Falling In Love Again

by Marilyn Forsyth

  Chapter 19

  Propped up on an elbow, Jamie watched Gem as she slept. She was so beautiful, hair a tousled blonde mess and lips still deliciously swollen from last night’s lovemaking. The scent of their intimacy lingered on her skin, stirring a warmth that thrilled over and through him, raising goose bumps on his arms. He heaved a deep, happy sigh; he’d never felt so drained, so at peace and yet, at the same time, so exhilarated in his life. And all thanks to this gorgeous woman snuggled among the sheets next to him, her breathing calm and regular, looking as innocent as a new-born kitten.

  No one else had ever done to his insides what she did to him, made him feel what he felt for her. It wasn’t until he thought she’d leave that he’d realised how much he needed her. She’d brought sunshine back into an existence that relied far too much on work to see him through.

  And he loved her. Never wanted to be without her again.

  The only hurdle still to face was whether or not she’d be any more willing now than she had been so far to accept that he couldn’t sell Gracie to Museum Australasia. If she wanted the same future he planned for them, then she would. With the opal dealer due tomorrow, it was only a matter of twenty-four hours until he’d know one way or the other if he could afford to buy the house for Harry.

  It’d be hard to leave here, but at least living in Sydney he’d be closer to Gem, closer to creating a family to call his own ... with a ready-made son.

  Nerves started to get the better of him as his thoughts shifted to Drew. That little boy had been through a lot. Having witnessed the emotionally abusive relationship between Gem and Devane for most of his six years, would he be happy to accept a new man in his mother’s life?

  Should they tell him upfront that Jamie was his real dad? He roughed a hand over his chin. Would his son even like him? Heavy questions; ones that’d be answered in the fullness of time but, meanwhile, he’d take comfort in knowing that he’d make a far better father than the professor ever had.

  A sleepy, contented sound came from beside him. Gem stretched out both arms, one coming to rest across his ribcage. Her eyelids flickered open and she smiled up at him, her eyes warm with love, drinking him in. His heart twisted in his chest; as long as she continued to look at him like that, everything would be all right.

  He kissed her; a long, lazy kiss, holding her face and stroking her cheek with a thumb. ‘Morning,’ he whispered, his lips still pressed to hers.

  Her mouth curved into a grin beneath his. ‘Morning.’ Without warning she rolled on top of him, pinning both his arms with her hands. Then she lowered her head and spread butterfly-kisses over his chest, her hair tickling his skin as she moved.

  ‘Whatever it is you want from me, I give up.’

  She sat up. ‘So easily?’

  ‘What can I say? I’m putty in your hands.’

  One hand went under the sheet. ‘Liar.’ She grinned.

  They laughed together without holding back, the joy she exuded so genuine that it almost stalled his breath. The old Gem was back, the girl he’d first known, irrepressible and full of life, and he had re-awakened that. If he hadn’t still been pinned beneath her he would have pumped a fist in the air. Instead he tipped her to one side to pull her into the curve of his arm, her head coming to rest on his shoulder. She felt soft and warm and he didn’t want to let go of her, ever. She was what he’d been looking for all his life. If only he’d realised it back when.

  ‘I wish I’d found out about Drew earlier.’ Holding her tightly to him, he kissed her forehead. ‘Things could have been so different for us.’ But he hadn’t known, and now all he could do was use this second chance he’d been given to try to make it up to her. ‘Can I take another look at your photo of him? The one you showed me before?’

  ‘I’ll do better than that.’ She moved out of his arms, grabbed her handbag from the bedside table, burrowed into it and emerged, triumphant, with her phone. Then she melted back into him and seconds later held up the screen.

  There he was: his son. Their son.

  ‘Isn’t he gorgeous?’ He could hear the smile in her tone.

  The eyes that stared out at him from under the shaggy blonde fringe were dark and seriously intent, and so much like his own—he recognised that now. But the tilted-up nose and the sweet expression were Gem all over. He’d thought Drew a cute kid before, but now he’d suddenly become the most beautiful child he’d ever laid eyes on. Pride filled his chest as Gem flicked through the rest of the photos: Drew riding his pushbike, holding up a certificate from school, blowing out the candles on a birthday cake, hugging his mum.

  ‘He’s ... ’ Unexpected emotion took over his vocal chords and he shrugged, totally unable to articulate the depth of his feelings.

  ‘He’s what?’ Gem asked, her bright-blue eyes dancing with love and delight.

  ‘He’s ... sensational.’ And he was; Drew was the best gift he’d ever been given.

  The reality, the massive impact of his situation was finally sinking in. He had a child. His life was changed forever. A sense of fulfilment, a kind of ... wholeness, engulfed him and he looked at Gem with a new understanding. Nothing in the world would ever be as important as becoming the best father, the best partner he could be, and right now, he was prepared to cut his heart from his chest and offer it to them both.

  ‘That little face brings me joy every day and makes my life worth living.’ She swiped away a tear. ‘And I miss him to pieces!’

  ‘Tell me about him.’

  She pushed herself up, her back against the bedhead, her face radiating pleasure. ‘Oh Jamie, he’s such a good little man. Well behaved and bright and tender-hearted and brave. I’ve been afraid that the toxic environment of those impressionable early years might have left scars, but apart from being very protective of me, so far no signs of long-term damage.’

  ‘I can’t wait to meet him.’ The longing in his own voice almost overwhelmed him.

  She placed the fingers of one hand under his chin and raised her eyes to his, silently searching. ‘I know. But you and I still have an awful lot to work out before you do.’

  They did, and he couldn’t put off any longer telling her his intentions regarding Gracie; they’d promised honesty to one another from here on in. ‘The, uh, the opal dealer arrives tomorrow.’

  She pushed slightly out of his embrace. ‘Oh.’

  ‘I know this’ll be hard for you to hear; I’m having trouble accepting it myself. I’m going with my original plan to sell Gracie to him if the price is right.’ He steeled himself for her response.

  She flashed him a horrified look. ‘No, Jamie. Please. You can’t let her be destroyed.’

  He roughed a hand through his hair, his emotions a mixture of desperation and the sad awareness that he really had no choice. ‘God knows I don’t want it either, Gem, but it’s the only viable option.’

  ‘Can’t we talk—’

  ‘What’s the point? We can talk till the cows come home but it’s a debate neither of us can win. I still need to pay Harry back, and I plan to have a life together with you and Drew. If you want that as much as I do, the only way it can happen is for me to get as much money for Gracie as possible, buy back the house, sell up here and move to Sydney. You know I’m right.’

  There, he’d said what needed to be said and, not wanting to spoil the peace of the morning any further, he kissed her before she could respond. Her lips parted beneath his and all that mattered for the moment was the softness of her sweet mouth. When the kiss ended they wrestled playfully for a few minutes, almost upsetting the bedside table, and he caught sight of the time.

  ‘I don’t want to,’ he groaned, ‘but I have to get up.’

  ‘I thought Harry was on duty this morning.’

  ‘He is, but I want to make sure everything’s set up and ready for the dealer.’ He gave Gem a sideways glance as he yanked on the jeans retrieved from the messy pile of clothing beside the bed. Her eyes silently pleaded with him and he couldn’t hold her ga
ze. He turned away, dragging his t-shirt over his head. ‘It’ll all work out for the best,’ he said with a certainty he didn’t feel. ‘I ... I better go.’

  * * *

  It was amazing how empty the room seemed without Jamie’s presence, but the musky masculine scent of him clung to her and she could still taste him on her lips. The new sense of partnership they’d established while discussing Drew this morning, set against Jamie’s troubled expression, hollow words of assurance and reluctance to let her go just now, combined to form an ache in Gemma’s chest. An ache caused by too many feelings needing to be sorted at once.

  She flopped back into the pillows, thinking back over all the ramifications of his decision to sell Gracie to the opal dealer. He was so persuasive, and every word he said made sense, but her own call of duty remained strong; she owed it to Angela and to the museum to secure the fossil. Didn’t she?

  Or did she?

  Everything she was and everything she’d wanted only a week ago had been shaken to its foundation in the reawakening of her feelings for Jamie. For the first time in a long time she could almost believe in dreams coming true, and she knew she wanted Jamie in her life—and in Drew’s life—forever.

  But did her own dreams and desires outweigh saving something as precious as the fossil?

  Her thoughts travelled back to the night before. Even though she’d been exhausted by all that had happened during the day, the motor that ran her mind hadn’t allowed her to rest. Into the early hours she’d watched Jamie as he slept after they made love. He looked gorgeous, peacefully asleep, and for a few seconds she’d wanted desperately to stay in that moment; to keep the door locked, shutting out the rest of the world with all its attendant problems.

  But that was never going to solve anything.

  Restless and unable to sleep, she’d decided she needed time alone with Gracie. Slipping from the bed she’d located Jamie’s jeans and removed the key from the ring attached to his belt loop. Once inside the cellar, the eerie silence, together with the spectacular sight of the plesiosaur, had resulted in a goose-bump breakout and set her brain once again whirring.

  She had no idea how they were going to do it, she only knew she had to prevent Gracie being dismantled. What was at stake was monumental. This treasure was something the rest of the world needed to see. Later, back in her own room, she’d dropped the key onto the bedside table before easing under the sheets and into the warmth of her lover’s arms.

  Wham!

  The door flew open. Jamie stood in the doorway, ashen-faced, the muscles along his shadowed jawline flickering in agitation. Foreboding washed over her as he stormed into the room.

  She pushed herself bolt upright in the bed. ‘What is it? What’s happened?’

  ‘Gracie’s gone.’

  ‘What do you mean, gone?’

  ‘The door to the cellar was wide open. Gracie’s disappeared, glass case and all.’ He closed his eyes and kneaded the bridge of his nose between forefinger and thumb. ‘No sign of forced entry. And my key’s missing.’

  Gemma scanned the bedside table. What the hell? No key!

  His gaze followed hers. ‘I wouldn’t have left it there. I always keep it on me.’

  She wrapped her arms around his waist, leaned her head into his broad shoulder. ‘I’m sorry, I should have mentioned that I borrowed it last night. You were dead to the world and I didn’t think you’d mind if I took another look at Gracie.’

  His body stiffened beneath her touch. Strong hands tightened around her arms and he pushed her slightly from him. ‘Why?’ he asked, eyes narrowed.

  ‘I was trying to find a solution, some way of saving her and—’

  His words cut across hers. ‘You made sure you locked up properly when you left?’

  Something about his tone, something almost accusatory, sent a shiver scuttling up her spine, and for a fraction of a second she thought she detected what looked frighteningly like doubt in his features. ‘Of course I did, Jamie.’

  ‘And you did bring the key back with you?’

  The interrogation in his dark eyes didn’t help with the unease that was beginning to churn within her. She may have been tired last night but she was pretty sure she’d had the key in her hand when she returned to the room. She nodded slowly.

  ‘So where is it?’ The demand shot from him.

  Her knees gave way and she sat down hard on the bed. ‘I—I don’t know. I put it there. I’m sure I did.’

  Jamie snatched up her dress and underwear from beside the bed and shook them out one by one. They both searched the surrounding carpet with their eyes. Nothing.

  A heavy silence hung between them for long seconds as he avoided looking at her. Then he slumped to the bed next to her, his broad shoulders sagging. ‘I don’t know how she could’ve just disappeared,’ he said finally, levelling his voice with an almost visible effort, ‘but I’m not blaming you.’ His mouth, pinched into a bitter line, spoke the opposite, or was she seeing it that way because of the foreboding that tugged at her mind, the inexplicable guilt she felt? She had locked up properly—she had!

  Frustration and self-doubt paralysed her; she didn’t know what to say or how to comfort him. This whole thing was a nightmare. A terrible grief began building inside and she had to suck in air, hardly able to breathe with the effort of holding back tears. Gracie’s disappearance had so many repercussions—for Jamie, for her, for their future.

  ‘Devane!’

  The word cut through her thoughts, scattering them like dandelion seeds in the wind. ‘What? What do you mean?’

  ‘It has to be the professor who took her,’ he said, his voice icy with anger. ‘He’s the only one who makes sense.’

  ‘But how could he—’

  ‘I have no idea.’ He stood and looked down at her, neck corded and square jaw locked in place. ‘But I intend to find out.’

  ‘What are you going to do?’ she called after him as he headed for the door, unsure she really wanted to know.

  ‘Confront the bastard.’ He yanked the door open.

  The already fast beating of her heart escalated to a gallop. ‘Jamie, I know what you think of Roger but, please, please, don’t do anything you’ll regret. We don’t have any proof he did it.’

  ‘Are you defending him?’ She flinched inwardly under the glare he turned on her.

  ‘No! I just don’t want you getting into a physical fight with him. I’ve seen you in action. There’s no doubt you could beat him to a pulp but he’ll make certain he pays you back in the end.’

  ‘Yeah, well,’ he said, shifting his gaze away from her and opening the door, ‘point taken, but I’ll do whatever it takes to locate Gracie.’

  Before she could form a reply, he’d gone. Not wanting to think too much about what Jamie might be prepared to do to Roger, Gem had a quick shower and threw on a dress. As she moved the bedside table back into place, a glint in the carpet caught her eye. She reached down and picked up the key.

  * * *

  Too many thoughts were running about like rabbits inside Jamie’s head to even grab onto one, let alone deal with it. How had the door come to be unlocked unless Gem hadn’t locked it properly? Or had she inadvertently left the key in the door? Who else knew of Gracie’s existence, or where she was kept, apart from the professor?

  Suddenly the stark reality of Gracie’s disappearance hit him with a blow to the mid-section. He put a hand out for the wall, cold tremors crushing his chest. If Devane had done anything, anything, to Gracie—if he’d removed her from the case, dismantled her in order to hide her in his luggage—he’d hurt him. Badly.

  The skin on his scalp tightened, the expanding heat of his anger simmering only just below the surface. He hadn’t wanted to cause Gem any further distress by ignoring her pleas not to use physical force on the professor, but her warning about payback had fallen on deaf ears. He needed immediate answers to questions and if they weren’t forthcoming he was prepared to do whatever it took to get them—in th
e same way he’d been primed to demand answers from Gem when she confessed to taking his key, even at the risk of upsetting her.

  From the way the colour had washed from her face, he knew he’d sounded accusatory, but how could he not, when he’d been struggling to contain his frustration and despair at what could prove to be the death of his dream?

  Rounding the corner, Jamie encountered Devane exiting his room, suitcase in hand and arguing with someone behind him. Slade followed him out through the door.

  What the hell was that jerk doing here at this time of the morning?

  ‘You owe me!’ Slade’s raised voice and upswept arms screamed belligerence.

  ‘We went through this last night.’ The professor started wheeling his oversized suitcase down the hall. ‘I owe you nothing. The deal fell through.’

  ‘Where’s your proof?’ Slade fired after him.

  Devane caught sight of Jamie and gestured a dismissive thumb his way. ‘Ask him.’

  The ratter scowled at Jamie as he bore down on them. ‘Well? Did you sell the fossil to this guy?’

  In no mood to pussyfoot around, Jamie positioned himself in front of the professor. ‘No, I did not.’

  The professor turned to poke Slade in the chest. ‘What did I tell you?’

  Slade’s lip curled in contempt. ‘Last time I’ll do anything for you or your boss.’

  Devane gave a don’t-care shrug before turning back to eye Jamie up and down. ‘Here, take this,’ he said, shoving the suitcase at him. ‘Your motel’s a dive, but I can’t fault the service.’

  When he tried to pass, Jamie blocked his way. ‘Not so fast.’ His heart hammered in his chest and he had to dig his fingernails into his palms to stop from letting go a punch. ‘Where is she?’ he demanded, unprepared for how desperate he sounded when the words emerged. Blood throbbed in his ears, through his cheeks and behind his eyes, and his throat felt tight with fear.