Three Hearts

by Susan Perkins

  Three Hearts

  By:

  Sue Perkins

  Copyright © 2018 Sue Perkins

  All Rights Reserved

  Cover Artist: Jenifer Ranieri

  Except for use in any review, no part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the express written permission of the author Sue Perkins.

  These books are works of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  www.CaishelBooks.com

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Other books by Sue Perkins

  Dedication

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  About Sue Perkins

  Other books by Sue Perkins

  Romance

  Broken Heart – Three Hearts novelette

  Recipe for Romance

  Blitz

  Fantasy Romance

  Dragon World Series

  Dragon Flame – Book One

  Dragon Clans – Book Two

  Dragon Ice – Book Three

  Adri's Story

  Dedication

  This book is dedicated to my husband Colin,

  the rock who keeps me steady.

  I also want to thank my children and

  extended family for the support they give me.

  Thanks also go to Joan, Barb and other

  writing friends for their help and encouragement.

  Chapter One

  Travis Denton leaned casually against the brick wall, his stare fixed on a villa on the other side of the street. The villa looked in good repair. The dark blue iron fretwork and veranda complemented the sparkling white weatherboards. The door of the house opened and a woman and child emerged. The golden-haired youngster skipped happily beside her companion and Travis smiled as the girl's chatter drifted across the road.

  He switched his glance to the woman and he frowned with confusion. The way she was dressed was startling. Legs clad in fishnet tights disappeared under a miniscule black miniskirt, which rose even higher as she strutted down the street. She turned to speak to the child, and bright red lipstick darkened her lips, mirroring the colour of her spiky fingernails as they patted her piled up dark hair. A laughing response to a comment from the child shook the cheap plastic earrings dangling from each ear, and they knocked against the turned up collar of her black leather jacket. A skimpy yellow rib top showed beneath the jacket and Travis noticed it stopped just below the breasts to expose a bare stretch of suntanned stomach.

  Travis frowned. He had travelled to New Zealand from California to meet eight-year-old Brooke and her aunt, Darcy Farrell, but the sight of the woman in her flashy clothes and overdone make-up worried him.

  His temper rose when a car pulled up and the woman bent down to speak to the driver, her breasts swaying enticingly. She straightened up, took a step backwards and stuck her leg forward, with one hand on her hip, and lifted her skirt suggestively. The action disgusted Travis and left him with no doubt about her profession. How dare she ply her trade when she has the child with her! Furious but helpless to do anything, he watched Darcy and Brooke get into the car.

  He cursed under his breath. If what he'd just witnessed indicated the morals of Darcy Farrell, his reason for being here had become even more urgent. Travis wanted to follow them, but because he'd been concerned about not being seen he had parked his car on the next street. Jaw muscles clenched. Now he knew he must win the battle ahead.

  Still frowning, Travis walked back to his vehicle and returned to the hotel.

  THE STRANGE CAR DRAWING onto the side of the road surprised Darcy, but she struck a cheeky pose when the driver rolled down the passenger window and she realized it was Phil Callaghan.

  "Hi, Darcy. Like the new car?"

  "Very nice, Phil. I almost didn't recognize you."

  "Can I give a lift to the two most beautiful girls in town?" He grinned.

  "We haven't far to go," Brooke informed him importantly, her freckled nose tilting defiantly and her tone frosty. "My friend, Minnie, only lives around the corner."

  "You speak for yourself," Darcy told her. "Dressed in this outfit, I stand a good chance of being accosted by every strange man we see. Is it okay if we drop Brooke off at her friend's house?"

  "Sure, no problem." Phil leaned across and opened the door.

  Brooke climbed reluctantly into the rear seat while Darcy wriggled into the front, tugging at her short skirt to try and prevent it from riding further up her thighs.

  "Hold on, ladies," Phil cautioned, as he let out the clutch.

  Darcy turned to Brooke and sighed. The girl was looking out the window, deliberately ignoring Phil. She wasn't sure if Brooke's dislike stemmed from Phil personally, or if the eight-year-old was frightened of the man who might destroy the closeness between them.

  "Have a nice sleepover. I'll see you tomorrow." Darcy kissed Brooke as she got out of the car. "Give me a ring when you want to come home."

  She had to call out the last words, as Brooke was already halfway up the path to where Minnie waited at the front door.

  "Looking forward to the dance?" Phil asked as Darcy squirmed back into the front seat. He revved the engine as he pulled back into traffic. "You sure look the part in that outfit."

  Darcy grinned, but didn't reply. Phil wove through the Friday night traffic then turned the car into the church hall car park. A poster on the notice board blared at them.

  VICARS & TARTS PARTY THIS FRIDAY! Men dress as vicars! Women dress as tarts!

  Crowds of people filled the hall and Darcy's eyes widened with amazement at the variety of hairstyles and gaudy colours the women wore. Most of the men wore jeans or suits, and one guy even had on a cassock, but every one of them, including Phil, wore a pristine white dog collar to announce their status as vicars. She murmured her excuses to Phil and disappeared into the ladies to freshen up.

  Darcy pouted her thickly coated lips at her reflection in the mirror, and then raised a hand to check her hair. One of the false fingernails caught in her earrings and she disentangled herself, then patted the dark mass to make sure the hairpiece attached to her own short dark waves hadn't moved. She'd fixed it with enough hair spray and pins so only a hurricane would have any affect. Electric blue eye shadow reflected the paler blue of her eyes, and her lashes were heavy with the vast quantities of mascara she'd used.

  Wriggling her hips, Darcy stepped back and adopted a seductive pose. Hands on her waist, her gaze roamed over the leather outfit and calf high matching boots. With a final tug to her miniskirt, she turned back to the hall, smiling as she recalled Brooke's laughing dare to Darcy to walk with a wiggle suitable for the outfit.

  Darcy enjoyed the evening of laughter, music and dancing. Running her own business and bringing up Brooke didn't leave much time for a social life, but with her niece sleeping over at Minnie's tonight, she didn't have to worry about getting home for a babysitter. She danced three or four times with Phil, but also took turns with other men and caught up with several of her women friends.

  By the end of the evening, her legs and feet ached and when Phil offered her a lift home, she gratefully accepted. In the car, he talked about the dance, and Darcy relaxed. He was a nice guy
. She knew he wanted more than friendship, but she'd already let him know she wasn't prepared to commit herself. She had to consider Brooke, and her niece didn't get on well with Phil. The bond between Darcy and the child was very strong, and she'd put all plans for her own future on hold until her niece was old enough to live her own life.

  "Are you listening to me?" Phil's voice broke into her thoughts.

  "Sorry, I was daydreaming. What were you saying?"

  "I said we've arrived. In fact, we've been here for about a minute, but you were miles away."

  Darcy smiled an apology and leaned forward to give him a goodnight peck on the cheek, but Phil flung his arms around her and dragged her towards him. His lips came down hard, bruising hers as he claimed a kiss. There was no passion in the embrace. His action seemed to be driven by a desperate possessiveness. Sad rather than angry, she disengaged herself from his arms.

  "I'm sorry, Phil. I've told you before I don't want to get into anything serious until Brooke's old enough to fend for herself." She smiled gently to take the sting out of her words.

  "You're wrong you know," Phil said shortly. "Every kid needs a father figure and you're denying Brooke that right. Besides, by the time she grows up, you'll be too old to start a family of your own."

  "I think we should leave it there, Phil." Resentment stirred in her every time Phil tried to tell her what she should or shouldn't do. He might be a pleasant companion, but that didn't give him the right to tell her how to live her life.

  Before Phil carried on with the same old argument, Darcy got out of the car and walked up the path. Once the front door shut behind her, she calmed down and reminded herself Phil was only trying to help in his own way. Why couldn't he understand his way held no appeal for her?

  DARCY GOT UP EARLY on Saturday morning to catch up on her work. Running a secretarial business from home had definite advantages. She was always there for Brooke after school and was able to finish work early if she needed. It also meant wearing what she liked to the office, such as the denim shorts and bright yellow tee-shirt she had on today.

  The downside of working from home meant people rang her at any time of the day or night. Two or three regular clients delivered work during the morning and she concentrated on finishing all the urgent jobs, and then struggled with her least favourite activity, getting the business accounts up to date. Eventually, she sighed with relief and sat back to ease her aching shoulders, but the slamming of the back door startled her.

  "Hi, Darcy. I'm home!" Brooke yelled from the kitchen, and with a smile, Darcy closed her office door behind her and went to join her niece.

  "I thought you were going to ring when you wanted to come home," she commented as she switched on the kettle.

  "Minnie's mum had to go shopping so she gave me a lift. What's to eat? I'm starving."

  "Have a piece of fruit cake and I'll get lunch started."

  Brooke settled in her room after lunch to do her homework, and the sound of loud music filtered through her door. Darcy viewed the dusty lounge and decided the housework couldn't wait any longer. She vacuumed the hall last and gave the telephone table a quick polish. As she straightened the instrument, the letter which had arrived this morning caught her attention.

  She sighed, picked it up and went into the lounge. Sitting in her favourite armchair she read the confusing contents again.

  Dear Miss Farrell,

  We would appreciate you making an appointment to see our Mr. Case at your earliest convenience.

  The matter concerned is delicate and we hesitate to commit anything to paper. We would prefer to meet with you in person.

  We would stress the subject is extremely urgent and look forward to meeting with you as soon as possible.

  Yours sincerely,

  C. Baker

  Personal Assistant to Herbert Case

  The heavily embossed paper carried the letterhead of Chambers and Case, an old, established firm with an upmarket clientele in the Timaru business district. This made the request even more perplexing. Why would they want to speak to me?

  "It will just have to wait until they open on Monday." She'd reread the letter several times but still hadn't worked out why the solicitor would want to see her. "Trying to read between the lines isn't giving me any clues."

  "Darcy!"

  She hadn't heard Brooke come into the room, but she noticed the worried look on her niece's face and jumped to her feet.

  "What's the matter, hon?" She put her arm around Brooke's shoulders.

  "There's a man sitting in a car across the street, and I think he's watching the house. I'm sure the same car was there when Minnie's mum dropped me off."

  Darcy frowned, and moved cautiously to the window. There was a dark blue car across the street, but as she peered through the net curtains, the driver started the engine and drove off.

  "Well whoever it was has gone now." She put her arm around Brooke. "They probably wondered if the house was up for sale. You know how desperate people are to get hold of the old villas in this part of Timaru."

  "You wouldn't sell, would you?" Brooke's voice trembled with fear. After her grandmother's death two years before, the girl had become clingy and even after all this time, she still reached for Darcy when she became scared or uncertain.

  "Of course not, silly." Darcy hastened to comfort her. "This is our home."

  Although she'd calmed Brooke's fear, Darcy became alarmed when she saw the same car lurking across the street late the next morning. She debated whether to confront the driver, but he drove off again before she got a good look at him.

  It was a beautiful day, and to distract herself and Brooke, she put together a picnic lunch and they set off in Darcy's old Toyota to the beach at Caroline Bay.

  Brooke soon threw off all the self-imposed restraints of her eight years and they built a most elaborate sandcastle. Darcy was hot in her shorts and tee-shirt, but felt self-conscious about stripping down to her new bikini. The sunshine and the sparkling blue sea eventually overcame her doubts and she quickly stripped off her outer garments. Her niece's laughter combined with the sea and sand soon made her forget her inhibitions as she threw herself into enjoying this precious leisure time romping in the waves with Brooke.

  TRAVIS SAW THE NET curtains twitch and realizing he'd been seen, he drove off, but only as far as the next street. There he turned the car and parked on the corner so he was still able to see the villa. When the Toyota drove off down the street, he followed her.

  At the beach, he parked his rental car near Ms. Farrell's Toyota but followed the pair at a distance. He stopped on the grassy expanse above the beach trying to look as if he was merely enjoying the sunny day. Travis leaned against a tree, his gaze fixed on the pair on the sand. Every time Brooke ran to the sea for shells or water, his stare followed her longingly.

  He found it difficult to believe the woman was the same person he'd seen on Friday night. The short waves of her dark glossy hair complemented her elfin face, but the tee-shirt and shorts, though attractive, were unexceptional. He caught his breath as she peeled off the outer clothes to reveal a tiny bikini and a figure of perfect proportions. Despite his body's physical reaction, the logical part of his brain calculated that such a figure would earn a fortune in her profession.

  Travis moved to a vacant seat and continued to watch the woman and child. It was obvious the pair were very close, and he noted Ms. Farrell kept a strict eye on Brooke when they were in the water. When he saw they were packing up, he moved to the parking lot, hoping he would get a chance to talk to Brooke.

  THE SUN WAS LOW IN the sky when Darcy and Brooke collected their belongings and walked up the beach to the car park. The ice cream van had parked a few spaces away from their car and Brooke pleaded for a cone. Darcy needed little persuasion to hand over the money. She packed everything into the car then leaned against the door while she waited for Brooke to return.

  Smiling fondly, she saw the child carefully choose the type and size cone sh
e wanted and pay for it. As Brooke turned from the van a man spoke to her and Darcy straightened up. Timaru might be a quiet place with very little crime, but after noticing the car outside the house, she'd become more alert. She started walking towards the pair, but Brooke finished the conversation and made her way back to Darcy.

  "What did the man want, hon?" Darcy tried to keep her voice casual.

  "Man?" Brooke delicately licked some ice cream that had melted onto her hand. "Oh, him! He wanted to know the name of this cone. He reckoned it looked nice and wanted to buy one."

  Darcy glanced over at the van and saw the stranger looking at her. A frown crossed her brow. He seemed familiar, but he turned away. She shook her head. She must be mistaken.

  FIRST THING MONDAY morning, Darcy rang the solicitors and made an appointment to see Mr. Case at ten. Deciding it might help to create a good impression, even though the purpose of the appointment was still a mystery, she dressed in the dark blue linen jacket, skirt and crisp white blouse she usually wore for a first meeting with new clients.

  The offices of Chambers and Case were in a stately building off Stafford Street. Elegant, but discreetly decorated. As she waited nervously in the reception area, Darcy felt inferior. She perched on the edge of a leather armchair, knuckles fading to white as she gripped her bag. Mr. Case's secretary arrived at exactly ten o'clock to show her into the solicitor's office.

  A middle-aged man with flecks of grey in his hair sat at the huge rimu desk. A second man in his early thirties leaned against the filing cabinets lining the wall behind the desk.

  Her breath caught in her throat. The younger man was incredibly handsome — and looked familiar. Blonde hair like dark gold shone above a finely sculptured, tanned face, and when his body shifted slightly, the sleeves of his tailored suit pulled tightly across his muscled arms. Dreamlike, her gaze shifted to his eyes and she blinked, her admiration replaced with confusion.