Davina took a deep, long draught of her wine, then choked. “You’ve got to be kidding me?” The strangled words made Elyse look even more apologetic.

  “I think they’re all kind of scared of you.” Elyse’s lips turned down, and misery pooled in her eyes. “Look, I didn’t mean to tell you that, so don’t mention it, okay? Corbin was nice, but he wasn’t looking for what I am, so much as a way to get back at you for wiping his nose in legal process he can’t match or beat. It’s why we only went out a few times. He got chirpy and told me the entire story and I felt icky. I never saw him again.”

  The shock poured over Davina, the flaming heat of her cheeks freezing in horror, and she clamped both hands on her cheeks as she dropped back into the chair. “Frigid? Snap freeze?” Her belly churned with nausea. “I’m a topic of conversation as is my sex life.”

  Closing her eyes wasn’t enough to blank out the reality that they thought so little of her.

  “Davina, they don’t know you like I do. They don’t understand what drives you.” Elyse touched her hand and for an instant she almost gave into the urge to pull away.

  When she uncovered her face, Elyse was hovering, hands fluttering. “I’m sorry I said anything. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

  Davina gave a sniff. “It’s okay. I prefer to know. At least that way I can hold my head high when I walk past them. And I will.” The bubble of bravado, though, was pretty shallow, and she needed time to consider Elyse’s words and the implications. “Look, I slept with the guy, but I’m not up to talking about it, okay? How about we watch some television, because I’m not sure I’m in the right head space to go through the files I brought home to work on.”

  “We could watch that new romance you were asking about. It’s available now for streaming.”

  “Sure, yeah.” Her heart wasn’t in it, but she knew Elyse was desperate to cheer her up. They were closer than the average friends. Elyse’s parents had separated at about the same time as Davina’s and they’d stuck together during the bad times, understood sometimes you just didn’t want to talk, just needed some companionship that required nothing except being there.

  “Bottoms up, then!”

  Micah sat in the vehicle, watching for Davina, drumming his fingers. He knew it was a greater than even chance that she wouldn’t turn up to their fourth session, and if that happened, he’d need to ask Karly for details. The woman might be softly spoken, but he had a suspicion she had a steely backbone and would refuse her address or even a phone number. He’d have to find another way of tracking her down if that was the case, but how?

  The sight of her small compact vehicle entering the carpark left him limp, as a trickle of hopefulness bloomed.

  “She’s here.” Quelling his smile, Micah climbed from his car. “Davina?” He called to her, watching as her head rose, turned a little to the side. Funny, from here though he could see she was surprised he’d turned up.

  He strode over. “You left.”

  Her composure cracked just a little, her eyes betraying an inner turmoil. “I uh… I don’t like to stay afterwards.” She spoke so softly, he had to lean in to hear her.

  “Look, I’m sorry if I came on too strong.”

  Her smile warmed the chill that had settled in his chest. “It’s okay. I just… I had to go home. Work the next morning and all.”

  An unfamiliar feeling rose inside him, and he wanted to reach for her hand as they walked in the door together. Yet he felt foolish and unsure. Normally, he’d be the one leading the way, but his innate sense of people told him she’d shy at that. Instead, he jammed his hands in his pocket and followed her to the door.

  On the door sat a sign, ‘Closed for family reasons. Please contact the office to reschedule.’ “Huh, look at that.”

  She stilled, the fragile composure she held around her like a cloak unravelling a little more. “Oh… Umm…” He noted the way she bit her lip and couldn’t help himself. He gathered her close, careful not to spook her.

  “I’m guessing wine is out, but what about a coffee? I’ll keep my distance if that’s what you want.”

  Her hand shook as she reached up to reposition her bag on her shoulder. “I’m not…”

  A sob broke free and fear built. What the hell happened?

  “Davina?”

  “I, uh, got a phone call today. About one of my clients. I’m having a few issues coping with it.” She swiped at her eyes.

  “Come on. Look, I’ll take you home. Make coffee and we can talk, if you like. Nothing more than that. Nothing implied.”

  “My car...” She waved in its direction.

  “I’ll arrange for someone to pick it up. My agent, Karen, is a skilful driver, or even my brother, Noah. He lives near here. Come on.”

  He ushered her to his car, had her installed, and reached out for her keys. She dropped them into his hand and looked out the window. Unsure what else to do, he checked the road and headed for his brother's place a couple of streets away. At the door, he engaged the handbrake. “I’ll only be a moment.” He was out of the car and at the door before he could allow her to stop him. Three imperious knocks and his brother Noah answered. The baby of the family. He was a chauffeur and had a night off.

  “Hey little brother. I need a favour. I need you to pick up a blue Camry at Knight’s Meditation Haven and take it to my friend’s house.” He quoted the address as his brother stared at him.

  “What? Why? I have plans—”

  “It’s kind of a favour for a friend with an emergency. Please, Noah.”

  His brother, sandy-haired and five foot eight, glanced at the vehicle, gaze narrowing as he took in the woman, her head bowed, hand over her eyes. “For her, right?” His stance changed, losing the stiffness he’d shown before.

  “Yeah. Please Noah.”

  “You owe me.” Noah retreated inside and shut the door, leaving Micah standing there staring at the wood. With a shrug, he headed back to his car.

  “Is everything okay?” Her voice carried breathlessness, and he noted the pink tinge to her eyes. She’d been crying and tried to hide it from him. It burned him to think that someone or something had made this occur to what he had already deduced was a fiercely strong woman.

  “Yeah, Noah will drop your car over. He’s a professional chauffeur so he’ll drive it carefully.”

  She looked nonplussed. “Oh. Okay then. Look, thanks for this. I didn’t realise how much this hit me until I got there and found the door shut.” Her hands flew, fluttering like the movements of a fragile bird, and it made the protective instinct within him rise.

  “Not to worry. Let’s get you home and coffee. You clearly need a friend to talk to.”

  At the apartment block, he pulled into the visitor parking and waited as she unfastened her seat belt. “You’re okay with me coming inside?”

  She nodded. “Yes. I really want you to come with me.”

  Davina climbed out and he trailed her to the front door. With quick, efficient moves, he entered the unit, his eyes settling on the painting above the lounge. “Love the painting,” he deadpanned, and she giggled, just a tiny sound, but it heartened him.

  “I like it too. Look, take a seat and I’ll put the kettle on.” He watched as she moved into the small galley, the cut out allowing him to watch the way she flowed around, clearly at ease in her own environment.

  “So, why me?”

  She whirled; surprise etched across her face. “I really don’t know. I could have called my friend Elyse, but you…” Davina squirmed.

  “It’s okay. I’m happy to listen, just I’m surprised you didn’t call one of your friends.”

  The mug on the bench thudded, the sound reverberating. “I don’t have a lot of friends. I’ve got, I guess you might call them issues.”

  “Ah.” He understood that, as many of his peers were similar. Hell, he was aware there were others who’d say he did, too.

  “One of my clients was attacked overnight by her partner. The restraining order we’d applied for was denied.” Her back was turned in his direction, but he could clearly see the white of her knuckles.

  “Is she alright?” He wanted to stand and make his way over to her, but the stiffness of her back warned him that wouldn’t be so wise at this point.

  “She will be, but she lost the baby. She was five months pregnant with a little girl.”

  Pain radiated in her voice, and he closed his eyes, unable to understand how anyone could do that. Hurt a woman and kill their child. “I’m so sorry, Davina.” The words didn’t come close to expressing his sympathy. It certainly didn’t quell his rage at the unnamed excuse for a human being who’d caused such unimaginable harm.

  “Yeah, me too. They got him, but it’s too little and too late. He’s sitting in a nice, cosy jail cell. She’s in hospital tonight, broken because of that bastard, and I can’t help but feel that if I’d done a better job, she’d be okay. Safe with the baby to look forward to.”

  She slumped, and he was up, moving in her direction. Grabbing her as she dissolved before his eyes. The jagged, wrenching tears overwhelming. He held her tight as she shook, her tears soaking through his shirt until the paroxysm stopped.

  “I’m ahh… I’m so sorry.” She squirmed. But he kept her close, amazed that this woman, strong and valiant, had trusted him enough to fall apart in his arms.

  “It’s okay, Davina. You need a friend, and that’s me right now. Trust me, if you need me to stay I can.” He meant it. There was no way in hell he had any intentions of leaving her alone to deal tonight.

  “I tried to get the restraining order before, and they said…” she hiccupped, “that he didn’t pose enough of a threat. How can that be?”

  There was no answer that could even remotely fix the problem. “You did what you could. I’ll bet you tried every avenue, didn’t you?” The surety had him guiding her to the lounge. “I’ll bet you even offered to go above and beyond.”

  “I told her she could stay with me.” She sighed, “but she said no. She was going home and would not let him get away with standing over her. It didn’t matter that he’d made verbal threats and claimed the baby wasn’t his, that having the brat was undermining him.” Davina shook her head. “I just… There are just days I hate my job.”

  “So why do you do it?” The question slipped out before he could call it back.

  “Because my parents had such an acrimonious divorce. Neither has spoken to the other since then and I just… The kids are left with their lives smashed, no innocence left, and it’s not right. I do it for them. For those left behind who have to get their lives back. It’s not enough, but I do what I can.”

  His respect for her grew, and so did the emotional attachment.

  Micah looped a strand of her hair over her ear. “Have you eaten?”

  When Davina shook her head, he rose. “Well, I’m a decent cook so if you’re game to let me loose in your kitchen, I can fix us something.”

  The frown she gave him furrowed her brow. “You don’t have to do that. You’ve already been great listening to me whine and cry.”

  It took every ounce of his will to avoid the clenching of his jaw. “You’re kidding right? You’ve had a rotten day and you deserve a little TLC. So, let me do that. Sit back and would you like a glass of wine?”

  Her head cocked. “Actually, that would be fantastic.”

  “White, yes?” He remembered she’d ordered Chardonnay last time they’d had drinks together.

  “You’ve got an excellent memory.”

  “Goes with the job, really.” He moved into the kitchen, pleased to note it had most of the basic tools. A quick glance in her freezer told him she wasn’t really a cook. There were frozen meals galore and only a couple of chicken legs, some steak and a packet of pork spareribs. At least there were frozen stir-fry vegetables. He hunted through the cupboard while defrosting the meat in the microwave, grabbed some rice and set about soaking it to prepare for cooking.

  After a short while, she wandered in, perched herself on the counter. “A decent cook, huh?”

  She watched his movements as he sliced and set up a quick and dirty marinade.

  “My mother was an assistant cook at a school, never wanted the top job because she hated menu planning. Taught me and my brothers and sister everything we know.” He threw the meat into the bowl and turned back to the stovetop.

  “How many siblings do you have?”

  “Two brothers, Noah and Simeon, and my sister Miriam.”

  Her eyes rounded. “They’re very… biblical.”

  “Yeah,” he chuckled. “My dad was a cleric, so it kinda went with the job. We grew up with the whole nine yards, church every weekend, usually several times each weekend. The youth groups but they weren’t, you know, over the top and conversionist.”

  “Were?” Davina prodded.

  “My dad died when I was twenty-seven. A heart attack in the middle of the sermon. Mum was in a car accident three years ago. Didn’t pull through.”

  Her lips formed a small ‘o.’ “I’m sorry to hear that.”

  “Yeah, it was tough, but we’re all pretty close. Still do family meals every Sunday, rotating around our houses. But what about you?” It made sense that the key to her self-imposed wall had something to do with her family. He wondered if she’d answer the question.

  “My mum and dad broke up when I was five. Dad’s on his third marriage and his sixth kid is due in a couple of months, while mum is getting married next week in Bali. Marriage number five there.”

  “Ouch. Tough that.”

  Her shrug was a little too pat, as if she’d practiced it for years. “You get used to it. At least mum didn’t move me around. She would move them into the house because it was all too hard to pack, move, and arrange the change of mail more than anything else. The name change seemed to be about her level.”

  Rancour seeped from her words. His gaze narrowed, but he let the comment slide for now.

  “Do you see them much?”

  She shook her head. “They’re pretty busy with their lives and I seem to remind them of what happened before. And I don’t mean the good times.”

  “Oh.” He thought over her words. “She didn’t have any other—?”

  “Oh, heaven’s no! That would have strained her body too far, according to her. I was enough for inducing stretch marks and having to endure school meetings and so on. But it’s okay, I have Elyse, my best friend. I’ve known her since about then, and her parents broke up at the same time. And I’ve got my work. It’s fulfilling.”

  Just keep telling yourself that. Clearly, she wanted to believe it. Maybe had spent years reinforcing it. Micah wasn’t buying it, though. “Look, what are you doing Sunday? Come join us for lunch. It’s at my place and I can promise you a home cooked casserole.”

  “Oh no, I couldn’t.”

  He turned back to the stove, slid the vegetables out, noting that they’d overcooked slightly and tossed in the meat, stirred the rice as he considered how it might be observed by his siblings.

  “I’d really like you to.” He meant it too. Not that he intended to inspect his feelings just now.

  “I—”

  “I’m not taking no for an answer, Davina.”

  Chapter

  Seven

  “What do I wear to a Sunday dinner, Elyse? I mean, its family, just him and his brothers and sister, but do I dress up? Wear a skirt?” Holding the mobile in one hand, she held up a more formal skirt suit. “Or would you go with a dress? I mean…” she dropped to the bed and held her head in her hand. What the hell am I doing?

  “Girlfriend, jeans and a nice blouse, a set of heels and some makeup. Unless… Is it a date?” Elyse’s voice carried the question she desperately wanted to avoid because she couldn’t answer it.

  “I, uh, no.” He’d given her instructions to arrive at eleven, not to bring anything and be prepared to have fun. That could mean anything.

  “So, go comfortable. I mean, what’s the worst that can happen? You can’t be too worried about the ramifications unless you’re sweet on him. Is that the case?”

  “Oh, no!” The vehemence belied the truth. The seed of a relationship was forming, even though she really didn’t want that to be the case. Relationships were scary beasts that could break you when it went wrong. She’d seen that more than once. Been around for the messy clean up, the tantrums and screaming matches. The recriminations.

  “Good. Then go have fun. Meet some new people, be fed by someone you told me who can cook and enjoy. Now, I have to get ready for my date.”

  That caught Davina’s attention. “Date?”

  “Doctor Delicious rang me up. Said he missed my sunny face and would I be available for a restaurant lunch. I, of course, accepted. He was seriously good in the sack!” Elyse fanned herself and even through the tiny viewer of her phone screen, Davina caught sight of the facial expression that expressed completion.

  “Well, I hope it ends up as you hope it does then. But for now, I think I’m going to go middle of the road with a casual dress and heels. Thanks for your help, Elyse. I’d better get moving.”

  Ringing off, her gaze settled on a bronzed dress with tiny-sprigged flowers and a large cream coloured belt. I’ve got just the right shoes to go with that. Fishing around in her closet, Davina found the shoes, then hurried to the bathroom, showered in under ten minutes and shaved her legs, blow dried her hair and tied it up in an informal bun and applied the minimal makeup. Sliding the dress over her body and stepping into her shoes, she turned and inspected herself in the mirror.

  No classical beauty. At least she was curvy in all the right places. Her eyes, shades of brown, were okay, and her dark hair shone. “Well, that’s as good as it’s going to get.”

  She grabbed her bag, phone and keys, then galloped from the unit. She didn’t have time to muck around if she intended being on time.

  At Micah’s front door though, she stopped, took a deep steadying breath, smoothing the dress over her now jumping belly, and knocked.