by Jess Dee
At this, Adam looked up sharply. “And? Did you?”
Matt shook his head, and Adam could have sworn his friend smothered a grin. “No. I would have if she hadn’t been in such a hurry. Wanted to go and spend some time with her brother.”
“Good morning, ladies and gentleman, and thank you for flying Qantas, flight QF 411 to Melbourne.”
Adam returned his attention to the paper.
Matt leaned in a little closer and spoke over the voice on the intercom. “You never told me she was Tanner’s sister.”
“Never thought about it,” Adam lied.
“Our flying time today will be approximately one hour and thirty minutes,” the disembodied voice announced.
“How was the wedding?”
“Good.”
“That all?”
“It was a nice wedding.”
“Doesn’t say very much.”
“The bride looked radiant, and the groom smiled a lot. It was a happy day.”
Matt smirked. “You take a date?”
“Nope. Went alone.”
“If you’ll direct your attention to the front of the aircraft, our flight attendants will…”
“What about that Roberts woman? I thought you’d take her.”
Adam shrugged. “She’s history. Got a little too intense for my liking.”
“What about Lexi Tanner?”
“What about her?”
“You spend some time together at the wedding?”
“We spoke.”
“I’m sure you did.”
“Okay, mate, spit it out.” Matt had something to say—as always—and he wouldn’t rest until he’d said it.
“There aren’t many people I know around here who refer to you as Adam.”
It had to come back to bite him. “Your point being?”
“Point?” Matt shook his head. “No, my man, there’s more than one point here.”
The plane reversed from its parked position and taxied down the runway.
“Let’s do a quick inventory. First”—Matt held up a thumb—“you meet with a woman you should never have met with. Second”—index finger—“she talks you into a donation, which you agree to without running it past me or any other board member. Third”—middle finger—“it turns out the woman’s a looker, and she calls you Adam.” He lifted his ring finger. “Next, you go to her brother’s wedding without a date.” Then he grinned again and dealt his trump card. “The fifth and most noticeable point of all is that you looked like you wanted to beat the crap out of me when I mentioned I might ask her out.”
The plane shot down the runway and lifted off, the pressure forcing Adam back in his seat.
Why had he thought for one second he could hide his feelings from Matt? Then again, what was he hiding? The fact that he’d slept with Lexi? That was none of Matt’s business. The fact that Lexi was getting under his skin, regardless that he didn’t want her there? Not Matt’s business, either, but he seemed to be picking up on it anyway.
“In summary,” Matt continued, “what’s going on with you and Lexi Tanner?”
Damned if he knew the answer himself.
“I haven’t seen you this wound up about a woman in over ten years. What’s the deal?”
“Nothing.” Maybe if he said it out loud, he’d believe it.
Matt disregarded the response with a dismissive flick of his hand. “You like her.”
“I’m indifferent to her.”
“Then you won’t mind if I ask her out?”
Try, and I will kill you. “Not at all. Go ahead.” Adam buried his face in the newspaper, knowing his eyes had narrowed to dangerous slits.
“I’ll take her for dinner. Or on a romantic harbor cruise. Hey, would you mind if I borrowed the mountain loft for a weekend? Maybe she’ll spend a couple of nights there with me.”
“Over my dead body.”
Matt threw his head back and laughed. “Relax, brother. I’m not interested in her.” His tone changed. “You are, damn it. You like the woman. Do something about it.”
“You know that’s not a possibility.” Adam refused to look at him.
“I know you think it’s not an option. You’re wrong. The past is in the past. Let go, mate. You’ve had enough pain. It’s time to move on.”
Adam shot him an acidic look. He didn’t speak. Matt knew the pain hadn’t passed. It never would.
“Your life didn’t end ten years ago.”
“Yes.” Adam’s voice was as dead as his heart. “It did.”
“You have a chance to start over. Something’s telling you it’s time. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have reacted to Lexi. You would have filed her away with all the other numbers.”
He did react differently to Lexi. He couldn’t cut her out of his thoughts or his life. Something made him go back to her, repeatedly.
“Ad, give her a chance. Give yourself a chance.”
“I can’t do that.”
“Why not?”
They both knew the answer. Adam pursed his lips and remained silent. He didn’t trust his voice.
“You scared?” Only Matt would have the audacity to ask.
He grimaced. He was fucking terrified.
“Same old story, huh? You get involved, you get hurt.”
Shit, what did Matt think? That he was a selfish git? “Not just me, mate.” He’d already hurt Lexi enough.
“Ah.” Matt nodded. “You’re worried you’re going to break her heart. Chivalrous of you.”
The sarcasm wasn’t lost on Adam.
“She’s an adult,” Matt said. “She can make decisions for herself.”
Lexi was indeed an adult. He’d become intimately acquainted with just how adult she was. That didn’t mean letting her into his life was the right decision.
“We’re different. We want different things out of life.”
Matt looked surprised. “You know her well enough to know what she wants from her future?”
He had an answer for everything, didn’t he? “I know her well enough to know what’s important to her.” He didn’t have to be a rocket scientist to see what mattered to Lexi. People did. Lexi cared; AJ didn’t. Not anymore. That made for irreconcilable differences.
“You don’t have to have similar beliefs and thoughts to get along.”
“There has to be some common ground,” Adam countered.
“Mutual attraction isn’t common ground?”
That stumped him. He and Lexi shared a mutual attraction. He had no idea if she liked him, but she was attracted to him. His body stirred, and he subtly shifted the newspaper onto his lap before he embarrassed himself. “Attraction doesn’t last.”
“It doesn’t have to. I’m not asking you to marry the woman. I’m asking you to give her a chance. See where it goes.”
He wanted to give Lexi a chance, wanted to see where it would go, yet the very idea scared him shitless. What if she demanded things he couldn’t give? What if she began to care for him? Worse, what if he began to care about her?
Rubbing his hands over his perpetually tired eyes, he gave up. “Can I agree to think about it?” he asked, keen for Matt to drop the subject.
“Can you promise to do that?”
“If I do, can we change the subject?”
“We’ll talk about the Melbourne deal,” Matt agreed.
“Then I promise to think about it.”
Matt assessed him carefully. “Lewin agreed to the price, but he wasn’t altogether happy with the conditions attached. He wants affirmation that none of his staff will be compromised.”
“I can’t give him any guarantees.”
“Give him something. He’s giving you his company.”
“Three-month trial period. I’ll guarantee every job for three months. It’s up to each individual to prove his or her worth in that time. More than that, I won’t offer.”
“Sounds fair. We’ll run it by Lewin at the meeting.” He leaned forward and took out the in-flight magazine. “Inte
resting…” He flipped a page. “Very interesting…” Another page. “Hmmm…”
Adam finally snapped. “What the bloody hell is so interesting?”
“You’re giving a bunch of complete strangers a real chance, an opportunity to prove themselves, and yet…”
He knew he’d regret asking. “And yet?”
“And yet you’re not willing to give Lexi a second thought.”
“Change the subject.”
“Sure.” Matt flipped another page of the magazine. “This is the easy part of the negotiations. All I need is a signature. Simple, yeah?”
“Yeah.”
“So remind me what you’re doing here?”
Crap. Matt wasn’t going to let this rest. He knew his reason for going to Melbourne had nothing to do with business. He needed to get away from Sydney. Needed to put some space between himself and Lexi before he did something irrational. “Matt?”
“Yeah?”
“Let it go.”
“You’ll think about it?”
“I said I would.”
“I’ll let it go.” This time, he did.
Adam tried to focus on the headlines, but his concentration was shot. Promising Matt he’d think about Lexi hadn’t been hard. Forcing himself not to think about her was damn near impossible.
…
Adam stared dumbfounded at the woman standing before him. What was she doing in Melbourne? And what were the odds of bumping into her on the street like this?
“Tracey?” Apart from looking a couple years older, she’d hardly changed. A few lines around her eyes, a different hairstyle, and perhaps an air of maturity that hadn’t been there before.
“Don’t look so shocked, Adam. It’s just me.”
Just me? Did she have the foggiest idea what seeing his ex-wife did to him? It wrenched his heart and twisted his stomach and tortured his mind.
“What are you doing in Melbourne?” He had to stop coming here. Every time he did he bumped into a woman who shook him to his bones.
“Business trip.”
“Business?” She hadn’t been working last time he’d seen her.
“Yes. I’ve started up a clothing line for children.”
Logical choice. She had an eye for fashion and a way with kids. “How’s it going?”
“It’s doing well in Perth. Now I’m trying to bring the label to Melbourne.”
“And?”
“So far, so good. If the line proves successful here, I’ll take it to Sydney next.”
“Good luck. I hope it works out.” He did. He just didn’t want her in Sydney.
“Thanks. What are you doing here? I thought the business mogul never left his office.” Her voice held no malice, just gentle teasing.
“We’re purchasing a company here.”
“Are you still driving yourself so hard?”
Sure, the concern in her voice touched him—she was the one person who understood why he drove himself the way he did. Didn’t mean he wanted to stand around and chat. His mind already searched for an escape, an excuse to leave before she started asking questions.
“You know how it is. When there’s work to be done, someone’s got to do it.”
“I spoke to your mother the other day,” Tracey said. “She’s worried about you. She said you’re involved with another cancer charity.”
Fuck, couldn’t they make polite conversation about the weather? They hadn’t seen each other in years. Did she have to dive to the heart of the problem within two minutes?
“I’m not involved. Someone approached me for a donation. That’s all. Matt’s taking care of it.”
She touched his arm, left her hand there. “Even now, you can’t move on, can you?”
“How is my mother? Do you still see her regularly?”
Her brow puckered, and she frowned. “We meet every few months. I like the contact. We both do. It’s comforting.”
“Yeah, Mum always liked you.” Then, because he had to ask—even if it damn near killed him—he said, “How’s your family? How are Trent and the boys doing?”
She gave him a sad smile. “They’re wonderful. The kids are getting big now. Jason’s already five, and Corey’s going to be three next month.”
Adam knew that. He made it a rule never to forget her sons’ birthdays. Sent them gifts every year.
“You should come and meet them sometime.”
“I’m sure I will. One day.” He checked his watch. “My next meeting starts in ten minutes, and it’s three blocks away.”
She frowned again, her eyes filled with a familiar pain.
“Hey.” He impulsively hugged her. “It’s good to see you again.” He surprised himself by meaning it. It was nice seeing her. It wasn’t nice remembering everything he associated with her.
Tracey squeezed him tight. “You too, Ad. Take care.” She stepped back. “I mean that. Look after yourself.”
Adam nodded, gave a tight smile, and walked off.
“Send my love to Matt,” she called after him, and he lifted his arm in acknowledgement.
Her gaze cut into his back long after he’d turned the corner and walked out of her line of vision.
Chapter Ten
Lexi’s footsteps echoed through the empty offices, the odor of fresh paint sharp in her nose. The walls were now a mint green, the color chosen specifically for its soothing hue. She didn’t need to close her eyes to picture the place furnished. The couches and armchairs were being delivered next Monday—plump, inviting seats with bold, bright prints that would appeal to kids of all ages.
The new coordinator would also arrive on the same Monday. After extensive interviews, Lexi had found the perfect person to head up the program: Abbey Perkins, a young, dynamic social worker.
Someone knocked on the door, and she turned to the sound, expecting it. Matt had scheduled a meeting, and she was excited to update him on the progress.
Only it wasn’t Matt who stood in the doorway.
Adam.
He looked quite devastating.
He’d removed his jacket and tie and rolled his sleeves up to his elbows. Black hair covered his muscular lower arms and peeked over his shirt collar. A five o’clock shadow darkened his jaw and upper lip, and his icy eyes flashed in his tanned skin.
Her stomach lurched.
She hadn’t heard from him since the wedding, more than two weeks ago. In that time, he’d driven her completely bananas. Or rather, thoughts of him had driven her crazy.
Something had changed at the wedding. They’d managed to shelve the antagonism and turn the attraction into something sweet and sexy instead of cheap and ugly. They’d become…friends. Sure, the bond was fragile. Still, it was there. She’d found she genuinely liked him, and unless she’d misread him completely, she’d thought he’d begun to like her, too.
So why the freaking hell hadn’t he phoned? A simple hello would have sufficed, although a marathon session in bed—or out—would have been preferable.
She didn’t get him. One minute he’d act as frigid as his cold blue eyes, and the next, hotter than his naked chest. When he was plain Adam, with his traffic-stopping smile and gentle humor, she melted into a puddle on the floor in front of him.
He was an enigma. What went on in his head? He’d kissed and seduced her and then demeaned and belittled her. He’d chased her away and then begged her to return. He’d mocked her strategy and then supported her ideas. He’d, well…he’d driven her bananas.
What about the trauma buried in his eyes? She’d noticed it several times, and the ill-concealed pain left her reeling. Matt hadn’t just helped him through a “rough patch.” Anyone who housed so much sorrow, who hid so much grief, had to have been through hell.
Her heart ached for him. She longed to offer him comfort. Where would she begin? How could she soothe his pain when he wouldn’t let her in?
“Adam.” She groped around for a casual greeting, which wasn’t easy considering the startling array of backflips and somersaul
ts her stomach performed. “You’ve caught me by surprise. I expected Matt.”
“He couldn’t make it today.”
Bless the forces that kept him away. “I thought you’d decided to have nothing more to do with the program?”
He shrugged. “I was available.”
She had about an hour with him. She had no idea how she’d manage to spend that time without imaging him naked, but she’d damn well give it her best shot.
“How have you been?”
“Good, you?”
I waited around for days for you to phone and pretended not to be disappointed when you didn’t.
“I’m good, too,” she said as he pushed his hand through his hair, leaving it mussed and standing up a little.
Her heart did a three-point turn. That’s exactly how his hair had looked in the hotel after they’d made love for the umpteenth time.
“Uh, would you like to start the meeting by going over recent accomplishments? Or would you prefer a tour of the offices, seeing as you’re here anyway?” She wondered how he’d respond if she kissed him. Just stood on tiptoes and pressed her lips to his, like she ached to do.
“Makes sense to start with the tour.”
Something about the strained tone of his voice made Lexi peer up at him.
He looked paler than usual. The whites of his eyes were bloodshot, and frown lines crowded his mouth. Although still ridiculously sexy, he seemed tired and stressed, and he held his shoulders in a stiff line.
“Hey,” she said in a gentle voice, “you okay?” Tension radiated off him in waves. Adam glanced around the room.
“Hospitals make me uncomfortable.”
She sensed a wealth of unspoken thoughts. He wasn’t just uncomfortable. He hated everything about the place. “A lot of people feel ill at ease here,” she said empathically. Had he had a bad experience in hospital? Had he been sick?
His smile was tight. “How about you give me that tour? The less time I spend in this place, the better.”
Ouch. She knew he was talking about the hospital, but she couldn’t help taking the comment personally. He was here because he had no choice. Matt couldn’t make it, so he came instead.
She guided him through the rooms, bringing them to life as she detailed their future furnishings and functions to him.
