On Saturday, Daniel and Belinda drove me to the property near Creswick. I wasn't sure where Wally's house was, but I remembered Wally had been passing the driveway the day I had met him. I told Daniel to take me past the drive and onto the next house.

Molly and two other dogs ran to meet the car, so I knew I had the right place.

Because of their barking, Wally and his wife came out to meet us.

"Jasmine! How are you?" Wally called out as I climbed from the car.

His wife hugged me even though I hadn't met her before. "I'm Betty," she said. "Adam rang us and said you were coming. The truck has come, and Wally got them to put everything in the shed. We hope that's okay."

I nodded, dumbfounded, then Wally said, "You must be Daniel and Belinda?"

"Yeah...nice to meet you." They shook hands as Betty led me inside.

"Come and have a cuppa," she urged. "I did some shopping, so I'm sure there's enough food to last at least a week."

She put the kettle on and set the table with the best homemade biscuits and tart that I've ever tasted.

When the tea was poured, I said, "Do the people who own the shed know that I'm going to stay there?"

Betty and Wally crinkled their brows, then Wally laughed. "He hasn't told you, has he? Typical." Wally shook his head. "That place belongs to Adam."

I choked on the tart's crumbly pastry. Belinda thumped me on the back so I could get my breath back.

"Sorry, love," Wally smirked. "Didn't mean to shock you. I should have known he wouldn't have told you." He looked at Betty and then back at me, saying, "We know what he does. Adam's my nephew. His mother and I are brother and sister. When he went into the undercover division two years ago, he brought this place next door so he had somewhere to go to get away from it now and then. We look after it when he's not around, but he hasn't been around for the last year." Wally took a breath and then said, "We had started to worry. As you know, it's impossible to get in touch with him. When he arrived with you, we took it as a good sign he might be getting out." Wally tweaked the corner of his mouth and added, "His parents don't know what he does. He didn't want to worry them." Wally laughed and smirked. "His parents think he went rogue and was dismissed from the force." Wally chuckled, "I'd like to be a fly on the wall when they learn the truth." He sighed and said, "Adam was a pretty wild lad. I guess that's why this kind of work appealed to him, you know...be the bad guy and stay on the right side of the law."

Betty tapped him on the shoulder. "That's enough, Wally, the poor girl is having a hard time absorbing this, and with the shock she's already had, you're overloading her."

"No, it's okay, I'm fine." I laughed.

Belinda touched my face with concern.

"True, I'm fine, I'm laughing because when I see him next, I'll kill him. He doesn't stop surprising me. Did you know he can play the drums and sing?"

Wally and Betty laughed. "Yeah, just about sent us deaf when he was a kid and we'd go visit."

As we were about to leave, I said, "Do you mind if I take Molly with me?"

"Not at all. Adam said you might want to do that."

"When did you talk to him last?" I said, shocked that they had talked to him.

"Thursday morning."

"Did he say when he was coming home?"

"No love, he didn't know himself," Wally replied. "Just wanted the place clean for you, and said the truck was coming. Molly came to us on Monday. We assumed something was up."

I smiled and gave them both a hug. "Thanks...thanks for everything." I ushered Molly into the car and waved as I climbed in beside her.

Wally yelled, "I'll be down to check on you every few days."

A sense of coming home flooded me when I opened the door. I almost cried, but was able to control it. "I'm okay, sorry," I said. "We had a great time when we spent the weekend here. It made me sad to think Adam's not going to be with me. Yet," I added with a grin. I dropped my bag on the floor next to a rolled-up piece of canvas. "What's that?" I said kicking it.

Daniel lifted it. "A swag. That's your bed, sis. Belinda and I have got the big bed. Oh yeah!"

I laughed, slapped him on the back and said, "Come and see his old car. Remember the one he talked to Uncle Harry about? It looks like crap but I saw some on the internet and they're nice when done up."

I lifted the key off the hook and took Daniel by the arm. I opened the shed to see it full of boxes. Adam's old Ute was parked in front of the Morris commercial.

"I hope they cleared the right unit," I gasped. "Because I didn't have this much stuff." I opened one of the boxes. Adam's drum kit. I sucked in a big breath of air. "Some of this is Adam's. Are we going to live here? Is that why he's transferred it here?"

Daniel grinned and shrugged. "Maybe, but where's the Harley?" he said, searching the area. "I bet it belonged to the cops. Shit that was a beautiful bike."

I smirked and shook my head. "Even though I love you, you're an idiot sometimes."

Daniel jerked his head towards the Morris. "It's a piece of crap. Scrap metal, if you ask me?"

They left late Sunday afternoon. It hit me how alone I was because there was no TV to create noise. I curled up on the bed with one of the Colin Dexter books I found on the bookcase.

On Monday, I took Molly for a walk. The house was clean, so I decided to weed the gardens. The grass had been slashed short, but any that grew close to the rock-edged gardens was long. I dug around in the shed and found a pair of garden clippers, some large gloves, a rake, a small spade, a fork, a cap, and an old shirt of Adam's, then set to work.

At lunchtime, I took Molly for a swim in the dam and attempted to skip the stones. I managed five bounces and, like a fruit loop, jumped up and down in excitement. Molly looked on with her head tilted and ears cocked.

I went back to work in the garden until the light faded.

The next day was much the same. I wasn't used to being so isolated. Though I lived by myself in the city, I was never truly alone. Now it was Molly and me. By the third day, I was getting used to it. I read, swam and took Molly for walks. I worked in the garden, but Adam was always on my mind.

I tugged at the weeds in an old vegetable garden and planned on getting Wally to take me into town to buy some seeds.

Molly barked. I stood, stretched my back and called her, "Molly!"

She had her ears pricked, peering down the driveway. She barked again and ran.

The sound of a motorbike in the distance came to me. A surge of panic swept through me. Should I run and hide or wait? It could be Wally. He had a motorbike. It sounded bigger than a trail bike. It could be Adam, but Daniel said the Harley belonged to the police department.

Another wave of panic ran through me. It could be one of the gang members. I hoped they didn't know about this place.

I waited. The bike had slowed but was coming down the driveway.

Molly's distant barks were just audible because of the engine. I froze, clutched the small spade and watched the Harley come closer.

My heart pounded.

The bike stopped.

The rider pulled his helmet off and smiled at me.

I dropped the spade and ran.

Adam climbed off the bike and was ready to catch me as I threw myself into his arms.

I hid my tears from him, but he lifted my chin and grinned. "Hey."

"Hey." I touched his face to convince myself that it was really him. My fingers went to his neck. "You've changed the tattoo," I gushed.

"Yeah...couldn't do it fast enough," he said.

"It's the Southern Cross." I beamed. "I like it."

"Good." Adam grinned and then put his lips on mine.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and melted against him.

He hitched me higher, then he carried me inside, kicking off his boots. He laid me on the bed and took off his jacket.

I undid the grubby shirt I was wearing.

Adam laughed and touched my face with his finger. "What have you been doing? You're filthy."

I sat and lifted his shirt over his head. "Gardening."

"Gardening," he repeated. "I like that." Adam drew my shorts and panties down and then undid his jeans. He ran his lips over my abdomen.

The instant he touched me, my lower stomach went into a spasm. I gasped for breath.

Adam ran his large hand over my body. "You are so beautiful. I can't believe how lucky I am." He caressed my breasts and then touched my stomach and thighs. I closed my eyes. The feel of his touch made me ache to be stroked. I urged him to continue. Knowing what he was doing to me, he smiled and ran his tongue around my nipple.

Goosebumps shot through me. I moaned and pulled him closer.

"Not yet," he whispered, then claimed my mouth with his. Adam touched my inner thigh. I whimpered and lifted my hips to encourage more pressure.

He ran his finger along the line of my groin towards my backside. When he touched me again, I had to bite my lip to prevent myself from moaning. He stroked me and inserted his finger, just enough, to make me gasp. He pulled it away and ran his hand over my stomach and onto tweak my nipples as he swept his tongue over my centre.

I whimpered and lifted my hips towards his mouth. "Adam..." I gasped, clenched my teeth and gripped his hair as the erotic surge of pleasure shot through me. The skill of his tongue had me fighting to breathe. "You have to stop...please..." I begged. "I want you."

Adam inhaled as he lifted his head and put his mouth on mine. I could taste myself on his lips as he entered me. He stood, lifted my hips as he gripped my backside, and then drove himself forward. "Jasmine..."

The steady crescendo rose. Every nerve ending in my body ignited, ready to explode as he continued moving his hips against mine.

Adam lifted me as my body rippled and pulsated against him. It triggered his body to throb within me. The grip of his hands tightened as he groaned against me, pushing one last time.

"Oh, Jasmine..." he gasped. "I missed you so much!"

Holding me against him, we remained as one. Adam fell onto the bed with me on top of him.

He cupped my face and looked into my eyes. "Jasmine Baker," he said. "Will you marry me?"

As you can guess, I burst into tears. I was so sick of crying, but I couldn't stop.

Adam grinned and said, "Is that a yes, or no?"

"Yes, Adam," I whispered. "It's a big yes!"

Thank you so much for reading.  I hope you have enjoyed the story xo.

This is my second attempt at writing in first person.  I found it very challenging.  Any comments and suggestions are most welcome.

Author note follows this chapter.

Photo copyright - Depositphotos