Stevie is out loading fire wood onto the trailer when Alex's Ute finally comes into view.
"Morning!" He calls cheerily.
She doesn't lift her head or reply she just keeps throwing the timber onto the trailer.
He knows she's angry because he's late but he wonders if she's angry about the kiss too.
He's still a little confused about the whole experience.
She was enjoying the kiss too he's positive of that.
She kissed him back.
He felt it.
...
"Aren't ya gunna talk to me today Steve's."He jokes.
Stopping what she's doing she raises her face to him and he smiles at her.
He can see she's about to smile but something in her eyes changes and she snarls. "Stephanie get hungry last night did she?"
Putting her head back down she angrily continues to throw the timber onto the trailer.
Alex stands for a minute trying to work out what she's talking about.
Recognition registers on his face and he walks over to his Ute and pulls the side mirror up and looks at his neck.
Damn he thinks to himself and then wonders why it bothers him that Stevie knows what he'd been doing last night.
Standing deep in thought he feels like he's somehow cheated on Stevie but he shakes the thought from his mind and returns to tease her.
...
Picking up the timber he begins to help her.
"I don't know why you even bothered to turn up Alex. Another five minutes and I'm finished."
Stevie states.
Grinning he leads with " Well I know you need to see me at least once a day so I thought in case I'm busy later I'd best come over now."
He watches her face.
She doesn't smile but just keeps working.
...
"Are you going into town for the fair this afternoon Stevie?" He asks.
"Maybe, maybe not!" She replies.
"Well maybe I could meet you there?" He offers.
She glares at him and replies "I thought you'd be meeting Stephanie there so she could gnaw on the other side of your neck Alex."
Grinning he asks. "Are you jealous again Stevie?"
"What jealous of someone who fulfilled one of your needs for five minutes I don't think so Alex!" She muses and moves to get in her car.
As she starts the engine he smiles and calls "More like half an hour!"
She flashes her smile at him and yells back "You should become a writer Alex and specialize in fantasies."
"I could be your fantasy Stevie!" He yells as she pushes down the accelerator.
"Now you're dreaming Ryan!" She laughs as she drives away.
Smiling he climbs into his Ute and heads back to Killarney.
...
"Where have you been Alex?" Harry questions.
"Helping Stevie with the firewood." Alex replies.
Sandra quips "Well at least she couldn't ruin that!"
Harry proceeds to inform Alex that through Stevie's stupidity and neglect to details they've been landed with five hundred sheep that are lousy and will need to be shorn as soon as possible.
"Bloody Hell!" Alex growls then adds "Five hundred of them! I haven't got time for that. I'm supposed to be ploughing!"
Harry is furious and tells him they were mixed in with the other five hundred ewes so it's actually a thousand head that will need to be shorn and they'll struggle to find shearers this late in the season as they've all headed up north.
...
Stevie is wandering around with Nick, Tess, Jodie and Kate at the fair when she spots Alex.
Walking up beside him she flicks him and he turns and snarls "What do you want?"
She's taken back by his tone and replies "You asked me to come to the fair and meet you."
"Yeah well I changed my mind." He says glancing towards the hot food stand.
Stevie follows his gaze and spots Stephanie walking towards them with two tubs of chips in her hands.
Stevie glares at him and says "That's it Alex you've stuffed me around three times in the last couple of days .Three strikes you're out!"
As she begins to walk off he yells at her "Yeah well the sheep you signed for were lousy and now I have to shear a thousand head of sheep that I really don't have time for. So thanks for that mate!"
She turns back to reply and Stephanie has reached him.
He greets her with a kiss and turns back towards the fair.
Disappointment washes over Stevie but is quickly replaced by anger.
Believe Harry if you want too!
It's not my problem.
Stuff you Alex! Stuff you!
...
Down at the shearing shed Alex has everything ready for when everyone arrives.
Hearing Stevie's Ute he smiles to himself.
He knew she'd turn up.
She loves the hustle and bustle of the sheds.
He's glad they sorted their differences he hates fighting with her.
"Hello!" She calls.
He hears her boots click clacking on the wooden boards as she moves inside.
"I'm over here!" He calls.
Smiling she greets him.
He stands and quips. "I knew you couldn't stay away. You missed me didn't you?"
Still smiling she moves towards him and running her hands up his chest she clasps them behind his neck.
Pulling his face towards hers his heart skips.
Her lips are soft and sweet and as he wraps his arms around her he realizes she is what he needs and wants.
He deepens the kiss, she runs her hands up his bare back and his skin prickles.
And then he wakes.
Exhaling deeply Alex feels his heart beating.
In the semi darkness he struggles to focus.
Rising from his bed he showers, dresses and heads downstairs.
...
They've been shearing the mob for days and Stevie doesn't turn up once to help.
Alex is angry with her.
Her stuff up has cost him a week of ploughing and their clip won't be worth much now that the mob has had lice.
Each time he walks past a section in the shed he's reminded of his dream.
He can still picture her kissing him, holding him and his skin prickles.
...
"Stevie!" Tess calls.
"I'm in the kitchen Tess." She replies.
"Are you sure you won't come over today to help?" Tess asks then pleads. "Make up with him Stevie tell him your side of the story."
Stevie looks at her angrily and replies. "No Tess we're supposed to be friends and he took Harry at his word and didn't even have the decency to even ask me if it was my fault, so he can get stuffed as far as I'm concerned."
Nick has joined them and catches the tail end of the conversation.
"Stevie you should tell him the truth you're being childish." Nick growls.
Stevie glares at him and scoffs. " I have never lied to him Nick not once and I have never manipulated him for my own benefit. Can you say the same about Harry?"
Nick doesn't reply.
...