The CEO Gets Her Man (27 page)

Stop worrying. Debra isn’t the type to renege. His hand flew to his pocket. Yes, his phone was switched on, it was fully charged and no, no cancellation sat on his queue.

He took another circuit around the pavement. What was wrong with him? He was as nervous as a new All Black taking the field for the first time—more nervous. Hell, this is so much more important than some rugby match. His hand stilled on its way to massage his shoulder.

Debra’s words on the subject echoed inside his head as they had often done over the last weeks. Rugby was a game. A game played at the highest level for a season or two, or if a guy was fortunate, for over a decade. Jase had eventually accepted the truth of her words. He had been exceptionally lucky.

As his fingers touched his shoulder Jase questioned whether there was actual pain radiating from his injury. Or had the weakness become a habit for concealing the pain inside where he battled against his disappointment?

With a straightened back he made the decision that had been tottering at the edge of his mind for weeks. It was time to put that part of his life behind him and concentrate on his future—a future that must include Debra.

Scrubbing his hand around the back of his neck he took another turn across the pavement. He just needed to figure out how to wangle that.

He had one day to break through all the layers making up Debra Laurie. One day to make her forget she was impenetrable, powerful and—he gulped—his boss.

Doubt, his companion most of the night, again tore at his insides. Panic churned his stomach worse than a concrete mixer. What if he couldn’t make an impact on her? What if she clung to her assertion she was content and happy? What if he had to spend the rest of his life without her by his side?

His hands fisted inside his pockets as the enormity of his likely despair grabbed him. His mouth felt like the inside of a vacuum cleaner, dusty and dry as flint.

The throaty roar of a car drew his attention. Before the sporty convertible drew up beside him, he knew it was Debra. The car was so much in variance with the facade she projected that he would have laughed had his thoughts not been so morose.

“What’s wrong?” Her concerned greeting shocked him out of his melancholy. This was Debbie inquiring, not the hard-nosed businesswoman Debra.

Thinking fast, to keep Debra at bay during their day together, he slid into the passenger seat with a smile. But she didn’t accelerate away. Instead she just kept looking at him.

He couldn’t confess he’d been lamenting over a life without her, so he grabbed at his other thoughts as an explanation. “I’ve decided you’re right.”

His smile broadened at her baffled look. “I’ve been assessing my life of late and you were right. I’m bloody lucky. In fact, I’ve led a charmed existence and I should be grateful instead of incensed that part of it had to end.”

“I hope your assessing doesn’t include another career change.” There was a sharp note in her voice. “My mother would not be happy to lose you.”

A pricked balloon couldn’t have deflated faster.

“You are happy at Riversleigh?” She fiddled with the gear shift for a moment before easing the car into traffic. “Mother says there’s already been a huge improvement—”

Damn. Riversleigh was not on his agenda today. “She has some interesting ideas,” he interrupted. “I think we work well together.”

“I’m glad.” She concentrated on manoeuvring through the city traffic and onto the motorway but her voice was soft. “Since Dad died, Mother’s been——well, it’s good for her to have an interest.” Her gaze swung around. “She cares about Riversleigh, cares deeply.”

“I know. She’s made that obvious. Her concern about the district as well as the resort shines through. I doubt we’ll have any local unrest while she’s in charge.”

“I doubt we’d have any unrest anyway.” The glance she threw him was direct and serious. “We now have an excellent manager.”

He couldn’t stop his chest swelling at the praise. Warmth invaded his cheeks as he searched for a reply. He ended up giving an inadequate response, “Thank you.” And then to take the focus off her tribute he added, “Karin talks about making the place your flagship and—”

Debra’s laughter interrupted him. “A suggestion made during one of our many arguments,” she explained. “She’s actually taken hold of the idea?”

“Taken hold would be a mild way of phrasing her determination. Like I say, she has some intriguing ideas, and some rather outlandish ones, too,” he warned. “I’m not sure Head Office is ever going to approve some of them.”

Another arched sideward glance didn’t prepare him for her words. “I’d consider anything if it keeps her busy and out of my hair.”

Jase frowned. “Your mother is a very astute woman, Deb. You need to know she’s not playing. I suspect she’s capable of doing exactly what she’s set out to achieve.” He turned his body and slipped his arm along the back of her seat so he could watch her. “You’re very alike.”

Debra’s eyes boggled and her mouth fell open. “What? You’re kidding,” she managed to mutter when she got control of her mouth. “I’m not like her. We’ve always been cat and dog, never got along well. I take after my dad.”

“You might not look alike. But you have her drive and tenacity, her ability to focus on a task at hand, her coolness in any situation.” His smile broadened under her growing astonishment. “Ever think you might clash a bit because you are so alike?”

“No.” Debra’s reply was crystal-clear. “She’s a social butterfly, flitting around the place. Oh, she performs on various charitable trusts and I’m sure she often does good deeds, but beyond that...”

The look she shot him was full of distaste. “My early memories are filled with her dressing me up in frilly dresses and taking me places to show me off.” Her knuckles turned white around the steering wheel. “I hated it so much. When I got older and the ugly duckling didn’t turn into a swan, she found it easier to just ignore me.”

She grimaced. “I was occasionally invited to spend hours in beauty clinics or to go shopping with her. Oh, how fascinating.”

Shock kept Jase quiet. The image Debra portrayed of her mother didn’t jell with the woman he now worked with. But the closed look on Debra’s face forestalled him making any further comment about their relationship. It had nothing to do with him.

They drove in silence for some time. While the silence wasn’t strictly companionable, Jase was relieved to discover it wasn’t confrontational, either.

“I’m not sure about us needing to spend today together.” Debra murmured as they left the motorway behind and drove into the countryside.

Damn, where has Debbie disappeared to? It was all that bloody talk about Riversleigh.

“After all there won’t be anyone there to see us.”

Jase’s jaw tightened. “Can’t you just think of it as being a pleasant break from your normal routine? A time to have some fun?”

Debra’s glance and raised eyebrows suggested the unlikelihood of this.

He glared out the window, his voice hardening. “It will help Chloe accept our relationship. Tonight you can tell her all about the market and what we saw there, etcetera,” he mocked. “I’m sure it’ll make your pretence more believable.”

The frost radiating from his companion made Jase regret his words. His fists clenched on his thighs. Every time he found a chink in her armour he somehow blew it.

One thing he was certain of though, she wasn’t happy. Despite her show of being a dedicated businesswoman, in his bones he knew she dreamed of more—more than the luxurious apartment, the fancy car, the beautiful clothes. None of that concealed the desolation and loneliness he’d witnessed every so often in her eyes.

Today he needed to make her forget about her silly little scheme. He needed her to enjoy just spending the day with him. Most importantly, today he needed her to begin to fall in love.

****

Debra’s shoulders slumped. She didn’t mean to be negative about everything Jase said or did. Her lip caught between her teeth.

Searching to understand her pessimism, stale air sneaked from her lungs. It’s because I don’t know how to have fun.

With her gaze focused on the white line dribbling along the centre of the grey road, her stomach clenched tight. When was the last time she’d done something for fun? Just for sheer delight?

Her mind flipped back through year after year, until it was all the way to her childhood. She gasped.

What had she been doing for the last umpteen years? Working hard and building up the business, she justified. A sly little voice inside wouldn’t hush though. Avoiding anything fun, it screamed its accusation.

Regrets churned inside Debra, mixing her hasty breakfast into an unpalatable lump. She’d lost her adolescence to long hours of study and a determination never to be a social butterfly.

And her early years of womanhood? First, she’d given them to Roger, then had hidden behind work from the hurt he’d inflicted upon her. She swallowed a groan of self-disgust. She’d buried herself for two-thirds of her life.

Her gaze slid sideward but Jase’s attention was on the surrounding countryside. She gnawed at her bottom lip. Did she have the nerve to relax? Her knuckles whitened against the steering wheel and her heart rate trebled. Panic raced through her as she accepted the truth. She didn’t know how.

Could Jase teach her? And did she want him to? Those were the questions turning her brain to mush and her legs to jelly.

Maybe today would bring more to light than Jase could ever imagine when he’d suggested the outing.

Fear was still paramount in Debra as she slid from the car in the improvised parking area. Panic had almost kept her rooted to her seat but somehow she’d alighted.

Alarmed eyes flashed everywhere but at her companion. This was a mistake—a dreadful mistake. She should be at the office, or doing her housework—somewhere safe—anywhere but being here with Jase.

Feeling her heels sink into the soft paddock her mouth tightened. Another mistake, she should have worn more sensible shoes. She should never have agreed to this. It was crazy.

Jase had already proved his ability to act his part in the charade and she wouldn’t have any trouble convincing Chloe. So Paul wouldn’t be fooled. So what? He would understand and appreciate her efforts. He’d say nothing to Chloe.

To spend another whole day in Jase’s company was tempting fate. In fact it was almost suicidal. “I don’t know what we’re going to achieve today.”

Jase joined her at the car’s bonnet and grasped her hand. Her attempt to tug free was thwarted by his tightening fingers.

“This needn’t be about achieving anything.” Jase looked deep into her eyes. “It could just be about a girl and a guy enjoying themselves.” He hesitated a little, his hold drawing her closer before adding, “Enjoying each other’s company.”

Debra’s breath caught. She couldn’t deny the spark of excitement at the prospect. Heat crept up her neck and into her cheeks as she drowned in his eyes.

Blood rushed through her veins like a swollen river, swirling and surging past all in its path. She fought an overwhelming need to lean even closer. She could no more throttle the dizzy current electrifying her than she could stop the sun from rising.

“All you have to do is relax,” he murmured, his gaze dropping to her mouth. “And forget who you are. You definitely need to forget you’re my boss.”

Screams of frustration gathered at the back of her throat. “I am not your boss, today,” she denied through clenched teeth.

He sensed her annoyance and sought to placate her. “Well, actually you are.” Slipping his arm around her he turned them toward the market. “You could fire me any time you want.”

She glared across and a sharp shrug displaced his arm.

“You’re not thinking of me as an employee?”

Was he blind? Their professional status meant nothing. But his tone was serious as he waited for her reply. “Of course not.”

They continued in silence. A glance from the corner of her eye revealed Jase a little taller, a little broader in the chest. “I’m glad you feel like that. It’s something that’s been worrying me. It doesn’t seem quite ethical to date one’s boss.”

“We’re hardly dating. Ours is a business arrangement.” Debra immediately regretted allowing the words to escape. Jase’s face tightened.

Sourness filled her mouth and made swallowing difficult. Guilt was added to the disappointment she might have ruined the day.

She remembered Queenstown. Jase cared about ethics. Hastily she strove to fetch back her relaxed escort. “I’m sorry. You’re right. It’s a beautiful day, we should just enjoy ourselves.”

She chewed her bottom lip, knowing as an apology it was a pretty dismal attempt. But she had to rein herself in from saying what was in her heart. She couldn’t risk revealing herself. The pain of his ultimate rejection would be too great.

But there was one thing she had to make very clear. “Jase, neither Paul nor I involve ourselves with the day-to-day running of any of our enterprises. I only got caught up with the problems at Riversleigh because of my mother. I would never have done anything like that without her goading.”

He watched her as she explained. “You are hardly an employee. You are the hotel’s manager.”

An emerging smile lit up Jase’s face. “So it could be acceptable for a manager to date a CEO?” His tone was tentative, as if testing her. He avoided looking into her eyes. “I’m talking hypothetically, of course.”