The Family She Needs Read online

  Did he know how he’d distracted her? He couldn’t. He’d been facing the other way. He wouldn’t have known she’d been interested in his derrière. She studied him over the rim of her beer bottle. He looked decidedly cocky. Maybe he’d planned it all along. Well, two could play that game.

  ‘Your break.’ She nodded to the table and waited impatiently as he broke the triangle, then went on to pocket five balls.

  ‘See if you can beat that.’ He grinned as he straightened up.

  Quickly averting her gaze from his backside, she grinned back. As she’d decided: two could play that game.

  Studying the balls on the table, she found the one she wanted to drop first and walked along to the side, where she leaned as far across as possible without losing her balance. Thunk.

  Her opponent was silent, and she didn’t dare look around to see if she’d distracted him as neatly as he had her.

  Finding another suitable ball to aim for, she once again arranged herself over the table and sank it. When all the balls were gone she turned to him, smoothing down the top that had somehow ridden above the waist of her trousers, and said airily, ‘We’re equal.’

  He blinked and shook his head. ‘You think?’

  Oh, I know.

  But she kept those words to herself.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  ‘ANOTHER PERFECTLY CLEAR DAY.’ Karina stretched her arms above her head as she peeked out of the window on Saturday morning.

  Logan’s mouth dried as her breasts were pushed higher. When she bent at her waist, leaning first to the right and then the left, her arms still high, she looked so lithe he wanted to grab her and slide his hands over each and every tempting curve, from those breasts down to her bottom.

  That bottom had grabbed his attention last night as she’d sprawled across the pool table to reach a ball. He’d been blindsided by the curvy vision that had totally distracted him and lost him the second and third game.

  She straightened and faced him. ‘Did you go back to sleep after your hot chocolate?’

  Talk about a passion-killer. Another nightmare had brought her to his room at three in the morning. He’d have been happy to have her waking him for pleasure, but not to drag him out of hell. Be grateful she did.

  ‘No. And before you ask, I didn’t use that bed.’ When he saw a question forming on her lips he held a hand up. ‘Sleep’s highly overrated.’

  Instantly he wished back his thoughtless retort. Hurt blinked out at him from those chocolate eyes. In trying to deflect her questions he’d upset her.

  ‘I’m sorry. That was uncalled for. Can I ask you not to talk about my nightmares if I promise to stop coming out with half-baked comments like that?’

  The hurt faded and a half-smile touched her mouth. ‘Sure. I’m not really a nosy person, but I do like to help where I can.’

  ‘Unfortunately you can’t fix me.’

  Though he wished she could. But for that to happen he’d have to tell her about the PTSD and watch any respect slide out of her eyes. It shocked him how much he never wanted to lose that.

  Changing the subject before she could ask why she couldn’t fix him, he said, ‘Did Mickey sleep through?’

  ‘Not a peep. I wonder what the other night was about?’

  ‘Just one of those things. I’m glad the results came back negative for an infection.’ Seemed Mickey was over that episode. ‘What do you do on the weekends?’

  ‘I coach Mickey’s football team, but we’ve got a bye today.’ She sipped her steaming tea. ‘Hey, why don’t we go up to the Mount Arthur car park? Mickey hasn’t seen snow.’

  From Africa to Mount Arthur? From forty-plus degrees to something barely above zero? Different. But didn’t he want different? There weren’t likely to be any guerrillas hiding in the trees there.

  ‘How are your snowman-building skills?’

  ‘Non-existent. But I’ve got carrots and bananas in the pantry.’

  ‘What for?’

  ‘The nose and mouth.’ She gave him that impish smile. ‘Whatever else were you thinking?’

  He hadn’t been thinking. That was the problem.

  ‘Shall we see if Jonty wants to join us? We were going to finish the drive today, but he might like this better.’

  ‘I’d forgotten about that. It’s a great idea. He might forget worrying about his health for a while.’

  ‘He is worrying, isn’t he? Not that he’ll ever admit it. Do you think he’ll go to those appointments at Nelson Hospital that I’ve arranged? He was very unhappy about them. Should I offer to drive him over next week?’

  It wasn’t as though he’d be working, and he might be able to call in at the reclamation yard for a window frame to replace the existing one in the laundry that dry rot had wrecked.

  ‘I reckon he’d go with you. He told me you remind him a lot of James, and they were close.’ Karina touched his forearm with those orange-tipped fingers. ‘Were you two alike?’

  ‘You mean you haven’t worked that out yet?’ He smiled to lighten the question, in case she was still wary of him. She could change attitude quickly.

  ‘You’re more stubborn than James. Far less likely to change your mind once you’ve made it up.’ That elfin face turned cheeky. ‘And James would never have dug up that driveway, or considered painting the house. That’s manual work, and he hated getting down and dirty.’

  ‘True... Strange, when both our parents are hands-on kind of people.’

  ‘They absolutely love living on Stewart Island, don’t they?’ Karina shivered.

  Warmth snuck in under his ribs. ‘Yep. It’s about as remote as you can get, unless you go to the Chathams. The weather’s extreme, the fishing’s amazing, and they don’t ever want to leave.’

  ‘Have you visited?’

  ‘Often.’

  He drained his mug and went to rinse it under the tap. ‘What time do you want to head away?’

  ‘Ten? The roads won’t be quite so icy then.’

  ‘We’ll take the four-wheel drive. It’s a lot safer on the terrain we’re going to, even if you do have new tyres on your car.’

  Karina pulled a face. ‘Where would I be without Jonty?’

  ‘I’ll go and ask him what he wants to do.’

  ‘I haven’t seen him out and about yet. If he’s not in our yard he’s usually in his shed.’

  ‘You’re not thinking something’s happened to him?’

  He felt a twist of worry for the old guy. Already Jonty had made an impact on him, had him caring. That was the problem with staying too long with people.

  ‘I’m probably overreacting.’

  ‘On my way.’ Logan opened the back door and reached for his boots.

  A shot rang out. He dropped to the porch floor, rolled sideways and looked around the yard. Where had that come from? Who was out there? His gut tightened as his ears strained for any sound, his eyes scoping the yard.

  ‘Stop. Go away, you bastards.’

  ‘Logan? What are you doing? Are you all right?’

  Karina loomed over him.

  ‘Get down!’ As the order slid across his tongue he heard a motor, then a car speeding down the road, backfiring repeatedly. Expletives formed but with a herculean effort he managed to keep silent.

  ‘Logan? Talk to me. You’re freaking me out.’ Karina crouched beside him. ‘What happened? Did you slip?’

  His chest rose as he filled his lungs. One, two, three, four. It would be easier to lie. ‘I thought I heard a gunshot,’ he muttered. Truth was hard, but he had to try it.

  ‘You’ve been shot at? In Africa?’

  Those eyes were filled with disbelief. Or was that shock?

  He nodded and sat up. The porch was freezing. Quickly getting to his feet, he picked up th
e boots he’d dropped. ‘Yeah, Nigeria is a fun place to work—believe me.’ Shoving one foot into a boot, he tugged at the laces and tied a knot.

  ‘Were you ever hit? Shot, I mean?’ The question was quiet, and filled with loads more questions.

  ‘No.’ Logan straightened and looked directly at Karina. ‘No.’

  That wasn’t a lie. A dead hostage was no use to anyone. The guns had been pointed a metre either side of him, their bullets kicking up the dust close enough that he’d felt the grit on his legs, the warning explicit. Don’t think you can get away.

  Logan looked deep into Karina’s eyes, saw nothing but her big-hearted concern and felt his heart roll.

  ‘But you had a bad time?’

  ‘Yeah, Karina, I did.’

  Then he bent and brushed his lips over hers to stop her talking. Except the instant his mouth touched hers he had to have more, had to lose himself in her. His arms came up and wrapped around her, hauling her warm, compliant body close against his chilled, frightened one. He could forget the horror while Karina deflected it.

  He deepened his kiss. Karina returned it, meeting each of his moves with one of her own. Then her arms slid around his neck and pulled him even closer, and he felt safe. Warm and cared about and safe.

  ‘Good morning, you two. Hope you’ve given Mickey his breakfast?’

  Karina jerked out of his arms and spun around to stare at Mr Grumpy as though she’d never seen him before. Her fingers were pressing her bottom lip as if she was trying to keep that kiss there.

  ‘Mickey?’ she squeaked.

  ‘Is having a lie-in.’ Logan stood behind her, his hand on her shoulder, and eyeballed Jonty, who had a stupid grin on that wrinkled face of his.

  ‘You won’t be interested in doing any more digging this morning, then.’ Jonty clomped up the steps to stand right in front of them.

  Logan relaxed. ‘I was on my way to see you.’

  ‘Humph,’ Jonty grunted.

  Ignoring the interruption, Logan continued, ‘We’re heading up Mount Arthur—taking Mickey to see the snow. Do you want to come?’

  ‘Why the heck people like rolling around in that stuff is beyond me.’

  ‘Come on, Jonty. It will be fun. Can you picture Mickey throwing snowballs?’ Karina had finally found her voice.

  ‘Unfortunately, I can. What time you leaving?’

  Karina gave him a quick hug. ‘Ten o’clock. I’ll pack a lunch and some drinks.’

  Jonty stomped back down to the path. ‘None of that lemonade stuff for me. Hot tea is the only thing.’

  ‘Guess that’s a yes, then?’ Karina called after him, and then turned back to Logan.

  Her face was his favourite colour—pink. Her eyes were filled with mischief and wonder. Then she leaned close and traced her finger over his chest.

  ‘I’m sorry you had a bad time. Let’s have some fun today.’

  He just had. What could be more fun than kissing a hot woman? He hadn’t enjoyed himself so much in a long time. Which showed how much he’d lost his grip on reality.

  He had no right to be kissing his nephew’s guardian. It would only set up difficulties for further down the track. What if they disagreed on Mickey’s education or health plan? How could they resolve things amicably if they’d briefly got too close and personal? How did parents deal with these situations? Parents. He was not nor ever likely to be a parent, given his penchant for working in inhospitable places. He was a guardian. Full-stop. But that meant giving the same love and care and concern, didn’t it? Like a parent.

  Logan swore silently. He was caught whichever way he looked at it. Sighing, he gave up his one-sided argument. ‘Want me to get Mickey up? Give him the good news?’

  ‘Sure. There are plenty of thick clothes on the bottom shelf of his closet.’

  Karina turned to go inside.

  Who’d have believed something as ordinary as a car driving by could have led to him kissing her? Though he was glad she’d stopped pushing for more answers than he was prepared to give, he felt they’d crossed a line in their relationship. No longer were they only Mickey’s guardians at loggerheads about where he’d live. Those problems remained, but now Karina knew a little of what drove him and he knew how far she was prepared to go to look out for those she cared about—a very long way.

  He did not need or want that from her. The things that had tipped his world upside down, including James’s death, were his to absorb and cope with alone.

  * * *

  Karina sat up front with Logan, giving him occasional directions as they drove through the valley alongside the Motueka River. Frost glittered on the grass in the paddocks and on kiwi fruit vines while the sun made a feeble attempt to warm the world.

  She tried to ignore that kiss. Failed. If only that kiss had a future. But it had come out of a moment of shock on her part and fear on Logan’s. His fear had been quickly followed by embarrassment, and then he’d kissed her. To erase that fear? Or in the hope of diverting her so she’d forget what she’d seen?

  ‘What’s snow?’ Mickey shouted from behind her.

  ‘It’s like ice, only all mashed up. Like if I put it in the blender to whizz round and round.’

  Logan flicked an amused glance her way. ‘Where do you get these ideas?’

  ‘Have you got a better way of explaining it?’ Her smile was teasing, taunting him to come up with something.

  Which he damned well did. Too easily. ‘It’s like hard ice cream, buddy, but it doesn’t taste half as good.’

  ‘Yippee! I’m going to have ice cream all day!’ Mickey yelled.

  ‘Shh, you’re giving my eardrums a hard time.’ Karina looked around and shook her head at the excited wee guy. ‘Mr Grumpy’s probably wishing he’d stayed home right about now.’

  ‘No, he isn’t. He’s having fun with me.’ The decibels dropped infinitesimally.

  Jonty winced and rubbed his ears. ‘What did you say? I’ve gone deaf.’

  Mickey knew a cue when he got one. He yelled, ‘You and me are having fun!’

  ‘Mickey,’ Logan growled in a low tone. ‘Stop shouting. There’s no need for it.’

  ‘I like yelling.’

  ‘Stop right now. It’s not nice.’

  ‘Okay.’ That was said with much less energy.

  Karina let go the breath she’d been holding. ‘Phew,’ she whispered. ‘Thought we were in for an argument.’

  ‘Who makes the snow?’ Mickey asked next, without deafening anyone.

  Logan shot her a grin. ‘Answer that one.’

  She pulled a face at him and launched into an explanation. ‘It’s part of the weather. You know how rain comes out of the clouds? Well, snow is like frozen clouds that land on the ground, but it’s thicker than rain.’

  ‘Very good,’ Logan muttered.

  ‘Can I jump and splash in it?’

  ‘You can jump in it, and you’ll get wet, but it won’t splash. It’s good for making snowmen. We’re going to build one today.’

  ‘Can I build my own?’ The yelling was back.

  ‘Quieter, buddy. And yes, you can. Mr Grumpy’s brought along a sled for you to ride down the slope on, too.’ Logan turned up the mountain road Karina pointed to. ‘Here we go.’

  Karina immediately asked, ‘Isn’t riding a sled dangerous?’

  ‘What’s the worst that can happen? He’ll tip over, for sure, but you said there aren’t any cliffs, and the slope’s not steep. It’s good for him to push his boundaries in a safe environment.’

  This was why Mickey needed his Uncle Logan around. ‘I suppose...’

  Looking out at the snow-covered trees, Karina felt a small fizz of excitement in her veins. She hadn’t done anything like this for so long.

  Behind her, Jonty said to M
ickey, ‘It’s going to be freezing cold and you’ll soon be wet as a fish. The way those two up the front go on, anyone would think this is fun.’

  Smiling, she glanced across at Logan and saw him smiling too. Impulsively she touched his arm, and spoke quietly enough that only he could hear. ‘Knew he’d be thrilled to come.’

  ‘Exactly.’

  ‘It’s rude to whisper in front of others.’

  ‘Yes, Jonty.’

  Finally Logan pulled the vehicle into a parking space and looked around. ‘Appears half of Motueka’s here.’

  ‘Definitely the place to be.’ There were children in every direction, and adults trying to keep up with their offspring. ‘Let’s get amongst it.’

  Mickey ran straight for the biggest mound of snow he could see and jumped into it. His look of astonishment when his feet disappeared was priceless. Karina clicked her camera madly, afraid to miss any of his antics.

  ‘Come on. You’re missing out on the fun.’

  Logan reached for the camera but she ducked out of his reach and clicked a picture of him. Just for the record. Nothing to do with capturing that beautiful face and its rare happy expression. ‘Go and jump in with Mickey. I’ll get a couple more shots, then join you.’

  ‘Silly fools. They’ll get soaked.’ Jonty stood beside her.

  ‘That’s why there’s a bag of towels and clothes for everyone in the back of the car.’ She snapped more photos—plenty of Logan as well as Mickey. It was a golden opportunity to take Logan’s picture without having to explain why.

  Jonty put out his hand. ‘Give me that fandangled thing. I’ll take the snaps while you join in the circus.’

  ‘Okay. Do you know how to use it?’

  ‘It’s a camera, isn’t it?’ His gnarled hand closed around the small device. ‘Which button do I push?’ Five minutes later Jonty declared, ‘I know what I’m doing, girl. Leave me to it, will you?’

  The photos probably wouldn’t be great, but what did it matter? She’d have memories of today, and she could take more pictures later on.

  Bending down, she scooped up a handful of snow and shaped it into a ball. ‘Hey, Mickey, look at this.’ Taking careful aim, she lightly threw the ball at his middle.