by Anne Ashby
Her mother wasn’t a child to be placated. It was past time she treated Karin with the respect she deserved. “Would you be interested in taking Riversleigh in hand and making it into our flagship?”
For the first time in many years, Debra witnessed raw emotion on her mother’s face. Before she was drawn into Karin’s arms in a suffocating hug, she’d caught the rise of tears in her mother’s eyes.
“Oh darling, yes, yes, yes! I’d love to do that.” Karin pushed her to arm’s length. “But are you sure? You’re not just appeasing me, or anything?”
Debra disentangled herself and stood up. She wasn’t used to close physical contact, or emotional scenes—like this was quickly turning into.
“Of course not,” she replied. “Dad often turned to you for advice.” She shrugged self-consciously before diffusing the bubbling emotions.
“I know you love this dump.” Debra slipped on the shoes she’d kicked off earlier. “I’d rather sell it and cut our losses, but you’d disown me.”
Karin’s watery smile warmed something deep inside Debra. Something she’d kept bottled up for years—something beginning to leak.
“Get started tomorrow with some ideas if you want. I’ll have Rachel send Madeline,” she winked, “an email telling her of your new position, and that she’s to render you all assistance.”
With jacket in hand Debra made for the door. “I’d better go. Oh, and tell Terry Donaldson to pay close attention to Murphy’s PA, too, as well as all the departmental managers. I don’t believe she’s managed to fleece so much without help.”
“Will I see you later?”
Debra shook her head. “Probably not today. And I’m meeting Jase in the foyer at eight tomorrow, so I think we’ll be gone before you’re down. Part of me wishes I wasn’t away tomorrow. Staying here might have been fun.”
“Deb?” Karin rushed over before Debra opened the door and clutched her in her arms. “Thank you so much, darling. I won’t let you down.”
Debra returned the hug, remorse surging through her. “I know you won’t, Mum.” Her throat thickened. “And I’m going to stop letting you down, too.” She tore herself from the loving arms and crashed through the doorway and down the hallway before she made a fool of herself.
What was the matter with her? This place was annihilating all her hard-fought-for strength and independence. She had to get this problem sorted and get back to Wellington. Back to some sort of normality.
Chapter Seven
Debra arrived and took a seat in the foyer next morning well before the assigned meeting time with Jase. Curious glances from the two receptionists, neither of whom she’d met, increased the unease she struggled to hide.
She tugged at the jacket of the pants suit, the closest thing to appropriate she’d borrowed, and grimaced. If only she had her own clothes to help restore her confidence. Even as the thought surfaced she shoved it aside. Try explaining how an out-of-work clerk could afford exclusive clothing.
She smoothed the rail tracks substituting for a crease over her thighs and leaned back. Calmness was an illusion. Inside her stomach a meagre breakfast tossed around faster than an NBA basketball. Sweat dampened her palms but she resisted wiping them against her thighs. The cheap material would likely stain.
Thank God she hadn’t seen Jase all yesterday, whether by his design or her good fortune, she wasn’t sure. His face popping into her mind with amazing clarity proved enough to deal with.
If she closed her eyes, the touch of his lips still burned. Her eyelids bounced open and she forced them wide—forced them to stay wide open as she focused her mind elsewhere, anywhere else.
If today was to determine Jase’s guilt or innocence, Debra must control her silly emotions. She must be subtle yet sneaky as she prodded for answers.
With Jase concerned about showing the region to its best advantage, this perfect weather would work in her favour. His enthusiasm as he showed the businessmen his backyard treasure should camouflage her further investigation into his character. With care, she’d ferret out the necessary information without him even realising he was under scrutiny.
She glared sightlessly across the opulent foyer. If anything she learned didn’t measure up—she bit her lip—or if Donaldson found anything at all to point toward Jase, she’d bury him. God help me, I’ll make him wish he’d never been born.
Nails dug trenches in her palms as she contemplated the reason for such intense reaction. She squirmed. My feelings are not involved. This isn’t a replay of Roger...because Jason McEwen means nothing to me.
Murphy’s actions left her cold and furious but the thought of Jase having light fingers...Betrayal clouded her mind before she forced such weak thoughts aside. Embezzlement was a cold and deliberate act of theft. If Jase was involved...
Her phone interrupted the revolving thoughts and refocused her. Rachel’s call confirmed an audit team would soon arrive in Invercargill and be at Riversleigh by ten.
Debra smiled grimly. Keeping her voice low, she directed Rachel to coincide her email to the resort with their expected arrival time.
Tapping her foot, she reviewed her strategy. The team would have a clear run with no-one here to question their inspection. With Murphy and Jase away, her mother would assume control. She would front the investigation. Debra just hoped she hadn’t placed her mother in a position beyond her capability.
At Paul’s suggestion, Debra would stay undercover. At least two days were needed to complete the audit. She could gain valuable information by listening to any circulating rumours. When there was solid proof to support her suspicions, she’d have the team call in the police and take the necessary actions.
All going to plan she should be back in Wellington by the weekend. Why this realisation wasn’t filling her with pleasure, she didn’t have time to analyse because Jase was striding toward her in an immaculate dark suit.
His eyes twinkled and a slight smile hovered around his lips.
Her mouth dried. She jumped to her feet, tugging at her jacket and trying to straighten the already-creased trousers. “I-I’m sorry,” she stammered, fussing with her clothes gave her a reason to avert her gaze and allowed time to cover the loss of her lucidity. “I don’t have suitable clothes for—”
“Don’t be silly.” Jase’s smile became more intimate. His voice dropped. “You look beautiful.” He studied her more closely. “Stunning, in fact.”
Debra’s cheeks burned.
“I like your hair like that.” She’d done it in a French braid. “You look very professional.”
Debra couldn’t find a reply. Her head dipped as he ushered her to the waiting van. She felt oddly bereft when his hand left her arm once he’d helped her into the vehicle. The resulting tingle took some time to fade.
Although they sat on the same bench seat, adequate space lay between them. She breathed a little easier. She mustn’t allow his alluring presence to detract her from her mission.
Her breath caught in her throat when he slung his arm along the seatback and turned his body toward her. The full force of his personality centred on her. Disconcerted, she crossed her arms and looked out the window, trying to refute how appealing he looked—and how attracted to him she was.
****
Her obvious discomfort encouraged Jase, allowing him time to trace Debra’s profile with his eyes as she looked everywhere but at him.
He dropped his gaze from her face to the outline visible beneath the tight top she wore under her jacket. The askew jacket gaped in exactly the right place and gave him the chance to fix his stare on a tight point jutting from her rounded breast. The warmth inside the van belied her peaked nipple being caused by cold. His chest expanded. It had to be a response to his touch, his nearness.
He adjusted his position as his pounding heart sent blood rushing to his stirring loins. The weather couldn’t explain her refusal to look at him, either. Excitement lashed through him. Thank God she’s as responsive to me as I am to her. Only for some
reason she’s intent on hiding it.
The thrill of attraction washed over him, making his heart beat even faster. His breathing became a little shallower. She was spooked. Why, he didn’t know, but the tremor her clasped hands couldn’t hide, showed distinct misgiving. Surely she’s not alarmed I’ll do something inappropriate?
A wave of tenderness washed over him. All his protective instincts rushed to reassure her, yet he remained silent. His mind raced as his body stirred some more.
He’d sworn off meaningless sex and unsatisfying one-night stands with virtual strangers. That was for the young and stupid. He craved something more—something to sustain his soul as well as his body. He wanted permanence, something to mend the gaping hole he hadn’t filled since his unsuccessful surgery.
Touching his shoulder he looked across at the striking woman perched beside him. In a blinding second Jase grasped the certainty Debbie could give him that.
Excitement he hadn’t experienced for years bubbled through him. He almost laughed out loud, but changed the explosive noise into a spluttering cough. He had her all to himself for the drive to Queenstown, save for their driver whose nodding head showed him to be absorbed in the stereo’s music.
So get her undivided attention and in these couple of hours make such an impact she won’t be able to resist you.
He mustn’t let on what powered through him. She’d run a mile or worse, think he was crazy. But he didn’t have much time. He couldn’t stuff around.
Don’t be stupid, man. You used to sweet-talk a bird into bed in minutes.
Reminded of a time for which he wasn’t proud, Jase squirmed. He wouldn’t be treating Debbie like one of those groupies. One look told him she was a lady, a very dignified lady.
Why she worked as a hotel server was beyond him. It was so obvious she’d never done anything like waitressing before. Perhaps she’d never actually worked at all. Not at any sort of manual work, that’s for sure. Her hands looked soft and pampered. And her nails looked professionally manicured. Perhaps she was some heiress playing at seeing how the plebs lived.
No, he shook his head. New Zealand society hardly ran to heiresses. And he wasn’t aware of any Southland connections to huge money.
A major lotto winner? He scrubbed that thought as well. She’d grown up privileged, probably attended private schools. Her wealth was old.
He had less than two hours. Two hours to make a connection that wasn’t purely physical. He knew he could evoke a physical response, but he needed more than that.
She’d chosen to ignore their moment of passion in the disabled lift as if nothing had happened. Before it could be repeated he’d have to establish a different rapport all together. “Are you a Wellington girl? Born there?”
At least she turned toward him before nodding.
“I don’t know Wellington,” he fibbed. “What suburb?”
“Seatoun.” She bit her lip as soon as the name of Wellington’s most elite area slipped out.
He hid a smile. “Is that around on the hills somewhere?”
She nodded again. He sensed a little nervousness slipping away. Good. He’d continue with more inane questions until she started talking. “Tell me about your family. Your mother’s from Southland, you said.”
He wasn’t put off by her reluctant shrug but waited. His body twisted toward her, with what he hoped was an encouraging smile on his face.
“My father died a couple of years ago. I have a brother, Paul...”
Jase’s brain jammed in neutral. Paul! Paul was her brother. He slumped in the seat. His limp arm fell off the seat back onto her shoulder.
Debra’s mouth snapped shut on further words he didn’t hear and she glared, shrugging his touch away. Jase didn’t care that her glare burned him. Paul is her brother, not her lover. Joy reminiscent to scoring a match-winning try flooded through him.
With difficulty he smothered the stupid grin he felt covering his face and hid his excitement with bland chitchat. “I’m sure you’ve been to Queenstown before?” He quirked an eyebrow but no denial came. One of the highlighted tourist sites of New Zealand, any local who could afford to would surely have visited. “I guess you won’t have driven, though. At least not via this route,” he tacked on.
He named some of the small towns they’d be passing through and added some local history, taking her mind off what she deemed an affront. Relaxing as she reciprocated with insightful questions about the hotel, they were soon chatting without any of the earlier tension.
Miffed that she avoided all but the most inane questions about herself, he appeased his disappointment by reasoning any conversation was establishing a bond. Not quite the bond he sought, but there was time to build on that.
He was highlighting his intended programme for the afternoon when the van jerked and threw Debra against him. Angry horns bleared as a passing car squeezed in front of the van and almost collected another coming around a blind corner.
Jase wrapped his arms around her as their driver struggled for control of the braking van. Forcing Debra’s face into his shoulder Jase covered her head with his hand, bending over her and praying like he’d never prayed before. Instead of the scrunch of ripping metal, or the flip he was bracing himself for, the vehicle shuddered to a screeching stop in the loose gravel alongside the road.
“Are you okay?” He tore off his seatbelt and gently lifted her head. Tremors flooded her body but she gave a shaky nod.
“What happened?”
Jase swore. “Some idiot overtook us on a blind corner and almost took out a car travelling south.” He smoothed his hand over her head, searching for signs of hurt or discomfort. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine.” Her unsteady smile strengthened to reassure him. “I might just stretch my legs for a minute though, seeing we’re having a break.”
“Good idea,” Jase agreed. He couldn’t resist drawing her back into his arms to hold tight for just a second. His lips lingered across the top of her head. But before she could complain, he slipped past her out of the van. “I’ll just have a word with Chris. He looks a bit shook up.”
The young driver hung over the farm fence, looking decidedly yellow. Jase slung an arm across his shaking shoulders. “You okay there, mate? You did a great job. How you managed to stop the van without using this fence as a brake, I’ll never know.”
The younger man’s back straightened at the praise. He turned to glare along the road. “Bloody idiot, he’s gonna kill someone.”
“Let’s just hope it’s himself and no-one else,” Jase agreed. “You feel okay to keep driving? I can take over if you’re feeling a bit shaky.”
“I’m okay, boss. My dad always said when you fall off your bike, get right back on again.” Chris summoned up a wobbly smile. “I guess this isn’t too different.”
“I guess it isn’t.”
“Is it okay if I grab a smoke though? Seeing as we’re stopped.”
“Sure buddy, take your time.”
Shaking hands extracted a packet of cigarettes from Chris’ pocket. “Couple of minutes, boss, then we’ll be on our way again.”
Jase patted the young man’s shoulder and turned to see Debra watching them. He strolled back to the van.
“You really care about people, don’t you? Especially your staff.”
Jase frowned. “Doesn’t everyone?”
Debra’s laugh was hollow. “Not in my experience.”
“Then you’ve been working for the wrong people.”
From Debra’s deep frown Jase could see his words had hit some chord. “Have you found any dissension while you’ve been with us?”
Debra’s astonished look and splutter drew an answering smile. “Yeah, well, the manager’s a Jafa.” He used the derogatory term often applied to residents of New Zealand’s biggest city by those who didn’t live there. “That makes her an exception.”
His face darkened at his lack of discretion, something he was always strict about maintaining. He swa
llowed. “For God’s sake, don’t ever mention I said that.”
Warmed by her very genuine smile Jase forgot their near accident. Forgot the purpose of their trip, forgot everything but how great he felt in her company. His gaze roamed over her, eventually settling at the pulse fluttering in the hollow of her throat.
His arm touched her, drew her close. She swayed forward, and he hoped she was incapable of denying the lure of desire growing between them.
Blood roared in his ears, deafening him to any sound other than their hearts thumping in unison. His head dipped but just as his lips were about to meet the sweetest honey pot, Debra jerked her head aside and took a hasty step backward.
A door slammed. Chris had finished his cigarette and was ready to resume their journey. Staring out across the lush farmland Jase took some deep breaths, ignoring Debra’s scramble back into her seat.
His head flung back, he sucked in even more deep breaths, trying to return his body, and his mind, to some semblance of order. Finally he climbed back into the van, slamming the sliding door shut with far more force than was necessary.
Reclaiming his seat he called to the driver, “You sure you’re okay to drive, Chris?”
“I’m fine, boss, I’ve had my nicotine fix.”
As the van eased back onto the road Jase daringly reached for Debra’s hand and held it on his thigh. Not too high, he didn’t want to be that obvious, although if she kept tugging and wriggling their grasp might travel to the source of his discomfort. As if she realised this possibility too, Debra stopped struggling.
Although her hand remained rigid, Jase dared to stroke his thumb across her knuckles as he leaned back and closed his eyes. A smile played around his lips as he imagined what expression she might be wearing. He could dream it was as besotted as he felt, although he guessed she was more likely spitting at his audacity.