The Trouble with Valentine’s (11 page)

‘It’s a good question, isn’t it?’ said Jasmine. ‘Maybe I should ask my father.’

Hallie sighed. ‘I’m really not a good influence on you, am I? I make suggestions when I don’t know any of the background details and I ask the wrong questions. I’m making a mess of this, Jasmine. Whenever we talk, I feel like I’m meddling in something I really shouldn’t be touching at all. You shouldn’t take too much notice of me.’ It seemed like the best advice Hallie had given all day. ‘You just shouldn’t.’

Jasmine turned to look at the view, her forearms resting lightly on the terrace railing. ‘Then who should I listen to?’

‘Lots of people, Kai and your father included. Get as many opinions as you possibly can. And then make up your own mind.’ Hallie turned to face the view too, bumping shoulders with the younger girl, a throwback gesture to the bumps her
brothers had so often inflicted on her in lieu of hugs.

‘Maybe I could go to Singapore for a while and learn Kyokushinkai from your brother,’ said Jasmine with a tiny smile.

‘And if you do that, do me a favour and don’t mention my name to either Jake
or
Kai. I happen to like breathing.’

‘Your brother would not have me for a student?’

‘Let’s just say you’d probably awaken memories that he’s spent the last ten years trying to forget. Him and Kai, though, they’d probably get on just fine.’

‘Hallie, what am I going to do about Kai? Because I think you were right. I think he might have feelings for me. And I have always had them for him.’

Hallie sighed and looked to the skyline for answers. ‘Kai’s in a difficult position; you know this already. He’s loyal to your father. He has a duty to protect you. He’s unlikely to confess to having feelings for you, even if it’s true. I think honour would prevent it, don’t you?’

‘I do
now
,’ said Jasmine glumly.

‘On the positive side, he’s given you some advice. He wants you to assert your independence
and get out into the world and experience every facet of it. Only then will he be able to take your feelings for him seriously; if indeed your feelings for him remain strong.’

‘He seems to think they won’t.’

‘Well, it’s always nice to prove your doubters wrong.’ Hallie grinned; she couldn’t help it. ‘Look at that world down there, Jasmine – just waiting to be tasted. I for one think Kai’s advice is brilliant.’

Eventually Jasmine excused herself in order to go and get ready for dinner. With Jasmine gone, Kai gone off somewhere in the car, Nick in the shower and John Tey nowhere to be seen, Hallie took a stroll through the gardens. This wife for a week caper wasn’t at all what she’d expected. How
did
Nick plan to manage any ongoing relationship with the Teys that did not involve her? Did he plan to bring her in every time he needed her? It seemed unlikely, not to mention fraught with difficulties. Maybe he had a quickie divorce planned. Which probably wasn’t going to do much for his reputation as a stable man to do business with.

Hallie finished her tour of the garden just as Nick stepped out from inside. He headed her way, freshly showered, close shaven, and thoroughly
eye-catching in dark trousers and yet another one of those crisp white shirts he wore without a tie. How a woman was supposed to keep her resolve around such a man was anyone’s guess.

Hallie made sure her smile was warm but not provocative, her body language welcoming but not enticing as he joined her.

‘I’ve had a rethink about the whole
wanting
dilemma,’ she said casually, as if they were talking about nothing more important than the weather. ‘I’m thinking denial is our best option.’

‘I’m way ahead of you,’ he said.

‘I mean it’s only for a few more days; I’m sure it’s possible. That way you get to concentrate on your work and I get the money to finish my diploma.’

‘Exactly. Thanks, Hallie,’ he said with a relieved smile.

‘Don’t smile,’ she warned him. ‘My resolve is not altogether reliable. I’m also thinking I should be more supportive. More corporate wife and a whole lot less of me. Trust me, you’ll thank me. What can I do?’

‘Just do what you’ve been doing. Help keep the conversation easy, find common ground with Jasmine.’

‘Oh, there’s plenty of that,’ she said dryly. ‘And
I don’t mean you. Have you any idea how
sheltered
she’s been from real life? She’s like a desert waiting for water. And she wants to come and visit us in London.’

Nick blinked. ‘So … What did you say?’

‘I said a very vague yes. You
do
have a plan in place when it comes to ongoing relations with these people, don’t you? Because I’m starting to feel really slimy.’

‘I have a plan,’ said Nick. ‘And it’s a good one.’

Hallie shot him a look she’d learned from Tris, the one with the dagger-sharp tips. ‘Or we could come clean about our relationship before we leave here.’

‘Before or after I sign a binding business contract?’ Nick sounded weary.

‘Pretty sure I’m thinking before.’

Nick rubbed his hand up and over his face, over his hair. Definitely a weary man. One who probably had more use for sleep right now than he did a night out on the town with his hosts.

‘Leave it with me,’ he said. ‘I know it’s wrong, Hallie. I’ll fix it. Soon. Just … give me a little more time.’

To what end? she wanted to ask him, but she wasn’t his conscience and it didn’t seem right to
berate him now, when she was the one who had made this charade possible in the first place.

‘So what’s the purpose of this dinner?’ she asked instead. ‘Will you and John be discussing business?’

‘From what I can gather, no. I have no plans to. I think this dinner is meant to be purely social. You, me, John, Jasmine and Kai. John says the restaurant we’re going to doesn’t look like much but it has the best Chilli Crab in Hong Kong. I hope you like it hot and messy.’

She did. Hallie felt her mouth begin to water, even as she looked down at her black trousers and pink shirt. The trousers were fine. The shirt was a problem. Chilli crab juice splattered over pink silk was not a good look. ‘Maybe I should change my shirt. I have a patterned one that’d work.’

‘Not the swirls.’

‘You remembered!’

‘Hard to forget.’

‘I’ll be five minutes.’

‘I’ll be waiting,’ he said and smiled as she slipped away.

Something about tonight’s expedition wasn’t going to plan, thought Hallie as Kai returned from his sparring session and drew John’s attention with
a swift glance towards John’s office. John nodded and excused them and together they went to attend to whatever business might have come up. Hallie glanced questioningly at Jasmine, who watched them go with wary eyes. Everyone but Kai was ready to go out to dinner.

‘Twenty minutes,’ said John when he rejoined them, with Kai now nowhere to be seen. ‘Something came up, but we’ll be ready to leave in twenty minutes.’

Hard not to be a little jumpy when half of Hallie’s mind was turned towards wondering whether the ‘something that had come up’ might be that she and Nick weren’t married and that she was here under false pretences. Another part of her overactive brain was wondering whether Kai was in there giving his notice because of the way Jasmine had confronted him earlier today. Hallie wasn’t exactly blameless when it came to that scenario either.

Meanwhile, John remained the genial host, and there were pre-dinner drinks to continue with and then there was Kai’s eventual appearance, and wasn’t that worth waiting for, because Kai wore black trousers, a superbly cut Chinese-collared blazer and a black round-necked T-shirt under that. Moments later, Kai’s phone beeped and he half
turned away to look at it. Hallie studied the lines of his body in profile, tilting her head to afford her a better view.

‘Are you checking out Kai?’ Nick murmured. ‘Because, you know, husband right here.’

Hallie smirked and slid her hand to Nick’s neck and planted a kiss on his cheek. ‘I was trying to see if Kai was carrying concealed. I think he is.’

‘And you know this how?’

‘Tris carries concealed a lot. I like to guess where.’

‘Can’t wait to meet him,’ said Nick wryly. ‘Really.’

Hallie watched as Kai pocketed his phone and nodded at John. Moments later their host pronounced them ready to leave for the restaurant.

A limousine sat waiting for them in the driveway, complete with driver. A man Hallie had never seen before stood just outside the Teys’ front door. Two other men stood in the shadows of the garden, their faces hidden from view.

‘Security,’ said John as if it was all perfectly normal.

Maybe it was.

But Jasmine had only ever mentioned Kai when they’d talked about security. At no time had she
mentioned that her father had an entire security
team
at his disposal.

‘I’ve arranged for us to travel to the restaurant by ferry,’ said John. ‘It’s worth it.’

‘I am
so
ready,’ said Hallie, and maybe her face had lit up as if it was Christmas, or maybe it was just that people needed a distraction, but John Tey was beaming at her, and Nick was smiling, Jasmine was moving forward towards the car and the tension was broken.

Kai was coming with them. The rest of the security team was staying behind. If Jasmine could live like this day-in day-out then Hallie could of a certainty do it for a week.

The limousine took them to a nearby ferry terminal and sat there purring silently as they made their way to the ferry. As soon as they were on, the engine fired up and the ferry pulled away from the dock. John steered them towards the bow of the boat. Jasmine lingered behind to speak with Kai, and Kai indulged her, his head bent towards hers, and they made a pretty picture, thought Hallie before glancing away and turning her attention to the view.

Jasmine joined her moments later, her shoulder brushing Hallie’s as she slipped into position beside her at the railing. ‘Kai says someone was
watching the house earlier this afternoon, hence the extra security. He also said to tell you that, yes, he’s carrying.’

‘And a mind-reader too.’ Hallie was impressed. ‘Good to know.’

‘He wanted to know why you were so observant. I told him about your brothers.’

‘Yep. It’s all their fault.’

Jasmine giggled, drawing her father’s attention. John Tey looked pleased, indulgent, and of a certainty he enjoyed being out on the water. It showed in the pride with which he pointed out various landmarks. Jasmine teased her father about his enthusiasm, but Hallie readily fell in thrall, right along with her host. Hong Kong Central on one shore and Kowloon on the other, each of them trying to outshine the other with their neon-draped skyscrapers and their laser displays that lit up the night. The harbour itself was vibrant with activity; the playful breeze and the gentle slap-slap of waves against the boat a sensual delight; but it was the skyline that truly dazzled her, the thousands upon millions of lights that turned the busy harbour into fairyland.

‘You’ve made John’s night,’ said Nick. ‘Just watching your face was enough.’

‘Nick, it’s so beautiful.’

‘Yes, it is,’ he said quietly. But he wasn’t looking at the lights of Hong Kong. He was looking at her.

Disconcerted, Hallie clasped her arms around her waist and looked away.

‘Cold?’

‘No.’

But he pulled her closer anyway, so that his warmth was at her back and his arms were around her waist, and she let him because they had an audience.

Because it felt right.

The restaurant was nothing more than a daytime pavement converted by plastic tables and chairs into a night time eating area. Large bins of live crabs, their pincers tightly tied, lined one side of the makeshift square, bamboo growing in tubs lined another. The shop front made the third side of the square. The fourth side was the gutter. It was badly lit, full of people, had no tablecloths whatsoever and, more importantly, loads of paper napkins.

A ragged waiter hurried over to greet them and escorted them to a vacant table, only to discover the tabletop sticky with beer. He skirted around it with an apologetic smile and showed them to an
adjacent table. Bottled water arrived not thirty seconds later, along with cups for everyone. Chopsticks and crab claw crushers appeared in front of each person. There was no menu. The restaurant served crab; that was all it served.

‘Cooked any way you like,’ the waiter assured them.

They ordered a chilli crab platter along with beer and white wine, and Hallie sat back to wait while her stomach growled and her mouth watered with every fragrant, steaming platter that emerged from the shop front doorway.

‘You’re drooling,’ said Nick. ‘A good husband would point this out to his wife.’

‘I am not drooling,’ she said indignantly. ‘I’m embracing the atmosphere.’ As for him being a good husband … Ha! She wasn’t even going to
start
thinking along those lines. As soon as this week was over she’d probably never see him again. She would do much better to think about
that
.

Another waiter emerged from the doorway, steaming crab platter in hand, and wove his way towards them, turning at the last minute to deliver the tray to the people who’d arrived just after them and been seated at the sticky table. ‘Damn,’ she muttered. ‘So close and yet so far.’

‘You’re really not a half measures kind of girl, are you?’ Nick was looking at her with a sort of wry resignation.

‘Er, no. Is that a problem?’

‘Not exactly.’

Hallie watched the activity at the next table as the waiter deftly served the topmost whole crab to a dark-haired European man and then distributed various bits and pieces of crab to his Asian companions.

‘The first serving always goes to the honoured guest,’ said Jasmine, noticing her preoccupation. ‘It is the best.’

Hallie nodded. The Chinese were one of the most widespread and successful cultures on earth and force had nothing to do with it. Why use force when flattery and business acumen worked better? Only this time the flattery didn’t seem to be working well at all. The dark-haired European was making strange choking noises and his face was turning an unnatural shade of purple. His hands were clutching at this throat; his eyes were glassy with tears.