Читать книгу The Australian Affairs Collection - Margaret Way - Страница 29

CHAPTER TWENTY

BEN WAS HELPING Joe with the barbecue when Jess joined them, a huge black-and-white cat in her arms.

‘You haven’t been plying Ben with too much beer, have you, Dad?’ Jess said in a teasing but loving voice which Ben could never imagine using with his own father. Or his mother, for that matter. He’d thought he had a good relationship with both his parents but seeing Jess interacting with her parents was a real eye-opener.

So was her interaction with the rest of her family. She was so warm with them, caring and considerate, asking after their well-being when they arrived with real interest, not just giving lip-service. He could see how much they loved her back as well. The children had flocked around her, vying for her attention. Even the damned cat loved her, yet he’d been warned by Joe not to touch Lazarus, as he was known to scratch. When he’d commented on the cat’s name, he’d been told that Lazarus had been stillborn but Jess had resurrected him with the kiss of life.

Ben didn’t doubt it. She was a girl of many talents, and a wealth of stubbornness. He still could not believe she’d refused to come to New York with him. But he had no intention of giving up on that score.

‘The boys want Ben to go play cricket with them and the kids,’ Jess said. ‘I’ll take over for him here,’ she offered before dropping the cat gently onto the paved pergola which stretched across the back of the Murphy house.

‘Can you play cricket?’ Joe asked as Jess took the fork Ben had been using to turn the steak and sausages. ‘I gather it’s not a popular sport in America.’

Ben grinned. Could he play cricket or what? He’d been captain of his school’s A-grade cricket team. But best not mention that. That would be bragging.

‘Don’t forget, Joe,’ he replied, still smiling. ‘I went to an Australian school. A boy’s boarding school, where sport was compulsory. We played footie in winter and cricket in summer.’

‘Right. Off you go, then. Just don’t go hitting the ball into that thick bush over there. Can’t count the number we’ve lost in there over the years.’

Ben resolved to peg back his batting ability a bit. No need to be a smart Alec.

Jess watched Ben stride off, a wry smile on her face. If she knew Ben, he would be anything but an ordinary cricket player. He wasn’t ordinary at anything he did. He was an exceptional man, with exceptional abilities and exceptional social skills.

She was still amazed at how he instinctively knew what to talk about with every member of her family. He talked cars with her father, sport with her brothers and the advances in technology with her very smart sisters-in-law. He didn’t mention his wealth when he was introduced, or sit back and play the role of honoured guest. He was happy to help with the food and very happy to drink beer. She imagined that over in New York his social life was very different. He’d go to fancy restaurants and fancy parties where they’d eat caviar and drink the most expensive champagne.

Jess frowned at this last thought. She would be uncomfortable with that kind of life. It was shallow, in her opinion. And snobbish. And way out of her league. She was a simple girl at heart with simple wants, like love, marriage and a family. She wasn’t cut out for the high life.

Such thoughts renewed her resolve not to go to New York with him, if and when he asked her again. Jess suspected she would not enjoy the experience. The sex part, yes. And possibly some of the sightseeing. New York was a fabulous city, she was sure. But she shrank from the idea of meeting any of Ben’s American friends or ex-girlfriends; shrank from being looked down upon by the type of people he mixed with.

* * *

The barbecue finished early, as the younger children got tired and the older ones had to go to school the next day. Ben seemed reluctant to leave, however, staying to help clear up and to have a final beer with her father. It was after ten before Jess could drag him away.

‘You have a wonderful family, Jess,’ was the first thing he said on the way back to Blue Bay. ‘You’re very lucky.’

‘Yes, I am,’ she agreed. ‘By the way, my mother knows about us.’

His head jerked her way. ‘You told her?’

‘No, she guessed. Like I said, she’s very intuitive.’

‘How much does she know?’

‘No details. Just that we’ve had sex.’

‘That’s good, then. She won’t worry if you get home late.’

‘She’ll still worry. That’s a mother’s job. Frankly, I was surprised at how calm she was over my sleeping with you.’

‘That’s because she knows I’m one of the good guys.’

‘Hmm. I doubt that’s the reason. Now, I’m not coming inside with you tonight, Ben,’ she went on firmly, determined not to weaken and be seduced by him. Again. ‘I’m dropping you off and going straight home.’

‘Fair enough.’

She blinked her surprise at his easy acceptance of her stance. Maybe he was tired. Yes, that was probably it. He’d had a very tiring weekend.

In no time she was pulling into the kerb. She did get out to open the boot and, yes, she let him give her a kiss goodnight after he’d placed all his things on the pavement. Not too long a kiss, as it turned out, both their heads lifting when his phone rang. Frowning, Ben rifled the phone out of his pocket and stared at the ID.

‘Damn,’ he said. ‘It’s Amber.’

‘Aren’t you going to answer it?’ Jess asked, trying not to sound as sick as she was suddenly feeling.

‘I might as well,’ Ben said. ‘She has to know sooner or later that it’s over between us.’

He put the phone to his ear. ‘Hello, Amber. I thought you said we weren’t to contact each other till I got back.’

Jess just stood there, listening to a one-sided conversation, her stomach tight with tension.

‘What?’ he suddenly snapped. ‘Say that again?’

Jess watched as Ben suddenly lost all his normal glow, his face going a ghastly ashen colour. Whatever Amber was telling him had to be dreadful.

‘No, no,’ he choked out. ‘I’ll come home straight away. Tell the funeral home to delay things till I can be there to make the arrangements.’

Jess’s heart sank. She could think of only one person’s funeral which would make Ben look this way. His father must have died. Oh, dear God, poor Ben…

‘No, I don’t want you to help,’ he was saying, his voice under control again. ‘No, Amber, I don’t want to marry you either. I’m sorry but I’ve met someone else… Yes, an Australian girl… Yes, yes, I do,’ he said and looked a startled Jess straight in the eye. ‘I’ll be bringing her back with me.’

Jess’s mouth fell open. It was still open when Ben put his phone back in his pocket.

‘Please don’t say no, Jess. My father died of a massive coronary last night. I can’t bury him alone,’ he said brokenly.

Jess’s heart turned over at the raw grief in his face. Even if she had decided not to go to New York with him if he asked again, she would say yes to this. How could she turn her back on the man she loved when he was at his most vulnerable? Because, of course she loved him. She couldn’t deny it any longer. Not to herself, anyway.

‘Yes, of course I’ll come with you,’ she said gently.

‘Thank you. I don’t know what I would have done if you’d said no. I need someone I care about by my side, Jess. If you’re there, I’ll make it through.’

Jess’s breath caught at his words. ‘You really care about me, Ben?’

‘Yes, of course I do. You care about me too, don’t you? I refuse to believe you’re just with me for the sex.’

‘Of course I’m not!’ she blurted out, shocked that he would think such a thing.

He sighed a deep sigh. ‘That’s a relief. Let’s go inside and start making plans.’

His mother’s apartment was as she’d imagined it to be. Very spacious and modern with large windows, polished wooden floors and Italian leather furniture.

‘I’ll get onto the airline,’ Ben said, ‘whilst you ring your parents. You do have a current passport, don’t you?’ he added sharply.

‘Yes,’ she answered.

‘Good. I’ll make my calls from the kitchen. You stay here.’

Her mother answered on the second ring, her voice anxious.

‘What is it, Jess? Have you had an accident?’

‘No, Mum,’ she said, then launched into an explanation of events.

‘And you’re going to go back to New York with him?’ her mother said, sounding shocked.

‘Yes, Mum.’

‘When?’

‘As soon as possible. Ben’s on to the airline now.’

‘But you hardly know the man, Jess.’

‘I know him better than I ever knew Colin.’

‘You love him, don’t you?’

‘Yes, Mum. I do.’

‘Does he love you back?’

‘I’m not sure.’

‘You do realise that with his father dying he’ll be a very rich man.’

‘Yes, Mum. I’m not stupid.’

‘But…’

‘We’ll talk more when I get home, Mum,’ she said as Ben walked back into the room. ‘Gotta go.’

‘Well?’ she asked Ben straight away.

‘Our flight leaves first thing in the morning. We’ll have to leave here around four to be there on time. But we can sleep on the plane. We’re flying first class.’

First class, Jess thought with less enthusiasm than most girls would have had. She’d never flown first class before. But that was what Ben probably did every time.

‘What clothes will I need?’ she asked, trying to be practical in the face of her mounting concern.

‘Something black for the funeral, I guess. It’s cool in New York so make sure you have a jacket. Other than that, just trousers and tops and a dress for going out at night. I can buy you anything else you might need.’

Jess conceded that he could certainly afford to buy her anything she needed, now that he was a billionaire. But she didn’t want him to do that. She didn’t like him thinking he could buy her as well if he wanted to.

Just what was she supposed to be by his side? Girlfriend or mistress?

She doubted he had fiancée in mind. But who knew? Love did make one hope.

‘How long will you want me to stay?’ she asked, doing her best to sound nonchalant.

For ever, Ben thought. But he knew it was too soon to say that. Too soon to tell her that he loved her. He wished now he hadn’t said as much to Amber. She was sure to be at the wake and she might say something.

Well, too bad if she did. It was the truth.

‘As long as you like,’ he answered. ‘It’s up to you.’