Home Truths (26 page)

After a short time, he lifted his head and looked at her, really looked with an intense gaze that made her heart swell. ‘You have to be the most beautiful woman I've ever met.' He shook his head. ‘And that just doesn't cover it. You drive me crazy.'

‘Oh,' Jennifer said, ‘that makes us even. You drive me nuts. But keep talking.'

‘Legs, Jen.'

She smiled and unwrapped her legs from around his hips. Holding her at the waist he pulled out and, skin sliding against skin, he slowly eased her down until her feet touched the tiles.

He cupped her face. With warm penetrating eyes on hers, he softly asked, ‘You okay?'

She leaned up and answered with a long, slow kiss.

Calum wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight, the warm water cascading down over them. ‘Fuck, I'm glad you're back.'

‘Me too.' She pulled away far enough to focus on his face. ‘Can I ask what all this “fuck” stuff is about?'

He chuckled, a deep infectious chuckle, and voice grating low for emphasis, he said, ‘Because if I don't swear, I'll explode. Seeing you, holding you, it's…it's intense.'

‘Oh,' she breathed, felt her eyes grow big and nodded in understanding.

‘Good to know I'm not alone in this.' His expression became deadly serious. ‘Fuck!' Calum laughed. ‘Looking at you like this makes me want to…'

‘Makes you want to what?' Jennifer breathed.

‘Makes me
not
want to miss a second of you.' His hand curled around her neck, thumb sweeping across her jaw, he said, ‘I'm staying the night.'

‘Okay,' she said calmly, while inside she was doing a major happy dance.

‘Good, not that I was taking no for an answer anyway.' He swept a hand across her waist, turned the water off and wrapped her in a towel.

Warm and dry, Jennifer tilted her head and, with a contented smile, watched Calum dress. The best part was how his jocks slipped over his firm butt. Head bent as he adjusted himself to a comfortable position with a quick dip to the knees, he turned and grinned, eyes saying everything. Focus, girl, start on the dessert menu! Put undies on. Chocolate mousse…yum, lick it off his flat, hard stomach.
Oh my God, I did not think that.
Put bra on. She shook her head and cleared her throat. Calum had a powerful physique, she guessed it was because he climbed ladders and hauled cables, not to mention all the farm work he did. And he'd refitted her shop. It was a wonder he'd had energy left to do the wild thing in the closet
and
shower. From now on, when she looked in his eyes, there'd be that knowing, cheeky sexy thought exchange. Like just then when he was adjusting his man bits. A private look that even in public said, if we weren't here we'd be in the closet, the shower or some other part of the house, touching, holding, loving.

Calum moved, slowly and with purpose, towards her. He took her hand, brought it to his mouth and leisurely kissed her palm. An erotic tingle travelled up her arm into her chest, down past her belly and straight between her thighs.
Oh, what this man can do.
Head dipped close to hers, he placed her hand on his chest; she could feel the thud of his heart. He smiled at her with a soft, warm look in his eyes.

‘Are you okay?' he asked gently.

Do you think she could talk? ‘Huh?' she paused, collected her brain and said, ‘Ever so good!'

He laughed, and he looked great when he did. ‘Ever so good?' he mimicked.

‘Was that a bit naff?'

‘Stop it you're killing me.' He kissed her warmly and said, ‘We can do this all again?' He cupped her chin and lightly brushed the pad of his thumb over her lips.

‘Are you kidding, I'm not letting you out of my sight,' she nodded. ‘I'll have a lot more of the same please.' She sucked his thumb into her mouth and played her tongue around the pad.

Calum gave a soft gasp and held his breath, then let it go with a chuckle. ‘Stop that or I won't be responsible.'

He only needed to speak and her insides turned sweet and gooey. Jennifer smiled and let his thumb slip through her teeth. He inclined his head and moved in until his warm soft lips touched hers. The tenderness in his kiss almost made her cry. He pulled back far enough to allow him to talk. His eyes brimmed with passion — and more, much more. Love so deep and strong that it turned her bones to jelly and yet at the same time scared the pants off her.

‘Ready to explore what's behind the closet? Come on, Jen, let's do it.'

Calum stepped into the closet wearing nothing more than his jocks and a wink.

Jennifer gulped, hastily jiggled into her bra and followed.

Chapter 14

Loud banging echoed through the house. Calum poked his head out of the closet.

‘What the hell was that? You drop something?'

Jennifer grabbed her jeans and hauled them on. ‘Not me. Someone's at the door. Don't explore without me.' She snatched up a T-shirt and threw it on. ‘I'll get rid of them, back in a sec.'

Heavy thundering continued through the shop.

‘Okay — okay! Keep your shirt on, I'm coming!'

Jennifer hurried through the restaurant and paused when she saw the silhouette of a man behind the panel of frosted glass. She had a moment of hesitation before yanking the door open, ready to give the person an earful about having patience.

‘Bret!'

White-faced terror etched her brother's face. ‘I'm being followed,' he rasped urgently.

Jennifer glanced up and down the street, grabbed his arm and hauled him inside. ‘Thank God you're all right.' She slammed the door, wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tight.

‘Jen, Jen, I can't breathe.'

She pushed him back to arm's length and looked him up and down. ‘What the hell are you doing here? Why haven't you called someone —
anyone?
Last we heard you were in Broome.'

‘I was never in Broome. I just said that to put the idiots off my trail.'

‘What!' Jennifer grabbed his shoulders. ‘I could happily strangle you.'

‘Okay — okay. I tried to ring Sofie a couple of times, but I kept getting a snooty woman's voice saying this number is unavailable.'

‘But I gave you Sofie's
new
number.'

‘It was on a scrap of paper and I lost it.'

‘Have you ever tried the bloody phonebook? You know — ring the school where she works!'

‘JEN!'

‘Okay!' Jennifer cried out exasperated. ‘What made you come here? I only just arrived myself.'

Bret's thin shoulders came up in a shrug. ‘I didn't know you'd be here. I was going to hide in the garage for a while. I saw the lights were on and took a chance. I was hoping it wasn't Sofie. She's sweet, but when it comes to something like this she's custard.'

‘Why not go straight to the police? At least you'd save everyone from an anxiety attack.' Bret looked at her, eyes haunted with troubled thoughts. ‘Oh, for God's sake.' She pulled him in for another hug. ‘I know you don't mean to, but you make us crazy.'

‘Sorry, Jen. The police can't do anything. I owe these blokes. I didn't know where else to go.' Bret blew out a lungful of air. ‘All that running made no difference.'

‘Did you drop in on your old haunts — your Sydney flat?'

‘Yes, but only for a few days to rest.' Jennifer gave him the older sister don't-bullshit-me look. ‘Okay, I may have stayed a coupla weeks. I only went out at night. Anyway, I haven't got the frigginest idea why they're still chasing me; I only borrowed five grand. That's peanuts for guys like that.'

‘Oh really? Well, they told me to hand over ten grand, or they'd break both your legs —
slowly.'
Jennifer jabbed him in the chest.

‘That's extortion!' Bret cried out.

‘Interest is a bitch. From now on, no more lies!' She glared at him. ‘Or half truths.'

Bret's face creased with remorse. He nodded. ‘Sorry, sis.'

‘Okay, one thing at a time. They could be barging through this door any minute.'

Footsteps approached them from behind. Heart thumping, Jennifer swung around.

‘I heard voices.'

‘Calum,' Jennifer whispered, relieved. She thrust Bret at him. ‘Take him upstairs and hide him somewhere — quick!'

‘No way. You hide him.' Calum shoved Bret back at Jennifer. ‘G'day, Bret. How's it going?' he said, extending his hand.

‘Been better.' Chin lowered, Bret shook Calum's hand.

‘Been travelling a bit?' Calum asked, in his easygoing manner. ‘S'pose you could murder a steak?'

‘Yeah, got any?'

Jennifer glanced from one to the other.

‘What?' they asked in unison.

‘You two don't even know each other!' They gave her a puzzled look. ‘Must be a man thing,' Jennifer mumbled. ‘Bret, this is Calum McGregor.'

‘Why do you need to hide?' Calum asked.

‘Spill it, Bret,' Jennifer said. ‘I'm your sister and Calum's…a friend.' Had she blinked, Jennifer would've missed Calum's hurt expression. She gave him a what-was-I-supposed-to-say shrug. He cocked a what-the…eyebrow back at her.

Bret began to pace. ‘I saw this great horse on the internet.'

‘Here we go,' Jennifer groaned.

‘He looked a real winner,' Bret enthused, eyes wide. ‘The odds were unbelievable! Turns out I knew a friend of the horse's trainer. He said he was a winner for sure. I didn't have the money so I borrowed five grand.'

‘And the horse came in last.' Hands on hips, Jennifer glared at him.

‘Second last. I tried to bargain with them. I said I'd work it off, but.' He shrugged. ‘And now they're saying I owe them ten grand. They're a bunch of sharks and the interest just keeps piling up.'

‘You idiot!' Jennifer ground out. ‘There's only one way to make money and that's to work for it like we all do. When will you get it into your thick head that you don't
need
approval from mother and father? You think they'll love you more if you've got money?'

‘I dunno, sis — yeah?' Bret shrugged again.

Calum seemed baffled and rubbed the back of his neck.

‘What am I gunna do?' Bret chewed nervously on his lip.

Jennifer gave a worried, sideways nod towards shadowy movement behind the frosted glass door. ‘Your business partners and investment bankers are here.'

‘What?' Bret asked, confused.

‘That's what mother tells everyone.'

‘Jen, do something,' Bret whispered harshly.

‘I thought they were idiots?' she hissed back at him.

‘Sure, but big idiots.'

‘I'm calling the police,' Jennifer insisted.

‘Please, Jen, don't,' Bret pleaded. ‘You'll just make it worse.'

‘Brock's a great cop, but what can he do? In the end, Bret owes these guys money. Take him upstairs,' Calum urged. ‘I'll get the door.'

‘Are you out of your mind?' Jennifer rounded on Calum. ‘This is our problem.
I'm
going out there — Bret, you're coming with me!'

Bret grew pale. His eyes shone like those of a cornered cat.

‘Okay, I'll do it alone,' Jennifer announced and headed for the door.

‘Bret — disappear,' Calum ordered, pointing to the stairs.

Loud banging rattled the glass in the door. Jennifer yanked it open, fire in her eyes, and a burning desire to beat a couple of thugs around the head.

On second thoughts, maybe not.

* * *

Calum edged in front of Jennifer and smiled at two goons. Muscles packed into black T-shirts and dress pants, they waited on the footpath like extras from a gangster movie.

‘Gentlemen,' he said, ‘the restaurant's not open yet.'

‘We're lookin' for Bret The Pigeon,' the taller one said. ‘We saw ‘im come in ‘ere. There's no point denyin' it.' The guy's rough accent was out of keeping with his fine clothes.

Calum swung an arm across, barring Jennifer from leaving the doorway. He stepped outside just as the streetlights came on. Much to his annoyance, she didn't take the hint, and followed. Calum dared not take his eyes off the blokes to give her a get-back-inside glare.

‘And you are?' he asked calmly.

‘This here's Stef,' the taller one said, pointing to his mate. ‘And I'm Fry. We're businessmen, runnin' a business.'

Calum pulled a face. ‘Fry?' he asked.

‘Use your imagination,' Fry said. ‘Or is that too difficult for ya?' Fry shifted his bulk and leant in close. ‘I'm losin' me patience. The money?'

‘Bret doesn't have any!' Jennifer's enraged tone made even Calum turn to look. ‘Threatening to break his legs won't make a difference.'

‘I couldn't give a fuck what you say!' Fry cut in. ‘I'd wanna break his legs for the irritation.'

‘Gentlemen, I'm sure we can do a deal.' Calum gave them a steely glare. It worked on the bulls at home, so why not here? All Fry did was roll his toned shoulders, and neck. Perhaps it was a sign that he
was
feeling the strain.

‘This is legit, okay?' Fry said. ‘The kid owes us ten grand.'

‘What a bunch of lazy-assed sharks —' Jennifer began.

Calum gave her a shut-up glare, but she stiffened and glared back. Man, she had guts. He had to smother a grin, despite the situation they were in.

‘If youse two have finished makin' love eyes…?' Fry growled.

‘That's a hefty amount.' Calum was hedging for time, hoping the pressure of doing business out on the footpath would build and they'd cave…Or perhaps not.

‘Okay,' Fry began, shifting from one foot to the other, his aggravation obvious. ‘I reckon you're a fair bloke — how about nine Gs?'

‘That's outrageous,' Jennifer hissed. ‘We don't carry that sort of money around and it's Friday night, you idiots. Banks don't open until ten Monday morning.'