After a restless night alone, Colin jumped out of bed bright and early and headed out to the boarding house. The night before, during the wedding reception, Abby had accused him of still carrying a torch for Kate and he was aiming to have a chat with her and prove her wrong.

When he arrived, he quickly made his way up to her room, hoping she hadn’t already left for the morning. He took a deep breath. "Here goes nothin’," he said to himself, then knocked on the door.

"Colin?" Abby exclaimed, surprised to find him standing outside her room so early in the morning. "What are you doing here?"

Leaning against the door-jam, Colin managed a nervous smile at her. "Missed you... couldn’t sleep," he replied, then added, "Can I come in?"

Abby looked at him, suspiciously, one eyebrow cocked, then smiled. "Okay, if you must," she said, pretending to be put-out by him being there. She moved out of the doorway, allowing him to slip in past her.

"So, what’s so urgent you couldn’t wait until after breakfast?" she asked, motioning for him to have a seat on the armchair, then sitting across from him on the edge of her bed.

He thought for a moment, trying to choose the right words. "Last night, what you said after the reception..." he began, then paused.

"Oh, you mean how you still have a thing for your ex-girlfriend that you need to get over before I’ll jump into a relationship... or into bed... with you?"

Colin looked down at his hands for a moment, then back up at her face. She wasn’t smiling. Shit. "Umm... yeah, about that.... I know you think I have feelings for her still, but... I don’t. Truly, I’m over Kate."

Abby took hold of Colin’s hands and held them in hers, then looked into his eyes. "Colin, I don’t think you’re being truthful with yourself. I’m not the only one that thinks you still have feelings for Kate. I’m sure you want to be over her, but deep down, it’s just been too soon. She broke your heart, left you suddenly, then shows up a month later - married. If I were in your shoes, I’d have real trouble not being angry and jealous. It just stands to reason you’d be feeling those things right now, and I don’t blame you for doing so."

Colin sighed, looked solemnly at her. "Truth is, I don’t know what I’m feeling, but I do know I’m not going to let whatever it is stand in the way of my happiness. Please, just give me a chance... to prove to you that I’ve moved on... that I have room in my heart for someone else... for you." He paused a moment, waiting for her response. When there was none, he continued, "I’m not talking a big commitment or anything here, just that I’d like to continue seeing you, spending time with you, see what happens with... us. Reckon you can give me another chance?"

Abby smiled. "Well, it’s against my better judgment, but..." she teased, then added, "Yeah, I think I can do that. But, just so you know, if you go breakin’ my heart, Colin O’Brien, I’m gonna kick your hunky mechanic ass all the way back to Sydney. Got that?" she grinned.

Colin chuckled, "Deal."

Abby stood up, leading Colin up out of the chair and over to the door. "Now, what do you say we go have a bit of breakfast down in the tavern together, Mister? I’m starved!"

"After you, Ms. Campbell," he replied grinning as he watched her walk past him and down the hall towards the stairs.

TBC...