Love Bites: A Sugar City Novella (Entangled Bliss) Read online

  “Sure thing.” He was still grinning over the pink flush that had stained her cheeks while he walked onto the deck. Packing up had never been such a pleasure. He whistled the chorus to the old folk song “Waltzing Matilda” as he slid his laptop in its case and zipped it up, and after a contented exhale, he stared toward the familiar sight of the Sydney Opera House and the other landmarks. Part of him always felt like coming home, even though he hadn’t lived here in years. But family ties never disappeared. He felt more optimistic about the future than he had for a long time. And he knew why.

  “Dr. Cruz, would you call today a success?”

  He turned to see Leo. The last person in Australia he felt like talking to. But part of Jeff’s job was to put on a gracious professional face about marine biology.

  “I’d definitely say it was a success.”

  Leo sat at his side in a bolted-down chair. “I’ve got my own take, but would you care to elaborate?”

  Jeff glanced past the reporter toward the companionway. He’d so much rather be alone with Sharona—on that slow boat to China—than giving an interview.

  “Are we on the record?”

  Leo nodded.

  Okay, fine. “As you know, we recovered seven trackers, which alone is monumental due to the successful live test of the detachment system, though we won’t know the exact information obtained until we plug in at the labs.” He answered more of Leo’s questions, all the while keeping an eye on the helm.

  “Thanks for this,” Leo said, sliding a pencil behind an ear. “I appreciate you being so forthcoming, even though you didn’t have to be. You could’ve thrown me overboard, right?”

  He paused as if he expected Jeff to disagree.

  “I mean, I know it’s a hassle having non-crew members aboard but looks like it worked out for everyone. Even the hottie accountant saw her fair share of action.”

  Jeff couldn’t help laughing, then covered his smile with a fist. “Too right.”

  “Not a bad set up for her,” Leo added, rummaging through his satchel. “Flying around the world on the company’s dime. I’m sure she gets to pick her own projects since she’s engaged to the guy in charge.”

  Jeff must have heard wrong. “Who’s engaged?”

  “The hottie. Muh-muh-muh-myyyy Sharona.”

  Jeff glanced toward the helm them back at Leo, a hard ball in the pit of his stomach. “Why do you think that?”

  Leo didn’t reply for a moment. “Well, I guess it’s okay for me to tell you now. SED hired me, though I really was recruited through UM.”

  “Wait a minute.” Jeff held up a hand, forcing himself to block out the more important information. “The same firm who sent an independent auditor also sent a reporter?”

  They both turned when they heard Sharona’s laugh and chatter from around the corner, a one-sided conversation—most likely with her boss.

  Her fiancé.

  As he turned back to Leo, Jeff felt ice in his veins. “What makes you think she’s engaged to her boss?”

  The reporter shrugged. “The guy said so when he hired me a few days ago. He also told me not to say anything because of his job. I guess it’s been hush-hush from the beginning. To tell the truth, at first I didn’t understand why I was here, but when I told him about your transmitters this morning…” He pointed at one on the table. “He’s invested thousands in something similar. Seemed kinda shady to me, especially after I talked to him earlier today. Refused to tell him any more about Old Faithful. Dude, those are seriously so cool.” He adjusted his backward baseball cap. “Anyway, he said it didn’t matter what I did because his fiancée would tell him what he needed to know.”

  The ice in Jeff’s veins started to boil. “I see,” he said through a clenched jaw. “Well, I appreciate you not disclosing anything.”

  Leo shrugged and slid his hands in his back pockets. “My career is just starting; that’s not the kind of reporter I want to be. Between you and me, though, that guy at SED is a major prick. Not who I see Sharona with. You were around her today, doing the audit, I hope you didn’t share intel that might fall into the wrong hands.”

  The words stung, especially coming from Leo. Though he wasn’t turning out to be such a weasel after all. At least he was loyal. Unlike…

  Had the whole thing been an act? Jeff had joked with Sharona earlier about their meeting at the pub being a set up. He hadn’t really believed it was true, that a kindhearted, genuine woman like her was capable of coldhearted deception.

  Why was she really here? And what had she just said about wanting to tell him something about her boss? A ball of fury rolled in Jeff’s chest. Not for the first time in his life, he felt used.

  Automatically, his mind flashed to the last time he’d trusted the wrong person with secret, work-relation information, and the disaster that followed. He dumped out the bag carrying the rest of the trackers and spread them across the table. Why are there only six? His mind flashed to Sharona examining one a few minutes ago. His stomach dropped in disappointment, but that was quickly replaced by rage.

  “Something wrong?” Leo asked.

  “I’m missing one,” Jeff said, then cursed under his breath.

  “Oh, sorry, man. I was curious.” Leo placed the missing tag on the table.

  Jeff glared at him, wanting to tear him a new one for touching his stuff. But that wasn’t what he was really angry about. He blew out a few sharp breaths, but the knot in his stomach wouldn’t go away. The fire of doubt was lit and flaming hot.

  “Anyway,” Leo added, “thanks again for not kicking me off this morning.”

  “Yeah,” Jeff muttered, trying to put on a professional smile. The kid had ended up being his unlikely ally against the most duplicitous of predators.

  After Leo wandered off, Jeff stared toward the arching sun that spilled gold across the harbor. He clenched his fists and breathed out his nose, much like he had ten hours ago when he’d first learned that UM was sending a surprise auditor for no bloody good reason.

  Now he knew why.

  He should’ve trusted his gut and not let her aboard. No, that wasn’t the answer. He should have kept his damn hands to himself and learned from his mistakes. He should’ve stopped the runaway train before he lost his heart to a woman he couldn’t have.

  Not only had she disappeared last night and driven him crazy, but then he’d allowed her to get under his skin the very next day. Jeff shook his head, disgusted with himself. He knew better.

  “Hey you…”

  The voice that had once flooded his body with desire now hit him like nails on a chalkboard. More than anger directed at Sharona, he was pissed at himself for being a big enough chump to fall in love with her in one day.

  “Hi,” he replied, looking the other way. He’d rather she just leave—he wasn’t in the habit of yelling at women and didn’t want to start now. Bogie threw him the other end of the rope after securing the Mad Hatter to the dock.

  “So, I was thinking…” He felt her come up behind him. “Why don’t you finish here and we’ll meet later so you can help me with that last auditing item I mentioned—”

  “You can go now,” Jeff said, finally looking at her.

  Her mouth fell open and she stared at him. “I…was about to.”

  There was confusion in her voice and hurt in her brown eyes, but Jeff looked away before it could affect him, winding the rope around his elbow and shoulder.

  “Is something wrong?”

  He took a breath before looking at her again, noticing the small wheelie suitcase in one hand and her other bag strapped over her shoulder. She had information about Old Faithful and was probably about to sell it to the highest bidder. And there wasn’t a damn thing he could do about it.

  “You need to leave,” he muttered, trying to stay calm while angry heat burned in his chest. “We’re at the dock and there’s no reason for you to stay. This was a mistake—my mistake.”

  “What mistake? Jeff?”

  “I’m s
o done with these games.” He stared at her seemingly innocent face, determined to not back down. “Everything’s been a game with you from the very beginning.” He raked a hand through his hair. “Why don’t you just admit it? Report whatever you want to your boss. I can’t stop you.”

  “Jeff—”

  He held up a hand.

  Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice…

  “How can I make it any clearer that I’m not interested?” he said, forcing coolness and indifference into his voice. “You admitted how you used me last night to get out of your comfort zone or whatever, but I don’t make it a habit of screwing unavailable women, so…” He nodded toward the dock.

  She pressed her lips together and glared at him. “You’re an ass.”

  He couldn’t help scoffing a dark laugh, but the anger was forced. His feelings for her wouldn’t go away just like that. The woman he’d thought she was—he still wanted her. But that person was a fantasy he’d dreamed up…the perfect woman who made him happy and shared his passion and kissed him like they were sharks in deep water.

  He had no idea who the real Sharona Blaire was. And he couldn’t allow himself to care.

  “Yep, sweetheart, I sure am,” he stated, then walked away.

  He tried to block it out completely, but Jeff couldn’t help hearing her speak to Manny, her wordless voice floating across the air, coiling around his inner ear…inside is brain.

  What the hell was she going on about for so long?

  Finally, he heard her little suitcase on wheels roll up the dock away from the ship.

  In between muttered curses, Jeff kept himself busy gathering the rest of his gear and seeing off the remaining members of the team. Despite the mess with Sharona, it had been an extremely productive day—he needed to focus on the positive. There was so much data about to be revealed, thanks to the trackers. He hated to admit that earlier he’d even been excited to share his findings with Sharona.

  “That’s the last of it?” Pax asked when they were about ready to deboard.

  “Yep. Good work today.”

  “Always a pleasure, boss. You heading back to the hotel or straight to the airport with the rest of us?”

  “Neither,” Jeff said. “I think I’ll spend a few days with the rellies.” Normally, Jeff would catch the first flight out, but he wanted to see his family. He only made it to Oz a few times a year. His mum would never forgive him if he didn’t drop in for a day or two. Plus, his family would be a welcome distraction from the disappointment weighing on his heart.

  “Good deal,” Pax said. “I’ll catch you at the lab next week.”

  “See you then, mate.” Jeff waved him off with a big smile, but dropped it the second his back was turned. He stared off toward the setting sun, trying not to feel anything.

  “You hurt that little girl’s feelings.”

  Manny leaned against the front of the helm, his captain’s cap cocked to the side.

  “She has no feelings,” Jeff muttered under his breath. Then he did feel like an ass. He sighed. “She’s not who she said she was. She wasn’t here to do an audit but to find out about Old Faithful.”

  Manny folded his arms. “What makes you think that?”

  “Leo. Did you know he was sent by SED, too, not just the uni?” He shook his head and stared down at the deck. “The whole thing was a setup from the beginning. Even last night.”

  “Last night?”

  Why not ’fess up everything?

  “Yeah.” Jeff rubbed his chin, in desperate need of a shave. “She and I met at the hotel pub.”

  “I know.” Manny was smiling. “She told me.”

  “Why would she…?”

  “I don’t think she meant to. Before she left, she pulled me aside again. She was really upset.”

  Jeff raked both hands through his hair. “So am I.”

  “Yeah well it sounds a little worse for her, mate. You’re not on the verge of being sacked.”

  “Why would she be sacked? She’s engaged to her boss. They planned this whole pleasure cruise.” He kneaded the back of his neck, ready to walk away and forget everything, but Manny moved to block his path.

  “She’s not engaged to her boss.”

  “Yes, she is. She—”

  “They were but she broke it off—six months ago, is what she told me.”

  Jeff dropped his arms and stared at him.

  “She kept working with him because she believed in what she’s doing, but she’s not involved with him.” He shrugged. “From the little she told me, the guy sounds like a Grade-A wanker.”

  Jeff closed his eyes as his stomach dropped in a gut-wrenching free fall.

  “Buddy,” Manny said. “You are an ass, just like she said.”

  “Yeah.” Why had he trusted the word of some guy off the street but not Sharona—not even ask her about it? He knew why, and it made him despise himself that his past had blinded him so badly.

  “Son of a bitch,” he muttered, staring toward where he’d last seen her, when she’d looked so hurt and called him an ass. He was, because of how he’d treated her. Picturing her wounded expression made his heart collapse in on itself.

  “Do you know where she went?”

  “No. But I got the impression she was going home.”

  “I have to get to her first,” Jeff said, turning on his heels and breaking into a run.

  Manny chuckled. “Dangerous to stop a moving airplane, mate!”

  Jeff spotted Leo down on the dock taking to one of the crew. “Hey!” he called, jumping over the railing and onto the dock.

  “Hey,” Leo said. “I was waiting to talk to you. Sorry, man, I totally shot my mouth off with some bad information about Sharona—or it was outdated info—”

  “I know about that,” Jeff cut in. “Look, do you have any local connections with the media?”

  Leo scratched his head. “I know one guy, yeah.”

  Jeff took in a breath. This just might work. “You might want to call him. I think he’ll be interested in what’s about to happen.”

  Chapter Ten

  “Nat, you must be at work, or maybe it’s the middle of the night there, I don’t know.” Sharona sighed into her cell. “Call me when you can, please? I really need to talk and…oh…” She tried to swallow the lump in her throat. “Happy birthday.” She sniffed. “Sorry if I’m a day late. I love you. Call me.”

  She lowered her phone, then slumped in the backseat of the cab, staring out at the lights of downtown Sydney. It was like she’d fallen down a rabbit hole and had been living another life. In twenty-four hours so much had happened.

  She didn’t regret any of it until now.

  What the freak had gotten into Jeff? She hadn’t been playing games. Okay, last night was sort of a game, but weren’t they both in on it? And today could not have been more real. How she felt about him…

  What hurt worse now was knowing she’d never see him again. She thought they’d had something.

  And it was gone. Like it never happened. Like the whole day had been swallowed by Matilda in the blink of an eye.

  It had taken way too long to grab a cab at the harbor. So many tourists and then bumper-to-bumper traffic. She was totally dragging by the time she made it to the hotel. The lobby was packed with people, so she skirted along the outside toward the elevator bay.

  “Why is it so crowded?” she asked as she passed the concierge desk.

  “There’s a wedding party,” he said in an accent so thick she could barely understand. “They’ve most of the sleeping rooms at the hotel and they’re taking over the rooftop bar tonight. It’s open to select guests—my discretion. They even hired a band. Should be a rager.” He tilted his head. “Looks like you could use one, luv.”

  She blew out a tired breath. “Being around a group of people is the last thing I need.”

  “Know what I always say…when a party is the last thing you want, that’s when you need it the most. It’s casual dress and an open bar. Gor
geous night under the stars.”

  Sharona sighed again. “When does it start?”

  …

  After a long shower that was meant to clear her head, she sat on her bed and pulled out the tablet she’d been carrying around all day. As a professional, she shouldn’t write up her report on today’s audit until she’d cooled off. In her current frame of mind, Jeff Cruz and his precious research team would not get the most glowing endorsement. But the longer she stewed, the more she knew she needed to get it out before she got really pissed.

  So she logged onto her computer.

  Two hours later, after blow-drying her hair and running a hot iron over her last clean top, Sharona pulled on a pair of dark-wash jeans and headed to the top floor of the hotel. As she was about to enter the crowded rooftop bar, a wave of nostalgia hit, and she froze.

  I might not be ready for this.

  But one setback—as fresh as it was—should not keep her from being around people. And maybe, like the concierge suggested, disappearing into a sea of strangers was the best thing for her tonight.

  She managed to find an empty stool at the far end of the bar.

  “Long day, yeah?” the bartender asked over the noise of celebrating, music and clinks of glasses. She had long red hair and a commiserative, bartendery smile.

  Sharona exhaled. “You could say that.”

  “What’ll it be?”

  She leaned her elbows on the bar. “A new brain and a time machine. Maybe some man repellant?”

  The bartender laughed. “How about a triple cocktail? Courtesy of the happy couple.”

  “Sounds great, thanks,” Sharona said, pulling back a grateful smile, though the effort gave her a headache.

  “So, guy problems?”

  Sharona pushed around a bowl of beer nuts. “Yeah.”

  “I’m Sigrid,” she said, placing a coaster on the bar.

  “Nice to meet you.”

  “Right. So, tell me. What’d he do? Sleep around? Lie? Believe me, I’ve heard it all.”

  “Nothing like that. Though he didn’t really tell me, he just kind of…flipped out. And when I tried to ask…”