The Negotiator (2 page)

He grimaced. “Yeah, she found out about it from one of the guys at work.”

Savannah nodded, her lips compressed. “She’s a nice girl, Andy, but I guess… Will and I want more for you than that.” She looked at him. Her face was tinged with embarrassment, but her eyes flashed with determination.

Andy looked away, uncomfortable with her regard, despite the fact that she was on his side. He didn’t want to discuss it; all he wanted was to get it over with. He swallowed a sigh and wished he’d told Will, instead of Will’s wife. His mate would have accepted his decision with barely a comment. It’s what guys did.

To his relief, Nikki’s return saved him from further conversation. He jumped up as soon as she reached them. “Let’s dance,” he murmured close to her ear and studiously ignored the narrow-eyed look Savannah shot his way. No doubt she thought he’d be better to keep his distance, rather than encourage Nikki’s feelings by showing her too much attention.

“Oh, Andy, I’d love to.” Nikki’s hand caressed the expensive cloth of his jacket and her eyes gleamed. “Are you wearing Armani?” Her smile widened. “You
are
. No wonder you look so hot tonight.”

He remembered Savannah’s comment and frowned. He’d been aware of Nikki’s interest in his financial status, but he’d never before noticed how obvious she was about how he spent his money. Irritation shot through him and it was all he could do not to break it off with her, there and then.

But, he couldn’t do that. Not in front of everyone. Not when she’d gone to so much trouble with her dress and her shoes and her hair. He’d asked the taxi to stop by her place on the way in and she’d told him all about her lengthy preparations for the evening.

Swallowing a sigh, he turned away from their table. Taking Nikki’s hand, he pulled her toward the dance floor. He hated to prolong the impression they were a couple, but he sure as hell wasn’t going to break up with her in a room full of people. He wasn’t a complete jerk.

He held her at a respectable distance and tensed when she moved in closer, flattening herself against him. When she rested her cheek against the lapel of his jacket, he had no choice but to hold her close. At last, the song ended and he had an excuse to move away. Knowing he couldn’t endure another minute of enforced intimacy, he drew her off the dance floor and leaned down so she could hear him.

“Are you ready to go?”

She looked up in surprise and then smiled, a knowing gleam in her eyes. “I’ll go and collect my bag. I left it under the table.”

Andy suppressed a groan, aware of the conclusion she’d drawn. With nothing to be done about it, he ushered her through the press of bodies and threaded their way back to their table.

Will returned with fresh drinks. He frowned when he saw them. “What are you two doing back so soon? You’re usually the regular John Travolta out there, Andy. What’s going on, mate?”

Andy forced a smile. “Not tonight. In fact, Nikki and I are going to call it a night.”

“But it’s not even midnight,” Will protested.

Savannah poked him discreetly in the side with her elbow.

Andy was grateful for her intervention. As he waited for Nikki to retrieve her evening bag, he tried to stem his impatience, now just wanting to get it over with.

“I’ll catch up with you later,” he muttered. “Goodnight.”

* * *

“Is everything all right, Andy? You’ve barely said a word all night.” Nikki reached for his hand. The taxi was headed toward her house in Newtown, a few miles west of the city.

“Just tired, I guess,” he muttered as he disentangled his fingers.

“Really? Is that all?” Her eyes sought his in the dimness.

He kept his gaze fixed on the back of the driver’s head and swallowed a sigh. It seemed, despite his best efforts, he was destined to break up with her in public. “You’re a great girl, Nikki.”

She tensed and inched away from him. “Why can I hear a “but” coming?”

“I’m going to be honest with you, Nikki. I think we both deserve that.” He took a deep breath. “You’re a special girl, but I’m not the guy for you. There are things about me you don’t know, things from my childhood that aren’t…good. I need some time on my own to work through them.”

He hated the taste of the lie on his lips, but if it meant leaving her feeling better about herself and the breakup, he was willing to do that. Besides, it wasn’t entirely untrue. There were plenty of nights when he’d wake in a lather of sweat, the sheets twisted tightly around his waist, the sound of gunfire echoing in his head.

He closed his eyes briefly against the surge of memories and then looked back at Nikki. Her bottom lip quivered. The cab passed beneath a streetlight and he caught the shimmer of tears. His heart sank. This was exactly the scene he’d hoped to avoid.

“I wish you’d give me the chance to help you—”

“No.” His voice was firm. “I’m sorry. It’s not you; it’s me.” Wincing inwardly at the lame line, he added gently, “It’s something I have to work through on my own. Please understand.”

The tears disappeared. “I’ve given you twelve months of my life, Andy. This is the way you repay me?”

He had no words that would soften the blow, so he chose to remain silent. She was entitled to her anger. It wasn’t her fault that he was damaged.

After a moment, she huffed and turned to stare out the window, her jaw set. He felt badly about hurting her, but he’d made the right decision. He was twenty-eight. She looked like thirty-something had already knocked on her door. At their age, dating took on a whole different perspective. It was no longer a casual way to pass the time. People their age were looking for life partners.

The taxi slowed and came to a stop at the curb outside Nikki’s house. The three-story terrace was dark except for a soft yellow glow from the light on the front porch. Releasing his seatbelt, Andy leaned forward and asked the driver to wait. The air seemed heavy with suspense and all of a sudden, he couldn’t think of a single thing to say.

Nikki clutched her black evening bag to her chest and studied him with sad eyes that were still tinged with anger. He bit his lip and hugged her clumsily, depressed that a twelve-month relationship had come to this—a brief, awkward embrace that felt like they were strangers.

He was the first to pull away. “I’ll call you.”

She sniffed, close to tears. They both knew he was lying.

“You’re going to make some lucky woman a wonderful husband one day.”

“You too, Nikki. A-a wonderful wife, I mean,” he stammered and cursed beneath his breath. Heat flooded his face.

She gave him tight smile and turned away. Fumbling with the door handle, she climbed out of the taxi and hurried up the short flight of steps to her front door. She didn’t look back.

Andy slumped against the seat, relieved that it was over.

The driver pulled away from the curb and flicked Andy a glance through the rearview mirror. “Where to?”

“Campbell Parade, Bondi.”

They traveled along the near-empty backstreets in silence. It was going on for midnight. A deep weariness invaded Andy’s bones. Switching his attention to the road in front of them, he caught the driver’s curious gaze.

“Girl trouble?”

Andy kept his gaze fixed on the back of the man’s gray, closely cropped hair and remained silent. He
so
didn’t need this conversation.

“They’re worth it in the end.”

A streetlight gave him a sideways view of the driver’s grizzled face and white-stubbled chin. Knowing to continue to ignore the man would be rude, he sighed. “I take it you’re speaking from experience?”

“Forty years this November.” The gravelly voice was laced with pride. “Four kids, ten grandkids and a wife I still look forward to coming home to.”

“Congratulations.”

The driver made eye contact again. “I couldn’t help overhearing the conversation with your lady friend. You’ve been together twelve months?”

Andy leaned back in his seat in an effort to get more comfortable, not knowing why he suddenly felt the urge to talk after all. He guessed it had something to do with the anonymity of the situation. Whatever it was, his tongue abruptly appeared to be free.

“Yeah.”

“You’ve been going out with that lady for that long and you’re only now working out she’s not right for you? What’s wrong with you, lad?”

Andy frowned and tried not to take offense. “What do you mean, what’s wrong with me?”

The driver sighed dramatically. He took his hands off the wheel and threw them up in the air, shaking his head at the same time.

“Listen, lad. Working out whether you’re with the right one or not should never take you twelve months. You’ve obviously been with lots of wrong ones if you haven’t worked that out.” The man chuckled. His shoulders shook with mirth.

Spying Andy’s sober face in the mirror, his laughter gradually subsided. “When you meet the right one, lad, you know the minute you set eyes on her. I don’t know why, but that’s the way it is. Simple as that.”

Andy remained silent, trying to process the words of wisdom offered by the old man in front of him.

Could it really be that simple?
If that were true, how come so many people got it wrong? The divorce rate climbed higher every year and men and women had been getting together since Adam and Eve. Surely, knowing when you met the “right one” couldn’t be that easy?

“I can see from the look on your face that you don’t believe me,” the driver said, offering him a wry grin.

Andy shrugged, not knowing what to say. The man was entitled to his opinion. Besides, he had at least thirty years on Andy. It would be disrespectful to argue.

“Whereabouts on Campbell Parade?” The driver’s query interrupted his thoughts.

Turning his attention to the window, Andy recognized the familiar buildings and shopfronts that lined Bondi Beach. As they came over the rise, the dark mass of the Pacific Ocean spread out before them. The ships he’d spied earlier were now indistinct shadows silhouetted against the slightly lighter dimness of the sky, illumined by a round, golden moon.

“Take a right onto Campbell Parade. I’m about halfway up the hill.”

The traffic was heavier in Bondi, even though the hour was late. Popular with locals and tourists alike, the streets were still alive with crowds, despite the fact it was a weeknight. The cab turned into Campbell Parade and began the climb.

“Next one on the right.” Andy reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out his wallet. As the taxi came to a stop outside his building, he leaned forward and handed the driver a fifty-dollar bill. “Thanks for the ride, mate. You have a good night.”

Andy opened the door and climbed out. The driver called out behind him. “Hey, don’t forget your change.”

Andy leaned in through the man’s open window. “Keep it.”

The driver shrugged. “Suit yourself.”

“Thanks…for the ride.” Smiling, Andy stepped back and watched the taxi drive away. For some inexplicable reason, he suddenly felt as light as the balmy summer air around him. Recognizing the unfamiliar feeling as hope, he drew in a deep breath and let the warmth of it seep into his veins.

He pulled his house keys from the pocket of his suit pants and let himself into his condominium complex.

CHAPTER TWO

She was being followed.
She was sure of it… Well, pretty sure. Cally Savage took another peek in her rearview mirror. Earlier in the week, as she’d reversed out of her driveway, she’d had a weird feeling she was being watched. Coupled with the recent break-in at her house, she was as jittery as a criminal awaiting sentencing. A fresh bout of fear and nervousness surged through her.

The dark-blue sedan traveling two cars behind hers looked exactly like the one she’d noticed a few days ago parked across the street from the house she shared with her son, Jack. Hot afternoon sun blazed through the windscreen of her old Toyota, making it almost impossible to see the road in front of her, but her view from behind was crystal clear.

Not being a car person, she couldn’t tell exactly what make it was, but it was an average-sized sedan. She caught a glimpse of the familiar, silver-colored badge on the hood of the car as it changed lanes and pulled in behind another vehicle.
Some kind of Toyota.

“Damn.” She was too
late to note the license plate. Jack leaned forward from the back seat.

“What’s the matter, Mom?”

She forced a smile and glanced at him over her shoulder. “Nothing, darling. I…ah, I just remembered I left the third grade reading journals at school. I meant to bring them home with me to mark tonight.” The lie fell quickly from her lips and she breathed a quiet sigh of relief when he seemed to accept her explanation without further comment and settled back against his seat. Returning her gaze to the mirror, she scoured the mass of cars around her, hoping to spot the blue Toyota again.

“What’s that noise?”

Cally frowned and forced herself to pay attention. She suddenly realized the car was steering funny and there was an awful noise coming from right beneath her feet. Lifting her foot off the accelerator, she carefully maneuvered her way over to the shoulder of the road and brought the car to a halt.

“Stay here, okay, Jack? This is a very busy road and I need to know where you are.”

He rolled his eyes, but nodded in agreement. Opening the door, she stepped out onto the hot asphalt and turned to check her vehicle. She stared in dismay at the flat tire.

Shit.
She mentally went through her options and groaned. A flat tire was the last thing she needed. She felt a headache coming on behind her eyes. Jack poked his head out of the open back window.

“What’s the matter, Mom?”

“Only a flat tire, sweetheart. Nothing major.” She forced a smile.

He grinned. “Cool! Wait ’til I tell the boys at school.”

She smiled, glad one of them at least would get some pleasure from this. All she could think about was how she was going to find the money to repair it.

Jack looked down at the now wholly deflated tire. “Are you going to change it?”

She laughed without humor. “Oh, honey, I wish I could. I wouldn’t have a clue how to go about changing it.”