Ms Mason has recently taken on a managerial position at a local tennis club where she will also be able to help junior players achieve their goals by running after-school and holiday coaching programs.”
So, not only was she a rising tennis-star with a ruined career but she was also married to a golf professional. Country Club types. Not exactly the sort he rubbed shoulders with. Definitely explained her attitude.
Curious now that he’d opened Pandora’s Box, Travis entered the words Liam Bruce Golf Australia into Google to see what he could find about him, but when he heard the front door open followed by his brother’s whistling, he slammed the laptop shut.
~~*~~
Hilda Weston was a well-dressed and well-mannered woman in her early fifties. Alex immediately liked her.
‘How do you have your coffee?’ Hilda asked, a smile making her look like she could be family.
‘Just black, thanks.’
Hilda directed Alex to a small sitting room, and then disappeared into the kitchen. She returned with a tray laden with fine china cups and saucers, a pot of coffee and a plate of what looked to be home-made shortbreads.
‘It was kind of you to drop in to meet me. I’d have been happy to come to your place. It’s not like I don’t know the way.’ She smiled warmly, and offered Alex a shortbread.
‘I had some errands to do today and I thought it might be easier to come to you. I understand you only work part-time at the hotel?’
‘Yes, just eleven to two most days—some days even less, depending on how many rooms were used.’
Alex bit into the shortbread. ‘These are simply scrumptious.’
Hilda flashed a huge smile. ‘I won first place at the county fair with them one year. Haven’t changed the recipe one iota since.’
‘You wouldn’t want to.’
‘I take it you’d like me to continue cleaning your uncle’s home? Well, it’s yours now, isn’t it?’
‘I’d love it … if you have the time. I mean, it’s not that I’m not capable of doing some of it, it’s just that with my shoulder I find some of it beyond me.’
Hilda frowned, and tilted her head. ‘You’re very young to have a bad shoulder?’
‘I was in a car accident—broke my shoulder and my collarbone—but life goes on, doesn’t it.’ She swallowed back the sorrow that always lurked within her, waiting for a chance to creep up. She rarely spoke of the accident; it was just easier that way.
‘Oh, my goodness, I’m so sorry to hear that. I’ll certainly continue cleaning, if that’s what you want. Perhaps I’ll come around one day and you can show me what you’d like me to do, and what you think you’ll do yourself. Of course, for Steven, I did pretty much everything. He was getting rather frail towards the end.’
Alex liked what she heard in Hilda’s voice. Hilda had clearly cared about her uncle. It was even possible that she was more to him than simply a housekeeper. Perhaps she’d been a companion of sorts? Again, she wished she’d known her uncle. Would Hilda be prepared to talk about him?
‘What sort of man was he, my Uncle Steven? I’ve heard so little about him. My mother knew nothing about him, and my father rarely spoke of him.’
Hilda set her coffee cup down and gave Alex a weak smile. ‘That’s a real shame. He was truly a gentleman. Cared about people. He kept as many employed as he could at the saloon, and never worried about people getting a little bit behind with their rent in the properties he owned. I remember Sam saying something one day about how he’d have lost the hotel if anyone else owned it. Your uncle understood the ups and downs out here—the good months, and the dreadfully slow months. He helped everyone through the bad times, and didn’t take advantage of them in the good times either.’
Warmth washed over Alex, hearing praise of her uncle. Both the lawyer and accountant seemed rather neutral. And the Golds hadn’t had anything particularly nice to say about him either. She was glad she’d dropped in to meet Hilda today.
‘Can I refill your coffee? I can make another pot.’
‘That would be lovely, if it isn’t too much trouble?’
As Hilda disappeared into the kitchen, the front door squeaked open and Alex turned at the sound of footsteps approaching.
~~*~~
‘How’d it go over at Alex’s?’ Denver asked, grinning.
Travis smirked at his little brother. ‘Fine,’ he said, drawing out the word.
‘You were there a lot longer than I’d have expected.’
Definitely fishing, but Travis wasn’t going to reward him. ‘Is the electrician finished already? You could have gone yourself you know.’
‘He’s still out there. I just came in to make a sandwich. You want one?’
‘Better not. I’ve gotta get back out to work those two geldings. How long do you think this electrician will be?’
‘Another hour or two. He’s putting in several outdoor outlets, and he’s talked me into putting a string of lights in all the trees; says it’s the “in thing” at these outdoor parties, so I agreed to it. It’s gonna look awesome—I can hardly wait.’
Travis fought the urge to roll his eyes, but couldn’t keep the touch of sarcasm from his voice. ‘And I can’t wait for the following morning, when life can return to normal.’ He lightly punched Denver in the shoulder, and then smirked again. He knew this was an important birthday, and he didn’t resent his brother’s enthusiasm, he just had a lot of work to do to have his young horses performing at their best for the rodeo.
‘On second thought, I’ll have a sandwich too, but make it snappy.’
‘Yes, sir. And shall I clean your dress boots for you, too, sir?’
Denver ducked the punch, which would have been a bit harder than the earlier one, and raced into the kitchen.
Once Denver was out of the room, Travis opened up the laptop again and quickly found the page he’d been looking at. There were a number of articles where Liam Bruce’s name appeared; most were results from golf matches, and a few were related to local fund-raising dinners, but there was a recent one that captured his attention.
“… Liam Bruce, the golf-pro at the prestigious McMillan Estate Country Club, is set to wed Darcy McMillan, daughter of business tycoon and estate founder, Jamie McMillan.
Mr Bruce, whose divorce from tennis player Alexandra Mason drew significant attention at the time, is the son of …”
Travis stopped reading. He couldn’t care less about Liam Bruce’s father—but he was intrigued to read that Liam Bruce was no longer Alex’s husband.
Chapter 10
Alex looked up as a man who would fit in on an Italian catwalk sauntered into the room. Tall, with dark hair, he wore a five o’clock shadow that brought out the contours of his chiselled face. His deep blue eyes were piercing, and his lips looked like he had recently been engaged in a pashing session with some local hottie. His jeans, with rips in all the right places, fit him like a glove, and a pale blue shirt with the sleeves rolled up exposed tanning salon perfect skin. In fact, everything about him was perfect. And then he opened his mouth.
‘Hey, Mom. I see you’ve got company. Does that mean your shortbreads have come out?’
He flashed Alex a smile which appeared well-practiced; even so, it made her skin tingle. She ran her hands up her bare arms as a chill made its way across her skin. This was Hilda’s son?
Hilda’s voice wafted from the kitchen. ‘Yes, and I’ll bring you a cup of coffee if you want one.’
‘Yes please,’ he called back.
In two strides he was in front of her, with his hand extended. She stood, and lifted her hand to shake his, but he grabbed it with both his hands and raised it to his lips for a gentle kiss.
Smooth, yes.
Over the top, completely.
Impressed? She didn’t want to be, but yes, she was definitely impressed.
‘I’m Harrison Weston. And you are?’
She spoke slowly—trying to sound older and wiser. Not hard, given he looked what, maybe twenty-two? ‘Alex Mason.’
Somehow, he managed to stand taller as surprise washed over his face. ‘As in Steven Mason’s … daughter?’
She chuckled, shaking her head slowly. ‘Great-niece, actually.’
He released her hand, and bent down to grab the last shortbread off the plate. Taking a bite, he looked down at her. ‘Ah, yes, that makes more sense. Welcome to Masons Flat. And do I detect an accent?’
‘I was born here, well, not here, in Sacramento, but I’ve lived most of my life in Australia.’
‘Sweet … I’m heading down there in January. I’ve got a shoot coming up in Sydney.’
‘Shoot? As in modelling?’
‘Hmph … thought you might have recognised me. I’ve been in two cable television movies, but in January I’m getting a cameo in a new Australian drama series. It’s being filmed at Bondi. Suspect you’ve heard of Bondi?’
She laughed. ‘Of course, but I haven’t been there. So … television, eh? It must be exciting.’
‘Oh, it’s way more than exciting—it’s exhilarating. I’m hoping while I’m there I can get a gig in a movie or two. You know, start with small parts, work my way up.’
Hilda entered and placed the tray on the coffee table. She held out a cup to Harrison and handed another to Alex. Then she gave her son a mildly chastising look as she asked, ‘Just passing through, or are you here for a few days?’
‘I’m here for a few weeks, if that’s okay with you?’
‘You know you don’t have to ask—your room is always ready.’
‘Great, because Denver’s got that big party next weekend, and the county fair the following weekend. Then I thought I’d catch up with a few friends and that before heading back down to LA. Thought I’d told you, Mom … or did I forget?’
He bit into another of the shortbreads and then licked the crumbs off his lips with well-practiced sensuality. Alex wasn’t fooled by it, but she was entertained. He was fun. He was luscious. He was … exactly what she needed to take her mind off a certain broody man who’d been haunting her since she’d laid eyes on him.
‘I take it you’ve only arrived in the last few days? I say that because I think I’d have heard something if you’d been here long.’ He smiled—oozing charm.
‘Yes, a few days ago.’ She allowed an eyebrow to rise provocatively.
‘Fabulous, because that means you probably won’t have a date for Denver’s party. Come with me. It’ll be fun. I’m more than a pretty face; I can dance up a storm with the best of them.’
Alex glanced across at Hilda, who appeared to be trying to suppress a grin, but when their eyes met, Hilda’s were twinkling. Why not?
‘I’d love to, Harrison. Shall I pick you up? I assume you want me to be your designated driver?’
Harrison laughed. ‘No, I’ll drive. I don’t drink—it ages the skin too quickly.’
She quirked an eyebrow at him. A man in his twenties, who didn’t drink? He must be a rare find. And even rarer was the opportunity for her to let her hair down a little.
‘Perfect. What time?’
‘It kicks off at six, for the barbeque. How about seven? I’d die if we were the first to arrive. But that’s a whole week away. We should do lunch, or dinner, before then … get to know each other a bit, yes?’
Alex rolled her eyes. Pretentious. That’s the word she’d been searching for earlier. ‘Sure, just say when.’
~~*~~
Alex unpacked all her groceries, made a cup of tea and sat at the kitchen table. Then she pressed Casey’s number in her FaceTime contacts. It would be Sunday mid-morning for the twins—seventeen hours later than the time in California. Talk about an awkward time difference.
‘Alex! You look great—you must be getting some sun. We’re so jealous.’ Casey fairly squealed with delight, turning to seek confirmation from her sister.
‘You do know it’s been freezing here this week, don’t you? I know it’s only May but the weather’s been shocking.’ Taylor laughed.
Alex raised her cup of tea, showing off her sleeveless arm. ‘Yes, well, the weather has been pretty perfect here. I’ve been going sleeveless and wearing sandals almost every day.’
‘Rub it in, why don’t you? Well, the climate obviously suits you … or is there something more to it than that?’ Casey’s brow lifted as she ducked her head. ‘Is there something going on we should know about? Something other than you discovering all the millions we’ve inherited?’
Could she still be glowing from her encounter with the charming Harrison? Surely she wasn’t that gullible. She allowed herself to smile. ‘It’s our millions.’
‘Millions?’ The twins spoke in unison.
‘I was just kidding,’ Casey said, shaking her head.
Alex smirked. ‘And I’m not.’
Taylor leaned over, hogging the screen. ‘The accountant actually said that, did he?’
‘Yes. It’s not only the properties. Uncle Steven had bank accounts, and bonds and a stock portfolio. And now we have property, and bank accounts and bonds and a stock portfolio. It’s quite astounding. I … can barely believe it.’
Taylor stared at her, mouth wide open. ‘You’re having us on, aren’t you?’
Alex’s eyes grew wide as she shook her head slowly. ‘No, I’m not. We’re rich. If we don’t let it go to our heads and do something stupid, money isn’t going to be an issue for any of us.’
The twins looked at each other, clearly as gobsmacked as Alex had been when she’d first heard. Casey spoke this time. ‘Didn’t the lawyer tell you this when you saw him?’
‘Probably, but not in so many words. I think I was half asleep, and the magnitude of it all sort of went over my head.’
‘You can say that again. Should we come over? Do we need to sign stuff? We still trust you to do what’s best for all of us, but if there’s that much at stake maybe we should all be there, together?’
Alex sighed. It would be lovely for them to all be here together, but they had full lives back in Melbourne—jobs they enjoyed, partners, pets. She couldn’t ask them to drop everything when there was nothing urgent needing to be done.
‘Look, how about I continue on as we’d planned, and we can make some decisions over the next week or so. I’d love for you to come, but nothing has changed. I’ll keep you in the loop and we can decide together what’s best. There probably will be some papers we all need to sign, but not just yet. Why don’t we just wait and see what needs to be done and decide then. How’s that sound?’
Taylor finally shut her mouth. ‘Just don’t go spending it all on something stupid, will you?’
Alex struggled to wipe the grin off her face. ‘Of course not. Or at least, not much. I might buy the car I’m driving. It’s a red Mustang.’
‘A Mustang? Wow … now I’m really jealous.’ Taylor pulled a face.
Alex raised an eyebrow. ‘You didn’t expect me to drive the old Buick I spotted in the garage, did you? Besides, everything is going to be a whole lot easier than we thought it would be.’ She cleared her throat as she thought about how much she wished they were actually at the house, in person, and not just on the screen. Taking a deep breath, she put on a smile. ‘Now, how about I take you on a tour of the house? You’re going to love it.’
~~*~~
The drive to Sonora the next morning should have been pleasant; it was warm, the sun was shining, and she had the top down so the wind on her face was exhilarating. But as enjoyable as it should have been all she could think about was that something didn’t seem right with the vacancies. And, given what she now knew about the ongoing resentment between the families, she had to face the fact that it was possible the vacancies could have something to do with the Go
lds.
When she finally pulled up at the front of Ben Thompson Realty the front door was wide open. She parked and made her way in to find just the one man sitting at the front desk.
‘Hi, I’ve got an appointment at one-thirty with Ben. I know I’m a bit early, but is he available?’
‘Ah you must be Alex? I’m Ben. I’ve been looking forward to meeting you in person.’
Her head tilted involuntarily—he’d said that like he knew about her more than just from her call. ‘Really? Well, it’s nice to meet you too.’
‘Your uncle spoke of you and your sisters from time to time. He followed your career with great interest. He was quite proud of you.’
A pang of guilt washed over her. Her uncle had followed her tennis career? She’d had no idea. She’d been to California, for tournaments. She could have come to see him—if she’d known. Why had she never asked about her father’s family? She should have pinned her mother down for some details. A sigh escaped before she could stop it. Ben may have noticed as he quickly changed the subject.
‘And it’s fine that you’re early. Means I can leave a bit earlier myself. Take a seat and we’ll get started.’
Alex looked around the office as she sat. It was tidy, with brochures mounted on the walls and in stacks here and there. They looked quite the real deal—as much as any estate agent office she’d ever been in. ‘Are you normally open seven days a week?’
‘The office is, but I’m not usually here on a Sunday. Actually, I lie. I’m often here on a Sunday, just not every Sunday.’
He flashed a wide grin, displaying perfect teeth. Other than that, there was nothing remarkable about the man who appeared to be in his thirties. He wore a gold wedding band and had a picture of his family on the corner of his desk. Seeing how young he was, she suspected he must be the son of one of Uncle Steven’s friends, or perhaps even grandson.
Once they were comfortable at his desk he pulled out a file.
‘They’re not bad shops—decent size, good frontage. It’s surprising they haven’t been taken up yet. It isn’t for lack of trying on our part. We’ve been running on-line ads for several months now. Had some in the local papers for a while too, but we stopped when we got no response from those.’
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