Attraction: (A Temptation Series Stand-alone) (The Temptation Series Book 4)

by Golland, KM

  Fuck off! I don’t want to take care of your billions of dollars you Swahili fucktard, I inwardly cursed, pressing delete. Would I like Viagra? I don’t even own a dick. Delete. Ooh ... Novo has twenty percent off pumps. Awesome!

  Singing ‘Clap Your Hands’ by Sia, I made a mental note to go shopping after work when Libby walked in.

  ‘Why are you so happy?’ she asked suspiciously.

  ‘I’m not.’

  ‘Yes, you are.’

  I fobbed her off. ‘So I’m singing, big deal.’

  ‘Carly, you are beaming so bright that you practically blinded me when I walked in.’

  I shook my head and hid my face. ‘Pfft. Am not.’

  ‘Oh my god!’ she squealed.

  Ignoring her, I saved an email advertising laser hair removal.

  ‘Either he has said the “L” word, or you have. Or both,’ she said excitedly as she sat her arse on my desk, messing my paperwork piles.

  How does she bloody do that? I swear she is a mentalist.

  ‘You’re an idiot,’ I retorted grumpily, grabbing the documents that were poking out from underneath her arse.

  ‘It was you!’ she pointed. ‘You said it!’

  Continuing to ignore her, I bunched the paperwork in my hand and tapped it on the desktop. ‘What was it that you wanted? I have so much work to do.’

  She tapped her chin in a cocky knowing manner. ‘He said it, didn’t he? No, you both said it to each other.’

  ‘Yes! All right,’ I conceded. ‘We both said the “L” word. So what?’

  She patted me on the head in a condescending manner. ‘Carly has finally become a grown-up. Congratulations. I am happy for you.’

  Unsuccessfully trying to suppress a smile — because ever since admitting to Derek that I loved him that’s all my face wanted to do — I continued to act unfazed. ‘Seriously, Lib, is there anything I can help you with? I’m kinda busy.’

  Scrolling through her phone, she answered. ‘Nope, I’m —’

  I waited for her to continue and when she didn’t, I looked up. ‘Nope, you’re what?’

  She didn’t answer me, instead concentrating quite deeply on whatever it was she was reading.

  ‘Lib!’

  ‘Carly, you might want to see this. It’s breaking news. I don’t know how true it is but —’

  Seeing the panic on Lib’s face, I took the phone from her hand and began to read the Herald Sun online breaking news.

  CITY TOWERS PENTHOUSE EXPLOSION. ONE CONFIRMED DEAD.

  ‘Oh, my god!’ I shrieked. ‘Oh no! Oh no.’ Waves of terror rolled over me as my body began to tremble, causing me to drop her phone.

  ‘Carly, honey, calm down. Let’s ring Alexis’ phone,’ Lib suggested.

  I nodded, fumbled for my phone, and dialled Lex. After many attempts, the call would not connect, which only added to my heightened terror. ‘I’ve got to go. I’ve got to go there.’

  Shooting up from my seat, I grabbed my phone and keys and headed for the door.

  ‘Carly,’ Libby called out, ‘I’m coming with you.’

  ***

  Libby ended up driving us both into the city, which was a good thing. My head was a mess — a jumble of anxious thoughts — and driving myself would have been a dangerous mistake. Traffic was crazy due to roads having been cordoned off by police. News crews and paparazzi were everywhere.

  Looking up toward the top of City Tower before entering the entertainment precinct, I noticed smoke and a blackened exterior. The sight of it had me doubled over and feeling nauseated. ‘I can’t,’ I said, gasping for air. ‘I can’t go any closer. I don’t want to know.’

  ‘Sweetie, you can’t stay here. Come on, we’ll see what we can find out.’ Lib looped her arm around mine and led me toward the precinct.

  Just shy of the building, we were stopped by a security officer.

  ‘I’m sorry ladies, you can’t go any further. It’s not safe.’

  ‘Alexis Summers, Mr Clark’s fiancée, is my best friend. I need to know that she is all right. She won’t answer her phone,’ I pleaded.

  ‘I’m sorry. I’m not at liberty to divulge any information at this stage,’ he said impassively.

  ‘Please!’ I begged, tears now beckoning. ‘I just need to know that she is okay.’

  His demeanour softened just a little. ‘I’m sorry ma’am, I —’

  ‘Carly!’ a voice sounded from behind him.

  I peeked over the man’s shoulder to find Liam walking briskly in our direction. ‘Joey,’ he said to the security officer, ‘it’s okay. Carly is Ms Summers’ best friend.’

  ‘I told him that,’ I said crossly.

  Liam patted Joey on the back. ‘He’s just following protocol, Carls.’

  ‘Where’s Lexi, Liam? Is she all right? I need to see her,’ I begged.

  ‘She’s been taken to the hospital. She’s fine, apart from smoke inhalation and, I dare say, shock. Bryce is with her.’

  I sighed with relief and fell against Lib. ‘Oh, thank goodness.’ Another wave of terror washed over me. ‘What about the kids?’

  ‘I’m fairly sure they are with their father,’ Liam said reassuringly.

  Libby draped her arm over my shoulder and gave me a quick comforting squeeze. ‘Come on, I’ll take you to the hospital now. You can see for yourself that Lexi is fine.’

  ***

  Libby drove me to The Alfred Hospital where we headed straight for the reception counter to find out what room Alexis was in. Upon my approach, I noticed Will heading for the exit.

  ‘Will!’ I called out.

  Libby groaned with annoyance.

  I turned and furrowed my eyebrows at her. ‘What’s your problem?’

  ‘Nothing,’ she muttered.

  ‘Hey, Jaws. And nice to see you again, Labia,’ he said suggestively, as his eyes raked her from top to toe.

  ‘Hi, Will. You don’t happen to know what room Lex is in, do you? It will save me the trouble of asking.’

  ‘I know what room they are both in,’ he answered with a smile, his eyes still roaming my redheaded friend.

  ‘Yes, these are breasts, Will,’ Lib explained with definitive poise. ‘They are two protruding glands and their purpose is to secrete milk after childbirth.’

  Will licked his lips. ‘They have more purpose than just that, sweetheart.’

  ‘You’re a pig!’ she chided and crossed her arms over her chest.

  ‘What a minute,’ I said, breaking up whatever it was the two of them were doing. ‘You just said both, as in plural.’

  He gave me an inquisitive look. ‘Yeah, Alexis and Derek.’

  ‘Derek!’ I shrieked. ‘Derek’s here? Why is Derek here? What happened to Derek?’ I asked, panic setting in once again.

  ‘He mustn’t have had time to call you yet. He was one of the first firefighters on the scene. He’s just in for routine observation — mild smoke inhalation.’

  ‘What?’ I exclaimed. ‘What room?’

  ‘Level three, room eleven.’

  I started for the elevator. ‘Lib, do you mind waiting down here?’ I called back.

  ‘She’ll be fine,’ Will explained, draping his arm over her shoulder and pulling her to him. Libby pushed him away. ‘I’ll take good care of her. And by the way, Alexis is on level five, room eight.’

  ‘Thanks,’ I called back.

  As I approached Derek’s room, I heard a familiar female voice, one which had the power to pull on every jealous fibre I owned. What is she doing here? Deep down I knew what she was doing here, but it was more a question of why she was in the room with my injured boyfriend and I was not.

  Knocking gently on the door, I walked in when invited, to find Lucy sitting in a guest chair next to Derek’s bed and Alexander happily sitting on Derek’s lap. They both looked up with shocked expressions when they saw me.

  ‘Oh, I’m sorry,’ I stuttered, their stunned demeanour causing me to feel unsettled. ‘I’ll come back.’

&
nbsp; ‘No!’ Lucy stated, standing up quickly. ‘I was just leaving. I was just seeing how Derek was after visiting Alexis.’

  ‘I can come back, it’s fine,’ I choked out, trying desperately not to show my betrayed feelings.

  ‘No, no. Come on. Al, we have storytime at the library.’ She picked up her son and waved his arm at Derek. ‘Say bye.’

  Derek smiled and waved in return, his affection for Al again causing the pit of my stomach to plummet into the abyss.

  Lucy walked past and gave me a resigned yet guilt-ridden smile. ‘Nice to see you again.’

  I could only nod and follow her departing form and, when she was gone, I almost could not bring myself to turn around and look at Derek. I was hurt and angry that he did not think to call me. I was jealous and scared that Lucy seemed to always be his first point of call. I was so fucking confused. He made me confess my feelings, but then dismissed them by keeping me at an arm’s-length. After everything, nothing had changed. My heart was now hurting and, as a result, my wall came up again, to protect and prevent any further battering of it. He may not have broken it one day after me giving it to him, but he sure as hell just gave it a good bruising. That was painful enough.

  ‘Baby,’ he said, sending an unwelcome chill up my spine, a feeling that word did not normally produce.

  I spun around and took a seat, my body language uncontrollably rigid. ‘Are you okay?’ I asked flatly.

  ‘I was going to call —’

  I interrupted him, not wanting to hear his excuse. ‘What happened at City Towers?’

  He scrunched up his face and grabbed my hand, placing it upon his chest. ‘I was going to call you right before Lucy popped in to see how I was. Prior to that, I had been subjected to routine tests and just never got the chance. I wanted enough time to explain what had happened so that you wouldn’t worry.’

  ‘I found out from Will,’ I seethed, forcing back a tear and gritting my teeth, ‘In the fucking lobby only moments ago where I was frantically trying to find my best friend to see if she was all right.’ I removed my hand from his chest. ‘I still have not done that yet.’

  He dropped his gaze and stared at my hand which now sat on my lap. ‘Physically, Alexis is fine. She suffered a little smoke inhalation. Lucy also mentioned that the baby is fine too.’

  Swallowing heavily, I closed my eyes for the smallest of seconds and whispered, ‘Thank god.’

  ‘Gareth is dead,’ he said quietly.

  My eyes reopened with rapid speed, taking in his sad expression before he directed his gaze to the view outside his window.

  ‘He tried to kill himself and Alexis by blowing up the apartment. She managed to get away in the nick of time, but was trapped in the elevator. No one knew she was there. Bryce thought she was dead and was beside himself with grief. Carly, I thought she was dead as well. I couldn’t find her.’

  A tear streamed down his cheek, prompting my own to overflow. Seeing his obvious pain, I pushed aside my own hurt and grabbed his hand, pressing it to my lips. ‘She’s okay. You’re both okay.’

  Derek continued to gaze forlornly out the window. ‘I searched everywhere, but visibility from the smoke was next to zero. With every room I entered and found empty, my heart shattered. I’d promised Bryce I would find her. I promised him I would not come back unless I had her with me. Do you know how fucking hard it was for me to break my promise and leave that apartment without her?’

  ‘Sh,’ I hushed him, moving to sit on the bed and encase him in my arms. ‘You did all you could. You didn’t know she was in the elevator.’

  Derek secured my arms to him and breathed deep to find composure. ‘No, but seeing her in Bryce’s arms when I finally made it back to where he was waiting was such a bloody relief. I’d already had confirmation of Gareth’s death, so the last thing I wanted was to be the one to tell Bryce that Alexis was unaccounted for.’

  I sat on the bed for a while longer with my arms around him, silence surrounding us. It was a suffocating torture. I loved him, that was unquestionable. But the day’s events had put my heart on guard once again, and I couldn’t stop returning to my safety bubble where my heart and I were safe.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  The emotional aftermath of the explosion was still felt over a month later. Alexis had retreated to her sanctuary, which was Bryce, her children and her family. This was how she coped. I checked in with her weekly via the phone, despite her reassurances that she was fine and in the process of picking up the broken pieces slowly. Things between Derek and I were also fine, if a little circumspect on my behalf. I couldn’t help it. It was imprinted in my DNA.

  Today being Alexander’s first birthday, we were all to be together for the first time since the trauma of Gareth’s death. To be honest, I wasn’t looking forward to it. Not only would I be seeing Lucy there, but it was also a kid’s party. With kids. Little kids. I’d much rather have each of my fingernails torn from my hands, scraped down a blackboard and then poked into my eyes.

  For moral support, I’d asked Libby to come along. Well, truth be told, I’d bribed her. Okay, so I’d threatened her. Oh, and I lied to her. I’d mentioned that Will wasn’t coming when he was. But I was willing to bear the brunt of the ear-drilling she would undoubtedly give me once we returned home.

  Derek drove us to the park where the party was to be held. It was a stinking hot thirty-six degrees Celsius, but thank fuck for obscenely wealthy friends, because Bryce had organised for his nephew to have a kiddy wonderland in a fully air-conditioned marquee. It was basically a makeshift play centre for kids: all pits, slides, jumping castles, coloured foam mats ... and lots and lots of kids.

  ‘Where in hell did all of these small humans come from?’ I asked Derek as we stepped into the marquee. The high-pitched screams already had my head pounding.

  Libby smiled and instantly went to the aid of one little girl who had managed to get the wheel of the trike she was pedalling stuck between two mats.

  ‘I’m not quite sure. I think a lot of them belong to the mothers who are in Lucy’s mother’s group,’ he answered with a shrug of his shoulders.

  ‘Oh,’ I nodded, surprised he knew the answer to that question.

  We quickly said hello and gave Alexander his present. Derek had even gone shopping and made the effort to buy something suitable for a male toddler which I found adorable but, at the same time, felt guilty about.

  Scanning the room, I spotted Alexis being lured onto the jumping castle by Charli. She looked up so I waved and blew her a kiss.

  ‘Hey, guys,’ Will said happily as he approached from out of nowhere. ‘And if it isn’t my favourite redheaded walking vagina,’ he added, taking Libby’s hand and kissing the back of it.

  She screwed up her face and wiped her hand down the front of his top. ‘Carly, a word. Now!’ she fired in my direction.

  Lib then turned around and headed for an empty table in one of the corners of the marquee. When we were out of everyone’s hearing, she blasted me with her icy damnation. ‘You little liar! You said he wasn’t coming. This is a new low, even for you.’

  ‘Don’t get your labia in a knot,’ I said in defence, unsuccessfully biting back a smile.

  She pointed to her hilariously funny face. ‘I’m not laughing. Is my face laughing?’

  ‘No, but then again, it doesn’t laugh often. You need to laugh more, starting with now. Laugh, this really is quite funny,’ I goaded.

  ‘Oh, I will be laughing. Mark my words. I’ll be laughing like a hyena when I get my revenge.’

  Taking a seat, I focussed my sights on the crowded room of people before me, spotting Derek talking with Lucy, Nic, Will and Matt. Alexander was desperately trying to lunge out of Nic’s arms and into Derek’s.

  ‘I don’t like hyenas,’ I admitted solemnly. ‘They are ugly looking, kind of like the by-product of sex between a dog and a clown.’

  Libby sank into the seat next to me. ‘What’s wrong?’

  Smiling at her pe
rceptive skills, I shook my head. ‘Am I forgiven already?’

  ‘No. The best plots for revenge are not ones carried out hastily. Your time will come. In the meantime though, tell me why you look so deflated and no longer want to be here just as much as me.’

  I nodded toward Lucy. ‘I don’t trust her.’

  Lib followed my line of vision. ‘Why? I thought the two of you got along well.’

  ‘We do. She’s lovely. I just don’t trust her.’

  ‘There’s got to be a reason why, Carly.’

  I shrugged my shoulders. ‘Not really. Just call it a sixth sense. I feel as if I’m missing something.’

  ‘Like what?’ she queried with interest.

  ‘I think Lucy and Derek dated before she turned lezzie. They have a history. That much is for certain.’

  ‘So what, history is the operative word here. In the past. Yesteryear.’

  I looked down at my fingers and fiddled with my aunt’s ring. ‘I get that. I just don’t think it is entirely in the past.’

  Lib gave me a sceptical look. ‘What makes you say that?’

  ‘God, I don’t know, all right?’ I answered frustratedly.

  She stood up. ‘Hey! I’m just trying to help. I’m going to get a drink. Do you want one ... or some fairy bread?’

  I gave her an apologetic look and shook my head. ‘No, thank you.’

  ‘Ah ... I know, I saw some mini-pizzas and hot dogs,’ she said enticingly.

  I laughed mildly and tilted my head to the side. ‘You had me at mini.’

  ‘Thought as much. I’ll be back in a minute.’

  Once Lib was gone, I glanced back to where Derek had been, only to find him no longer there. I performed a quick scan of the room and couldn’t find him anywhere. I also couldn’t find Lucy.

  I can’t say what it was that propelled me to get up and look for them, or what it was that was saying to me that they were together. Regardless, I had to find him and discover for myself what I dreaded was the outcome.

  As I was about to turn the corner to where a door lead into the kitchen, I heard Derek having a heated discussion with a woman, except the woman he was arguing with was not Lucy. It was Nic. My stomach tightened and I froze solid.