Walking ahead of him, she cast him a look over her shoulder. “Did you forget about our date?”
“What? Of course not. Just some personal business to take care of.” Resisting the urge to push her into the lounge, he politely gestured. “Take a seat while I get ready, I promise I’ll only be a few minutes.”
SJ was sitting on the sofa and Sam was sure the cat had a look of derision on his face as he regarded Sam. Not that he could blame him. Jesus, who forgot their date? What kind of a bloke was he?
Oh, that’s right, one who hadn’t wanted this date.
Cursing silently, he threw on clean slacks and a button down shirt, jerking on socks and lace-up shoes, pocketing his wallet and running a comb through his hair and tying it back neatly at the nape.
Longingly, he looked at his discarded sneakers, shorts and t-shirt. Man, he’d had plans to flop outside on the lawn chair and watch the stars come out. Dorothy wasn’t the kind of girl to enjoy that, no, she had a movie in mind, probably followed by dinner.
Ignoring SJ, who did all but sneer at him from his prime position on the sofa, Sam ushered Dorothy out the front door and down the steps, gallantly holding out his elbow for her to slide her hand through, rewarded by her smile and snuggling into his side as they walked to his car.
Shutting her car door after she’d taken a seat inside, he glanced across the roof to see Carly sitting in a chair under the tree, a glass of something cold in her hand, while Ed tinkered on his motorbike in the driveway and Crusher jumped after a butterfly.
Man, that was the life. He had a longing to go over there and sit beside Carly, watching the stars come out, chatting about anything or nothing. He just knew he’d have enjoyed that a whole lot more than going to a movie with a woman he didn’t really want to take on a date.
“Sam?” Dorothy called.
Rousing from his wishful thinking, Sam leaned down to peer at her through the window. “Yes?”
“We need to get a move on,” she said a trifle impatiently.
“Of course.” Striding around the car, he got into the driver’s seat and started the engine.
Reaching across, she placed a cool hand on his upper arm and squeezed. “I just know this evening is going to be…enlightening.”
“Really?” He blinked at her. “Is the movie a documentary?”
She blinked back at him. “What?”
“Enlightening, you said.”
Dorothy stared at him for several seconds before shaking her head slightly. “I meant afterwards.”
“We’re going to a museum or something after?”
Slowly, she sat back, and he could have sworn he heard her mutter, “Lucky you’re good-looking.”
Smiling inwardly, he put the car in gear and reversed out onto the road. Oh yeah, people thought he was a little on the thick side, but he saw more than they realised. He might be forced into this date, but he was going to ensure it stopped well before they returned to his house. If that meant playing as thick as two bricks, it was a small price to pay. No way was he going to be ‘enlightened’ by Dorothy. No way.
He couldn’t miss Ed’s laughing expression, but he didn’t care, not when Carly smiled at him and waved. He waved back and turned to face the front again, grinning widely until he realised that Dorothy was glaring daggers at him.
Oops.
But he wouldn’t have missed Carly’s smile for all the enlightenment in the world.
It was the simple pleasures in life that counted.
~*~
The next week was busy, but Carly was happier than she’d been in a long time. On the way home, she parked in the supermarket car park and went to the bank, moving along the street and paying a couple of bills. By the time she finished most of the people had left for the evening and the parking bays were deserted.
Stopping beside her car, she searched in her small bag for her car key.
“Hello, Carly.”
She knew that voice, the charm, the so-fake niceness. Spinning around, fury filled her when she saw him standing behind her, a medium-sized man, good-looking, neatly dressed in a business suit and tie. “Jonathon.”
He smiled at her, oozing charm, but the coldness of his eyes didn’t bode well. If only she’d recognised the nastiness they foretold before it had been too late. If only she hadn’t been blinded by his suave words and seemingly nice personality. Big mistake.
But now she knew, and she didn’t want anything to do with him. Turning back to the car, she started to fit her key into the lock, only to have his hand reaching around to grab the keys from her.
In time, she snatched her hand away, swinging around to face him. “What the hell do you want?”
“There’s no need for that attitude.” He looked down at her, the smell of alcohol on his breath. “You’re looking good.”
“What do you want?” she repeated.
“Why would you think I want something? Can’t an old friend say hello?”
She scowled. “We were never old friends. And we’re definitely not friends now.”
“Oh, come on, sweetheart. Don’t be like that.”
“I have nothing to say to you.” She turned back to the car door again, wanting to leave. Anger bubbled inside her, anger at both herself for being such a blind fool and at Jonathon for being such a lying, using bastard.
He touched her arm, his hand lingering, caressing, and she jerked away sharply. “Don’t touch me. You make me sick.”
“You didn’t think so before.”
“Before?” Shoving the key into the lock, she unlocked the door. “Before what, Jonathon? Before you cheated on me? Before you made me a laughing stock? Before I - oh, what did you call it? Provide you with an ‘amusing diversion?’” Jerking the key from the lock, she grabbed the door handle. “Shove off, Jonathon. I don’t want to see you again.”
Grabbing her arm, he prevented her from opening the door, leaning closer so that he blocked the way. Slowly, his gaze ran over her face and lower, his expression lewd. “I always liked how you ran hot.”
“I’m disgusted that it ever did,” she hissed. “But I’ve moved on. Now go away.”
He looked back at her face. “Not until we discuss something.”
“I’ve nothing to discuss with you.”
“I say we do.” Reaching out, he placed his hand on her shoulder and shoved her hard against the car door.
Heart starting to hammer at the distinct cruel look on his face, an expression she’d come to recognise too late, Carly glanced around frantically for help, but the car park was now empty, the only cars visible those in the staff parking bay partially hidden behind the supermarket. Early evening and the business section was quiet.
Only a miracle would help her now. Even so, she clenched her teeth, looked him right in the eyes and hissed, “Let go or I’ll scream.”
“And who will hear you?” He pressed closer, using his body to pin her to the car door. “Anyone passing will think this is a lover’s tryst. After all, no man, no matter how desperate, is going to be attacking a fatty in a car park, are they? No, even the nastiest of criminals would give someone like you a wide berth.”
Deliberately cruel, that was his way. It shouldn’t hurt, she now knew what he was like, yet his words cut. But she wasn’t going to show it, wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction.
Looking at him with disdain, all the while trying to still her thundering heart, she said calmly, with just a touch of a tremor, “Always an arsehole, Jonathon. You’ll never change.”
He sneered. “Still got a smart mouth on you, I see.”
“Smarter than your brain.” Okay, that was a weak shot, but it was the best she could manage with her heart thumping and skin crawling.
God, how could she have ever thought she loved this creep? That she could possibly fall for his charms, which she now saw as sleazy, his nature she now knew was grasping and greedy?
“If you don’t let go of me, I’ll call the cops.”
“And make a s
pectacle of yourself?” He sneered. “Or maybe of your uncle?”
If she called the cops, Ed would find out and he’d be after Jonathon. She couldn’t drag him into anything nasty. A bikie’s word against a suave business man’s wasn’t likely to go well. No, she wouldn’t call the cops, but Jonathon didn’t need to know that, so she simply lifted her chin and silently dared him.
In hindsight, it probably wasn’t the wisest decision.
In a sudden, savage move, he grabbed a handful of her hair, dislodging the neat bun she’d put it up in for work. As her hair fell around her shoulders, he twisted his fingers in the strands to jerk her head back, causing tears to spring to her eyes.
With a gasp of pain, she reached up to grab his wrist, only to have him grip hers in turn, only his grip was stronger, harder, and merciless.
All mocking fled, his eyes cold. “You’ve got something I want, Carly.”
Still she refused to show fear, even though she felt like falling to her knees and crying like a baby. “I can’t imagine what that could possibly be. After all, I don’t exactly fit your type, do I?”
“You always did have guts. I liked that about you.”
“Let me go.”
“Not until you give it back.” He jerked her head back harder, banging her against the car.
“Give what back?” Refusing to buckle before him, to give him the satisfaction of seeing her cower, she glared through her tears.
“I went around to the flat but you’d packed everything up, all neat and tidy, emptied it all. You have it, I want it.”
“I have nothing of yours. You didn’t live with me, remember?” She winced as his fingers tightened.
“Hey!” a voice shouted.
Swearing, Jonathon glanced over his shoulder.
Relief coursed through Carly as she followed his gaze to see two security guards coming towards them from the direction of the supermarket.
Turning back to face her, he said warningly, “You have three days to return it to me, Carly. Three days or I’ll come looking for you, and next time I won’t be so easy on you.” Releasing her hair, he grabbed the nape of her neck and jerked her face up to his. “Breath one word to anyone and you’ll be in a heap of trouble. I know people. Your interfering uncle’s motorbike shop will go up in flames, your nice new house will follow, and that stupid rat called a dog will go missing. So just you remember, Carly sweet, this is a lover’s tryst.” One smirk, a hard, bruising kiss on her lips, and he stepped away and loped back to an old, red, four wheel drive, getting in and driving away.
By the time the security guards arrived, Carly was in her own car, the engine started and her seatbelt on, her shaking hands on the steering wheel.
“Miss?” One of the security guards knocked on the window.
Mustering a trembling smile, she wound down her window and looked up into his concerned face. “Yes?”
“Was that man troubling you?”
“What? No.” She managed a laugh. “He’s a friend.”
The guard didn’t look convinced, his gaze travelling over her face, a frown creasing his brow.
“Really. He – uh, he gave me some good news.” Feeling sick even as she said it, she added, “I think he’s going to propose to me tonight.” She actually had to swallow the gag reflex.
The guard blinked, then grinned. “That would explain the way he was holding you, like he never wanted to let you go.”
“No, he didn’t.” They had no idea.
“Okay, then. Well, Miss, you have a lovely evening.” With a wink, he straightened and stepped back.
Carly couldn’t get out of the car park fast enough. Once on the street, she drove straight to the nearest pub, not wanting to go home, not trusting that Jonathon wouldn’t be watching, getting ready to track her home.
She also needed time to calm down before she went home and faced Ed, who’d take one look at her face and know that something had happened.
Pulling into the car park behind the pub, she turned off the engine, took several deep breaths, and wiped her face with her hands. No tears, all dry. She checked her face in the mirror. Apart from being pale, she didn’t look any different, but Ed would know and she couldn’t take the risk. He’d be after Jonathon like a shot, and no way was she going to risk Ed going to gaol on her behalf.
Grabbing her bag, she locked the car and entered the pub, making straight for the bar and settling on one of the empty stools.
“What can I get you, love?”
Not a drinker, Carly wondered if now was a good time to start, but she shook her head.
“You don’t want a drink?”
“I’m sorry. A Diet Coke, please.” She changed her mind. “No, make it a Coke, straight up.”
“Rough day?” Amusement sounded in the barmaid’s voice.
Glancing up from where she was hunting in her small bag for change, Carly found herself looking into a smiling face. The smile was warm and genuine, the curly hair a halo around her head, held back by a black bandana. The t-shirt she wore covered a flat chest, and tattoos wound up one arm. “Charlie?”
“Yep.” Charlie poured the Coke. “Ice?”
Realising that Charlie probably thought that Carly knew her name from hearing it in the pub, Carly debated whether to say something, unsure if it would be welcome or not.
She decided on caution. “Yeah. Rough day.”
Placing the glass of Coke on a coaster, Charlie winked. “Man problems?”
“Bloody oath.”
Laughing, she walked off to serve another customer.
Taking a sip of Coke, Carly watched her reflection in the mirror behind the bar. God, she’d thought leaving Jonathon behind had fixed all her problems. She should have known better. As for what he wanted, she had no idea. Should she ring him, demand he tell her? Shit no, she didn’t want to ring him, didn’t want anything to do with him, but if she wanted him out of her life permanently, she had to find whatever he thought she had in her possession.
Biting her lip, she slid the mobile phone from her bag and stared at the keys, her thumb hovering over the buttons as she debated on whether to call him or not.
A big mouthful of Coke and she quickly tapped in the number, having deleted it from her address book though not from her memory. That would take a little more time.
The phone rang on the other end and then the answering machine clicked in, Jonathon’s voice cool, charming. “Hi, you’ve reached Jonathon Allbright. Leave your name and number and I’ll call you back.”
No way. No way was she going to do that. Quickly she disconnected, snapping the phone shut and shoving it back into her bag.
Grabbing the Coke, she downed the remaining contents.
“Refill?” Charlie appeared.
“Yes, please.” Carly sighed. “Make it a Diet Coke this time, thanks.”
“Calming down?” Eyes twinkling, Charlie poured the Diet Coke from the tap.
“I don’t know about that.” Carly laughed, feeling just a little better at the other woman’s friendly understanding.
Placing the glass on the coaster, Charlie hesitated before slinging the tea towel over her shoulder and resting her hands on the bar. “I think I know you, and not from here.”
“You saw me at Ed’s shop.”
“Oh, yeah.” Retrieving the tea towel from her shoulder, Charlie started to wipe the bar. “You’re his niece, aren’t you? Carly?”
“Yeah.” Deciding she might as well stop avoiding the subject, Carly added, “I’m sorry about what happened the other night.”
Charlie cut her a glance. “You know, huh?”
“Kind of hard not to.” Carly shrugged. “Ed and I share a house.”
“Ah.” Charlie seemed to be about to ask something else, but then shook her head slightly.
Someone at the other end of the bar caught her attention and she walked off, but by the time Carly had almost finished her second drink, Charlie reappeared.
“Look.” Charlie bit her lip, but her
gaze was direct, if not a little challenging. “I like Ed.”
“Most people do.”
“Is he still hung up on his ex?”
“Depends what you mean on ‘hung up’.”
“I mean, is he still hankering after her?”
“No.” Carly met her gaze steadily. “No, he doesn’t want her back. He doesn’t want anything to do with her.”
“That’s what I thought, but…”
“Look, Ed went through some rough shit with his ex, she did a real number on him. But you need to get the story from him, it’s not mine to tell.” Carly leaned forward slightly, liking Charlie instinctively. “But I can tell you he’s an honest man, a trustworthy one. He’s worth the trouble of getting to know.”
Charlie looked at her for several seconds before smiling. “Is that so?”
“That’s so. Charlie, I can only add that he regrets what happened and he was looking forward to going out with you.”
“And you’re sure you can’t tell me anymore?”
Carly shook her head, hoping she wouldn’t regret it, but then Charlie nodded.
“Okay.” She flicked the tea towel off her shoulder and dabbed at a spot on the bar. “My bike’s in his shop, I was going to get my brother to pick it up.” She rubbed a particularly stubborn spot on the bar. “But I reckon I’ll go tomorrow instead.”
Carly relaxed. “I think that’d be a great idea.”
“Okay. Another drink?”
“No, thanks. I think I better head home.”
“Nice meeting you, Carly.” Charlie walked off to another customer.
Getting into her car, Carly sighed. At least one good thing had come out of the whole fiasco. Now, she had to go home and try to figure out exactly what Jonathon thought she had before trouble started.
Chapter 4
“Mate, you bombed on your date with Dorothy?” Max took a sip of iced coffee. “Seriously? The hot redhead?”
“I didn’t want to date her anyway.” Not bothering to mention that he’d bombed deliberately, Sam continued cleaning the dressing trolley.
“Yeah, but still. You could have jumped her bones.”
Seducing Sam Page 8
