Temporary Intrigue (6 page)

“Well, don’t you look scary,” the receptionist said as the boy passed her desk.

“The lady said we were her very last customers today,” he announced importantly.

Josh slung his black leather jacket over one shoulder and strolled out, pausing under the canopy. The sky was still grey but the rain had eased. Along the foreshore he could see the remaining handful of booths being dismantled.

She’d probably left by now. The boy might even have been referring to another face painter.

Although he didn’t think so.

Her style was quite distinctive.

****

“Need a hand?”

Trying to adjust the backpack containing her face painting gear, Dimity swung around with a faint yelp of surprise. At the same time, the descending darkness triggered a nearby streetlight, illuminating the amused face looking down at her.

“Sorry. Didn’t mean to frighten you. You looked as if you were struggling.”

“I am.” Ruefully she shrugged off the backpack. “I don’t have the shoulder shape for these things.”

“Aren’t sloping shoulders supposed to be a sign of beauty?”

How did he know her shoulders sloped? And were they fated never to have a conversation that began normally? Automatically she started to reach for the sunglasses that she had shoved into the pocket of her jeans as darkness fell, then changed her mind. He had already seen her at her worst.

“Were you – just passing?” She glanced around the nearly deserted area.

“I’m about to head home to Sydney and thought I’d stretch my legs first.” He picked her pack up. “Where’s your car?”

“At the repair place. Why?” The words
home to Sydney
reverberated in Dimity’s mind.

“The repair place? Oh, the accident. So how are you getting home?”

“With a friend.”

“Is he meeting you here?”

“She. The one I tried to call when – Sandra. She runs a hairdressing salon. I’m going to meet her there.”

Hearing herself gabbling Dimity stopped, annoyed by the awkwardness that seemed to afflict her whenever they met.

Well, as he apparently lived in Sydney, almost 200 kilometres south of Newcastle, that shouldn’t happen too often.

Somehow they started walking back along the foreshore footpath, Josh carrying the backpack with one hand as though it weighed nothing.

“Do you do a lot of face painting?” he queried.

“Just at special events, for the art gallery. It’s a chance to hand out leaflets about workshops they hold for children.”

“You worked at the art gallery?”

“I was their education officer for a couple of years. But I left at the end of last year to start a little gallery of my own.”

“Really? How’s it doing?”

They seemed to be talking a lot about her. But with a million butterflies going mad in her stomach for no reason she could fathom, it was easier to follow his lead than to try to think of other subject matter.

“I had to put it on hold for various reasons. By then they’d replaced me at the gallery so I’m temping for a while.”

As a précis of her working life, her answers hardly covered her with glory. But as their paths weren’t likely to cross again, it hardly mattered.

They had reached the walkway to the shops. Dimity stopped under a street light near the hotel.

“The salon’s across the street. I can manage from here.”

“It’s no trouble to go over with you.”

The offer was almost too tempting to refuse. But as she had told Sandra so firmly, she didn’t need distractions. Anyway, although he seemed friendly she could sense a tension in his manner. He was probably impatient to be on his way. No doubt he was acting only out of politeness. After all, what other reason could he have for wanting to walk across the road with her?

Smiling with as much composure as she could manage, Dimity shook her head.

“You’ve done more than enough. I don’t think I even said thank you properly.”

“No problem.”

His tone was neutral, almost offhand. Once again, he wasn’t going to argue. Whether she accepted his offer or not clearly meant nothing to him. Well, good. Fine. It just confirmed that she had been right to follow her instinct.

“Glad I could help,” he added.

“Glad you were there. I’ve never been so embarrassed.”

Damn!
The words had escaped before she could stop them.

“Hey!” His tension relaxed as he half-raised a hand in laughing protest. “Don’t be embarrassed. I have three older sisters. There aren’t many emergencies I haven’t seen.”

“Any split skirts?” asked Dimity hopefully, forgetting her resolution to make a speedy departure.

“We-e-ell, not yet, but I wouldn’t rule it out. Like all women they tend to wear clothes that don’t fit prop –” He broke off.

Dimity couldn’t repress the throaty gurgle that often plagued her at inappropriate moments. His eyes responded, crinkling at her in a most attractive way. It took a serious effort to think of something else to say.

“Did you – um – give the sheet back?”

“Sure did. The woman said she’ll put it through the laundry again.”

Dimity grimaced.

“It’ll probably fall to pieces.”

“I think the company can wear the loss.”

His quick grin was contagious. She smiled back, and again found it hard to unlock her eyes from his.

He continued to watch her while the grin slowly faded.

Forcing her eyes to change direction, Dimity found her gaze resting on his mouth instead. Not too full, not too thin, just right in fact. Sensual, but subtly so.

Gawking at his mouth was
not
a good idea if she wanted to keep her composure. Her eyes flickered away again, trying to find something else to occupy her attention. Still no rings on his fingers.

“Before I forget.” He handed her a business card. “In case the other one doesn’t turn up.”

“Thanks.” As she took it, her phone rang. She grabbed it from her bag and was about to cut the call off when she saw it was from Shane.

“Sorry. Won’t be a minute.”

“Go right ahead.” He turned away slightly, watching the harbour.

“Where are you?” Shane demanded as soon as she answered.

“Still in town. Why?”

“I’ve been called in to work tonight. I wanted to make sure you’d be home in time to take me.”

Glancing automatically at the card in her hand, Dimity gave an exclamation.

“I know it’s a pain and I’d ask Leigh, but she wants to go to bed early. I can get a lift home, though, so you won’t have to stay up late,” Shane added persuasively.

“All right.” It was easier than arguing. She looked at the card again.

“Thanks. Love you, Dim-Sim.”

He cut the call off.

“Sure you do, when it suits you,” she muttered.

Josh turned as she replaced the phone in her bag.

“I’ll have to go,” she said.

“Okay.” He held the backpack for her to put her arms through the straps. Then he lifted it, settling it carefully.

“It’s too heavy for you.”

“It’s fine, really.” She glanced over her shoulder, recoiling slightly when she found his face closer to hers than she had expected. “Do you live in Sydney?”

He seemed to brighten.

“I’m based there, but –”

“Oh, great.” Unable to prevent her voice resonating with relief, Dimity saw him stiffen. “I mean it’s a great place. Sydney. Well, it’s been really nice meeting you. Thanks again.”

She took off across the walkway with as much panache as the bulky backpack would allow, her exit somewhat spoiled when she stumbled on an uneven section of the walkway. Recovering, she charged onward without looking back.

“Easy to see why you’re still in town,” said a voice behind Josh.

He looked around sharply. Malcolm had emerged from the hotel, eyes narrowed lasciviously as he watched Dimity’s rapid retreat. “Wouldn’t mind having her at the other end of a function table.”

For the first time in his life Josh enjoyed the thought of smashing someone’s nose to a pulp.

“Time I was heading home. Nice meeting you,” he added mendaciously.

“What happened to her eyes?” queried Malcolm, uninterested in the niceties.

“Car accident.”

Malcolm’s eyebrows rose.

“That could mean her car’s out of action. Might see if she needs a lift.”

“Someone’s taking her home.”

“Pity. I wouldn’t have minded a souvenir like yours.”

“Meaning?”

“Lipstick on the collar. Or was it somewhere else?”

Thrusting his hands into the pocket of his jacket out of temptation’s way, Josh returned Malcolm’s stare. If this creep followed Dimity, he’d be right behind him.

Perhaps Malcolm read his thoughts. He gave that annoying click of his fingers and turned towards the hotel.

“Forgot something. Give my love to head office.”

“I’m going down to the car park. I’ll walk in with you.”

Josh loitered by the reception desk until Malcolm disappeared in the direction of the restaurant. Only then did he take the stairs to the parking area.

He didn’t drive out immediately. Some instinct told him to sit quietly for a few minutes, lowering the stress levels Malcolm had succeeded in raising.

Dimity’s attitude hadn’t helped, either.

He’d thought she seemed pleased to see him again, but he must have got it wrong. She’d been elated to hear that he didn’t live locally and had bolted before he could even ask for her phone number.

Well, she had his card. If she didn’t lose it again.

Or throw it away.

As he finally started the engine he hoped she’d reached her friend’s salon by now. It wasn’t much of a night for wandering around town.

Not that it should matter to him.

But he would have liked to know for sure she was safe.

****

Sandra rang before Dimity reached the salon.

“Dim, I’m sorry, but I’d forgotten I had a bride coming in at six for a make-up trial. Do you want to come here and wait?”

“No, that’s okay, I’ll get a bus. Shane needs a lift to work.”

“Honestly, Dim, the way you wear yourself into the ground for that boy makes me grind my teeth, sometimes.”