One Real Man (Entangled Bliss)(22)

Chapter Seven

Jim McCarthy plowed across the field, his sturdy work boots crunching on the dirt. As he stopped near the creek, Owen caught up to him.

“So that’s where the bike trail will go? Alongside the creek?”

Owen nodded. “It’ll join up with the existing path running beside the country club and lead all the way into Burronga.”

“Good.” His business partner grunted his approval before peering past Owen’s shoulder. “Where’s that daughter of mine?”

“Right here, Dad.” Heidi McCarthy laughed good-naturedly as she brought up the rear. “I didn’t realize the site would be so rough.”

Her jeans were spattered with dirt, Owen saw, and her shirt was covered in blackjack needles. “You should have told me to wait up,” he said with a sudden rush of guilt.

“I’m fine.” Laughing again, she brushed at her shirt. “I can handle it.”

Her cheerfulness made his gut cramp. Why couldn’t she fuss a little? Another surge of guilt attacked him. Heidi was a trouper. Whenever she accompanied him to work sites, she never complained about the dirt, the heat, or the potty-mouthed construction workers. She was practical and intelligent. On top of that, with her soft brown hair and sweet smile, she was pretty but never flaunted her looks. She worked hard at McCarthy Construction and never asked for any special favors.

Heidi was his perfect match on paper. She just wasn’t in reality.

“Uh, may I have some water?” she asked him a little shyly.

“Sure.” He handed her a bottle of water from his backpack, conscious of the awkwardness still lingering between them. They used to be such pals. They’d hang out together watching TV or bike riding. But all that had changed a few months ago at that blasted New Year’s Eve party his friend had organized. Heidi had asked if she could tag along, and he’d agreed, thinking nothing of it.

But when midnight had struck, and with a few of drinks in him, he’d found himself in a corner with Heidi, and he’d done the only acceptable thing in that situation. He’d kissed her. It was just a quick peck, but she’d flung her arms around him and given him a mushy, openmouthed kiss.

As the shock receded, the awful truth became apparent—Heidi had more than friendly feelings for him, and he couldn’t find it in him to return them. When she’d kissed him, not the smallest part of him had been aroused. He hadn’t been able to hide his complete lack of attraction, which made it even more humiliating for her.

Eager for a diversion, Owen turned back to Jim. “Let me show you where the gray water will be recycled.”

Jim inspected every aspect of the site with keen interest. “It’ll be great if you can pull this one off,” he said as they all headed back to Owen’s car.

“I’ll do my best.” If he could deliver Bandicoot Creek for Jim, then it would go some way to make up for what he’d done—or rather, didn’t do—with Heidi.

As they drove off, Jim gave Owen a meaningful look. “I’ve got some important news to tell you. Something that’s almost guaranteed to get this project off the ground.” He and Heidi exchanged glances. “You’ll see. He’ll leap at the chance.”

The apprehensive expression on Heidi’s face set off Owen’s warning system. “What exactly will I leap at?”

“The opportunity to rope in a big-league investor. Someone who will make this ornery town council sit up and take notice.” Jim rubbed his hands together. “What would you say to having Gordon Asquith stump up some cash for us?”

Owen’s eyebrows shot up. Gordon Asquith was one of the richest men in the country. The size of his fortune dwarfed McCarthy Construction, and he had a reputation for making politicians quake in their shoes. “I’d say, are you kidding me?”

Jim grinned. “Not kidding at all. I won’t bore you with a long story, but the upshot is Asquith needs to boost his eco-friendly credentials, and investing in our project gives him some kudos. We’re small fry to him, but we can help take some media pressure off him.”

“And with him on board as an investor, I’d get a much smoother ride through the approval stage.” Owen nodded before he remembered the look on Heidi’s face. He glanced at her in the rear of the car. “So what’s the catch, Heidi? What isn’t your dad telling me?”

She gave him a wry smile. “Go on, Dad. Tell him what you did without asking first.”

Jim squirmed in his seat. “Uh, you understand I only had one meeting with the big kahuna, so I had to make a snap decision. I invited him to spend a weekend down here. At your place. Next weekend.”

Owen gaped at his partner before he returned his attention to his driving with some difficulty. “You invited Gordon Asquith to spend next weekend at my house.” He sucked in a breath. “Holy crap. Why next weekend? Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

“I wanted to visit you first and check everything was okay. And next weekend was the only time Asquith could come.” Jim paused, his face growing ruddy. “Er, and next weekend Heidi and I are going to Perth for my sister’s birthday.”

Owen clenched the steering wheel. “What the frag? You invite this big shot to spend the weekend with me while you and Heidi run off to Perth? That’s bull— That’s dingo’s kidneys!”

“What was I supposed to do?” Jim made vague soothing motions with his hands. “I had one chance to nab him, and I risked it.” Sighing, he said over his shoulder to Heidi, “Looks like we’ll have to cancel our trip.”

“Sure, Dad—”

“No, you won’t,” Owen interrupted. “You took me by surprise, that’s all. Jeez, you think I’m so hopeless I can’t entertain one investor on my own?” Of course he could do it. Jim thought he could do it, and he couldn’t disappoint Jim.

“No, of course not.” Jim laughed uncomfortably. “Although it won’t be easy spending a whole weekend with this Asquith bloke. He’s a bit, uh, demanding.”

“What does he expect here? Elephants draped in gold and a hundred dancing girls?”

Jim pulled at his lower lip. “I’m not sure”

The doubt in Jim’s voice made Owen tense. Dampness pricked the back of his neck. Hell, they had a lot riding on this upcoming weekend, and Jim was doing nothing to quell his uneasiness.

“He’s one of those rich toffs,” Jim explained. “Like the kind who live around your neighborhood.” They were almost back at the Kerrigan place, and he waved at the sprawling estates on either side of the road. “He’s persnickety, know what I mean? You can’t just chuck a steak on the barbecue for him, it has to be filet mignon from a fancy restaurant.”

Owen grimaced. Great. This Gordon Asquith sounded like Councilor Lethbridge, and look how that visit had bombed. But he couldn’t tell Jim about that. He’d just have to make sure this time he didn’t screw up.

“But I’m sure he’ll approve of this mansion of yours,” Jim continued as they passed through the wrought iron gates guarding the entrance to the Kerrigan home. “It’s very impressive.”

Jim was just being polite, Owen felt. His down-to-earth partner and friend would never choose to live in such a lavish place. He was comfortable with his nice-but-not-spectacular ranch-style house in Sydney’s western suburbs, and wouldn’t swap it for anything. Owen was the one restless for something different.

“It’s still strange to think you used to live here when your dad was the caretaker,” Heidi said from the rear seat. “Doesn’t it feel peculiar being the owner now?”

“I’m not the owner. I’m just renting.”

“You know what I mean. You used to live in staff quarters and clean the pool. Now you’re putting your feet up in the big house, and you can have the rowdiest pool parties you want.”

“I leave the rowdy pool parties to Natasha.”

He hadn’t even swum in the pool yet. Every time he thought of it, an excuse came to mind. Almost as if subconsciously he still didn’t believe he had a right to that pool. Which was rubbish, because he’d earned that right a dozen times over.

He was still thinking about the pool when they entered the house and met Paige walking down the hallway. She greeted them with a brief smile.

“You look like you could do with a rest. I’m setting out lunch in the conservatory, and there are drinks in there already.”

In beige pants and a pink shirt, her hair twisted into a neat bun, she was pristine and refined, her attitude efficient and slightly remote. Owen’s pulse quickened at the sight of her. Ever since he’d turned down her offer for fast and dirty sex, his body went into turmoil whenever she was around. But Paige didn’t seem to suffer the same reaction, or if she did, she hid it very well. Even when she’d thanked him for the window screens, she’d been all cool politeness. She’d withdrawn behind her mask, and he only had himself to blame, but damn how that mask stung him.

“Thanks.” He nodded at her, conscious of the gulf separating them. “I hope you didn’t go to too much trouble.”