by Robyn Grady
The fire in his belly snuffed out. His body went cold as he stared down at his open palms.
Was this love?
When she joined him on the bed, they sat side by side, both facing the shutters, neither speaking for the longest time.
‘David, you don’t have to tell me, but…’
‘You want the rest of the story? When I made a complete ass of myself?’ Why not? His past wasn’t a federal secret. He didn’t post Christmas cards about that incident, but neither did he try to hide it.
She shook her head at her lap. ‘I didn’t call you an ass.’
‘No, I did.’ He scrubbed his jaw and pushed out a breath. ‘Let me give you the short-but-sweet version, and there are a couple of similarities, so don’t take offence.’
Serena held herself tight and listened. And she ought to go right on listening. She’d pushed too far. David was in charge with regard to work, just as he’d said. But should this argument be a surprise? When relationships got complicated, so did everything else. This proved it.
David rubbed the back of his neck and began. ‘Years ago when I first set up shop, I fell for a woman who seemed like a good idea at the time. She worked for me, I promoted her and, when I needed her most, she skipped town.’
Serena’s face went numb. David wasn’t looking at her. Why? Because he was seeing this other woman reincarnated? Only she would never up and walk out in the middle of this campaign. That was what this whole argument was about—her wanting to get the job done while David wanted to roll around. ‘What did you do?’
‘I wanted to throw in the towel. My client base was poor to don’t-worry-about-it. I’m sure there were those in the industry who shook their heads and sighed at the young pup who’d played ball in the wrong park. I was this close to chucking it in and joining the forces.’
‘Army? Navy?’
‘Air force.’
Paper planes. Of course.
‘I’d always wanted to fly jets,’ he went on, ‘but when my father fell ill and my mother couldn’t cope, I decided to stay close to home. I have a younger brother. He needed a male role model during his teenage years. They can be tough.’
Tell me about it. She moved a little closer. ‘What happened? Did your family situation hold you back again?’
‘By then both my parents were gone and my brother lived in London.’
‘So, why not fly?’
His shoulders went back. ‘Stubbornness. Pride. And maybe a part of me that thought it was too late. That my life had taken another direction, for better or for worse.’
He’d had a dream and let it go? Suddenly she felt a thousand times closer to him and yet further apart. Would he ever expect her to give up her dream, too?
‘I still had one decent-sized client,’ he said, ‘who for some strange reason believed in me. I didn’t want to let him down. I brushed myself off and decided the only way I could do it was to make sure I ended up the best. One hell of a motivational tool. Now it’s ingrained. I can’t fail again. It’s not an option.’
‘Yet here you are today playing hooky with me?’
He glanced over and grinned. ‘Who was the wise woman who once said everyone needs to break free some time or explode. We’ve worked hard. We deserve a reward.’
An apology hovered on the tip of her tongue. Guess she’d overreacted about that appointment.
She caught the time on his watch.
Too late to make it now.
She pushed to her feet. ‘If you don’t mind, I’ll call Tilda to make sure she cancelled the alderman.’
He grabbed an extension off the side table. ‘Let me.’
Two minutes, and it was confirmed.
‘See?’ He hung up. ‘No earthquakes.’ He collected her and eased her carefully back down amongst the cushions. ‘Now, if you don’t mind, I’m going to make the most of a rare afternoon off.’
He drew her leg up over his lap.
Serena had to laugh. ‘What on earth are you doing with my toes?’
He stroked each one. ‘I’m not sure yet. But I have a feeling we’ll both like it.’
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
SERENA yelped at the slap on her behind and spun around.
Luna Park was famous for its laughing face entrance, traditional carousel and giant slides. The park’s Coney Island, with its Wonky Walk and Barrels of Fun, was the perfect location for today’s publicity shoot, which she’d dubbed ‘Hit the Fun Time.’ Everyone had their favourite ride. As Serena rubbed her butt and faced David’s devilish grin, she got the impression he had plans for the privacy of the ghost train.
David wrapped his arms around her. Tucking her head under his chin, he stroked the spot. ‘Here, let me do that.’
She shoved his hand away and tried to sound stern. ‘That hurt.’
‘You didn’t complain last night.’
She smiled to herself and moved towards the Turkey Trot to grab her bag. ‘Last night was different. This is work.’
‘And you’re doing a fabulous job.’
She struck a curious face. ‘How would you know? You’ve only just arrived.’
‘I know because everything you do is fabulous.’
Really?
All warm inside, she played it up and sent a droll look over one shoulder as she walked away. ‘Everything?’
‘You know damn well you do.’ He grabbed her hands and pulled her onto the Trot. As she went up he came down and snatched a kiss. ‘Let’s go somewhere dark and good for cuddling.’
Grinning, she rolled her eyes. ‘I knew it. The ghost train.’
She left him behind to collect some folders.
His mouth was at her ear. ‘I can squeeze your hand and you can squeeze my—’
‘David.’ Trying not to smile, she darted looks around at the crowd, then moved away. ‘This is a public place. I’m working.’
He took the folders from her. ‘You’ve finished work for the day. We’ve barely seen each other all week. It’s Friday night and we’re spending it together. Leave that stuff there.’ He set the folders on a nearby table, snared her hand and led her off. ‘William?’
Acting as if he hadn’t seen them misbehaving, her young assistant tipped up his blond mop. Assorted equipment from the day’s shoot lay at his feet. ‘Yes, Mr Miles?’
‘Take care of the rest of this, will you? Thanks a lot. See you Monday.’
A thumbs-up and William continued the task.
Resistance was futile. Serena relented and they fell into step. ‘That’s not fair.’
‘What’s not?’
‘Me, leaving everything for someone else to tidy up.’ She’d come from a family where no one was above pitching in. ‘Many hands make light work.’
He tapped her nose with his finger. ‘It’s called delegation—something you must learn to do. You look after the shoot, William looks after the packing, and I look after you.’
She made a face. ‘I’m not sure that makes much sense.’
‘It makes perfect sense to me.’
Over this last month, David had relaxed more and more. One reason could be that Jezz was well and back on board, although Serena hadn’t handed over the reins. Seemed the sponsors were happy with the direction the campaign had taken. They wanted Serena at the helm. David had been so proud. He’d taken her to the best restaurant in Sydney and bought the finest champagne, although she suspected the special treatment was partly to make up for nixing one of her best-loved ideas the day before. Jezz was delighted for her assistant’s more permanent promotion, and Serena was happy, too. Another feather in her cap. Another tick for her résumé.
Another reason to stay here?
Outside the Coney Island enclosed complex, the park was in full swing. Tourists munched hot dogs while children squealed on the roller coaster and seagulls wheeled high above. A perfect afternoon.
She stole a glance at David.
Just perfect.
The pole of the ‘Hi-Striker’ caught her eye and she hauled him ove
r. She read the sign. ‘Test your strength. Bet you can’t hit the top.’
The ticket collector offered a big rubber mallet, but David shook his head and pulled her away. ‘You don’t have any control over that. No one hits the top.’
Serena stopped and pegged her arms out like wings. ‘Buck, buck-buck-buck, ba-urck.’
He wore a short-sleeved jersey knit today. His biceps bulged beneath the cuffs as he crossed his arms. ‘Nope. Nothing you do will change my mind.’ That scuffed eyebrow lifted along with one index finger. ‘However, I will win you the biggest fluffy toy in the park.’
He strode off and she followed, skipping behind him like someone half her age. ‘You’re not going to play the Laughing Clowns, are you?’
He stopped and smacked his chest. ‘Do I look like someone who would play the laughing clowns?’
She almost giggled. ‘No, you don’t.’
He rolled his eyes. ‘That’s a relief.’
He held her hand as they walked over to a stall. When he handed over a coupon, a portly man with a big smile allocated five darts.
‘This is my kinda game.’ He surveyed the back wall, which was decorated with scores of inflated balloons. He squeezed one eye closed and took aim. ‘Red balloon, left corner.’ The dart flew from his hand and—pop! ‘Blue balloon, second from top right.’ Pop!
Eighteen more consecutive pops, and he won a gigantic pink koala.
Serena’s heart felt almost too full when he handed the prize over. She buried her chin in between its ears. ‘I always wanted someone to do that for me.’
‘And I never wanted to.’ He bent so his eyes were level with hers. ‘Until you.’
He was about to kiss her when a different light filled his eyes. He drew up tall and peered over her head. ‘Want to try the Ferris wheel?’
She looked across as the coloured lights decorating the spokes blinked on for the night.
He took her hand again. ‘I haven’t been on one of those since I was a kid.’
Heights weren’t Serena’s biggest strength—nothing chronic, as her homesickness had once been. But she’d be okay if she didn’t look down.
‘Sure.’ She smiled. ‘It’ll be fun.’
‘Then we visit the ghost train.’
‘Then the dodgem cars.’
He winked. ‘I knew I liked you.’
David handed the ticket collector two coupons and Serena stepped up into the sparkly red carriage. The carriage swung when he plonked the pink bear in the opposite seat then sat beside her. As the wheel began to turn he gathered her in. His mouth dropped over hers and they floated off together, becoming part of the carnival’s motion and music.
His eyes were smouldering when he drew away. ‘You keep tasting better and better.’
‘That’s fairy floss.’
His tongue tickled the side of her mouth and she laughed. ‘Mmm. Didn’t know I had a sweet tooth.’ Holding both her hands in his lap, he leant back. ‘Are you hungry for more than cotton candy?’
‘Are you talking about food or you?’
He pretended offence. ‘Both, of course. There’s a new Thai place down the road from home. We could get a corner table with a glowing candle, or order take-out and feed each other noodles in bed.’
‘Decisions, decisions.’ Tapping her chin, she pretended to decide. ‘Noodle swapping, I think.’
The distant roar of a jet’s engine faded in. They both gazed up as the wheel went round.
David murmured, ‘Wonder what it’s like to pilot one of those?’
Over these weeks, she’d come to know David better. Reading the Sunday paper in the sun made him happy. Traffic jams made him angry. He hadn’t told her yet what made him sad. She was slowly piecing together the man David was and how he’d got there.
‘If flying was such a passion—’ she snuggled into him, ‘—why didn’t you take lessons growing up?’ Money wouldn’t have been a problem.
When she was ten, she’d wanted a horse to ride in gymkhanas—she still thought horses were the noblest creatures on earth—but her dad had said the cost was too high. Every week for two years he’d taken her to the local horse-riding club though, which had pretty much made up for it.
David’s thumb brushed back and forth over the top of her hand. ‘I would have done anything for that, but my mother was paranoid about most things. Microwave cooking. Greenhouse effect. Whether my shoes were clean. She refused to discuss flying, and my father wouldn’t go against her where we boys were concerned. So, I resigned myself to the fact that I’d wait till I was eighteen and old enough not to ask permission.’
‘Then your dad got sick?’
He nodded. ‘And my hands were full. Besides, I didn’t want to add to my mother’s upset.’
Serena stretched up and pressed her lips to his sandpaper cheek. ‘They were lucky to have a son like you.’
He shrugged it off. ‘Any half-decent person would have done the same. You have a responsibility to those you love. You don’t set out to hurt their feelings or up and leave when you’re needed, do you?’
Serena’s soul shrank in upon itself. That was a rhetorical question. He wasn’t asking if she would ever disrespect his feelings or needs. Wasn’t asking if she would ever leave him…was he?
How could she answer that? She didn’t want to hurt anyone. He’d been the one to chase, telling her to trust him and see where their attraction went. Now she knew. A place where she’d never been more certain or more confused.
She loved David. Once she’d walked up the staircase to his bedroom, love had been inevitable. One part of her wanted to spend her life with him, but she couldn’t give up that other part of herself. She wanted to stay and she wanted to go. She wanted to celebrate how she felt about him, not grow to resent it.
‘I see you received flowers.’
She’d been gazing at the last of the afternoon sun-sparkles flashing across the harbour waters.
She frowned. ‘Flowers?’ Then it clicked. ‘You mean the white roses.’
David sent her bouquets filled with colour—bright yellows, vibrant purples, always with the same message: ‘Tonight?’
‘Who are they from?’ he asked.
David would have seen them on her desk. She hadn’t taken them home. They were business-related, not personal.
‘Jonathon Sturts had them delivered this morning.’
David’s chin kicked up as he looked over the edge down at the ground too many metres below. He tugged his ear. ‘Why did Sturts send you flowers?’
‘A congratulations on the billboards that went up yesterday. He said they were some of the best he’d seen.’
‘Does he speak to you often?’
‘Every week or so. He says he’s taken a personal interest in this campaign.’
‘More like a personal interest in you.’
Serena stopped. She rocked forward and a laugh escaped. ‘My God, are you jealous?’
His face was as dark as his eyes. ‘I’m concerned.’
‘Why?’ She was both flattered and shocked. ‘Because another professional is interested in my work?’
‘That’s exactly why. Be careful of Sturts. He’s a charmer.’
‘I’m not the least bit interested. How could I be when I have you?’
But for how long? Her mind couldn’t skip around the question. In time, would he tire of her? Apparently he hadn’t done long-term since Olivia.
When she and David were together, he acted as though he was in love with her, but he hadn’t said those three little words—the words she both longed and dreaded to hear. Maybe this was a fling for David. Maybe the most she’d have to decide was what to wear on the plane after he dropped her.
‘I’m not talking about attraction, Serena. I’m talking about Sturts tempting you…’ His voice trailed off.
‘With flowers? I’m not that easy. Well, only for you.’ She smiled and while she thought he was trying, the humour had gone from his eyes.
They went round twice mor
e. She cuddled into his arm and every so often he kissed her brow.
As the wheel arced to the top again he sat up, holding her shoulders as he faced her. His look penetrated her heart.
‘You do wicked things to me, Serena.’ He brought her close and slanted his face against hers, their noses side by side, his mouth brushing hers. His arms were strength and shelter, his chest all comfort and steel. ‘You make me feel like Samson.’ He stole a kiss. ‘So strong and so damn…’
He kissed her deeply and she dissolved beneath his need. He filled her up with every kind of wonder. Made her glow and blossom in ways most people would never know.
She did wicked things to him? He did dreadful things to her. She wanted him to keep doing them and for this ride to never end.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
JEZZ glanced up from her desk and smiled. ‘What are you doing in here? Didn’t anyone tell you it’s Sunday?’
‘Says who? Miss Work-Around-the-Clock?’ Serena grinned and headed for the guest chair. ‘David needed to come in. I thought we’d grab the papers and spread out a picnic blanket in the park for a couple of hours afterwards.’
Jezz’s gaze lowered back to the computer-generated sketch she’d been checking. ‘You two have gotten real close.’
Halfway down in her seat, Serena paused and stood back up. Was that a negative note in Jezz’s voice?
‘You were the first person I confided in.’ Not that David seemed overly concerned about keeping their relationship outside work a secret. ‘I thought you were happy about it.’
Shoulders dropping, Jezz pushed the sketch aside. ‘Oh, honey, I am. You and David go together like pancakes and syrup. It’s just…’ Her gaze wavered, then slipped again.
Serena’s stomach tightened. This wasn’t like Jezz. She was forthright, always open. What was she avoiding?
‘Has something happened? Is it David?’ These days her and Jezz’s relationship was more like mother and daughter. Mothers looked out for their children, had a way of knowing things that might cause pain or heartache.
Serena’s stomach churned. She reached for the heart around her neck, remembered she’d left it on David’s bathroom counter, and rounded the desk. ‘Tell me what’s wrong.’
