Elephants and Ever-Afters [Dark Desires 5] (Siren Publishing Sensations)

by Suzy Shearer

  “Oh, please do. I was wondering how on Earth I’d ever manage to get the grounds cut.”

  He gave her a grin then set off down the stairs to a ute with a trailer attached. As well as a ride-on mower, it was filled with all manner of mowing and pool cleaning equipment. He drove up the side drive and parked alongside the garage. Laura shut the front door, grateful that was another thing crossed off her list. When he finished in the afternoon he knocked on the back door and gave Laura his banking details.

  “Thanks, Andy. Say, I wonder if you could move the furniture from the garage out to the veranda for me?”

  “Sure thing, Laura. Want me to put the pieces where they usually go?”

  “That would be perfect.”

  On Saturday, she got a phone call from a woman who said her name was Cheryl. She told Laura she usually rang in once a month to see if Stuart was living there or still in the city. Whenever he was living in Kurmond, she would come once a fortnight to give the house a thorough cleaning.

  Laura explained who she was and what had happened to her father. After accepting Cheryl’s condolences, she agreed to have her come in and clean Monday, then every second one after that. Cheryl told her she had a key and would return it to Laura when she came next week. Laura told her to keep it. If her father had trusted Cheryl, so would she.

  By the end of the first month Laura felt as if she’d always lived in the house, somehow it just seemed right. At times she could almost feel her father’s presence, which she thought was silly, but it didn’t stop her from talking to him often.

  She got Harry, the taxi driver she first used, to drive her into Richmond or North Richmond a few times, mainly to get out of the house or to the hairdresser.

  Her new credit card had arrived, and going online she transferred the funds from her Commonwealth account into her new Bendigo one before closing down the Commonwealth one. She’d had a meeting with her new financial adviser and accountant—Charlise Macarli, who was now organising various investments, tax incentives, and superannuation for her. That was a great load off her mind as she knew the tax she’d have to pay would be rather high, unless she could manage the millions wisely.

  Five weeks in there was a slight snafu with changing over the utilities into her name and the direct debit payments, so Laura wanted to go into the bank personally to make sure it was now fixed. She had been delighted to discover branches in both Richmond and North Richmond.

  When Laura woke the next morning, she dressed casually in jeans and a warm purple top. With difficulty, she managed to pull her black boots on over socks then she threw a dark grey and black scarf around her neck. Booking Harry for an hour, Laura had him take her to the local medical centre at Kurrajong Village first. Her cast was due to come off soon.

  Laura spoke with the receptionist explaining she had just moved into the area and arranged to have her medical records transferred to the centre. She also booked an appointment for the following Thursday to have her cast removed at last. Next, she had Harry take her to North Richmond so she could sort out the snafu with the bank.

  Leaving him reading the paper in the cab in the car park, Laura spent twenty minutes with staff and finally got things sorted out. She was treated like royalty and realised having millions came with its own perks. Relieved to finally have everything in order from her bank to her medical details, she headed back toward the cab. Passing a little Indian import shop, Laura spied another elephant in the window, actually there were several. Knowing she was silly but wanting them all the same, she went inside. The elephant she’d bought the day after meeting the real-life elephant was sitting on her desk, maybe he needed a companion or two?

  Laura ended up buying one similar to her original bronze, except this one looked calm and peaceful. He had his trunk draped over a smaller elephant and somehow she thought of it as herself. Now all she needed to do was meet the real elephant and tame him.

  Leaving the shop, Laura thought she’d grab a coffee for herself and one for Harry. She had just passed the bank and was now walking toward the shopping complex when she heard someone call her name.

  Chapter Ten

  “Laura! Laura!”

  Laura looked around trying to see who was calling her. A familiar looking, very attractive silver-haired man came toward her smiling warmly.

  “Laura! It is you, I thought it was. Hi.”

  Laura couldn’t help the puzzled look on her face, she knew she’d met him before but couldn’t place him.

  “Hello.”

  “You’ve probably forgotten me. I’m Julian Whitmore, I was with Tobias—ah the elephant—the day he tried unsuccessfully to throw you down the stairs.”

  She couldn’t help laughing at his description, thinking it rather prophetic after buying elephants, then said, “Of course, how are you, Julian?”

  “Well. How’s the arm?” He pointed to her sling.

  “Plaster comes off in a couple of days thank goodness.”

  “Gee, has it been that long already? Wow that went fast.”

  “Maybe for you, but it’s been a drag trying to do things one-handed.”

  “So you live around here?”

  Julian’s voice sounded casual, but there seemed an undertone Laura just couldn’t put her finger on.

  “Yes. In Kurmond. What about you?”

  “I’m in Windsor Downs.”

  “Is that near here?”

  Julian gave her a funny frown and nodded.

  Puzzled, he asked, “It’s about fifteen maybe twenty minutes’ drive. You haven’t heard of it?”

  “No. Don’t really know the area all that well yet. I only moved here a couple of weeks ago.”

  “Oh, I get it. Listen, how about I buy you a coffee and you can tell me all about it?”

  Laura looked across the road to where the cabbie waited for her.

  “I’ve hired a cab for a few hours. Harry’s waiting to take me back home now.”

  “I can run you home if you like. No trouble, I’ve finished my business here.”

  She thought about it. Trying to be honest with herself, Laura thought this was an opportunity to find out a little more about Tobias, even though she knew she shouldn’t. She smiled at Julian.

  “Just let me tell Harry, won’t be a minute.”

  She darted across the car park and explained to Harry she’d met a friend. They’d already agreed on a price for the few hours and Laura had paid him, so he just smiled.

  “No probs, you’ve got my number anyway.”

  “Thanks, Harry, see you around.”

  “Ha ha, that you will. Bye.”

  When she reached his side, Julian relieved her of her paper carry bag with the two statues, tucked her arm under his, and they walked along the footpath into the complex where a Gloria Jean’s coffee shop was. Julian seated her then asked what she’d like to drink.

  “A latte please, Julian, two sugars.”

  After ordering at the counter and waiting for the drinks, Julian carried them back and sat down.

  “So, Laura, tell me where were you living before? In Sydney, the city?”

  “Heck no. I’ve lived in Canberra all my life.”

  “Canberra? What on Earth made you move all the way up here? Messy divorce?”

  Laura almost choked on her coffee then started to laugh.

  “Oops, sorry, Laura.”

  When she stopped giggling she shook her head.

  “It’s okay. Anyway, the answer is no. I’ve never married.”

  “You’re joking? A beautiful woman like you,” he said in obvious surprise.

  Even though a rush of blood surged up her body, Laura was really appreciative of Julian’s flattery.

  “Engaged years ago but…” The thought of Colin always angered her and she had to shake off the feeling. “What about you?”

  “Got caught twice and now fancy free. Don’t suppose you’d like to apply for position number three?”

  It was at that moment Laura realised being around
Julian meant a lot of laughter as she politely declined the offer.

  “Ah well, maybe we’ll just have to settle for being friends.”

  “That’s a much better idea.”

  “So tell me, Laura, if it wasn’t a divorce, why move such a long way away? Stalker? New job? Family?”

  “I guess you could say family. My father died and I inherited his house. That’s why I was at the solicitor’s that day. I quit my job and came here to Kurmond one-handed.”

  “Oh gee. I’m sorry, Laura, for your loss.” Laura could hear the honest regret in his voice as he added, “I never thought.”

  “That’s okay. It’s a long story best saved for another time if you don’t mind.”

  “Deal. Do you like it here?”

  “It’s lovely. The house is beautiful and I have no cares, so what’s not to like? It’s a lovely area to live in, like being in the country but still close to things. What are you doing here in North Richmond?”

  “We’re building a multistorey complex here. We hope to start in the next week or so. There was a slight problem with paperwork so I volunteered to come out and sort things.”

  “We? You have a company?”

  He gave Laura an exaggerated wink and explained, “Actually, it’s the elephant’s and mine. He started it and I ended up his partner. We have a large construction company.”

  “Tobias Duncan? Oh.”

  Laura’s heart fluttered madly inside her chest, and she took a sip of coffee to cover her interest.

  “Yes, he would have been here instead but had several meetings, so I volunteered.”

  “Um…so he comes out here?” she asked casually.

  “Well, not often, we have project managers to oversee things. We only pop in now and again to check up, sort out any problems that our managers can’t, or if the client wants to see us.”

  “Oh, I see.”

  “Tobias will be disappointed he missed you.”

  The fluttering of Laura’s heart turned into heavy thumps at Julian’s words. What had been butterflies inside her were now hippopotamuses jumping up and down in unison.

  “He will?”

  “Yes. I know he wanted to meet up with you, and take you to dinner.”

  “Oh, yes. He sent me flowers and mentioned that,” Laura told Julian. “I guess he was worried I’d sue him or something.”

  Julian burst out laughing.

  “Sue? That was the furthest thing from his mind. No, he wanted to get to know you.”

  “To know me?”

  “Yes. What’s so surprising about that? You’re a very beautiful woman, Laura. I’m sure you’ve had a lot of men interested in meeting you.”

  “Now you’re being funny. I’m certainly not beautiful.” Laura laughed adding, “But thanks for the compliment.”

  “All I can say is you’re blind. Any man would love to be seen with you, including me. Surely you have to beat them off with a stick.”

  “Well, I’ve had my share of dates, but nothing really worked out.”

  “Never met one that really took your fancy, eh?”

  “No, I guess not.”

  Laura couldn’t help thinking about Tobias, the way his honey-brown eyes stared into hers, the way his shirt pulled tight across his chest. His deep sexy voice. Those lips, those luscious lips. She shook her head slightly and looked at Julian who was watching her intently.

  “So, willing to meet Toby?”

  “I don’t, um…I don’t think so.”

  “Why, if you don’t mind me asking? I get the idea you’d like to, plus he’s my best friend, even though he did try to kill you.”

  “It’s…I…I don’t think it would work.”

  “Come off it, Laura. You hardly know the man. He certainly wasn’t at his best that day.” With a deadpan face he added, “Bull elephants can be so clumsy at times, especially around staircases.”

  Laura found it hard to stop laughing.

  “You’re crazy. You know that, don’t you?”

  “So everyone tells me, but I can’t see it myself.”

  To change the subject Laura asked, “So tell me about this business of yours? Do you only build multistorey stuff?”

  “No. We have our fingers in all areas of construction. Actually, the day we met we’d just finalised buying another building company that specialises in renovations and rebuilds. The two owners wanted to retire and put the company on the market. That’s why we were at Peter Bailey’s. Not bragging, but our company is one of the largest in the Southern Hemisphere.”

  “Wow. That’s really big.”

  “Very. The past ten years have seen a huge growth for us. We had our head office in Sydney and a couple of warehouses in the suburbs. We’ve naturally got offices throughout Australia. But now we’ve just built a big complex in Marsden Park. That’s down the road from Windsor Downs and why I built there.

  “Anyway, this office-warehouse complex place is perfect. Everything’s together, offices, storage, depot for our workers and sub-contractors, garages for vehicles and for the large equipment like earth-movers. There’s still a lot of empty space so we can spread out if needed. We still have the Sydney office as a secondary, but everything else is done from the Park. We have managers to handle things in the smaller offices in other states.”

  “Will you keep the Sydney office?”

  “Eventually we’ll close it. At the moment it’s useful to run the two.”

  “How funny we both have the same solicitor.”

  “Not really. Peter is Tobias’s uncle.”

  “His uncle?” Laura grinned thinking about the thousand dollars for her jacket and top. “That makes a lot of sense now.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I didn’t want anything from the elephant. Medicare covered my expenses and I have insurance. Peter kept at me to charge Tobias. Ended up telling me he should pay for my jacket and top that was cut off by the paramedics. I told him I’d only paid under two hundred for them both but he insisted Tobias had to pay for them plus my ‘pain and suffering’ as well.”

  Julian’s laughter had been increasing as Laura told her tale. By the end of it he snorted.

  “Oh, that’s perfect. Peter has a wicked sense of humour and is always trying to get under Toby’s skin.”

  “Why?”

  “Beats me. I know they love each other dearly. Think Peter just likes to annoy Tobias because he can. Bet you have relations that do that.”

  Laura shrugged, saying, “No, I don’t have any.”

  “None? You mean all of yours are nice? How lucky you are.”

  “No, I meant I have no relations at all.”

  “None? No family at all.”

  “Not that I know of.”

  “Mm I can see you have hidden depths, Miss Laura.”

  “Hasn’t everyone,” she said lightly.

  Julian looked at his watch.

  “I suppose I should get you home. Ready?”

  “Yes. Thanks, Julian.”

  “Call me Jules, everyone does.”

  “Will do, Jules.”

  They walked out onto the pavement and strolled toward the car. As they passed a bakery Laura took a deep breath of the delicious aroma of freshly baked bread.

  “Jules, would you mind if I get some bread? I’ll only be a minute.”

  “Go for it.”

  Laura entered the shop and bought a square white loaf and a sour dough cob. When she went back to Julian he gave her a grin.

  “The smell of bread baking is how they draw in the customers.”

  “Maybe, but I love bread, one of my weaknesses. Where I lived in Canberra was opposite a bakery so I’d buy it fresh every day. I’ve missed not eating it warm from the oven.”

  “You’re as bad as Toby, he has a bread fetish, too.”

  “He does?”

  “Yep, wait until I tell him you do, too.”

  Laura was silent. It seemed Julian was determined to get them together, but she was equally determine
d not to. Julian led her to his car, settling her in the passenger seat. He put her shopping bag on the backseat along with the bread.

  Laura ran her hand over the leather seat and the dash.

  “Wow, this is lovely, Jules.”

  “It’s a bit of an indulgence, a Rolls-Royce Phantom, a Drophead coupé. Ridiculous price, cost me over a million, but I love it. It’s a convertible and I love driving with the top down.”

  Laura couldn’t believe her ears. Julian had paid a million dollars for a car?

  “A million dollars?”

  He grinned at her as he fastened her seatbelt then his own.

  Cocking his head, he shrugged and said, “It’s only money.”

  Laura stroked the plush leather interior again.

  “It’s beautiful.”

  “So where to?”

  “Kurmond Road, do you know it?”

  “Off the Bell’s?”

  “Yes.”

  “Easy.”

  Ten minutes later Laura pointed to the large brick fence and wide gates of her property.

  “Those gates on the left, Jules.”

  Julian swung the car through the gates and along the drive. He gave a whistle when he saw the house.

  “Wow. I had something completely different pictured in my mind. I was thinking all modern—stark, cold and angular.”

  “Yuk, I don’t think I could live in something like that.”

  “Neither could I. Man that’s some house, it looks so warm and inviting.”

  “I know, isn’t it gorgeous.”

  “It certainly is. Look at all that lovely wisteria, it’s lovely. Do you have much land, as well?”

  “About four hectares.”

  “Lucky girl. It’s really beautiful.”

  “If you drive around the corner there.” She pointed to the left. “It’s easier than climbing the stairs at the moment.”

  “Your wish is my command, my lady.”

  Julian parked the car at the side. Laura was excited that he liked the house. Feeling like a little girl, she wanted to show it off.

  “Want to see inside?”

  “Do I ever. Man, Toby is going to be pissed,” he added with a laugh.

  Julian helped her out and collected her shopping. Laura led him to the front door and after unlocking it and deactivating the alarm, stepped aside to let him enter first. He put her parcels on the kitchen counter. She showed him around the house and he made all the right noises as they investigated each room.