‘Bret!’ Jennifer knew, as soon as her brother’s name echoed around the hall, that she was in trouble. In that same instant, the continuous low murmur of voices and occasional laughter stopped. She became aware of the heavy silence behind her. Oh, shit! She turned to look at the mass of surprised faces, mouths open, delicate tuna sandwiches or scones poised, all staring at her. Their sudden focus of attention on her was suffocating. The hall was so quiet she could hear her heart hammering, and no wonder. She’d just been told her brother’s life was in her hands.
She forced a smile to her lips and sent a frantic glance her sister’s way. After Sofie and Claudia’s initial stunned stupor, they managed to get their feet moving. Their expressions a study of questions, they hurried to Jennifer’s side. On their heels came a worried Calum and Sergeant Brock. Like a mini stampede, four people came clomping towards her on the old hardwood floor.
Panic-stricken, Jennifer gave them a nervous grin. She zeroed in on Sofie, hoping her sister would interpret her wide-eyed, desperate look and, just this once, get the hint. Stop Calum and the cop! But no, Sofie kept coming and so did the men. Jennifer forced her grin into a smile and didn’t care that she probably looked insane. Her mouth was dry, her lips stuck to her teeth and her brain was devoid of a single rational thought. A blank slate.
‘What’s going on with Bret?’ Sofie asked breathlessly. ‘Is he in some kind of trouble?’
A brittle laugh escaped Jennifer. ‘Trouble? Not at all.’ She was sounding hysterical. Where the hell did that come from? She was good at handling stress. Damn right she was. ‘I um — I yelled at him because, well, because he didn’t turn up in time for the funeral. You’d think that at least this once he’d make an effort, wouldn’t you? And I think I can safely say he isn’t going to make it at all. So I got a little angry.’
‘Just angry, Aunt Jen?’ Claudia asked. ‘You know those animals caught in headlights?’
‘Did I look like that? No, it’s just that he hung up before I had a real chance to let him have it. You know what he’s like.’ Jennifer glanced toward Sofie and waited a couple of blinks to see if her sister understood that she was bending her story. No light bulb moment there. My sister is a featherhead. There was nothing to gain by dragging Sofie to the ladies’ loo to tell her everything. She’d fall apart at the seams, and then what?
Jennifer felt the beginnings of a hysterical sob surge in her throat. She told herself to get a grip; Bret would be okay. But fear for her brother grew and her stomach became a ball of knots. Bret would never be okay. Fists clenched; she took control and changed the subject. ‘Calum? Um…’ Now what? There’s a crisis and she had a headache? Her thoughts on what else to say dried up, but the babbling continued. ‘Anyway, where’s your grandmother? I’d like to thank Connie personally. I know she had a lot to do with organising everything. I’m hoping she can introduce us to Veronica. We’ve heard so much about her, but we’ve never met…I’m starving,’ she said, too brightly. ‘I think I’ll try one of those delicious curried egg sandwiches.’
Calum craned his neck and scanned the crowd. ‘Gran’s over by the tea urn with Shirley.’
He took hold of her hand, made ready to stride off and stopped. He turned to study her over his shoulder, his expression worried, questioning. Jennifer nearly lost all control, her lips trembled, but she fought it back. He didn’t say anything, but gave her hand a squeeze then let go and pulled her into his side and wrapped his arm around her shoulder, with a tight reassuring grip; he walked her over to his grandmother.
Connie put her cup down and smiled as they approached. Jennifer managed to pull out of Calum’s clasp to wrap her arms around the elderly woman. Grateful there was such a wonderful turnout for her uncle, so grieved that he was gone, and on top of everything, Bret’s life could be in danger. Fraught with emotion, she found it difficult to let Connie go.
‘Goodness, is everything all right, dear?’ Connie asked.
Jennifer forced herself to pull back and wiped her tears away. She thanked Connie and Shirley for making the day easier for her, Sofie and Claudia.
Connie’s gaze flicked between Jennifer and Calum, and her smile widened. ‘We loved Bob and this day was our tribute to a wonderful, caring man.’ She scanned Jennifer’s face. ‘Is everything all right? Is there anything I can do?’
‘I hope so. Is Veronica here somewhere?’ Jennifer asked.
‘Oh dear.’ Connie blushed, and looked sad. ‘What a pity you missed her. She was at St Mary’s, but unfortunately she couldn’t make it here.’
‘Shirl, got any, you know?’ Calum asked, eyebrows raised.
‘How…?’ she started.
‘Gran told me.’ Calum reached for an empty teacup and held it out.
Jennifer had no idea what was going on, but was thankful Calum had put his arm around her again and tucked her into his side.
Shirley opened her enormous bag, pulled out a silver flask; she unscrewed the top and poured a large amount into the cup.
Calum handed it to Jennifer. ‘Drink,’ he said, gazing at her with soft eyes.
Jennifer nodded, sniffed the contents, which made her eyes water and took a gulp. Through coughing, she managed to squeak, ‘Whiskey.’
Before Jennifer could ask any more questions, a couple of friends occupied Connie and Shirley’s attention.
‘Take another sip,’ Calum whispered in her ear, his warm breath and deep voice sending a delicious tingle through her. She brought the cup to her trembling mouth and drank.
Calum didn’t leave her side all afternoon. How was she going to shake him off so she and Sofie could get home and take the wretched call?
By early evening, Jennifer began to worry that people thought she had an obsessive-compulsive disorder about time and watches. She felt relieved when guests started moving off and she could stand by the door next to Sofie, shaking hands, thanking everyone as they passed.
‘Sergeant Stewart, thanks for coming.’ Fearing he wanted to chat, Jennifer had to restrain the urge to hurry him along.
‘Evening, ma’am. Some of us are going to the pub. Would you like to join us?’
‘Sounds like a lovely idea,’ Sofie bubbled with enthusiasm, gazing up at Brock.
Jennifer blinked at Sofie. Could this be a way out, a way not to burden Sofie any more than she had to?
‘That’s a lovely idea, Brock,’ Jennifer said, charm in top gear, ‘Um…I tell you what, Sofe, you go ahead with Brock and everyone. I’ll walk up to the pub as soon as I’ve had a chat with Connie and Shirley.’ God, she hoped her sister wouldn’t ask awkward questions.
‘But didn’t I see you talking to them earlier?’
Bugger! ‘Um…yes but then we um, friends distracted them. It’s all right, Sofe,’ Jennifer urged, ‘I’ll be right behind you.’
‘Okay.’ Sofie agreed, but gave her a suspicious look. Then, eyes dancing between Jennifer and Calum, she gave them a knowing smile, wiggled her fingers, she said, ‘See you in a few minutes…or not.’
Jennifer gave her sister a wide-eyed teeth-gnashing smile, which she took no notice of.
‘Hold on, Sofie,’ Calum said. ‘My sister Michelle’s going to the movies; she wants to know if Claudia would like to join her.’
Michelle stood to one side, clear blue-grey eyes smiling over a small nose with a smattering of freckles and full pink lips. Her glossy, auburn hair hung loose to her shoulders. She wore a short, dark skirt and T-shirt with the word Lost? written across her chest in sparkling silver.
‘What a great idea. Thank you, Michelle. Claudia’s leaning on our car, go ask her, I’m sure she’d enjoy the distraction.’
‘Cool. See you.’ With a cheery wave, Michelle jogged towards Claudia.
Jennifer watched her sister and niece leave, and sighed with relief that she could spare them this terrifying drama.
Once out of sight, Calum curled a hand around her neck and turned her to face him, head dipped, concerned hazel eyes locked onto hers, he said, ‘There isn’t anything further you want to say to Gran, is there?’ She shook her head. ‘You don’t want to go to the pub do you?’ She shook her head again. ‘I’m taking you home,’ was his final, and definite, statement.
Calum took her by the hand and a flutter erupted low in her belly. She couldn’t remember when she’d last felt a hand like his, big, strong, and callused from hard work. He made her feel safe. He led her straight to his Range Rover, popped the doors, and helped her in. In a daze, she watched him move around the bonnet and angle in behind the wheel. He paused to look across his shoulder at her. When she didn’t move, he leant over, grabbed her seatbelt, and, God help her, he was right there, his face barely inches from hers. She breathed in his masculine scent mixed with fresh pine and wanted to bury her face in his neck and forget about everything.
‘You gotta buckle up,’ he murmured and clicked the belt into place.
He shifted back into his seat, strapped himself in, turned on the ignition, and swung the car into Grey Street. He’d rolled his white shirt up to just below his elbow and the relaxed, manly way he handled the wheel sent a quiver through Jennifer. Calum was in control, and she like that…a lot.
Without a word, he stopped at the pub’s bottle shop, jackknifed out, strode in, and came back with bottles of wine wrapped in paper bags. He slid behind the wheel, twisted around and sat the bottles on the back floor, and headed for her uncle’s place.
* * *
Calum wasn’t going to beat around the bush; he wanted to know why a phone call from her brother would send Jennifer into a spin.
‘You want to talk about why you were shaking like a leaf after your brother’s phone call?’
He could almost feel her body stiffen. ‘Bret’s always been a worry, seems nothing’s changed.’
‘You can talk to me. I won’t tell anyone, not Sofie, not anyone. I promise. But I think you need to tell someone what’s going on.’ He glanced her way. ‘Come on, it can’t be that bad.’
From the corner of his eye, he could see she was studying him.
‘How can I believe you? People make promises and never keep them. I’m sorry, but what makes you so spe…any different?’
‘You’ll have to trust me. I won’t tell a soul.’ He shrugged and hoped that would cut it.
‘He’s-been-kidnapped-by-some-dude-who-sounds-as-if-he’s-escaped-from-maximum-security,’ she blurted out in a rush. ‘I don’t know, but I think they want either five or ten thousand.’
‘Shit…that’s heavy! Why didn’t you say something to Brock? He was right there.’
‘They said, involve the cops and we can kiss Bret’s arse goodbye.’
Fuck! He hadn’t expected that kind of problem.
‘I’m really scared,’ Jennifer muttered. “My brother’s constantly getting himself into strife, but never anything as bad as this. And I don’t know whether to involve Sofie. She’s been through so much already, and she’s far worse at worrying than I am. I’ll get the money together somehow.’
‘What about your parents?’
‘I’m the fool he called, not Mother and Father. Honestly, I don’t know what their reaction would be. Not even sure they would believe me.’ She shook her head. ‘I’m not setting myself up for disappointment by ringing them to find out.’
‘I see. I suppose that ties in with the fact Bob banned them from attending the funeral?’
‘Pretty much,’ she mumbled.
But Calum got the distinct impression that was as far as Jennifer was going to go. ‘I gather the kidnappers will get in touch again, tell you when and how?’
‘Yes, tonight sometime. Typical. I think they’ve been watching too many gangster movies, the idiots,’ Jennifer muttered, twisting and untwisting her hands.
Calum reached over, clasped her right hand with his left, and laid it on his lap; holding it there, he rubbed it back and forth, trying to ease her tension. Neither said anything for a while, and the silence grew heavy inside the confines of his car.
He had to take his hand away from hers to indicate and manoeuvre the car through a roundabout. To his astonishment, and immense pleasure, she didn’t move her hand from his thigh.
‘I won’t ditch our little pain-in-the-arse brother. But he’s involved with who knows what sort of miscreants, and I’m —’ she clenched her fists, ‘— furious. I mean, shit, they know my phone number! What else do they know about me?’
‘I’m sure your brother wouldn’t have handed his phone over without a fight, Jen.’
‘Huh! You don’t know him. And now I don’t know him anymore either.’ She paused. ‘No, you’re right, it wouldn’t be difficult to wrestle him for his phone.’ He saw her shudder. ‘But why choose me?’
Although he wanted to haul her across and hold her tight, he couldn’t prevent the soft chuckle deep in his chest. ‘Keep venting, Jen, it’s good for your health.’ Calum patted her hand, still resting on his thigh.
‘Yeah, but I’m terrified.’ Calum felt her fingers flex and glanced across to see her staring out the windscreen transfixed. Focused on inner demons, unaware she’d squeezed his thigh.
They drove in silence until they stopped in front of the garage doors.
‘Thanks for dropping me off,’ Jennifer said, unbuckling her seatbelt.
‘I’m not leaving you out here, open the garage please.’ Okay, so she looked a little stunned, but hopped out and keyed in the code.
Calum drove into the garage. He switched the headlights off, grabbed the wine, and slid out as the roller door rumbled closed behind him.
He smiled within when Jennifer took his outstretched hand and led him to the back door.
A glow came from the upstairs kitchen window. It was too dim to be the light in that room. It had to be coming from somewhere else.
‘Did you leave a light on?’ Calum asked, as they crossed the courtyard.
‘I haven’t been here since this morning, and after what you said I didn’t touch anything electrical.’
‘Get behind me,’ Calum ordered and, hands around her waist, he lifted her out of the way. He took her keys, touched the door and it swung open.
‘Bloody hell,’ she whispered, over his shoulder. He felt her shudder of fear against his back. ‘I locked this door after my sister left last night, and I haven’t been out this way since.’
‘Stay behind me.’ Calum peered through the doorway and crept in.
Hands at his waist, Jennifer followed. Nice, he thought, liking the feel of her warm hands.
They entered the sunroom and waited, listening. He couldn’t hear anything; his gut didn’t give him any vibes so he placed the bottles of wine on the floor next to the stairs.
Jennifer shivered and rubbed her arms. Calum glanced over his shoulder and brought his hand around and tugged her into his side to warm her.
‘You okay now?’ She nodded. ‘Stay here,’ Calum ordered. Crouching low, he took off to search the shop and its rooms. A couple of metres along, he could feel a presence behind him. Fists clenched, he turned ready to swing a punch, stopping just in time. ‘Jesus,’ he hissed. Heart pounding, he relaxed his stance. ‘I nearly smacked you in the jaw. Why aren’t you back at the stairs?’
Eyes wide, she whispered, ‘I’m not waiting anywhere alone until I know there’s no one here.’
Still trembling, arms tight to her chest, she peered through the dark at him.
‘Come here,’ he whispered, concerned. She moved forward into his side. Wrapping an arm around her shoulder, they moved forward and checked every corner.
Satisfied downstairs was clear, Calum locked the back door and said, ‘I’ll go upstairs, have a look around.’
‘I’m not staying alone down here either,’ Jennifer hissed.
He gave her a look, said nothing, and turned to mount the stairs.
Each tread creaked the moment Calum set a foot down. He started to take his shoes off and signalled for Jennifer to do the same. Her hands were shaking so much he worried she’d dropped one of them…and she did. Calum grimaced as it hit the floor with a loud thud.
Jennifer’s worried eyes hit Calum’s; on seeing her apologetic expression, he grinned.
‘Sorreee,’ Jennifer mouthed.
They reached the dark hall. Calum flattened his back against the wall. He swung an arm out towards Jennifer, and his hand landed on a breast. She let out a faint gasp and he swiftly moved his hand down to grab hers. He sidled to the living room, edged around the doorframe. She slanted around his shoulder and peered in: no one in there. They snuck along to the bedrooms and found them empty. She hadn’t let go of his hand, which he thought was sweet. They moved on to the kitchen. A dim globe hanging from the centre of the high ceiling looked on the verge of dying out.
‘Maybe you didn’t switch the light off last night,’ Calum whispered, and brought the back of her hand to his abs.
‘You could be right,’ Jennifer said, her voice barely a whisper as she stared up at the bulb. Calum smiled to himself as she subconsciously slid the back of her hand over his flat stomach, at least that’s what it seemed, and he hoped he was right.
‘But that doesn’t account for the unlocked back door,’ he added.
Jennifer gasped. ‘No,’ she answered on a soft sigh. ‘Perhaps there’s a simple explanation, like it’s an old lock and things happen?’
‘Nuh, that’s bullshit. Anyway, there’s no one here,’ Calum shrugged. ‘May as well make ourselves comfortable and wait for the phone call.’
‘Huh…you’re waiting with me? I’m a big girl, you don’t have to,’ she told him, eyes wide.
‘It’s not a matter of having to. Christ, I just crept all over the shop and house with you trembling into my side and now you’re okay with being alone — well I’m not.’ His gaze softened and he touched her face with the back of his hand. ‘I want to stay.’
* * *
Voices drifted down the hall and Nikolay quickly hid behind the study door. He brought his breathing under control, but there was nothing he could do about his thumping heart. They were almost level with him now. He didn’t want to scare either one of them, but might not have a choice.
‘I need to use the bathroom,’ a woman said. ‘Drank too much tea at the wake.’
Nikolay nodded. Go pee — go pee!
Through a crack in the door he watched and waited. They both entered the beautiful pink room opposite him. A few minutes later the man came out and said, ‘I’ll wait in the kitchen.’ And he disappeared.
Nikolay’s heavy shoulders sagged as he let go a breath.
Gathering enough nerve to creep out caused his gut muscles to bunch up. He could hear the woman: it sounded to him as if she was using her mobile phone and leaving an angry message. Well, it was now or never. He slipped through the doorway and tiptoed down the hall. Despite his bulk, he moved quietly, and with surprising grace. It worked — until he hit the stairs. He cursed as each tread creaked under his weight. He had no choice but to hurry now; any loud noise he made would alert them to his presence. He scooted into the shop’s kitchenette and did a quick scan for the best place to hide. There was a door at the opposite end. It could be pantry, he thought hopefully, and hurried through it.
* * *
Jennifer ran down the hall just as Calum came back up the stairs with the bottles of wine.
‘I heard something, was that you?’ She flung herself at him; automatically his strong arms went around her and she felt safe.
‘Not sure which noise you mean.’ He chuckled. ‘I heard something as well and went down, but I can’t find anything.’
‘Come on.’ Calum pressed his hand to the small of Jennifer’s back and ushered her into the living room. He placed the bottles of wine on the dining table, went to her uncle’s crystal cabinet and pulled two glasses out. ‘We could use a drink after all the excitement. Red or white?’
‘White, thanks.’
He went to the couch and waited for her to sit, then poured them both a glass of wine.
‘Here’s to Bret, the little shit,’ Jennifer said, raising her glass.
‘To Bret…because of him, I’m spending the night with Jennifer Dove,’ he said, sensuous dark hazel eyes penetrating hers.
She didn’t know what to say to that, so left it well alone. She never felt nervous around people. Heck, being a chef in one of London’s best restaurants meant you had to deal with all kinds, especially hot-blooded, high-strung head chefs. Yet Calum made her fidget and her belly melted every time he looked at her. Besides, she could not mistake the messages he was sending. No one could.
She took a long sip of wine, a very good wine. She swirled her glass, stuck her nose in, and sniffed. ‘Nice.’ He didn’t say much, just smiled as she babbled on about her uncle’s unique funeral. When Jennifer was on to her third glass, she was telling Calum about Sofie, and why she didn’t want to burden her sister and niece with Bret’s latest scheme that must have gone horribly wrong.
‘You see, Mother and Father never forgave Sofie for becoming an art teacher and marrying what’s-his-name, Jett the surfer. Jett, the two-timing surfer-bum-father who broke his daughter’s heart.’
Sure she was tipsy, it never took more than two or three glasses of wine. Nevertheless, she could tell he was holding back. ‘What’re you thinking…hmm?’
‘Surfer-Jett.’ Calum said, fighting a smile
Jennifer forgot her problems and roared laughing.
‘It’s not that funny.’ Calum chuckled.
She came down from her merriment and sighed. ‘It was for a moment. He’s an arse. I asked Sofie what happened to my cute, dimple-faced niece? You wouldn’t know, but the change in Claudia is…dramatic. I was warned, but something went missing during our transcontinental chats. You know, static and delays. Sofie said, how would you feel if our father screwed a barely-twenties-something girl? Then again, maybe our mother…’ She stopped and shrugged.
Calum made no comment and just continued to sip his wine. Jennifer vaguely wondered if that was still his first glass. The thought popped out of her head as smartly as it had popped in.
‘Surfer-Jett,’ she snort-giggled. ‘Claudia’s father had asked her to babysit his, and barely-twenty-something’s, twins. My sweet niece told him to go fuck himself.’ Oh God, she just dropped the F-bomb.
Her mobile tinkled. Adrenalin surged through Jennifer and she jumped, peered down into her bag and fumbled for her vibrating phone. She pulled it out and looked at the screen, it was Bret’s number again.
In a flash, Jennifer was sober.
She took a deep breath, rose from the couch, turning her back on Calum; she determined to answer as calmly as she could. ‘Hello.’
‘Pay attention ‘cos this is what we want youse to do. Youse better get the money or youse’ll be…’ The caller covered the mouthpiece. Jennifer pressed the phone to her ear, closed her eyes and stuck a finger in the other ear; frowning, she concentrated hard on the background noise. Something was going on, something the caller was not happy about.
She could feel Calum’s body heat close to her back — protective.
The thug came back. ‘Um…we want the money now, or…’
‘I can’t get that sort of money from —’
‘Don’t tell me what youse can’t do, bitch — ten grand — do it! King’s Cross station tomorra, be there, five-thirty.’
‘But —’ The line was dead. Jennifer shook with rage, staring at the phone, hardly able to believe this was happening. It felt like she was watching her brother in a bad movie, only she was in it too. Muttering, she paced the room, keyed in received calls and called them back. Tension filled the room and it wasn’t just her own. In her peripheral vision she noticed Calum keeping a close eye on her every move. She had to put his reaction aside as, phone to her ear, she waited. But there was nothing, no voice mail. Nothing. Fist clenching around her phone she glared at it and growled.
Calum took her phone, threw it on the couch, and wrapped his arms around her. ‘What did they say?’
She tilted her head back to see his face. ‘ ”Youse better get the money.” His command of the English language is astounding. And he called me a bitch.’ Jennifer frowned, thinking about what had just occurred. She tried not to, but body coiled tight she began to shake. ‘Oh bloody hell.’
‘Christ, Jen.’ Calum said, and holding her tight he asked, ‘What else?’
‘Something was happening in the background while I was on the phone; I don’t know what, but it put Scarface off his script and he had to think on the run. A tub of yogurt has a better thought process.’
‘A tub of yogurt hey?’ Calum chuckled, which didn’t last long. He became deadly serious and said, ‘I think you should talk to Brock, he’s ex SAS. He’ll know what to do.’
‘No — and you mustn’t either.’ She fisted her hands in his shirt and tugged him in close to her face. ‘Promise me you won’t?’
‘Okay, I won’t.’ His hands slipped around her waist.
Jennifer sagged against him. ‘God I’m so tired of this shit. Thanks for staying with me. I’m fine now, you can go home. The thugs think we’re in Sydney.’
‘Uh-uh, I’m not leaving.’
She let her forehead drop to his chest and mumbled into his shirt, ‘You’re a grown man, do whatever you want. I need sleep…lots of sleep.’ She took a deep breath. ‘Did anyone tell you, you smell great?’
‘Not for a while.’ She heard the smile in his voice.
Before she could take a breath, he swooped her up, and cradled her in his arms; exhausted, she let her head rest on his shoulder.
She sighed, ‘Well you do. I could take your shirt to bed and sleep with…oh God, please ignore me, I’m delirious.’
* * *
Calum carried Jennifer down the hall and into her room. He lay her down on the ruffled pink bed, removed her shoes, and covered her with the quilt. ‘This is becoming a habit,’ he murmured. ‘I like it, and I’m not going to miss out on kissing you this time, Jennifer.’ He bent down and kissed her soft mouth.
‘Thank you. You know what this place needs?’ she said sleepily.
‘No, what does it need?’ he gently murmured.
‘People, lots of friendly people,’ she said and drifted off.
Calum brushed stray curls from her forehead and left the room. He went to get her mobile and, just in case, placed it on the bedside table within her easy reach. Then he went back down the hall, gathered bedding from Bob’s room, and laid it out on the floor at the foot of Jennifer’s bed. He yanked off his boots, dress pants and shirt and stretched out. Arms folded behind his head, he chewed over what Jennifer Dove was doing to his mind, his body, and his life.
Christ, he hadn’t felt like this about a woman — ever. His body ached to have her lying naked on top of him, under him, beside him. Whatever she wanted, he was ready to give it.
He closed his eyes and re-ran all the moments he’d seen her over the last couple of days and he realised, he treasured every one of them.
Sleep was a long time coming.
* * *
It was still dark when, in a sleepy daze, Jennifer woke, her mind replaying the day’s events and then her brain started on the, what ifs. The chitchatting and scenes churning in her head wouldn’t stop. That wasn’t nearly as bad as a drunken idiot who was singing somewhere. If he just kept at it, it would’ve been fine, but he’d pause and Jennifer’s entire system, already wound tight, waited on a knife edge for him to take off again. And when out of the blue the wailing started, she flinched and cursed him under her breath. His mournful tones sounded familiar, but of course that was impossible. She told herself his singing didn’t matter and instead of wanting to kill the bastard she should relax into it. Eventually, exhaustion took over, she felt her body grow heavy and drift off when…
Her mobile buzzed.
Heart thumping, she fumbled in the dark and found it on the bedside table.
‘What!?’ she yelled, getting up on her knees.
‘Jesus — fuck!’ Calum roared, vaulting off the floor a couple of metres behind the end of her bed, his body tense, ready for action.
Eyes wide, Jennifer squealed and stared at Calum, the only light source coming from the face of her mobile phone. ‘What’re you doing here?!’
‘Sis, it’s Bret,’ her brother hissed, breathing hard into the receiver. ‘It’s all right, it’s me, Bret.’
Hand on her heaving chest, she stared at Calum. ‘Not you, Bret,’ she snapped into her phone. She watched Calum’s shock fade and his body unwind as he gazed back at her, a warm grin easing into his face. ‘Well thank God! They’re letting you use the phone?’ Jennifer muttered, her mind distracted by Calum’s presence moving closer.
‘I got away,’ he laughed. ‘I got out while one of them was talking to you. Man, are they stupid or what.’
After relief, anger quickly set in. Jennifer rubbed her eyes and peered at the fuzzy digits on the bedside clock. ‘It’s two in the morning. And you think this is funny!’
‘Jen — they’re a couple of amateurs.’
Yeah, she thought, and you’re almost jumping out of your skin excited at having got away from under their noses. She supposed he thought that made him smarter.
Bret continued, ‘They’re little thugs with big ideas.’
Movement caught her eye: Calum had come around from behind the bed. Feet planted, arms crossed, he stood in front of her wearing nothing but a pair of black, snug, hipster jocks that stretched firmly over his man bits. ‘If…if…’ She forced herself to look away and quickly gathered her thoughts. ‘If they’re such amateurs,’ Jennifer seethed, ‘why didn’t you escape before they rang me and why wait until now to tell me you had escaped! Bloody hell, Bret, I’ve been frantic!’
‘Hey, I’ve only just stopped running. I’m at a service station outside Blacktown, half an hour from Sydney.’
‘Dare I ask where your mobile is?’
‘Jen, I’m real sorry. Just get yourself another number.’
‘What a good idea, then you can’t ring me either!’ she yelled.
Silence.
‘Um, Jen, I’m headed for Darwin, don’t get any money out. If they ring, tell them from me to go to hell.’
‘You tell them! And what if they decide to come get the money anyway? Huh? Do they know where we are? Bret!’
‘My ride’s starting; the semi’s engine’s running. Bye, sis, call you soon.’
‘Bret! Don’t you dare hang up. Bret!’ Jennifer hollered. ‘Shit!’ The line went dead. She yanked the phone away from her ear and stared at it, as if by some miracle she could make Bret materialise. In a rage, she thumped the phone down on the mattress again and again, cursing with every downward thrust. ‘Bloody-fucking-little-shit!’ She knew Calum was watching and didn’t care. She lifted her arm ready to throw her mobile at the wall, when a strong hand clasped around her wrist.
‘You’d only have to buy a new one,’ Calum whispered softly in her ear and, despite her rage, a little piece of her sighed as a sensuous ripple rushed down her neck and straight into her nipple. Her breath hitched a couple of times as she took in his amazing scent.
Throw your phone, Jennifer!
‘Th-that isn’t such a bad idea. A new phone and number and the thugs wouldn’t be able to ring.’
He let her go. ‘Okay, go ahead, you’ll feel better.’
She raised her hand, and pulled her arm back ready to throw it, but hesitated and decided against wrecking her phone. Besides, she couldn’t do it to Bret. Instead, she pummelled her frustration out on the pillows. ‘You bloody little — Aaarghghg!’
As if on cue, the drunken idiot started singing again. She couldn’t get upset with one of Bob’s friends tying one on today. Whoever it was, he sounded as if he was in an enormous cave. ‘Please, please, don’t let there be a chorus of them,’ she let herself drop, and knees bent, back arched, face planted in the pillow, she muttered. ‘And please don’t have them come here to sing under Bob’s window as a kind of tribute.’
‘Sh-sh-sh, a minute,’ Calum urged, resting his hand on her back. Jennifer stilled as heat from his palm seeped through her dress onto her skin. ‘No, wherever they are they’re not moving to your window.’
Hair everywhere, Jennifer shifted her head on the pillow to look at Calum. ‘Why are you here, in my room?’ she quietly demanded, her voice shaky.
‘Thugs?’
‘Bret’s always getting himself in trouble with the wrong sort — on the wrong end of the wrong scam — this one is the worst so far. But they’re in Sydney and they think we’re in Sydney.’ Jennifer straightened to kneel on the bed.
‘You can’t be sure about that. They haven’t given you a location other than Kings Cross station, which is a big place. The moment your brother scarpered, they’ll be looking for you, thinking Bret will make his way here. Sydney is barely two hours away.’
Jennifer felt the blood drain from her face. What had her brother done? Not only had he brought thugs into her life, and Sofie’s, and Claudia’s, but possibly this whole sleepy, friendly town. The ramifications tumbling, at speed, through her mind made her tremble with fear, not for herself, but for everyone else.
‘Jen,’ Calum murmured low, his deep voice caressing her skin. ‘What I said was meant to alert you, I wasn’t expecting you to react this way. I’m sorry.’ He pulled her off the bed and held her tightly.
‘Let me go, please, Calum.’ Jennifer mumbled against his bare chest, but made no move to push him away. Instead, her hands came up and gripped his muscled biceps like a lifeline.
‘I’m not letting you go until you stop shaking.’
‘Shit…that may take a while.’
‘Yeah? I don’t mind — not going anywhere. You’ve had to deal with a lot of shit, and it’s all catching up. Nervous energy on top of all that, and you’re drained. You need to sleep. Take your clothes off, get comfortable, and get into bed.’ He let her go and moved away; suddenly she felt very alone.
‘Where’re you going?’
‘Nowhere. Go change in the bathroom, I’ll be here on the floor when you get back.’
‘That’s insane, why not use Uncle Bob’s room, or the couch?’ She didn’t want him to do that, but asking him to stay in her room seemed wimpy, and she wasn’t a wimp.
She watched him scan her body. She tried to stop the shakes by tightening her muscles, but that just made it worse. Damn!
‘Sorry, not leaving.’
She gulped, feeling nervous and aroused at the same time. ‘Okay, well, the bed’s a queen, I’m sure we can share without…’ she stopped and motioned towards the bed with a backward wave of her hand. ‘Just get in…please.’ Satisfied she’d made her point, Jennifer turned and headed for the bathroom. Her uncle had handpicked his pallbearers. Calum wouldn’t have been one of them if he hadn’t been an honourable and solid good bloke. She stripped, pulled on the Veronica slip, and went back. Calum lay on his side on top of the bed, elbow in the pillow, head in his hand, and a loose cover that stopped at his waist, his broad, muscled, bare chest: magnificent. Then he reached forward and pulled the quilt aside so she could hop in, a sexy invitation to join him. Her belly dropped and she licked her lips. His eyes dipped to her mouth, then slowly shifting back up he sent her a warm smile. Crikey!
She could easily take it further, and judging by the look on his face, he’d be happy to oblige. But she couldn’t have sex without getting involved, and getting involved was an emotional investment she wasn’t prepared to make.
‘Thank you.’ She lay down, her back to him and closed her eyes; so far from sleep, it wasn’t funny.
‘Night, Jen.’ Calum’s voice had that low rumble she was beginning to crave.
She brought her legs up, pushed one down, thumped her pillow, fidgeted, until exasperated she turned on her back and looked at the ceiling. ‘I can’t sleep — damn it — I’m exhausted.’ She heaved out a sigh.
Calum quietly chuckled, propped himself up and said, ‘I can help with that.’
‘Oh sure…how?’ she asked hopefully.
‘I’ll give you a massage.’
‘You’re going to touch me?’ Had she just said that out loud? He quirked an eyebrow at her. Oh God, she had.
‘It won’t hurt, I promise.’ He gave her a cheeky grin. ‘And you’ll feel relaxed enough to fall asleep.’
Jennifer could not believe she was doing this, but when she eyed him, his grin eased into a smile. And her reaction was to flip onto her stomach.
God help me.
She felt the bed move and then his knee slipped between her thighs. She forced herself not to react, like moan with pleasure. He lifted her Veronica slip and she held her breath, but nothing happened.
‘Calum?’
‘Uh…yeah, I just realised, my hands are pretty rough.’
Was he panting? Was she expecting too much, that he could do this without getting aroused? Could she? Well, she was here on her stomach, might as well make the most of it.
‘There’s moisturiser in the bathroom, that should work fine,’ she mumbled into the pillow.
The bed shifted with his weight. He left, then came back to take up the same position between her legs.
She heard him squeeze cream on his hands then, after what felt like forever, he gently placed them on her back. He started kneading the muscles at her waist just above the elastic waistband of her undies. She moaned. Thumbs in the band of muscles either side of her spine, he slid up to under her ribs, then further between her shoulder blades then finally her shoulders and neck. With every push and circling of his thumbs, Jennifer moaned. Then he worked back down again.
‘Relax,’ Calum ordered. ‘I’m not going to hurt you or take advantage. Trust me. Let yourself go.’
Jennifer closed her eyes and concentrated on easing the tension out of her body and softening her muscles. She felt her body sink into the mattress and that’s all she remembered.
* * *
Calum’s hands, lathered in moisturiser, hovered over her skin. Christ, what was he thinking when he offered to do this?
He took a deep breath, placed his palms on her lower back and began to gently knead, bringing his fingers and thumb into play on her muscles. Working on her, he was glad he’d offered. Her muscles were tense.
With every downward pressure, Jennifer moaned, making his cock twitch and grow harder. Despite his discomfort, he continued to work on her back and shoulders. After a while, she was so relaxed her mouth popped open. Jennifer was asleep. He eased himself over to his side, set his phone to buzz him at six am and shoved it under his pillow, then made himself comfortable, closed his eyes and smiled. He was in deep, deep shit.
It felt like no time at all had passed when his phone went off. He looked down to see that during the night, Jennifer’s cheek was on his chest. Her leg was over his hip and she’d curled her arm around his waist. She had him trapped, but he loved the feel, it made him smile. Yeah, he liked this a hell-of-a-lot. He slipped his free hand under the pillow and turned off his phone. Now he had to disentangle himself from Jennifer. He started by easing out from under her, and carefully laid her head on the pillow, then softly lifted her arm and leg, and slipped out of bed.