in exotic places. Make that who had used to prefer.
Mickey needed security—he needed the same people in his life day in and day out, to see the same kids at playgroup every time he went. He certainly wouldn’t get that tagging along with his uncle to desolate places on the African continent. Besides, that wasn’t an option after what had happened on his last tour. Far too dangerous.
Karina spoke quietly. ‘I’d been working here for a few months when the accident happened.’ She blinked furiously. ‘Mickey and I were great mates even then.’
‘Coming from Auckland to such a small place must’ve taken some getting used to.’
‘It was refreshing.’ She picked at a spot on the table. ‘Maria and I met in Auckland while doing our nursing training and became firm friends. Inseparable at times.’
She raised those beautiful eyes to his face and the sadness spilling out made him want to wrap her up in his arms and hold her tight.
He didn’t. Because he mightn’t be able to let her go. Because he needed to be held, too. Because he should have been here for Mickey, and even for Karina.
‘You were Maria’s bridesmaid. I vaguely recall a wedding photo.’
‘Hardly a bridesmaid when those two went out to lunch and came back married. They dragged me along, saying they had a surprise.’
‘There was a guy there as well.’
‘The law requires two witnesses.’
The words were flat. Her face had gone blank, her eyes expressionless.
The devil got hold of his tongue. ‘Who was he? I didn’t recognise him as one of James’s friends.’
He’d recently gone weeks without talking to anyone, bar demanding to be freed, and since then he’d apparently lost the ability to be circumspect.
‘My ex-husband.’
Never had he heard so much emotion in two little words. Anger, disappointment, despair, hurt, and a whole lot more. Something beyond his shoulder seemed to fascinate her for a long, drawn-out moment. Then she blinked.
‘We split very suddenly and I wanted a change of environment. Staying on in Auckland no longer worked for me.’ She continued spilling her guts. ‘About that time Maria decided to be a stay-at-home mum and asked me to fill her place at the surgery. I think she made that up, because she’d been managing very nicely until then. But I arrived here within days and I’m not likely to leave again.’
‘Only now you’ve got a wee boy.’
And a big heart. She didn’t appear to be struggling with everything she did, and yet her days had to be close to chaotic at times—especially given that Mickey needed a lot of attention with his condition.
‘A boy I’d do anything for.’
He got the message loud and clear. Don’t mess with Karina. Or Mickey.
‘So what do you do for a social life in Motueka?’ Might as well ask anything that came into his brain while he had her talking.
Karina shrugged. ‘Friday night drinks at a bar on High Street with a friend is more than enough for me. As I’ve no intention of marrying again I’m not joining the dating circuit.’
Unbelievably honest.
‘I can understand that.’
Way too much information, Logan. He knew from the slight widening of her eyes that she’d read between the lines of his simple statement and understood he was as uninterested in finding a soul mate as she was. He’d seen far too many relationships bite the dust in Africa. Commitment to the health organisation left little time for anyone or anything else.
Karina said, ‘You want to sell this place?’
She was forthright. He’d give her that.
‘Yes.’
He’d be the same.
‘Why?’
‘I’ve seen the builder’s report the lawyers have had done. This place needs major repairs and maintenance, which won’t come cheap—especially for a property nearly eighty years old. A comfortable house with no financial worries for you seems a good idea. Though what you’d do for jumping puddles I’m not sure,’ he added, forcing a smile.
A smile that she chose to ignore as she stood up, stretching as tall as possible on her toes, which still left her well short of his chin. ‘Haven’t you left something out?’
‘Like what?’
Those eyes that had entranced him now appeared to be ready to slice him to shreds. He was about to get an earful. Her cheeks were reddening, her mouth tightening.
‘The bit where you will then be free to fly off into the sunset, knowing there’s nothing here for you to worry yourself over. Your nephew will be well cared for, and he won’t miss out on a thing because there won’t be any repairs to pay for. You’ll have done your bit for your family.’
His family? Yes, she certainly knew how to twist the knife. As he opened his mouth to explain that his nephew was better off being with her, she cut him off and added to his distress.
‘I will never sign any sale agreement you draw up. Never. Get it?’
Her forefinger stabbed his chest—hard. Strange how he wanted to wrap his hand around that finger and kiss the tip.
She hadn’t finished. ‘This is Mickey’s home until the day he doesn’t need one any more.’
She couldn’t have put it more bluntly than that. Yet he sensed a well of emotion and need behind her statement. What for, or why, he had yet to figure out. He’d also have to work harder on persuading her that his way was best for all of them. And the reasons she believed were not necessarily behind his thinking. Though she wasn’t entirely wrong about those either.
OF ALL THE stubborn, thoughtless, selfish men in the world, Logan Pascale had to be top of the pile. Karina bit down on the words threatening to spill off her tongue and headed out to the shed to find Jonty. The stubborn, thoughtless, selfish man followed her.
‘I need to replace that dressing for you,’ she informed the older man down on his knees trying to unscrew the broken handle of a spade. She’d do her best to ignore Logan for now.
‘They don’t make these handles like they used to,’ Jonty grunted.
Beside the old man Mickey sat on his butt in spilled potting mix. ‘I’m helping Mr Grumpy.’ He reverently held a pair of pliers in his hands.
Jonty didn’t look up as he said, ‘I don’t need the dressing changed. There’s nothing wrong with this one.’
The bolt suddenly flicked free and spun across the
