She tried to calm herself. Panicking wasn’t going to help. The car was long gone and she hadn’t gotten a good look at it, other than it was a black Mercedes.
As for the reason for their reckless driving? She’d have plenty of time during the long walk home to go over the details in her mind before telling Marty. Her phone was still tucked safely in the back of her running top, and had avoided the brunt of the fall. She could just call him and have him come pick her up.
But she didn’t want to. If it wasn’t for her head injury, she probably wouldn’t have told him. She was almost certain the driver had been old and unaware. They had either failed to see her in the morning sun streaming over the top of the hill or had simply misjudged it and not left enough room as they’d passed.
Swallowing down a wave of nausea, Jet had a feeling Marty wouldn’t necessarily see it that way. Jet forced herself to concentrate on walking. With each step, Marty’s earlier words echoed over and over like a mantra in her head.
Your ex-husband is looking for you.
Chapter Fifteen
Dan caught himself tapping his fingers on the desk for the second time that morning. Forcing himself to stop, he glanced again at the doors to the barn. Where was Jet? It was past nine-thirty and she hadn’t arrived, which was unlike her. His dad was in his office on the phone so he couldn’t casually ask if Jet had arranged to start late today or if there was some off-site meeting he didn’t know about.
His gaze went back to his computer screen. Dan needed to get some work done instead of continually staring at the images open on the web browser. He’d come in early so he could get a better look at the pictures he’d viewed on his phone the night before. Images that bore an uncanny resemblance to the woman who usually sat opposite him.
Images of Juliet Temple.
He also didn’t want to get caught with them on his screen when Jet came in. Except now he’d seen the resemblance up close, he wondered if maybe he should leave them there for her to see. What would her reaction be? Shock? Recognition? Fear? Or would she even notice?
Dan clicked on one of the images the Google search had revealed. All he’d had to do was type two words into the search bar: Juliet Temple. And there she was.
The image magnified on his screen and he stared at it. Her hair was different and her face to some extent, but that was because it was covered in a heavy layer of make-up almost like a form of protection.
Now he thought about it, he couldn’t remember Jet wearing any make-up since being here. Maybe some mascara, but that was it. Not that he was an expert on make-up, but her fresh-faced look appeared entirely natural to him. This woman on his screen with her long, cascading waves of honey brown hair, heavily lined eyes, dewy cheeks and red lips was like Jet’s more sophisticated, serious sister.
Dan rubbed a hand over his face. Was he losing it? Looking for similarities that weren’t there? Everyone had a doppelgänger somewhere, maybe Juliet Temple was Jet’s. Or maybe Jet was short for Juliet? It was a lesser-known nickname, but possible. The name Juliet didn’t suit Jet, if you asked him. It was too refined for Jet, a woman who was effortlessly warm and gentle—when she allowed herself to be. He agreed the name Juliet hinted at Jet’s natural elegance, but not in the right way. Juliet sounded more like a stuffy, upper class, Eastern suburbs woman who spent her days appearing on the society pages and going to fundraisers. Pretty much exactly what he assumed Juliet Temple did with her time. But not Jet. Jet was down to earth and capable and independent and driven and entrepreneurial and ...
And Dan need to get a grip.
He jumped up from his desk at the sound of the front door opening, using his body to block the view of his computer. He closed his eyes briefly.
Smooth, Dan, real smooth.
He remained standing and watched Jet make her way inside. He needn’t have worried about her getting a glimpse of what was on his screen because she kept her eyes down as she brushed past.
‘Morning Dan,’ she said, putting her phone on her desk. She sat down and logged on to her computer without looking at him.
Wait, what?
Dan forgot all about his computer screen, which was now facing away from her, and stared in concern at the real-life woman in front of him.
‘Jet, what happened?’
After a beat, she met his eyes. He caught himself staring but not for the reasons she thought. Those golden eyes of hers were unusually dim. Without thinking, he came around his desk towards her.
‘I’m fine,’ she said in a clipped tone that struck him as more Juliet than Jet, and the thought made him stop in his tracks.
‘Don’t look fine,’ he observed.
‘It’s just a scratch.’
‘Some scratch.’
Her eyes flared so they appeared to glow. ‘I’ll survive.’
‘How’d it happen?’ he asked, keeping his tone relaxed. He felt more relaxed now those eyes of hers were their usual colour.
‘I fell when I was out running this morning.’ She flinched when her forearm brushed the desk as she reached for her mouse.
Dan was moving again and he closed the distance between them in two long strides. Her eyes widened as he took her hand in his, eyelashes fluttering in surprise.
‘Damn, Jet. You made a real mess of yourself, didn’t you?’
‘I know,’ she whispered.
The unguarded vulnerability in her gaze disarmed him. He didn’t realise he’d brushed her palm with his thumb until he saw her shudder and close her eyes.
The door to his father’s office opened and Dan let her hand go carefully although it pained him to do so. Her eyes blinked open like she was waking from a dream.
‘Jet,’ his Dad said. ‘Are you OK to see me now?’
Jet nodded, avoiding Dan’s gaze, and stood. He watched her make her way to his Dad, who met Dan’s eyes. They reflected his own concern.
Jet disappeared inside the office and his Dad clicked the door shut quietly behind him. It occurred to Dan that his Dad knew about Jet’s injuries before she’d arrived at work this morning. He didn’t know why it bothered him so much. Marty was Jet’s boss and she’d been late because of her fall—it was only natural she’d get in touch to let his Dad know.
Dan made his way back to his desk distractedly. He sat down and stared at Juliet Temple’s expertly made-up face again.
‘Who are you really, Jet Appleton?’ he whispered.
***
Marty didn’t think it was an accident. At least he thought it was possible the car this morning had been someone looking for Jet.
It hadn’t mattered Jet had remained calm when she recounted the events of the morning or that she thought it was an older person driving who wasn’t a very good driver.
Marty asked Jet not to run alone again.
That’s where he was wrong. Jet was alone all the time. When she ran, it was the only time she felt the least alone. She tasted freedom when she ran.
Now she felt trapped, even more than when she’d been sitting alone in her waterfront apartment in Sydney before she’d fled here. But now where could she go? She couldn’t go back to Sydney.
She toyed with running somewhere else. Some place no one could find her, where she would be truly alone. Except that would require money and all her money was currently linked to Juliet Temple’s identity. Marty had been paying her a weekly wage since she’d arrived, but it wasn’t enough to disappear on. The only other option would be to take the card she’d concealed carefully in a compartment in her suitcase and withdraw a large sum of money from Juliet’s account. Enough that she could be gone for a long time. She had more than enough. While Andrew had requested she sign a pre-nuptial agreement, she’d still finished the marriage better off than she’d started. Many women would have invested the money and not bothered to work.
Jet wasn’t most women. She’d invested a great deal of the money into her business and chosen a waterfront property to live in, the price of which would have made her eyes water five
years ago. Nevertheless, it would realise good returns and she’d been careful with the rest.
Not that it helped her now. As soon as she touched any of that money, it would alert anyone who was looking for her to her current location, and put the Rhodes family at risk. Jet couldn’t bring herself to do that.
So she stayed. She passed the day making arrangements for several upcoming weddings, which meant talking to a couple of brides-to-be about seating plans and catering options. By the end of the day, Jet was exhausted, the weight of pretending everything was normal a burden almost too much to bear.
As she turned off her computer, Dan looked over at her. He’d been quiet today. Quiet for Dan anyway. Jet hoped it was because he was distracted by something else instead of Jet’s behaviour. She thought she’d been acting as normal as possible, but Dan had a way of looking into her eyes that unnerved her.
‘Wine appreciation night,’ he stated when she stood up.
‘I’m sorry?’
‘You, me, some bottles of wine and a pizza.’
‘I—’ Jet opened her mouth then closed it again. She put a hand to her injured head, weary. She tried again. ‘I’m not up to going out.’
‘That’s good, because we’re not. This is my underhanded attempt to spend an evening at the cottage away from my parents. If you’re tired, you can go upstairs to bed and I’ll hide out downstairs, drinking fine wine alone.’ He grinned.
Jet found herself smiling, the way she always did when he grinned at her. ‘Underhanded attempt? I’d call that rather blatant.’
‘What can I say? I’m a blatant kind of guy.’
Jet wasn’t sure if it was his last words or the dimple that did it. Even when Dan was trying to be underhanded, he was being straightforward. Everything her ex-husband was not. Besides, if she spent the evening alone she would be with her own thoughts and that wasn’t what she needed right now.
‘Alright,’ she agreed. ‘But I can’t promise how long I’ll last.’
‘Don’t have to last long, you just have to be yourself.’
Jet’s smile froze in place.
Just be yourself.
Marty’s words from their conversation earlier in the week echoed in her mind. He was right. Tonight Jet would just be herself with Dan, whoever she was. For too many years she’d been someone else and she’d grown tired of it. It was time for a night off.
Chapter Sixteen
Dan stole another glance at the woman seated on the floor beside him at the coffee table. He took a sip of the wine, trying his best not to show how entranced he was.
Whoever Jet Appleton was, he liked her. A lot.
They’d started by sampling some whites and now they were on to the reds. A Shiraz Grenache Mataro to be exact. Rich, luscious and with a great sense of depth, it was one of his favourites, but he was having a hard time giving it the attention it deserved because of the company.
Jet had covered the angry gash on her forehead with a bandage to protect it, and the skin surrounding it was pink and inflamed. Her fake blonde hair had been falling in front of it most of the night. Now and then she’d push it out of the way, forgetting the bandage was there. Then her eyes would turn dark for an instant. Each time, Dan would say something—usually a smart remark or a joke—and she’d drop her hand and forget.
Or perhaps she was remembering to be herself? It certainly seemed like it.
Tonight he’d learned more about Jet than in the entire three weeks he’d been home. She’d spoke at length about her childhood. Her love for her Aunt Elizabeth, in particular. He suspected she didn’t realise when she talked about England her accent became stronger. Less proper and more relaxed, like maybe she wasn’t as upper crust as she always came across.
They’d spoken about wine a lot, too. It was unavoidable, really. Wine was Dan’s passion and tonight they were enjoying some exceptionally good examples.
‘Oh, I think you’ve ruined me,’ Jet said after taking a second appreciative sip of her red wine.
Dan dropped his eyes to his glass, swirling the contents to distract himself. The thought of Jet being ruined? Yeah, that wasn’t a direction he needed his thoughts to be going in.
‘There is no such thing as too much good wine,’ he said instead.
‘I’ll never be able to drink a regular bottle again.’
‘Nor should you.’
‘Snob.’
Their eyes met and he held his glass tighter. So sue him, he enjoyed seeing her lighter side, the one where she teased him.
‘See, here’s the thing,’ he said, sounding far more relaxed than he felt. ‘When you say it, you sound like the one who’s the snob.’
Jet pouted. ‘You bloody Australians and your preoccupation with my accent. What would you prefer? Snob or wanker?’
‘Snob. Definitely a snob. But only when you say it. I instantly feel knocked down a peg or two. It’s magnificent.’
Jet stared at him for a long moment and then to his complete and utter delight, she threw her head back and laughed. A deep throaty sound, that exposed a long stretch of her elegant neck, stirring lust deep in his belly. Or maybe it was the way her broad smile lit up her entire face. That was sexy as hell, too.
‘Oh, gosh.’ Jet said after she’d recovered. ‘You don’t know how refreshing it is to hear you say that. I think I’ve spent the last two years putting on my best British accent to deliberately knock my ex-husband down a peg or two, to what I thought was little effect. Maybe he hid it well.’
‘He hid it well. Any man couldn’t help being affected by you.’
Damn him and his honesty. There was no point in blaming the wine for that one.
Jet swallowed but she didn’t have any wine in her mouth. He wondered if this would be the point where she would shut down, like all the other times. He’d learned to recognise it. The way her eyes would cloud as if she was reliving memories and then she would go inside herself. Her usual tactic was to change the subject or to find an excuse to leave the room.
Jet cleared her throat. ‘He’s always been far too affected by me. He took it as a challenge.’
‘In what way?’ Dan hid his shock with a sip of wine. She was talking, but for how long?
‘He likes to be in control. He felt his feelings for me were a weakness, so he’d try to control me.’
Dan stared openly at her. Why anyone would want to tame this stunning woman was beyond him. He’d only caught glimpses of who she truly was, but when he did, she was so vital and so beautiful it was a crime she felt the need to censor herself, and it was obviously because of her ex-husband. Whoever he was, Dan hated him.
‘Sounds like an arsehole.’
Jet’s eyebrow rose. ‘That’s your professional opinion?’
‘Any guy who feels the need to control a woman is weak.’
He watched Jet set the glass of wine down on the coffee table in front of them. Her long legs stretched underneath and her painted toenails poked out the other side.
‘I don’t think anyone has ever described him as weak before.’
‘If he’s the controlling arsehole I think he is, that’s probably because everyone is scared of him. Were you scared of him?’
‘Not in the way you’re worried about. He never hurt me. But I was scared of losing myself to him.’
‘That’s still a good reason.’ Dan didn’t say he thought she already had lost a part of herself to her ex, because it would upset her. What mattered most was that she appeared to be rediscovering herself while she was here with him.
‘What about you and your ex-girlfriend?’ Jet asked.
Dan choked on his mouthful of wine. Judging by her expression, she’d waited until he’d taken a sip. Fair enough. He’d learned more about her tonight than he had in weeks, so now it was his turn.
‘You’ve been talking to my mother,’ he stated.
Jet shrugged. ‘She liked her.’
‘I liked her too,’ he said, then sighed. ‘Just not enough to give up the estate.’
‘What?’
Dan smirked. The word had come out like the crack of a whip, a very sophisticated one at that.
‘Your ex-girlfriend didn’t want you to run the estate?’ she breathed.
‘Fiancée,’ he corrected, matter-of-fact. ‘She was a city girl. Mum loved her because Becca was a family girl and she could see us settling down and having lots of children. But Becca never came clean to Mum about exactly where she wanted that to happen.’
‘Not here I’m guessing?’
‘Not here,’ he confirmed. ‘I went to France to think things over. If I was going to disappoint my parents by deciding not to take over the estate, I wanted to be sure about it.’
Jet placed her warm fingers on top of his arm. ‘You could never disappoint them, Dan. If that had been your decision, they would have respected it.’
Dan let out a tight huff. She was exactly right. She’d known him and his parents a month and she understood them completely.
‘But you didn’t want to give up the estate because you’re here now,’ she finished gently.
‘I’m not giving up the estate,’ he said firmly. ‘I knew it a few days into the trip.’
Jet nodded knowingly and removed her hand. ‘You’re angry that she asked you to.’ It was a statement, not a question.
‘I don’t get angry very often.’
‘But you are about this.’
Dan clenched his jaw and met her eyes again, this woman who seemed to understand him better than the woman he’d been engaged to.
‘Yes. I didn’t let the anger surface until I was overseas. Being by myself, in some of the most beautiful wine country in the world, it made me realise just how much she was asking me to walk away from.’
‘Your passion. Your home.’
‘Yes. All of it. I wondered if she really knew me at all. I mean, how could she really know me and still ask me to give all this up?’
Jet tilted her head and studied him thoughtfully. ‘Sometimes the dreams in our head trick us into pretending someone is different to who they actually are in real life.’
‘Was that what it was like for you? Your husband wasn’t who you thought he was?’
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