At that he gave a snort. “Hell, no. You obviously didn’t know my brother very well. You think he would have wanted me to give up my lucrative job, my penthouse, my expensive car? That was the life he always dreamed of. He’d be turning in his grave right now if he knew what I was doing.”
Robbie had always wanted to escape to the city and live the life of a modern-day rake, but instead he’d been stuck here. His lack of schooling and stroppy attitude had stymied his job prospects, yes, but he’d hung around in Burronga because of Nate, too, because he was worried about Nate living with his violent stepfather, and when Nate had finally had enough and bolted to him, Robbie had been even more stuck in Burronga. How could he have followed his dreams when he was in charge of a rebellious teenager who got into trouble all the time?
Robbie had sacrificed his hopes for Nate’s sake. So when Nate got the opportunities Robbie hadn’t, he had to take them. He’d forged the life Robbie had always dreamed of, only Robbie wasn’t alive for Nate to tell him the dream was just an illusion, a cotton-candy confection that tasted good but couldn’t sustain you in the long run.
He threw a sideways glance at Ally. She was toying with a corner of the sheet. “I don’t mean to pry,” she said, “but I know a thing or two about the pitfalls of taking over a family business.”
“You mean your gift shop?”
Ally nodded. “At times it’s felt more like an obligation. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy running it, but it wasn’t my first choice.”
“What was, then?”
“Not exactly sure. After Seth, it took me a while before I started thinking about my future. I considered going to university or maybe opening a coffee shop, but then Nana’s heart problems started, and it seemed easier all round for me to stay and help her out. All I’m saying is, don’t restart Robbie’s business because you think you should. Only do it because you genuinely want to.”
She’d think him nuts if he tried to explain his feelings about his brother to her. “Boy, you like turning things into a therapy session, don’t you? And all because I’m looking after a neighbor’s mutt for a few days.”
“Okay.” She scooted down under the sheets. “Obviously you have everything worked out.”
“Obviously.”
He clicked off the lamp and tried to settle on the pillow, but his mind was still churning. He couldn’t stop thinking about Robbie, missing him. Damn that thieving mongrel who’d stolen his photo—he really wanted that picture back, and the police were doing nothing about it. The thought made him pitch about restlessly, and as he turned over he glanced at Ally’s profile.
In the darkness the mattress shifted as she rolled toward him, her warmth reaching him in a welcoming cloud. She touched his cheek gently, as if she sensed that for once he needed comfort more than sex from her, and he marveled at how well she read him. She wrapped her arms around him, and his body instantly relaxed, curling in against hers as if they’d done this a million times before. There was tenderness and ease in her embrace, and he fell into it gratefully, his eyes already closing before he could snuggle his nose into her hair.
Chapter Thirteen
“That’s one helluva lump of metal.” Don Bridges, the council’s operations manager, tipped back his hat and scratched his head as he studied the bronze tail lying in the back of Nate’s pickup truck. “And you carried it home from Clifton Gardens all on your own when you were fifteen?”
“I had a shopping trolley.”
Don nodded. “That’s using your head.”
Nate shifted, squashing his small burst of pride at the manager’s admiration. He hadn’t come down to the council offices for approval but to make amends for his past misdeeds. “I’d like to pay for the statue’s repairs and make a further donation for Clifton Gardens. Maybe you could use the money to redo the bandstand.”
“That’d be great. We could give you an engraved plaque on the bandstand once it’s done.”
“That won’t be necessary.” Nate began to haul the severed tail out of his truck, and Don moved to help him. Together they lugged the bronze piece into the nearby workshop, and Nate gave the manager his details before driving off.
Strange how time changed one’s perspective on things, he mused as he made his way back home. From the moment he’d dragged the tail into Robbie’s shed he’d tried to forget about it, secretly ashamed of what he’d done. Which was stupid, because he’d done worse things, like petty theft and drunken brawling. But he supposed it was because he’d gotten away with the tail, whereas he’d had to front up to the magistrate for his other crimes. Now that he’d finally returned it, he felt good but also a little disappointed that he’d gotten off so lightly.
He arrived home to the sound of Porkchop’s yapping. He’d left the dog locked up in his laundry room, and now the animal sounded furious. As soon as Nate opened the door, the animal went for his ankles, and Nate had just enough time to grab him by the scruff of his neck. Hunkering down, he met the dog’s crazed glare head-on.
“Now, look here, mate. If you’re going to survive around me, you’re going to have to get the ground rules straight. Number one, you don’t bite me. Got it?” He let go of the dog. Porkchop snarled, his sharp teeth glinting, but he didn’t latch onto Nate’s ankles, just stood there growling and shivering. Nate stood. “Okay, then. So now we know who the alpha male is in this house.”
He opened a tin of dog food and carried the bowl out to the backyard, Porkchop trotting behind him. Nate hoped the dog would behave when he took him along to his afternoon job at the Tarletons. He figured it would be better to bring the dog with him instead of locking him in the laundry, and the dog might as well get used to Nate’s routine because it looked like he’d be staying there a while. Nate had visited his neighbor in hospital, where the doctor had told him she was lucky. The stroke was mild, and she’d gotten to the hospital in time for clot-dissolving drugs to be administered. Nate had reassured her that he’d look after Porkchop for as long as was necessary.
A knock at the front door got him to his feet. He walked through the house and opened the door to find himself face-to-face with Jess. She was just about the last person he’d expected to show up on his doorstep. Despite being the same age, they’d never fraternized; Jess was the responsible, popular girl with a steady boyfriend and a spotless record, and though she’d never said anything outright snotty to him, he’d always known from the looks she’d given him that she didn’t approve. Judging by the pained expression on her face now, that opinion hadn’t altered one iota.
“Hello, Nate.” She cleared her throat and pinched her lips together.
“Hi.” He glanced past her shoulder. “Is Ally with you?”
“No, she’s at the shop.” Jess fiddled with the strap of her handbag, a slight frown between her eyes. “She doesn’t know I’m here.”
Ah. Aware he’d later regret it, he pushed the door open wider. “You’d better come in.”
She minced into his living room, darting suspicious glances around his place as if expecting it to be littered with drugs and porn. “I suppose you know why I’m here.”
Wedging his shoulder against the doorjamb, he let his gaze travel over her slowly and insolently, knowing it would unsettle her. “Let me guess. You don’t think I should be involved with Ally.”
A flush burned across her cheeks. “That’s right, I don’t.”
“Last time I checked, Ally was an adult, able to make her own decisions.”
Jess shook her head. “Most times, yes, but not in the last few weeks. She’s been worrying over the gift shop and my grandmother hasn’t made things easy for her, and then Seth’s wedding upset her. She hasn’t been herself recently.”
Nate felt his forehead knitting up into a fierce scowl. “The shop is doing great, and she’s over Seth. Has been for years. She said so herself.”
“Of course she’d say that.” Jess made a dismissive gesture with her hand. “She’s trying to convince herself, not to mention everyone else, too.”
“You’re wrong. I saw her at the wedding. She was only concerned about you. There wasn’t a hint of feeling left for Seth.”
Jess flicked her head back, her eyes critical. “You’re just saying that so you won’t feel guilty about taking advantage of a girl in a vulnerable state.”
He thought about Ally, about the way she lost herself in their lovemaking. No way was he taking advantage—she wanted him as much as he wanted her. Or was that merely another justification a man like him would make? He jerked upright and stalked away from Jess. Even with his back turned he could feel her censorious gaze biting into him.
“Who says I feel guilty at all?” he growled. She thought he was nothing but a callous womanizer, so why disappoint her?
She sucked in a quick breath. “Are you really going to stay put here in Burronga? Or are you bored already and just looking for a distraction?”