by Anne Ashby
“So his suspicions are centred only on Murphy and her PA?”
“He wasn’t prepared to categorically say so just yet, but that was my impression. And that PA is acting very strangely. George intercepted her trying to gain access to the locked conference room this afternoon. She’s hiding something.”
“But Jase—”
“I specifically asked Terry about Jason. I know his possible involvement is concerning you.”
Debra swallowed the groan her mother’s choice of words evoked. “I am not concerned, Mother,” she ground through clenched teeth. “I just want—”
“I know exactly what you want, Deb, and I must say I approve wholeheartedly.”
This time the groan couldn’t be subdued. “Just tell me the moment you hear Jase might be implicated in any way at all.” Debra clicked off with Karin’s knowing little chuckle still echoing in her ear.
Debra was ready when Jase next tapped on the door. She’d spent most of the hour since talking to her mother lying in the bath. With a whole canister of bath salts foamed up around her, she’d forced her mind to empty of all contentious thoughts and images—particularly those of Jase McEwan. Instead she’d focused on pampering herself. Something she never took time to indulge in.
It had shocked her to realise Meg had been right. She’d forgotten how to relax. How to enjoy the basic pleasures of life. How to take a small moment out of a day and make it something for herself alone. With a cleared mind, she set out to relearn that lesson.
Calmness and serenity stayed with her, even as she opened her door to the attractive figure again dressed in his business suit. Her heart did give a little tremor at his lopsided smile, just to remind her of his potency, but with a deep breath she regained the control she’d acquired during the afternoon.
“You managed to find a willing drycleaner then?”
His smile broadened into a grin. “She was so very helpful.”
“What? Cleaned them while you waited?”
The knowing twitch of his eyebrow ignited jealous thoughts before she steadied them. So what if he stood around pants-less while some woman cleaned and pressed his trousers? It had nothing to do with her.
“How’s the headache? All gone?”
Debra glanced at him as he pocketed her key card. His sceptical tone suggested he’d never believed her excuse. Jutting her chin out a little, she touched a finger to her temple. “Much better, thank you. A nice long soak in the bath did wonders.”
Now it was her turn to see him disconcerted. He cleared his throat and took her arm in a very courteous manner as they walked along the hotel passageway.
A tiny smile played around Debra’s mouth. Perhaps he’d been doing some hard thinking too, during the afternoon. Perhaps he’d realised they’d been fast approaching a rough and uncertain terrain and it was time to apply the brakes.
She told herself she was relieved. Unperturbed. Glad. She didn’t want the evening to turn into a struggle to keep her dignity.
She told herself his touch on her back as she was ushered out of the lift was merely polite. His guidance toward the bar area was impersonal. His introduction to the three Japanese businessmen was formal and business-like.
She was relieved.
****
Jase stared at his hostess. Without any apparent effort she’d soon had the Japanese men hanging on her every word. He readjusted his position in the comfortable seat, knowing the others were hardly aware of his presence. A tingle of annoyance surfaced before he acknowledged Debra was doing a far better job of promoting the hotel—he assumed that was what they were talking about—than he ever could with his very limited command of the Japanese language. The interpreter occasionally shared a snippet of the conversation with him, but generally, he was captivated by the vivacious Debra.
With little chance of purloining centre stage, Jase watched, his mind shifting to other times when Debra had surprised him. Here, tonight, she seemed in her element. Gone were the nerves she’d displayed in the dining room, the clumsiness of her service, the uncertainty of how to perform as a waitress.
No, here she commanded not only the conversation, but everything around her. It was not only her appearance that held the men enthralled. The strength of her personality shone like a lighthouse beam through a misty night.
Jase rubbed the deepening groove across his forehead. Who was she? And more importantly, what was she doing masquerading as a waitress in his hotel? It didn’t make sense.
No-one would be interested in acquiring insider information about Riversleigh, surely? And no-one would pick such an out-of-the-way resort to infiltrate the company for some nefarious reason. He shook his head. Anyway, Debra didn’t strike him as the corporate spy type. There had to be some other explanation.
Later Jase managed to curb his excitement under a mantle of what he hoped was polite sociability as they bid goodnights to their guests. Even as the lift doors closed him and Debra into their own world, he managed to withhold his exhilaration, instead expressing a relieved sigh.
However, along the hallway to their rooms his exuberance exploded and he leapt up and walked his hands along the ceiling. Touching the floor again some feet ahead of Debra he now didn’t hide his grin.
“That was fantastic.” He grabbed hold of her waist and lifting her up swung her around and around while she clutched hold of his shoulders, squawking at him to put her down. “You were fantastic.” His hug showed his excitement.
He’d meant it as a friendly gesture, nothing more. But her warmth, the feel of her bare shoulders right under his chin, her clinging fingers—the sensations were toying with all of his good intentions.
To re-focus, he slid his hands up and clasped her face between his fingers. “Where did you ever learn to play people like that?” He gazed into her eyes and her sudden wary look and struggle to break eye contact added to his suspicions.
“You were like the most accomplished...you had those guys eating right out of your hands.” Despite his growing annoyance at her duplicity, having her with him tonight might have clinched the biggest promotional deal he’d ever attempted. He was man enough to acknowledge her efforts, and show his appreciation.
“You were incredible. I’ve never seen anything like it before. How did you do it? Are you some kind of PR guru or something?”
“I-I—”
“Don’t bother telling me you’re a waitress, Debbie. We both know you’ve never waited on anyone in your life.”
“Ahh, umm.” Her lids covered whatever her eyes might have given away.
He wished she’d be honest with him but as she struggled for words, he knew she had little intention of revealing anything of herself to him.
“You’ve said your job was exciting and challenging...” She made no attempt to fill the pause he left hanging.
“This can’t go on, Debbie.” He grasped her chin. “You must know that. You’re an intelligent lady.” Finally her eyelids shot up and he looked into her guarded eyes. His clasp on her chin turned into a caress while his other hand cupped the back of her head.
Half expecting her to pull away, or even kick him where it hurt most, he leant forward slowly and deliberately, his gaze never leaving hers. A pensive shadow clouded her eyes but her face never wavered, her lips never evaded capture.
He let his tongue trace across the soft fullness of her lips and felt the shudder race through her. His own body responded with a resounding leap to attention and he crushed his mouth down on hers. For moments he forgot everything but the effect her proximity was having on him.
Sweat beaded the cotton shirt to his back, his mind soaring from kisses and groping hands to much greater intimacy, where tangled limbs and sheets and sweaty bodies would achieve escape and release.
Debra’s fingers were tugging at his shirt when the ping of the lift and people’s laughter put him on guard. Reality crashed quicker than the deluge from a thunderstorm. He groaned. He had her pinned against the wall in a hotel hallway, her skirt hit
ched half up to her waist.
Before she even seemed aware of his withdrawal, he grabbed her arm and hustled her along the hall, keeping her in front of him and out of sight of the guests stumbling and laughing along toward them. Swiping the key card, he opened Debra’s door and dragged her inside.
“I’m sorry.” His voice was stiff. Guilt niggled. Rumours could get picked up and blown out of all contexts. Reputations could be affected or destroyed by thoughtless behaviour. “I don’t think they saw you.”
Debra looked at him, her head tilted to one side, fingers against her mouth. Her swollen mouth, Jase couldn’t help but notice. Damn. Why doesn’t she say something? Or at least stop looking at me like that. He tossed the key card on top of the television set and took a step toward the door. But he swung around and stalked back to grab her arms.
“Tomorrow, Debbie,” he grated through clenched teeth. “When we get back to Riversleigh we’re going to have a long talk.” He glared at her rising colour. She’d understood, all right. Tomorrow he’d find out who the hell she was. “I’m serious.”
Again she made no attempt to evade his hovering lips. “Then we can decide where this chemistry is taking us.”
****
Debra’s wobbling legs barely held her upright as she stumbled to the bed. The trembling of her hands didn’t even register for a moment as she stared down at them before burying her face in their dubious asylum. The excitement exploding through her in the hallway had turned to frozen basalt rock moments before.
She groaned deep in her throat. She hadn’t even heard those people. Her face burned even hotter as she acknowledged they could have found her and Jase in a very embarrassing situation if it had not been for his sensitivity. She buried her face into her pillow, another groan smothered as she recalled her abandonment.
Moments later she leapt off the bed and stormed into the bathroom. What is the matter with me? I’m the ice maiden from hell.
With a jerk the shower spewed out water and she threw off her clothes and stepped under the scalding water. Even with its heat, she shivered.
Tears built up. With no-one to see or care, she gave in to the urge to let them fall. They ran faster and faster, hiccupping sobs accompanying their journey. Shower water washed them away as she slumped against the wall, arms clenched across her stomach to ward off the pain. But nothing eased the ache deep inside.
Jase might think talking tomorrow would solve their disparity. She almost laughed at this absurdity. Finding out who she was would drive a wedge between them neither could hope of overcome.
Even if by some unlikely chance he mightn’t be disillusioned by her actions...her heart raced at the possibility, before common sense reminded her of the lesson she’d learnt at Roger’s breast. She didn’t have what it took to even attract a man, let alone hold onto one.
With the water extinguished, she let out one last shattering sigh. Debra dried herself and crawled into bed. It wasn’t her naked body against the cold sheets causing her shivers.
Drawing her knees up to her chest she concentrated her mind on anything but the man through the wall—the man whom she wouldn’t have stopped if he’d shown any interest in spending the night in her bed.
A hiccupping sob escaped despite her fist clenched against her mouth. Jase hadn’t wanted to sleep with her. Why should he? She had nothing to offer him—or any other man. She was destined to carry this emptiness within her forever.
****
The resort seemed unusually quiet when they arrived. Jase was pleased with the welcome his reception staff extended to his important guests. The three Japanese businessmen appeared to have enjoyed the tour around the Southern Scenic Route. Now Jase had to ensure they were impressed with the facilities Riversleigh could provide. As he saw the men to their rooms, Jase suggested they meet in the dining room in an hour. Debra disappeared on the tail of his request that she join them for a late lunch.
George appeared from the dining room and followed Jase to his office. “Philippe is preparing something special. If they’d like a bit of pampering after lunch I’ve teed up the spa staff.”
“I’ve also booked them in for a round of golf if you’d like to conduct some business there.” George winked before a frown gathered on his brow.
“You look tired, Jase,” George gripped his arm. “You okay? I hope you found Debra helpful? They seemed quite comfortable chatting with her.”
Too comfortable. Jase squirmed, stepping away from George in case his face showed his reaction to Debra’s compatibility with the men he needed to impress. His desire to keep her to himself had fought a desperate battle with his need to cultivate the possible business these men could create for the hotel.
“She was fine.” Fine? He turned a sour laugh into a spluttering cough. How about amazing?
In the space of twenty-four hours Jase had seen so many facets of Debra’s personality it made him even more confused as to who she was. His fists tightened.
She was hiding something. He’d gained the impression she hid something specifically from him. It bugged the hell out of him that she’d evaded all his questions. One thing he did know, though. She was no waitress.
Dragging his mind away from how soft she’d felt in his arms last night, he plonked himself down behind his desk, slumped into his seat, and spun it around so he faced the window. He didn’t notice George leaving until the door clicked shut.
Threading his fingers through his hair, he swore. Everything piled in on him. Forget Debra’s impact. That’s what I have to do...hell he couldn’t even think straight when she was around. And when she wasn’t, her touch and smell still invaded his mind. The frustration of having her avoid him yesterday, instead of...
Erupting from his chair, it slammed backward into his desk. Tomorrow’s another day. Time enough then to decide what he would do about Debra. Fire her, to begin with. Then take her back in his arms...
Bloody hell. He had to concentrate of his job right now. He needed to impress these Japanese guys, to drum up new business, to fix the Philippe problem, to fix the Madeline problem. He thumped his desk.
Madeline was due back in a couple of days. Perhaps if he prayed hard enough, some disaster might hit Head Office?
He shook his head. No outside force was about to solve his problem. It was up to him.
His knuckles whitened. A tight rein and sage advice from his parents early in his rugby career might mean he was now financially secure, but this job meant more than the salary he earned.
He’d chosen to study tourism, and specialised in hotel management because it was full of change. Dealing with the huge variety of people and problems, the uncertainty of what might happen each day was what got him out of bed each morning.
Fingers slashed through his hair again. He couldn’t quit Riversleigh. His family needed him nearby for emotional support. No flash of genius occurred. He swore as he turned to pace the floor. While he had to consider the possibility of resigning, he’d be damned if he’d let Madeline Murphy win without a fight.
While he’d managed to placate Philippe, the chef was biding his time until the manager returned. Hell, the whole staff was biding their time and waiting for the expected fireworks.
He still had at least two days. He could come up with a plan—
His heart gave an almighty thump as his door burst open. Only Madeline dared...he swung around, his chest tightening. A tornado in the shape of Madeline’s PA burst into intense, incoherent babble while waving a piece of paper under Jase’s nose.
“Calm down, Claire. What’s the matter?” Jase grabbed her arms and gave her a sharp little shake that stopped the babble and rendered her speechless instead. Jase pressed her into a chair and took the paper she continued to wave.
Some words of the email bounced out and hit him.
The bitch!
With unsteady legs he slumped onto the edge of his desk. With a deep breath he slowly and carefully read the dictum from Head Office. It came from as high as possible, De
bra Laurie.
Madeline! That bloody bitch! She’d gone up to Wellington and somehow got into the ear of Debra Laurie and convinced her to order the auditing of Riversleigh.
Riversleigh didn’t need auditing. It needed a mutiny.
Jase fumed. Wait...if Debra Laurie had ordered this investigation, had Madeline said something out of line while she was at Head Office? Was this being done behind her back on purpose? Were they holding her in Wellington on some pretext while they scrutinized Riversleigh?
Yet again, had she asked for their help, implicating some wrongdoing? Jase leapt from his perch. If she’d suggested misbehaviour, he knew whom she’d have put in the line of fire. Madeline’s return now meant more pressure than he could ever have anticipated.
For a moment, intense anger stormed through his body, blinding him. His heart pumped rage to every pore as he grabbed the phone. He had to find Madeline Murphy and demand answers. Wound tighter than a spring he punched the numbers in the email’s signature block.
With difficulty he kept his voice even as he introduced himself to the woman on the other end, Debra Laurie’s personal assistant.
“This audit? Ms. Murphy gave no indication she would be instigating an audit. I would like to consult with her—”
“Ms. Laurie ordered the audit, Mr. McEwan, not Madeline Murphy.”
Jase felt his mouth drop open, just for a second before he controlled it. “If I had some idea of—”
“I believe there has been discussion about findings reported by Peter Robinson which Ms. Laurie had concerns about.”
Jase interjected. “If I could speak to Ms. Laurie, perhaps I could alleviate the need—”
“Ms. Laurie is out of the office at present. The auditing staff has the matter well in hand. I suggest you continue to give them every assistance. Goodbye Mr. McEwan.”
Jase was left with beeping in his ear—and a very clear threat. The phone still clasped in his hand he looked from the email to the very nervous figure of his boss’s PA. He hoped his voice sounded normal. “This came in yesterday morning?”
