The Predator (10 page)

“Thank you. I… I can’t believe you remembered.”

He stared at her, his face only inches from hers. “I remember lots of things.”

The seconds lengthened. Try as she might, Alex couldn’t drag her gaze away. Her heart thumped against her rib cage. The look on his face intensified.

“So do I,” she murmured.

An indefinable emotion flared hotly in his eyes. Her breath caught. She couldn’t believe she’d said that.
What the hell was she thinking?

She turned away and shuffled papers around on her desk, needing to keep her hands busy while her mind tried to regain its equilibrium. The heat of his gaze seared the back of her neck. She had to say something. The problem was, she couldn’t think of a single, sensible sentence.

Brandon propped a hip against her desk and crossed his arms, obviously in no hurry to leave. Panic nipped at her heels.

“I miss us.”

His quiet admission rocked her to the core. Her gaze flew to his and she almost gasped at the raw need she saw reflected in the dark blue shadows of his eyes.

Her heart constricted. Somewhere deep inside of her, she recognized his pain and responded to it. The feeling was familiar. Way too familiar. No matter what she’d told herself over the years, she loved him. Had always loved him.

A heavy weight settled in the pit of her stomach and she couldn’t even bring herself to look at him. What sort of a future could they have? Even if she accepted the reasons why he’d left the way he had, when he discovered the level of her deceit, he’d never forgive her.

No, it was best to leave things the way they were. Acknowledge the past and move forward into the future. Alone. Just her and Sam. And her mother.

She snuck a peek at him and quickly looked away. No, she didn’t need anyone else. Most especially, her way-too-good-looking husband who now stared at her with undisguised yearning.

It was way past time to let him go. Let
them
go. And move on.

Her thoughts turned to the half-completed online dating application she’d filled out a week ago, when she’d vowed to put Brandon Munro out of her life once and for all. What better way to get over him than to return to the dating game? She’d put that off for way too long.

Like her mother said, she was young and passably attractive with her whole life ahead of her. There was no reason she couldn’t go out with other men and have fun. The fact that she didn’t have the slightest inclination to start another relationship didn’t matter. A casual date here and there with an attractive man could be exactly what she needed.

“Tom and Lily are having a barbeque on Saturday. I was wondering if you’d like to come? I checked the roster. I know you have the day off.”

Alarm sealed Alex’s vocal cords and she fished around in increasing desperation for an excuse.

“Um, I…um… Thanks, but I promised Sam I’d take him to the Aquarium. With all the stuff that’s been going on here at work, I’ve barely had time to say hello to him.”

“It’s a night time thing. Dinner. I think the Aquarium closes at five. Why don’t you come afterwards?”

Alex’s heart accelerated.
Oh, God, how did she get here?

“Er… Thanks, that’s really kind of you, but my mother’s away for the weekend, so I won’t have anyone to look after Sam. She leaves as soon as I get home this afternoon.”

“Bring him with you.”

Her panic escalated to sheer terror. She flailed around for another excuse.

“Oh, wow. That’s…that’s really kind of you, but Sam won’t be in any state to socialize after a day out. He’ll be exhausted. He’ll need to be bathed and put to bed. Believe me, you don’t want to be around a tired thr—two-year-old.” Her cheeks flamed and she prayed he hadn’t caught her slip.

His expression hardened. He pushed away from her desk, his body tense.

“It’s okay, Alex. I get it. You don’t want to see any more of me than you have to. I just thought…” His jaws clamped together and he gave a sharp shake of his head. “Don’t worry; I won’t bother you again.”

The hurt and rejection that shadowed his eyes almost did her in. “Brandon. I didn’t mean… I… It’s not what you think. It’s just that…I can’t…” Guilt settled heavily in her belly. Sharp tears pricked the backs of her eyes. But there was no help for it. Until he knew the truth, she couldn’t have him around Sam. She couldn’t have him, or his family, looking and comparing and wondering, no matter how she might wish things were different.

She had to tell him. But not here at work. Perhaps she could meet him somewhere afterwards? Somewhere neutral, somewhere free from interruption. Hope sprang to life inside her and then quickly fizzled. The timing was off. Both of them were buried knee-deep in a high-stress investigation. Very soon, they’d be working around the clock. Neither of them needed the extra pressure of dealing with unforeseeable, traumatic personal circumstances.

Brandon’s shoulders slumped and he turned away. Alex swallowed a sigh. Could she have Brandon’s family meet Sam and keep the secret of his paternity concealed?

Was it possible?

Brandon had seen Sam’s photo and it hadn’t seemed to trigger any suspicions. Her lie about his age had seen to that. Knowing she was going to regret it, but somehow unable to stop the words from forming, Alex stood and called to his retreating form.

“Okay, we’ll come.”

Brandon stilled and then slowly turned around. His gaze was icy, his voice scathing.

“Don’t do it out of pity, Alex. I don’t need you to feel sorry for me.”

She shook her head, suddenly anxious for him to understand. “Of course I’m not doing it out of pity. Surely you know me better than that?”

He gave her another hard look, his eyes narrowed. “I don’t know what I know anymore.”

“It…it would be nice to see Tom and Lily again,” she added, the words coming out in a rush. “Give me the details and we’ll meet you there.”

His body relaxed and he gave a tentative smile. “Really? Great. I’ll let them know there will be a couple of extras.” He shot her a quick grin and turned away, heading in the direction of the staff amenities.

With a sigh, Alex plopped back down in her chair and tried to focus on the computer screen in front of her. Why, oh why couldn’t she have simply declined?

* * *

It was hours later, with the house adjusting to the oncoming night and Sam tucked into bed that Alex switched on her laptop and opened up the page to the dating website she’d been toying with. She may have agreed to go to a family barbeque with Brandon, but that didn’t mean they were going to have a future together. It was time she accepted that and got on with her life.

She clicked open a link on the dating site and was inundated with photos of good-looking, carefree couples strolling along the beach, enjoying summer picnics and sharing laughs. They seemed to mock her with their picture-perfect happiness.

This could be you
, they seemed to say.
See how happy we are? You, too, could find your perfect match. You, too, could enjoy a romantic weekend away, watch a perfect sunset with the perfect date. All you need do is sign up and wait for the fun to begin. There’s someone out there waiting for you, wanting you. We guarantee it. It’s all just a click away.

Alex opened the profile she’d compiled a week ago and reread it. Unlike a lot of people who frequented these sites, she’d tried to be honest with her answers.
Who knew?
Maybe there was a like-minded man out there with a similar moral compass?

Her hand closed over the mouse. Nerves tickled her belly. Taking a deep breath and a mouthful of the merlot in the half-empty glass by her elbow, she clicked on “Submit.” Her application for the search for everlasting love disappeared into cyberspace.

It was done.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

The house in the much-sought-after northern Sydney suburb of Chatswood was larger than the single-storey structure Tom and Lily had lived in four years ago. A big front yard bordered by huge Moreton Bay fig trees embraced a wide stretch of manicured lawn. Several cars, some costing more than a couple of years of Alex’s salary, lined the long pebbled driveway and her already-frayed nerves ratcheted up another notch.

She found a place to park and switched off the engine. She hadn’t seen Tom and Lily since the separation but she could still recall the hurt and bewilderment in Lily’s voice when Alex failed to respond to the countless messages Lily had left on her voice mail in the days and weeks after the breakdown of her marriage.

They’d been more than sisters-in-law. They’d been friends. Good friends. And despite the fact she’d had no choice, Alex still felt guilty about turning her back on her.

A renewed flutter of nerves tightened her belly. What the hell was she doing? Why, oh why, had she said yes? She and Brandon were over. How had she let herself be persuaded by a gorgeous pair of baby blues, shining with hope and vulnerability?

She should have just told him no and that would have been the end of it. He wouldn’t have asked again. She knew him too well. Stubborn and proud, he wouldn’t have risked rejection twice.

Therein lay the problem. To be honest, she didn’t want to let him go. She might be a fool for even entertaining the idea that they could be something to each other again, but there it was.
The thought of shutting that possibility down forever terrified her. And she saw her uncertainty and a glimmer of hope in his eyes too.

But what about Sam?
If there was even a chance they were going to have a future together, she had to tell Brandon about his son and whichever way she looked at that little dilemma, she couldn’t imagine a happy ending.

“Whose house is this?” Sam’s sleepy voice came from the back seat.

Alex suppressed a sigh and kept her tone light. “I told you, remember? It’s the brother of a friend of mine from work. I knew them a long time ago, before you were born. They asked us over to a barbeque.”

“Do they have any kids?”

She nodded. “Yes, they do. A boy and a girl. They’re both a bit older than you, but I know they’ll make sure you have a good time.”

“Will there be lollies?”

She smiled and shook her head. “I don’t know, honey, but I’m certain you’ll find something yummy to eat. Come on, we’d better go inside.”

Wishing she felt as confident as she sounded, Alex opened the car door and did her best to ignore the surge of butterflies that vied for space in her belly. Collecting Sam from his car seat, she headed toward the graveled path that led to the front door.

* * *

 “Alex, hi! How wonderful to see you!”

Before she had time to catch her breath, Alex was enveloped in a warm hug. She breathed in the scent of expensive perfume—a mix of spicy oriental and vanilla.

Lily Munro hadn’t changed a bit. Her glossy blond hair was still shoulder length and hung in soft, shiny waves around her face. She hadn’t gained a pound on her slight frame and from the welcoming smile on her lips, it was as if the years of separation had never been.

“Hi, Lily,” Alex murmured, grateful the woman seemed to hold no animosity toward her. “Thank you for inviting us.”

“Why wouldn’t we invite you? When Brandon told us he’d caught up with you again, we practically threatened him with annihilation if he didn’t bring you around to see us. And where’s your little boy? Brandon said you have a son.”

She searched Lily’s eyes for any sign of suspicion, but the bright blue orbs held nothing but pleasure and a mild curiosity.

Sam had planted himself behind Alex and now clung tightly to the leg of her jeans. She gently disengaged his fingers and knelt down beside him. Giving his arms a reassuring squeeze, she stood and made the introductions.

“Sam, this is Mrs Munro. She’s married to the brother of my friend from work.”

Lily stepped forward and held out her hand, her eyes twinkling in delight.

“Hello, Sam. I’m Lily. It’s so lovely to meet you.”

Sam ducked his head shyly and tightened his hold on Alex’s leg.

Lily smiled. “He looks just like you, Alex. A total mini-you.”

Alex nodded and averted her eyes, ruffling the top of Sam’s curly, dark hair. “Yes, that’s what everyone says,” she murmured, relieved when Lily didn’t pursue the matter any further.

“Come outside and meet the others. We’ve invited a handful of friends over and I think there might just be a couple of children around your age, Sam. What do you think?”

Sam nodded cautiously and they followed Lily across the foyer and into a large open kitchen. The walls were decorated in neutral colors that contrasted nicely with a red and silver glass splashback. The late afternoon sun poured through tall French windows and glinted off an array of stainless-steel appliances.

“Your house is lovely, Lily. This space is so wonderful. It seems to go on forever,” Alex said, tilting her head back to take in the twelve-foot ceilings. A wide expanse of caramel-colored bamboo flooring ended in a carpeted area that housed a modular-shaped red leather couch and an enormous flat screen TV.

Lily smiled with pride. “Yes, it’s a little larger than the last place. With the kids growing bigger and bigger every day, we needed a bit more space. There’s another room through that door where the kids have their things.” She pointed in the direction of a wooden doorway at the far end of the open-plan living room. “They have a TV and computer set up in there, along with a couch that’s no stranger to spills. They practically live in there.”

Alex smiled back at her. “I know what you mean about spills. Sam and I live in an apartment. Three bedrooms, one of which I’ve converted into an office. Then there’s a single living area. Sometimes it drives me mad that I don’t have more space. Who’d have thought a child could need so much stuff?”

Lily eyed her with frank curiosity. “Where are you living now?”

Alex looked away. “Still in Bondi,” she murmured. “I love being close to the beach. Somehow, I couldn’t bring myself to leave.”

“I know what you mean. I’d love a place by the water. Unfortunately, I’d have to sacrifice some of this space and with a teenager and a half in the house driving me and each other insane on any given day, I’d rather have the space!”