by Bree Verity
Table of Contents
Copyright
Novels by Bree Verity
Dedication
CHAPTER ONE.
CHAPTER TWO.
CHAPTER THREE.
CHAPTER FOUR.
CHAPTER FIVE.
CHAPTER SIX.
CHAPTER SEVEN.
CHAPTER EIGHT.
CHAPTER NINE.
CHAPTER TEN.
CHAPTER ELEVEN.
CHAPTER TWELVE.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.
CHAPTER NINETEEN.
CHAPTER TWENTY.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE.
CHAPTER THIRTY.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE.
From the Author
Under the Spotlight
Preview
Perth Girls series
Contents
Copyright
Novels by Bree Verity
Dedication
CHAPTER ONE.
CHAPTER TWO.
CHAPTER THREE.
CHAPTER FOUR.
CHAPTER FIVE.
CHAPTER SIX.
CHAPTER SEVEN.
CHAPTER EIGHT.
CHAPTER NINE.
CHAPTER TEN.
CHAPTER ELEVEN.
CHAPTER TWELVE.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.
CHAPTER NINETEEN.
CHAPTER TWENTY.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE.
CHAPTER THIRTY.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE.
From the Author
Under the Spotlight
Preview
Perth Girls series
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2017 Briony Vreedenburgh
All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.
eBook format
This book is licensed to the original purchaser only. Duplication or distribution via any means is illegal and a violation of International Copyright Law, subject to criminal prosecution and upon conviction, fines and/or imprisonment. No part of this eBook can be shared or reproduced without the express permission of the publisher.
Trigger Warning: This novel contains quite a bit of swearing. Desiree loves to drop the F-Bomb.
Novels by Bree Verity:
The Perth Girls series
Sax in the Park
For Business and Pleasure
Troubled by the Texan
Under the Spotlight
The French Connexion series
The Hidden Duchess
The Unwilling Smuggler
The Ruined Lady
Anthologies
Bouquet of Love
All Wrapped Up - coming November 2018
DEDICATION
To Mark Baker.
CHAPTER ONE.
“Miss Jackson!”
Desiree heard her name shrieked over the general hubbub of the crowd and turned with a smile toward the voice. Fourteen-year-old Faith Duncan ran over, an excited light in her cerulean eyes and with a grin that stretched from ear to ear.
“Guess what? My Daddy’s here!”
Desiree’s eyes widened in surprise. “Really? When did he get back?” Faith’s dad spent much of his time overseas for work.
“Night before last. You have to meet him!” Faith was almost jumping up and down with excitement.
“Okay, well drag him on over.” Desiree scanned the crowd, trying to spy him out, even though she had zero idea of what he looked like.
“He’s talking to Mrs Bowers, but when they’re done, I’ll bring him.”
“Cool. I’ll see you soon then.” But Desiree spoke to the thin air. Faith had already streaked away, her long, light brown hair flowing out behind her. Desiree shook her head and grinned in amusement as she sat at her table, one of the fourteen mismatching desks crammed into the room for the occasion.
Desiree hated parent teacher night for two reasons. First, she always had the battle of parents getting over her looks. Teachers simply didn’t dress like she did. Her choice of dark clothes, multiple ear piercings and her tattoos had most parents making judgments about her before she even opened her mouth. Second, there was never enough time to have any decent conversation, so it ended up being the same thing parroted over and over. “Johnny is a pleasure to teach.” “Yes, Katie is doing really well.” “Little Susie? She’s an excellent student.” The parents she wanted to speak to, the ones who belonged to the struggling or belligerent kids, rarely came to parent teacher interviews. It was only ever the high performers. So it seemed to Desiree that the night became more of an exercise in ego stroking than anything. “He’s a credit to you.” Barf.
But now, knowing she would meet Faith’s dad, this parent teacher night may not turn out to be a total waste of time.
She sat back in her chair and stretched, thinking about how she and Faith had become friends. There was something about Faith that drew Desiree. She had piqued Desiree’s interest one afternoon when she approached Desiree’s desk in tears, apologizing for getting a low score on a test.
“Please don’t think poorly of me,” Faith had said in a pleading tone, her Texan accent strong. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”
“Sixty-seven is not a terrible result, Faith.” Desiree continued to pack up her desk, knowing there was a good, strong, hot coffee awaiting her in the staff room.
“It is for me. I never get less than ninety-five.” Her big blue eyes overflowed with tears again, and she wiped her streaming nose on her sleeve.
“Even the best of us have off days, sweetie.” Desiree handed the girl a tissue.
“I think I’m havin’ an off year.” Faith’s distress was clear, so Desiree reluctantly put aside the thought of the coffee, and sat down, inviting the girl to join her. “What makes you say that?”
Faith had flushed. “Everythin’ seems to be going wrong.”
Faith confided in Desiree that she missed both of her parents. Her mother had abandoned the family to take up a lucrative job in Sydney, and her dad worked for a mining company, meaning he was often away for weeks at a time.
Until today, Desiree had never seen Faith’s dad set foot inside the school. He was never there when parent teacher nights were on, or the school play, or any of the other little celebrations that made up the milestones of a kid’s life. Desiree kept her thoughts about parents who didn’t support their children hidden from Faith. She didn’t want to damage Faith’s innocent belief in them. But she did look forward to looking the man in the eye, and filling him in on exactly what his absence was doing to his daughter.
In the meantime, her five-ten appointment with Nathan Morton’s mother was co
ming up, and she still wasn’t sure what to say in the interview. Nathan wasn’t a bad kid. He got average scores, he didn’t play up in class. But there was a sadness about him, a kind of fatalistic outlook that concerned Desiree. She had asked for an interview with Nathan’s parents, and was glad that his mother had agreed.
Mrs Morton approached her table. “Are you Desiree Jackson?” The woman looked her up and down and sniffed disparagingly, Desiree assumed at her less-than-orthodox appearance. Raised eyebrows and slight discomfort with her dark clothing and piercings she had gotten used to. She found that as soon as she opened her mouth, the parents realised she was more than just her outward appearance. However, Mrs Morton’s sniff got her back up.
Well, at least I’m not a stuck up bitch with a superiority complex, she thought, but kept her thoughts to herself as she plastered a smile on her face. “Yes, I’m Miss Jackson.” She put her hand out to shake Mrs Morton’s, but the woman pointedly ignored it. Desiree’s fine brows drew together. She decided against giving Mrs Morton her business card. The woman sat, handbag on her lap, and said, “I hope this won’t take long. What did Nathan do?”
Desiree’s natural tendency to snap a cynical comment reared its ugly head for a moment. She opened her mouth to speak, but at the last moment, she battled the sharp words down, instead forcing a strangled smile. “Nathan didn’t do anything. I’m just a little concerned by how he seems to be feeling.” She sat in the chair opposite the rude woman and tried not to let her dislike shine through.
“What do you mean?”
“He’s a great kid, and he’ll answer questions when he’s asked, and his work is good, but he seems to be enveloped in… I don’t know, sadness, or worry most of the time.”
“Is that all?” Mrs Morton seemed mildly outraged. “He’s a teenage boy. What did you expect?”
Desiree smiled again at the woman, wishing all the while she could grab her by the lapels of her tailored jacket and shake some sense into her. “I only bring it up because children, and especially boys, of his age are being diagnosed more and more with depression. And he is showing some of the symptoms.”
“Some of the symptoms? Couldn’t you look at any child in the room and say the same?” She gave Desiree a condescending look. “I don’t believe in depression in children.” Mrs Morton pushed back her chair and stood up, towering over Desiree. “I’ll thank you to stick to your job, Miss Jackson. Mathematics, isn’t it? And leave the psychology to the professionals.”
Desiree sat open-mouthed as she watched Mrs Morton stalk away.
What a total bitch. Who doesn’t believe in depression?
She had to swallow the desire to shout something crude and unprofessional across the room at the departing woman. Desiree made a mental note to speak to Leanne, the year co-ordinator. Someone needed to have a word to Nathan, if only to make sure he was okay.
With a mother like that, how could he be?
She realised she was shaking by the jingling of her silver charm bracelet against the desk. It wasn’t a surprise, since she couldn’t let herself revert to her usual balls-and-all attitude. She ground her teeth together, and balled her hands into tight fists. And she was still shooting daggers at the place where she had last seen the woman when a smooth baritone with a Texan accent interrupted her. “Miss Jackson?”
She turned toward the voice, instantly replacing her scowl with a welcoming smile. But even the smile didn’t last long, as her mouth dropped open at the sight of the gorgeous hunk of man in front of her.
At least six foot two, he had neat light brown hair that was going grey at the edges. Lashes of the same colour framed piercing blue eyes. His strong jawline, covered with a sprinkling of growth, led into a curving smile, with something perhaps a little cynical playing around the edges. He dressed casually, in jeans and a button-up shirt, but Desiree could still make out his biceps and the wide expanse of his well-developed chest. This was one hell of a man.
Before Desiree could recover her wits, Faith popped out from behind the man. “This is my Daddy, Miss Jackson.”
In a trance she held out her hand, and he shook it firmly. Desiree hazily noted that his eyes were the same blue as his daughter’s. She heard herself say, “Good to meet you,” but the words sounded very far away. She absentmindedly picked up a business card and gave it to him. Finally remembering to smile, she also remembered he was the absentee parent making Faith’s life miserable.
Pull it together, Desiree. He might look like sex on legs, but you’ve got a few words to say to him.
Desiree invited him to sit across from her with a sweep of her hand and a jingle of her bracelet. “First up, thanks for coming. I know you don’t get much time.” Mr Duncan nodded his agreement, but waited for Desiree to continue. “I wanted to have a quick word with you about Faith’s home life since her mother left, Mr Duncan.”
“Jack. Call me Jack.” He turned his head toward Faith and asked her, “Did you tell Miss Jackson about Mama leavin’, honey?” It wasn’t an accusation, and Faith nodded immediately, but Desiree could feel the discomfort radiating off the man. She couldn’t blame him. It wasn’t every day that a mother left her husband and children to fend for themselves. He probably felt like a massive fuck up, and having the total care of three kids on his hands, he was doubtless just as overwhelmed as poor Faith.
He turned back to Desiree with a sigh, and fixed his intense blue eyes on her. “Ma’am, I’m aware things have been rough for Faith.” He grasped for his daughter’s hand. “I’ve tried to keep things as normal as possible but, under the circumstances, you can surely understand that there’s a bit of flux at times like these.”
“I understand.” She took a deep breath and turned to Faith. “Faith, can you go grab me a coffee from the vending machine?” She fished a couple of dollars out of her purse. “I’m dying here.”
Faith took the money, but scowled. “You just want to talk about me without me being here.”
“I knew you were a smart girl.” Desiree winked at Faith, and she laughed, before tripping off toward the coffee machine.
Desiree turned back to Jack, placing her interlocked fingers on the table with a jingle of bracelet. “It’s probably not my place to say this, but Faith needs you around more, sir.”
Jack’s brows had drawn together. “Miss Jackson, Ma’am.” He closed his eyes and let out a pent up sigh, which Desiree interpreted as frustration. “It took me a long time to get this job when I got to Perth. I sure as hell can’t toss it over so I can sit at home with Faith.” His tone was mild, but Desiree could see the cold fire in his eyes. She started to speak, but he held up a hand. “Now, I know Faith doesn’t like it that I can’t be there all the time, but I have to provide for my family. She’d be a sight more upset if there was no food on the table, or we had to move into a trailer park.”
“I understand that you need to provide for your family, Mr Duncan. I do. But there has to be some balance. You’re never around for her special occasions, and it breaks her heart.”
“I know.” His tone didn’t get louder, but it was significantly more forceful. He glared at Desiree as if somehow she was to blame for his family situation, and she vaguely wondered if she had made the right decision to approach him.
Too late now. Might as well keep blundering on.
“All I’m asking for is for you to try to find the time to fit one or two events in. I realise you can’t be at them all. But look, even coming along tonight, Faith was so excited to introduce you.” She smiled, recalling Faith’s high spirits, and Jack relaxed, smiling with her. In a recess of her mind, she noted that he had a very sexy smile.
“I know. She was bustin’ her britches to get here and introduce me to you. You’re her favorite teacher, you know. It helps you also teach her favorite subject.”
Desiree smiled. “She and I have become good friends. I had a tough time with absentee parents when I was her age too, so I guess we had something in common.” At the mention of ‘absentee parents’
Jack’s expression clouded over again, and Desiree hurried to fill the awkwardness. “She’s an extraordinary kid. Some of the stuff she comes out with is way beyond her years.”
“She’s had to grow up pretty fast over the last eighteen months.” The look that crossed Jack’s face pushed all of Desiree’s empathy buttons. His concern for his little girl was clear, his indecision over what the best course was, and his guilt over leaving her. Impulsively, Desiree leaned over to cover his hand with hers, her charms jingling against his flesh and against the desk. “It’ll be alright, Jack. She’s a strong, capable kid. She’ll make it.” He looked up into her eyes, and nodded.
“I can’t believe how strong they’ve all been. It’s been hard on them.”
“I can only imagine.”
“They’ve had to deal with things that no kid should ever have to deal with. We got no warning that Susan was leaving. They got home from school one day and she’d up and gone.”
“Wow. I didn’t realise that. That’s awful.”
“Susan was always selfish like that. But the kids just did what they do every other afternoon when they get home, and no-one really thought about it until I got home and there wasn’t any supper on the table. I found a note on my pillow. Then I had to tell the kids she wasn’t coming back.”
“Oh, how terrible.”
“It was a terrible time. For all of us. But we’ve rallied. Thankfully.”
Desiree gave a sympathetic and, she hoped, encouraging smile. He smiled back and she found herself suddenly lost in blue, blue eyes that crinkled at the edges when he smiled. She realised that her hand still rested over his and, with an uncharacteristic blush, she pulled it away. Jack looked down, then back up to her pink face, an unreadable smile breaking through his worried expression.
Faith came back, carefully carrying a plastic cup of coffee. “Milk and one sugar,” she announced, as she deposited the cup on the table.
“You’re a lifesaver.” Desiree picked up the cup and took a sip, to cover her confusion. She was not the type of girl to blush at a guy. She was more likely to be the one to say the things that would make the guy blush.
