Her mother glanced at her. “Has the planning permission gone through?”
“Not yet.”
“You could make a fuss and protest the development, but the most that will get you is a delay and a pissed off developer,” she said. “The shire doesn’t have a good reason to deny the application, particularly as it’s encouraging growth in the town.”
Mai unclenched her hands. “Could I use this to my advantage?”
“How do you mean?”
“I want more cafe space,” she said. “If I propose to take two of the units do you think he’ll let me put in all the things I need: extraction fans, extra power points, that kind of thing?”
“Within reason.”
Perhaps she could turn it into an opportunity.
“A guy like Nicholas Shadbolt doesn’t want fuss, he wants to make money. When you put in your list of demands make it more than you want and then negotiate down to what you really need. That way they’ll feel like they’re getting something as well.”
Mai smiled.
The musketeers were right. She would use this situation to launch the next stage of her business, one that put her on the map.
She could do this.
She would succeed.
Chapter 5
Nicholas swore as he hung up the phone. Didn’t anyone work during the week after New Year? He scanned the list in front of him: he’d left a message at a demolition company for a quote, and the company in Albany that would fabricate the concrete slabs was closed for another week.
He couldn’t get a thing done.
He hated not being productive.
Especially when his father wanted an update at the end of the week.
Anxiety gripped his chest and he prowled around the huge holiday house, unable to settle. Everything here reminded him of the business and how he’d failed his family. The sleek charcoal grey sofas in the living room were where he and his father had sat with Shane and his father to discuss the Baldivis project, the glossy red cabinets in the kitchen had been there since the successful Joondalup project, and the outdoor deck with the built-in barbecue had been added when Shadbolt were wining and dining a prospective client.
The wall of photographs was the worst. Each one represented a family holiday, usually taken after the successful completion of another development.
There would never be a photo for the Baldivis project.
He rubbed at the burning sensation in his chest and popped an antacid.
Focus on the here and now, not on the past – which meant he needed to progress with the new development.
Mai had barely spoken to him when they’d returned to the fire station the other day, not that he blamed her.
It was his own fault. If Shadbolt hadn’t been in such a rush to get rid of him they never would have bought the place. Guilt had been his constant companion since the Baldivis incident, since he’d discovered he didn’t really know his best friend, but now it suffocated him. He couldn’t stay in here, surrounded by these memories.
Slamming through the back door, he strode down the steps of the back deck onto the lawn and took big, deep gulps of fresh air.
He had to get a grip, had to get the business with Mai resolved as soon as possible, had to fill the remaining units.
The intense pressure in his chest made him grit his teeth. It wasn’t a heart attack, it just felt like one. Forcing his feet forward, he breathed like his doctor had taught him, focusing on the blue wrens flitting through the grevilleas bordering the yard, and then walked towards the swing hanging from the ghost gum at the back that his brother had erected for his children the last time he was down here.
Focus on the positive.
In the long term, the new building would be a better structure for Mai; she wouldn’t need to worry about dodgy wiring and plumbing. The whole development would attract more people to that part of town and therefore more customers for her.
The tension in his chest eased.
He needed to arrange another meeting with Mai and make some enquiries about prospective tenants. There wasn’t much else he could do until businesses reopened next week.
It was as if the universe wanted him to fail.
He squeezed his eyes shut. His wandering took him over to the beige garden shed that was big enough to store a decent-sized boat. The lock needed to be fixed after the break-in, but there wasn’t much in there to steal – only a few holiday toys: a badminton net, some deflated water tubes, a cricket set and some boogie boards. His old yellow surfboard tied to the ceiling caught his eye. It used to hang side-by-side with Shane’s white board, but at some stage Shane must have taken his home.
He grimaced. Shane wouldn’t be surfing any time soon, but perhaps when he got out of rehab Nicholas would suggest they go again.
Shane had always had an excess of energy and hated to sit around the house with their parents and siblings. He always had to be doing something, living life to the fullest. He’d kept Nicholas amused and on his toes. When had things gone so wrong?
Defeated, he turned away and latched the shed shut. He shouldn’t be thinking about Shane or surfing now. It was a work day and he should be working. Forcing himself back inside, he stood by the kitchen table and flicked through the artist’s sketch of the development. It was a functional design, easy to manufacture and build. He wouldn’t call it the white monstrosity that Mai had, but he’d admit it wasn’t pretty – not that it needed to be.
But what if the design was instrumental in getting the project approved by the shire? Maybe he should do some more research just in case.
Nicholas drove into town, finding a parking spot down by the slow-moving river. A number of families were having picnics on the grassed area between the road and the river, and lots of kids squealed and yelled as they played at the playground. Young and carefree. It had been a long time since he’d been either.
Turning away from the happy scene he surveyed the buildings. The two-storey colonial-style pub on the corner had verandahs all the way around both storeys. The deep burgundy of the brickwork was both calming and classy. Next to it was a cafe in a building of a similar era, this time single storey with a cream render, and next to that … Nicholas winced. A hideous drab brown building from the seventies that took the scene from charming to blah.
Maybe Mai had a point.
He bought an ice cream from the shop in the blah building and continued to wander. The several small boutique clothing shops were quirky and cute and the souvenir store sold locally made wares. A definite mix-match of styles, but the older buildings, those that combined design with function were by far the most attractive.
He’d never paid attention to aesthetics before. It wasn’t part of the Shadbolt brief. But then again, most of Shadbolt’s developments were in new areas and shopping centres or business units didn’t need pizazz. He turned down the street towards On the Way. The building was a focal point in spite of the peeling paint. It had a charm about it with the curved pediments on the upstairs windows and the decorative moulding on the frieze.
He continued walking and stood across the road from the empty block of land, trying to visualise how the new development would look.
Soulless.
It wouldn’t be as hideous as the seventies building by the river, but it would be nowhere as lovely as the existing building.
Did it matter? They’d already sold two units based on the current plans. Plus it would cost a lot more to add some flair. Concrete slab was cheap because it was simple and easy. Any extra decoration would add to the price.
He was being tested on this project. If he didn’t make the required profit he could be without a job. Not that he deserved to still have one.
He shook his head. Not going back down that rabbit hole again today. He needed to concentrate on this development. Which meant he needed to sell more units. The tourist centre would be his next stop to find out when the local markets were held.
The back of the bakery wasn’t as prett
y as the front. The rendered walls were plain and the small car park had enough parking for the shops. A short flight of wooden stairs had been added to the middle door and the railing hung away from the posts. Mai had said it needed fixing. He could repair it now before someone was hurt. A couple of nails wouldn’t cost much.
And while he was here, he’d fix the light that wasn’t working. Blackbridge was a safe town, but he’d hate it if Mai worried about going out to her car at night. His gaze lifted to the upper storey of the building. The middle window contained a beige, fluffy rag doll cat sitting in front of a lacy curtain, surveying the view.
Just like the cat he’d had as a kid.
Drawn towards the building, he examined the steps and light, made a list of what he needed and then headed back to his car, relieved to have something to do.
Mai might be angry at him about the development, but perhaps fixing the step and light would earn him some Brownie points.
And even if it didn’t, it gave him an excuse to call her again.
Someone was making a God awful noise outside. Mai squeezed her eyes shut and pulled the pillow over her ears, trying to ignore the incessant banging that had woken her from her siesta.
It didn’t help. She was awake now.
And had only been asleep an hour.
She scowled as she got up, slipping on a black singlet and denim shorts before peering out her bedroom window to check what was going on. The noise was definitely coming from below but she couldn’t see anyone.
Annoyed, she padded down the interior stairs and flung open the back door. “What the hell … Nicholas?”
Face flushed, dressed in suit pants and a white shirt rolled up at the sleeves, he was wielding a hammer and looked oddly out of place. Did the man not have any casual clothing?
“I fixed the step.” Nicholas glanced up and the smile on his face faded. “Did I wake you?”
Mai ran a hand through her hair and encountered a tangle of knots. What kind of hot mess did she look like? She should have at least put a bra on. Crossing her arms over her chest, she said, “I always take a siesta at this time.”
“Shit. I’m sorry.” He tugged his earlobe. “I didn’t think. I was in the area and remembered your complaints. The light is working now.”
Mai picked Calypso up as he brushed past her ankles, before focusing on the stair rail. It appeared sturdy now and it was nice of him to do it considering the place wouldn’t be there much longer. “Thanks.”
He lifted his eyes from her chest, the intensity of his gaze making her body flush. She must have flashed him when she’d bent over. Great.
He cleared his throat. “I’m done now, so you can go back to sleep. Sorry about disturbing you.”
She wasn’t sleepy any more. That hungry stare had woken her all the way up. “I won’t go back to sleep now. Do you want to come up for a coffee?” What was she thinking? She shouldn’t be inviting him up to her tiny apartment. It was her private space and she hadn’t done her hair. That didn’t matter, she could still talk business.
Yeah, like that’s why you invited him up.
He paused only a split second. “Sure. Let me put these things in my car.”
Too late to withdraw the invitation. “Come up the stairs when you’re done.” She hurried upstairs to put her apartment to rights.
Luckily the space wasn’t large and she kept it tidy by default. She dropped Calypso on the couch before slipping on a bra and quickly brushing her hair, closing the door on her bedroom as she came out. By the time he knocked she was in the kitchen filling the kettle.
“Come in.”
He entered and her apartment seemed even smaller with him inside, the musky scent of his aftershave wafting towards her.
“You’ve done an amazing job up here.”
“Thanks.” Her heart hurt. She loved her little apartment, loved that she had a space of her own after years of sharing with her sisters and brother, and now she would lose it. How was she going to afford a place of her own? She couldn’t live with Fleur indefinitely.
He stood there, waiting, and she remembered her manners. “Have a seat.” She indicated the small four-seat dining table. “Do you want a Vietnamese iced coffee?”
“Is that different from regular iced coffee?”
She nodded. “It’s made with condensed milk, ice and black coffee.” But he drank his coffee espresso style. “It might be too sweet for you.”
“I’ll give it a try. Is that your heritage?”
She liked the way he phrased the question. Normally people simply said, ‘Is that where you’re from?’ and she’d answer no. “Yes. My parents immigrated here with their families in the eighties.” She made the drinks and sat opposite him, but it was still too close for comfort.
“Have you had a chance to read my proposal?” Nicholas asked.
Business. Good idea. She needed to focus on that rather than the very attractive man in front of her. “Yes. I took it to my lawyer yesterday.”
Nicholas’s eyebrows raised. “Lawyer?”
“A good business woman always gets advice when she needs it.” There was no need for him to know her lawyer was her mother. “I need a couple of days to put my costs together.”
“All right.” His phone beeped. “Excuse me a second.”
Even though his hairline had a thin strip of sweat on it making his brown hair look darker, he was still refined and put together, not like he’d spent time in the sun fixing the stairs. Everything about him said money, from his clothes, to his Rolex watch, to his phone. Even his nails were manicured. He really was a different creature from what Mai was used to.
“Sorry about that.” Nicholas slipped his phone back into his pocket.
Mai took a sip of her drink, enjoying the cool sweetness of it. “No problem.”
“Have you found new premises yet?” Nicholas asked.
As if it was that easy. “No. There’s nothing suitable.”
“There must be.”
She laughed at his disbelief. “Blackbridge is a small town. Most of the shops are occupied.”
Calypso jumped down from the couch and padded over, meowing up at Nicholas. He picked him up, placing him on his lap in an unconscious gesture. It was kind of sweet. “That’s Calypso.”
Nicholas smiled as he stroked the cat’s head and Calypso purred his approval.
Mai shifted in her seat. She shouldn’t be jealous of her cat. Keep this visit about business. “There’s a warehouse that smells like fish, or a place out on Mortimer Road which isn’t big enough.”
Nicholas tugged on his ear. “I’m sure we can work something out.”
Mai ignored the surge of warmth at the word ‘we’. “It’s not really your problem is it?”
“Not directly,” he agreed. “But I’ve tasted your products and I don’t want you to go out of business.”
“Neither do I.” Speaking of food, she got to her feet and took a jar of shortbread from the cupboard. She took one and then offered the jar to Nicholas.
“Thanks. That wasn’t a hint.” He smiled.
This smile was genuine – it reached his eyes – and revealed a tiny dimple on the right side of his cheek. It was so different from the salesman charm when they’d first met at the bakery and made him even more appealing.
Damn it.
Their eyes locked and Mai recognised the attraction in his forest green eyes. This wasn’t good.
At that moment, both of their phones beeped. Relieved, Mai got to her feet to get hers as Nicholas said, “There’s a shed fire at Foley’s farm.”
Close to Kit’s place.
She responded to the text. “Are you going?”
“Yeah, I might as well. I’ll give you a lift.”
Mai nodded. “Let me get changed. Can you put some food in Calypso’s bowl? It’s in the cupboard on the left and his bowl is on the floor.” She didn’t wait for his response.
They needed to be fast so the fire didn’t spread. Quickly she changed into h
er fire-fighting gear, slinging the thick yellow jacket over her shoulder, and headed back into the living area.
“Ready?” she asked Nicholas.
He nodded, though he looked a little pale.
“Don’t worry. I’ll keep you out of trouble.” She slapped him on the back and followed him down the stairs to his car.
Saved by the bell.
They had definitely been having a moment – an unwanted one – when their phones had beeped. Nicholas couldn’t mix business with pleasure. Not now, not ever.
He needed to get her to sign up to the development and then avoid her like a union rep on a construction site.
He pulled into the fire station and reality hit him. He was going out to a real structure fire. Something definitely bigger than the bonfire.
The hairs on his arm stood up.
Mai unlocked the shed as another car pulled into the car park. “Get dressed and then you can help me inspect the vehicles.”
He nodded though she wasn’t looking at him, was already striding over to the big tanker. The vehicle dwarfed her, but there was no denying she knew what she was doing as she unplugged a cable and made sure the compartments were closed tight.
As he dressed in the fire-retardant gear and picked up his helmet and gloves, Lawrence walked in with three other men.
“Foley called it in,” Lawrence explained as they gathered around a table. “He’s got an old shed at the back of his property and near as he can tell, the fire’s over there. Might have been some kids mucking about. The wind is blowing it away from the bush towards the paddock, but we’re due for a wind change in a couple of hours. We want it under control before then.”
“Where’s the nearest water stand?” Mai asked.
“Foley said we can use his dam. There’s also a stand on the road on the way in.” Lawrence pointed at the map in front of him. “The bush brigade is mobilising now and Foley’s got his own equipment. Any other questions?” He looked at Nicholas.
Nicholas shook his head. He needed to have some idea of what he was doing to ask any questions. What was he doing here?
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