Black Ice (12 page)

Kirri looked at them, at the long, sweeping eyelashes and perfectly shaped mouths so similar in father and daughter, and gulped down a lump in her throat.

A soft rumble told Kirri that Daniel was asleep. She watched as Catelyn pushed further into Daniel, and his arm moved protectively around the child.

The tears came then, almost frightening Kirri with the depth of pain they created. She dashed to her bedroom, grateful that J.D. had retired to his office after dinner. She didn't feel she could cope with him wanting to fix up whatever it was that was bothering her. Because the truth was she wasn't sure exactly what
was
bothering her.

She flung herself onto the bed, burying her face in the pillow. It took a minute for her to realise that someone had walked into the room behind her. She turned her head when the bed dipped as that someone sat down.

'Oh, Gran!' Tears spilled in greater numbers, and Kirri grabbed a tissue from the bedside table and blew her nose.

'I'm sorry, Gran. I don't know why I'm doing this.'

Cate gently brushed her grand-daughter's vibrant curls back from her face, and smiled. 'You've been too strong, Kirri. Ever since your mother brought you back from America you've fought to regain your health. Then you fought to prove you could be a good mother to Catelyn. And you've been so independent, not wanting to accept any monetary help from the family.'

'There's nothing wrong with that, Gran,' Kirri's tone was defensive, and Cate heard an echo of herself at the same age.

'Then why are you crying?'

Kirri shook her head, then found herself telling her grandmother how resentful she felt that Daniel hadn't come out to Australia after her, that she had had to go through Catelyn's birth not only without the father there, but with no idea who he was. She explained to Cate the reasons Daniel had given her, even agreed that she could understand how he had come to the conclusions he had, but it still didn't negate her resentment.

'So how else do you feel about him?'

'What do you mean?'

Cate let out an exasperated sigh. 'Kirri, you look at him like he's gift-wrapped chocolate and every tooth in your head is a sweet one. And he's just as bad. How the man has been able to stop himself from flinging you over his shoulder and bedding you thoroughly I'll never know.'

At the sight of Kirri's astounded, blush-swept face Cate chuckled. 'Don't go letting an honourable man like Daniel get away, Kirri. He's the one man you'd be wise to give up your independence for, I feel it in my bones.'

Kirri laughed. But her grandmother's bones had been remarkably right on many an occasion, adding to Kirri's mother's theory that Cate was a little "fey". Why, she'd even "known" something was wrong with Kirri before they'd received the call from the New Orleans hospital.

 

The next morning Kirri did something she hadn't done since Catelyn's birth. She slept in. Whether it was the outburst of pent-up emotion last night, or the strain of being away for a month, she wasn't sure, but it was nearly nine o'clock before she quickly showered and walked into the kitchen. Her grandmother was patiently showing Catelyn how to push a wooden puzzle together to form a picture.

'Where's Daniel?' Kirri asked before she could stop herself.

'J.D. asked him to help repair that fence. Then they're going to check the boundary fences. They'll more than likely be gone all day.'

Kirri was surprised by her sharp pang of disappointment. Then she decided it was a good opportunity to catch up with her daughter. Even in the month she'd been away, Catelyn had grown so much. Kirri looked at the frown of concentration on the small face and felt a lump in her throat. How could she possibly return to Noosa after the wedding and not see her child for another two months? A three month trial lease had sounded great at the time, but now it seemed like an eternity.

 

Yesterday had been boring, fruitless, and just plain annoying. As he looked across at Kirri's art gallery, Brett found it hard to shake the frustration that hours of futile surveillance had brought. Kirri Smith hadn't shown up for work yesterday, and it didn't look like she was going to do so today.

His mind kept drifting back to last night. It might have been risky to spend a second night with the little sexpot he'd picked up in the pub, but it had been worth it. A slow, sly smile creased his face. The woman was insatiable. And so inventive. Just thinking about her made his groin itch.

If only he was able to sit at the sidewalk cafe table again. But that was too chancy. It might jiggle someone's memory if they saw him where he'd been sitting before he stole the Pajero. But he was tired of having to stroll casually up and down the street pretending the shop windows held more than a passing interest for him.

He didn't want to chance a return visit to the art gallery. He knew the young assistant would remember him, he'd made sure of that, but any more questions about Kirri Smith could arouse her suspicions. Even his anonymous phone call asking for Kirri's whereabouts had only gained him the reply that she would be unavailable for a few days. No, a visit to Kirri's flat might reveal something.

Sweat trickled down his back, and the thought of a cold beer enticed him. He smiled. The little witch with the bedroom tricks would be at the pub, shooting pool and assessing more than inanimate cues and balls. The itch in his groin worsened.

Perhaps tomorrow would be a better day for checking out the flat …

 

J.D. and Daniel returned late that afternoon, but it soon became clear to Kirri that J.D. was determined to occupy Daniel's time. After dinner he dragged Daniel off to his office. Apparently Daniel's grandparents were trialling the cross-breeding of Belted Galloways into their herd, and J.D. was interested to learn all Daniel knew about it.

Kirri decided her step-brother was spending far too much time with cattle. He might work with them all day, and chase them all over the Internet at night, but that didn't mean he had to tie up her guest with cow talk.

If Kirri made a little too much noise as she cleaned up the kitchen, Cate refrained from commenting on it. She knew that J.D. had learned long ago that Kirri was like tough meat - she softened considerably if she'd been left to stew for a while.

 

In the morning Kirri woke early and cooked breakfast. When J.D. began to outline his plans for Daniel for the day, she quietly informed him that she had things
she
wanted to show Daniel.

An hour later she opened the door to a large room underneath the old Queenslander house.

'J.D. built in under here to make me a studio,' she told Daniel. 'When I found out I was pregnant there didn't seem any way I could afford to go back to the States, or even return to Sydney. Not that I would have wanted to. At least here I had family who cared about me, and who'd love my daughter no matter what the circumstances of her conception.'

Daniel winced. The emotional pain he had been through when he'd thought Kirri had rejected him was nothing compared to what she'd been through. 'What if you'd had a boy. Would that have changed anything?'

'Probably not. Besides, I knew I was having a daughter. An early scan revealed that.'

Daniel shifted Catelyn higher against his chest. She seemed to have a fascination with the dark curls showing at the neckline of his shirt, and he gritted his teeth as she held on to them and swung around to her mother.

'Paint!' she demanded. Kirri nodded, and held out her arms.

As Catelyn chortled in anticipation and leaned towards her mother, Daniel felt a sense of loss. He wanted Catelyn in his arms as much as he wanted Kirri there. Catelyn toddled over to where a mini easel and paints were set up in a corner.

'She likes to be with me when I work,' Kirri explained.

'Did you ask the doctor if you were having a boy or a girl? Was it important for you to know?'

'Darn right it was!' Kirri exploded. She rounded on Daniel, eye's blazing. 'I had to
know
, Daniel! Everything else about the baby was a mystery, at least I could know its sex.' The memories rattled through Kirri's mind. 'It made it easier knowing I was going to have a girl.'

'I'm so sorry, Kirri.' The angry vibes that sparked from Kirri should have deterred him, but Daniel knew he had to touch her. Had to connect with her in some way, so that the barrier she was erecting between them would be broken down. He reached out and curved his hands around her upper arms. 'I'd give anything to be able to change what happened.'

'But you can't, Daniel, can you!' Kirri felt tears of frustration dampen her eyes and she squeezed them shut, determined not to show any weakness.

She wasn't quick enough to stop Daniel catching a glimpse of them, and he felt as though a mule had kicked him in the gut. Guilt, and a host of other conflicting emotions raced through him, and he reacted in the only way that felt right. He drew her towards him.

At first Kirri resisted, made herself stiffen against him. Then his arms were strong and tenderly protective around her, and through the thin fabric of her cotton blouse her skin registered the heat of him.

Daniel gently lifted her hair and trailed soft kisses down the back of her neck. He felt her quiver, and knew the seductive power of his touch. Because he loved her so deeply, he'd crammed a lifetime of knowledge on what pleased her into the three weeks he'd known her. He continued his gentle onslaught, his lips moving over her jaw until they found her mouth.

It was the colours that did it. Kirri could have fought the deeply masculine taste of him, the hard chest muscles that tightened under her hands as she brought them up to push against him. But the exquisite tenderness of his kiss, the love that seeped from him into the very core of her being, made delicate pastel shades of aqua and lilac flow through her mind in gentle swirls. Her skin tingled. Desire ignited, growing swiftly until heat swept her and need pulsed deep within her womb. Pastel colours burst into explosions of red and orange.

She melted against him, her body malleable, her mouth opening further to receive his soft exploration.

She would have stayed there forever, drowning in the sensations he was creating in her, but a small hand grabbed her jeans leg and a voice called, 'Kiss! Kiss!'

Dazed, she reluctantly pulled away from Daniel and opened her eyes. Daniel looked no less dazed than she felt, though his eyes were bright with the passion he was trying to keep under control. They both looked down. Catelyn was trying to force herself between their legs, gripping their jeans in an effort to push them apart.

Her big black eyes gazed accusingly at them. 'Kiss!' she demanded.

Daniel bent and scooped her up, and she put her chubby arms around their necks and kissed both of them, soundly, sloppily, on the lips.

Kirri saw the laughter and love in Daniel's golden-brown eyes, and felt her world suddenly tilt on its axis. Before she could analyse the wonderful glow that swept her, she heard the roar of an approaching truck. Then her grandmother's voice called out, 'Butcher's here!'

'Butcher?' Daniel's voice was husky, and Kirri knew hers wasn't much better as she replied, 'Ted Grenham, the mobile butcher. J.D. must have a beast ready for slaughter. Would you like to see the setup here?'

Daniel nodded. His body was finally getting back under control, but if he stayed alone with Kirri much longer, Catelyn or no Catelyn, he would have trouble keeping it that way.

 

Daylight always posed a problem. In the dark he could blend into the shadows, hide for hours if necessary, until he was sure his way was clear. At night people watched television, went to bed, slept. In the day they tended to look out their windows more. But Brett had learned long ago that if you acted as though you had a right to be somewhere, people weren't suspicious.

He'd bought new sunglasses, hat, casual shirt and shorts from a chain store, and wore sneakers that were so nondescript the brand was unrecognisable. The shorts were baggy, chosen more for what they could conceal than for fashion.

He was glad Kirri's flat was on a street with a lot of traffic, both pedestrian and vehicular. It would make it twice as difficult for anyone to remember seeing him. He parked his car a block away, and walked.

Kirri's flat was the last of four in a low building set at right angles to the street. Brett walked nonchalantly down the driveway, then turned in at the pathway leading to Kirri's front door. Her van was in the carport. No sounds came from any of the flats.

The windows were closed. Brett knocked on the front door. No answer. He knocked again. Waited. Still no movement from inside the flat. He glanced around swiftly before taking surgical gloves from his pocket and pulling them on. Then, with speed born of long practice and the help of the tools he carried in his pocket, he tripped the lock and stepped quietly inside.

 

Daniel couldn't shift his gaze from Kirri. Her sand-coloured stretch moleskin jeans moulded so well to her curves he was tempted to follow the smooth fabric with his hands. She'd asked him to wait while she took Catelyn over to her grandmother who was talking to the butcher's wife. The two women were sitting on a wooden bench in the shade of a tall, spreading camphor laurel tree, and the butcher's two young children played at their feet.

Damn! It might have been easier if he had never experienced the delights of Kirri's passionate body, but somehow he doubted that. His hunger for her grew each day. With each kiss he'd felt her relax her guard a little, but he'd felt himself losing more control. Love and lust were building up in him in explosive proportions.

Kirri put Catelyn down to play with the other children, and turned to walk back to Daniel. Her hair swayed in rhythm with her steps, glinting fire in the hot morning sun. He watched the pull of her jeans again, and almost wished she'd worn a skirt. He looked away, turning his mind to less erotic images, and forced his body to relax.

The houses, cattle yards and sheds were set in a semi-circle, with the road in following the curve. The butcher's mobile van was parked at the far end near a strongly built cattle yard. Inside the yard a huge Brahman bull stood, sniffing the air, ears and flanks twitching. As they walked passed it, Daniel noticed the bull's eyes were wide and staring, and his nostrils flared in quick, nervous breaths. The lack of horns only slightly dispelled the air of danger vibrating in his massive body.