Reece clenched his fists tightly against his thighs to stop himself from grabbing this unpleasant Ron Harvey and shaking him till his nicotine-stained teeth rattled.
‘Are you Mrs Cassidy’s partner?’ Harvey asked.
‘I’m not. The name’s Reece Weston.’ He didn’t offer his hand. ‘You could say I’m an interested party.’
‘Ah.’ Harvey’s watery grey eyes widened. ‘She owes you money too, does she?’
‘No, she doesn’t. But I’m concerned. This is serious, isn’t it? I assume you haven’t come all the way out here for a few dollars.’
‘Yeah, you’re right. The debt is substantial. Obviously, I can’t discuss exact amounts with a third party.’ Harvey lowered his voice and leaned closer. ‘But I can tell you, I don’t drive five hundred kilometres for anything under six figures.’
Reece stood stock still, making sure he didn’t flinch. But, hell. What was going on with Jess? He’d known she was cash strapped, but she’d never breathed a word of a problem this size.
‘Finding her might be difficult,’ he said carefully. ‘Mrs Cassidy did work here, but she’s left.’
The other man’s eyes narrowed shrewdly. ‘I hope you’re not covering for her, Weston. I need to know where she is quickly, or her problems will only get worse.’
‘Look,’ Reece snarled, his anger boiling over. ‘I can’t help you, and I can’t help Jess, because I don’t know where she is.’ He took a step back, dragged in a breath, willing himself to stay calm. He couldn’t imagine how Jess could get herself into so much debt. She was a struggling widow, for God’s sake. A single mum.
Ron Harvey cleared his throat. ‘I must admit this is not one of the better aspects of my job, but you’d be surprised how many women end up inheriting their husbands’ financial mistakes.’ He shrugged. ‘I’ll bet odds this’ll end up in court, but it’s my job to find her and give her one last chance.’
Reece held out his hand. ‘Give me your card. I’ll see what I can do.’
* * *
Six-thirty a.m.
Reece was waiting outside the café on the Cairns Esplanade when the owner arrived, bleary-eyed and yawning and scratching at his chest, as if he’d climbed out of bed a mere thirty seconds ago.
‘What’s your problem?’ He scowled when Reece blocked his way.
‘I’m looking for Jess Cassidy. Is she working for you?’
Jess’s former boss rolled his eyes. ‘I s’pose you’re another debt collector. Sorry, mate. Can’t help you.’
‘I’m not collecting debts. I’m a friend of Jess’s, and I need to find her. I want to help her. So tell me. Does she work here?’
‘No, she doesn’t. Why would I take her back? She raced off out west and left me in the lurch. Thought she was too good for this place.’
Reece bit back the comment he wanted to make. ‘Do you know where she is now?’
The guy shrugged. ‘Maybe she doesn’t want to be found.’
‘And maybe she doesn’t know these debt collectors are after her. I told you. I’m here to help her.’
Precious seconds ticked by as Reece was subjected to narrow-eyed scrutiny. ‘You’ve been here before, haven’t you?’
‘I’ve dined here, yes.’
‘You’re the guy she took off with.’
No, I’m the guy she rejected. Reece didn’t grace this with an answer.
The other man shrugged. ‘Guess it’s no skin off my nose. But all I know is she’s at the Lime Tree three nights a week.’
‘And do you know where she lives?’
‘Wouldn’t have a clue.’
* * *
Jess placed the bowls of spicy Asian noodles under the warmer, ready for the waiter, then dashed back to the stove to give the gravy for the lamb racks a quick whisk.
Blowing her hair out of her eyes, she grabbed clean plates and set them on the stainless-steel bench, spun around to get fresh herbs from the fridge and bumped into a solid wall of six-feet-plus male.
‘Ouch!’
‘Sorry, Jess.’
She gasped. ‘Reece!’
Her heart slammed hard against her ribs. How had he snuck in here? This was crazy.
Fabulous too. She couldn’t believe how good it was to see him again. But he was taking up far too much space in the normally roomy kitchen. She shot a frantic glance to Brian and Gil, on the far side of the workspace.
Fortunately, they had their backs to her as they concentrated on their tasks. Gil was plating up delicate seafood salads, while Brian was cooking his specialty ricotta gnocchi.
‘What are you doing here?’ Jess muttered to Reece.
‘Finding you.’
Her knees threatened to give way and she grabbed at the bench for support. ‘You can’t come in here. I’m too busy. We’re flat out.’
‘OK. I’ll wait for you. Tell me where.’
There was a sound to her left. A waiter had arrived to collect the bowls of noodles and he was staring through the hatch at them.
‘I’m not sure what time I’ll be finished.’ She shoved him towards the door. ‘It could be really late. You have to go, Reece.’
‘I’ll wait. I’ll wait all night. Just tell me where to meet you. It’s important, Jess.’
She shook head, completely dazzled by his sudden appearance, by his gorgeousness, by his insistence. She wasn’t sure she could deal with this. When she finished work she would be dead on her feet.
‘The Night Owl Café,’ she said as she pushed Reece through the doorway and closed the door in his face.
* * *
It was after midnight and Reece was on his third cup of coffee when Jess appeared, looking tired and pale. The tiredness was expected, but it still cut him to see such obvious signs of weariness in her face and in the slowness of her movements as she made her way to him through the maze of mostly empty tables.
Thank God she’d come. He feasted his eyes on her, loving the familiar mix of her pale skin, dark hair and long, slim limbs. ‘Would you like something to eat?’ he asked her.
‘No, thanks. I’ve eaten.’ Slumping into a seat, she pushed her hair out of her eyes.
‘A coffee?’
‘It might keep me awake. I’ll go for a peppermint tea.’
He went to the counter and paid for her order.
‘So...?’ she asked when he returned. ‘Is everything OK?’
Reece took Ron Harvey’s card from his pocket and set it on the table in front of her, watched the flare of fear in her eyes. ‘I’m afraid you need to contact this guy.’
‘How did he find you? Don’t tell me he went to Warringa?’
‘He did.’
Jess gave a soft groan and closed her eyes, as if this was one problem too many for her.
‘I’m here to help, Jess.’
Her eyes flashed open. ‘No.’
She might have said more, but her peppermint tea arrived, and she nodded her thanks and Reece waited patiently while she took a sip.
But he had to ask, ‘Why didn’t you tell me about this?’
‘It’s my problem, not yours.’
‘But I could have helped you.’
‘I didn’t want to land my problems on you.’
If he weren’t so worried, he might have admired her independence. He could name women who would have chosen a very different option. ‘You’ll let me help you now, won’t you?’
‘Reece, I really appreciate that you came all this way. But you can’t help me. It’s—it’s asking too much.’
‘You’d rather go to court?’
‘Court?’ She stared at him in open-mouthed shock.
Reece tapped the card. ‘That’s what this guy’s threatening.’
‘Oh, God.’
‘Jess, please. At the very least, you’re going to need a friend when you have this meeting with Harvey.’
She was pinching nervously at her lower lip. ‘Do you have any idea how much I owe?’
‘Something in the six-figure range.’
/>
Her eyes widened in surprise, but then she shook her head again. ‘See? It’s too much. Nobody has that sort of money lying around.’
‘Some people do, actually.’
Slow seconds slipped by as she stared at him, his meaning sinking in. ‘But even if you have the money, I can’t take it from you, Reece. You’ve already helped me so much. I can’t just go on taking and taking.’
‘You can pay me back, then. I’m sure we could negotiate friendlier terms than you’re saddled with at the moment.’
Jess was still shaking her head, but he knew she was giving this offer serious thought. She was also very close to tears.
She was making her lip quite red from pinching it, and he longed to kiss her, to make her smile. They’d shared so many smiles, so many good times. ‘You’ve got to stop thinking of me as another employer, Jess. Think of me as your friend. We were lovers, for heaven’s sake.’
‘That’s why I hate the idea of you taking on my husband’s debts.’
‘Listen,’ he said, as patiently as he could. ‘It’s not wise for you to try to handle this on your own. There are all sorts of ways to manage this. But honestly, the loan wouldn’t hurt me. We’ve had some good years with the cattle business. And my father had quite a surprising amount put away. I had no idea he’d made so many shrewd investments over the years.’
She was listening now, drinking her tea and watching him over the rim of her cup, and listening carefully.
‘Fate’s handed you a raw deal,’ Reece went on. ‘But Fate has also given me a big stake in your life and in Rosie’s life. I’ll always have an interest in your well-being.’
Tears welled in her eyes, but at least she was no longer protesting.
Reece kept talking. There were other things, painful matters, he needed to set straight. ‘I know I blurted out a proposal at absolutely the wrong time, Jess, but it was for all the right reasons.’
Jess tried to answer, but the only sound that emerged was a tiny bleat.
‘I totally understand that you wouldn’t want to live out there,’ he said. ‘So don’t let any of that get in the way now. You really should let me help.’
She lifted a shaking hand to her mouth and glistening tears spilled down her cheeks.
Almost simultaneously, they were out of their seats and she was stumbling into his arms.
* * *
Jess clung to him, sobbing, her heart breaking for so many reasons. She was so tired and so very stressed, and Reece was every version of wonderful. Actually, he was really just being himself—gorgeous, kind, sexy and generous—and it was killing her.
She wasn’t sure how long she took to stop crying. When she lifted her face from Reece’s damp shirt, she felt drained and exhausted but a great deal calmer. Looking around them, she saw that the café was completely empty now, which was no doubt a very good thing. Even the guy behind the counter seemed to have disappeared.
‘They probably want to close up this place,’ she said as she wiped her face on the sleeve of her chef’s coat.
‘Where are you staying now?’
‘Somewhere—’ Crumbs, how could she tell him? ‘A few streets away. Walking distance.’
‘Is Rosie there now?’
‘Yes, I pay someone to mind her.’
‘Let me drive you.’
She wanted to say no. She was living in a Charity Hostel, and that was information she’d rather not share with Reece, but suddenly she was too tired to argue. ‘Thanks, Reece.’
Of course, he was frowning as he pulled up outside. ‘What sort of place is this?’
‘A hostel. I’m planning to rent a place soon. This is just a stopgap till I’ve saved enough for a bond on a flat.’
‘For heaven’s sake, Jess. What about all the money I paid you?’ Almost immediately he sighed and answered his own question. ‘It all went towards the debts, didn’t it?’
She nodded, pushed the door open. ‘Thanks for the lift.’
His hand on her arm stopped her, and she remembered they hadn’t finalised their plans to meet with the debt collector. She took Ron Harvey’s card out of her pocket. ‘Is it OK if I ring you about this in the morning?’
Reece was still frowning ahead at the bald concrete building and the bars on the windows. ‘I’m sorry. I can’t leave you in this place while I trot back to a luxury apartment. Come with me.’
‘To your apartment?’
‘I’m pretty sure they aren’t all booked. I’ll ring and check. You can have your own space. Total privacy. Go, get Rosie now and come with me, and at least have a couple of nights of comfort.’
She must have been staring at him as if he’d given her bad news.
‘What’s the matter?’
‘Why are you being so kind? You mustn’t, Reece.’
He sighed. ‘Just run and get Rosie and whatever you need. Do it for me, please.’
It was the impatience in his voice that sent her hurrying to obey.
* * *
The serviced apartments were top-class luxury with a huge expanse of white marble in the foyer, massive urns of tropical flowers, mirrors everywhere.
Reece had made all the necessary arrangements, while Jess was collecting Rosie, and Jess’s apartment, with a cot assembled, was ready and waiting as the lift took them silently to the fifteenth floor. The space was fabulous, facing the sea, with a cool breeze blowing in through sliding white, floor-to-ceiling shutters. The rooms smelled faintly of ginger flowers and Jess’s aching feet sank into the thick white carpet. The bed was enormous.
And so was the spa bath where she soaked while Reece settled Rosie back to sleep. Luxury with a capital L. What a pity she was too tired to enjoy it.
* * *
‘Hey, Jess.’
She jumped as she heard Reece’s voice and felt a hand on her shoulder. Water splashed and a wave washed over her breasts. Yikes, she was still in the bath.
Reece loomed above her, tall, dark and heartbreaking.
‘Was I asleep?’
‘Out like a light.’ His eyes were fierce and troubled as he held a thick white towel. ‘Do you need a hand?’ There was no levity in his voice. He wasn’t flirting.
‘No, thanks.’
She waited till he’d left the room before she climbed out of the bath, painfully aware of those happy times in their recent past, when Reece had been intimately acquainted with every inch of her naked body.
Now as she went through to the bedroom, wrapped in the towel, she was assaulted by memories of him in her bed. So much pleasure and passion and sweet contentment, and all of it lost.
There was no sign of him now. Rosie was cosily tucked up in her cot in the corner, and Jess was bone weary. Slipping beneath the bedcovers, she gratefully sank once again into sleep.
* * *
Bright sunlight streamed through the shutters—and there were voices on Jess’s balcony. Reece’s deep voice rumbling in a low murmur in response to baby chuckles.
‘How long have you two been out there?’ Jess called.
Reece appeared at her bedroom doorway with her daughter on his hip, her two hands beating the air with excitement when she saw Jess. ‘Good afternoon.’
‘Afternoon?’ Jess shot up quickly and realised she was still naked. Hastily she grabbed at the sheet as Reece came into the room and sat on the end of the bed, letting Rosie crawl over the mattress to her.
Jess greeted her daughter with laughter and a kiss and a cuddle, but she was soon frowning at Reece again. ‘Tell me it’s not afternoon.’
‘OK. I was exaggerating. It’s ten.’
Ten? She’d never slept so late. Not since Rosie was born. ‘You haven’t been here all night, have you?’
‘I slept on the sofa.’
‘Really? Why didn’t you go back to your apartment?’
‘I knew Rosie would wake at some stage and I wanted you to have some uninterrupted sleep.’
‘That’s incredibly thoughtful, Reece.’
He shrugged. ‘I
won’t be here long. You might as well make the most of it.’ His dark eyes rested on her briefly, softening in a way that made her heart ache, but then he flicked his gaze away to the view through the open shutters. ‘I’ve ordered a room-service breakfast for you. And as soon as you’re dressed, we’d better ring your debt collector.’
‘Are you still planning to go to the meeting with me?’
‘Of course. Come on, Rosie.’ He scooped the giggling baby up into his arms again. ‘We’ll let your mum get dressed. She has a big day ahead of her.’
Jess felt terrible as she watched Reece leave. He was being magnificent. Unbelievably kind and generous and thoughtful. From the night she’d met him she’d been in his debt. Now he wanted her to add money to the list of everything she owed him.
How could she possibly allow him to do that?
But—how could she not?
If she didn’t accept his help, she could end up in court. She had to think of Rosie. But she also had to remember that as soon as their financial agreement was formalised, she’d be saying goodbye to Reece again.
* * *
‘I thought that went quite well,’ Reece said once they were well clear of Ron Harvey’s office.
‘He was a bit of a softie, really, wasn’t he?’
‘Hell, no, Jess. Don’t let him fool you.’
‘I’m sure he wasn’t fooling. I swear he was almost reaching in his pocket for a handkerchief at one stage. He was incredibly moved by your generosity, Reece.’
She touched Reece’s hand, and he came to an abrupt stop. ‘I want to thank you, but it seems so inadequate.’
Reece looked as if he was trying to smile, but couldn’t quite manage it. He looked away, his throat working overtime. ‘Let’s not make a big deal about this. It’s something I wanted to do.’
Jess found this so hard. Reece was being so stoical. Again. And any minute now she’d start bawling. ‘One thing you simply must let me do is cook dinner for you,’ she said.
‘Actually... I’m not sure that’s a good idea.’
‘Don’t say no. Please, Reece. Now it’s my turn to insist.’ She forced a brave smile. ‘Think of me as your kitchen genie. Name your favourite dish and I’ll produce it.’
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