The Finest Line (37 page)

Mairead beamed and took
encouragement in her granted request to ask another.

“I want to be a pole dancer.”
She flinched a little as she asked, expecting a definite
rejection.

“Vanessa and I have already
discussed this,” James sighed. “I was a little opposed to the idea,
but Vanessa believes that you would make an exceptional
choreographer for the girls at our new club.”

It was Mairead’s turn to frown.
“What new club?”

James grinned sheepishly. “I was
going to tell you but the opportunity has been delayed several
times.”

Mairead sat up. “Tell me
what?”

“Did you ever wonder what we
were doing in
Silver Dreams
the night of your little
performance?”

Mairead shrugged, “Perving?”

James laughed. “Yeah fair
enough, but in actual fact, we were celebrating our purchase of the
establishment. We now own a nightclub.”

Mairead’s mouth fell open,
evolving into a wide grin, “That is so cool and so completely out
of character for you James.”

“Are you saying that I am not
cool?”

“Hell no,” Mairead laughed long
and loud. “You are definitely not cool James, more like an
antique.”

As his frown deepened, she
quickly added, “Which is just my type and antiques are so classy.
You’re definitely classy.”

“We will also need a cleaner for
our club.” James smiled.

“Choreographer sounds fantastic,
as long as I get to perform every now and then like a mystery
guest. That way I can practice for my entry... into the pole
dancing championships.”

“Your application has already
been filled in and sent away.”

Mairead felt overwhelmed.
“You’re spoiling me.”

“Yes I am,” James agreed
sternly. “But the difference between your father and I is that, I
have no trouble in disciplining you when it’s needed.”

The tingles rippled through her
backside. “I think you’re right and we shouldn’t think about things
that have happened. We will just look to the future and forget
about all that other crap.”

James laughed, “Good try
Mairead, and you will be getting a week’s stay of execution from
physical discipline until you are fully healed, but then...” He
leaned in close. “Your arse is mine.”

She gulped. “Do I get to have a
little fun in my healing week?”

He shook his head. “Punishment
starts today. You are on a time-out from sex until I deem
otherwise. That includes any self help.”

Mairead slumped down into her
pillows and sulked.

James grinned at her. “I might
make a few concessions for good behaviour.”

Her smile was back. She knew
exactly how their relationship would always play out, James
asserting himself as the authority figure, but Mairead knowing who
was really in control.

Amy came in with lunch and James
pulled the mobile table over for her to set it down on.

She looked at Mairead, “There is
a gentleman at the nurse’s station requesting to see you, Mark
Lewis.”

They both fell silent until
James looked at Mairead. “Eat your lunch. I’ll go and see him.”

“James, I want to see him.”

“Eat your lunch.”

James hurried out of the room.
Mairead pushed the table away angrily.

“Are you alright Miss Kavanagh?”
Amy asked, moving the table back out of harms way.

Mairead nodded, “Just stupid
males.”

Amy grinned at her. “You seem to
have a knack for picking the good looking ones.”

Mairead laughed. “I’ll sell both
of them to you for a glass of scotch.”

“Don’t tempt me,” Amy laughed.
“Would you mind if I did your observations?”

Mairead allowed her temperature
and blood pressure to be taken without fuss. Amy checked her facial
injuries for any swelling and then asked Mairead to roll over on
her side.

“Why?” Mairead looked
horrified.

“According to the doctor’s
report, you have some bruising on your bottom.”

Mairead blushed and shook her
head. “Those ones are fine. Trust me.”

James came back into the room,
followed by Mark. Amy looked at them and sighed.

“Offer is still open,” Mairead
whispered, making Amy blush and giggle.

“I’ll leave you to your
visitors.”

When Amy was gone, Mairead eyed
both men tentatively. James approached her bed and frowned. “Why
haven’t you eaten your lunch?’

“I lost my appetite.” She looked
at Mark. He also had bruising to his face. “Hi.”

He smiled. “Hello Mairead, how
are you feeling?”

“Like shit.”

“Understandable,” Mark nodded.
“Hopefully I have some news that might bring you a little
relief.”

Mairead held her breath.

“My father is currently behind
bars for attempted murder on both you and myself. While he is
contemplating that, further charges of corruption and bribery are
expected to follow and he will be sent back to Australia to face a
number of other charges. Unfortunately the murder of Joshua Mason
will not be one of them. Nothing I could do about that.”

Mairead nodded as tears ran down
her face.

Mark continued. “A number of
your father’s colleagues are also facing charges of accepting
bribes and non declaration of significant amounts of money
deposited in their accounts. The West Auckland project will be
officially abandoned.”

“What’s going to happen to you?”
Mairead asked.

Mark grinned broadly. “I’m going
to be a very rich man. No one has anything on me, except you.”

Mairead looked at James who took
her hand. “Mark is prepared to admit everything though he rather
wouldn’t. It’s up to you.”

His calmness unnerved her.
“You’re taking this rather well James.”

He looked at Mark and back to
her. “He’s still an arsehole but while you were unconscious for
twenty minutes before we could get to you, he held onto you and
risked his own life. I owe him that.”

Mairead smirked at Mark. “You
just couldn’t stand to be even could you?”

Mark grinned but quickly became
sombre. “Neither of you owe me anything. What do you want me to do
Mairead?”

“Try not to turn out like your
father.” She answered quickly. “I don’t give a fuck about the
media. They can print what they like.”

“I will attempt a little damage
control. We all had a big misunderstanding.”

Mairead added, “And I would like
all evidence of my drunken antics destroyed.”

“Consider it done.” He looked at
James and the casual suave demeanour was back with his grin. “I
don’t have to tell you what you have. Just be aware that if you
ever fuck up, I’ll still be out there somewhere, just waiting.”

James returned a humourless
smile. “Then I won’t fuck up.”

Returning his attention to
Mairead, his stare lingered for a moment. Goodbye Kiwi Girl.
Undoubtedly our paths will cross when all this goes to trial but
until then, I won’t bother you again.”

“I still have the necklace and
earrings you bought me.”

“Keep them,” he told her,
glancing at James. “It was my engagement present to you.”

Mairead grinned. “Goodbye
Mark.”

He was gone and Mairead waited
for James to say something. Eventually she looked at him, “I’ll be
sending the jewellery back.”

“It’s alright babe,” his voice
sounded tired. “I’m just having a few self esteem issues myself.
Sometimes I wonder if I’ll ever be enough for you. When all this is
over and we are living a day to day life, maybe I won’t seem so
appealing to you.”

Mairead hurt to hear him talk
like this. “Everything about you appeals to me. No one has the
power over me that you do, and certainly not Mark. It’s something
that I’ve tossed around in my head a thousand times since you first
threatened to take me over your knee five years ago, but it’s only
been these last few weeks that I know what it is that makes me love
you so much.”

James looked at her sheepishly.
“Tell me.”

Mairead smiled. “It’s the way
you express two opposing forces and bring them together so
perfectly. You scare the hell out of me, but in no one else’s
presence do I ever feel so safe. You are so unemotional and sober
and calm and yet when you make love to me, you are so fierce and
passionate and animated. Your strength is enormous and I am so
aware that you could finish me with one blow, and yet I know that
when you take the tiniest part of my body in your mouth how gentle
you’re going to be. It’s the way you can be so self assured and
knowledgeable about everything you do, and yet be so vulnerable
about the way I feel about you.”

She smiled as she watched him
trying to keep his composure. “It’s the way that you are so
disciplined, composed and organised and yet could still fall in
love with the craziest, undisciplined, and completely out of
control nutcase like me.”

James grinned, but still had to
wipe his eyes. “Is that all?”

Mairead shrugged. “The sex is
pretty good too.”

His eyes narrowed at her. “When
we first made love, I told you that you were spectacular. You told
me I was okay.”

She laughed with the memory.
“Okay fair enough. I’ve found the word I meant to say.”

He stared at her, “Which
is?”

“Perfection,” Mairead smiled.
“Is that okay?”

He nodded with a grin. “I’ll
accept that.”

With one movement, he had swept
her up in his arms and taken her place on the bed, with her on top
of him. He demonstrated just how passionate his kisses could be as
his hands slipped beneath her hospital gown.

“James Vaughn,” Mairead scolded.
“I’m pretty sure you’ll find this is against hospital policy.”

He smiled. “Hospital policy can
get fucked.”

He kissed her again, his roaming
becoming more intimate and Mairead trembled under his touch.

Nurse Amy came into the room and
halted as she saw them. She blushed deeply and looked away,
struggling to speak.

“Your father and friends are
anxious to see you. What should I tell them?”

James sat up enough to talk to
her. “Tell them this. They can wait for another bloody half hour
while I give your patient the one thing she needs more than
medication and then they may see her.”

Amy nodded.

Mairead grinned at her, “Should
have taken my offer.”

Amy grinned back. “I’ll keep
everyone away.”

When she was gone, Mairead
looked at James. “I thought my punishment started today.”

“Your speech earned you a
concession but you aren’t off the hook by any means.” He removed
the gown as he rolled off the bed, with her still in his arms. He
lay her face down across the bed and she heard the distinct sound
of his belt being unbuckled.

Mairead giggled as she clutched
hold of the bed, “Did I tell you it’s also that whole romantic
thing you’ve...”

She couldn’t say anymore as he
penetrated her, his penis hard and full.

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

Being back in the VIP lounge at
the airport was a disturbing reminder that Mairead still had James’
wrath to face for running off. James had already made her apologise
to Steve, the security officer and now, sitting with him and
Vanessa, she knew she had more apologies to make.

She bided her time, watching
quietly while James and Vanessa chatted. A little jealousy
lingered, seeing the bond between them and knowing Vanessa had been
with him through some of his toughest times. They were business
partners as well, and she was still ravishingly gorgeous,
attracting the stares of many of the men in the lounge.

Mairead’s bruises were nearly
gone and those that remained were well concealed under make-up. Her
backside was completely healed, but she didn’t hold out that it was
going to stay that way for long.

From the airport they were
driving up to Pukerua Bay to begin the most normal part of a
relationship in living together. Mairead was excited and nervous at
the prospect of being with James all the time. He had barely left
her side in the last week, only taking time out when her friends
were there or forcing himself to go back to his hotel to get some
much needed sleep.

Her father had accepted James’
resignation happily, joking that he was in fact taking on the most
difficult position yet. Joanne had flown down to see her and
Mairead took comfort in that she was not leaving her father alone.
She wished that he would wake up himself and see that Joanne and he
had long been more than employee and boss.

It would be another week before
James officially took the reins at
Silver Dreams.
It was
difficult to imagine him running a nightclub or what type of boss
he would be, though she had a fair idea. Already she had heard him
discuss with Vanessa a need to clean up a drug culture within the
place. It was going to be an interesting life.

During a lull in their
conversation, Mairead took the opportunity to speak to Vanessa.

“I didn’t get the chance to say
thank you for what you did for me,” She began, “And also to say
sorry for taking up all of James attention.”

Vanessa laughed. “I’ve had a
ball and in several months I’ll be back and then I will have to
deal with the grumpy old bastard on a daily basis. I told you, you
have been the highlight of this holiday and I meant it. The sights
of New Zealand are indeed very impressive.”

Mairead blushed deeply,
remembering how much she had seen after helping James rescue her
from Richard.

James intervened. “Cut it out
Vanessa.”

She ignored him. “I extended my
holiday time a little more than perhaps I should have but the
results have proven advantageous. It seems that I too have found a
Kiwi girl in Queenstown who wishes for us to keep in close contact
until my return.”

“That’s wonderful,” Mairead was
delighted for her and a little more reassured that men were
definitely not her thing.