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But the days were running out—fast
‘Wonder what he’s like? Even if he doesn’t have millions under his bed he could be sexy’
‘Like that’s going to ’
The situation was couardianship of Mickey and having joint ownership of the house and attached medical centre They’d neverover since Maria and James had died Dr Pascale hadn’t made it home for his brother and his sister-in-law’s funeral—hadn’t talked to Karina at all, even by phone Their only co for the unusual partnership put in place solely to protect Mickey
When a letter had arrived froan Pascale wanted to sell the property and invest the money for Mickey’s future, she’d felt a familiar punch in her stomach Only this time she refused to fold This ti thrown at her and would not be told what to do Mickey shouldn’t be moved away from all his memories of his parents
When Maria and Jauardian if the unthinkable happened, she’d pro to ed her and said that was exactly why they were asking Now she had a promise to keep
Putting that aside, Karina said, ‘Guess I’d better be getting holass doors and shivered at the sight ‘It wasn’t raining when I walked up here’ Though the sky had been grey and threatening ‘My car needs t tyres’ It sat in the driveway going nowhere in the meantime
‘I’d offer you my truck, but e uos splashed across it She winked ‘Compliments of the bank They’re only for our most important clients’
Karina couldn’t speak for the sudden luht as she stared at this woood friend Thank you Hopefully Becca understood
The wind blew rain into her face as she headed down High Street towards hoery: her life The life she liked to think she controlled
‘Mostly’ she ot worse
Withindaned to be closed across her breasts Very classy, but totally impractical for her newer,the footpath, quickly giving up on avoiding the puddles She’d have jogged all the way, but given she earing three-inch narrow heels—all to iured that ht be a little crazy even for her
The cooler air did nothing to chill her anger at being refused a loan She should have asked on what grounds she’d been turned down, but giving Mr Pederson the pleasure of knowing he’d upset her hadn’t been an option Now she’d have to think of another way to raise the capital Oh, yeah, like how? Short of selling herself down at the wharf, there weren’t any ideas shining out at her
Shoving the disappointment and her sense of unfairness down deep, where she kept insur hoe Jonty’s wound froht his forearm on a stake
Dear old Gruriping he was such a sweetheart, and so helpful Without hi in time to plant spuds and onions He’d complained about it with every turn of the soil, but when she’d tried to wrest the spade froiven her an earful
A gust of wind sla it inside out The heavens poured water onto her carefully styled hair and turned her blouse see-through Soto look half-decent for once Of course the bank’s ue
Locking the gate at the bottoroaned The hole in the asphalt had overflowed, sending water strea out to the road Water, water everywhere
‘It’s so te’
Despite her angst with the world she felt a flicker of ht as well get some fun out of the day and act like the delinquent Mr Pederson believed her to be This hopelessness needed sto theain anyway
Karina breathed deep and leapt into the air to land in the shallow hole Splashes of s Up, down, splash, splash She pretended the tears leaking from the corners of her eyes were from pure pleasure, and not exasperation at her inability to fix the current crisis
‘I want to do that!’ Mickey yelled from the veranda
‘Come on, then’
So the sore tummy had recovered She watched anxiously as he leapt off the steps and charged towards her
‘Go easy,’ she muttered She hated that he believed he was invulnerable But she also acknowledged that his condition mustn’t hold him back
Splash Mickey’s round face split wide into a grin Bending his knees, he bombed his feet into the deepest water he could find His shrieks filled the air, and soon Karina was laughing hard To hell with banks andthe
little things, and especially having fun with this boy she loved so much
When Mickey was totally soaked she grabbed his hand and started for the house ‘Let’s get into dry clothes and then I’ll make us hot chocolate drinks’
‘Can we?’ Mickey shouted ‘Really?’
‘I reckon’ She bounded up the steps and kicked off her shoes ‘Is Mr Grumpy here or out in the shed?’
‘Inside our place’
She untied Mickey’s laces and tugged his shoes and socks off ‘Straight to the bathroom, please Get out of those clothes while I find you some dry ones’
‘What about my hot chocolate?’
‘After you’ve changed’
She ruffled his hair and gently pushed hi her sopping bag and the useless umbrella into the bucket in the corner, she spun around to head to her bedroo towards her
‘Who are you?’ she gasped, though fro her skin she already had an inkling Sohe eeks away But, hey, it was that kind of day
‘Logan Pascale’ The long and lean, tanned man held a hand out to her ‘You’re Karina Brown?’ His eyes were very wide, and definitely not focused on her face
Auto her hand in his, she tried to lock eyes with hi below her chin When she followed the direction of his gaze she gasped again Every last scrap of her clothing et, clinging to her like plastic wrap, and her blouse wasHer breasts pushed hard against her braher very lacy, transparent bra
Open up, floor, right now Gobble me up
When nothing happened she dredged deep for what little pride she could muster ‘Yes, I’er who held the future of Mickey’s ho her hand free, she stepped back and returned to scrutinising him