Part 5 (1/2)

”Mac's grandson never cared a penny for his granddad's place,” Lauren said.

”He spent a few pennies painting the roof so it'd look good in the photos he sent.” Nate turned back to Todd's wry grin.

”Slippery SOB that Tom MacPherson.”

”Buck stops with me. I should've inspected the property.” Nate rubbed his thumb across his top lip. ”No one in town is taking on new jobs, and your name cropped up. I need someone with building experience and who pays attention to detail.”

”Why do you think I'm your guy?”

”I saw the Cadillac in your workshop while I was parking Lauren's car. Your work, I presume?”

Todd shook his head. ”The Caddy is Lauren and our dad's baby.”

Lauren fumbled with her crutches and lurched out of the chair. ”You snooped through our workshop?”

”It's a beautiful machine, and I'm naturally curious.”

”Nosy, more like it.” Photojournalist or reporter, she couldn't let her guard down.

”Where do you drive it around here?” Nate said.

”I don't.”

A car like this is for driving, sweetpea-soon as she's mint, you and I will cruise the Bays. Though the heart attack had taken him when she was fourteen, her father's voice played through her head with excruciating clarity.

Lauren swallowed and met Nate's gaze. ”We use it to show prospective clients.”

Todd moved to stand beside her, glancing over his shoulder at Kathy whistling in the kitchen. ”Back to this job offer.”

”But...” Lauren said. Todd couldn't seriously consider working for this man, could he? Actually helping him get the property ready for some fancy-pants developer? She'd been so careful, so diligent in keeping her and Drew away from the voracious eye of the media. And here was Nate, planning to bring a pack of paparazzi right next door.

Todd cut her a glance, tiny beads of sweat popping out on his forehead. But oh, dammit, her brother really did need the cash.

Hands on hips, she lifted her chin. ”Bottom line. How much will you pay him?”

”Now he knows I'm desperate,” Todd added with a twist of his lips.

”My deadline's February first, when Martin Davis arrives for an inspection. If it's not completed to his requirements, the deal's off.” Nate named a dollar figure and laid out the terms.

Todd's bushy eyebrows shot up. ”That's very generous. Lauren?”

She knew what he asked. Even though he was only six years her senior, her big brother couldn't help but try to take care of her and everyone else in his immediate circle. Todd needed this job, but she needed Nate to sell to someone other than Martin Davis. Talk about being hamstrung. Hamstrung-but unable to deny Todd this opportunity.

”Looks like you've got your Christmas miracle.”

The charming grin Nate directed her way promised the kind of treats most women would kill to find in their beds on Christmas morning. Luckily, she wasn't most women-past experience having taught her charming men were the most dangerous of all.

Chapter 3.

Kathy pa.s.sed Lauren a mug of tea as the rumble of the Range Rover's engine faded, replaced with Sophie and Drew's shouts as they kicked a ball around the lawn.

”He seems like a nice enough fella, regardless of all the gossip about him.” Kathy pa.s.sed another mug to Todd.

He reached for a m.u.f.fin and she smacked his hand.

”And,” she added, ”he can't be half-bad if he's offered good money for you to swing a hammer, love.”

Todd filched a m.u.f.fin the moment Kathy turned her back and stuffed a huge chunk in his mouth. He then tossed the last quarter to Java, who snapped it out of mid-air. ”What are you on about, woman? He's just some photographer, isn't he?”

”Photojournalist,” Lauren mumbled.

Knowing him for less than twenty-four hours, she still couldn't visualize him in a studio, fussing with family portraits and wailing babies. She remembered his description of a photojournalist. Nate wasn't a noun, either; he was one intense verb.

She sat straighter, glanced at her sister-in-law who was sipping her tea with a smug smile. Nothing happening in town-or anywhere else in the world of entertainment-got past Kathy Taylor and her five sisters.

Kathy relented and set her mug down with a sigh. ”I can't believe you don't know who Nate Fraser is. His photo book's on our bookshelf-Louisa bought it for us last Christmas.”

Comprehension dawned on her brother's face. ”Oh, that book. He takes some good pictures...So why's he interested in Mac's place?”

”To get away from the scandal he left behind in the city, perhaps.”

Todd leaned forward. ”Scandal?”

Apprehension, like fine tendrils of chilled spider silk, alighted on Lauren's bare arms, and she s.h.i.+vered.

Kathy took another sip of her tea, obviously milking the moment. ”Remember that actress, Savannah Payne? She moved back to N.Z last year. She's on that High Rollers show I like and you hate?”

”The one with the most bodacious rack-?”

Kathy turned a cool eye on her husband. He shrank into his chair and ducked behind his cup.

”That's her. According to my online sources, she and Nate were in a bar six months ago having a drink. Then Savannah's husband shows up, and a fight breaks out. Nate gave him a couple of black eyes and a split lip. There was speculation they were carrying on behind hubby's back-not a good look for one of the New Zealand's Bachelor of the Year finalists.”

Todd lowered the mug and looked from his wife to Lauren. ”For real?”

Kathy nodded, her wild brown curls bouncing. ”Yep, and not much later, Savannah's off to the States and got herself a quickie divorce.”

Lauren wrapped her fingers around the mug's warmth. For all his size and the restless strength lurking beneath his controlled exterior, she couldn't reconcile the man who'd been so gentle with Drew with the man who'd supposedly attacked another without provocation.

The sharp nip of fear bit her yesterday at their first meeting, but did he frighten her now? She studied the wisps of steam rising from the tea. Nate disturbed her, and up close, he electrified all her senses. But physical fear? Oddly, no. He didn't stir that emotion inside her.

”You won't have anything more to do with him, Laur, that's for certain.” Todd kicked his feet up onto her coffee table.

Kathy tutted. ”Don't be overly dramatic, love. Men are always getting in sc.r.a.ps over one thing or another. Lauren, of all people, understands how the media twists things, don't you?”

Lauren's head bobbled in agreement, but the m.u.f.fin she'd eaten sat heavy in her stomach. ”Who knows what really happened.”