by Anna Jacobs
The trouble was, he was devastatingly attractive in this mood.
‘Haven’t you finished unpacking yet?’
His voice from the doorway made her jump in shock. ‘Sorry. I was miles away.’
‘Would you like to go for a swim?’
‘Oh! I – um, didn’t bring my swimsuit.’ On purpose. It was elderly and faded, not something she wanted him to see her in.
‘There’s a shop in the lobby. We can buy you one there – or better still, a bikini.’ He grinned. ‘I bet you’d look great in a bikini.’
‘I couldn’t possibly!’
‘What? Buy a swimsuit? Or wear a bikini?’
‘Both.’ She was far too big for a bikini. She’d lost a lot of weight during her illness, but still wasn’t the size or shape to wear a bikini. Too many curves.
‘Then I’ll have to go and buy some bathers for you.’ He stared at her, head on one side, assessing. ‘Size fourteen? C cup?’
She was sure her face must have turned bright scarlet. ‘Jivan, it’s one thing to live with you – I mean, I won’t be costing you rent or anything, and I can help out with the cooking. And I’ll also accept this holiday as a one-off. But I don’t expect you to buy me clothing.’
‘It’s because you don’t expect anything from me that I’d like to spoil you a little. Don’t stop me, Jessica. I’ve got a lot of money sitting in the bank doing nothing.’
‘But—’
He tried to look menacing and failed. ‘Do I go and choose a swimsuit on my own or are you coming with me?’
She gave in. ‘I’m coming.’
She told herself it was to prevent him returning with a bikini.
The shop had some beautiful clothes and they found a one-piece swimsuit which was superbly cut, the material subtly patterned in shades of turquoise.
Jivan insisted on buying her a matching sundress to go over it.
‘This must be the last thing you buy me,’ she whispered. ‘I love the dress, but you have to stop. I’m not the sort of person who needs presents to keep her happy.’
‘That’ll do for the time being, then. Let’s go and get changed.’
They spent the rest of the day in idle luxury: a swim; a poolside drink in a private area to one side of the pool, for the use of the guests from the top floor only; a wonderful dinner – seafood as fresh and tender as anything she’d ever tasted, vegetables presented like works of art, all followed by crêpes Suzettes flamed in style at their table.
It wasn’t until they started walking back to the lift that Jessica realised she was more than a little tiddly. ‘Oh!’ She clutched at Jivan. ‘My head’s gone all swoozely.’
‘Here, hold on to me.’ Then he smiled. ‘Swoozely? I don’t think I’ve met that word before.’
‘I made it up the first time I ever got tiddly. It sounds like I feel. Oh dear! I didn’t think I’d drunk all that much.’
‘You haven’t. But you’ve been ill. I should have realised and stopped you drinking more than one of those cocktails.’
‘I didn’t want to stop. The cocktails were luscious.’ She flung wide her arms. ‘Everything’s been lovely today, one of the nicest days of my whole life.’
He tugged her through the doorway of their suite.
‘Oh. Are we here already?’
He tried to guide her towards the sofa, but she resisted.
‘Isn’t this place gorgeous? The only other time I had a posh hotel room was when I won that prize in London.’
He chuckled. She was adorable like this, absolutely adorable. ‘When your books become bestsellers, you can have any room you want. Whoops! This direction.’ He tried to turn her towards her own room, but she giggled and evaded him, kicking off her sandals and pattering towards the balcony in her bare feet.
He followed quickly, afraid of her falling over the edge, but she stood quietly now, content to gaze across the floodlit grounds towards the beach. When he put his arms round her from behind, she snuggled up to him and, heaven help him, he didn’t try to stop her, couldn’t.
As they turned to go back inside, she twirled round, twining her arms round his neck.
‘Jivan, I don’t know how to thank you. You’ve done so much for me, nursed me better, offered me a real chance to write, and now this wonderful holiday.’
Her face was beautiful in the moonlight. He could no more have resisted the temptation to kiss her than he could have flown off the balcony and soared away across the starry sky.
And Jessica, utterly relaxed and off her guard, didn’t even hesitate, but returned his kiss with all that was in her.
He would have stepped away then, but she murmured a protest and pulled his head towards her again. ‘Don’t stop. Oh please, don’t stop!’
‘But Jessica—’ Her lips sought his, so soft, so warm that he had to taste them again, and after that he didn’t want to stop either.
They shed their clothing piece by piece as passion flared in them both. Tentative touches became caresses, igniting a tide of urgent need.
As they lay down on her bed, he retained just enough self-control to whisper harshly, ‘Are you sure you want this, Jessica? Are you quite sure?’
‘I’ve never been more sure of anything. Oh, Jivan, don’t turn away from me this time. Please …’ Almost in a whisper, she added, ‘I can’t bear it if you don’t want me. What’s wrong with me? I’ve never made love properly before. No one wants me.’
He stilled at those words, but couldn’t bear the utter anguish in her voice. How could she think herself anything but desirable? He stopped her words with a kiss and after that his common sense fled, as did the cynic who normally sat on his shoulder, mistrusting the world.
Wonder took the cynic’s place, and with it the utter tenderness and joy that only she had ever roused in him. Step by gentle step he led and she followed, kissing, caressing, teasing until they had both crested a warm golden wave of happiness.
And afterwards, lying with her head on his shoulder, her soft, even breath fanning his chest, he couldn’t find it in him to regret what had happened. Or to spoil it for her. ‘It really was your first time, wasn’t it?’
‘Yes. And it was beautiful. Thank you, Jivan.’
He lay there and listened to her breathing in the quietness of the room, and as the soft sounds deepened into sleep, he found a lump in his throat. She had given him a very precious gift. Too precious.
He almost wished he hadn’t met her, because she made him feel vulnerable. No, he didn’t wish that. It had been a wonderful evening, one of the best of his life, too.
But since Frenton had come to Australia and traced them so easily, he couldn’t help worrying about what might happen if Louisa found out about Jessica and took exception to their relationship.
She’d sent threatening anonymous messages to a couple of women he’d dated after his divorce and they’d backed away.
He doubted Jessica would back away, so he had to protect her. He’d get on to the security firm again and see if they could help him find a way to stop Louisa once and for all.
But his ex was very clever, and it wasn’t going to be easy.
Avoidance hadn’t worked. What would?
He looked sideways at the gentle, loving woman beside him. He wasn’t going to let anyone hurt Jessica.
He’d just lie down for a few moments, because he was tired now, then he’d escort her to her own room. He didn’t spend the night with women, not any more.
So much for his resolution. It was morning when he woke to find Jessica snuggled up against him, her hair a glorious tangle, her body so soft and feminine he had to kiss her just once more.
Jessica woke slowly, blinking at him short-sightedly. He guessed she could only see him as a blur without her glasses.
‘Oh! It wasn’t a dream, then.’ Her smile was utterly radiant. ‘And you stayed with me all night. How wonderful to wake up together.’
‘You’re a witch. You’ve enchanted me. Last night was – was—’
Only then did it occur to him that they hadn’t taken any precautions last night. He had never done that before. He sat bolt upright in the bed. ‘Oh, hell!’
‘What’s the matter? What did I do wrong?’
‘You did nothing wrong. It was me. I didn’t use any protection. You’re not on the pill by any chance?’
‘No. Let me work it out … I think – yes, it ought to be in the safe time of my cycle – just.’
He relaxed a little. ‘I’d better buy something today.’
Her eyes were very clear and honest. ‘Then you want it to continue between us?’
‘Oh, yes. But, Jessica, we have to get things straight – I’m very fond of you as a friend, but I’m not looking to fall in love. Nor do I ever intend to get married again. I most particularly don’t want children, as I’ve told you before.’
‘I understand that.’
‘You must realise by now, I’m not an easy person to live with.’
She smiled. ‘I had guessed.’
‘If you can accept those parameters, I think we can live happily together for a while, until … well, until you’ve had enough of me.’
She took a deep breath and summoned up all her courage. ‘Let’s just see how we go, shall we?’ And that was enough of the deep stuff. ‘I’m hungry. Shall we call room service or do you want to go down to the dining room? And whichever it is, can we do it quickly, please?’
He relaxed again. ‘We’ll call room service. I’m hungry too, but I’d prefer the pleasure of your company without interruptions. If someone recognised me, it’d spoil everything.’
‘How sad that you always have to worry about that. Are your readers such a problem?’
‘Most of them aren’t, no, but occasionally one oversteps the mark. And then there’s my ex. I don’t want her to find out where we are.’
‘What exactly does she do?’
‘Follows me wherever I go, sits at the back during my talks and stares at me.’ He ticked the points off on his fingers. ‘Tells lies to other journalists about our life together, blackens my name in subtle and not so subtle ways, signs me up for subscriptions to porn magazines, books caterers to turn up and provide for a non-existent party.’
‘That’s terrible.’
‘And she’s getting worse.’ He hesitated, then added in a quiet voice, ‘I worry that she’s mentally ill.’
‘Oh, you poor thing.’
‘I’m telling you because I don’t want you to think I’m paranoid about not being recognised, and because you may have to face her at some stage, simply because you’re with me. If so, don’t trust her an inch.’
She was looking shocked so he tried to speak more cheerfully. ‘Now, let’s order some food. A lot of food.’
Five golden days they spent in Caloundra, making leisurely trips to places of interest nearby. Jessica could feel herself getting better almost by the minute. Her favourite place was Buderim, where they strolled round some of the most beautiful gardens she had ever seen, and visited the Serenity Falls, her idea of a perfect waterfall.
Jivan preferred the hinterland. ‘I love the Glass House Mountains. They’re so incongruous in the softness of the landscape, obstinate lumps of rock defying nature to wear them down.’
When they got back to the hotel on the fifth day, he said abruptly, ‘I think we should leave tomorrow and fly back to Perth. My agent emailed to say the house sale has been completed. It’s a lot easier to push one through quickly in Australia than in England. And although this break has been wonderful, I have a book to write.’ He sighed as he added, ‘Also, I haven’t been recognised so far and I’m afraid to push my luck.’
‘So what travel precautions have you taken this time?’
‘We’ll leave the rental car to be picked up here and get a limo to the airport. It’ll save a lot of fuss.’ And it would offer fewer chances of them being recognised.
‘Whatever you like.’
‘Let’s pack, then.’
He could tell Jessica was disappointed at the abrupt ending to their holiday, though she tried to hide it. But it was safer this way, emotionally as well as physically.
He had woken up before her today and lain there worrying. He was getting altogether too fond of her. And that wasn’t safe for either of them.
He had to protect her till something could be done about Louisa.
Sixteen
As Jivan and Jessica left the hotel, holding hands and laughing, a man entering stopped dead and spun round. ‘What the—’ He fumbled for his mobile phone, but by the time he’d got it out to snap a quick photo, they were being driven away in a limousine.
He went to the reception clerk. ‘Wasn’t that Jivan Childering?’
‘Who?’
‘Childering, the famous novelist.’
‘I couldn’t say, sir. I wasn’t looking.’
Her very reticence made him even more suspicious.
It took him several attempts to find a member of the hotel staff willing to be bribed. When he showed the woman a photo of Childering, she hesitated. He pulled out a hundred dollars and pushed it into her hand. ‘Have you seen him?’
She nodded.
‘Do you know where he’s going now?’
‘No, but …’ She looked down at the money.
He added another hundred.
‘The limo driver might be able to help you. He was from Avenney’s.’
‘Thank you.’
‘You won’t say anything about this, will you? I could lose my job for talking about guests.’
‘No. I won’t mention this to anyone.’
He waited till she’d left to make a phone call. ‘Frenton? I have some news that will interest you.’
‘About?’
‘A certain writer. You put the word out that you were looking for him. Well, I’ve just seen him.’
‘Ah. Where.’
‘It’ll cost you to find out.’ He named a sum.
Frenton sighed. ‘It’d better be worth it.’
‘I want the payment first.’
‘Time could be important. We don’t want the trail to go cold. You know how clever he is at slipping away.’
‘Transfer the money to my bank account online and then I’ll tell you.’
‘Don’t you trust me?’
‘No.’
Frenton let out a huff of annoyance. ‘Oh, very well. Give me the details of your account. I’ll transfer the money straight away.’
Half an hour later, the payment appeared in the man’s bank account, so he made a second phone call and shared the information.
He thought about it afterwards. From what Frenton had said, it seemed that someone else was very eager to track Childering down as well. Well, no prizes for guessing who. It had to be that ex-wife. Weird. It must be several years now since their divorce and she was still hounding him.
He wished suddenly that he hadn’t told Frenton. Money wasn’t everything and this wasn’t a huge amount. He didn’t like stalkers.
Too late now. It was done.
Jivan and Jessica flew to Perth first class. He’d phoned in advance to explain his problem to the airline staff, who had arranged for them to board and disembark privately, at a cost, of course.
At the other end they got straight into a limo while the other passengers were still waiting to leave the plane. The driver was directed to a place where an official would bring their luggage.
‘Talk about doing things in style,’ she teased as they were driven towards Perth.
‘It’s safer.’ He reached out to hold her hand, surprising her.
They spent two days at Jessica’s unit. She refused Jivan’s help as she sorted through the smaller personal possessions she had collected since she came to Australia.
He spent most of his time at the dining table, frowning thoughtfully as he worked on his laptop, hardly saying a word, so lost was he in his new story.
The only time he used the phone was to arrange a hire car for the final day.
‘You’ve been so kind to me, Barbara, I’m not going to charge your son.’
‘Well, thank you, then. I do understand Jivan’s need to stay hidden, so I won’t ask where you’re going, but you will drop me an email now and then, won’t you? Or phone me for a chat?’
‘I’ll definitely keep in touch.’
‘Is there any way we can help you get away?’
‘I’ll ask Jivan. It’s his show.’
Jivan jumped at the offer of help, so Barbara arranged to come round with her son to collect the furniture and say goodbye the morning they were leaving. They’d load up his trailer and he’d leave his mother to drive Jessica and Jivan to the car rental place in Jessica’s car, then deliver the car to the vehicle auction centre.
‘Your Jivan is being very careful,’ Barbara commented.
‘Tell me about it. I go along with it, to stop him worrying, but I wonder sometimes if things are as bad as he seems to think. After all, his wife isn’t in Australia.’
‘Well, he knows her better than you do, so take his warnings seriously.’
‘I will.’
Jivan woke up the final morning sneezing and with red eyes. He had got up in the night to hunt for his hayfever medication and not found it. He fumbled through his toiletries again, just in case, but there was no sign of it.
He muttered in annoyance and went to find Jessica, who was in the kitchen, packing the last few groceries they were taking with them. The unit looked bare now, more like one of the places he usually lived in.
‘Have you got a cold or is it hayfever?’ she asked as he announced his presence with another sneeze.
‘Hayfever. I only get it intermittently. I don’t know what’s come into bloom, but whatever it is, it’s hit me hard. I need to buy some more medication. If I catch it early I can usually stop it in its tracks. Can I borrow your car?’
