Now…
A tear slid down her cheek as reaction set in. Jeff and Julia had seemed comfortable as if this wasn’t the first time they’d slept together. Now all those long days of work made sense. The weekends away, which Jeff had told her was a special task for a client. He hadn’t liked to turn it down because the extra money would go toward their new apartment, and she’d agreed, admiring his dedication. She sniffed. At least she didn’t need to sell the house any longer.
Whoa! The new joint bank account.
The thought galvanized her, and she sprang into action. She pulled a silky T-shirt and a denim skirt from the top of her suitcase. Confident she was alone, she stripped off her checked chef’s trousers and her plain white T-shirt. Damn! She should’ve retrieved her car keys from Jeff.
If he took her car, she’d report him to the cops, but right now, it was more important to get to the bank and make sure her money was safe. She’d withdraw the entire amount she’d deposited on Monday and put it back in her private account.
Grace folded her work clothes and placed them neatly on top of her suitcase. She thrust her feet back into her work shoes and took off. Her car remained at the rear of her house, and she glimpsed a shadow in the kitchen. The ratfink. He was still there, despite her telling him to leave. If he thought to sweet talk her into taking him back, he could think again. Flowers wouldn’t work.
There was no coming back from this.
Grace headed for the bus stop and timed it just right to jump onto the next one to get to her bank at Manukau. Once there, she joined the line of twenty-five—she counted them—and waited. Almost an hour later, she reached a female teller.
“I’d like to transfer money between my accounts, please.”
“You realize you could’ve done this with online banking,” the teller said in a tone not much above frigid. Her face was pale and drawn, and she pressed a finger to her temple as if she was suffering from a headache.
It was obvious she’d had a trying day too, so Grace inhaled and counted to five. She bared her teeth at the teller and hoped her expression resembled a smile. “I’m afraid the account is brand new, and we haven’t set up online banking yet.”
“You need to speak to a banking consultant,” the teller said, grim-faced and impatient.
“No, not today.” Grace intended to withdraw her money, and once she’d done that, she’d close the account. Thank goodness she hadn’t agreed to give Jeff signing authority on the account where she received her wages each week.
“What is the account holder’s name?”
“I have the account number here,” Grace said and handed it over.
The teller hit several keys to punch in the number and did a slight eye roll. “How much did you want to transfer, and which account did you want it to go to?”
Every warning antenna in Grace went on alert. “Why did you roll your eyes?”
The teller averted her gaze. “I’m sorry,” she murmured. “I shouldn’t take my bad day out on you. The balance is twenty-nine dollars. How much would you like to transfer?”
“What?” Grace shrieked. “How much?”
Every eye in the bank landed on her. The security guard placed his hand on the radio transmitter at his hip.
“What did you say the balance was?” Grace demanded in a hoarse voice.
“Twenty-nine dollars and seven cents.”
Grace swallowed hard. “I banked fifty thousand dollars into that account at the beginning of the week.”
The teller frowned at her screen. “Yes, I see where you opened the account and paid in the first deposit. It appears someone withdrew fifty-six thousand dollars the following day.”
“Fifty-six thousand,” Grace whispered. “I didn’t do that.”
The teller sent her a look, and it bore more than a trace of sympathy. “I see there is another signatory to the account. You’ll have to ask them about the withdrawal.”
A sick sensation pressed against Grace’s chest and dropped to the pit of her stomach like a hefty weight. “Perhaps I should speak to a banking consultant now. Could you arrange that for me?”
“I’m afraid you have to go to the desk over there.” She gestured to the other side of the bank.
Something in Grace’s expression must’ve tugged at the woman because she relented after a brief pause. “Wait there. I’ll get someone to speak with you.”
“Thanks,” Grace whispered and closed her eyes, trying to contain the scream building at the base of her throat. She and Jeff had agreed they’d pool their resources to purchase the city apartment. They’d agreed to pay their savings into this account since they’d get higher interest with combining their income, and it’d be easier to apply for a loan to gain access to the rest of the purchase price. Jeff had told her he’d needed an extra week before his term deposit fell due and he could pay his money into the account. She’d trusted him, and she wondered if he’d ever planned to go through with the marriage.
Had this been his plan all along? Romance her, steal her money and get her to break off their relationship by making sure she found him with another woman.
No, that made little sense because she’d finished work early today. She shouldn’t have arrived home for another two hours.
While she was waiting for the teller to return, she hit speed dial for Jeff. His phone went straight to voicemail, and she hung up without leaving a message. He’d know he’d missed a call from her.
The teller returned with a young man of Māori descent with closely cropped black hair and deep brown eyes. He wore a white business shirt with navy trousers and a plain navy-blue tie wrapped around his neck in a Windsor knot.
“This way, please,” he said and showed her into an office. He gestured her to a chair and shut the door before rounding the desk to take a seat. “I understand the other account signatory has withdrawn the balance of the funds in your account.”
“Yes.” Grace clasped her sweaty fingers in her lap and tried hard not to cry. Given the panicked glances from the young man, he thought she might fail this mission. “Is-is there anything you can do? He didn’t have my permission to take this money.”
“I’m afraid there is little recourse. He is a signatory, which implies he has the authority to do whatever he wishes with the balance in this account.”
Grace closed her eyes, her heart beating way too fast. Her entire savings had disappeared.
“I suggest you contact this person.” He tapped on his computer. “Jeffrey Howard and ask him what he has done with the money. Perhaps this is merely a misunderstanding.”
“No.” Grace opened her eyes and straightened, her spine hitting the back of the chair. “He knew what he was doing.”
Hindsight. What a wonderful thing.
“Is there any way Jeff can withdraw money from my other personal account?”
“Does he have signing authority?”
“No, thank goodness.”
“As long as you don’t give him your debit card and he doesn’t know your pin number, you’re fine.”
Grace thought for a while. “It’s possible he’d have an excellent chance of guessing my password. Is it possible for me to change it today?”
“We can do that right now.”
Half an hour later, Grace left the bank on shaky legs. She wanted a drink in the worst way. After considering the possibilities, Grace decided not to buy a bottle of wine and drink on her own. She’d catch the bus home and go to her local for a few drinks. That way, she could check to see if Jeff had vacated her house, and if he hadn’t, she’d march right up to the ratfink and demand he give back her money.
2
ENCOUNTER AT THE LOCAL PUB
“Cullen! Great to see you,” Josh Williams said, giving him a man-hug and slapping him over the back the instant Cullen joined him at the pub.
The familiar scent of beer, a hint of BO from the beefy man perched on a stool at the end of the bar, and the fleeting notes of floral furniture polish and disinfectant
wrapped around him, embracing Cullen with comfortable familiarity. Casual chatter floated on the air, the combination of New Zealand slang and Māori amongst the English words easing the tension in his shoulders. The everyday conversation was a welcome change from the war zone he’d departed earlier this week.
Cullen grinned at his friend, who wore a navy-blue T-shirt with a rip near his right armpit, a pair of faded blue jeans, and scuffed work boots. A cap advertising the World Rugby cup hid his close-cropped dark brown hair and a significant portion of his face.
“How is civilian life treating you?” Cullen asked.
He and Josh, along with Dillon, Josh’s older brother, had been in the same NZSAS unit for a while until a reshuffle had Cullen transferring to another group.
“Let’s grab a beer and a more private place to sit, and I can tell you,” Josh said.
Cullen scanned the beer offerings at the bar, and his brows rose. “I’ve been away too long. This place used to sell two types of beer on tap.”
“Mate.” Josh squeezed his shoulder. “Every bar worth its salt sells craft beer these days. I haven’t been here before, but I’ve been watching the customers while I’ve been waiting for you. It seems like a great crowd. I’m glad you suggested a place that was out-of-the-way. I get sick of people watching me.”
Cullen barked out a laugh. “You shouldn’t have married the big boss then.” He kept his voice low because he didn’t want to snare attention either. “This was always my local once I reached drinking age. Are you hungry? They used to do a tasty meal here, and I’ve been dreaming of a steak for the last week. I swear I could smell charred meat when I woke.”
“Yeah, I understand that sentiment.” Josh scanned Cullen, his gaze piercing. Knowing. “Difficult deployment this time?”
“Better now that I’m home for three months. Got some bad news, though.” He gave his order to the lanky barman, and Josh did the same. “Is the kitchen open?” Cullen asked. “I’ve been craving a steak.”
“Would a steak burger work?” the barman asked.
Cullen considered.
“Here’s the menu. Come up to the bar and order when you’re ready,” the barman suggested.
Cullen handed over his credit card. “Keep it,” he said. “I’d like to run a tab.”
He and Josh found a secluded booth and slid into the seats. In the room next-door, the click of pool balls indicated a game in progress.
“Do people recognize you a lot?” Cullen picked up his beer and savored the crisp, hoppy taste of his first mouthful. “Is it difficult being married to the prime minister?”
“I used to fly under the radar more easily during Ashley’s first term. Now that she’s in power for a second, my life is more difficult. I have to plan ahead and take care when or where I meet with my friends.”
“Like me?”
“Yeah, especially my friends who are still active in service. I’d hate the press to grab a photo of me when I’m with you or one of the others.”
“I hear Frog married recently and has resigned.”
“Yeah.” Josh took a sip of his beer. “Did you know Frog can sing?”
“Were you drinking before you came to meet me?” Cullen demanded. “I’ve heard Frog at karaoke, and it was like listening to a bullfrog.”
“I’ve heard him too, and he can’t carry a tune to save himself, or so I thought. Turns out he was playing us all to provide moments of levity when we needed it. He sang at his wedding and when he finished, not a sound broke the shocked silence. The man has talent.”
Cullen laughed. “He’s gonna dine out on that story for years.”
“What will you do during your time off?” Josh asked, interest flaring in his blue gaze.
“I want to paint the interior of my house and update the kitchen. Other than that, I intend to chill. Maybe do some training to keep up my fitness.”
Josh cocked his head. “What about the woman you told me about last time you were home?”
“That’s the bad news. I’d hoped to push forward with that too, but she’s getting married this weekend. Missed my opportunity there. Grace is six years older than me, but I’ve never met any woman who comes close to her. She’s kind with a great sense of humor. And, man, she makes the best carrot cake I’ve ever tasted.”
“She sounds like a mother,” Josh said with a sly glance in Cullen’s direction.
“Oh, she’s sexy and looks nothing like my mother, nor I suspect yours. She’s about five-six with one of those old-fashioned hourglass figures. She’s insecure about her weight, and the clothes she wears don’t always do her justice.”
“And someone else scooped her up from under your nose?” Josh’s voice held sympathy.
“Yeah. I didn’t make a move before because I wasn’t certain of my future or, given some assignments, if I’d even be alive for long. This last one was hell, and it made me think of Grace. I promised myself if I got through alive, I’d make a move.”
“Sorry, man. That sucks,” Josh said.
Cullen sighed. “Yeah.”
“Maybe Ashley knows someone.”
“No,” Cullen said firmly. “No fixing me up with blind dates. I prefer to scout myself. Are you going to grab something to eat? How long can you stay?”
“Long enough for several drinks and to whip your arse in a game or two of pool,” Josh said with a grin. “Ash is down in Wellington tonight. Some sort of emergency cabinet meeting. I have a security job tomorrow, putting in an alarm system for a toy millionaire. I don’t suppose you want to volunteer to help.”
“Are you willing to trade labor? How are your painting and sanding skills?”
Josh shrugged. “Sure. Why not? Dillon and Ella were talking about coming up to Auckland for a long weekend. Maybe Frog and Ada too. Ash and Ella were muttering about shopping, so you might rope in Dillon to help.”
“It’s not so much the help,” Cullen confessed. “It’s the company. If I’m not careful, I go into my head too much. It’s not healthy.”
Josh speared him with a thoughtful stare—one that sliced and diced and saw everything. “You understand your behavior. That’s a plus.”
With nothing more to add to the topic, Cullen picked up the menu and perused the offerings. “A steak burger and chips it is,” he said, pushing aside the menu.
Josh picked it up with a decisive nod. “Works for me.” He slid out of the booth. “I’ll order at the bar. Want the same again?”
“Sure.”
While Josh strolled off to the bar, Cullen mused about his bad timing. Rotten luck. Crap! He needed to suck this up and stop feeling sorry for himself. He should give up on Grace and move on. Maybe find an attractive woman and fuck away his frustration during his leave. That might work. He dipped his head in a nod of acceptance. A plan to fill his empty nights.
Josh arrived back with fresh beers. “The burgers will take ten minutes.”
“No problem. Enough about me. How are you doing with civilian life?”
“My life isn’t anything like what I imagined when I left the NZSAS. Frog conned me into keeping watch over his sister because someone was stalking her. We pretended to be engaged, and things went from there. Ash is a top lady even if we disagree on politics.” Josh grinned. “Frog settled in Moewai, but he still trains for the Special Air Service. He, Dillon, and I invested in land down that way. We run sheep.”
Their burgers arrived, and he and Josh continued catching up regarding friends and acquaintances. Cullen demolished his burger, and the meaty goodness fulfilled his craving for a regular steak. “I might eat here while I rip out my old kitchen units.”
“Ash would like this place.”
Cullen stood, grabbed their empty glasses. “Want another beer? I’ll challenge you to a game of pool.”
“Deal,” Josh said. “Check out the woman at the bar. If you have a thing for the old-fashion movie starlet, she fits the type to a T. See you at the pool tables.”
Cullen whirled around to stare and
did a double-take as he watched Grace down an amber-liquid—perhaps her favored Scottish whisky—and shove her glass toward the barman for a refill. Long strides took him to Grace’s side before he even realized what he was doing.
“Grace?” When he saw her earlier, she’d worn her checked chef trousers and a baggy white T-shirt. His gaze skimmed her body, taking in her tight denim skirt and the form-fitting black-and-white T-shirt. He smiled on spotting her flat, practical shoes—the ones she wore to work, if he wasn’t mistaken.
She swiveled on her barstool and almost fell off. Cullen grasped her by the waist to right her, her flesh burning his palms through the thin fabric. As she recovered her balance, her strawberry blonde hair brushed against his cheek. “Cullen?”
Her beautiful green eyes widened, and he stilled upon seeing the evidence of tears.
“What’s wrong?”
Her backbone straightened, and her expression froze. “Nothing.”
She didn’t seem confident of the fact. “Have you eaten?”
“Not hungry,” she snapped, lifting her dainty nose a fraction as if to say none of your business.
“If you keep drinking that way, you’ll need food inside you.” He kept his tone reasonable and non-judgmental. Hell, he’d deadened his woes with alcohol a time or two.
She averted her gaze, her shoulders and tits rising as she inhaled and exhaled in a heavy sigh. “After I saw you, I was in my kitchen unpacking the groceries. I heard a strange noise, and for a moment, I thought I had an intruder. The front door was ajar, but nothing seemed out of place. I assumed I hadn’t shut it properly because it’s happened before.”
“Did you call the cops?” Cullen demanded. “What did they say?”
“I started to call them, but I heard moaning and groaning. I went into my bedroom and found Jeff and the neighbor.”
“Jeff?”
“My fiancé. Ex-fiancé.”
Protecting the Bride Page 2