Best Friend...Future Wife

‘Badly hurt?’

‘Stable. Thing is, toxic fumes are leaking. The police are evacuating the locals.’

Della swore under her breath. This was the last thing they needed—more ammunition for the residents’ protest group. If they could convince the state government the chemical plant should be reclassified as heavy industrial, Dermont’s would be forced to move operations to the outer suburbs, well away from residential areas. Such a move would cost Dermont’s a fortune, and could even mean the end of their operations if Tom Dermont decided to pull the plug and cut his losses.

‘Thanks for letting me know, Melanie. I’m going to speak to Tom now. He wants to run the media conference, and I need to talk him out of it.’

Melanie snorted. ‘Good luck.’

‘I thought I’d suggest Dan Barlow as the ideal person to take his place.’

‘Perfect. He’ll come across as a good guy. Plus, he knows what he’s talking about. He won’t try to bluster his way through like Tom would.’

That afternoon, Della flicked through one of the media kits Jason had piled on a table near the entrance to the large room. As well as her media release, he’d included background details on the Dermont products, a piece on the company’s contribution to the state economy, a fact sheet regarding a proposed project to clean up the production process—if Tom Dermont ever approved the expenditure—and other bits and pieces. They’d hired a large conference room at a city hotel and sent out the media advisory notes. Now all she could do was hope Tom stayed away as he’d promised in their phone call.

Dan Barlow entered the room, and she hurried over to him. ‘Thanks for agreeing to do this, Dan,’ she said.

‘Not a problem. Glad to help.’

She chatted to Dan for several moments then, as she swung around, doing a speedy check of chairs available for the stream of media representatives coming through the door, she spotted Luke. He caught her eye as he took a seat in the back row, and his smile made her empty stomach go into freefall. She made her way to the back of the room.

‘What are you doing here?’ she asked, standing close behind his chair.

He twisted to face her. His gaze drifted from the top of her head to her toes and back up to her face. A blatant inspection. She had to stop herself gasping out loud. He’d never looked at her like this before.

‘I like the way you dress for work,’ he said. ‘Very smart, but not too corporate. There’s still a touch of the old Della there.’

Absurdly pleased, she smoothed down her tailored black skirt, straightened her silk shirt and lifted her chin. ‘I’m glad to see an improvement in your clothes.’

In fact, he looked incredible, treading the line between smart and casual in his olive-green combat trousers and a white, short-sleeved shirt. Clean-shaven, he’d also had a haircut.

‘You haven’t said what you’re doing here,’ she said.

‘Just checking out the local news scene.’

‘You’re not working, are you?’

He shook his head.

‘Then, how did you even know this was happening?’

He hesitated. ‘I still have contacts in the local media.’

‘Oh. Of course.’ She glanced at her watch. Running late was not an option with the evening news crews facing broadcast deadlines. ‘I’d better go. Time to start.’

‘Sure. See you tonight.’

‘Not tonight. I’m going out with Lyn, remember?’

He nodded.

Della walked calmly to the front of the room. She should have known he wouldn’t be able to stay away from a media conference like this. Renowned all over the world for his hard-hitting exposés of exploitation and corporate greed, he was a media favourite here in his home town. Of course he still had contacts, and as soon as he got in touch they’d fill him in on the biggest story of the day.

She glanced Luke’s way from time to time—and each time she did he caught her. A raised eyebrow, a wink, a cheeky half-smile. She had to force herself not to look in his direction again or she’d burst out laughing and wreck the media conference, not to mention her own reputation as a self-possessed professional.

She lost sight of him in the mass exodus, and by the time she’d dealt with the debriefing, prepared the action plan for the next few days and returned to her office, the adrenalin high she’d been on all day started to subside. She scanned the messages strewn across her desk, and sighed when she spotted one from a client in the wine industry. She’d have to delegate the remaining work on their annual report or it wouldn’t be ready in time for the printing deadline.

Her mobile phone beeped and she read the text message on the screen:

ok for tonight. be here @ 6. lyn

With mixed feelings, she cleared the screen. She enjoyed any time spent with Lyn, but tonight was going to be tough.

CHAPTER THREE

DELLA drove to Lyn’s house. She’d put in a superhuman effort, clearing a mountain of work so she could leave without a guilty conscience. When she reached Lyn’s, she saw an unfamiliar car parked in the driveway. A Saab. Visitors? Would Lyn be obliged to stay home? Della almost hoped she would. Almost. But that would be the coward’s way out, and she was no coward.

She rang the doorbell. Lyn flung open the door, Cassie cradled in her arms. ‘I’m nearly ready,’ she said before Della could speak. ‘Here, take Cassie and I’ll finish my make-up.’

Della cuddled Cassie into her shoulder. Assuming the car belonged to one of Patrick’s friends, she headed through a door off the hallway. She came to an abrupt stop when she saw Luke sitting on the floor, playing a game with Jamie.

‘Hi.’ He looked up, giving her a wry smile. ‘Want to play?’

She tried to squash the excitement bubbling up at seeing him again, and shook her head. ‘Just waiting for Lyn. I expected to see Patrick.’

‘He had to work. I offered to babysit.’

‘You? Babysit?’

‘Don’t look so shocked. It will give me an opportunity to get to know my cheating nephew better.’ He tweaked Jamie’s nose. ‘And my beautiful niece.’ He reached up and jiggled one dangling foot as Cassie snuggled further into Della’s shoulder. ‘Besides,’ he said, ‘I couldn’t have you putting me off indefinitely and using Patrick as an excuse.’

She blinked. ‘Right.’

He must really need to talk if he’d gone to this trouble to make sure she’d be free. She had better be prepared for the floodgates to open.

Jamie demanded his attention, and he answered the little boy patiently. It shouldn’t surprise her. He’d been good with Megan and Poppy when they’d been little. But somehow the scene cut right to her core, causing a sharp ache deep inside.

He looked up. ‘So, dinner tomorrow night, then? Shall I pick you up? I have a car now.’

‘The Saab outside? You bought it?’

‘Yup. Like it? I decided to treat myself. I’ve never had a decent car. Tell you what, we could eat at your place. Don’t worry about cooking, I’ll bring dinner and wine.’

She was still stuck on the fact he’d bought a car. He really was settling down. Next thing she knew, he’d be buying a house. ‘Sorry, what?’

‘I said, I’ll bring food and we’ll eat at your place. You’re still a burger freak, I assume?’

She nodded.