The Candidate (27 page)

‘Ha, ha.’ Unable to hide a smile, she leant down and kissed him, then pulled away as he grabbed her hips.

‘No, you don’t!’

‘You are such a tease.’ He narrowed his eyes. ‘I never knew that about you, but I’m seeing more and more of it.’

‘You reckon, do you? Hands off!’ She raised an eyebrow, and then her hips as he obediently laid his arms beside him on the bed. ‘Good man,’ Ginny smiled, and took him in, excruciatingly slowly, delighting in the low, sexy sound that came from him as she did.

‘What else?’ she asked, pausing.

Mac opened his eyes. ‘Don’t you dare stop.’

‘What else … do you have in mind?’ She gently moved her hips from side to side.

‘Anything. Everything,’ he growled.

‘Tell me.’ Ginny tried hard not to smirk. But because she was fundamentally a kind woman, and she loved him very much, she gave him another inch.

‘I’m going to move in with you. This weekend.’ He spoke quickly. ‘I’m far too old to be living with my parents.’ He’d had enough of being good, and reached up to cup her breasts. ‘Come here,’ he said roughly and met her halfway.

‘Move in. Really?’ She couldn’t help but sink all the way, taking him deep inside. She started to move and let her head fall back as that crazy, electric heat roared up in her again, out of nowhere and then everywhere.

Mac caught her against him, taking her mouth with his and kissing her, pulling her back down on top of him. ‘And since we’re being so honest, I have plans for your bathroom and kitchen. They’re functional, but I could make them much better.’

‘I may be a tease, but you’re bossy. You always have been. Anything else is subterfuge.’

‘Maybe.’ He smiled into her hair as she curved around him. ‘But you love it.’

She pulled back, looking him in the eye. ‘I do. I love it all. It sounds great.’ She paused. ‘But Mac?’

‘Hmmm?’

‘No more disappearing acts, okay? I’m serious this time. No more. When you’re here, I need you to be with me. And when you have to go, I need you to let me know as soon as you can. And I need you to come back to me. Every time you leave, you must come back.’

He saw the look on her face and felt his heart fall at her feet. Moving gently, he half-collected her, and rolled her onto her back. He pushed up onto his elbows, and kissed her lightly before speaking.

‘Of course, Ginny. I promise. I’m not going to disappear from you again. Ever.’

She looked at him, confused and unsure. ‘Ever?’

‘Ever. I’ve spoken to them and told them I’m done. There are a few things to tie up but I’m definitely off the duty roster.’

She looked at him for a long time. ‘Are you sure? I meant what I said to you last night — I can do it.’

Mac ran a finger lightly down between her eyes, easing the frown. ‘No — I don’t want you to have to.’

‘You’re sure?’

‘Very. Trust me on this, Ginn. You can be fairly infuriating at times but once I’d cooled down a bit I realised I had to make a call. So I did. I’m not going to walk away from this. Not again.’

‘Okay then. That makes me very happy. And relieved.’ Reaching behind him, Ginny linked her fingers across the small of his back, holding him tight and close against her. He looked at her and she looked back. He knew he was lucky, luckier than most. Thanking God for that, he lowered his mouth to hers and, feeling her surround him, loved her with all of his might.

By tacit agreement they decided to stay on at the bach for another night or two; the world could wait, they figured, for a wee bit longer.

Sitting next to Mac on his new couch, bought with her in mind he proudly admitted when she sank admiringly into it, Ginny pulled out her phone to check in with Ange. Having an employee had many benefits. Chiefly: someone got to look after her business while she played hookey.

Mac looked out over Gibson’s Bay and, keeping half an ear on Ginny’s end of the conversation, formulated a loose plan for the day. He turned to look at her when he heard her voice change.

‘How many times has he called? Does he say what he wants? Is there a problem with RK?’

She was silent for a bit, and Mac heard the distorted sound of Ange’s voice at the other end of the line.

‘Well, that’s a relief,’ Ginny said eventually. ‘Just keep telling him I’m unavailable until Monday and I’ll sort it out then.’

‘What was that about?’

‘Daniel.’ She turned her phone off. ‘He’s in a flap about something. It might be nothing but I’m wondering if I’ve made a really big mistake, Mac.’

‘What about?’

‘I wanted to put the job away so much I ignored things I shouldn’t have.’ She told him about the second reference and how, by comparison, it made what Sean said about Daniel sound even more manufactured. ‘I’m starting to get a bad feeling about him.’

‘Did you tell Robert about this Mark character?’

‘No.’ She explained the grey area she had been in when she took the reference. ‘I probably shouldn’t have but, in my defence, you’d just done a runner and I wasn’t thinking all that clearly.’

‘I’m really sorry about that, Ginn.’

‘Where were you anyway?’

‘I got the call late that Friday night, down here, telling me the guys were back and that the media release about Nick was going ahead; that they weren’t going back in. I headed straight into base to see them. I should have called you. I’m sorry.’

‘Is that where the police questioned you after what happened to Miles? On base?’

‘No — they spoke to Dad first, and he let me know they needed to speak to me. I came back into Auckland for a chat.’

‘Did you mind? Being questioned about it?’

He smiled broadly. ‘Not at all. I was flattered.’ He saw the look on her face and put his hand to her cheek. ‘He’s a prick, and he hurt you.’

‘Still, it’s a pretty horrible thing to have happen.’

He nodded but stayed silent. Mac was a big believer in karma.

‘Do they have any idea who might have done it?’ Ginny asked. ‘Since it wasn’t you?’

‘No.’ In hindsight it was pretty bloody obvious that her attacker had done so to get her keys. And it was sly, getting copies made and returning her originals quickly so she wouldn’t feel the need to change her locks. Especially knowing Ginny, who wasn’t renowned for being security conscious. Putting it all together, looking at all of the nasty tricks that had been played on her leading up to the attack, attributing the whole mess to Miles wasn’t such a stretch.

‘It isn’t impossible that Miles hired someone to steal your keys and mess up your office. If he did, and he fell out with that someone, then the beating could have been the outcome. I suggested as much to the police.’

‘If he did hire someone, how easy would it be to find him?’

‘I don’t know. But it’s over, right? Miles got a kicking. I reckon he’s probably learnt his lesson.’

‘Sure,’ she replied, and he could see how much she wanted to believe him. ‘It’s over.’

Mac waited before asking his next question. ‘What are you going to do about Daniel?’

‘I’ll have to see what he wants when I get back to Auckland. It would be unprofessional to just ignore him. He works for Robert now, and that’s an important relationship.’

‘Just wait until I get that rock on your finger first so you can whack him with it if he tries anything.’

She leant over and held his face in both hands. ‘You don’t have anything to worry about.’

‘I know.’ It wasn’t her he didn’t trust, but he figured he could always give Daniel a talking-to if need be. He tugged at her T-shirt. ‘How about a swim?’ He edged closer to her. ‘Then I’ll take you into town and we can have a long lunch. I’ll tell you what I have in mind for the kitchen and bathroom.’

‘I didn’t bring my togs.’

‘Doesn’t matter.’ Moving fast, he pulled her shirt over her head with one hand and snapped open her bra with the other.

‘How do you do that?’ she exclaimed, suddenly half-naked.

He grinned as he started on her jeans. ‘Excellent reflexes.’

As Mac hauled Ginny into the water at Gibson’s Bay, Ange picked up the phone in Auckland.

‘Shine Consulting.’

‘Good … ah … morning. I’m trying to reach Ginny. Ginny Hayes?’

Ange recognised the English accent. ‘Detective Sergeant Roberts, isn’t it? Sorry — she’s still not here. Can I take a message? Is this about the break-in?’

‘Break-in? No. Do you know when she’ll be back?’

‘Monday.’

‘Can you tell me how to get in touch with her?’

‘She’s completely off the radar, I’m afraid.’ It didn’t sound urgent, Ange thought, and Ginny and Mac didn’t need unnecessary interruptions.

‘Right. Okay then. I’ll call back next week.’

Chapter 32

Mac arrived on Sunday afternoon with the first load of his stuff. Although tempted to freak out, Ginny reminded herself that she intended to spend the rest of her life with him so it was best to just get on with it. She put the kettle on for a cup of tea instead.

‘Are you sure this is okay?’ He hauled another box into her living room. ‘Not too fast?’

‘No.’ She smiled bravely. ‘It’s great. Although … I’m not so sure about this.’ She gingerly lifted a CD from a carton.

‘He’s the Boss, Ginn, I’ve been telling you for years.’

‘Your Bruce Springsteen collection wasn’t part of the deal, buddy.’

‘It’s a package deal, I’m afraid.’

She wasn’t convinced. However, she already liked how much fuller her flat seemed with him there. She could probably learn to live with it. ‘What did your dad say?’

‘He hasn’t managed a word, which is unusual for him, so thanks for helping me render the old man speechless. Jen recovered quite quickly and wants us over for dinner later.’

Ginny went as white as a sheet. ‘I don’t think I can do that just yet.’

‘Come on.’ Mac pulled her in for a kiss, and he looked so happy she couldn’t help but smile back. ‘You’ll have to get used to the fact she’s going to be your mother-in-law. I’ll hold your hand, it’ll be fine.’ She felt herself relax as he kissed her again, but it was short-lived. ‘Anyway,’ he continued, breaking away, ‘Jen wants to start planning an engagement party. I thought you’d want to have some say in the matter.’

‘Oh, shit. That’s all a bit real.’

‘Yes.’ Mac was still grinning. ‘It is, isn’t it?’

It was real, Ginny thought the following morning as she kissed him goodbye, and very nice to have him there, and to see his things lying around. She had a sneaking suspicion her early morning runs would take the back seat for a while; leaving a warm Mac in bed would never be an attractive proposition. When she’d aired that particular concern he laughed and said it was bloody minor in the scheme of things and if it bothered her that much, he’d be happy to push her out the door two or three times a week, or even go with her, if she’d let him. Then he’d flipped her onto her back and that had been the end of it.

Picking up her coffee and giving Marco/Bruno a big smile, she headed back to her office and settled in for a busy morning.

Although she’d only taken one work day away from the office, it was time to knuckle back down. The to-do list was lengthy but not overwhelming, which was a good thing as she sure as hell didn’t want to put Mac off: he was collecting her at one sharp to take her ring shopping.

Top of the list was calling Daniel, which she did with some uneasiness, and was relieved when the call went to voicemail. She left a quick message, wished him luck on his first day, then hung up and ticked the job off.

Another thing she could do straightaway was to try to get hold of this Detective Roberts. She’d never heard of him, but supposed he was one of Johnston’s cohorts. Picking up the phone, she dialled the main switchboard for the city police station.

No go there, so she decided to go straight to the source.

Johnston answered on the second ring. He hadn’t heard of this Roberts either.

‘I don’t have a clue, I’m afraid, Miss Hayes. Do you have another ongoing police matter that he may have called in relation to?’

‘No.’ Ginny said shortly. Considering the attack while running, the office break-in, the candidate’s house being set alight, the ex-boyfriend being beaten to within an inch of his life, and the current boyfriend — might as well say fiancé — being questioned for that beating, she had more than enough police matters on her plate.

‘Any further funny business?’ Johnston asked.

‘None at all.’

‘Well, that’s good to hear. Stay alert, though; Miles Hawthorne was released from hospital over the weekend and although I doubt he’ll try anything, don’t take any risks.’

Knowing that she had Mac with her now, Ginny felt as safe as houses. ‘Of course not,’ she said.

Ange was delighted to hear how events had transpired and assuming that Mac had a swarm of similarly attractive friends, started angling for a post as bridesmaid. Mads had reacted in the same way, bagging the role before Ginny had even finished telling her the job was open.

Laughing, Ginny swatted a hand at her assistant. ‘We haven’t set a date or anything like that. It will be ages away yet.’

‘Bollocks. The moment that man gets a sparkler on your finger he’ll want to follow it pretty damn quick with the real deal. Mark my words.’

Still laughing, ecstatic and radiant, Ginny changed the subject and they started to map out the weeks and months ahead. Everything was on the up, and that included Shine Consulting. The role with the uni was going tremendously; they’d had another vacancy advertised over the weekend, and tomorrow was the meeting with Robert to pick up his new role.

‘Right then, Ange.’ Ginny pulled out a list of company names and numbers she’d prepared earlier. ‘Your first lesson: business development. Learn to love it and there’s no stopping you.’ She handed Ange the list and pointed to her phone. ‘Off you go — every meeting you arrange for us, I’ll match with a coffee.’

Ange snorted. ‘Crap deal, boss — you already buy almost every coffee I drink.’

Ginny considered her offsider. ‘A mercenary nature, eh? That’ll serve you well in this game. Muffin then, too. Now get dialling!’

‘Do you mind,’ Mac asked her later that afternoon following their visit to a Parnell jeweller, ‘that you don’t get to wear it now?’

‘No — I can wait until tomorrow. I’d rather it fits me.’

He nodded, but couldn’t quite agree. He’d give the jeweller a call as soon as he’d seen Ginny back to her office. Surely they’d re-size it faster if he asked nicely or offered enough of a sweetener.

Walking with her up the stairs, he said hi to Ange and leant in to give Ginny a kiss. ‘I have a late meeting but will get home as soon as I can.’

Exiting the building, Mac pulled out his phone. Surprising Ginny with the ring that evening would be a nice touch. Thinking it through, he frowned slightly. He hadn’t actually asked her officially. Perhaps he should. What was the deal: flowers, champagne, down on one knee? Mac cringed and felt deeply unsure of himself.

He needed to think that one through a bit more; the priority was getting the ring sorted and he had a fairly empty afternoon to work through the logistics of how it would be accepted. He called the jeweller and spoke quickly and persuasively. Heading back to his office, he was focused on the job at hand and didn’t see the man watching him leave.

Ginny waved Ange off just after five. Mac had texted to say he wouldn’t be back until at least half-six, which gave her a good whack of time to make overdue inroads on her accounts. She took a slug of tepid coffee and got stuck in.

Forty-five minutes later, the door buzzer went. Tempting as it was to ignore it, Ginny got up with a sigh and went to the intercom by Ange’s desk.

‘Ginny — it’s me. Daniel. Can you let me in?’

She glanced at her watch. She didn’t want to see him so late in the day but he had been trying to get hold of her and if she dealt with it now, he’d be out of her hair. He sounded chipper enough; perhaps he just wanted to thank her for the job again after his first day.

‘Sure, Daniel, come on up.’

Ginny unlocked the main doors, then put on a smile as he came up the stairs.

‘How was the first day?’ she asked as they settled into an interview room.

He gave a glowing-enough account of the work he was to be involved with, the career prospects he could see unfolding, and the general brilliance of Robert and Jackson.

Ginny nodded along and made the appropriate sounds, taking in most of it but keen for him to wrap it up: Mac would be home soon.

‘Well, that’s just great, Daniel. I’m really happy for you. Glad it all worked out in the end.’

‘I’ve got you to thank, Ginny. How about that drink? There’s something else I want to talk to you about, and it might be nicer to do it over a glass of champagne. By way of celebration?’

She quailed. She’d just got engaged and another man wanted to buy her a drink. Mac would knock his bloody block off. ‘Um, well, thanks, Daniel, for the offer. But I’d better not. I’m seeing someone.’

‘Ahhh. Your good friend …’

Ginny nodded, and wished she had that ring on her finger. ‘Yes.’ She cleared her throat. ‘So … ah … is there anything else, or …?’

‘Well, there is this other … thing, Ginny. If you have a little longer?’

She frowned; he wasn’t getting the message. ‘What is it, Daniel?’

‘I got a call from an old acquaintance of mine.’ He paused, watching her. ‘A former colleague actually.’

Ginny’s stomach turned uncomfortably, and she shifted in her seat.

‘I thought I asked you not to contact Mark Hutchinson?’

Oh hell, she thought. I knew this would bite me on the bum. ‘Well, you didn’t actually ask me not to. You gave me another referee to speak with, but …’

‘I told you not to bother.’ His tone was sharp.

‘You signed a release allowing me to speak with your referees. I had every right to do that.’

‘I already had the job.’

‘The contract wasn’t signed,’ she countered, ‘and I …’ It wouldn’t be wise to admit to the uneasy feeling she’d developed after speaking to Sean.

‘You what?’

Ginny took a deep breath. ‘I took three references for the other candidate and as I had Mark’s contact details I thought I’d balance it up.’ She tried a smile but he didn’t respond.

‘I told you not to,’ he repeated, eyeing her closely.

‘I’m sorry you feel that way, Daniel. I didn’t speak to Robert about it, and Mark hardly said anything anyway.’ Why was he making such a fuss about this? And since he was obviously still in contact with Mark Hutchinson, why had he told her he wasn’t?

‘What did he say?’

‘Not much.’

‘What did he say? I said.’

‘Daniel.’ Ginny stood abruptly. ‘I’ve told you everything there is to know. I spoke with him briefly; he refused to give a reference and told me to not call again. That’s it. Now, if that’s all, this would be a good time for you to leave.’

He remained seated. ‘Did you take notes? Or transcribe the conversation onto your computer?’ She didn’t answer and he showed his hand a bit more. ‘I know my rights, Ginny. It’s my information.’

She shook her head. The bloody cheek. She’d worked herself into the ground getting him that bloody job, and put up with all of his bullshit. Ginny gritted her teeth. ‘Notes, Daniel. I take notes. Then transcribe them. Then send them to the client. Satisfied?’

He stood up.

At last, she thought.

‘I want them. Now, please.’

She couldn’t help but let out a small laugh. ‘Have you not listened to a word I’ve said? Mark didn’t say anything. He refused to speak with me, just made some halfwit comment about my not wanting to know anything about the way you work …’ She trailed off as Daniel waggled a finger in front of her face.

‘See, Ginny. That’s why I want the notes. You said he didn’t say anything, but obviously he did. I want to know what else you may have written down. Come on.’ He took her arm and frog-marched her towards her office. ‘Take this as a request to your privacy officer.’

‘Get your hands off me!’ She twisted her arm away and winced as he squeezed her elbow sharply before releasing her.

‘Sorry, Ginny, didn’t mean to hurt you.’

Bullshit, she thought, rubbing her arm. That was deliberate. ‘They’re not here, Daniel.’

‘Where then?’

‘They’re at home,’ Ginny cast an involuntary look above her as she thought of the sheet of paper she’d scribbled the few notes on. It was on her coffee table, hidden now by a stack of bloody bridal magazines Jen had weighed her down with the night before.

‘Ah.’ Daniel took a step back and swung an arm out in a parody of a bow. ‘Isn’t it handy that you live upstairs then?’

She stared at him. ‘How did you—’

‘Doesn’t everyone know that?’ he grinned at her. ‘Or maybe someone told me? Perhaps that other friend of yours. Miles?’

She looked at him, wide-eyed. ‘I’d like to you leave. Now.’

‘Give me the notes and I will, Ginny.’

It would take less than a minute, she thought. Bolt upstairs, grab the piece of paper, and be done with him. ‘Okay — just let me get my keys.’ Backing away from him, she leant down to her handbag tucked under her desk. As she did, the main line rang on Ange’s desk and, startled, Daniel turned to look at it. Along with the keys, Ginny picked up her mobile and tucked it into her suit pocket. Mac, she thought. She stood and went to answer the phone on her desk.

‘Leave it,’ Daniel snapped. ‘Come on.’

Ginny hesitated before withdrawing her hand. Just get it done, she reminded herself. And then get rid of him. ‘Sure.’ She made to walk past him, but stopped as he started to follow her. ‘You’ve got to be kidding! You stay here. I’ll be right back.’

Daniel nodded and stepped back, pushing his hands into his pockets. ‘Fine. But hurry.’

She nodded and, unlocking the doors, walked quickly out of Shine and towards the stairs leading up to her flat.