Don't Let Me Forget

by Belinda Williams

  Doing his best to ignore his aching need, Dan gave Jet a little shake. She was a heavy sleeper given she’d already slept through the phone call.

  ‘Mmm.’ Jet rolled onto her back and blinked once, twice. Then she sat upright, putting a hand to her head. ‘Oh my God, what time is it?’

  Dan opened his mouth, but nothing came out. So when it came down to it, he was a guy. With Jet’s perfect breasts on display, he couldn’t think straight.

  ‘Dan?’ Jet followed his gaze, her warm eyes sparking with humour. ‘I’m up here, lover boy.’

  He found his voice. ‘Yeah, I know. Sorry.’ Not sorry.

  He tore his eyes away from the welcome sight and forced himself to look her in the eye. To his delight, he discovered her gaze was roaming over his bare chest. ‘Having a good look?’

  Her wide mouth curled into a delicious grin. ‘I’d like to do more than have a good look, if that’s OK with you.’

  She reached over and stroked his cheek sending sparks dancing down his spine. Forgetting himself, Dan leaned down and brought his lips to hers. It wasn’t a soft good morning kiss, it was a deep, possessive, drink-her-in kiss.

  He felt Jet shudder in pleasure, which brought back flashbacks of the way she had responded to his touch in the early hours of the morning. He groaned, but it wasn’t in pleasure, it was in frustration. He broke off the kiss.

  ‘Dan, what’s wrong?’

  He rubbed his face with his hands. ‘Nothing. But Dad’s waiting downstairs. He needs to speak to you about something.’

  She dropped her hands onto the bed and her eyes widened in shock. ‘He’s in the cottage?’

  ‘No. Thank God. But he’s waiting outside. You go get dressed while I let him in.’

  ‘Do you know what it’s about?’

  Dan hesitated. The warm glow that had practically been shimmering all over her body a second ago had disappeared. Dan loved his dad, but he sure as hell wasn’t very happy with him right now.

  Dan shook his head. ‘I don’t think it’s anything to worry about, but he wouldn’t say.’

  Jet nodded. ‘OK. I’ll try to be quick.’

  She threw the covers back and strode towards the door, completely naked, giving Dan a tantalising eyeful of her gorgeous hips and backside. When she was gone, Dan collapsed onto the bed on his back and growled softly. He was so damn hard it hurt.

  He released a long breath and forced himself to sit up, scanning the room for clothes he could throw on so he could go downstairs and let his father in.

  It wasn’t the end of world. Jet would be back in his bed later tonight, he was sure of it.

  ***

  Jet felt unsteady as she darted around her room, getting ready.

  She hurt in all the right places and the thought of her time with Dan last night only added to her breathlessness. Dan had been such a good lover. Tender and attentive, he’d disarmed her with his complete lack of desire to be in control. It had given her the permission she’d needed to surrender herself to him and it had been liberating. And when she’d turned the tables and demanded he let her be in control ...

  ‘Focus, Jet,’ she hissed at herself. The last thing she needed to do was go downstairs looking like some sort of hot mess. Not only would it be completely out of character for her, it would be a dead giveaway that Jet had spent the night with Marty’s son.

  She huffed to herself. What had she done? Talk about complicated. But she knew in a heartbeat that she’d do it all again if given the chance, because Dan Rhodes was every bit as good as she’d anticipated, and more.

  Five minutes later, Jet somehow managed to make her way downstairs, fresh faced and dressed casually in a pair of jeans and a T-shirt.

  Dan looked up from his spot on the armchair while Marty stopped pacing near the window and turned to face her.

  Jet did her best to avoid Dan’s eyes in case she gave herself away, but then faltered at Marty’s serious expression, a sudden stab of fear piercing her chest.

  Marty gestured for Jet to take a seat.

  Jet shook her head and went over to the island bench in the nearby kitchen. ‘Would you like a coffee?’

  ‘I’m fine,’ Marty said, watching her.

  ‘I could do with one,’ Dan said.

  Jet busied herself making coffee and waited for Marty to tell her why he was here. She didn’t bother to ask, because it was obvious this wasn’t work-related.

  ‘Commissioner Roberts called this morning,’ Marty told them. ‘They arrested Alex Benedetti late last night. If you check the news this morning, it’s all over the media.’

  Jet’s hands stilled, holding two mugs in mid-air. ‘Alex has been arrested for the girl’s murder?’ she breathed.

  A muscle in Marty’s jaw twitched. ‘No. He’s been arrested for aggravated child sexual assault.’

  Jet carefully put the mugs onto the bench. ‘I don’t understand.’

  Marty gestured for Jet to sit again and this time she did, coming around the front of the island bench and lowering herself onto one of the stools.

  ‘Alex’s bodily fluids were found on a fifteen-year-old girl, who is claiming they had sex without her consent.’

  ‘Oh my God,’ Jet said at the same time as Dan muttered, ‘Son of a bitch.’

  Marty ignored his son. ‘The young girl is believed to be part of a prostitution ring. If anyone asks, I didn’t tell you this, but the police are looking into whether she was part of the same prostitution ring as the dead girl, Crystal.’

  ‘Alex hired prostitutes?’ Jet asked.

  ‘He’s already saying he’s not guilty. He claimed it was all above board and he didn’t even know she was a prostitute. That they met in a bar.’

  ‘So he had no idea the girl was under age?’ Dan said, with obvious distaste. ‘Yeah, right.’

  ‘That’s what he’s claiming,’ Marty replied. ‘He believed she was a nineteen-year-old woman.’

  Jet frowned. ‘But it was still without her consent, you said.’

  ‘Yes, I know. Apparently things got out of hand.’ Marty directed his gaze out the window. ‘Alex was rough and the girl has bruises on her arms and marks on her neck.’

  Dan swore again while Jet stared at Marty’s profile in astonishment.

  ‘That’s awful,’ she said quietly, feeling sick. It was true Jet didn’t really know Alex Benedetti, but it didn’t make sense to her that the suave, smooth young man who had attempted to charm her at his birthday celebration would need to force himself onto young women to fulfil his sexual fantasies. He was an in-demand actor, with a healthy social media following, Jet was sure a large percentage of which were female.

  Unless of course he preferred having sex with girls instead of women. Or he liked to be rough by choice.

  Jet swallowed down a wave of nausea and tried to re-focus. ‘What does this mean for the murder investigation then?’

  Marty met her eyes, like it was the question he’d been expecting. ‘The investigation will continue, but I’m going to be honest with you, Jet. It’s looking unlikely they’ll be able to put together enough evidence to incriminate Alex for the murder. Or anyone for that matter.’

  ‘So they figured this was the next best thing?’ Dan asked.

  ‘It’s possible. I’d prepare yourself Jet. You may be asked to give evidence.’

  Jet met Dan’s eyes briefly, before she looked away. ‘But why? This arrest doesn’t relate to the night of the party.’

  ‘No, it doesn’t,’ Marty replied. ‘But you can corroborate that Alex was seen with younger girls before the arrest.’

  ‘Oh. Of course.’

  ‘It will be circumstantial at best,’ Marty continued. ‘But it will add weight to the case.’

  ‘Even though I was drugged?’

  ‘It all helps to build a case,’ Marty answered honestly.

  Jet didn’t know how she felt. Her initial relief at being told the news of Alex’s arrest had given way to disappointment over the lack of progress with the invest
igation into the girl’s death.

  Dan shifted in his seat, glancing at Jet with concern. ‘That means Jet will have to return to Sydney for a court case.’

  ‘Yes, she will. Commissioner Roberts wants to talk to you when you have a moment, Jet, but he wanted me to tell you that you’re free to go home. He believes with Alex under arrest, the worst of the danger is over.’

  Dan jumped up. ‘The hell it will! Benedetti is loaded. He’ll get out on bail until the court case, whenever it will be. There’s no guarantee Jet will be safe.’

  Marty regarded his son calmly. ‘Gordon assures me they will be taking measures to keep Jet—Juliet—under watch until the court case is complete. He’ll discuss that with Jet privately. From his perspective, he thinks it’s incredibly unlikely that Jet would be the target of anything further given it would reflect poorly on Alex’s defence. Any sort of move on his part to endanger Jet would only incriminate him further.’

  ‘But you don’t know that,’ Dan shot back, clearly exasperated. ‘It sounds like an unnecessary risk if you ask me.’

  Jet cleared her throat quietly and waited for both men to look at her. While she agreed with Dan’s concerns, she needed to be logical. ‘How long would a court case like this take?’

  ‘Months,’ replied Marty. ‘Easily more. And I can’t tell you when it will be heard yet. It’s a long time to wait it out up here, as much as we enjoy having you.’

  Jet nodded, not looking at Dan. ‘And I’m guessing the murder investigation could also drag on, too?’

  ‘Even longer,’ admitted Marty. ‘You also need to accept an arrest may never be made in relation to Crystal’s death. Television shows have a lot to answer for. In real life there’s plenty of cases that are never solved or left open for years.’

  ‘I understand,’ Jet said flatly. ‘I appreciate your honesty.’

  ‘Jet,’ Dan said, ‘just be patient—’

  ‘No,’ she interrupted. ‘I have been patient.’ The two men looked at her, waiting for her to speak.

  Jet took a deep breath. She was also terrified, but she wasn’t going admit it. She had to be brave right now, even though the thought of returning to Sydney and living her old life scared her. Being a single woman alone in a big city would make her more vulnerable than ever. But she had to be reasonable. The security in her apartment building was second to none—her public profile and connection to Andrew had necessitated it. She also had to remember that Commissioner Roberts had kept her safe until now and she had to believe he would continue to do so when she returned home.

  ‘I am patient,’ Jet corrected. ‘But I can’t put my life or my business on hold indefinitely because I’m worried about something that may or may not happen. This arrest is a blessing for me. It may not be the murder conviction Crystal deserves, but it gets Alex off the streets and away from other young girls. And if Commissioner Roberts, who is the most senior police officer in the state, thinks it’s safe for me to come home, then I’m going to trust him.’

  Marty nodded, his blue eyes filled with understanding. ‘You have my word that you can trust Gordon, he’s a good man. I also agree this is fortuitous for you. I know I don’t need to urge to be careful because you’re a smart woman. But I will say this. If you ever have need of Rhodes Family Estate again, you can rely on us.’

  Jet gave Marty a grateful smile, which faded when she turned to look at Dan, who was staring at Jet intently.

  ‘Yes,’ she said softly. ‘I know I can.’

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Two days later, Jet sat nursing a mug of coffee on her front balcony. The temperature of the mug should have been burning her fingers but instead she gripped it tightly, desperate for the warmth.

  It was an early summer day, with less than a month until Christmas, and it felt like Mother Nature was demonstrating what she had in store for the season. The late morning sun beamed brightly, creating golden reflections on an impossibly blue Sydney Harbour. Yachts and other boats dotted the water, while the city looked on proudly like it knew just how beautiful a city it was. Over to the right, the familiar arch of the Harbour Bridge completed the pretty picture.

  It made no sense that Jet felt cold. The sun warmed her bare arms effortlessly, but the feeling of warmth was only skin deep.

  The cold feeling had started the afternoon before when Jet had set off in the hire car Marty had picked up for her. By the time she’d hit the freeway back to Sydney, Jet had turned the temperature up in the car to ward off the goosebumps prickling her arms.

  Last night, the first night she’d slept alone in her apartment in almost two months, she’d pulled the doona right up despite the mild overnight weather.

  Jet set the mug down on the window seat on the balcony. Maybe she wasn’t cold at all. Maybe she was numb. Yes, that was the best word for it.

  Numb to the inexplicable feeling of loss she’d experienced leaving the Rhodes estate. Numb to the familiarity of her apartment when she’d opened the door last night and stepped foot into her home with all her things. Numb to Dan’s gentle goodbye kiss he’d stolen from her before Marty had knocked on the door to give her the hire car keys.

  Jet stared out at the multimillion dollar view, willing herself to feel something. Anything. She was home. She had returned to her old life. She was an extremely lucky woman. She had a successful business to go to on Monday morning. She lived in one of the most stunning spots on Sydney Harbour—and the most expensive—and she’d always tried to be thankful for her good fortune.

  She was lucky. And she was home safe.

  The unmarked police officer that had greeted her at the door when she’d arrived home had seen to that. He’d escorted her up to her apartment and explained that there would be a regular presence nearby and not to be alarmed if Jet saw someone in the street from time to time.

  At the thought of being safe, an image of Crystal’s striking features popped into Jet’s mind unbidden. Big brown eyes and rose bud lips. Like a doll’s.

  Crystal hadn’t been so lucky, had she? Whatever circumstances had driven her to prostitute herself out at such a young age, she hadn’t been lucky. And while Alex was in custody, Crystal’s murderer remained unidentified. Faceless. They might always remain so.

  Jet wanted to believe the right man had been arrested. On the surface, Alex as the murderer made sense. But what if it hadn’t been him? What if the investigators weren’t following up on other leads because they already thought they had the right man in custody? They could be spending all their time and effort on trying to find evidence to pin the crime on Alex, when maybe it wasn’t him at all.

  Jet exhaled unsteadily, and told herself not to be so silly. The police conducting the investigation were professionals and would be smart enough to follow up all leads, not just the ones that led to Alex.

  Jet had to trust the process and the police looking after her. Commissioner Roberts had been true to his word every step of the way and Jet was home safe and sound. Like Marty had said, she should remain careful. But short of hiding in the Hunter Valley for the foreseeable future, the only alternative was to return to her old life and live it the best she could.

  Her old life.

  That was the thing. Sitting here now, in her apartment overlooking the harbour, Jet didn’t feel part of her old life anymore. Since her time in the Hunter Valley, she’d started thinking of herself as Jet again, not Juliet, and now she was home she didn’t know what to do about that.

  The other problem was, of course, Dan.

  Sweet, funny Dan, who wasn’t part of her old life.

  As she’d promised, she’d texted him when she’d arrived home safely last night. A simple text to say she was home safe. He’d replied and wished her a good night’s sleep and that had been the end of it.

  Or had it?

  They hadn’t slept with each other again after the news of Alex’s arrest. Dan had wanted to give Jet her space for her last night in the Hunter Valley. They’d had a jovial family dinner all togethe
r in the main house, allaying Cynthia’s surprise about Jet’s sudden departure. Marty told his wife Jet had been headhunted by a leading events organisation in Sydney. That the CEO had made Jet an offer too good to refuse. They all agreed Jet would be silly not to take the opportunity, although they were all sad to see her go.

  The warmth of the family dinner had been genuine, but Jet felt more of an imposter than ever. She hated lying to Cynthia. The least she’d been able to do was promise she’d find someone to help organise all the weddings Jet had booked. It might be the right thing for her to return to Sydney, but she couldn’t leave them in the lurch. Fortunately Jet already had someone in mind, a young woman who had worked for her a couple of years ago and had relocated to nearby Newcastle to run her own events business. If she couldn’t help personally, Jet was certain she’d at least know someone trustworthy in the industry that could.

  Despite her efforts to make things right, she’d caught Dan staring at her throughout the night, like he wanted to say something, but he never did.

  Ordinarily Jet would have welcomed the space Dan provided—craved it even. But Dan’s closeness didn’t grate on Jet the way Andrew’s attention always had. If anything, she missed it. She missed him.

  And she didn’t have a clue what to do about it.

  Jet glanced down at her mobile phone sitting nearby.

  Dan had left the ball squarely in Jet’s court. He’d told her when he’d given her that bittersweet goodbye kiss to keep in touch but only if she wanted to. He’d understand. He knew that Jet appreciated how important Rhodes Family Estate was to him. He also knew how important Jet’s business was to her.

  His last words to her had been, ‘You’re a truly special woman. Whether you’re Jet Appleton or Juliet Temple, I’m glad I got to know you.’

  Jet looked at her phone again. All she had to do was pick it up and message him. To start a conversation. It wouldn’t be wrong of her to maintain a relationship with him, would it? Jet could settle for a friendship if she had to. Couldn’t she? He was simply too good a man not to have him in her life. But maybe that wasn’t fair to him, either. Maybe it was better if she kept her distance so he could live his life without being pulled away from the estate yet again.