Debra’s attitude had nothing to do with silly fantasies she might have once indulged in. And it definitely had nothing to do with the ragged emotions he evoked in her since their meeting.
“Perhaps when this is all over we could summon Jase to Wellington and plan some promotional strategies for the resort? What do you think?”
The hesitant tone in her mother’s voice caused Debra to bite her lip. While Karin had never been involved in the day-to-day running of the company, her father had relied on his wife’s input and advice. Since his death, Deb had unmeaningly thrust Karin out of their business world and relegated her to a butterfly existence.
Breath caught in her throat. She’d eroded her mother’s confidence. It took a moment to swallow the deep sense of shame filling her as her mother waited for her response.
“I’ve got a better idea.” She crouched down beside Karin and took her hands. “As soon as we clear Jase’s name, why don’t you and he work together here and come up with some publicity angles?” Seeing a burst of excitement in her mother’s eyes Debra continued, “In fact, why don’t you oversee the whole resort? Would you like...” Debra stopped and quickly rephrased.
Her mother wasn’t a child to be placated. It was past time she treated Karin with the respect she deserved. “Would you be interested in taking Riversleigh in hand and making it into our flagship?”
For the first time in many years, Debra witnessed raw emotion on her mother’s face. Before she was drawn into Karin’s arms in a suffocating hug, she’d caught the rise of tears in her mother’s eyes.
“Oh darling, yes, yes, yes! I’d love to do that.” Karin pushed her to arm’s length. “But are you sure? You’re not just appeasing me, or anything?”
Debra disentangled herself and stood up. She wasn’t used to close physical contact, or emotional scenes—like this was quickly turning into.
“Of course not,” she replied. “Dad often turned to you for advice.” She shrugged self-consciously before diffusing the bubbling emotions.
“I know you love this dump.” Debra slipped on the shoes she’d kicked off earlier. “I’d rather sell it and cut our losses, but you’d disown me.”
Karin’s watery smile warmed something deep inside Debra. Something she’d kept bottled up for years—something beginning to leak.
“Get started tomorrow with some ideas if you want. I’ll have Rachel send Madeline,” she winked, “an email telling her of your new position, and that she’s to render you all assistance.”
With jacket in hand Debra made for the door. “I’d better go. Oh, and tell Terry Donaldson to pay close attention to Murphy’s PA, too, as well as all the departmental managers. I don’t believe she’s managed to fleece so much without help.”
“Will I see you later?”
Debra shook her head. “Probably not today. And I’m meeting Jase in the foyer at eight tomorrow, so I think we’ll be gone before you’re down. Part of me wishes I wasn’t away tomorrow. Staying here might have been fun.”
“Deb?” Karin rushed over before Debra opened the door and clutched her in her arms. “Thank you so much, darling. I won’t let you down.”
Debra returned the hug, remorse surging through her. “I know you won’t, Mum.” Her throat thickened. “And I’m going to stop letting you down, too.” She tore herself from the loving arms and crashed through the doorway and down the hallway before she made a fool of herself.
What was the matter with her? This place was annihilating all her hard-fought-for strength and independence. She had to get this problem sorted and get back to Wellington. Back to some sort of normality.
Chapter Seven
Debra arrived and took a seat in the foyer next morning well before the assigned meeting time with Jase. Curious glances from the two receptionists, neither of whom she’d met, increased the unease she struggled to hide.
She tugged at the jacket of the pants suit, the closest thing to appropriate she’d borrowed, and grimaced. If only she had her own clothes to help restore her confidence. Even as the thought surfaced she shoved it aside. Try explaining how an out-of-work clerk could afford exclusive clothing.
She smoothed the rail tracks substituting for a crease over her thighs and leaned back. Calmness was an illusion. Inside her stomach a meagre breakfast tossed around faster than an NBA basketball. Sweat dampened her palms but she resisted wiping them against her thighs. The cheap material would likely stain.
Thank God she hadn’t seen Jase all yesterday, whether by his design or her good fortune, she wasn’t sure. His face popping into her mind with amazing clarity proved enough to deal with.
If she closed her eyes, the touch of his lips still burned. Her eyelids bounced open and she forced them wide—forced them to stay wide open as she focused her mind elsewhere, anywhere else.
If today was to determine Jase’s guilt or innocence, Debra must control her silly emotions. She must be subtle yet sneaky as she prodded for answers.
With Jase concerned about showing the region to its best advantage, this perfect weather would work in her favour. His enthusiasm as he showed the businessmen his backyard treasure should camouflage her further investigation into his character. With care, she’d ferret out the necessary information without him even realising he was under scrutiny.
She glared sightlessly across the opulent foyer. If anything she learned didn’t measure up—she bit her lip—or if Donaldson found anything at all to point toward Jase, she’d bury him.
God help me, I’ll make him wish he’d never been born.
Nails dug trenches in her palms as she contemplated the reason for such intense reaction. She squirmed.
My feelings are not involved. This isn’t a replay of Roger...because Jason McEwen means nothing to me.
Murphy’s actions left her cold and furious but the thought of Jase having light fingers...Betrayal clouded her mind before she forced such weak thoughts aside. Embezzlement was a cold and deliberate act of theft. If Jase was involved...
Her phone interrupted the revolving thoughts and refocused her. Rachel’s call confirmed an audit team would soon arrive in Invercargill and be at Riversleigh by ten.
Debra smiled grimly. Keeping her voice low, she directed Rachel to coincide her email to the resort with their expected arrival time.
Tapping her foot, she reviewed her strategy. The team would have a clear run with no-one here to question their inspection. With Murphy and Jase away, her mother would assume control. She would front the investigation. Debra just hoped she hadn’t placed her mother in a position beyond her capability.
At Paul’s suggestion, Debra would stay undercover. At least two days were needed to complete the audit. She could gain valuable information by listening to any circulating rumours. When there was solid proof to support her suspicions, she’d have the team call in the police and take the necessary actions.
All going to plan she should be back in Wellington by the weekend. Why this realisation wasn’t filling her with pleasure, she didn’t have time to analyse because Jase was striding toward her in an immaculate dark suit.
His eyes twinkled and a slight smile hovered around his lips.
Her mouth dried. She jumped to her feet, tugging at her jacket and trying to straighten the already-creased trousers. “I-I’m sorry,” she stammered, fussing with her clothes gave her a reason to avert her gaze and allowed time to cover the loss of her lucidity. “I don’t have suitable clothes for—”
“Don’t be silly.” Jase’s smile became more intimate. His voice dropped. “You look beautiful.” He studied her more closely. “Stunning, in fact.”
Debra’s cheeks burned.
“I like your hair like that.” She’d done it in a French braid. “You look very professional.”
Debra couldn’t find a reply. Her head dipped as he ushered her to the waiting van. She felt oddly bereft when his hand left her arm once he’d helped her into the vehicle. The resulting tingle took some time to fade.
Although they sat on the same bench seat, adequate space lay between them. She breathed a little easier. She mustn’t allow his alluring presence to detract her from her mission.
Her breath caught in her throat when he slung his arm along the seatback and turned his body toward her. The full force of his personality centred on her. Disconcerted, she crossed her arms and looked out the window, trying to refute how appealing he looked—and how attracted to him she was.
****
Her obvious discomfort encouraged Jase, allowing him time to trace Debra’s profile with his eyes as she looked everywhere but at him.
He dropped his gaze from her face to the outline visible beneath the tight top she wore under her jacket. The askew jacket gaped in exactly the right place and gave him the chance to fix his stare on a tight point jutting from her rounded breast. The warmth inside the van belied her peaked nipple being caused by cold. His chest expanded. It had to be a response to his touch, his nearness.
He adjusted his position as his pounding heart sent blood rushing to his stirring loins. The weather couldn’t explain her refusal to look at him, either. Excitement lashed through him.
Thank God she’s as responsive to me as I am to her. Only for some reason she’s intent on hiding it.
The thrill of attraction washed over him, making his heart beat even faster. His breathing became a little shallower. She was spooked. Why, he didn’t know, but the tremor her clasped hands couldn’t hide, showed distinct misgiving.
Surely she’s not alarmed I’ll do something inappropriate?
A wave of tenderness washed over him. All his protective instincts rushed to reassure her, yet he remained silent. His mind raced as his body stirred some more.
He’d sworn off meaningless sex and unsatisfying one-night stands with virtual strangers. That was for the young and stupid. He craved something more—something to sustain his soul as well as his body. He wanted permanence, something to mend the gaping hole he hadn’t filled since his unsuccessful surgery.
Touching his shoulder he looked across at the striking woman perched beside him. In a blinding second Jase grasped the certainty Debbie could give him that.
Excitement he hadn’t experienced for years bubbled through him. He almost laughed out loud, but changed the explosive noise into a spluttering cough. He had her all to himself for the drive to Queenstown, save for their driver whose nodding head showed him to be absorbed in the stereo’s music.
So get her undivided attention and in these couple of hours make such an impact she won’t be able to resist you.
He mustn’t let on what powered through him. She’d run a mile or worse, think he was crazy. But he didn’t have much time. He couldn’t stuff around.
Don’t be stupid, man. You used to sweet-talk a bird into bed in minutes.
Reminded of a time for which he wasn’t proud, Jase squirmed. He wouldn’t be treating Debbie like one of those groupies. One look told him she was a lady, a very dignified lady.
Why she worked as a hotel server was beyond him. It was so obvious she’d never done anything like waitressing before. Perhaps she’d never actually worked at all. Not at any sort of manual work, that’s for sure. Her hands looked soft and pampered. And her nails looked professionally manicured. Perhaps she was some heiress playing at seeing how the plebs lived.
No, he shook his head. New Zealand society hardly ran to heiresses. And he wasn’t aware of any Southland connections to huge money.
A major lotto winner? He scrubbed that thought as well. She’d grown up privileged, probably attended private schools. Her wealth was old.
He had less than two hours. Two hours to make a connection that wasn’t purely physical. He knew he could evoke a physical response, but he needed more than that.
She’d chosen to ignore their moment of passion in the disabled lift as if nothing had happened. Before it could be repeated he’d have to establish a different rapport all together. “Are you a Wellington girl? Born there?”
At least she turned toward him before nodding.
“I don’t know Wellington,” he fibbed. “What suburb?”
“Seatoun.” She bit her lip as soon as the name of Wellington’s most elite area slipped out.
He hid a smile. “Is that around on the hills somewhere?”
She nodded again. He sensed a little nervousness slipping away. Good. He’d continue with more inane questions until she started talking. “Tell me about your family. Your mother’s from Southland, you said.”
He wasn’t put off by her reluctant shrug but waited. His body twisted toward her, with what he hoped was an encouraging smile on his face.
“My father died a couple of years ago. I have a brother, Paul...”
Jase’s brain jammed in neutral. Paul! Paul was her brother. He slumped in the seat. His limp arm fell off the seat back onto her shoulder.
Debra’s mouth snapped shut on further words he didn’t hear and she glared, shrugging his touch away. Jase didn’t care that her glare burned him. Paul is her brother, not her lover. Joy reminiscent to scoring a match-winning try flooded through him.
With difficulty he smothered the stupid grin he felt covering his face and hid his excitement with bland chitchat. “I’m sure you’ve been to Queenstown before?” He quirked an eyebrow but no denial came. One of the highlighted tourist sites of New Zealand, any local who could afford to would surely have visited. “I guess you won’t have driven, though. At least not via this route,” he tacked on.