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She snuck a peek in the rear-vision mirror, not surprised to see Nick staring over his shoulder with a grin as wide as the Sydney Harbour Bridge plastered across his smug face.
She clamped her lips shut on a host of expletives and headed for the main highway.
In a way, she was glad he suggested they meet at her hotel to discuss her proposal. She'd be better prepared to face him again in the cool elegance of the FantaSea's front bar than inside the cosy farmhouse that held a host of memories.
Wonderful, heartfelt memories of sitting across from him at the handmade wooden dining table, tearing into steaming ciabatta hot from the oven, dipping the delicious bread into olive oil and balsamic vinegar, licking the drops off each other's fingers. Cuddling on the worn chintz sofa, watching corny old black and white movies, and laughing themselves silly. Clearing the living room of mismatched armchairs and the scarred coffee table stacked with newspapers and magazines so they could dance to their favourite crooning country singer.
The memories were so real, so poignant, that her eyes misted over and she blinked, caught up in the magic of the past when she should be focused on the future.
Her promotion to Managing Director of Sell depended on it.
Come five o'clock, she'd make sure Nick Mancini—with his sexy smile, flashing dimples and hot body—knew exactly the type of businesswoman she’d become and that she wouldn’t take no for an answer.
Brittany sipped her sugar-cane juice as she glanced around the FantaSea bar.
She'd stayed in some gorgeous hotels around the world but this one surpassed them all. From its sandstone-tiled entrance to its pristine whitewashed exterior, from its cascading waterfalls to the stunning umbrella-shaped poincianas lush with flamboyant crimson flowers, it beckoned a weary traveller to enter and stay awhile.
As for her beautiful room, with its king-size bed and six-hundred-thread-count sheets, double shower, Jacuzzi, and locally made lavender toiletries, she could happily stay there forever.
But this wasn't a pleasure trip, far from it. She needed to seal this deal with Nick. It would give her a confidence boost to face her other nemesis this journey.
Her father.
They hadn't spoken in ten years. He now lived in an exclusive special accommodation for the elderly and, as she wouldn't return to Jacaranda again, she needed to put the past to rest once and for all during this visit.
She'd taken up yoga in London, a convert to karma, and wanted to ensure hers was good rather than being dogged the rest of her life for not doing the right thing when she had the opportunity.
Swirling the lime wedge in her juice around and around, she mulled over her dad's anger, his need to control, his escalating abuse before she left.
He'd always been domineering, but when she turned eighteen he'd gone into overdrive. She'd escaped and hadn't looked back, but there wasn't a day went by when she didn't wondered how different her life could've been if she'd stuck around.
Would she and Nick have married? Would they have a brood of gorgeous, curly dark-haired, dimpled kids? Would they be happy?
Swallowing the lump of regret clogging her throat, her skin prickled with awareness like she was being watched, and she glanced up.
Farm-boy Nick in faded, torn denim and sweat-glistening chest was hot.
Executive Nick in an ebony pinstriped designer suit, crisp white shirt accentuating his tan, and a silk amethyst tie, was something else entirely.
She froze as he strode toward her, all long legs, confident stride, and dimpled smile.
'Hope you haven't been waiting long.'
He ducked his head to plant a quick kiss on her cheek and her senses reeled as she caught the faintest whiff of his familiar woody deodorant mingled with the sweetness of harvested cane.
Memories slammed into her—snuggling in the crook of his arm under their jacaranda tree, lying on top of him along the river bank, nuzzling his neck as they made love—and she gulped a lungful of air to ease her breathlessness.
His scent was so evocative, so rich in memories, she struggled to remember what he'd asked her.
Casting a curious glance her way, he sat opposite, his knees in close proximity to hers, and she surreptitiously sidled back to avoid accidental contact. That was all she needed. As if she hadn't made enough of a fool of herself already.
'What do you think of the hotel?'
She managed to unglue her tongue from the roof of her mouth and take a quick sip of juice before answering.
'It's gorgeous. There was nothing like it in the region ten years ago.'
His proud grin baffled her as much as seeing him in a suit. 'FantaSea was built five years ago. Business is booming.'
