Enemy Lovers (12 page)

“Haven't told him. Until last night, it wasn't anything to worry about. I received an email via the pub website too.”

“Do you think it would be worth shelling out for security guards? Until things settle.”

“Yeah. We don't want to scare off customers. The broken windows and graffiti aren't a good look.” He glanced at his watch. “The window people should be here any minute.”

That night in the pub, Dallas kept a close eye on the customers. A few guys from the local gang popped in for a beer, but they kept to themselves and didn't cause any trouble before they left again. Dallas started to relax.

His mind drifted to Laura, and he worked on automatic pilot, counting the minutes until closing time. She'd already be at their house. The thought gave him pause, and he realized he was grinning.

“Dollar for your thoughts,” Patrick said, appearing a few minutes before closing time.

“Private,” Dallas said. “How did the interviews go? Any excitement in Clare?”

“Stop trying to change the subject. When are you going to introduce her to the family?”

“I'm thinking about it,” Dallas said, surprising himself.

“I thought I'd stay the night here,” Patrick said.

Dallas shot him a look, not trying to hide his surprise. “You're welcome, but why?”

“My flat mate's girlfriend keeps coming on to me, and since she's moved in, it's making my life difficult.” Patrick sounded disgruntled.

“Maybe it's time for you to move out.”

“The thought has crossed my mind,” Patrick said.

“You're welcome to move in with me. I'm here a couple of nights a week, less in the future, if I have my way. You take the bedroom, and I'll take the couch when I need to stay.”

Patrick nodded. “You're on. Thanks, bro. Are you staying here tonight?”

“No, the bedroom is yours. I'll shift my stuff next week.”

After making sure the pub was secure, Dallas left Patrick alone in the apartment. The drive to his house was much shorter at this late hour, and soon, he was unlocking the front door and stepping inside.

“Hey, honey, I'm home!”

Laura appeared, a welcoming grin on her face. “Perfect timing. I've made a light snack. Did you have more trouble at the pub?”

“I don't want to talk about work,” he said, curling his arm around her and snatching a kiss. “I missed you.” Her kiss told him she'd missed him too.

“My mother found out I'm not spending my nights at the apartment,” she said as she drew him into the kitchen. “She's demanding details.”

“And?”

Laura didn't seem worried and admiration flooded him on seeing her slight smile. “I refused to furnish details. It's a standoff.” She rolled her eyes. “She's called in recruits.”

“Your father?”

“My oldest sister. I don't want to talk about my family.” She pushed him down into a seat. “A beer or would you prefer hot chocolate? I have my own special recipe.”

“Hot chocolate it is. Do you have plans for next Saturday?”

“Spending time with you.”

“How do you feel about a day at the beach?”

“Sounds great.”

“Patrick said he'd cover for me.”

“Count me in.” She opened the oven and pulled out a selection of savories. The scent of egg and cheese drifted to him, and his stomach let out a sharp rumble. With deft movements, she slid the savories onto a tray, which already held a selection of cold snacks. “Start eating. The hot chocolate won't be long.”

A feeling of contentment settled in him. A few years ago, he would have finished work and headed out to party. Right now, coming home to find Laura waiting, fulfilled him, made him happy. “I've been wondering where we should go next.”

“What do you mean?” The microwave pinged, and she opened it to remove two mugs. After testing one, she walked around to join him at the table.

“I'm tired of sneaking around.” The words burst from him, taking him by surprise.

Laura's happy expression faded. “Are you breaking up with me?”

“God no.” He reached for her hand and laced their fingers together. “I want to take you out and spend time with you in public. That's what I'm saying.”

“But what about our families?”

Dallas sighed. “That's what I keep coming back to. We don't have to do anything drastic, but we need to give the matter some thought.”

“Mother wanted to know when I was going to Clare for an entire weekend instead of a few hours. She'd heard I went to the business dinner with James. I got the full interrogation over dinner.” Laura pulled a face. “James is nice, but there is no way I'm letting my mother maneuver me into marriage with him.”

We could get married.
The thought popped into Dallas's mind like a magical genie. He opened his mouth to voice the thought and bit his tongue.

“Are you enjoying the hot chocolate?”

“Someone has raided my booze cupboard.”

“Yeah, but do you like it?”

“Everything is delicious. Thank you. Walking into the house to find you waiting for me makes my day.” And his mind was back to marriage again. Something to consider. They hadn't known each other for long, yet happiness filled him each time they were together, the rightness of a good thing. For the first time, he was thinking beyond the next week and into the future. Despite the possible fallout, maybe marriage between them wasn't impossible.

Chapter Eleven

Laura reached for Dallas's hand and used her other to brush the tangle of hair from her face. Wind, fresh and chilly, whipped down the beach and dumped waves ashore in an explosion of white foam. She buttoned her coat and lengthened her stride to keep up with Dallas. Soon they were running, and she was laughing until she strained for breath.

“Remind me why we're walking along a cold beach.”

“Because it's good exercise,” he said, his blue eyes laughing down at her. “I like the beach. Smell the fresh spring air.”

Unable to restrain her return grin, she ran her fingers over his cheek, a surge of emotion welling inside as she wrinkled her nose. “I smell seaweed and something dead.”

“Ah, but think of the fun we'll have thawing out. A hot beverage or two. Sharing a shower and lazy sex to seal the deal.”

“A man with a one-track mind. I like it.” She more than liked the idea. Despite her inner clang of protective alarms, she'd fallen for Dallas. It was an insidious craving that never went away, a welling of joy when she spent time with him. The constant laughter, the desire to learn more about him, and then there was the sex.

Mind-blowing sex. Hot, glorious sex. Stupendous sex.

“Are you cold?”

“No, you made sure I dressed in warm layers.”

“Do you want to walk farther? To the rocky outcrop.”

“Let's go.” Her phone rang from the depths of her jacket, vibrating against her hip. She burrowed, scowling when she saw her parents' number on the screen. “Blast, I should have left my phone in Napier.”

“Answer it. We can walk at the same time.”

“Hello, Mother,” she said, guessing her mother would be the intruder. She was wrong. “Dad? Is something wrong?”

“Your mother said you're not staying at the apartment.”

“That's correct,” Laura said.

“Where are you staying?”

“With a friend.” They were treating her like a child.
Again
.

“That's not the deal we made when we allowed you to leave Clare.”

“No, it's not,” she agreed.

“Good.” His heavy sigh whispered down the phone, and she imagined him sitting in his office, irritated because he'd had to interrupt his schedule to deal with one of his children. “You will move back to the apartment, and get your mother off my back.”

“No.” Laura didn't hesitate. Whatever the consequences, she needed to stand strong for independence. While her sisters and brother might bow to their parents' wishes, there was more to life than money and tradition.

Another sigh whistled down the phone. “I'm sorry it has to come to this, Laura, but if you don't return to the apartment, I'll withdraw your allowance and make sure the charity rescinds their job.”

Laura's heart thumped in three hard beats and sudden tears stung her eyes. She stopped walking, anguish ripping away her good mood.

Blackmail—pure and simple.

Most parents wanted their children to leave the family fold. Most parents were happy for their offspring to strike out on their own. Most parents encouraged independence. Hers looked on their children as tools for betterment—a gauge of their success.

Good marriage.
Check
.

Good social standing.
Check
.

“Laura, are you there?” Testiness coated her father's voice, an impatience to get the job done and return to his routine.

“I'm here, Dad.”

Dallas reached for her hand, a trace of anger taking possession of his mouth, snapping in his eyes. Laura squeezed his hand.

“Good, we're agreed.”

“No.”

“No?”

Laura almost gave a watery chuckle at his astonishment. In that moment, she'd have given anything to witness his expression. “I'm spending the weekend down the coast with a friend. I'll move the last of my stuff out of the apartment as soon as I return to Napier.”

“I'll notify the accountant to stop your allowance. Don't contact us until you come to your senses.” The phone clicked in her ear.

“Wow,” she said.

“What's wrong?”

“Dad is stopping my allowance. He also said he'd make sure I lose my job at the charity. They don't even know I haven't worked there for ages.”

Dallas turned her to face him. “Are you okay?”

“I'm stunned my parents want to control me so much they're willing to use blackmail.”

“You can move in with me.”

“Thanks, I hoped you'd suggest that. As long as I budget, I'm fine for money and can contribute to the household expenses. Did I tell you every temp job I've had so far has offered full time employment? I'm waiting for the perfect job, one that presents a challenge. The owner of the temp agency told me she's pleased with her decision to take me on and wishes she could clone me.”

“You're doing a great job with the pub accounts.”

“Thanks.” She shoved her phone back into her pocket. “I wish I'd never brought my phone.”

“At least you know where your phone is. I hope my cell phone is at the house. It's either there or at the pub.”

“Don't worry. I'm sure your brothers will take care of any problems. We'll panic if
O'Grady's
makes the news headlines tonight. Otherwise, I'm sure everything is fine.”

“Good point,” he said, snatching a kiss.

“Race you to the outcrop. Loser buys the winner an ice cream cone,” Laura said and started running.

Half an hour later, they sat in the corner booth of a café. A waitress arrived and they decided on coffee and a blueberry muffin, fresh from the oven, instead of ice cream. Dallas's hard thigh crowded hers, and his arm was slung along the back of the booth. She cuddled up to him while they waited for their coffee to arrive.

“I think I might buy a T-shirt.” Her chin angled in the direction of the connected gift shop. “A souvenir to remind me of this weekend and to commemorate the true start of my independence.”

“Let me buy it for you.”

“Thanks, but I'd prefer to pay for it myself. You can pay for the coffee. After all, you did lose our race.”

He reached for her hand, laced their fingers. “I'm proud of you.”

The owner of the café arrived with their coffee and muffins, interrupting their talk, but Laura reveled in his soft words. Her parents never gave compliments, never encouraged their children. They were about doing the right thing and keeping up with the offspring of their friends and acquaintances. A part of her envied the easy relationship Dallas had with his siblings and parents. While she hadn't met any of them, it was easy to hear the threads of love weaving through their banter, at least from Dallas's side of the conversation. His parents rang or contacted Dallas via computer most days.

Her parents rang her when she displeased them.

Almost as if she'd summoned them, her phone rang. Her mother, she saw with a quick glance at the screen. She might as well get this over now, then she'd switch off her cell and relax for the rest of the weekend.

“Hello, Mother.”

“How could you?”

Laura scowled and moved her phone farther from her ear. “I don't want to argue, Mother.”

“Are you with James?” Her mother's voice turned coy, and Laura rolled her eyes. Of course, that would make everything better. Exchanging one prison for another.

“No.” No point repeating that James was happy with Steven. Her mother heard what she wished to hear.

“Who are you with?” her mother demanded.

“You haven't met him.”

“Him?” Her mother's voice was another ear-ringing shriek. “I thought you were with girlfriends. Some of those girls who work with you at the charity place.”

“No,” Laura said. Dallas was holding her free hand again, offering silent comfort, and she appreciated his support. Yet another difference. He didn't judge.

Her mother sniffed. “Don't coming crying to us if you get pregnant.”

“I wouldn't dream of it,” Laura said. “Besides, we're using condoms.”

Dallas's brows shot up, his wicked look stirring a flash of heat and directing it straight to her pussy. She squeezed her thighs together, savoring the frisson of pleasure.

“I don't know what we've done to deserve such a wicked daughter. I'm sure you'll come to your senses soon.” The phone clicked in her ear.

“Another hang up,” Laura said and placed her phone on the table, staring at it as if it were a viperous snake. “Both my parents are furious at my behavior. No doubt, they'll report to my siblings, and I'll receive more irate calls.”

“You're upset.”

“I wish they'd treat me like an adult. I received a good education and I wanted for nothing while growing up, but a prison is a prison.” She cut a portion off her muffin and popped it into her mouth. “This is delicious. I should try to make these. Is it weird my cooking repertoire is full of posh dishes?”

“Bizarre,” he said. “Can you make bread?”

“I've never tried.”

“When you have a spare afternoon, you should pop into the kitchen at the pub. Harry, our cook, is amazing. He'll teach you as long as you don't mind acting as his sous chef.”

“I'd love that.” Laura sipped her coffee and gave a happy sigh. Delicious. Her phone rang again. “My oldest sister.” She let the call go to voice mail and took another sip of coffee before switching off her phone. “Much better. I don't want to spoil the rest of our weekend.”

“What happens if they find out who you spent your weekend with?”

“I'll face that problem when I come to it, but I'm not going to lie. If they hit me with the truth, I don't intend to deny it.” She ran her fingers over the top of his knuckles. “You make me happy. And that's enough about my family. How are things at the new pub? When will it open, and will I get an invite to the opening?”

“Are you sure you want to walk into the Clare pub at my side?”

“I'd be honored.”

Dallas set his coffee cup down and brushed a kiss over her cheek. “Patrick is grappling with the staffing requirements. He's still looking for a cook and kitchen staff.”

“The behind the scenes stuff fascinates me. I've never thought about the things required to run a business. So much juggling to get everything done.”

“That's the challenge.” Dallas drained the remains of his coffee, and settled back while she ate the last of her muffin. “Are you ready for T-shirt shopping?”

“Yes. Why don't you have T-shirts for the pub? You could use it for a staff uniform too. A lot of pubs have their own T-shirts on sale.”

“Because none of us has thought of it,” he said. “Great idea.”

“What you need is a catchy slogan and a decent quality T-shirt, maybe a typical style and one of the slim-fit ones for women. Two colors. Black and perhaps the teal color from your sign outside the pub, and you're good.”

“I'll bring up the idea with Quinn and Patrick next time I see them.”

“Really?”

“Don't sell yourself short, sweetheart. Initiative is a prized quality with employers. You have it in spades.”

She chose a tight-fitting shirt in baby blue. It bore flowers on the front and the name of the beach underneath. Dallas paid for the coffee while she purchased her T-shirt, using the new debit card she'd received when she set up an account at a different bank to the one the rest of her family used. A petty sense of satisfaction filled her when she tapped in her pin number to complete the transaction. Independence was a heady thing.

Back at the lodge, they stripped off their clothes and climbed into their private spa bath, which was big enough for two. Laura tipped a scoop of bath salts into the water and soon bubbles covered their skin and the scent of lavender and mint filled the air.

“If I venture into the
O'Grady
kitchens, one of your brothers might see me.” Laura kept her eyes on his face. Beneath the water, she skimmed a hand up his calf and ran a finger over the back of his knee.

“Yes, that could happen.”

“And you're okay with that?”

“I don't like hiding. It cheapens our relationship.”

His words thrilled her, and she found herself nodding. “So we're agreed. I can visit you while you're working and if your cook agrees, I get to learn new things in the kitchen.”

“If that works for you.”

“It does. Do you want to kiss to seal the deal?” She sidled closer to him, sliding her hands over his naked shoulders.

Dallas lifted his hands to cup her face. He stared deep into her eyes, silent for so long anxiety rippled to life in her. “I love you.”

Laura released her breath in a slow puff of air. She replayed his words. Yeah, he'd said them. “An O'Grady loves a Drummond?”

His happy expression blanked, giving her a quick flicker of hurt before he reached impassive. “Yeah.” He pulled away from her and went to climb out of the bath.

“No.” Panic cleared her mind. “Don't go. You took me by surprise. Please.”

Dallas sank into the water again, tension evident in his stiff shoulders. Laura swallowed, aware of the need for caution.

“We haven't known each other for long,” she said. “I care for you. I enjoy your company, and when we're apart, my thoughts are with you. The thing is we're fine when we're alone, but what happens when our families find out? I…I worry they'll make life difficult for us, and we'll crack under the pressure.”

“We have options, Laura. If things become too difficult, we leave Napier and start fresh elsewhere. All you have to do is believe in us as much as I do.”

Laura felt a smile struggle for freedom. “Oh, I want this, Dallas. You're the one I want, but what about your family? You love your brothers, and your business is here.”

Dallas lifted her onto his lap and pressed her against his chest, holding her in a manner that screamed safety. Security. “I know. But remember this. There are always different ways to approach our problem. Remember that if the situation becomes nasty. We have each other.” The certainty in his voice fueled her determination. He was right.