The Hero (Hot Aussie Heroes Book 2)

by Andrews, Amy

  “They’re frightening her,” Edwina wailed.

  Jenny suffered from a mild panic disorder. She hadn’t had an attack for a long time, since she’d been settled where she was, but it was this kind of stress that could trigger one.

  Justin’s hand tightened on her arm, his face a grim line.

  Then suddenly, a burly security guard and Bev Jones, the director of the facility, were on the scene, demanding the press get off their property and Edwina almost sagged in relief. Bev ushered Jenny back inside, but not before Edwina could hear Jenny fretting about needing to go to work.

  The screen changed back to the studio. “As you can see,” Connie said, “this doesn’t look good for Edwina’s peachy rep. The Dear Ruth interview put her popularity through the roof, but with the picture and the hidden sister…” Connie shook her head, “I’m not sure her reputation can come out of this unscathed.”

  Reputation? Jesus! As if she gave a crap about that now. As if she gave a crap about these two women and what they thought as they calmly dissected her life.

  She couldn’t think about any of that now. She needed to check on Jenny.

  “Switch it off,” she said, turning away from the television and stalking over to her handbag where she’d stashed her phone last night.

  They’d both turned their mobiles off because they hadn’t wanted their night interrupted by the constant ringing of journos, looking for a quote for the morning newspapers.

  “What are you doing?” he asked.

  “I’m ringing Bev Jones, then Jenny, then an airline I guess.”

  “An airline?”

  “So I can get back to Sydney and sort this mess out.”

  He nodded. “I think Ballina’s the nearest place you can get a plane from.”

  Edwina faltered at Justin’s easy acceptance. No cajoling her to stay, or badgering her to keep her network commitments. He knew Jenny came first. “I’m sorry for pulling out on you.”

  “It’s fine,” he dismissed. “You have to do what you have to do, and we can leave as soon as you’re ready.”

  Edwina had twenty-three missed calls when her phone powered up again. Most of them she didn’t recognise but she did recognise one that appeared three times. It was Bev’s.

  “Shit,” she said as she quickly stabbed the number.

  “What?”

  “Bev’s tried to ring me.”

  Edwina cursed that damned picture and the stupid teenager who’d thought it’d be a lark to put it up for all the world to see, and the media for thinking it was fair game. She never switched her phone off because of her sister and the one time she did, she missed an important call about Jenny’s welfare.

  The phone was answered on the second ring. “Edwina?”

  “Bev, I’ve just seen the news.”

  “I’m so sorry. I tried to ring you earlier.”

  “Yes, apologies, my phone’s been off. I needed to… get off the grid last night for a while.”

  “Yes, I understand. I’m so sorry about the brouhaha yesterday over that picture and this morning for all the stuff they’re saying in the media about you, Edwina. Nobody here believes that you dumped your sister. What can we do? Can we put out a statement to support you in some way?”

  “No!” Edwina hadn’t meant for it to come out so abruptly, but the last thing they needed was to engage the crazy. “I’m sorry, that came out all wrong. Thank you so much and I appreciate the sentiment, but it’s not your job to guard my reputation, and one thing I’ve learned is that you don’t feed the beast. I’ll be coming out with something in the next day or two, but I’d really appreciate it if you didn’t give them any ammunition.”

  “Of course,” Bev assured. “Absolutely. No worries. Dundas House will maintain a dignified silence, I promise. But on the other matter… I want to apologise that the media were able to get access like that, and assure you that everything’s under control here now.”

  “It’s fine.” Edwina didn’t blame Bev or anyone there – she knew better than anyone how persistent the media could be. “How’s Jenny? She looked… frightened.”

  Edwina’s voice cracked as a huge lump lodged itself in her trachea. Justin was by her side in a second, rubbing her neck while she talked.

  “I think she had a moment of panic, but she’s great now, she’s enjoying the attention, I think, and loved seeing herself on the tele. I think she fancies herself a bit of a media star. But she’s also fretting about work, of course. I rang them to let them know she wouldn’t be in today, but you know what a stickler she is for it.”

  Edwina smiled. Jenny adored her job and it gave her purpose and structure to her life. She never missed a day. And Edwina hated Dale a little bit more.

  “I’m not sure when I’ll be able to get there. I have to get a plane and I’m in Tenterfield at the moment.”

  “Aren’t you in the middle of the rally?”

  “It’s the last leg today and it’s not as important as Jenny.”

  “There’s no need to come, Edwina, really,” Bev assured. “We have security posted out front now. No one can get in to her. And you know how much Jenny was so looking forward to watching you cross the finish line on the tele, Edwina. She’d be terribly disappointed if you pulled out.”

  Yes, Edwina knew. Jenny had been so excited about the rally. Although Edwina suspected that had more to do with Justin’s presence.

  “I was thinking I might… bring her home with me for a little while, where I can protect her more.” Edwina’s apartment in Sydney had the highest security money could buy.

  “Oh, I don’t think taking her out is a good idea. You know how much she loves it here.”

  Edwina nodded. “Yes.” Her sister loved her home very much and stability was so important. “I’m not talking about permanently, just… while it blows over.”

  “I understand you’re worried, but you know Jenny won’t like it.”

  Edwina sighed. Bev knew Jenny so well and that was what she loved about Dundas House. Jenny liked her schedules and routines and, woe betide, if they got out of sync. She could be stubborn as hell and twice as sulky.

  “Look, she’s here. Why don’t I put her on and you be the judge for yourself?”

  “Okay,” Edwina said, leaning into Justin’s body. He smelled like coffee and hotel sheets and she was so grateful for his quiet presence and the soothing neck rub.

  “Edwina?” Her sister’s excited voice came on the line and she had to pull the phone back from here ear. “I was on the tele, did you see?”

  Edwina laughed at the utter glee in Jenny’s voice. “I did see. You did great, too.”

  “Maybe I can get a role on Gift of Life,” she said cheekily then guffawed into the phone like it was the most hysterical thing she’d ever heard.

  Edwina smiled. It certainly didn’t sound like she was traumatised by the experience. “So you weren’t scared?”

  “No. It was fun. But Bev says I can’t go to work and that’s bad.”

  “I know, I’m sorry.”

  “Paul says I’m a good worker. It’s important to be punctual.”

  Paul was Jenny’s boss at the printing factory. “Yes, very important,” Edwina agreed. “Listen, Jenny, I was wondering if you’d… like to come and live with me for a while?”

  “Like at Christmas time?”

  “Maybe for a bit longer than that.”

  “No.” Edwina could almost see Jenny emphatically shaking her head. “You’re too far away from my friends and my work.”

  “It could be like a little holiday?”

  “No. I’m not due to go on holiday until Easter. Paul said my holidays were at Easter.”

  “Please, Jenny, you could swim in the pool every day?”

  “No.”

  Edwina could hear the petulance sneaking into Jenny’s voice and she knew she was doomed. Better to pull back now and shelve it for later. She knew from long experience that her sister’s world was very black and white, and when she made up her mi
nd there was little anyone could do to shift it.

  Of course, as Jenny’s legal guardian, she could march in to Dundas House, swoop her up and take her home, and there wasn’t a damn thing Jenny or Bev could do about it, but Edwina would never trample on her sister’s hard-won independence like that.

  Never.

  “Okay, that’s fine. You don’t have to.”

  They talked about the rally for a bit and then Edwina put Justin on for a chat before Bev came back on the line. “You’re right,” Edwina sighed. “She seems fine.”

  “She is, Edwina, you know I’d tell you if I thought something was up.”

  “I think she’ll never talk to me again if I pull out of the rally.”

  Bev laughed. “I think you may be right.”

  “Do you… need some extra security around there? I’ll pay for it. Whatever you need.”

  “No,” Bev declined. “It’s covered.”

  “What about going to work? I don’t want her heading out into that pack again.”

  “I’ll drive her to work the next little while,” Bev assured.

  “I can provide a car and driver,” Edwina said.

  “Which would probably stick out like sore thumb,” Bev laughed. “Better my beat up old Renault.”

  Edwina knew she was right. “I just feel so helpless.”

  “I know. Look… it’s never easy trying to balance the safety versus the independence needs of someone like Jenny, Edwina, particularly given how headstrong she is. But you do such a great job.”

  “Dundas House does a great job,” Edwina corrected.

  “No. We work as a team, Edwina, us and you, and Jenny is so lucky to have you.”

  “Thank you,” she said.

  “Good luck today. I see you surpassed the million overnight.”

  “Oh.” Edwina pulled her head off Justin’s chest. “We did?”

  Justin mouthed. “What?”

  Bev laughed. “Yes. Goodness, you were really off the grid last night, weren’t you?”

  Edwina glanced at Justin and just stopped herself from saying in the best possible way. “That’s great,” she said. “Just the shot in the arm after the other stuff.”

  “Yes. Listen, I’m sorry, Edwina, but I have to go.”

  “No worries,” Edwina said. “But please, please ring me if anything happens, okay? And I mean anything, no matter how minor. I won’t be off the grid again.”

  “Absolutely.”

  Edwina hung up and looked at Justin, his fingers still doing magic things to her neck. “What?” he asked again.

  “We broke the mil last night.”

  His face broke into a broad grin and he was so damn sexy he took her breath away. “Yay us.”

  “All providing people don’t decide to not honour their donations now that Edwina Calloway is a skanky, sister-locking-up, cheating whore.”

  “Don’t,” he said, cupping her face and lifting it til their gazes met. “Anyone who knows you, knows the truth, Ed, and the rest don’t matter, remember?”

  Edwin nodded, pulling herself together. She could crumple in a heap or she could pick herself up, dust herself off, and keep going. With Justin right in front of her, the decision was easy.

  “Good,” He kissed her lightly on the mouth. “Now I take it the plan is to keep going on to Byron?”

  “Yep. Go to Byron, take part in the festivities tonight, fly back to Sydney tomorrow. Bev has everything handled, but I still want to go and see Jenny for myself.”

  “Of course you do.”

  “I’m sorry. I know that puts the kybosh on your wicked plans to chain me to a bed somewhere for a very long time.”

  He grinned at her and lowered his head to nuzzle her neck. “What makes you think I can’t do that in your apartment in Sydney with occasional releases for good behaviour?”

  Hope flared inside her as goose bumps prickled down Edwina’s arms and tightened her nipples. “Good point,” she said, stretching her neck to give him better access. His hand brushing against her belly caused her legs to wobble precariously.

  “And one more thing,” she said pulling back a little before she got totally distracted with the direction of Justin’s hands. “When this is all over and we’re back in Sydney, I’m going track Dale down and kick his arse.”

  “Oh, baby,” Justin murmured. “You’re going to have to get in line.”

  *

  The Monaro pulled into the Lullabar, situated on Main Beach at Bryon Bay, at just after five. The area had been cordoned off and there was a real party atmosphere going on – they’d made it and made the Flying Doctors a cool million in the process!

  Tiki lamps hung around the perimeter and music blared out from the funky bar. The sun was still warm, the sand still blazed white, the Pacific Ocean met the shore in curls of white and blue, and surfers made the most of the late afternoon breakers.

  There was going to be fireworks once it got dark, and Edwina could only imagine how spectacular that would look.

  It had been an odd day, she mused as she finished up doing some interviews that painstakingly avoided the elephant in the room and headed to the bar with Justin.

  She really needed a drink.

  People had been extraordinarily supportive of her. And kind. She’d expected them to stay away. To judge her. But if anything, they’d turned out in even bigger numbers and surrounded her with their support. It had taken them an hour to get away from Ballina and there were a lot of happy fans posting selfies of her and them standing in front of a rather tired looking Big Prawn.

  “What do you want?” Justin asked her as they approached the bar made from old surfboards, planed flat and coated in resin. Neon graffiti glowed on charcoal walls.

  “Anything that’s highly alcoholic,” she said.

  “My kind of woman,” the guy behind the bar said with a wink. His nametag proclaimed him to be Parker. “How about I surprise you?”

  “Well I’m not entirely sure I can handle another surprise today,” Edwina smiled, “but sure, why not.”

  She sat on a bar stool, Justin claiming the one beside her and they chatted to Parker about the Byron way of life as he fixed their drinks, the ocean a soothing sight pounding away in the background.

  Ruth sidled up to them as he handed them over. “Hey,” Edwina said politely, even though the last thing she felt like doing was talking to Ruth, who’d no doubt want to rehash the last disastrous twenty-four hours.

  She liked the other woman well enough, and the interview she’d done with her in Tamworth had been amazing television, but there was something predatory about her that always pinged Edwina’s radar. She didn’t take long to get to the point, assuring Edwina that she didn’t believe that she’d dumped Jenny in a home and offering her a chance to tell the story from her side.

  “I’ve been thinking,” Ruth said. “Why don’t you and I do another interview? With your sister this time. You can show people how close you both are, how she doesn’t bear you any… ill will. I don’t think I need to tell you that your reputation has taken a bit of a battering over this. An interview where you present your side of the story might help repair some of that damage.”

  Edwina felt Justin tense beside her as a surge of anger welled in her. Bear any ill will? Ruth knew fuck all about the situation. She so badly wanted to tell Dear Ruth to go screw herself. But they were in a public place.

  She glanced at Parker who winked at her again. He could clearly tell she was very close to dropping the f-bomb.

  “Thank you, Ruth,” she said, although it killed her to be polite. “But I frankly don’t care what people think of me and I’m not going to parade my sister around in front of a camera just so everyone can feel better about me.”

  Ruth sat up a little higher on her stool and Edwina could see the other women felt insulted by the knock back. “But it’s going to be better if you come and out and explain your side of the story, Edwina, instead of leaving the press to their own devices on this one. It’s not goin
g to just go away, you know?”

  Oh, she knew. “Thank you, Ruth,” she said, the smile aching on her face. “But I intend to do that in my own way at my own time.”

  “Okay then,” Ruth sniffed, pushing off her stool. “Let me know if you change your mind.”

  “Not in this lifetime,” Justin muttered as three sets of eyes watched her walk away.

  Edwina, who was literally shaking from rage and reaction, picked up the elaborate fruity cocktail and sucked it down through her straw in one minute flat.

  “I’ll have another,” she said as she slammed it down on the bar.

  Parker grinned. “Coming right up.”

  The Day After

  ‡

  “Are you sure this is the way you want to do it?”

  Edwina nodded as the first rays of sunlight lit wild orange streaks across the ceiling. Her cheek lay flat against Justin’s bare chest, the top of her head tucked under his chin. The slow, steady percussion of his heartbeat beneath her ear was as soothing as the rhythm of the waves against the beach just across the road from their hotel.

  She’d lost him for a couple of hours last night as the party got into full swing and they’d mixed and socialised. He’d appeared by her side again just before the official part where channel five’s CEO and a representative from the Flying Doctors gave speeches and then it was Edwina’s turn to hand over a huge dummy cheque for one million, ten-thousand, three-hundred and twenty dollars.

  The fireworks, launched high into the night air over the ocean a little while later, were breathtaking and had everyone gasping in delight.

  But the ones she and Justin had made since they’d returned to their room were even more spectacular.

  Edwina slid her thigh over his. “I think so. Ruth was right; the media aren’t going to let it drop. Even if they do eventually lose interest, it’ll always keep cropping up anytime there’s media about me, so if I do this one interview, answer the questions, hopefully, I can put it to bed.”

  His warm hand trailed from her shoulder down to her hip then up again in a slow hypnotic circle. “Reggie’s a good choice.”