The Debt Collector

by Chris Taylor

  “Thank you. You’re looking…well.”

  He grimaced and shook his head and then muttered a reply. “How kind of you to say so.”

  Standing beside Hannah, Samantha looked from one to the other and then back to Hannah, a quizzical expression on her face. “Don’t tell me you two know each other?”

  Panic gripped Hannah’s insides. She opened her mouth to reply, but words escaped her. She drew in a breath and did her best to ease the band of steel that had tightened around her chest.

  “I… We… That is, I…”

  “We went to high school together,” Jacob supplied, his casual tone at odds with the bitterness that now glinted in his eyes.

  Sam laughed and clapped her hands in delight. “How amazing! Rohan, did you hear that? Hannah and Jacob went to school together!” She turned back to Hannah. “How long has it been since you saw each other?”

  Hannah gulped another mouthful of air and managed a reply. “We… We haven’t seen each other since graduation.”

  Sam’s eyes widened. “Wow! That long! What a coincidence that you meet again at the Sydney Harbour Hospital Charity Ball!”

  Jacob’s gaze remained fixed on Hannah’s. “Yes, it is. Quite amazing,” he murmured.

  Hannah felt the tension reverberating from him and wondered at its cause. She was the one who had the right to feel upset. Every moment of the last time she’d seen him had been seared into her memory. In an instant, her dreams were shattered; her future disintegrating like dust. It had been eleven years since it happened, but if her feelings meant anything, it could have been yesterday.

  CHAPTER TWO

  Jacob stared at the beautiful woman before him and tried desperately to get control of his heart rate. Her stunning looks had only improved with age—and she’d been gorgeous at eighteen. Tonight, her long blond hair hung loose around her shoulders, kissing her pale bare skin. The neckline of her dress dipped low enough to showcase her generous cleavage—something else that had been in evidence when she was young.

  The silence between them lengthened and his gaze remained fixed on hers. A furious blush crept across her cheeks and her eyes sparked fire. Her anger irritated him. It was obvious she hadn’t forgotten—or forgiven. And there was nothing he could do about that.

  The proper thing to do would be to excuse himself and leave the ball immediately. It would save them both the discomfort of spending time together when it was clear it was the last thing she wanted to do, but something inside him rebelled at the thought of turning tail and leaving. He’d paid his debt to society. They’d taken two years of his life. As far as he was concerned, they were square.

  A surge of feral anticipation flooded through him. He was damned if he would run. If she felt so uncomfortable, let her be the one to leave the ball before it had started. He smiled at the thought.

  “I’m glad you’re so amused at seeing me again,” Hannah hissed.

  He tamped down his instinctive urge to protest and smiled even wider. “Of course. Who doesn’t enjoy catching up with old high school friends? It really has been way too long.” He deliberately swept his gaze over her, taking time to note the ring finger on her left hand was bare.

  Her eyes flashed dangerously and her mouth tightened, indicating her displeasure, but short of informing everyone in their party about the nature of their relationship, she was left with no choice but to respond with a modicum of courtesy. The look she shot him told him she was far from happy with being backed up against a wall, but her reply was surprisingly polite, provided he ignored the frosty tone.

  “You’re right. I can’t think of a better way to spend the night.”

  She favored him with a brilliant smile and Jacob felt the full impact of her stunning beauty. His heart skipped a beat and then pounded erratically. It was all he could do to suck in a breath and respond.

  “Great,” he managed and held out his arm. “Why don’t I escort you to our table? It looks like the evening’s about to begin.”

  * * *

  Quietly seething, Hannah took the proffered arm and walked through the milling crowd toward their allocated table. Sam had told her they were seated close to the dance floor, however the polished Italian tiles seemed miles away.

  She’d had no choice but to take Jacob’s arm, unless she wanted to cause a scene. She was at a ball with her friends. This wasn’t the time or place. And Jacob darn well knew it. A fresh wave of anger rushed through her and she threw him another narrow-eyed glare.

  What the hell was he playing at? He had to know she wanted nothing to do with him. Did he think the passing years had dulled her memory? That she’d forgotten the devastating thing he’d done? It was never going to happen.

  She’d sit beside him and swap casual chit chat because she’d be damned if she’d waste her two-hundred-dollar ticket and she didn’t want to ruin the evening for her friends—but once it was over, that was it. He’d be lucky if she even bid him goodnight.

  “So, how are your parents?” Jacob asked solicitously as he pulled out her chair and waited for her to sit.

  “They’re fine,” Hannah managed through gritted teeth.

  He took the chair beside her and lowered himself into it. The sleeve of his tux brushed her bare arm and she tensed. Her gaze shot to his, but his expression was bland, as if he hadn’t even noticed. Surreptitiously, she moved as far away from him as her seat allowed.

  Their table quickly filled with the members of their party and Hannah was relieved when Sam took the vacant seat next to hers. She shot her friend a look half-filled with desperation, but Sam appeared not to notice. She merely offered Hannah a smile and then turned to Rohan, who had seated himself next to his wife.

  “What are you drinking? There are bottles of red and white on our table. I assume they’re included with our ticket.” Jacob’s voice sounded way too close and once again, Hannah tensed. With her thoughts in a turmoil, she turned slightly in his direction.

  “I’d rather have a beer, if you don’t mind,” she replied. She needed to put some distance between them.

  She’d noticed, on her way across the room, that the queue to the bar was satisfyingly long. It should take him quite awhile to make it there and back. With a bit of luck, he might even get lost and half the night might pass before he managed to find them again. She could only hope.

  Unaware of her thoughts, he smiled at her in surprise and then nodded and pushed back his chair. “A beer it is. He looked around at the others. “Does anyone else want something from the bar? I might as well take an order.” He smiled.

  Hannah was struck by his good looks and manners. He’d been pleasant to look at in high school too, but back then, she’d only had eyes for her boyfriend. His best friend had gone largely unnoticed.

  After murmured requests for drinks, Jacob left the table and headed in the direction of the bar. Hannah turned immediately to Sam, taking hold of her arm in an effort to catch her attention.

  “Sam! Why didn’t you warn me Jacob Black was attending?”

  Sam’s eyes widened in surprise. “I had no idea you knew him, Hannah. Is there something wrong?”

  Hannah stared at her friend. Once upon a time, she wouldn’t have hesitated in regaling Sam with a blow-by-blow account of the dramas associated with the man seated at their table, but something about the paleness of Sam’s cheeks and the tautness around her mouth stopped her. The words died on Hannah’s lips.

  “Are… Are you all right, Sam?”

  “D-do you mind coming with me to the bathroom? I think I’m going to be sick.”

  Pushing away from the table, Samantha stood and headed in the direction of the bathrooms on the far side of the room.

  Rohan half-stood, his face filled with concern. “Sam? Are you okay?” he called after her.

  “It’s all right,” Hannah quickly reassured him. “I’ll go with her. She… She isn’t feeling well.”

  “Damn!” Rohan cursed softly. “I thought we’d seen the last of it.”


  “I’m sure she’ll be fine,” Hannah replied. “I’ll go and check on her. We’ll be back in a moment.”

  Rohan sighed with relief. “Thanks, Hannah. I appreciate your help.”

  “No problem.” Hannah gave him a brief smile and then turned and headed toward the bathrooms. With thoughts of Jacob now pushed to the furthest recesses of her mind, she quickened her stride and soon after, found herself in the powder room. All but two of the stalls were unoccupied.

  “Are you all right, Sam?” she called softly.

  “I… I think so, Hannah. I’m right down the end. It’s just another bout of morning sickness. Nobody told me it can go all day and night. I was hoping by now, the nausea would have lessened, but the passage of time doesn’t seemed to have made any difference.”

  Hannah nodded in understanding and then grimaced as she heard the sound of retching. “Is there anything I can do?” she asked.

  “No. I’ll be fine, just as soon as I stop vomiting.”

  A moment later, Hannah heard the toilet flush and the door to the stall opened. Samantha emerged looking frail and wan, but as she leaned over the sink and splashed her face, a tiny bit of color returned to her cheeks.

  “How are you feeling?” Hannah asked.

  Sam gave her a strained smile. “Better now.”

  “Are you certain you’re up to staying? I’m sure Rohan would be happy to take you home.”

  “And ruin his evening? He’s been looking forward to catching up with his police buddies for weeks.”

  “I can take you home and stay with you until he comes home later,” Hannah offered, suddenly warming to the idea.

  Sam shook her head. “Then I’d be spoiling your evening!”

  “Well, I’m sure Rohan will leave if you’re not feeling up to it. He loves you. He won’t sit around having a good time while you’re suffering.”

  Sam straightened and reached for the paper towel Hannah offered and dabbed it across her face. “I agree and that’s why I’m staying. Besides, now that it’s over, I feel so much better. It’s weird how everything feels almost normal again after a vomit. Thank you for offering though.”

  Hannah pulled a face. “Yuck.”

  Sam smiled. “Oh, come on, Hannah Langdon! You’re not going to stand there and try and convince me you have a weak stomach. Not when I know what you do for a living. And how much you love it!” Sam added.

  Hannah grinned unashamedly. “So? I’m an embalmer. Why does that mean I can’t have a weak stomach?”

  Sam rolled her eyes and grinned back at her. Hannah was relieved to note her friend looked almost as good as usual. They both turned and headed toward the exit. Without warning, Sam came to a halt and eyed Hannah curiously. “What’s going on with you and Jacob Black?”

  The question hit her from out of the blue. She searched around for something to say. “Um…nothing. We knew each other in high school. That’s all.”

  Sam looked unconvinced. “Don’t give me that nonsense, Hannah Langdon. I saw the way you looked at him. Was he an ex-boyfriend? Did he break your heart? Or, maybe you broke his? Come on, spill! I want all the gory details.”

  She smiled as she said it and Hannah did her best to respond in kind, keeping her tone light.

  “As much as I’d like to appease your curiosity, it was nothing like that. He was… He was my boyfriend’s best friend.”

  Sam nodded. “Okay, but there’s more to it than that; I can tell. You’re flushed and on edge. It isn’t like you.”

  Hannah closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath. Sam knew her too well. They’d been friends for a long time. It was time to come clean.

  “You’re right, there is more to it.”

  Samantha pounced, her eyes gleaming with triumph. “I knew it!”

  Hannah chuckled. “Well, I’m pleased the issues regarding my personal life have taken your mind off your nausea woes.”

  “Ah, so he did mean more to you than what you’re saying? Don’t tell me you were secretly in love with him the whole time you were dating his best friend?”

  Hannah’s mood sobered. “No, Sam. It was nothing like that. I loved Luke with every fiber of my being. I thought I’d marry him and be the mother of his kids. I thought we’d grow old together.”

  Sam’s expression turned serious. “What happened?” she asked quietly.

  With another fortifying breath, Hannah began to speak.

  “We were eighteen. I was in love with the captain of the rowing team and he was in love with me. Luke Parker was all I ever dreamed of. I couldn’t wait to become his wife. My days and nights were filled with fantasies of white picket fences and three kids who looked like their dad—two girls and one boy. I’d even named them.” She paused.

  Sam’s expression remained sober. “Go on,” she quietly encouraged.

  Hannah drew in another breath. She might as well get it over with. “We were in our final year of high school. Our future was looking bright. Then the night of November eighteenth happened and our world was turned on its end.”

  “What happened?” Sam whispered, her eyes filled with fearful anticipation.

  “Luke was killed in a car accident. Jacob Black was behind the wheel, drunk.”

  Sam’s face lost some of its newly restored color. “Oh, my goodness! Hannah! How awful. What happened to Jacob? Was he charged?”

  Hannah nodded. Memories bombarded her from every which way, but she forced herself to finish the story.

  “Yes, he was charged with drunk driving and dangerous operation of a vehicle in a manner causing death. He said… He said they’d been arguing and that Luke had made a grab for the wheel. The judge gave him two years in jail.”

  Sam shook her head slowly back and forth, her eyes wide with shock. “Wow, I had no idea. Rohan met Lane through work. We’ve all gone out together a few times and attended police functions every now and then. I’ve heard Lane speak about his family, but I hadn’t heard anything about Jacob spending time in jail.”

  Hannah grimaced. “Yes, well I can’t imagine it’s the kind of thing that gets bandied about at dinner parties, especially given a number of the guests would likely work in law enforcement.”

  “And to think Jacob’s now a doctor, and a well-respected one, from what I hear,” Sam mused. “He’s head of the Emergency Department at the Sydney Harbour Hospital.”

  Hannah started in surprise and then recalled Sam saying something about Jacob being a doctor when she’d first introduced them. “Well, it doesn’t sound like he was held back by his stint in jail,” she replied tartly and immediately felt ashamed of her spiteful comment.

  Sam frowned. A flush heated Hannah’s cheeks and she averted her gaze. In silence, they left the bathroom and headed toward their seats. Guilt surged through Hannah’s veins and she reached out and touched Sam’s arm, bringing her to a halt.

  “I’m sorry, Sam. I shouldn’t have said that. It was mean. It’s just that, where Jacob Black’s concerned, I lose my head. I feel so…so…”

  “Cheated?” Sam offered.

  “Yes! Cheated! Angry! Annoyed! He killed my boyfriend! The man I loved and planned to marry. He stole my future. He stole my life.” Hannah’s voice cracked on the last word. Tears filled her eyes. She stared at Sam in desperation, hoping to make her friend see.

  Sam stepped forward and hugged her. “Hey, it’s all right. I understand. You’re right to feel the way you do, but honey, it was more than a decade ago. The man spent two years in prison. He repaid his debt. Okay, he’s alive and your boyfriend’s not and that’s a sad and disappointing fact, but that’s the thing—Luke is dead. He’s never coming back. It’s time you stopped punishing yourself and Jacob for his death.”

  Hannah continued to stare at Sam as she tried to take it all in. Had she been punishing herself all these years? Is that why she hadn’t allowed herself to get close to another man? Hadn’t risked being hurt again?

  “There you are! I was beginning to worry.”

  Hannah blinked
to clear away her heavy thoughts and spied Rohan descending upon them, his arms outstretched toward his wife. Sam smiled.

  “Hi, honey. I’m fine. Just another bout of morning sickness, but I’m all good, now. We were on our way back to the table.”

  Rohan kept his gaze on his wife, his brow furrowed in concern. “Are you sure you’re feeling up to it? We can always go home. These nights never end early and if you’re not feeling the best—”

  “No, I’m fine, I promise,” Sam replied, laying a hand on Rohan’s arm. She gave him another reassuring smile and the concern on his face eased.

  “You’re sure?”

  “Yes, darling, I’m sure. Now, let’s get back to the table before everyone starts wondering where we’ve all disappeared to. It looks like they’re serving the starters.”

  Resting her hand in the crook of Rohan’s arm, Sam gave her husband a quick kiss and together, the three of them headed back through the crowd. Hannah stared at the couple walking side by side, taking support and love from each other, and sighed, considering what her friend had said.

  Was Jacob Black the reason she’d been sabotaging her love life these past ten long years? Perhaps it was time to find out.

  CHAPTER THREE

  Jacob looked up at Rohan and Samantha’s approach and spied Hannah following close behind. He stifled a sigh of relief that was tinged with disappointment. As much as he wanted to spend more time with her, every moment reminded him of a past he’d rather forget. On a warm night in November, he’d made a fatal decision that had irreparably shaped the rest of his life. Would he ever forgive himself, or ever be free of the guilt?

  With a murmured thank you for the drink that now sat near her place at the table and a swish of her dress, Hannah returned to her seat. The faintest scent of her perfume wafted past his nose. It smelled spicy and exotic—like vanilla and cinnamon and something else. His body tightened reflexively and he cursed silently. She’d made it clear she despised the very sight of him. It wouldn’t do to draw her attention to the fact that he found her attractive—more than attractive… He’d been in love with her for most of his life.