I nod. ‘I offered to drive her.’
‘Offered a little too quickly, perhaps.’ He studies me a moment. ‘First girl you’ve shown any interest in, and you chase her out the door instead of offering her breakfast?’
I rub my dry eyes. ‘I’m no gentleman.’
‘Bullshit. I’ve seen the way you behave around my wife and daughter. You might not be a romantic kind of fella, but you are a gentleman. I suggest you remember that next time you bring a lady friend home.’ He goes to leave, then stops. ‘I’m starting to wonder if maybe you left that heart of yours back in Chirnside.’
I swallow and say nothing.
‘That’s what I thought.’ He rests his hands on his hips. ‘She end it?’
Last night’s booze swirls in my stomach. ‘You can’t end something that never really began.’
He stares at me. ‘You could always give her a call on that fancy phone of yours.’
I really don’t want to talk about Annie with him—or anyone, for that matter. ‘We starting with fences this morning?’ I ask, changing the subject.
Pete shakes his head. ‘You’re starting with a trip into town.’
‘What for?’
‘To apologise to Troy and thank him for not going to the cops this morning and pressing charges.’ He looks around. ‘Listen, I don’t know what kind of bad behaviour you got away with back home, but if I hear any more reports of you starting fights and breaking teeth, I’ll let you go.’ His stern eyes meet mine. ‘Understand?’
I nod and step past him, heading for the ute.