The sigh she made when she settled into the passenger seat sounded weary, so he put on some soothing music and told her to just relax whilst he got them out of the city. She seemed only too happy to do so, even shutting her eyes after a while.
He didn’t talk, focusing instead on getting across the bridge and into the right lane to carry them north. Despite having a car made for cruising, Hugh hadn’t driven any great distance in ages and the recent road changes around North Sydney made for a few confusing moments, plus one rather abrupt lane change which sent her eyes flying open to glare over at him.
‘Sorry,’ he said swiftly. ‘Haven’t been up this way for ages. How long will it take us to get to Pearl Beach, by the way?’
‘That depends. One and a half two hours maybe?’
‘And where is Pearl Beach exactly?’ He’d never visited his friend’s house up there, his mental picture of its location rather hazy. There were more beaches on the central coast than you could count.
‘Do you know where Woy Woy is?’
‘Yep. Been there. It’s south of Gosford on the Brisbane water.’
‘Pearl Beach is further south than that, past Umina.’
‘Right.’
‘You know, Val’s house is really a very ordinary little house, not much more than a weekender. But it is right on the beach.’
‘I presume it’s empty,’ Hugh said.
‘Yes. The solicitor in charge of the estate didn’t want to rent it out. Though he very kindly let me stay there for a few days over Christmas.’
‘Mmm. Was Daryl with you?’
Kathryn wished he hadn’t mentioned Daryl. She’d been trying not to think about him. Underneath, she was still in shock over his violent behaviour the previous night; plus there was her subsequent depressing realisation that their relationship hadn’t been based on love at all.
So what had drawn them together in the first place? Why had she thought she loved him and vice versa?
The only answer Kathryn could come up with was sex, which was pretty pathetic. Maybe she wasn’t capable of truly falling in love. Maybe she was as flawed in that regard as Hugh was.
‘Well?’ Hugh prompted. ‘Was he or wasn’t he?’
‘Yes,’ she said with a sigh.
She and Daryl had spent most of their time together arguing. By then Daryl had not been happy with her decision to never sell the house, once he’d seen it for himself. He simply hadn’t understood her emotional attachment to the place and thought she was being stupid.
Kathryn shook her head at this last thought. She should have known back then that Daryl didn’t really love her. If he had, he would have understood. And he would never, ever have hit her.
Her hand lifted to lightly touch the bruise on her cheek. It felt even sorer, and bigger. Truly, she must look a fright.
‘Did the solicitor meet Daryl?’ Hugh asked suddenly.
‘What? No, no, he didn’t.’
‘That’s lucky. Still, best he doesn’t meet me, either.’
‘But he’ll see your name on the marriage certificate.’
‘Parkinson is quite a common name. Does he know you work for me?’
‘No, I’ve never mentioned it.’
‘In that case we should be able to keep my true identity a secret.’
‘But how? We’ll have to have someone marry us. And there have to be witnesses. Even if we only go to the registry office, you’ll be recognised.’
‘I’ll make sure I’m not.’
‘How?’
‘Amazing what a blond wig and sunglasses can achieve. I might get you a blonde wig as well. That way,’ he said, flashing her a wicked grin, ‘we’ll both be incognito.’
Kathryn rolled her eyes at him. ‘This is insane. You know that, don’t you?’
‘Come, now, Kathryn, stop taking life quite so seriously.’
‘It’s all very well for you. You’re never serious about anything!’
‘I’ve nothing to be serious about. And neither have you. Look on the bright side. Yesterday you were engaged to a jealous creep who would have made your life hell. Today you’re free as a bird, to do as you please, with whomever you please.’
Kathryn wished he hadn’t said that, wished he hadn’t glanced over at her right at that moment with those sexy blue eyes of his all a-twinkle and his sensually shaped lips curved back into a provocative smile.