Читать книгу The Bad Boy's Redemption - Joss Wood - Страница 12

FOUR

‘I can’t believe this photo.’ Will picked up her camera from the table and looked at his image captured in the viewfinder. ‘It’s really good. I look serious, but approachable.’

Will expected her to say I told you so, but she just winged a quick, grateful smile his way as she placed a huge bowl of salad on the table.

Will pulled on his shirt and left his towel wrapped around his hips so that it could soak up the water from the still dripping board shorts she’d found for him to wear. Lu had suggested he take a swim while she got dinner on the table, and since it was muggy and hot he’d quickly agreed.

He gestured to the colourful cushions on the chairs. ‘I’m wet.’

‘Yours won’t be the first wet bum to sit there,’ Lu told him, dipping a serving spoon into the lasagne. Behind her back both dogs climbed up onto separate chairs and snuggled into the plump cushions. Lu heard their contented huffs and shook her head.

‘You’re very relaxed about your house,’ Will commented, thinking that his two sisters would have had a hissy fit by now at the thought of dogs on their furniture.

‘The furniture is old and the animals are as much a part of this family as we are.’

Will sat down, topped up their glasses with wine and pushed his wet hair back from his forehead. He skimmed a glance over her face as she reached for a plate to dish up onto and wondered what was going on in that very busy head of hers. Not that he cared, he assured himself, he was just being naturally curious.

Will took the plate she held out, put it down in front of him and reached for the salad. He actually groaned his approval as he dumped a mountain on his plate. ‘God, this looks so good.’

‘Tuck in,’ Lu told him as she dished up her own food.

They ate in silence for a couple of minutes—well, she ate and Will inhaled his food. Even at home he wasn’t much of a cook, so he mostly ate out or ordered take out, and he’d forgotten the pleasure of a simple home-cooked meal. It reminded him of his family, of feeling relaxed, content.

When his immediate hunger was satisfied Will slowed down and in between bites sipped his wine. Over Lu’s head he could see the portraits of her parents, and he frowned as a thought occurred to him.

‘So, you have brothers, right? Where are they?’

‘They left for university a couple of weeks ago. They’re in Cape Town.’

Curiosity turned to intrigue. ‘And did you see much of them over the past decade?’

‘Sometimes far too much of them.’

Lu’s smile bloomed and his heart flip-flopped.

‘I became their guardian. We all lived here together.’

Will lowered his wine glass in shock. ‘You took on twin boys when you were—how old were you?’

‘I’d just turned nineteen.’

‘And they were—what?—eight?’

‘Thereabouts.’

‘But...you were just a baby yourself. They allowed you to do that?’

Lu shrugged. ‘There wasn’t anybody else who could take them, and I sure as hell wasn’t going to put them into care so that I could carry on with my life.’

Will watched her eat as he thought about what he’d been doing when he was nineteen. Playing first-class rugby in England, pretending to study, chasing girls, drinking, having a ball. Her sacrifice took his breath away.

‘But—’

Lu lifted her hand and he instantly cut off his question.

‘It’s a bit of a scratchy subject with me at the moment. Do you mind if we don’t talk about it?’

‘No, that’s fine.’ It wasn’t, of course. He wanted to shove aside those curtains in her eyes and see what she was hiding, thinking...feeling. Unusual, since he never delved deeper than just below the surface; he’d never needed to.

Will cleared his plate and looked at her bent head. If this was any other girl he’d call on years of practice, find a dozen innocuous topics to discuss, but he was finding that he didn’t want to skim the surface with Lu. How could he? She’d reluctantly told him about the death of her parents, that she’d raised her twin brothers. And, more unusually, she didn’t want to talk about her past... Most women would have given him a blow-by-blow account of her life by now.

She was different, Will thought. And original. And because she was so different he wasn’t quite sure how to handle her.

But they couldn’t sit here in this awkward silence. He’d have to say something.

‘So, do you read?’ she asked, at exactly the same time that he asked how often she went clubbing. ‘You’re kidding, right?’ Lu shook her head. ‘That was the first time in...um...six, seven—eight?—years. I’d rather hand-wash sweaty rugby kit than go again.’

‘That bad, huh? But if you hated it so much why were you there?’

Lu wrinkled her nose in annoyance. ‘My brothers.’

Will looked at the lasagne dish and Lu immediately passed it over. He gestured for her to continue explaining.

She sat back in her chair and stared at her plate for a long time. When she lifted her eyes again they were shuttered and guileless. ‘It was just a stupid dare between us.’

Will narrowed his eyes at the lie. Why would going to a nightclub be a dare for an adult woman? Nope, there was a lot more to that story than she was saying.

‘If that was the best dare they could come up with then they are very uncreative.’ Will deliberately kept his voice mild.

Her blush told him that she realised he’d caught her lie. Lu licked her lips and took a sip of her wine as he placed his utensils together on the plate and pushed it away.

‘More?’

Will groaned. ‘No, I’m stuffed. It was good, thanks. Do you always keep trays of lasagne in your freezer?’

Lu’s wide smile flashed. ‘With teenage boys in the house you always need extra food for when their mates come home unexpectedly. And I keep a couple of trays in the freezer for Mak to take when he runs out of food—which is often.’

Mak again. Will was very rarely jealous. Clothes and looks didn’t concern him, and his success at whatever he chose to do was his to achieve or not, so he never felt envy. However, he did feel something distantly related to jealousy at the very apparent bond Lu shared with Mak.

Will swallowed the last of his wine and thought that if he was at the point of admitting jealousy and frustration then it was definitely time for him to go. He deliberately looked at his watch and was surprised to find that it was later than he’d suspected. ‘I should go. We have a gruelling early-morning team run along the beach tomorrow.’

Lu stood up with him. ‘You run with the team?’

‘I can’t expect them to do anything I won’t do,’ Will replied, picking up their plates and the lasagne dish. ‘In the kitchen?’

‘Thanks. I’ll stack them in the dishwasher.’

Lu fiddled with her camera, then picked up their wine glasses and the salad bowl and followed him inside.

Will changed from the swimming shorts into his clothes and thought that in his normal life, with a ‘normal’ girl, he’d just lay it on the line and suggest they spend the night together: big fun, no commitment. That spark of attraction to Lu was there, he admitted to himself. It burned hard and bright and he’d ignored it all night. Whenever he thought about acting on it something held him back.

His conversation the other night with Kelby kept resonating with him and he was forced to admit that Kelby had been bang-on with a lot of his observations. He was Mr Control these days—his life went into a tailspin when he cut loose—and if he had to be totally truthful he admitted that he’d never allowed any of the attraction he felt to a woman to be fanned into a fire. He used sexual attraction to get...well, sex. And while he always made sure that both he and his partner had a fun time in bed, he knew that at any time he could walk away. He didn’t allow himself to get emotionally involved because he genuinely believed that he couldn’t offer a woman anything permanent. Every fire went out eventually.

Yet Kelby’s question kept prodding him in the head.

‘Why don’t you try being friends with a woman instead?’

And Lu—strong, calm and capable—was just the type of woman he could be friends with. Her decision to raise her twin brothers at such a young age told him that she was loyal and determined. He liked those traits in men and they were very attractive in a woman too. He could respect her—another trait he considered essential for a friendship.

And, with her lithe body and quick smile, she was a lot easier on the eye than Kelby and his other mates.

Lu had just started to stack the dishwasher when Will walked back into the room, his car keys dangling from his fingers. ‘Thanks, Lu. For dinner and the company.’

‘Pleasure.’ Lu walked him to the hall and shoved her hand into the pocket of her shorts, pulling out a memory card. She held it between her fingers. ‘Change the photo, OK?’

Will’s smile was warm and deep as he took the card. ‘I’ll pass it along. Thank you.’

Will couldn’t stop himself from lifting up his hand to touch her cheek. He needed to know whether her skin was as soft as it looked, whether her bottom lip was a plump as he thought it was.

It was all that and more.

Will shook his head as he turned away. He’d never had the urge to touch his mates’ faces and thank God. If he did he’d get the snot smacked out of him.

* * *

Lu looked up as Mak and Deon walked into her kitchen, courtesy of the set of keys Mak had been given by her father all those years ago, when they’d first become friends. Lu accepted a hug from Mak’s high-functioning Down Syndrome son and smiled when Deon headed straight for her cookie jar. He was as at home in her house as the twins were. Lu had been his official babysitter since his mother had left a year after his birth, shortly before her parents’ death.

Mak took a seat at the kitchen counter and accepted the glass of iced tea Lu pushed across. ‘No wine?’

‘It’s three in the afternoon, Mak. A bit early.’

‘Damn.’

‘Tough day?’ Lu asked, knowing that it was a battle for Mak to juggle his business and the demands and needs of a highly active special needs child. Deon had an au-pair he adored, and numerous aunts and uncle who showered him with attention but Mak was his lifeline, his safety net, his hero.

‘How did the interview go at that other school?’

Mak shrugged. ‘Fine. They’d take him tomorrow if I wanted, but I’m holding out for St Clare’s.’

‘You haven’t heard yet?’

Mak looked frustrated. ‘No.’

Lu bit the inside of her lip. Deon was lonely and needed to get back into school—a school where, unlike at the last one, he wouldn’t be incessantly bullied and tormented.

Mak waved his hand in the air. ‘I should hear within a couple of weeks. So, have you had any luck picking up work?’

Lu blew air into her cheeks. ‘Not a damn thing! I’ve only had one enquiry on the website and I’ve visited all the bridal shops and florists and dished out my card, hoping for referrals. I’m thinking of getting another job—’

‘Lu, it’s only been a month since the boys left. Give yourself some time. Keep plugging at it. Something will come up. So...I saw Will Scott’s flashy Range Rover parked in your driveway the other night.’

‘Were you spying on me again?’ Lu demanded.

‘Sure. That’s what good friends do,’ Mak replied. ‘I came around to check on you and saw Will’s car, so I left.’

‘You should’ve joined us.’

‘And have Deon buzzing on rugby talk for the next week? No, thanks!’

Lu smiled. Deon was completely rugby-obsessed and the Rays were his idols. He would be thoroughly over-excited if he met Will, and he’d nag Mak and her to make Will introduce him to the rest of the team. When Deon got a notion in his head it required a water cannon to dislodge it.

Lu explained that she’d invited Will around for supper to say thank you.

Mak took a sip of his drink. ‘So, did he come around to say it was a pleasure to your thank you? Or did he have other pleasure on his mind?’ Mak waggled his eyebrows at her.

Lu glowered at him. ‘It wasn’t like that, Mak!’

‘It’s always like that, Lu.’

Lu didn’t tell him about Will touching her face, about the flare of passion she’d thought she saw in his eyes. She placed her elbows on the counter and grinned at Mak. ‘He is hot, though.’

Make rolled his eyes. ‘So I’m told.’

‘So, last night I went to the Botanic Gardens and the Philharmonic Orchestra was playing. I thought that it would be so much fun to have someone to do things with. I mean, I didn’t mind being on my own, but—’

Mak looked horrified. ‘I am not going to any classical concerts.’

Lu laughed. ‘Actually, I wasn’t thinking about you...this time. I was kind of considering whether to invite Will along the next time. Do you think I could do that?’

‘Women have been asking men out for a while now,’ Mak pointed out.

Lu slid her bum onto a stool. ‘Do you know what I realised this week, Mak?’

‘What, honey?’

‘That I have been so worried about the boys being independent enough, strong enough to go off on their own, and they are fine. Me—not so much. Of the three of us I’m the one who isn’t independent. I’m the one having the most problems adjusting. Apart from that night with Will I’ve hated being in this house alone, waking up alone, going to sleep alone. The lack of noise, the tidiness... I miss them so damn much.’

‘Of course you do.’

‘I desperately need to work, to prove to myself that I am something other than a fake mommy. I want to create again. I want people’s eyes to react—good or bad—when then see my photos. I miss it, Mak. I miss being...productive. I can take as many photos of the sea, of the dogs, as I want, but it’s not the same as creating images for someone else. I miss being...me.’

Mak listened and waited for Lu to carry on.

‘And...I guess I’m just lonely. I never realised I was until the boys left. Having supper with Will the other night made me realise how much I’ve missed being with someone...and, sorry, you don’t count.’

‘You’re too skinny and too pale for me anyway.’

Lu reached across the counter to swat his shoulder. ‘I thought that Will would be an ideal man to practise on.’

Mak’s head snapped up. ‘Huh? What?’

‘I can use him to get my confidence back, to get back into the whole dating dance again. To help me become—independent. Is that the word I’m looking for?’

‘You are making absolutely no sense.’

‘I’ve lost the ability—I’m not even sure I ever had the ability—to flirt, to enjoy a man’s company, to do the dance. Having a flirtation, a fling with Will, would boost my confidence and in a weird way sort of be a...um...a kick start to this new phase of my life. A way to remind myself that I’m more than what I was—something other than the being the twins’ guardian, their housekeeper, their taxi.’

Would Mak understand that she suddenly felt lost and unable to cope now that there was only herself to worry about? She was supposed to feel relieved and free. Instead she felt more insecure and scared than ever before.

That wasn’t right. Or fair. And it definitely wasn’t acceptable. So she’d do something about it.

Preferably with Will. Could she do it? Was she brave enough?

Mak was quiet for a long time. ‘I’m all for you having some fun—getting your groove back. But there are dangers in this, Lu.’

‘Like?’

‘You falling for him and getting hurt, for one.’

Lu shook her head. ‘Firstly, he’s avoided serious relationships for years, and even if I didn’t know that he has “No Trespassing” signs all over his heart, so I know that falling for him would be stupid. Secondly, he’s only here for three months—less than that now. That’s strike number two. He’ll be my practice man and when he leaves I’ll be fine. I just need someone who’s kind of in my life to ease me into the rest of my life. Does that make any sense at all?’

‘Sort of. If you manage to keep it just fun and games.’

‘I won’t allow myself to get attached to him.’

‘Sometimes you can’t help it,’ Mak insisted.

‘Mak, it’s just an idea, and if he says no then it’s no harm, no foul. As grateful as I am to him rescuing me from the club, I have no intention of trailing after him, dragging my tongue on the floor, appreciative of any attention he’ll give me. I won’t beg, I still have my pride. And if he says yes then I’ll keep my emotional distance.’

‘Mmm. Not sure if you have ever been able to do that, Lu.’ Mak stood up and rested his hands on her bare shoulders. He pulled her in for a hug. ‘And, talking about clubbing, I am so very, very sorry about the other night, Lu. God, I lie awake thinking...’

Lu shook her head. ‘Don’t Mak. I’m fine.’

‘You’re fine because someone else was looking out for you.’ Mak rested his chin on the top of her head. ‘Your dad would have had my head.’

‘I’m a big girl, Mak; I’ve been looking after myself and the twins for a long time,’ Lu told him. ‘I don’t need you to look after me. I’m taking charge of my life, getting used to being on my own. I’ve got to get my head, my life, together. I can do it, Mak!’

Mak grinned down at her determined face. ‘May I point out that the only person in this room who sounds doubtful about that is you, sweetheart?’

‘It’s taking some practice,’ Lu admitted.

‘It always does.’ Mak stepped away from her and reached across the counter for her mobile. ‘So, call him.’

Lu yelped. ‘Not now! Um...I need to think about what we can do together.’

‘I have double tickets to a cooking demo by that celebrity pastry chef you’re so gaga about.’

‘Rupert Walker?’ Lu squealed. Oh, wow! She’d casually mentioned to Mak that she’d like to see the demo, and Mak, good mate that he was, had arranged tickets.

‘I was going to go with you, but I think you should take Will. You can torture him instead.’

‘I don’t think it’s his thing. But I’d love to go.’ Lu’s eyes widened as Mak scrolled through the numbers on her phone, pushed the green button and handed it to her.

‘It’s ringing. Ask him.’

‘Makhosi, you son of a...! What am I supposed...?’ Mak thrust the phone in her direction and the next moment Will’s deep voice had her toes curling.

‘Hey, Lu. What’s up?’

‘Um...hi. Feel free to say no, because I certainly don’t expect you to say yes—’

Will laughed. ‘That sounds ominous.’

Lu glared at Mak, who was rolling his finger silently to tell her to get on with it.

‘I was given tickets for a celebrity baking demo on Monday night and I was wondering if you’d like to go with me.’ Lu expelled the words in a whoosh. She pictured herself jumping into a cavernous pool and finding it empty of water. Splat!

‘Ah...um...it’s really not my thing...but OK. Shall I pick you up?’

Oh, dear Lord, there was water in the pool and she was floating. Yay!

Lu pulled a tongue at Mak’s satisfied face as they made arrangements. Turning away from his smirky expression she allowed a broad smile to cross her face.

I am woman, hear me roar, she thought. Well, it wasn’t quite a roar but it was definitely more than a whimper. Go me!

* * *

An hour later Lu pulled her SUV into an empty space in the parking lot of the Stingrays’ Rugby Union corporate offices. She’d been about to end her conversation with Will when he’d told her he was with Kelby Cotter, the Rays’ CEO, and that he wanted to have a word. Kelby had asked her to meet with him to discuss a photography project she might be interested in. Might be interested? She itched to pick up her camera and get to work!

At this moment she’d walk into the fires of hell if there was photography work there, and any project that had the Rays’ name attached to it would be a huge boost to her non-existent career.

Lu got out of the car and looked down at her short black skirt, her tangerine T-shirt and slightly scuffed wedges, and wondered if she should have splurged on another, more businesslike outfit. Heavy silver bracelets ran up her arm and ethnic silver earrings hung halfway to her shoulders. She’d forgotten to put on make-up. Lu sighed. She’d meant to but, as per normal, it had slipped her mind.

Lu was directed to the PR executive’s office by a receptionist who looked like a high-class model. Perfect hair, perfect nails...super-slim. Lu resisted the urge to wipe her clammy hands on her skirt and again wondered why she was being shown to an office in the PR and Publicity Department.

She readjusted the strap of her shoulder bag and knocked on the door. Two seconds later a large, rugged teddy bear of a man opened the door and smiled down at her. He held a sandwich in one hand and shrugged his apologies.

‘Lu? Sorry—first moment I’ve had free to eat lunch,’ he explained. ‘Kelby Cotter.’

He raised the half-sandwich for another bite and gestured Lu to a seat in front of a very feminine, very messy desk. He swallowed his last bite, took a swig of water from the bottle on his desk and scrabbled amongst the papers.

‘Got it.’ Kelby flicked the memory card from her camera at her and Lu snapped it out of the air. ‘Amazing photos of Will. Can I have them?’

Surely he could have asked her over the phone whether he could use them? She should ask him to pay for them. Her brain whirled. But if she gave them to him and asked for the credit then that would help to raise her profile. ‘Uh...sure.’

Kelby tipped his head at her and let out a rumbling laugh. ‘You can’t just give your work away, Lu!’

‘So you’ll buy them from me?’

Kelby named a figure that had Lu’s eyes widening. It seemed that the Rays paid their photographers very well indeed.

Emboldened by his kind eyes, Lu asked why the CEO was dealing with publicity and PR issues.

‘Fair question. My head of PR flew to Cape Town to be with her terminally ill mother. I’m overseeing the department until she returns, and it’s easier to work in her office than move all her stuff to mine.’ Kelby leaned back in his chair and folded his hands across his portly stomach. ‘I have two other offers for you. Both of them involve you getting paid.’

Lu blushed and felt like an idiot. And excited. And nervous if these projects had anything to do with Will Scott. ‘OK. That sounds interesting.’

‘I browsed through the other photos on the media card Will gave me and I was blown away by some of your images. They are utterly fantastic.’

‘Thank you,’ Lu said, her brain racing to remember what images he was talking about. Some photos of the twins and their friends, the baby photo shoot, some beach scenes.

‘My partner and I have a six-month-old daughter and we’d love some photographs. Some portrait shots of her and some informal shots of the three of us.’

Yay! A job. ‘That’s very doable. I have a studio at home with all the props, backdrops and lighting. As for the informal shots, we can do them at your home—whenever it’s convenient.’

‘Uh...we live in a rather cramped loft at the moment, while our house is being built, so that wouldn’t work.’ Kelby fiddled with his pen. ‘Will says you have a beautiful garden...can we do them there? It’ll have to be on a Sunday. I’m swamped during the week.’

‘Sure. What about this Sunday morning?’

‘Fantastic!’ Kelby looked up at a sharp rap on his door. ‘Will! She said yes to doing Micki’s photos! We’re going to do them on Sunday morning at her house.’

‘Told you she would.’

Lu’s stomach swooped and rolled as she turned in her chair. Dressed in a pair of black athletic shorts, an untucked blue Rays branded T-shirt and trainers, he looked fit and sexy, his hair damp as if he’d just come out of a shower. Will stepped into the room and Lu’s eyes widened as he dropped his head to kiss her cheek. Because she pulled back—in surprise—his kiss landed on her temple. Will stood up and his eyes connected with hers. He’d clocked her surprise and those fabulous topaz eyes glinted with amusement.

Will perched himself on the corner of the desk and helped himself to the other half of Kelby’s sandwich.

‘Hey!’ Kelby protested.

‘Didn’t Angie put you on a diet? No carbs? Salad only?’ Will demanded in between bites. ‘I’m stopping you from getting into trouble with your woman, man.’

‘But I’m starving!’

‘Have a carrot stick or come run with me. Then you can eat shrimp and mayo sandwiches.’ Will wiped his mouth with a serviette he’d found next to the sandwich. ‘Or get your lard-ass back to the gym.’

‘Like I have time for that,’ Kelby grumbled.

Will waved the sandwich in Lu’s direction. ‘Have you asked her yet?’

‘I was interrupted by my annoying head coach,’ Kelby said, looking longingly at the empty plastic sandwich container. He turned to Lu and his eyes were serious. ‘I’m looking for a contracted photographer to work for the Rays—capturing official images of the squad for us to use for various promotional campaigns. I don’t have the time to phone around looking for freelance photographers who cost the earth even if they are available. I need you to be the official Rays photographer.’

Lu looked from Kelby to Will and realised that neither of them were laughing, so it couldn’t be a joke. She thought she’d make doubly sure. ‘Sorry—are you being serious?’ she asked, her heart racing.

‘Yep. You’d have to work flexible hours—work with me, work with the guys.’ He sent her a dubious look. ‘Can you handle twenty-plus men at a time?’

‘She raised twin boys. She’s pretty much Superwoman,’ Will stated calmly, and Lu shot him a quick grin and tried not to blush at his compliment.

Lu looked at Kelby. ‘Wow. Sorry, this is quite overwhelming. Are you sure?’

‘If you give me images half as good as the ones on that card I’ll be a happy man.’

Lu raised her chin in determination. ‘They’ll be as good or better.’

Kelby looked at Will and nodded. ‘I like her.’

‘I thought you would,’ he said, and Lu’s heart flopped against her ribs.

Kelby’s ringing mobile phone broke their look and, after telling his caller that he’d phone him back in five minutes, Kelby reached for a file on his desk. He handed Lu some papers and stood up. ‘Look that contract over and start on Monday.’ He waved his mobile. ‘Sorry, I have to sort something out.’

‘Thank you so much.’

Lu noticed Kelby’s eyes sliding to his desk drawer and saw that Will had caught the action too.

‘What are you hiding, Kelby?’ he demanded. Will stood up and walked around the desk, yanked open a drawer. He shook his head as he pulled out an oil stained packet. ‘Jelly doughnuts? Seriously? With your stress levels and lack of exercise?’

Kelby groaned. ‘Who are you? The food police?’

Will opened the packet, pulled one out and bit down. ‘These are good.’ He looked at Lu and waved the doughnut in the air. ‘Want some?’

Lu shook her head. ‘No thanks.’

‘I hate you so much, Scott. I’ll be back in five minutes,’ Kelby muttered, looking utterly bereft. ‘So are we on for Sunday, Lu.’

Lu felt sorry for him. Being on a diet was the pits. ‘Come at ten—for tea. I’ll make you some super-healthy beetroot cupcakes that you’ll think are laden with fat and calories.’

Kelby brightened immediately. ‘You—I like.’ He pointed at Will. ‘Him—not so much.’