Engaging the Enemy

by Susanne Bellamy

  What did she want? An encore? He should have been the one to visit her when the timing suited him. Not the other way around.

  Two short raps on his door preceded Narelle’s entrance. She pushed the door back and looked at him sternly.

  ‘Miss de Villiers,’ she said before stepping aside.

  Trouble stopped in the doorway, the desire to run clear in her eyes. Clasped against her stomach, one hand twisted the strap of a large handbag around the other until her skin was so white, he was sure she’d cut off her circulation. If it had been his neck there, he would have better understood her agitation.

  ‘It’s all right, dear. He only looks as if he’ll bite.’ Narelle was encouraging Trouble? Could his day get any worse?

  ‘That will be all, Narelle. For now.’ Words would be exchanged later, about loyalty and about her job description being to guard him from deceitful women.

  ‘Very good, Mr Mahoney. Would you like coffee sent in?’

  ‘I doubt Miss de Villiers will be here long enough to drink it.’

  ‘No thank you. I don’t want any.’ Trouble gave Narelle a small smile and turned back to face him. Her shoulders stiffened and her chin tipped a fraction higher. She stepped through into his domain.

  Narelle quietly closed the door.

  Matt stood behind his desk, fingers splayed either side of the keyboard.

  Five minutes. I’ll give her five minutes and then she’s gone.

  ‘May I sit down?’

  Curtly, he nodded but remained standing while she perched on the edge of the chair. Not ready to deal with her perfidy, he wanted the interview over fast.

  ‘Well?’

  She fiddled with the strap of her bag, pleating the leather between her fingers, and then dropped it to the side of the chair. Would she beg for The Shelter to remain, or would she brazen it out when he called her on her lies? Either way, he didn’t care.

  ‘I just wanted to apologise. I was wrong about so many things.’ Pink stained her cheeks but she held eye contact with him.

  Blindsided, he waited several heartbeats. An apology was the last thing he’d expected.

  ‘And you think that makes everything okay? Bejeezus, woman, what planet are you from?’

  She licked her lips, pressed them firmly together, and then ploughed on. ‘You’ve no reason to accept my apology but it’s honestly offered. By not taking you at your word about the building, I treated you badly and I’m sorry. I have no excuse.’

  ‘I doubt you could be honest, ever. You faked a job, and then an accident to gain my attention’ — she winced at his reminder — ‘gave me a fake name, let me believe Jordan was your son—’

  ‘To be fair, I never did that. You got hold of that one all on your own, Mahoney.’

  ‘You lied by omission. You could have told me any one of a number of times but you stayed silent. Did you think the boy would soften me up?’

  ‘Why would I think that? Your thought processes are a mystery to me. I didn’t realise what you were thinking about him until this morning.’

  ‘And then it was by terrible chance I found out.’ His gut churned at the memory of Jordan’s close shave. City living was not a good option for a boy fascinated by all forms of vehicles. If he hadn’t been there to grab the child…

  His jaw clenched and the ache in his temple intensified. ‘You’re not capable of running a show like The Shelter.’

  ‘That’s low, even for you.’

  ‘I assumed you were at least qualified, if young, to be running such a centre.’

  ‘Lexie is the one with the degree. You assumed a lot of things about me. And sometimes your assumptions were wrong.’

  ‘Often they’re right, and you, darlin’, are just like your father and great-grandpa. You tried to cheat me out of my building again with your lies. But this time, it won’t work.’

  Beneath her freckles, colour leached from her face.

  A twinge of guilt tugged at his subconscious. Daft it was, when she’d tried to publicly humiliate him, but one look at her stricken face and he felt like a heel.

  ‘I wasn’t trying to cheat you. Ever. I just wanted to make you hear us out, to give us a chance. Why won’t you believe me?’

  He snorted. ‘Trouble, you’ve lived up to your name from the start.’

  Her knuckles whitened as she gripped the chair. ‘My name’s Andie, not Trouble. Andrea de Villiers.’

  ‘Trouble — de Villiers? It’s one and the same. Now if you’ve finished apologising, Miss de Villiers, I have work to do.’

  She rose, half turned and reached down for the bag beside her chair. Skirt material clung, lovingly shaping the perfect peach of her bottom.

  Don’t go there, Mahoney.

  Groaning inwardly, he castigated himself as she stood.

  ‘I can’t help my surname or what you think it means about me. I’m not my name.’ She tipped her chin up at him, head high and met his eye. ‘Did you mean it?’

  ‘That I’ve work to do? Of course.’

  ‘About the other property? You said’ — her throat revealed a nervous swallow and those lips pressed firmly together again before she continued — ‘you said to the reporter you had another property to offer us. I know we don’t deserve your kindness but if you meant it…’

  He had said it. To the reporter while the camera was rolling.

  And he’d meant it.

  The thought of kids being separated from siblings was too harsh to contemplate. And mothers struggling with feelings of inadequacy when their children were fostered out. In spite of everything else, she had fought for her families’ sakes. That much he admired about Trouble.

  ‘I want you out of my building in the city. But you can talk to Narelle for the details on the Williamstown place. I meant the offer.’

  ‘Thank you.’ She turned and headed for the door. ‘We appreciate that. Oh, I nearly forgot.’ She thrust a hand into the oversized handbag as she walked back to him. Her hand emerged holding a small black velvet box. ‘This is yours. Obviously you no longer need me to wear it.’

  Without another word, she placed it on the desk and then left.

  He picked up the jeweller’s box and flicked open the catch. Nestled inside, the emerald flashed green fire.

  Like Trouble’s eyes.

  He snapped the lid shut and slid the box into his pocket. There was one more thing to do to top off a crappy day.

  Now he had to tell Ma the engagement was off.

  Chapter Nineteen

  ‘So it’s over between Tr — Andie and me. I guess we fell into that relationship too quickly, before we really knew one another.’

  Soft lamplight couldn’t disguise the quickly hidden trembling of Ma’s mouth as she digested the news.

  ‘No grandchildren just yet.’ Aiming for a smile, he knew he’d fallen short when Ma reached across and squeezed his arm.

  ‘Oh Matt, I’m sorry. Truly I am. I never should have put you under pressure like I did.’ Her eyes glistened and she sighed.

  Now Ma was blaming herself and didn’t that just make him feel even more of a heel. Surely there would have been another way to convince his mother to visit. It was all his fault. None of this mess would have happened if he hadn’t forced Trouble to lie. He patted Ma’s hand. ‘All you did was give me a push, Ma. No harm in that. Besides, you liked Andie and now I’ve let you down.’

  ‘Rubbish. You’ve never let me down, boyo. I’m proud as a mother can be of you. All you’ve achieved.’

  ‘Naught to be proud of if the man’s not trustworthy.’ Heart aching, he shoved his hands into his pockets and moved to stare blindly out the window. He didn’t deserve her trust.

  ‘And don’t you be feeling sorry for yourself, Matthew Seamus Mahoney. Sure and you’re the one left high and dry, and sad I am for you. Yes, I liked Andrea. She and you match and that’s a fact.’

  ‘Yeah, we match so well we strike sparks off one another.’

  ‘You think that’s bad? Sparks make a mar
riage exciting. Besides, the girl’s in love with you. Any fool can see that.’

  ‘No, Ma. She’s not. Look, our engagement wasn’t even real. I made — Andie agree to it by holding out access to the building as a carrot.’

  Ma put a hand to her chest and sat back. ‘Whatever for?’

  ‘So you’d come out for my engagement to see what sort of girl would take up with me.’

  ‘Interfering never rewards the meddler and I’m an old meddler indeed. Son, I planned to come out for a visit anyway. It was just, well — I’d seen Isla’s grandson just before I had that turn and it made me, you know, long to hold my own son’s bairn.’

  Lead weighed down his stomach. How could he have built up Ma’s hopes and never considered the worse aspect of letting her down at the end? And how could he ever have thought of starting something real with Trouble when he’d forced her into their deception? Somehow his good intentions had loused everything up. ‘You have the right to expect that from me. I know I can never replace Paddy, Ma, but I want to give you what you want.’

  ‘Matt! All these years and you’re still blaming yourself for Paddy’s death?’

  He gritted his teeth. ‘If I’d been properly responsible he’d be alive today.’

  ‘And just how do you figure that? Are you trying to lift all the blame for a dicky front latch on yourself?’

  ‘You sent him to me to look after and when he scared off the fish, I was too selfish to let him stay with me. I sent him home, Ma. To you. But that car—’

  Breath shuddered in his tight chest and he closed his eyes, hearing again the squeal of brakes, the shouts. The darkness he’d lived in since that day descended, clutching him in a cold grip.

  ‘Matt, no. Rascal that he was, he’d worked out how to open the gate. I didn’t send him to you.’

  ‘You’d fallen and hurt yourself. You sent him to me and—’

  ‘No, son. I fell chasing him when he ran away. I’d never send him to you. You think a nine year old should be expected to mind a boisterous bairn like Paddy? Daft you are. All this time, you’ve held yourself responsible but you’re wrong. Naught blame on you.’

  ‘But I should have—’

  ‘No, son, it was an accident that could have happened on his way out to the stream. It’s wasn’t your fault.’

  Like a dam wall bursting, grief for his brother and relief at Ma’s words rushed through him, merged and carried away the burden he’d shouldered all these years, leaving only sadness that he’d lost his brother. Sadness and regret that they’d not grown up together and shared all the fun that brothers did.

  ‘Matt?’

  Ma perched on the arm of his chair and stroked his hair off his forehead as she had when he’d been a child. Her touch was gentle and reassuring and filled with love for him.

  ‘Tell me about the building, why it was so important that you’d blackmail Andie to get it.’

  He held her hand, feeling her skin soft and loose under his fingers. ‘The house should have been yours. Your grandpa got cheated out of it by a de Villiers. When I heard it was up for quick sale, I bought it for you.’

  ‘For me? Did you think I missed it?’

  ‘Didn’t you?’

  ‘Son, I never lived in it. Or if I did, I was too young to remember.’

  ‘When you spoke about coming back to your home in Australia, I thought you meant—’

  ‘Oh, Matt, I meant to visit you. Home is wherever your loved ones are. That old pile of bricks and mortar could be a lovely home — if you lived in it with the right woman.’

  He laughed ruefully. ‘Seems I got a lot of things the wrong way round.’

  She rubbed his shoulder and leaned down to hug him. ‘There’s something you got right in all of this though.’

  ‘Tell me. I need the lift.’

  Her eyes twinkled and the shadow of a dimple appeared in her cheek. ‘You picked the right fiancée. Andie’s in love with you.’

  ‘I told you—’

  ‘— that she was acting a part. Can’t you see, she’s a hopeless actor. Her heart’s on her sleeve. That young woman has fallen for you and neither of you know it. And I’m pretty sure you’re in love with her. Think about why you, decent man that you are, took such an uncharacteristic action as blackmail. I’m going to make a pot of tea.’

  Quietly, she walked out to the kitchen.

  Love?

  He rubbed his chest and stared blindly into the darkness pressing against the window. Was it possible? Had he found the love of his life only to lose her through his stupid charade? Air whooshed from his lungs like he’d been run over by a truck. I’m in love with Trouble.

  Mind racing, he began planning his new campaign to win Andie back. Could he continue the pretence and buy time to convince her they could make a go of it? He wanted the engagement to be real. He wanted to marry Andie. For real.

  Chapter Twenty

  Andie checked the GPS on her phone and turned, keeping the Williamstown Station on her left. Narelle’s directions were good, but Andie’s sense of direction had led her astray enough times and now she doubted her ability to find her way out of a paper bag.

  Pity they don’t have an app for my love life. That could sure use a pointer in the right direction.

  She followed the screen directions until You Have Reached Your Destination marked success. She looked at the house standing on its half-acre block and her jaw dropped.

  Mahoney was offering them this?

  Mentally she ticked off the list Narelle had given her — wooden structure, two storeys, verandas, big shade tree in the back yard. She bent to check the street number on the letter box.

  It matched the street address on her phone notes.

  Despite needing lots of TLC, the house was perfect.

  Every bad thought she’d ever had about Mahoney vanished. In spite of the humiliation they’d heaped on him, the lies and the media farce, he’d really come through for them. If only she’d known how lovely this place was, how well suited to hosting young families in need of some stability and beauty in their lives, she’d have shelved her selfishness and accepted his offer in the first place.

  Why had she fought him on the city property?

  Because she’d put her need to prove herself ahead of The Shelter’s best interests.

  Because she hadn’t given him the time of day, or trusted that he might be doing the decent thing by them.

  Because she’d prejudged and found him wanting and then had the gall to complain he’d assumed all the wrong things about her.

  Shame washed through her as she admired the old home and huge garden. She could have at least looked before she’d flatly refused to move.

  Mahoney even offered to help us amend the application but my stubbornness nearly deprived us of this.

  She pushed open the wire gate and cringed at its squeal of protest. Mentally adding oil to her shopping list, she strolled around the side of the building. Even to her untrained eye, there were obvious repairs needed in places, more cosmetic than structural, she hoped. They’d have to move in quickly and she didn’t want accidents with rotted floorboards.

  Like at The Shelter.

  The old building wasn’t as child-friendly as this would be.

  Cool shade beckoned. She shaded her eyes. As they adjusted from the bright spring light, she saw an old plank swing hanging on ropes from the thick, almost horizontal bough of the tree. How long had it been there? The kids would love it but was it safe?

  She tugged on the ropes. There was a little give in them but they held secure. Before she realised what she was doing, she’d kicked off her sandals and set the swing in motion. Beneath her feet, each push into the long grass was cool and cushiony. Back and forward, higher and higher she soared.

  Sun, shade, sun.

  Eyes closed, she flew through the air, hair streaming out behind. Light, dark, light patterned on her closed eyelids. Heat and coolness alternated on her face.

  A delicious and long-lost sense of
freedom filled her. Memory flowed back — her mother in the park pushing her on a much more modern swing, her hands the safety net a young girl needed.

  Wrapped in memory, she stopped kicking and allowed the swing’s momentum to slow of its own accord. Eyes closed, she hooked her elbows around the ropes and linked her hands in front of her stomach to hold steady. Head resting on the rope, she listened. Birds twittered in the branches overhead, their song cheery. In the distance, cars zipped along a road and a train rumbled through the suburb.

  If only the application could be altered in time, this house could really be a haven to their families. A home.

  ‘Penny for them?’

  She grabbed the ropes of the swing, sure she was hallucinating his voice and opened her eyes. Her stomach lurched at the sight of Mahoney leaning against the trunk of the tree.

  Arms crossed, tie pulled down and top buttons undone to reveal tanned throat, he offered a half smile.

  ‘They aren’t worth even half a penny.’

  Under his close scrutiny she lowered her feet to the scuffed patch below the swing and stood. The dirt was cool and packed hard under her feet. She tightened her grip on the ropes and the plank swing pressed against the back of her thighs. Did she need anything more to assure her this was no dream and Mahoney was real? She straightened her shoulders and released her death grip on the ropes then smoothed down her pencil skirt, proud that her hands didn’t shake. At least, not much.

  Just what I needed — Mahoney seeing me on the swing like a kid.

  He couldn’t think any worse of her than he did.

  She stooped to grab her sandals and to avoid meeting his mocking gaze.

  ‘I was just checking it was safe for the kids. Can’t be too careful with unfamiliar equipment.’

  ‘I had similar thoughts. Figured I’d drive out this way and eyeball the property for myself. I wouldn’t want a negligence action from my tenants.’

  ‘About that. You’ve not mentioned anything about rent, or a contract. When do you want us to come in and sign it?’

  ‘Tomorrow will be soon enough. There’s a few things we need to discuss first. How about I show you inside then we can find a café and talk.’