Fancy Free

by Shelley Munro

“You mean you have a secret admirer?” Rita’s eyes widened and she snapped her fingers. “I bet it’s that boyfriend of yours. The one that attended the reading of the will with you.”

  Alice forced a smile while inside she remained frozen with fear slithering up and down her spine. Steven had never bought her an impulsive gift during their entire time together. It would be out of character for him to start now. “Maybe.” She tried to hide her unease and avoid further questions.

  “Anyhow, no matter who it is, they have a sense of style. Balloons are such a fun gift.”

  “Yes.” If only they weren’t covered with dogs and clowns.

  “Open the card.”

  Rita didn’t intend to leave until she opened it. That was as clear as the freckles on Alice’s face. With trembling fingers, she ripped the envelope. A clown card. She stared at it for an instant before opening it to read the message. “It says it’s from Bozo the clown and his dog Fido.”

  Rita wrinkled her long nose and tossed her head, setting her tight dark curls into springy movement. “Is that it?” She sounded disappointed.

  “Yes.”

  “Oh. Interesting. No, exciting,” Rita amended. “I wish I had an anonymous admirer.”

  “Hmmm.” Alice remained noncommittal. She could have told Rita that it scared the bejeezus out of her but enough gossip floated around the office at the moment. Alice didn’t intend to add to the craziness because who knew when or if Ms. Knowall might hear and publish it in her column. Oh no. She intended to keep this to herself but made a mental note to mention her fears to Richard at the first opportunity. And James of course. That went without saying.

  Chapter Ten

  Three months later

  Alice leaned back in her office chair and let tiredness flow through her. Her gaze skimmed across the bouquet of balloons in the far corner of her office. Another gift from the clown and dog. They gave her the willies, so she focused on her paperwork instead. This condom business was exhausting. It seemed that every spare moment they tested the Good Vibration or James taught her how to run Fancy Free. A small smile curved her lips. Exhausting but very satisfying. The phone rang at her elbow and she straightened, letting the front legs of the chair hit the wooden floor. The latex supplier. About time.

  “Hello. Alice Beasley speaking.”

  “I’ve rung half of Sloan searching for you.” Steven. Not the latex salesman.

  “Hello, Steven. Now you’ve found me.” Alice scowled at the phone. She had no idea why he had rung. Surely he didn’t want to reinstate their relationship or something equally stupid? The last time they’d spoken he’d told her she was an idiot. The upshot had been silence between them for several months.

  Until today.

  “When are you coming back?”

  She rolled her eyes and picked up a pen. They’d discussed this in detail at the time. The pen tapped impatiently on the desktop. “I’m on temporary leave. I’m not coming back this year.”

  “It’s not too late to change your mind,” he said.

  The urgency in his voice raised alarm bells. The tone contained wheedling. He’d certainly been sure last time they’d spoken of the matter. “What’s changed?”

  “Nothing. I’ve missed you. I hadn’t realized how much I’d miss you when you weren’t here.”

  “I’m sorry, but under the terms of the will, I’m committed to stay here in Sloan for a few more months.” And besides, she didn’t want to return to Steven.

  “But I’m up for promotion.”

  “Congratulations.” She had no difficulty infusing her voice with warmth. An excellent and conscientious lawyer, he deserved the promotion. “You’ve worked hard.”

  “But it means we can get married just like you wanted. We don’t have to wait.”

  Talk about romantic. Alice inhaled slowly and fought to contain crazed laughter. A man wanted to marry her and she was turning him down. Her life careened way out of control. It had to be something to do with this stupid rabbit hole. “I don’t want to get married,” she said when she had herself under control again. Not quite true. She would love to get married, but since her shift to Sloan, she had come to realize Steven was the wrong man. James was the right man. Ironic really since it he didn’t seem to feel the same way. Oh, they were compatible in bed and they had a lot of fun testing the condoms, but James didn’t seem interested in anything more than business. Such was her life in chaotic Wonderland.

  “But I—”

  “I have to go. I have an appointment.” She hung up without giving him an opportunity to say more. A quick glance at the clock told her it was time to meet with James. Acute anticipation filled her when she stood. Her body moistened and butterflies commenced fluttering inside her belly. Today they’d arranged to meet down by the river, leaving separately to avoid more gossip or mention in Ms. Knowall’s column again. She grimaced. The author of the column seemed to have eyes everywhere. No one was safe from having their private lives splashed across the pages of the Sloan Gazette.

  On impulse, Alice stopped by the cafe and picked up two deli sandwiches and a mixed berry tart to follow for dessert. She added a bottle of sparkling water since they both needed to keep their wits about them for the tests and packed it all carefully in her lemon straw basket.

  On the way out, she nodded to Richard Morgan who sat with a younger man. His son perhaps? They bore a faint resemblance. Richard waved her over.

  Good, the perfect opportunity to have a casual word about her problem with the dog and clown. Every time she’d tried to talk at the office someone had interrupted, and then when the incidents had tailed off, she’d let things slide. This morning a postcard had arrived in the mail and more stupid balloons.

  “Hi, Richard.” Alice smiled. She liked the older man with his old-fashioned manners and no-nonsense attitude. It wasn’t difficult to like any of the board members. They reminded her of her parents since they all lived life to the full.

  “This is my son Luke,” he said. “He went to school with James. The pair was always up to no good.” Richard tugged a lock of his hair at the same time a rueful grin twisted his lips. “Made me gray before my time.”

  Luke’s gaze appeared friendly and direct. “Ah, the condom heiress. Welcome to Sloan. I’ve heard a lot about you since I returned from leave. I’ve been meaning to drop by Fancy Free to say hello. It’s been busy lately and we’ve been short-staffed. Haven’t managed the time.”

  Alice squirmed inwardly even though she knew he was teasing. Her eyes narrowed as a thought occurred. At least she hoped he meant it as a joke. James remained touchy when it came to discussions of her inheritance. The only time she felt as though they communicated was during the Good Vibration tests. When they made love, he seemed more relaxed, apart from the bits that needed tension and tautness of course.

  “Ah, the cop who was always up to mischief in his younger days,” she returned, grinning when surprise flickered across his handsome face. If James hadn’t already claimed her attention, she’d definitely pursue a friendship with this man.

  “Touché.” Luke’s eyes twinkled.

  “I wish I knew the identity of that bloody gossip columnist. I’d wring their bloody neck,” Richard growled.

  “Oh? I didn’t think cops were allowed to do that,” Alice said. “Bodily harm and all that. Aren’t there rules against that sort of thing?”

  “Mouthy,” Richard chided.

  “Yeah, we might have to arrest her.” Luke smirked.

  “Actually, Richard, I wanted to have a private word,” Alice said.

  “Have a seat.” Luke grinned at his father before turning back to her. “Should I leave?”

  She shook her head. “No, you can stay, but I don’t want anyone else to know. Heck, I might even be overreacting.”

  “Only one way to find out,” Richard said.

  “I keep receiving gifts. Anonymous ones.” She paused to inhale. “I’ve received a clown jack-in-a-box, a bunch of clown and dog balloons and two c
ult members handed me a clown and a dog business card when I left the reading of the will. I haven’t received anything for ages, almost three months, but this morning I received a postcard and another bouquet of balloons.”

  “Someone thinks Fancy Free should go in for theme parties.” Luke chuckled.

  “Luke, she’s frightened.” Richard’s gruff kindness brought a rush of moisture to her eyes. It was true. She was frightened and constantly looked over her shoulder, jumping at shadows.

  “Sorry.” Luke picked up her hand and held it in a very personal manner. His brown eyes gleamed. “Carry on.”

  She tugged furtively, trying to regain possession of her hand but he didn’t release it. She swallowed, warmth surging up her arm. Her cheeks flushed and she swallowed again, unable to meet his twinkling gaze. “Once when I visited James, a van pulled up beside me. A dog drove, or rather a person dressed in a dog costume, and a clown sat in the passenger seat. They gave me an earful about the evils of condoms.”

  “Don’t they know about AIDS?” Richard snapped. “Sounds like cult members to me. Natural birth control is their philosophy. It’s a religion to them.”

  “Was the van green?” Luke suddenly donned his professional hat and moved into cop-mode.

  “Yes.”

  “I had a few reports about a green van. Witnesses reportedly saw it up at Lovers’ Point. We think they were selling happy cookies to the teenagers,” Luke said in an undertone. “I don’t suppose you managed to get the registration number?”

  Alice shook her head, remembering back. “Sorry. It happened a while ago now. They scared me half to death. I ran.”

  “Have you seen them again?” Richard asked.

  “No. I just keep receiving the gifts.”

  “Do you still have them?” Luke asked.

  “The card is in my rubbish bin and the balloons are in my office. I threw the other gifts away.”

  “Dad, do you want to check them out? If you receive anything else, call. I’ll come straight over.” Luke produced a business card from his pocket. “What did James say?”

  “He laughed and said they were probably going to a kid’s birthday party.”

  “Maybe,” Richard said. “Or maybe not. Make sure you don’t wander off on your own. If you walk anywhere, make sure you have someone with you.”

  The town clock struck one.

  “Whoops, look at the time. I’d better go. Work to do.” Alice bound to her feet, lifted a hand in farewell and rushed from the cafe. An elderly woman entered at the same time Alice tried to leave.

  “You’re the woman.” She glared at Alice. “The condom woman.”

  The woman wore normal clothes—a skirt and lightweight blouse with smart leather sandals. No turban to indicate she belonged to the cult. The residents of Sloan seemed to be in one of two camps when it came to Fancy Free. Judging by her condemnation and sour expression, this woman belonged to the sex-is-disgusting team.

  “I’m pleased to meet you,” Alice said politely.

  “If you hadn’t sunk your claws into James, he’d be heading the family law firm.” The woman shoved past without another word, leaving Alice staring after her in shock. James? A lawyer? First time she’d heard that. Ms. Knowall, the gossip columnist was falling down on her job.

  “Wait, Alice!”

  Alice turned to see Luke prowl toward her. “Where are you off to?”

  “I have to meet James down by the river.”

  Luke’s brows rose and he ran a hand through his curly dark hair. “Oh?”

  Heat collected in her cheeks and she silently cursed her propensity for blushing. “We have some work to do.”

  “I’ll walk with you,” Luke said, his firm tone brooking no refusal.

  “I…um…okay,” she said finally. With Luke at her side, she hurried past the flower shop, the cult shop, the town hall and down the road toward the river, arriving red-faced and out of breath ten minutes later. Luke teased her unmercifully the whole time.

  When they arrived at the river, James waited on a blanket spread out on the ground, concentrating on paperwork.

  “Hi.”

  “You’re late.” He packed up a folder of reports and glared at Luke for an instant before his expression blanked.

  “My fault,” Luke said, a lazy grin curling across his sensual lips.

  Confused, Alice ripped her gaze away from the sexy sight. How could two men attract her at the same time?

  “Dad and I waylaid her at the cafe. Nice meeting you, Alice. James, we have to catch up for that drink. How about later in the week?”

  James stood. “Sure. Ring me when you can make it.”

  “Have fun.” Luke grinned and wandered off, whistling a tune.

  “Sorry. Richard and Luke stopped me to chat in the cafe. I bought some lunch for us.”

  “Great.” James nodded, although he still didn’t appear very pleased. “I thought we’d go to a picnic spot that only Luke and I know about. It’s private. We can eat and do our tests there without fear of interruption.”

  “Make love outside?” Alice wasn’t so sure about that. Exposing her breasts in broad daylight…

  “We don’t have time for you to turn prudish now,” James said sharply.

  She looked at him. Really looked at him, that was. Faint circles shaded under his eyes. Worry clouded blue eyes that normally danced with fun and life.

  “Is something wrong?”

  “The bank manager phoned. They’ve decided to call in our overdraft.”

  Money. Fear kicked her in the gut. Memories of a childhood with no money and little food came back to haunt her. “But why? I thought they’d agreed to extend it.”

  “For some reason they’ve lost confidence in us. It means we won’t have enough money to keep paying the staff. Probably another three weeks and we’ll have to start with redundancies.”

  “Can’t we try another bank?” She’d recheck the budgets when she returned to the office. There must be something they could do, some way they could cut corners.

  “Rita and I have rung around every bank and financial institute this morning. Someone has spread rumors about Fancy Free and no one is jumping at the chance to finance an ailing condom company.”

  Alice swallowed painfully, her chest suddenly tight and aching. If the company failed, she’d lose everything. “What will we do?” Her dreams…

  “I’ll call a board meeting. Once we’ve met and pooled our ideas, we’ll take it from there.”

  She’d taken leave from her job for the rest of the year. They’d already organized a replacement. It wouldn’t be easy to find another job that paid the same wage, which would force her to dip into her precious savings—her security blanket. She frowned, sick to the pit of her stomach. After all the time and energies they’d expended she couldn’t get past the idea that they might fail and lose everything.

  “No point worrying about it until we know the worst.” James picked up the chocolate brown rug he’d been sitting on, grabbed her basket and led her toward an overgrown path.

  They brushed past floppy ferns and skirted prickly blackberry bushes. The bubble of the stream followed them as they made their way deeper into the cool bush. Alice tried not to worry but it wasn’t easy. They walked past several punga tree ferns, karaka and totara trees. Moss grew on fallen tree logs and she spotted colorful red and white toadstools. The scent of moist foliage filled the air along with the faint drift of citrus from James. A bird flew from a low hanging branch and Alice’s heart almost jumped out her mouth. A nervous laugh escaped. It was the clown and the dog. They had turned her into a nervous wreck.

  “It’s not far now.”

  Alice followed him, her gaze stealing to his butt. Sex. At least that was one way to keep worry at bay. He had a truly splendid rear end. Despite his managerial position, he always dressed casually in jeans and a shirt. Denim suited him, cupping his buttocks and drawing every feminine eye in the vicinity. Alice had noticed Harriet and Katarina give him the on
ce over when they thought no one watched. It gave her a thrill to know she could not only look but touch as well.

  Up ahead, the sky lightened and sunshine crept through the bush canopy. James kept walking and turned down a hidden path she hadn’t noticed. After another ten minutes, climbing over a fallen log and crossing a tiny stream, they exited the shade into the warm sunshine. A waterfall flowed into a pool before the water ran through the clearing, disappearing in the direction they’d walked from. He stopped by a grassy area and spread out the blanket.

  “Feel like a swim before we get to work?” He started to unbutton his shirt before she’d answered, flinging it down onto the rug. He made short work of shucking the rest of his clothes then strode to the edge of the waterhole.

  Alice sighed with pure appreciation. She would never tire of studying his masculine form. Muscles that rippled beneath the surface but weren’t too bulky. Long legs. Slim hips. A butt worthy of several photos. And she had the chance to use his body as a playground. A slow grin crawled across her mouth. Yep, a tough job but someone had to do it. He waded into the water without hesitation and ducked beneath the surface, kicking strongly enough to churn up white water before disappearing totally.

  She waited for him to surface again. When he didn’t, fear rippled through her. Apprehensive, she stripped off her white shirt and black trousers then sprinted into the water still dressed in her panties and bra. She squeaked when the chill washed over her calves and thighs, halting abruptly. Water surged around her legs while she searched frantically for him. It was bloody freezing.

  Something brushed against her legs and she peered through the water, her mind dwelling on all sorts of dangerous creatures. “James?” Her voice wavered with uncertainty and a trace of worry. She thought she heard a voice and listened intently. “James?”

  “I went behind the waterfall,” he called over the rush of water.

  Alice exhaled with a whoosh, concern giving way to irritation. “Don’t do that again. I was worried.”

  He swam up to her and plucked her bra strap when he reached her side. “Your underwear is wet.”