after you left, and I couldn’t brave going into work after the crap week I’ve had. So, I did the only thing I could, I pulled a sickie.”

  Ben was bloody glad she had. “Well, that’s a relief you’re not sick.”

  “Where are your alpacas?”

  “Down here. You really want to see them?”

  “Yes.”

  Her answer sent a warm, fuzzy feeling coursing through his body. Besides, she looked completely fuckable in her tight jeans, trendy top, and sneakers. He’d not seen her like this before. Casual. Yet, she looked as hot as when she wore her sexy dresses.

  “Come on, then.”

  She paused. Then he realized the rope. It was good to know it was doing its job keeping the public out.

  “Here, let me help you.” He pushed down on the rope making it lower. “Is that enough so you can get your leg over?”

  “I think so.” She lifted her leg and wobbled.

  “Careful. Use me to keep your balance.” He bent down so she could reach his shoulders.

  “Okay.”

/>   Raven put her hands on his shoulders. The heat from her touch seeped down into his skin reminding him of the connection that he was noticing between them. She stepped over, one leg either side of the rope. She glanced up at him. Her dark eyes drew him closer. He leaned forward placing his lips on hers, kissing her slow and soft until he felt her shiver. There was something sweeter about how she tasted today, and while he wanted more of this gentler pace, he kept his propriety and hers and pulled away. There was time for this later.

  Raven lifted her other leg, swinging it easily over the rope still keeping her hands on his shoulders. He let go of the rope and gazed into her eyes. She let her hands slip down off his shoulders. The soft, smooth touch sent a burst of desire through his body.

  His breath caught in his throat as he felt his body begin to respond. For a moment, he was sure she was going to cave into the thrill building between them and kiss him, but she stepped away. A mix of disappointment and relief washed over him. Not the time and place. Now, he definitely wanted to explore this new sensation between them.

  “Are these your alpacas?” She walked down the row a few paces. All he could do was to watch how her body gracefully moved, how her hips swung, and her tight arse that his hands suddenly wanted to squeeze. There was so much more exploring to do with her.

  He took a deep breath. Later. “Come and meet the crew.”

  Ben pointed. “These are my guys, the pens just on this side. I’ve moved them away from Evie while she’s in labor.”

  Raven nodded. “You’ve won a few prizes. The ribbons are yours?”

  “Did all right. Dad would’ve been happy. Now that he’s gone, it’s now all on my shoulders, and next year will be harder.”