White Ginger (14 page)

“Hi, can I help you?”

“G’day. Well, if you know where I might find Amelie…” The man’s Australian accent chilled Arne’s heart. He knew who the man was. The big question was, did Amelie know he was here?

“Is she expecting you?”

And if she isn’t, how will she react?

“I doubt it. I had to do some digging to find out where she’d gone.”

Arne’s hand fisted. He should flatten this guy for hurting Amelie. But who was he to say what suited Amelie? Maybe she still had feelings for the guy? A little friendly conversation on a strict need-to-know basis wouldn’t hurt.

“You’re a friend of hers?”

“Well, now, let’s say a little bit more than friend. I’m Victor. So she’s told you about me.” Victor tucked his thumbs into his belt.

“Actually, no. She hasn’t mentioned you.” It was true. Amelie hadn’t told him anything about her ex-fiancé. But she had told Lili, who’d passed on enough detail to make him want to kick this guy off her property and all the way back to Australia. What a jerk. He was smug and cock-sure and definitely not worthy of her. Arne took a deep breath and forced his muscles to relax.

“And who are you?” Victor asked.

Why didn’t we have that talk before now? Who am I to Amelie? How does she see me?

The squeaking of sand from the cliff path heralded Amelie’s arrival. She ran the last few yards, eyes bright and her smile, warm until she saw Victor.

“Victor?” She pulled up short, her smile frozen.

He jumped down the stairs and took her in his arms, leaning in to kiss her mouth.

She turned her head aside, the kiss landing on her cheek. Pulling back, she stood, hands on hips.

“What the hell are you doing here and how did you find out where I was? Madeline wouldn’t tell you, so who did you con to get the information?”

Victor pulled her back into his arms, pushing his hips into hers. Arne thumped the bonnet of his jeep. Every instinct screamed at him to pull Amelie from Victor’s arms. With steely self-control, Arne waited. He had to know. Did Amelie still harbor tender feelings for her ex-fiancé?

“Well now, when I got back to Brissie and you weren’t there, I called in to your office.”

“Nobody there would have given out personal information.” Amelie pushed against Victor’s chest. He adjusted his hold and continued.

“There’s a new secretary. She’s only been there a few weeks. Seems she’s a sucker for a love story. I spun her my ‘heroic war correspondent returns to visit his fiancée before his next dangerous assignment’ line. She all but tripped over herself hunting up your new address. And here I am.”

“You always were good with a line.” Amelie pushed Victor away and came to stand beside Arne. Turning to face her former fiancé, she folded her arms. Arne unclenched his fists and dared to hope.

Victor continued, clearly unaware of the signals her body was sending. “I thought we could have dinner if there is somewhere to go out in this back of beyond. Why on earth did you come so far away, Amelie?”

“I needed more creative stimulation for my work than I was getting at home. Here is…very stimulating.” She glanced at Arne and grinned. His muscles relaxed and he smiled.

This guy was a prize idiot, or incredibly thick-skinned. He still had no notion Amelie hadn’t thought of him at all. “I’ve put my bag inside, and after your
friend
has gone,” he indicated Arne with a nod of his head, “we can catch up.”

Amelie grimaced and reached for his hand. Lacing her fingers through his, she smiled up at him and then turned back to Victor. “Victor, so kind of you to drop in but, as you can see, I’ve other plans for the evening.”

So have I. And for the rest of my life!

“Amelie, we’re going to be late for dinner at Jimi and Lucy’s if we don’t head off soon.”

“Of course.” She picked up his cue and they headed to the stairs before she turned at the door. “I’ll be changed in ten minutes. So sorry we can’t stay longer to…
catch up
. ’Bye, Victor.”

“Wha…” Victor’s smug smile dropped away. Arne reached inside for Victor’s suitcase, and then tossed it at his feet.

“I’m sure you’ll still be able to get a room in town for the night, and if you’re quick, the internet café may still be open. Oh, and by the way, I’m the man who’s going to marry Amelie.” He banged the screen door satisfyingly behind him.

A few moments later an engine started, followed by a dropped clutch and wheels spinning as Victor exited their lives.

Knocking at the bedroom door, he entered Amelie’s room with the news that Victor had departed. “And Jimi and Lucy really have invited us to dinner.”

Amelie pulled her damp bath towel tighter around her breasts and paced. He leaned against the door frame and shoved his hands into his pockets. Otherwise, he’d reach for her and they’d never get to Jimi’s.

“So, how do you feel now he’s gone?”

She thumped the wall as she passed the bedside table. A frown creased her brow. “He seemed to expect to just pick up like nothing had happened.” She pressed her lips together and looked down at her hands. Had he misread her earlier smile? Was she regretting sending Victor away?

She perched on the edge of the bed, arms folded across her chest. “We were going to be married but he left me. I guess his work was more important than me. So I came here, partly to work of course, but also to get away from him. Now, well…I don’t want to see him again.”

“Do you feel anything for him now? Maybe you’re angry he showed up unexpectedly.”

“No, Arne. Don’t go there. Once and for all, I’m over him. He’s arrogant and insensitive and”– she bit her lip and huffed a sigh– “and I’m glad he’s gone.”

“Okay. Chapter closed?”

“Chapter closed. So, are you cooking like you promised?”

“Actually, Jimi did invite us to dinner tonight. Lucy is close to having the baby, but we thought you would like to meet her before it’s born so I accepted.”

She nodded. “Jimi’s such a lovely man, and I’d love to meet his wife.”

“I’ll let you get dressed then.” He closed the door and went to make a coffee. Close as he and Jimi were, he had to swallow his disappointment. Tonight had been meant for a different discussion, under the stars, with a bottle of wine, not travelling in a car. He sighed and hoped anticipation would sustain him.

She came out of her bedroom wearing a light blue fitted sleeveless dress that complimented her skin and hair and figure in a way that had Arne wishing Jimi and his dinner invitation elsewhere. Offering an unzipped back for his help, she held her hair out of the way with a pale golden arm. He swallowed and took a long moment to master the desire to wrap her in his arms and never let her go. Just this morning her silken skin had pressed against his chest. Knowing how soft and sweet she was, left him hard.

Resist!
Lucy would not forgive him missing dinner. Amelie probably wouldn’t either.

He took the pleasure of a single kiss on her bare neck and then traced her spine with a fingertip all the way down to the zipper. She arched as he skimmed her waist. With reluctance, he did the zipper up.

She turned and loosely linked her arms around his neck. “What would I do without you here?” She kissed him lightly and he thought longingly of grabbing her and bolting to her bed.

“So, what time did you say we’d be there?” He bent his forehead to touch hers and swallowed the groan of frustration. Hands on her hips, he rubbed his thumbs over the curve of her waist, then resolutely stepped away.

“Eight. We should go now.”

Chapter 12

Lucy was nothing like Amelie had imagined her to be. Petite and olive-skinned, she’d arrived on Kauai from northern Italy with one suitcase and the determination to succeed in business. Landing a job with Jimi, she had proven her abilities and found the love of her life. “And soon we will have our
bambino
and our lives will be complete, no!”

Jimi’s tender look tugged at Amelie’s heart. A buzzer sounded from the kitchen.

“Now you will taste a real northern Italian dish. This is a recipe from my
nonna
.”

The four cheese baked pasta dish was followed by salad and veal
scaloppini
, and for dessert, gelato in two different flavors. Arne stretched back in his chair, patting his full belly. “Lucy, you are the best Italian cook in these islands!”

“That was delicious but I don’t think I can fit another mouthful in.” Amelie added her praises. “
Grazie
.”

Lucy’s eyes lit up. “Oh, you speak my language?”

“Sorry, that’s the extent of it. But I’d love to learn more.”

“Then I shall teach you.”

They moved out to the balcony with the rest of the wine, chatting about inconsequential things once the events of the past few days had been inspected and dissected. The moon was high in the sky and the evening well advanced.

Lucy pushed to her feet. “I shall make coffee. Who wants…” Suddenly she hunched over, groaning and wrapping an arm around her stomach. The others jumped to their feet.

“The baby?” Jimi asked anxiously. “But it isn’t due for a fortnight.”

“
Si, si
.
Mio bambino
.”

Amelie moved in to offer support and slipped. Lucy was standing in a puddle of water. She turned to Jimi. “You’d better phone the hospital and tell them you’re coming in. Her waters have broken.”

“I’ll phone. You help Lucy.” Practical as always, Arne gave Jimi a push toward his wife.

Amelie supported Lucy on one side and Jimi wrapped his arm around her waist. Lucy gasped as another contraction hit and she grabbed their arms fiercely. They held her until her breathing evened out again.

“This
bambino
, he is in a rush to be born.
Per favore
, Arne, my suitcase is in the wardrobe, second door on the right.” Amelie helped her to sit, and then offered to get fresh clothes. Lucy arched with another contraction as Arne returned, suitcase in hand.

“I think we should go to the hospital now.” Jimi took Lucy’s hand in his. She looked into his eyes and gave him a sweet smile.

“Don’t leave me.” She groaned with another contraction, grabbing Jimi’s hand.

“I’ll drive. Let’s go.” Arne picked up Jimi’s keys and held the door open as Jimi helped Lucy down the stone steps to his car. Jimi climbed into the back seat, gently holding Lucy in his arms. Amelie raced around to the front passenger seat, disconcerted to find herself on the wrong side.

“Oops! Sorry.” She hurried to the other side, springing in as Arne put the car into gear.

Although the hospital was only a fifteen-minute drive, Lucy’s baby was in a hurry. Her contractions came quickly. Arne drove skillfully, pulling in to the emergency doors just as Lucy emitted another cry.

With difficulty, Jimi and Arne eased Lucy from the back seat and onto a gurney brought by two paramedics. Jimi held Lucy’s hand as she was wheeled swiftly through the automatic entry and then they disappeared through a set of double swing doors.

Amelie pushed her bangs out of her eyes and grinned at him. “ Every outing with you is an adventure.”

“Should we go back to their place and wait?” Arne checked his watch.

“The rate Lucy’s contractions were coming, I reckon we might as well wait. Coffee?”

Barely two hours later, Jimi walked out to the waiting lounge, beaming. “Giuseppe Keanu has arrived–Joe for short. Both are fine.”

Arne shook his hand and then embraced the big man, slapping him on the back. “Congratulations!”

“I have a son.” Jimi grinned and enveloped Amelie in a bear hug.

“It’s wonderful. Congratulations.” Tears pricked her eyes. She blinked furiously and sniffed turning away to search for a tissue.

“It’ll be a while till they take Lucy to her room. Why don’t you go to the house and get some sleep? Come back in the morning to meet my son.” Jimi edged toward the ward. “I should get back to her–them.”

“Give Lucy our love.” Arne patted Jimi’s shoulder then led Amelie out into the starlit night and they drove back to the house. What an amazing night. She felt privileged that Joe’s birth occurred during their visit. Like being part of the family.

And like family, they cleaned the house and put the remains of dinner in the fridge, then flopped onto the sofa. She rolled her shoulders then closed her eyes, snuggling against Arne. It was almost dawn.

“Why do babies decide to be born so early in the morning?” Arne yawned.

“Maybe because what starts at night, ends at night.”

Arne chuckled. “Come on. Let’s grab a couple of hours sleep while we can.” He led her to the spare room. “I stay here when I visit. I’ll take the bed in Joe’s nursery.”

“Arne–I don’t mind sharing if you don’t?” He raised an eyebrow.

“It won’t be the first time I’ve slept with you.” He chuckled.

And not the last, I hope.

Amelie stripped off her blue dress and curled up under the blanket. Arne tugged off his shirt and trousers then slid into bed beside her. His arm slipped around her waist, his body warming hers. Within seconds, his regular breathing puffed gently against her neck. She snuggled in. This was so much nicer than sleeping alone.