“Keep up the lease on the shop and sell the extra produce. Make jams and chutneys. Those who are skilled at needlework or woodwork could make other things to sell. You need to assess your skills and make a plan,” Sorrel said.
Sister Andrea nodded, once again thoughtful. “Yes. Yes,” she said. “We must call a meeting.” She hurried off to join a cluster of women and started talking, hands flashing in punctuation of her words.
When Sorrel and Jake reached the office, the door was locked, but the distinct sound of rustling and frantic whispers reached them.
Jake rapped sharply on the door. “Open up. Now.” Authority rang out along with his words.
More frantic whispering sounded.
“Problem?” Luke asked from behind them.
“Someone’s in there,” Jake said. “Open up.” He took two steps back and kicked at the door. Wood cracked but the door didn’t give. He kicked again and the door flew open.
Brother Felix stood in the office with Brothers John and Tyrone. When Jake and Luke prowled into the office they cowered back against the walls.
“The rest of the culprits,” Jake said.
“Who are you?” Brother John demanded in a quivering voice.
“You’re under arrest for cattle rustling and conspiring to kidnap,” Luke said.
“Me?” Brother Tyrone drew himself up. “I had nothing to do with the cattle rustling.” He pointed a trembling finger at Jake. “He was so proud of committing the crime he made us take photos.”
“Why you snivel—”
The three men took a collective step back.
“Jake,” Luke grabbed him by the shoulder, hauling him to a stop. “You’re all under arrest. We can discuss the facts at the station.”
They put up little fight as he ushered them from the office. A sea of shredded paper decorated the floor.
Sorrel stared at the paper, her lips twisting at the irony. They were still trying to cover their tracks.
“Can you see your mother’s books?”
Alarm twisted her stomach tight. Her breath caught as her gaze went to the bookcase. Relief had her knees buckling, her breath exploding in whoosh of pure relief. The red-bound notebook sat squeezed between two larger tombs on herbs and flowers, a layer of dust attesting to the length of time the books had remained unread. She reached forward to extract the notebook, blew off the dust and opened it.
Her mother’s scrawled writing and drawings filled the pages. Some of the older recipes she’d developed with results of her failed experiments.
“Do you think Brother Rick murdered Brother Samuel?” Jake asked.
“It’s a gut feeling. There’s no doubt Brother Samuel was getting older, but until he ate the mushrooms he was healthy. Sister Andrea swears she didn’t add the mushrooms to her stew. Brother Rick had visited his father during dinner. They’d argued, and Brother Rick stormed out. I saw him.”
“That doesn’t make him guilty of murder.”
“No, that’s true. I—” She broke off abruptly. “Look at this. It’s a diary entry by my mother.” She read aloud. “I don’t have any proof, but I think Brother Rick has been giving Brother Samuel something in the glass of juice he brings his father every morning. Samuel has complained of dizziness. I’m going to try a few mouthfuls of Brother Samuel’s meals and the drinks he takes in his private quarters. If I start to become sick, I’ll have proof Brother Rick is up to no good. I can’t believe Sister Andrea is complicit in poisoning.” Sorrel lifted her head. “That’s not proof, but it’s enough to cast doubt.”
“Unless they find something concrete it won’t be enough,” Jake said, sliding his hand across her shoulder in silent commiseration.
“I know the truth. That’s what matters. Brother Rick knows the truth too.”
“Luke is thorough. Brother Rick won’t escape charges of some sort,” Jake said.
“Good.”
“Are you ready to leave?”
“Yes.” Not a shred of hesitation entered her at the thought of leaving the place she’d called home for most of her life. “Is your undercover job finished now?”
“Yes, and I can’t wait to put on a pair of jeans instead of wearing this bloody robe.”
* * * * *
Later that night, Jake and Sorrel shared dinner with Luke and Janaya.
Janaya’s violet eyes gleamed as she stared from Jake to Sorrel. “I take it you’re staying the night, Jake?”
“Please.”
Janaya’s lips quivered, and Sorrel suspected whatever Janaya was thinking made her want to laugh. She managed to hold it back, restraining her humor to a twitch of lips. “I’ll prepare a room for you.”
“That’s not necessary,” Jake said. “I’ll share with Sorrel.”
“Told you,” Janaya said, holding out her hand to her husband. “You owe me twenty-dollars.”
Jake growled. “Yet bet on us sharing a room again.”
“That’s not exactly what she bet on, and she hasn’t won yet,” Luke said.
“All’s fair in love and war,” Janaya quipped.
“On that note, we’re retiring for the evening,” Jake said. “I have an early start tomorrow.”
Sorrel rose, removing the empty glasses from the table and stacking them in the dishwasher. Jake was returning to Papakura tomorrow, returning to the army base for medical clearance and possibly reporting for duty. The knowledge left a hollow inside her. It expanded until her entire chest ached. She didn’t want him to go, but she couldn’t ask him to stay either. Jake had a job, responsibilities.
Jake tugged on a lock of her hair to gain her attention. “Hey, don’t think so hard. It might never happen.”
Her throat closed up, and she had to force the words to exit her mouth. “I’m going to miss you. What happens if you pass the medical? When you pass the medical?” she corrected herself.
“It won’t be so bad. My contract will be over in three months,” Jake said. “It won’t be long until I’m back.” He pressed a kiss to the tip of her nose. “You’ll hardly have time to miss me.”
Her head tilted back to meet his gaze. “You’re coming back to Sloan?”
“For you,” he said. “I’ve had enough of army life. It’s not the same now that my mates have left the team. I’m not sure what I’ll do once I get out, but I’ll give it some thought while I’m away.”
“You’re coming back to Sloan for me?” She felt like the proverbial parrot, but she needed to have things clear in her mind.
“Sorrel.” Jake stopped in the doorway of the bedroom she was occupying. He cupped her cheeks and smiled down at her. “You’re special, Sorrel. I want to see where the future will take us. Will you wait for me?”
“Yes. Yes!” She threw her arms around his neck and clung to him. Their lips met in a kiss, then he was lifting her into his arms, entering the bedroom and closing the door behind them.
“Good.” His sigh held relief and the realization made her tip her head up to search his features. He grinned at her, an open display of happiness that pushed her pulse rate into a gear change-up. He hadn’t been certain of her, had harbored doubts. Probably some of the same worries she had about trusting herself enough to step forward into the future with him.
“Can I write to you while you’re away? Um…doing soldier things?”
“We can do better than that, sweetheart. I’ll buy you a laptop. I won’t have time to show you how to use it, but I’ll ask Luke and Janaya to help you set it up. You’ll be able to send me emails and talk to me online.”
After spending months as an outsider, his kindness overwhelmed her, brought a touch of giddiness and even disbelief. “You’d do that for me?”
Jake laughed again. “It’s for my benefit too.” He released her, letting her slide down his body and lowered his head, crushing his lips to hers. Gradually, he backed her up to the bed, and they toppled to the mattress together.
Somehow her clothes disappeared, and he was kissing her everywhere he could reach.
He plundered her mouth, his fingers spearing into her hair, holding her captive.
“My turn. I enjoy exploring you,” she said when she had a moment to speak.
“You mean you want to torture me. “ He pulled away and lay on his back, his dark eyes gleaming. “I’m all yours.”
So she trailed her hands over him, pleasing herself and cataloguing his reactions to her caresses. The catch of his breath when she skated the tips of his fingers across his ribs. The way he trembled when she licked his nipple.
“More,” he encouraged softly. “Explore my cock.”
“What if it bites me?”
He barked out a laugh. “Pet it a bit and see what happens.”
Fun and laughter had never entwined in her mind when she’d considered sex in the past. With a smile curving her lips, she ran her fingertips down the length of his shaft. Silky skin. Warmth. A masculine scent, musky, but not unpleasant filled the air. She curled her fingers around his cock, testing, stroking. Exploring in whichever direction her curiosity led her, she teased him and learned his body.
“Enough,” he said.
She froze, but a tiny smile curled her lips. “Did I do something wrong?”
“Never.” He paused to grab a condom then lifted her by the hips and positioned her over him. “Guide me inside you,” he whispered.
She did as he asked, saw the way he watched where they were joined. Her inner muscles stretched as gravity sank her down on his cock, impaling her. His hands at her hips guided her through the erotic dance until they both soared. They coasted back down together, and she stretched out on his hard chest, her last thought as she toppled into sleep was that Jake felt like the home she’d never had.
Chapter Fourteen
After Jake left the days passed rapidly, the only time she had to herself were the evenings. It was during those quiet times when she missed him, his solid presence that always made her feel safe and protected. At least she’d felt that way until their separation stretched to six months and his calls and emails stopped coming. After a month of unanswered emails, she accepted the truth. They didn’t have enough of a foundation for a lasting relationship. Now in the small hours of the night she brooded, wondering if she should have done something different. She stifled a yawn. The lack of sleep was starting to tell.
“Hey, enough with the daydreaming,” Alice said. “We have a lot to do. We need you at the board meeting. It starts in three minutes.”
Sorrel set her pen aside with a rueful sigh. “I’m trying to think of an interesting scent combination for a new range of Star Sign bath bombs. Something different but not so radical it’ll put off customers.”
“I have faith in you,” Alice said. “Come on. You need a break.” Her gaze zeroed in on the shadows Sorrel knew she hadn’t managed to cover with light makeup. “You look tired.”
Sorrel bit her lip.
“Something wrong?”
“Jake has stopped contacting me. I haven’t heard from him in months.”
Alice wrinkled her nose. “I’m no expert on men, but are you sure there’s something wrong?”
“Two months of silence? That spells problem in my language.”
“Maybe he’s away from his base?”
“Or maybe he’s seeing his old girlfriend. We were together for such a short time. We had a fling. I read about flings in one of Hinekiri’s magazines.”
“So email him, tell him how you feel and say you’re moving on.”
“No, that’s similar to breaking up in a text. It’s not cool, according to the magazines.”
“Don’t believe everything you read,” Alice said in a crisp order. “They brainwash you into thinking there’s something wrong if you’re not coat-hanger thin with big lips and hair. We’ll organize a girls’ night out soon. That’ll perk up your spirits.” Her gaze flicked to the wall clock. “Time for the board meeting. Let’s go.”
The boardroom was bedlam, as usual. The oldies were already present, full cups of tea and coffee at their elbows, their eyes fixed on a container of homemade chocolate chip cookies in the middle of the table.
“Ah, there you are,” Harriet said, her needles clicking and clacking musically, black and white knitting spilling onto her lap in a long tail.
Alice disappeared and reappeared again with a gift-wrapped box. The lid of the box sported a pretty purple bow and trails of curling ribbon. In her other hand, she carried a plain brown bag. She set both on the table in front of her and slipped into a chair.
“There’s only one,” Joseph said.
“Is everyone ready?” James asked.
Silence fell, faces bearing eagerness and filling the air with expectation. Nerves simmered in Sorrel, propelled by the anticipation and prompted by worry of failure. So much was riding on her product. What if it went wrong? Look at what had happened with Jake. The thought steadied her. As long as she tried her best. No one could demand more than her best.
“Production started on our Dream Cream today. We’ve made enough for our market testers, so we can get feedback on use and any potential problems.” Alice pushed the gift-wrapped box across the board table toward Sorrel. “Open it.”
Sorrel fumbled the box a little, her hands trembling in her excitement. This was the culmination of her tests and the lab perfecting the formula for mass production. She pulled out a plain black tub and lifted it for everyone to see. Someone had written on it with a gold pen in elegant script. Dream Cream. Give your lover the gift of pleasure.
“It’s beautiful.” Sorrel couldn’t get another word out, the lump in her throat causing an emotional blockage. She turned the tub around so everyone could see the label.
“Perfect,” Katarina said. “Simple and classy. It’s perfect. Is that the final packaging?”
“Yes, I think so,” James said.
“Dreams should be wrapped in simplicity,” Sam said with a decisive nod. “The plain packaging puts the spotlight on the product.”
Alice handed out samples to everyone. “These are the reports we want you to fill out. I’d appreciate them back by Monday next week. Our time frame is short for this one because we need to get our promotion underway. Any objections to Monday?”
“Works for me,” Richard said, glancing at his wristwatch. “Was there anything else important to discuss today? I need to get back to the police station to relieve Luke.”
“You go,” James said. “We’re going to discuss marketing ideas. If you have any suggestions bring them with you to the meeting on Monday.”
Richard left and everyone settled back to a discussion on how they should market the Dream Cream.
“I still like our initial ideas of packaging products together,” Alice said. “It worked well for our vibrating condoms and the vibrator. I think we should stick with the tried and true.”
“Other companies have copied our marketing strategy,” Ben said. “I say we try to come up with something different.”
“We need a loyalty card, something to market in combination with our social media pages,” Harriet suggested.
“That might work for those who are computer savvy. We could still do the loyalty card. Good idea, but we need something more,” Alice said.
Sorrel listened to the ideas flow back and forth, her mind racing to keep up. This group of people was amazing and she felt honored to be part of it.
“You could offer discounts if customers purchased more than one product. Make it so the more products they buy the bigger discount they get,” she said. “Buy one product and get a free gift.”
“We wouldn’t want to discount too much because that might backfire, but we could think about an introductory discount,” Alice said. Her pen raced across the page as she jotted down the ideas.
A phone rang in the distance, and a tap sounded on the door. A secretary stuck her head through the door. “Phone call, Mr. Bates.”
“Are we done yet? Ben and I need to get to bowls practice,” Sam said.
“Off you go. I’ll see you a
ll on Monday afternoon,” Alice said, making a shooing action with her left hand.
There was a mad scramble until only Alice and Sorrel remained in the boardroom. Alice glanced up from her notes. “Did you think of something else?”
“Yes. I love working here. Everyone has made me so welcome even though I don’t have a formal qualification. Thank you for giving me this chance.” Mere words couldn’t convey the gratitude she experienced each day. Alice and her friends had gone out of their way to help Sorrel find her feet in Sloan. The name Sister Bitter no longer existed, and she held not a single regret about leaving the compound.
“You’re welcome.” Alice pulled a comical face. “One day you’ll have to get me to tell you about how I came to live in Sloan, perhaps over a glass of wine at The Thirsty Cricket. Maybe this weekend. I’ll call around and see if everyone is free on Saturday night. Are you free Saturday?”
“Nothing on my social calendar.” Which was a bit sad, according to the magazines. Sorrel stood and winced. Alice was right. Reading those magazines just depressed her. “Thanks again. I’d better get back to the lab. I want to brainstorm my star sign bath bombs before I leave today.”
By the time she left Fancy Free, she’d come to tentative decisions about the scents to use for the new products she had in mind, and she had an entire Friday night stretching ahead of her. Some of the inventors in the lab had asked her to go for drinks at the pub, but she’d said no. Despite her bravado about giving up on Jake, carrying out the idea made her want to howl.
More fool her.
She had the house to herself and after a halfhearted attempt at eating pasta for dinner, she shoved it aside. Unable to help herself she walked to her room and hit the receive button for her email. Three hard thumps of her heart later, she stared at the empty inbox. She retreated to the kitchen and filled her glass of wine.
Janaya’s dog trailed after her, pausing at the fridge with a hopeful bark.
Biding His Thyme: 4 Page 21