She wasn’t a one-night stand sort of girl, she thought numbly, and she looked up to find Jackson’s eyes searching hers. She knew he was thinking exactly what she was thinking. Wanting what she was wanting.
‘Molly…’
‘Don’t.’ One more word and she’d fall blindly into his arms. He wasn’t asking anything of her. He wasn’t. But he just had to stand there and he was asking without words…
‘Go.’
He looked at her for a long, long moment and then finally he nodded. As if a decision had been made but it hadn’t been easy. ‘Maybe it’s just as well.’
‘Yes,’ she snapped, taut to breaking point. ‘After all, there is Cara.’
‘There is.’
‘So you shouldn’t even be here now. Or doesn’t Cara mind you spending evenings with other women?’
Another moment passed. Then he caught himself, reached into a shirt pocket and produced a card. ‘This is where you can find Roger Francis,’ he told her, and his voice had switched suddenly back into formality. Business. ‘He’s expecting your call. By the time I come back I’d hope you’ll have instigated legal proceedings against your Michael.’
‘He’s not my Michael.’
‘Well, against your money.’ He smiled and then put a finger under her chin, dragging her gaze up to meet his. ‘I’m sorry, Molly.’
‘Sorry?’ She took a deep breath. ‘Sorry for what?
‘I think you know.’ He shrugged and gave a derisory laugh. It was directed straight at himself. ‘Sorry that I have nothing more to give.’
And he bent and kissed her-hard on the mouth-a swift, demanding kiss that asked no questions and required no response.
It was a kiss goodbye.
And then he was gone, striding along the corridor and out of sight. Gone.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
‘MOLLY?’
‘Yes.’ Sigh. ‘What is it, Angela?’
There was a long pause as Angela absorbed the inflection in Molly’s voice. ‘Then you’re really mad at me, right?’
‘Let’s just say relations are strained.’
‘Because I was honest with Jackson? Oh, come on, Moll, give me a break. Did I do real damage? Was the guy going to fall for you if I hadn’t stuffed it up?’
‘No. Of course he wasn’t.’
‘There you go, then.’
‘But telling the man we were made for each other was unfair.’
‘I thought he should see things as they really are.’
‘Thanks, Angie. I do have some pride.’
‘My mum says pride and love don’t go together.’
‘No. Me and millionaires don’t go together. Honestly, Angie, I could have crawled under the table!’
‘You haven’t heard from him?’
‘Of course I haven’t heard from him.’
‘It would have been nice.’
‘It would have been…ridiculous.’
‘Cara?’
‘Jackson. Lovely. Where are you, darling?’
‘New York. Where I’m supposed to be. I thought you’d be here as well.’
‘I meant to be.’ She hesitated. ‘But I’ve met this man…’
Silence. ‘Someone special?’ Jackson asked cautiously.
‘It seems like it.’ She gave a slightly embarrassed laugh. ‘Now, you’re not to laugh. I know I’ve always sworn off men. After our mother’s tragic example…well, I was never interested. But Raoul is so different.’
‘Raoul?’
‘He’s French, darling. And he’s just lovely. He’s everything our mother and your father wasn’t. He…oh, I can’t explain. It’s just everything I sort of planned has flown out the window.’
Jackson sat down heavily on the desk chair. To say he was stunned was an understatement. His half-sister. In love.
‘That’s great,’ he managed. ‘Can I meet him?’
‘I’m aching for you to meet him. Oh, Jackson, he’s so special.’
She was lit up, he thought. She was…in love.
‘I just wish… I just wish that dreadful Diane-’
‘Cara, don’t.’
‘Yes, but I only had our appalling parents to get over. It’s been so much worse for you,’ she said bluntly. ‘The parents were enough. Like you, I thought I could never marry-I never wanted to go down that road. But then along comes Raoul…’
‘And sweeps you off your feet?’
‘Well, yes.’ She gave an embarrassed laugh. ‘He’s as different from any man I’ve ever met as he can be. Jackson, do you think you can possibly learn to forget Diane?’
‘No!’
‘Just because our mother and your father…’
‘There’s also Diane. I trusted her.’
‘And she was out for your money.’ Cara sighed. ‘You were just lucky you discovered in time that the child wasn’t yours. But you were so young, Jackson. There are some really nice people in the world. I hadn’t realised. Just because we haven’t met them until now…’
There were, Jackson thought. There was Molly.
But how the hell could he trust after what had happened to him? It was asking far too much.
‘I guess this means you’re not interested in settling in Australia?’ he asked, pushing his thoughts firmly back to business.
‘Well, no. It made sense to have a base when we didn’t have anyone. But, Jackson, Raoul has an apartment in Paris and a property in the north of France. I don’t think I need…’
‘A half-brother?’
‘I didn’t mean that. I’ll always want my brother.’
‘But you’ll want your Raoul more.’
‘Yes. And I hope… Jackson, I so hope you can find someone. Jackson, I’m so happy.’ He could feel her smile coming down the line. ‘So-will you still buy the farm?’
He thought it through. There was still the farm. There was only the farm. ‘Yes. If I can.’
‘It’s a great idea. Raoul and I intend to have children, so we can come and visit. And, hey, you can always leave it to your nieces and nephews in your will. After all, you can hardly leave your fortune to a lost dogs’ home.’
How about a lost frogs’ home? he thought inconsequentially.
And then he didn’t know what to think at all.
Molly?
Maybe. Maybe he could…
‘Molly? Are you okay?’
‘Hi, Angie. Sure.’
‘It was just you were so distant in the office today. Every time there weren’t any clients you seemed to be out of the office. It seemed like you were avoiding me.’
Yeah. She was avoiding everyone.
‘Is Sam okay?’
‘Yes. He’s fine.’
‘Have you heard from Jackson?’
She let out her breath in anger. ‘For heaven’s sake, Angie, will you get off your soapbox? Why would I have heard from Jackson?’ It had been a week. An interminable week.
‘The man is buying a property from you.’
‘He’s dealing through his lawyer. He’s only coming back to sign.’
‘You’re seeing his lawyer? The frog-squashing Roger? Oh, great. How cosy.’
‘Angie, don’t.’
‘So I’m worrying about you. I have a right to worry about you. Stay away from Francis.’
‘The man’s offered to help me get some money back from Michael. Courtesy of Jackson.’
Silence. Then, ‘So the lawyer’s doing you a favour? I don’t believe it.’
‘Jackson’s paying him,’ Molly said quietly.
‘But this is Michael we’re talking of! Does Jackson’s lawyer think he can get blood out of stone?’
‘It’s unlikely,’ Molly admitted. ‘At first I didn’t want anything to do with it, but Mr Francis has convinced me that Michael has something to say.’
‘Yeah. Like sorry, sorry, sorry. Don’t trust him until you see the colour of his money.’ She considered. ‘Come to that, don’t trust Roger Francis, either.’
‘I don’t trust either of them
.’
‘Then why do this?’
‘I need the money for Sam.’
‘You really think you might get it back?’
‘I don’t know what’s going on,’ Molly confessed. ‘I’m as bewildered as you are. But it’s Sam’s future we’re speaking of. At the moment I can’t even afford to move him to a decent school. So I can listen.’
‘But you won’t trust.’
‘No. I promise.’
‘And you’re accepting Jackson’s help?’
‘In this, yes. It seems sensible.’
‘Well, at least that’s something,’ Angie conceded. ‘The man owes you heaps.’
‘How do you figure that out?’
‘He broke your heart.’
‘Michael broke my heart.’
‘No. Michael broke your pride and your bank balance, but not your heart. You didn’t look like this after you broke off with Michael,’ Angie said.
‘Like what?’
‘Like…’ Pause for thought, then, ‘Like a hearth without a fire.’
That brought a reluctant chuckle. ‘Oh, very poetic.’
‘I read it somewhere,’ Angie admitted. ‘But it’s apt. Molly, you must do something.’
‘I am doing something. I’m working. I’m caring for Sam. I’m dealing with Jackson’s lawyer to see if I can get some money back from Michael.’
‘I mean about Jackson.’
‘You already laid my heart on a plate for him. I don’t know what else can be done.’
Angie had an answer for that. ‘Get on a plane and go find him?’
‘Oh, come on. Even you know that’s a really stupid idea.’
‘Yeah, well.’ Angie retreated, baffled. ‘Desperate times call for desperate measures. He who dares, wins. In for a penny, in for a pound.’
‘Good grief. Where do you find this stuff?’
‘I don’t know.’ Her friend gave a theatrical sigh. ‘But the two of you-it all seemed so gorgeous.’
‘Yeah. Me and a millionaire. And now it’s me and a frog.’
That produced a reluctant chuckle. ‘Have you tried kissing Lionel?’
‘Oh, right. Now, if you don’t mind… Go back to Guy, Angie. I do not need this.’
‘Francis.’ Jackson’s voice was clipped and incisive. The only way to deal with his lawyer was clipped and incisive, he thought. Maybe he should find someone else to represent him in Australia-but at least Roger Francis was good at what he did.
‘Mr Baird. How can I help you?’
‘I was wondering whether you’ve been in contact yet with Molly Farr about the money she’s owed.’
‘I have that in hand.’
‘You do?’
‘I think it may work out very well.’ The lawyer sounded sleek and self-satisfied, but then he always sounded sleek and self-satisfied. ‘I found her ex-fiancé was having all sorts of conscience pangs about what he’s done. In fact, he’s preparing to fold his country legal practice and move to Sydney.’
‘Why will that help Molly?’
‘He’s interested in a reconciliation.’
‘You’re kidding!’ Jackson sounded stunned.
‘He’s finding that he’s tired of country practice. He’d like a base in Sydney to start afresh, and if he reconciled with Miss Farr then he’d kill two birds with one stone.’
‘Molly would never buy it.’
‘It might be in Miss Farr’s long-term interests to do just that. After all, the man is a well-qualified lawyer with the potential to earn a great deal more than she could.’
‘You mean you’re advising her to reconcile for…for money?’
‘I’m advising her to do what she thinks best. But the prospect of getting money out of the man by legal means is slim. Married to him-’
‘No!’
‘It is sensible.’
‘No!’
Silence. Then a cautious, ‘What would you like me to tell Miss Farr?’
Jackson was silenced. ‘Nothing,’ he conceded at last. ‘It’s none of my business.’
Another silence. Then, ‘Do what you think best.’ And Jackson slammed down the phone. Hard.
‘Molly?’
‘Michael! I have nothing to say to you.’
‘No, don’t hang up. We need to talk.’
‘What on earth would we have to talk about?’
‘About us.’
‘There’s no us.’
‘There might be. Hell, Molly, I’ve been a fool.’
‘Criminal, more like it. Anything you need to say to me can be said through Roger Francis.’
‘But that’s just it. He suggested we meet.’
‘He did?’
‘Yes. So I thought we could do lunch tomorrow, Molly. I’m paying. No strings attached. Just come and listen to what I have to say.’
‘Give me one reason why I should.’
And he had the answer pat. ‘Because Sam needs a family.’
‘Oh, right.’
‘Honestly, Molly, Roger Francis has spelled out just how much trouble you’re in financially and I’m feeling dreadful about it. I never meant… Well, I never thought it through. And I didn’t realise just how damnably I’d miss you. So I thought-’
‘Hey, it was you who put me in trouble financially.’
‘So I should help you out. And in the meantime…’
‘In the meantime what?’
‘Just come to lunch. Hear me out.’
‘Fine, then. One lunch. And that’s it,’ Molly stated finally.
‘Mr Baird, I’m ringing to let you know everything’s running smoothly. The contract is ready for you to sign next week. Miss Copeland will be at the farm next Saturday, as will Miss Farr, and Miss Farr has the contract in hand.’
‘That’s fine, Francis. And will Sam be there?’
‘Sam?’
‘Molly’s little nephew. Sam. If she’s coming I’d like her to bring him as well.’
‘Oh, right.’ Roger sounded taken aback but amenable. ‘You want me to tell her she’s welcome to bring her nephew?’
‘Yes. I want you to tell her she’s welcome to bring her nephew.’
‘Maybe she could bring her partner as well.’
‘Her partner?’
‘I believe things are going remarkably well between Miss Farr and her ex-fiancé. I saw him yesterday and he’s very pleased. I suspect there’s no need for legal action down that road at all.’
Jackson thought that through and he didn’t like it. ‘The man cheated her.’
‘He’s more than willing to reimburse her,’ the lawyer said stiffly. ‘I did think that your main aim was to get Miss Farr out of financial trouble.’
‘Yes.’
‘Then I believe I’ve succeeded. Her ex is a sharp-as-nails lawyer and he’ll make a killing in the city. All he needs is a base and a trustworthy background. She’ll provide that.’
‘It’s a sure thing?’
‘She’d be a fool not to accept. And…’ He hesitated. ‘I believe there’s a degree of fondness still there. Your intercession on her behalf may well have given the three of them the chance to form a family.’
‘Fine.’ Just great. So why did he suddenly feel ill? ‘Was there something else?’
‘No, sir. I’ll see you next week, then. Down at the farm.’
‘I wish I could say I was looking forward to it,’ Jackson replied bitterly.
‘Cara?’
‘Jackson?’
‘Cara, this love thing…’
‘Mmm?’
‘Cara, if your Raoul was engaged to be married to another woman-if you thought that engagement might be a disaster-would you just walk away?’
‘Jackson…’
‘What would you do, Cara?’
‘We’re not talking about Diane, here, I hope?’
‘No. We’re not talking about Diane.’
‘Then who are we talking about?’
‘Someone called Molly.’
‘Is she special?’
‘So special I won’t stand in her way-if she’s engaged to someone else and that’s what she wants.’
‘Are you sure she’s engaged to someone else?’
‘Maybe.’
‘But you’ll find out?’
‘Yes.’ He thought it through. ‘I’ll find out. And then I guess it’s up to her.’
‘Oh, Jackson…’
‘Don’t get your hopes up,’ he said bleakly. ‘Because I haven’t.’
‘Angela?’
‘Molly?’
‘Yeah. It’s me. And I’m sorry it’s so late…’
‘Heck, it’s one in the morning, Moll. What’s wrong?’
‘I think you need to come around. And I think you need to bring some more of that ice cream. And Tim Tams. A truckload of Tim Tams.’
‘Um…any particular reason?’
‘Yes. Because I don’t know what the heck is going on and I don’t know what on earth I’m going to do.’
CHAPTER TWELVE
THE farm looked even more splendid than it had three weeks ago. Jackson’s helicopter circled the boundaries to allow him to check every inch of his prospective purchase before landing. It really was the loveliest place on earth. All he had to do was talk Hannah around, sign a contract and it was his.
But why was he buying it?
Because it’s paradise, he thought. But that wasn’t a good enough reason. Not now. Could he use it?
I will, he told himself. I can work from here. With telecommuting and teleconferencing I can spend most of my time here.
Yeah, with Mr and Mrs Gray-and a thousand frogs.
And maybe with Molly.
And that was the crux of the deal, he thought. That was the half-formed desire. He just needed to see…
Hell, he should have more sense.
Isolation was what he did best, he told himself over and over. Had he learned nothing? Nannies and boarding school and distant parents were tools for survival. If he hadn’t distanced himself from emotion-from any emotion-he would have gone under as a kid. His parents’ love had come close to suffocating him and he hadn’t been able to escape.
Then he’d made that one huge mistake. He’d fallen for Diane. He’d been young and he’d been foolish-and he’d let himself love. Or he’d thought he loved.
Then she was pregnant. ‘Great,’ he’d said, and he’d meant it. A family… For the first time in his life he’d conceded such a thing was possible, and the feelings he’d had for the unborn child had threatened to overwhelm him.
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