by Sue MacKay
‘Hey, you’re up early.’ Logan strolled into the room, looking all mussed up.
‘I think Mickey’s got a urinary infection. He’s been up to the bathroom three times.’
‘I’ll check him over when he next wakes up. He hasn’t got a fever, has he?’
She shook her head. ‘Didn’t seem to.’
‘Has he had an infection before?’
‘A while back.’
‘Okay.’ Logan filled the kettle and spooned instant coffee into a mug.
Karina watched him from under lowered eyelids. He’d easily made himself at home. Did that come from living and working in so many different locations? Would he fit in anywhere? Or was it because this was the nearest to his own home he had? If so, did that indicate he might change his mind about selling?
That would mean having him in the house more often. Could she remain impervious to him then? Would she be able to turn away when her mouth cried out to be kissed? When the heat spreading down her body demanded physical release?
She doubted it. So he had to sell to her.
She eyeballed the man causing these problems. ‘Would you give your share of this place to me as a loan? I’d get proper papers drawn up and make regular payments into your account.’
Did she have to sound like she was begging? Yeah, she did—because she was.
Logan straddled a chair and studied her. Probably trying to go from Mickey’s pee-pee problem to could he lend her a few hundred thousand dollars within minutes.
Huffing out the breath she’d been holding, she started again. ‘Of course I don’t know your circumstances, but if you don’t need the funds you’d get from selling, then it makes sense for you to lend it to me. A win-win answer.’
‘When did you come up with this idea?’
Heat crept into her cheeks. ‘Just now.’
‘So you haven’t thought it through?’
‘What’s there to think about? A loan with you is no different to a loan with the bank. I’d pay the going interest rate.’
That gorgeous mouth she’d kissed last night actually softened into a small smile as he kept on watching her. ‘Why did the bank turn you down?’
‘None of your business.’
Except it was if she wanted to borrow from him.
‘Sorry, I take that back. I think the manager didn’t like me, or he has a thing against lending to women. I have a small nest egg that I try not to touch except in dire emergencies.’ She’d managed to save some of her wages before she’d moved in with Mickey. A deep breath in. ‘But the account I use for day-to-day expenses is kind of empty.’
‘Explain “empty”.’ That smile hadn’t disappeared. Yet.
‘My wages from the medical centre go in every fortnight and by the time the next pay day comes round I’ve used most of it. If not all of it.’
‘What about the weekly amount from James and Maria’s estate to cover Mickey’s expenses?’
‘The lawyers told me I’d have to wait for that until probate had been finalised.’
‘That was done a month ago.’ Logan’s eyebrows rose in a disconcerting fashion and his mouth flattened with annoyance. ‘You weren’t told that?’
‘I thought the lawyers would phone, or at least send a letter about it. It’s hard. I don’t want to seem to be waiting for James and Maria’s money. It’s not like Mickey’s going without anything. The lawyers might think I’m a greedy cow if I ask.’
She’d made a vow never, ever to ask for money again and that meant from anybody. Unless it was a loan.
‘Why am I not surprised at that answer?’ The annoyance vanished and Logan’s mouth widened into a heart-stopping smile, astonishing her.
‘You think I’m a push-over, don’t you?’
‘You’re a dedicated, big-hearted, caring woman who puts everyone before herself. Nothing wrong with that. But you also have to be practical. James would be angry if he knew you weren’t getting the funds available.’
Did he have to sound so reasonable?
‘It’s not about whether you think you can manage. James can’t be here for Mickey, but he made damned sure he could provide for him in the advent of a disaster happening—as it did.’
‘I hadn’t thought of it like that.’
‘I’ll get on to the lawyers today.’
His tone told her that those lawyers were going to wish they’d been paying her for weeks.
‘Thanks.’
This conversation hadn’t resolved the house sale issue, but she knew when to stop pushing. There were still more than three weeks to come up with a solution.
Standing up, she placed her mug in the sink. ‘Time I got ready for the day.’
Logan stood up too. His knuckles under her chin tipped her head back, so she had to look directly at him. ‘About me lending you the money...? I didn’t say no. Or yes. But if I do agree I won’t be asking you to pay me any interest.’
Her mouth fell open. Not a pretty sight. ‘But—’
His thumb slid across her jaw. ‘We’re supposed to be waiting a month before discussing what’s happening with this place, remember?’
Sucker punch me, why don’t you?
‘You’re right. I made that request. I guess I’d better stick to it.’
‘One other thing, Karina. Have you thought about what you’ll do when you meet someone you want to marry? Would you expect him to fall in with your plan to live here for the foreseeable future?’
‘Me? Get married again?’ She pulled away from that tender thumb to gape at the man. ‘That so is not going to happen.’
‘Come on. You can’t know that. What if you meet someone tomorrow and fall in love? You’re telling me you won’t want to get married again? Or at least have a live-in relationship with him?’
Disbelief glittered out at her.
‘That’s exactly what I’m saying.’
‘Your marriage break-up must have been horrendous for you to still feel like that.’
He stood watching her. Seeing what?
‘It broke my heart.’ And it made me think hard about myself.
‘I guess that’s not easily forgiven or forgotten.’
‘No, but I don’t blame him for everything. I let him control my life just as my father had conditioned me to do.’
Genuine kindness showed in Logan’s eyes, causing a small lump in her throat that she had to clear before continuing.
‘I come from money; went to the best schools, became a fashion icon, had the society wedding. All for nothing.’
Now Logan looked confused. ‘So why are you trying to raise money from the bank to buy me out?’
‘I walked away from it all.’
As his mouth opened with what was probably another question she held her hand up to stop him.
‘What Ian did was wrong. But there was a silver lining in a convoluted way. I’d trained as a nurse but never got to put it into practice. I’d had my fun, but then it was time to fit in with the family line and become the perfect wife and hostess. My sister revels in all that.’
‘You never did?’
‘That’s why I can’t hold it against anyone. I always complied, but the day I learned of Ian’s duplicity I learned there was more to me. A part I’d never explored. The person I wanted to become. And here I am.’
‘I’m more than impressed. It must’ve taken a lot of guts. But that’s no surprise. You’ve got that in spades.’
Her head jerked back a notch. ‘Thank you.’
His simple yet empowering statement went a long way to reminding her that, yes, she was strong—could do whatever she had to for Mickey. Which meant fighting this man to keep Mickey’s home.
Ironic, really.
‘I’m glad you told me. It helps—’
‘Kar—ina, I peed in my bed.’
She winced. ‘Nothing like a dose of reality to get the day moving.’
‘Go have your shower. I’ll take care of this.’
Logan headed for Mickey’s room, not pausing to see if she agreed.
She couldn’t fault him, really. Except for one thing. He liked being in charge, too. Then again... Her fingers touched her lips where he’d kissed her last night. He was nothing like her ex at all.
CHAPTER SEVEN
‘I DON’T WANT to use the potty.’ Mickey stamped his foot on the bathroom floor.
Karina ached to pick him up for a cuddle, but that wouldn’t help get the urine sample she needed to send to the lab. ‘I need you to.’
There was a knock on the door and Logan asked, ‘Can I help?’
‘Yes.’ Maybe Mickey would listen to him. ‘I’ve got a problem.’
‘So I heard.’
Logan’s smile lightened the tension in her tummy.
‘Along with everyone else in the street.’ He hunkered down to Mickey’s level. ‘Hey, buddy, I want you to do your pee-pee in the potty this time so I can get it tested. If I don’t do that then we can’t make you better. Understand?’
‘But I’m big.’
‘Yeah, I know. But sometimes even big boys have to do this.’
‘What about you?’ Mickey eyed him suspiciously.
‘Yeah, if I had to.’
‘I don’t want Karina watching.’
Phew. Progress. ‘I’m out of here. See you over at the medical centre in ten. Mickey, Mr Grumpy’s taking you to kindy. Be good for him, please.’
‘What’s that lad yelling about this morning? Doesn’t he know he’s got a quiet button?’ Jonty stood on the back porch with his car keys dangling from his fingers.
Karina grinned. ‘Good luck with that. Logan’s getting him sorted.’
‘You all right? You’ve got black puffy bits under your eyes.’
‘Charming.’ She’d applied more layers of make-up than sensible this morning, and obviously they hadn’t hidden a thing. ‘Bit of a sleepless night.’
‘I saw the lights on during the night. Everything all right?’ he asked.
Telling him about Logan’s nightmares wasn’t an option, but... ‘You’ve got a rollaway bed in your back bedroom, haven’t you?’ She’d seen it when she’d been over at his house one time.
‘Want it?’
‘Can I borrow it for a few weeks?’
‘I can only sleep in one bed at a time.’
‘Thanks, you’re a treasure. I’ll get Leeann to help me carry it over at lunchtime.’ She wasn’t having Jonty lift it. He’d argue, but sometimes he had to remember he was eighty-two.
‘Tell Logan to do it. He might need fattening up, but he’s a man under those fancy shirts he wears.’ Jonty stomped down the steps. ‘Going to give those ruddy hens a talking-to. Only got six eggs this morning. Stupid females.’
That was why she loved Mr Grumpy. She never knew what was going to come out of his mouth next, but it would always be entertaining.
‘I’ll sort the bed.’
No way would she ask Logan to get it. He’d want to know why and then he’d refuse, saying it was totally unnecessary. But now she’d got the idea of setting a bed up for him in the lounge, she wasn’t backing off. Next time he had a nightmare and wanted to sit by the fire he’d be able to lie down and hopefully fall asleep. He’d argue, but if the bed was in place and made up, then there was nothing he could do except ignore it. Which, when she thought about it, was exactly what he’d do.
‘Can’t say I don’t try.’
Ice cracked under her shoes as she carried the washing basket to the line. She tipped her head back and the clear blue sky made her smile. It was going to be a cracker of a day, even if she was wearing thermals and thick tights.
By the time she’d hung the washing Mickey was calling from the porch. ‘Can I knock on the washing?’
She felt the first towel she’d hung up. ‘It’s not hard yet. Give it a bit longer.’
‘Here I come! Watch me, Karina.’
Mickey loved it when the washing froze solid on the line. And, honestly, she’d been excited the first time it had happened. They didn’t have frosts like that in Auckland. Maria had laughed at her for getting so excited, calling her a big kid.
Maria. ‘I miss you,’ she said out loud. ‘If only you were here to help me sort out what I’ll do if Logan gets his way with the house.’
But then if she were here, the problem wouldn’t exist.
Air caught in her chest as Mickey slid towards her. She whispered to Maria, ‘Your boy is growing taller every day. You’d be so proud of him.’
She smudged an errant tear off her cheek, and probably wrecked her make-up.
‘Knock-knock, who’s there?’ she asked Mickey.
‘Jack Frost,’ he answered as his little knuckles tapped a towel, then a pillowcase. ‘He hasn’t done it right.’
Karina laughed despite her sadness. ‘Give him a chance. The washing’s only been hanging a few minutes.’
‘What’s so fascinating about the washing?’ Logan asked as he approached, looking heart-stoppingly gorgeous in a blue-and-white checked shirt and the navy jersey he must have bought when he’d arrived back in the country.
Should she tell him that the price tag and garment label were hanging down his back? Nah, not yet.
‘This isn’t any old washing, is it, Mickey?’
In a rush of words Mickey explained about the knock-knock game, and looked disappointed when he couldn’t demonstrate what he meant.
‘Come on, Uncle Logan. I want to break some ice.’ He ran towards a frozen puddle.
Karina watched him and a big sigh puffed across her lips. ‘I love that boy so much it scares me.’
Logan took her elbow and turned her in the other direction. ‘I know. It’s apparent in everything you do with him. He’s very lucky he’s got you.’
‘He’d have been luckier still if he hadn’t needed me. Or you.’ Sniff. God, don’t cry now—not when Logan’s right beside you.
‘Hard, isn’t it?’ His fingertips pressed gently into the crease of her elbow. ‘You’re surrounded by memories of Maria. What’s good for Mickey isn’t easy for you.’
Did he have to be so accurate? How the hell was she supposed not to cry now?
By sucking it up, breathing deeply and concentrating on that crack in the path until this moment of self-pity faded. That was how. She shouldn’t be feeling sorry for herself. She was alive and well, and she had Mickey to care for. And she was tough. Or getting there, anyway.
Logan murmured, ‘You’re allowed to have down days.’
‘Sure.’
But why today? Why now, when she’d just been laughing with Mickey? Why this moment, when Logan knew exactly what was going on?
He was too damned kind and understanding, despite his determination to do things his way. He was getting to her. In ways she’d never expected any man to reach her again. He was reminding her that her body was capable of loving a man, of being loved back. Unfortunately it couldn’t be Logan who’d break through her barricades. He was on a mission. And while it included her, that was only to make sure his nephew’s life ran smoothly. And his.
Tugging her elbow free, she stepped away, putting space between them while avoiding his all-seeing gaze. Somehow she managed to dredge up a smile that gave away nothing of what she really felt.
‘You’re supposed to cut the labels off a jersey before you wear it.’
Leaning towards her, he ran a finger along her jaw, making her gasp as shivers ran through her.
‘Can I trust you with the scissors when we get inside?’
Wiggling a sp
layed hand back and forth, she said, ‘You won’t know until I’m done.’
Then she all but ran for the surgery, determined to get away from that vexing finger that had sent heat to her core, melted her in ways she’d never melted for any man before. Not even Ian.
The waiting room was overflowing with patients.
‘Seems we’ve got an epidemic on our hands,’ she said.
‘The phone hasn’t stopped ringing since I unlocked the door,’ Leeann told them. ‘The stomach bug’s responsible for about a quarter of today’s appointments, and the flu’s doing the rounds.’
Karina groaned as she delved into one of Leeann’s drawers for scissors. ‘Fingers crossed none of us catch any of these things.’
Leeann said, ‘I take it David’s not coming in today?’
Logan answered her. ‘I told him to stay home. He’s over the worst and just needs to get around to eating again, but no point in him rushing back. I’m happy to work another day, and then he’s got the weekend to fully recover.’
Another day working with Logan. That wasn’t so good for her equilibrium. This attraction she felt for him tended to trip her up.
Deal with it. Be professional. It’s only for one more day.
Yeah, and then they’d go home together, eat dinner with Mickey and watch TV until bedtime. Very cosy.
The end of the month couldn’t come fast enough, so she could get him out of her system and on his way. If only she didn’t need to delay the situation about the house. Which reminded her...
‘I’ve got to make some phone calls.’
Karina headed to her room and began dialling. She’d try all the banks before considering fishnet stockings, a minuscule black leather skirt and a walk along the wharf after dinner.
With two appointments arranged for early next week she headed out to the waiting room.
‘Robyn Jenkins? Come through.’
Robyn was instantly on her feet and following Karina to the nurse’s room. ‘Thanks for putting me first. I’m going to be late for school as it is.’
‘How’s William? I’d intended ringing to see if he could come and play last weekend, but something always cropped up.’