Outback Affair: An Affair Novel (Entangled Indulgence) (12 page)

Chapter Thirteen

“Bloody hell, Alex.” Mitch, his assistant manager and long-time friend, slapped a hand to his forehead and shook his head. “Look at you. The most important business meeting you’ve had all year and you look like the wild man of Borneo.”

“Yeah, I know, I know. I have to get a haircut and clean up.”

“Have a shower, find a suit, and I’ll send one of the girls from the beauty salon over to the villa to give you a haircut.”

“No. I’m over in the cabin…and you can’t send anyone over there.”

“Has this got something to do with that phone call about not having any empty rooms?”

“Yeah, we have—or I have—a problem. I have a journalist over there determined to interview Ricardo.”

“And you found her in the middle of the outback?” Mitch shook his head and held his hands up, an incredulous expression on his face. “No, don’t explain, we haven’t got time. Bartholomew was furious when you weren’t here this morning.”

“Stuff him; that’s his problem.” Alex walked around the desk and sat in the chair. “I’ll see him when I’m ready. He needs us more than we need him, from what I’ve been reading. He can wait.”

“Sometimes I think I worry more about the success of this place than you do. You’re never really happy unless you are out in the wilds.” Mitch sat on the chair opposite Alex and ran his hand through his short-cropped hair.

“I’ve only got to worry about it till next week. Contract’s up, and I’m out of here.”

“So you’ve paid your dues?” Mitch said quietly. He was the only one Alex had confided in, and it had helped Mitch respect his request to stay private.

“Yes, the Emily Young School of Bush Tucker has made its mark in the food world, and I can move on.”

“So tell me about this journalist? How did you hook up with her?”

“She’s beautiful, brave, and I think…no, I know, I’m in trouble here, mate.” He stared past Mitch and didn’t speak for a moment. When he looked back at his manager, he was the subject of a very intense gaze. “I can’t get her out of my head. For the first time in a long time I’ve let a woman get under my skin.”

“So, what’s the problem? Tell her who you are, make her sign a confidentiality agreement, and a no-reveal clause of your identity in her newspaper. Move her into the villa, have a fling, and send her on her way.”

“She doesn’t work for a newspaper. She works for Larry Bartholomew’s media company.”

“That’s a bit suss. Do you think he sent her? Was she scoping you out?”

“No, she doesn’t know I’m Alessandro.”

“Are you sure? It seems a bit coincidental she’s over here the same time as her boss. Does it really matter to you that she doesn’t find out who you are?”

Alex shrugged. “When I came up here after Emily died, I promised her family I’d get the place started. You saw how messed up I was. It suited me then, and it suits me now to finish up when the contracted time is up. I don’t want my photos plastered over a magazine and all my life laid out for public consumption. Alessandro Ricardo can disappear gracefully.” He stood and wandered over to the wall and looked at the awards of recognition they’d received over the years. “You’ve done a great job as the front man, Mitch, and I’ve appreciated being able to stay behind the scenes. It was such a stupid idea, the idea of having a mysterious owner, although it did get us a lot of international press. I’m ready to move on.”

Mitch followed him over and clapped him on the shoulder. “Maybe it’s time to say it is Alex Richards running the show?”

Alex looked out across the resort, past the high brick fence in the direction of the cabin. “No, there’s no need now. I’ll get Jess in the kitchen. She can get some information for her article, and then we’ll go our separate ways. I don’t need any more complications in my life. I’m keeping it simple.”

…

Before he went back to the kitchens to meet the new chef, Alex made a quick detour to his own large villa at the beach side of the resort. He pulled out his suit and hung it in on the door to air for his meeting tomorrow. Glancing around the walls at the photographs of his family, he smiled. They’d all descend on Cockatoo Springs for his birthday next weekend, and he was looking forward to seeing them. Which reminded him—he’d forgotten to organize to keep her busy tomorrow. He picked up the phone and dialed Mitch’s extension.

“I forgot to ask you. Is there a bush tucker tour tomorrow?”

“Yeah, leaves at seven thirty.”

“Can you book Jessica Trent on it for me?”

“Will do. How do you want to handle it? Will you take her to the bus or get her collected at the cabin?”

“Yes, at the cabin. Tell Terence to collect her there. I don’t want her wandering around just yet.”

Next stop was the kitchens, and Alex pulled up, went around to the back of the truck, and unzipped the canvas at the back of the pickup. He took a step back as the combined smells of fish, gas, and dog hit him full on. Stepping forward, he reached back in to lift out the cooler full of mud crabs, and he grinned.

No wonder Jess ended up in my swag. Maybe it wasn’t my rugged sex appeal after all.

He pushed open the door to the air-conditioned kitchen and placed the cooler on the stainless steel bench.

“Anyone around?” He wandered into the restaurant, pausing when he saw the chefs, the sous-chefs, and the kitchen hands sitting at the tables taking notes. An unfamiliar man in chef trousers and a patterned bandana tying his black, curly hair back stepped over with his hand outstretched.

“You must be Alessandro. Mitch said you’d be bringing the crabs.”

He ushered the new chef back out to the kitchen, away from the curious looks of the staff, before he held his hand out to him “Clayton, great to meet you.”

“Likewise. Thanks for the barramundi. It arrived last night, and we’re already planning a feast tonight. Quite a few guests flew in today, and we’ve got some food journalists in too.”

Alex groaned.

“Jeez, they must be stalking me,” he muttered, wondering how to handle it. His life had become way too complicated over the past two days.

Take me back to the scrub and the fish.

Clayton tipped his head to the side with a frown. “Problem? How do you want me to handle them? Interviews or not?”

“No. Just feed them and if they ask any questions, tell them he will be putting out a press release in a day or so.”

“Alessandro? Sorry, I thought you were Alessandro.”

Alex gave a wry laugh. “Long story, mate. I’ll fill you in over a welcoming beer later. Anyway—” He reached out and shook Clayton’s hand again. “Great to have you on board.” He went to the large cool room and opened the door. Reaching in, he pulled out a bottle of chilled white wine before turning back to the chef.

“A favor, mate? I’ve got a friend staying who’d like to see how the place works. Could you do with another kitchen hand for a few days?”

“If she’s got no food handling certificate, she’ll be on wash-up duty. That okay?”

“That’s fine. Her name’s Jess, and I’m just Alex when you talk about me, if you do, okay? No mention of Alessandro.”

Clayton grinned at him. “Whatever you say; you’re the boss.”

Alex headed for the door, picking the empty cooler up on the way. “Can you get one of the staff to bring two meals over to my cabin? Make sure you tell them I’m in the cabin, not the villa.”

Clayton gave him a wave. “No problem.”

Chapter Fourteen

Jess put her cell phone back into her bag and stared out the window, confusion filling her mind. She’d dialed the number Monica gave her for Cockatoo Springs, the same resort Alex had told her only today was full. The reservations clerk had just informed her rooms were available now.

Now, as in today. Right now.

Of course, she hadn’t told him she was right next door. Why would Alex have said there were no rooms? A warm feeling filled her chest, but it was quickly followed by uncertainty.

If he’d been so keen to have her stay, he could have just asked her; there was no need for game playing. Anyway, he’d seemed more enthusiastic about her getting on the helicopter, and going home than anything else. Maybe he had a girlfriend…or a wife, God forbid, here on the resort. But she shook her head. If that were true, he wouldn’t have installed her into his cabin.

Would he?

Jess’s heart gave a crazy leap when Bowser yapped and jumped up. His ears pricked, and his little head cocked to the side. The now familiar sound of Alex’s pickup truck roared in through the screened door where the dog stood whimpering. She stood and smoothed her hand over her hair as she walked across to greet him, her silk skirt swishing softly against her bare legs, her bracelets jangling on her wrist. A shower, clean clothes, and access to the world via her telephone had restored her equilibrium, and now she was going to put on the performance of her life to hide the confusion filling her. Closing her eyes, she waited for the door to open to see how he would greet her. Was he hoping she might have gone, or would he be pleased to see her?

The door squeaked and then all was quiet until a low wolf whistle came from across the room. Her heart thudding, she turned and met Alex’s gaze. His eyes were hooded, and he looked at her for a long moment before speaking.

“What have you done with my Jess?”

“Your Jess?” Her own low throaty voice surprised her.

“Yeah, my Jess of the Outback.” His face lit up in a wide grin. “You know, the one with the string in her hair and the dirty clothes?”

“Sorry, can’t help you there. Haven’t seen her.” She smoothed down her brightly patterned silk skirt with a shaking hand. Alex walked over to her, his bare feet quiet on the timber floor, and took her hand in his. He picked it up and examined the short clipped fingernails, free of red nail polish.

“They’re her hands,” he said softly as he lifted her hand to his lips, turned it, and kissed her open palm.

She swayed toward him, but he gently grasped her wrist and held her away before he dipped his head and lightly brushed her mouth with his lips.

“Let me take a quick shower, and then I’ll tell you my news.”

“News? Have you talked to Ricardo?”

“Patience, my dear.” He dropped her arm and went back outside, returning with a bottle of wine. “Pour the wine. I’ll be quick, and then I’ll tell you.”

Jess muttered to herself as she opened the wine and searched through the cupboards for some glasses. The kitchen was bare, and the room was more like a hotel room, with only essentials.

Opening the last door, she cheered to herself as she found the glasses. She tried to block the picture of the water droplets on Alex’s muscled chest. She poured her wine and put the bottle and the other glass in the refrigerator next to the jug of water, which was the only other thing in there.

Maybe he’ll take me over to the restaurant for dinner? Maybe I’ll get to see Cockatoo Springs tonight?

Moving across to the window, she looked out at the ocean, flat and silver in the soft moonlight. The sun had set just before Alex had come back and the night in the outback seemed to descend with no dusk. She leaned her forehead on the cool glass and tried to focus. Hopefully he’d heard Ricardo was there too and spoken to him already, singing the praises of the journalist who wanted to interview him.

Ha, and pigs might fly too.

The bathroom door closed and the smell of fresh soap drifted across to her. The fridge door opened, and the clink of the wine bottle clicking on the glass filled the quiet room. Outside it was silent, and the bright lights of the resort next door lit up the night. Alex came out of the kitchen holding his wine glass, pausing in the doorway where he leaned on the frame and sipped his wine, looking at her.

A loose white shirt hung over a pair of knee length chinos. Jess turned slowly, and desire shot straight through her.

“Welcome to Cockatoo Springs.”

“Thank you.” She walked over and clinked her glass against his. He reached up and held her hand.

“You look beautiful, Jess. I should have taken you out tonight.”

“To the resort?” she asked hopefully. “Maybe we could go there for dinner? My treat, to thank you for the ride here.”

Alex led her over to the leather sofa and sat down, pulling her next to him. She looked at his tanned legs brushing against her pale calves. He followed her gaze and lifted her legs up across his lap, and a shiver ran along her back when he trailed his fingers along her toes.

“No need to thank me. Dinner is being delivered to the cabin. We have the whole night to ourselves.”

A curl of anticipation wound its way through her body.

“I can think of better ways to spend the night than sitting at some restaurant.” His voice was low, and he didn’t take his eyes from hers. “Not a mosquito or a crocodile to disturb us.”

“Or a pig?” She laughed, and it dispelled the sexual tension gripping her.

His laugh was deep and sexy. “You really did cope with the outback very well for a first timer.”

“I will never forget the sight of you up that tree in your underwear.”

“Aw, come on, Jess, you’re supposed to remember me saving you. I’m the outback hero, remember?”

“That is how I’ll remember you when I go back to New York. A real Crocodile Dundee,” she said softly. “Now tell me what’s happening. Did you find out if there is a tour tomorrow?”

“Yep. After I dropped the crabs off, I went over to the office. You’re booked on the tour that leaves at seven thirty in the morning. They’ll pick you up here at the cabin, and they’ll take you out to the grasslands in a small four-wheel drive bus and show you how to collect all sorts of bush tucker. One of the chefs goes on the trip, and they cook damper for morning tea and flavor it with the bush tucker you collect.”

“Damper?”

“A loaf of bread baked in the fire.”

“Sounds great.” She lifted her wine glass to her lips. “And did you find out about Ricardo?”

Alex shook his head slowly and frowned. “Sorry, Jess. He’s not there at the moment.”

“Oh.” Disappointment shot through her. Damn him. If Monica was right, Alex was lying to her. She’d said Ricardo was here for a meeting with Larry. And that was another problem.

Even though she would try to meet Ricardo and get that interview, she’d keep a low profile if Larry were around. As well as being her boss, he was one of her father’s
nouvelle riche
buddies. She was going to have to play it very carefully if he
was
here with Ricardo. She didn’t want him to know she was after the interview until the article was in the bag, and the less her father knew about her whereabouts, and what she was doing, suited her just fine. But why was Alex so damned determined she had to forget about this interview?

She looked up, and his gaze was fixed on her, and she could have sworn there was a flush on his cheeks. “Well, I guess I’ll just have to use the bush tucker trip for information and then see if I can chase him up at his conference.”

“I’ve got more good news for you.”

She tipped her head to the side. Alex reached up and lifted her hand to his mouth.

“The day after your bush tucker tour, you’ve got a start as a kitchen hand washing dishes in the school kitchen. That should give you an insight into how the school works. You can stay here in my cabin for a few days. I’ll take you over to meet the chef tomorrow.”

Jess squealed and launched herself at him. “That is wonderful. Thank you so much.”

“Clayton, the chef, has got you on wash up duty. You’ll soon get sick of that.” He slid his hand around the back of her neck, and anticipation curled in her stomach. “More wine?”

She nodded, and Alex lifted his hand away. Jess put her head back on the soft leather of the sofa as he went to refill her glass. Three stairs led up to a low mezzanine level where the master bedroom was located. A wide timber railing ran along the edge of the room, and small glass candleholders with tea candles inside were placed at small intervals. It really was a romantic little cabin. Things were looking up—a bush tucker tour, an in into the kitchen, and a night in Alex’s cabin. She might get this article written yet.

Alex came back out with the wine bottle, and she held her glass up for a refill.

“I have to go out really early tomorrow. I have some things to organize before I return to Daly River late next week.” He put the bottle on the floor next to the sofa, reached over, and brought her legs back up onto his lap.

“So you spend a bit of time in this cabin?”

“On and off.”

“Would you call it home, or do you live somewhere else?”

“What’s with the twenty questions, Jess? I’m a pretty boring bloke.”

“Oh, I don’t know. I was thinking about writing that other article with you as the outback hero. If I can’t have Ricardo, I can write about you. You could take your shirt off and lean across the front of your pickup or wrestle a crocodile or something.” She reached over and ran her hand down his chest.

Alex choked on his wine and coughed. He put his glass on the floor next to the bottle and put his hand over his mouth. Jess patted him on the back as his face went red and his eyes watered as he shook his head.

“I don’t think that would sell many magazines or help you keep your job. I thought this was a do or die interview to save your job?”

Jess trailed her fingers up his cheek and wiped the dampness beneath his eye with her thumb. “If it doesn’t work out, I’ll keep writing till I get a job at another magazine.” She tipped her head to the side. “Outback dude chases pig on a hunting magazine cover maybe. Oh, how I wish I’d taken a photo.”

He pursed his lips and frowned, and she couldn’t hold her laughter back.

“Oh Alex, for such a tough guy, you are so easy to tease.”

With a low growl, he grabbed her hand and tugged her so her bottom slid up into his lap. “I’ll show you how to tease, woman.”

Before she could reply, his lips descended on hers in a hard kiss, and Jess forgot all about pigs, magazine articles, and jobs.

His hand slid beneath her loose skirt, and she arched her back as tingles ran from up her thighs. Her mouth opened beneath his, and his tongue gently slid between her lips. Jess moaned and closed her eyes as he slowly caressed her lips and tongue until she pulled back.

“You confuse me, Alex,” she whispered. He kept his gaze on her and smiled a slow, lazy smile as his fingers crept up her thigh. She quivered, need shooting through her, and she latched greedily onto his mouth. With a quick gasp, she sank her teeth into his bottom lip. It was so good to be just them. She pushed all of her worries out of her mind.

Just them.
She could worry later.

Alex sucked in his breath when she pulled his shirt up and hooked her fingers in the front of his chinos. She moved down and knelt between his thighs. His hands rested lightly on her shoulders and then traveled down to her breasts before she pushed into him, and she felt the warmth of his arms around her. She teased her fingers down his pants and smiled. Alex caressed her skin with a feather light touch. He pushed her back and before she could move, his fingers were on her stomach, and he eased her top up inch by inch, gliding his lips down her long, slender throat.

“I love touching you. Your skin is like silk.” He raised his mouth to hers and kissed her deeply as his fingers explored her.

She slid off him and soon she was lying beneath him, smoothing her hands over his back beneath his shirt. Impatiently he shrugged it off, and she moved her fingers to the clip on his pants, brushing against the hard erection beneath the cotton fabric.

“Alex?” There was a loud knock on the door. “Are you there?”

Alex straightened his chinos and ran his fingers through his hair. “You might like to sit up. Our dinner has arrived,” he whispered. “Coming!” he shouted to the person at the door.

Jess sat up on the sofa, hastily rearranging her clothing. She ran her hands through her hair, which she knew would be in a cloud of disarray.

“Come in, Mitch.” Alex’s voice was strained, and Jess looked across to the door, curious to see who it was.

“I was in the kitchen when they asked one of the kitchen hands to bring your dinner over.” The tall blond-haired man placed a tray on the dining room table and glanced across at Jess with a quick smile. “I was walking over here, so I said I’d take it over.”

He sauntered across the room and smiled at her.

“Hi, I’m Mitch… a mate of this big lug here. I hope he’s been looking after you. Shame we couldn’t give you a room.”

“Yes, it was a shame,” she said watching them. “I was so looking forward to staying at Cockatoo Springs, but silly me, I forgot to book, and then you were all full up!”