by Clare Revell
“I haven’t done this since I last came here with Niamh. I’m out of practice. Hence my desire to do catch a duck. I may be some time.”
“You’ll be better than me, at any rate.” She stood next to him as he handed over his money and took the rod.
He spent a small fortune before he finally hooked one of the winning ducks.
“Which prize do you want, mate?”
“Ask the lady.”
“Liam…”
“Don’t argue.” He winked. “Choose.”
Jacqui looked at the vast array of stuffed animals and finally pointed to the huge monkey dressed in a striped red and white tee shirt and blue trousers. The stall holder took it down and presented it to her.
“Oh, he’s gorgeous, Liam. Thank you.” She hugged him. “I shall call him Jacko. He’s like the one I had when I was a kid.”
He smiled and kissed her cheek, his lips sending shards of flame shooting through her. “You’re welcome.” He slid his hand into hers again. “Want to go down the helter-skelter?”
Jacqui tilted her head back to take in the huge tower with the slide around the outside of it. It had to be the tallest she had seen. “I haven’t done that since I was ten, either.”
“Then it’s about time you did. I’m beginning to think you haven’t lived.” He dragged her and the monkey over to the slide and chased her up the dark stairs which wound up the inside of it.
Jacqui sat at the top on the course canvas mat and shoved the monkey in front of her. “After you, Jacko.”
Liam snuggled up close behind her, his long legs appearing either side of hers.
She twisted her neck to look at him. “What are you doing?”
His arms snaked around her waist and pulled her back against him. “Having fun.”
His breath was warm against her ear, and she shivered as goose bumps appeared on her neck. “You’re mad.”
Liam pushed off, laughing as they flew down the slide. They landed in a tangled heap at the bottom.
The attendant shook his head at them. “Yer lucky yer didn’t get stuck, mate.”
Laughing, the two of them ran off. Jacqui hadn’t had this much fun in ages. She didn’t know much about Liam, but she was comfortable with him. Maybe he was the one. But he wasn’t a Christian. Did God have some kind of plan for him? If He did, was she wrong to hope that plan included her somewhere? If her part was simply to lead Liam back to his relationship with God, that would be enough, wouldn’t it?
Liam took her on every ride at least once, until breathless, they stood in the darkness lost in each other’s company.
Fairground music played, and the colored lights illuminated his face and hair. Neither spoke. There was no need for words. Their eyes met, lips smiled, fingers entwined. Even their breathing was in tune. Liam slipped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her close.
Turning her face to his, she saw the way the lights reflected in his eyes. His gaze held hers, her heart skipping a beat with the intensity of the emotions filling her. Did he feel the same way?
Liam ran a finger along her jaw and inclined his head to hers, touching foreheads. “You’re beautiful. Especially when you smile.” His accent seemed deeper than usual.
“Thank you. You’re not bad, yourself.” She could feel heat flooding her face and hoped he couldn’t see the blush. “I’m sorry, did I really say that?”
“You did. So would you like to see me again?”
Her heart leapt, then fell in the same instant. “Yes, but what about Sally? She’s such a huge part of you.”
Liam took a deep breath. “I will always love her, but she’s gone.” He smiled. “How about I take you out on Wednesday, and we see how things go?”
“Sounds good. And I want to beat you at pooh sticks again.”
Liam took her hand. “Surely it must be my turn to win by now?”
Jacqui laughed. “Nope.”
7
Every day for the next three weeks, Liam met Jacqui after work. The check for the laptop cleared leaving him short, but he’d manage if he ate packed lunches for the rest of the term. Jacqui worked all day, including lunch, and Liam started doing his marking in his lunch hour to leave his evenings free. The only day he didn’t see her was Sunday when she was at church.
She tried to get him to go with her, telling him God loved him and was waiting for him to return to Him, just like He had done with her. Liam listened and then ignored her pleas, not liking the way it made him feel. Something twisted inside him each time she spoke about God, almost as if someone were poking him with a very sharp stick, chipping away at the wall he’d erected. Nothing she said could convince him to step through the door of a church. God should have saved Sally and He hadn’t.
He decided to wait another month before he booked his ticket back to Endarra and started the search for Sally’s killers. Neither the local police nor the missionary organization seemed interested in hunting down the people responsible, so he would do it. Vengeance was without doubt his. Sally deserved at least that.
Or was vengeance his at all? Had it ever been?
Even as he thought that, the sharp stick inside him poked harder, almost painfully. He noticed that he was no longer trying to deny the presence of God. He wouldn’t say he was softening in his attitude as he was still mad at God, but something moved inside him. It was what Sally would call ‘God dealing with him.’
He looked out of the classroom window at Jacqui in her waterproof jacket directing the work men before kneeling to plant flowers in one of the borders. She wouldn’t like him charging off to kill someone. It was against a commandment. He tilted his head. If he had to choose which was more important to him, right here and now, choose between revenge and Jacqui…he’d have to say he honestly didn’t know. And that floored him totally and utterly.
For nineteen months straight he’d been fueled by anger and hatred and thoughts of revenge and now? Now someone had flicked a light on in his inmost being. A small, tiny, pinprick of a light to be sure, but a light none the less. And that someone was Jacqui.
“Sir?” A voice broke through his musing, and Liam turned around to solve whatever problem had come up.
****
Saturday they spent watching the carnival floats process through the town and wandered around the carnival site, eating ice cream and hot dogs. That evening as the sun set while waiting for the fireworks, which the flyers claimed would be the best ever in the history of carnival, Liam stood next to Jacqui on the bridge in the park, sticks in their hands. Playing pooh sticks was a nightly tradition, with Jacqui so far winning every single time, no matter on which side of her he stood. They held their sticks out over the water. “All right, on three. One, two, three.”
The sticks fell, and they ran to the other side.
Jacqui clapped as her stick came through first. “Yay, I win again.”
He shook his head. “Me thinks the lady doth cheat.”
“I am so not cheating.”
Liam’s hand came up to cup her face, and Jacqui caught her breath as his other arm slid around her waist.
She moved her hands to his waist, her touch so light, but centering his focus fully on her.
Her body was soft under his fingers, and as his lips brushed against hers, jolts of electricity pulsed through him. He pulled her against him, her softness melding with his firmness. Her scent filled him, and her touch reverberated through him, sending his mind spinning. He’d thought a kiss was a kiss, but this—how could it be so different?
Conscious thought left him as he deepened the kiss, possessing her, tasting her, until as the fireworks from the carnival exploded overhead, showering them with red, green and golden stars, he totally immersed himself in what she so freely gave.
When Liam broke the kiss, Jacqui leaned against him. Having her in his arms felt so right—for a few moments he’d felt whole again.
“Do fireworks always go off when you kiss someone?” she asked.
His hand slid over he
r back, his voice tender. “I don’t know. Do you mind?”
“Not at all. It’s kind of, oh I don’t know…” she hesitated.
“Romantic,” Liam decided. He knew how he felt, and Sally wouldn’t want him alone forever.
“Yeah, I guess it is.” She paused. “Does this mean we’ve moved on from being friends?”
Telling her was a risk, but then so was living. He’d come so close to dying that he couldn’t lose anything. He ran his hands over her arms and gazed into her eyes. “I’ll always be your friend, but I…” he hesitated. “I love you, Jacqui.”
She looked at him, her eyes shining. “I love you too, Liam.”
Liam wrapped his arms around her, and kissed her again. Maybe she was the one to fill the hole in his heart after all. This time the fireworks went off inside him, his whole body tightened, responding in a way he’d long since forgotten. But the feelings invoked were new, different and he embraced them.
After a moment, he broke off and held her gaze. “Want to come back to mine for coffee?”
He tried to read her expression, unsure if that was desire in them or not. He was so out of touch at this whole dating thing. Maybe he’d just ruined what could have been a beautiful friendship. He pushed a hand through her hair.
“No,” she whispered, after a pause, her cheeks scarlet. She looked away, the words tumbling in a rush. “It’s not that I don’t want coffee, but I don’t want to give you the wrong idea and make you think I’m saying yes to something else if I come back to yours, because I’m not. I—”
He turned her face back to his. “Hey. Don’t turn away. It’s fine. I didn’t mean anything other than coffee, I promise. I’m not the kind of bloke who gives himself away after a couple of kisses. God and I might not be speaking right now, but my morals are intact. Some things are intended for marriage only.” He kissed her forehead. “How about we go find a late night café and have coffee, then I’ll take you home?”
She smiled, the relief evident in her eyes. “That sounds good. I’d like that.”
“Good. Besides, I just remembered I haven’t cleaned my place in a few days, and it’s like a pigsty.”
“It can’t be that bad.”
“I would have to disagree with you there. It’s not as bad as it can be, but it’s pretty messy. Far too messy for houseguests at any rate.”
****
Break time on Monday came, and Liam went to hunt down Jacqui. He hadn’t seen her for two days, and he missed her like crazy. He hadn’t expected that. He’d gone from never wanting a woman other than Sally, to his heart and mind opening just a crack to Jacqui, to find her suddenly filling every waking thought. Oh, Sally was still there, too, but it was as if she were smiling at him. Pleased he was, not moving on as it was too early for that, but at least going out and having fun.
Jacqui stood over the far side of the quad. He went over to where she was standing with a clipboard in her hand, sunglasses perched on top of her head, and her hair tied back in a ponytail exposing her pretty neck to the blazing rays of the sun. She was pointing to the workmen and explaining something to them, gesturing with her free hand.
He stood until she noticed him.
“Hello, Mr. Page. Have you come to check up on us?”
He shook his head, both of them having decided to keep things formal at school, for both their sakes. Staff fraternization wasn’t frowned upon, but he wasn’t ready to go public yet. “Not at all, Miss Dorne. I was wondering if I might have a word.”
Jacqui gave him a dazzling smile. “Sure.” She moved to one side of the quad with him. “What can I do for you?”
“Lunch,” he said without preamble.
“Lunch? I thought we decided against lunchtimes, because of work.”
He shrugged. “I changed my mind, so sue me. I missed you all weekend. Besides, you skip lunch far too often for my liking. It’s not good for you. So, I thought you, me, and two chicken baguettes from the bakers. All topped off with ice cold soda and ice cream with a flake and sprinkles. We can get it from the van on the corner opposite the school. My treat.”
“That sounds wonderful. I’d love to—” Jacqui’s phone rang, and she pulled it from her belt. She frowned. “Don’t recognize the number, I should take this. Excuse me a moment. I’ll be right back.”
Liam nodded, enjoying her smile as she answered the phone. It was a smile she reserved just for him. The call was probably a supplier. But whoever it was she’d be back with his answer. Because it sounded as if she were about to say yes without the usual haggling over whose turn it was to pay.
****
Still smiling at Liam, Jacqui wandered across the quad as she answered. “Jacqui Dorne, speaking.”
“Hey, Jacqui baby, it’s Vince.”
Jacqui stood stock still, the lighthearted mood wiped away in an instant. How did he get her personal number? Ice filled her body, despite the warmth of the sun. She’d never wanted to see or hear from him again. He was in her past, the lid shut tight, and that’s where he needed to stay. But she could do civil, she had to. Her fingers tightened on the phone when all she wanted to do was drop it and run.
Lord, please help me to be polite to him. Don’t let my emotions interfere here.
“Vince, it’s been a while. How are you?” Somehow she kept her voice on an even keel, adopting the tone she used for suppliers and clients.
“I’m good, hon. How are you keeping?”
The word ‘hon’ sent unexpected shivers of revulsion down her spine. Her reaction was a million miles away from the one he was probably hoping for. “I’m fine. So, why are you calling?”
“I missed you. Is that a crime?”
In this case, absolutely.
“No, it’s not. But I’ve moved on.” And I haven’t missed you.
“I thought you might like an update on my career.”
Not really.
“Vince, I really don’t have the time—” She shook her head and called out to a sweet but inexperienced intern who seemed to like free styling the design, but this time she was grateful for the distraction. “Not there. Put it over there under the oak tree. That has to be planted in a shady area. Really, are you consulting the plans at all?” Brendan just shook his head and shrugged. “I’ll be right there, Brendan. Don’t dig another hole.” She turned back to the phone. “Like I said, I really don’t have time to chat. I have to keep an eye on this crew.”
“Yes, and speaking of work, that’s the reason I’m calling. There’s been a company takeover, and I’m CEO now.”
“Congrats on the promotion.” Just the way you like it—total control.
“Thank you. I was sorry to hear about your parents. It must have been tough.”
“It still is.”
“I hope they didn’t die still mad at me.”
She said nothing.
“I think this whole thing has been blown out of proportion.”
Blown out of proportion?
“They invested all their savings in that business, Vince. On your say so. And lost the lot.”
Vince’s fingers tapped, echoing down the phone. “That wasn’t my fault. There were problems in Africa as well as with the finances. You know that, you were there.”
“Yes, I’m well aware of that. Anyway, yes, they forgave you. They even paid my flights to get home.”
“That’s good. But I learned from that. I’m a changed man. So the reason—”
“Excuse me one moment.” Jacqui moved over to Brendan. “Look,” she said gently moving the plans through a full one-eighty degree turn. “Try it now.” The light that dawned on Brendan’s face would have been comical at any other time and he ambled back to the tree. She pushed a hand through her hair and sighed heavily. “I really don’t have time to talk Vince.”
“Ouch.” His wounded tone didn’t fool her for a moment.
She turned and fixed her gaze across the quad at Liam. The concerned look she knew so well filled his eyes. She had fallen for him, despite
everything.
“I have to go. Goodbye.” Trying to control her anger and resentment for Vince was making her head spin.
“Wait. It took me forever to track you down, but eventually I found out you worked for the Jekyll Foundation. Then it was a matter of simply tracking you to a regional office. Where are you working at the moment? Eve wouldn’t tell me.”
“You spoke to Eve? Did she give you my personal number?”
“No. She gave your number to the secretary for the CEO of the Horatio Corporation. But only because my admin said it was an emergency. Your people have been putting us off for weeks.”
She gave an inward grown. She’d told Eve and the others not to reply to those messages, until she knew a lot more about a company who didn’t even have a website. Wait a minute, did he say us? All the pieces fell in place. “Then you’re the CEO of the Horatio Corporation.”
“Yes, I am.”
Her heart pounded, and the edges of panic fluttered around her. Why hadn’t she put two and two together sooner? Horatio was his middle name. “Oh, very impressive. Look, I’m really busy right now, dealing with people that don’t know one end of a plan from the other, and I have to help them. Is there a reason for your call?”
“I might be able to put some business your way. Are you free for lunch?”
“No, I’m not.”
“Meet me for lunch, and I’ll tell you. What time do you get off work?”
“I can’t. I’m too busy.”
“I’m not taking no for an answer, babe. I need to see you. And you need to hear what I have to say. If only to make sure you’re not holding a grudge.”
Jacqui caught her breath. He had that edge to his voice. The one that meant she’d be in trouble if she said no. Not that you could say no to Vince. “Stop calling me babe.” Jacqui thought fast. If he had business for Jekyll Foundation in the ever-tightening economy, perhaps she needed to listen, despite her ill feelings towards him. “I’ll meet you to discuss business,” she stressed the words. “I can meet you about twelve ten or so. Just for half an hour, no more. I’m working in Headley Cross.” He didn’t need to know that’s where she still lived.
