tweaked her nose, making her feel ten years old. ‘You’re too fiery for your own good, missy.’
She thrust her chin up. ‘No man gets the better of me, Dad. You know that.’
He chuckled. ‘Some day, some man with enough guts is going to come along and give you a mighty big shake-up. Just mark my words.’
‘You’re the only man in my life worth worrying about.’ She squeezed his hand, trying to ignore the image of a cocky lawyer with slate-grey eyes. He did not rate a mention, let alone a passing thought.
Now all she had to do was believe it.
Before leaving the carnival, Steve decided to take a look around. He prided himself on being prepared for every deal he handled, and in this instance he didn’t think that reading a bunch of reports would cut it.
He’d taken on this deal for his boss, Jeff Byrne. Jeff knew the owner of the large theme park next door, Water World, who had called in a favour and requested that Byrne and Associates represent his company in the takeover of an ‘insignificant’ competitor.
So here he was on the Gold Coast, keen to finalise matters and return to his harbour-side apartment, his yacht and his latest conquest, all waiting for him in civilised Sydney. He’d never liked the glitz of the Gold Coast, preferring the class of a large city.
As if on cue, he caught sight of Amber’s gypsy-clad figure in the crowd, reminding him of some of the coast’s hidden attractions. As she stopped to recapture a stray balloon for some children, he watched the way the sun glinted off the blonde mane that hung halfway down her back.
OK, so the Gold Coast wasn’t all bad.
She looked up as he approached her, her expression far from welcoming. ‘What are you still doing here?’
‘Thought I’d take a look around.’
‘Why? Moving in for the kill?’ She thrust her chin up as if daring him to argue.
Though he’d enjoyed their war of words earlier, he decided to cut her some slack. After all, he’d probably feel the same way if someone threatened to take away his livelihood. ‘I’m here to broker a deal. That’s it.’
‘Do you have any idea what this place means to us?’ Her eyes narrowed and she blinked several times, quickly.
He caught the sheen in her eyes. Surely he hadn’t made the firebrand cry?
‘Why don’t you show me?’ Great, he’d gone soft for the second time in his life.
The only other time he’d relented was when one of his exes, Kara Roberts, had come crying on his shoulder about her boyfriend, Matt Byrne, his onetime rival and current associate. Women’s tears left him helpless and uncomfortable, two feelings that didn’t sit well with him. It had been an experience he didn’t care to repeat.
So what was he doing, playing knight-in-shining-armour all over again to a woman he barely knew?
The glimmer of her smile was answer enough.
‘Sure you want the grand tour?’ she asked, her voice still a tad unsteady.
He inclined his head. ‘Lead the way.’
He traipsed after her, listening to the pride in her running commentary as she outlined the carnival’s features. Surprisingly, the operation ran more smoothly than he’d anticipated and the happiness on the employees’ faces seemed genuine enough. So why wasn’t it turning a profit? Did Colin Lawrence have a gambling habit, or some other way of losing money in what appeared like a sound business?
‘Why are you in trouble?’ He’d brokered deals for worse places than this. Maybe something could be salvaged from the operation? And, in the process, stop his enchanting tour guide from staring at him as if he was a bogeyman.
She sighed as her shoulders tensed. ‘We ran up a debt a few years ago and haven’t been able to recover since. Things have gone from bad to worse since the big boys joined the party.’
‘You mean the other theme parks around here?’ He knew of at least three major parks in the area that drew the crowds in droves with their huge marketing campaigns.
She nodded. ‘Though we pride ourselves on old-fashioned quality, it just isn’t enough any more. We can’t afford to give away cars or free trips to our customers. All we can do is provide kids with a carnival experience, like days gone by.’
He glanced around, noting the merry-go-round, with its restored hand-painted horses, the apple bobbing, the food vendors selling candy floss and hot dogs. She was right; he’d never seen a place like this except in the movies. And he’d come to tear it all down.
‘Is there any way of saving it?’
‘We’ve tried everything.’ She turned away from him and he glimpsed a gleam of tears again. ‘What do you care anyway? You’re on their side.’ She gestured to her right, where he could just see a monstrous water slide over the treetops.
He’d been accused of many things in his lifetime, mostly by his opposition on deals they had lost. None of the barbs or insults he’d had to put up with in the past came close to affecting him as much as this woman’s inference that he was here to rip her world apart.
‘I’m not taking sides. I’m just doing my job.’ He spoke the truth, so why did it sound so lame?
She started to walk away and waved her hand in a dismissive gesture. ‘Whatever lets you sleep at night.’
He strode after her, grabbed her arm and swung her around to face him. ‘Look, if there’s anything I can do to help, just let me know.’
What was he doing, co-operating with the little league when he’d come here to play hard ball?
She leaned into him, and for one irrational minute he thought she might kiss him. ‘There is something you can do for me.’
He inhaled, savouring the sandalwood fragrance that drifted up from her nearness. He’d smelled something similar earlier, thinking it was the incense burning in a corner of the tent. Now, her scent wrapped around him like an ancient spell, one he couldn’t resist.
‘What is it?’ He refrained from saying he would do anything for her. In fact, he would walk over hot coals for another taste of her delicious mouth.
She stared directly at him, that already too-familiar fire flashing in her eyes. ‘Get lost.’
In an instant she’d wrenched her arm free of his grip and stalked away, head held high.
He willed her to look back but she didn’t. Too bad. He wanted her to see his smug grin.
If there was one thing he loved more than making money it was a challenge, and the feisty Amber Lawrence had just waved a red cape, leaving him pawing the ground in frustration and ready to charge.
CHAPTER TWO
AMBER believed in karma. If you treated others badly, it would come back to you tenfold. Now, after the way she’d spoken to Steve Rockwell earlier, she
