‘Carissa—’

  ‘So have you got the same arrangement with her?’

  Teal ran her fingers through her hair. ‘What? No, of course I haven’t. She just turned up out of the blue—’

  Carissa’s eyes narrowed. ‘I saw you two last night.’

  Shit! If Carissa had seen them why hadn’t she said anything that morning in the kitchen? That would have made things so much easier to explain. ‘Look, we were arguing, she won’t leave me alone. You left the door unlocked and she just walk—’

  ‘Why are you explaining yourself?’ Tears brimmed in Carissa’s eyes. ‘We fucked. Nothing more, nothing less.’

  Teal’s hand flew to her face as if she’d been struck. ‘Are you saying that’s all it was for you?’

  Carissa’s words came out strangled. ‘That’s exactly what I’m saying.’

  ‘Please don’t—’

  ‘Keepsie.’ Carissa’s face was pale and rigid.

  ‘What?’ Teal gave an amused laugh. ‘You can’t be serious—’

  Carissa held up her hand to silence her. ‘We had an agreement, remember?’

  How could she forget. It was her stupid idea in the first place. Teal stared at Carissa, waiting for her to say she was only kidding but nothing more came from her lips. ‘We should at least talk about it.’

  ‘There’s nothing to say. Whatever you’ve got going on,’ she jerked her head towards the room where Channing was, ‘is your business. I just want to finish up with this place and get back to my own life.’

  ‘Fair enough,’ Teal said, sagging against the wall. She was at a loss what to do. How to get through to Carissa when she’d moved so far away emotionally.

  ‘I’ll be out of here as soon as—’

  ‘Carissa,’ Teal’s voice was shaky. ‘You’ve got this—’

  ‘I think it’s best we just stick to things that concern this house.’ Carissa folded her arms across her chest. ‘You still haven’t said if you’ve seen Nicole today?’

  ‘No, I haven’t,’ Teal said, the fight gone from her body. She didn’t care about the house, Nicole or anyone else for that matter. Her world had just come crashing down for the second time in six months and she just wanted a black hole to swallow her up. Maybe if she would have followed her own rules she wouldn’t be in this mess.

  ‘She said she was coming first thing this morning,’ Carissa said.

  Until that moment, it hadn’t even occurred to Teal that Nicole hadn’t shown up yet and neither had any of her crew. She had been otherwise engaged. Mainly with trying to get Channing to seek medical help. Less than an hour ago she had come downstairs to find Channing in her bedroom with a razor blade. She had threatened to kill herself unless Teal reconsidered their ‘relationship’. Teal was under no illusion Channing would carry out the threat just to spite her. She was just in the middle of trying to talk sense into her when Carissa had walked in.

  ‘Don’t worry. You carry on with whatever you’ve got to do. I’ll give her a call,’ Teal said.

  The doorbell rang and Teal felt relieved something would be going to plan today.

  ‘That’ll be her,’ Teal said, resuming a normal tone. If that was the way that Carissa wanted to play it, who was she to tell her any different. ‘I need to have a quick word with her.’

  They both walked toward the door with Teal slightly ahead. She pulled back the handle and came face-to-face with a woman she didn’t know. Teal cocked her head slightly, as she tried to place the woman’s face. She had seen her before, but where? Then it hit her—yesterday at the pub. It was the dark-haired woman Channing had all but accused her of wanting to sleep with. Was she here to see Channing? Before she uttered a word, the woman looked past her and spoke directly to Carissa.

  ‘I thought you were going to wait for me?’

  Teal turned to look at Carissa then back to the woman, and said in confusion. ‘Do you two know each other?’

  ‘I’m sure you must have heard of me.’ The woman all but purred. ‘I’m Lara.’

  Lara! So that’s why she ended it. It was nothing to do with Channing being here. That was just a convenient excuse. Teal couldn’t believe Carissa could pull something like this. Had Carissa been playing them both all this time? She didn’t think so. Carissa just didn’t seem the sort. But what was she to think when her ex’s sudden appearance coincided with Carissa essentially calling a day on their relationship.

  Lara was still staring at her waiting for a response. Automatically Teal held out her hand. ‘Sorry, it was just that I was expecting my builder. And yes, Carissa has told me all about you.’

  Teal hoped her tone didn’t reveal that it was all negative.

  ‘Good,’ Lara said with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. ‘Because I haven’t heard anything about you.’

  ‘I’m sure that’s because there’s nothing to tell.’

  ‘Well now I’m here, I’ll be the judge of that.’

  Jesus. Just when I thought things couldn’t get any worse.

  Seeing the determined expression on Lara’s face, Teal moved aside to let Lara pass by before she barged her way in.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  ‘What the hell are you doing here?’ Carissa whispered through clenched teeth as Lara made a big show of pulling her in for a hug.

  ‘Looking for you,’ she whispered fiercely in her ear.

  Carissa hugged her back half-heartedly, trying not to look at Teal, but finding it near enough impossible not to do so. Her face was impassive, but after the amount of time they had spent together, Carissa found it a lot easier to read her. She could tell by the tilt of Teal’s head and the imperceptible smile on her face that she was confused by Lara’s appearance. Why did things have to become so complicated? Though Carissa knew it was both their faults for keeping secrets. So much for our open policy.

  Carissa disentangled herself from Lara’s arms and took a step back. The temperature in the room dropped to zero as the three women stood there in silence. All they needed now was … ah here she comes.

  ‘I thought I could hear voices.’ Channing strode down the cramped hallway as if she was the lady of the house hosting a small gathering. Her social mask slipped when she caught sight of Lara and her smile was replaced with a scowl.

  ‘We haven’t met,’ Lara said, extending her hand to Channing with her most charming smile.

  Channing briefly looked down at Lara’s hand, but kept her own by her side.

  ‘I’m Carissa’s girlfriend.’

  As fast as lightning, Channing’s scowl reverted back to a smile and she quickly took hold of Lara’s hand.

  ‘Nobody said.’ Channing looked over at Teal with a smirk before returning her gaze back to Lara. ‘Are you planning on staying long?’

  ‘Only until Cass finishes up with this place. Yourself?’

  Channing smiled. ‘The same.’

  The realisation of who Channing was suddenly hit Carissa with full force. She wasn’t a woman Teal had randomly picked up from somewhere. She was ‘that’ woman Teal had had a one night stand with. The one she had described as intense. Carissa felt a stab of jealousy which she knew was irrational.

  How had Channing managed to worm her way back in to Teal’s life? By last night’s interaction, Carissa would say it hadn’t been easy. The fact that she was here and was in Teal’s bedroom could only mean one thing though. That Channing had walked into the house unannounced, which meant …. The truth hit her like a sledgehammer. I jumped the gun. Why the hell didn’t I listen to her? What have I done?

  ‘Cass?’ Lara said, breaking into her thoughts. ‘Aren’t you going to show me around?’

  ‘Yes, good idea. That’s if you don’t mind, Teal?’ Carissa replied. The last place she wanted Lara was anywhere near Teal after her off the cuff comment about being her girlfriend. Not that it matters anymore.

  ‘Sure, go ahead.’

  ‘We can start with your bedroom,’ Lara said, sliding her arm around Carissa’s waist.

  Carissa noticed a spark of jealousy flash in Teal’s eyes at Lara’s comment and she immediately removed Lara’s hand. Hoping that Teal would realise there was nothing going on between them.

  ‘I’m going to call Nicole and find out where she is,’ Teal said matter-of-factly as she stepped outside.

  ‘If you get hold of her can you let me know what time she’ll be here please?’ Carissa called out her voice weak with regret.

  ‘Nice job,’ Lara said, stepping back to view the results of Carissa’s labour as they entered the room at the back of the house.

  ‘Um … Thanks,’ Lara said distracted. Her mind was on Teal and only Teal. Would she forgive her?

  The separate dining room was now complete with a Victorian tilt-top table dominating the space. A beautiful silk runner Teal had chosen, covered the centre of the table with a polished silver candle stick holder placed on top. Above, there were several spotlights which gave the illusion of the ceiling being higher than it was.

  Carissa couldn’t help but feel nostalgic. In her naivety, she had thought that once the dining room was habitable she would share many candlelit dinners with Teal after a long day’s work. Where they would bask in the warm glow of the golden flame as they spoke about their dreams for the future. But like everything else, that was another one of her fantasies.

  ‘Did you renovate this room from scratch?’ Lara asked, skimming her fingertips along the table as she eyed the paintings on the wall from a distance.

  ‘Yes, we completely redecorated it. The other two reception rooms were knocked through to make one big living room.’

  Lara turned to her and raised her eyebrows. ‘We?’

  ‘Don’t start, Lara, you know what I mean.’

  Lara pulled a chair away from the table and sat down.

  ‘Yeah I think I do. You didn’t tell me she was so ….’ She paused and stared at her with a cold gleam in her eye. ‘Stunning.’

  Carissa eyed her in disbelief. It was as though Lara was the one hard done by, that she wasn’t the one who had smashed their relationship to pieces in a blink of an eye. Who had walked away without a second thought. She had no conscience, Carissa realised with a start. How could she, if she thought she was the innocent victim in all of this? It was easier now knowing the bond they had once shared wasn’t love, just a co-dependency.

  ‘Why would I? She’s my boss.’

  Lara gave a quick brittle laugh. ‘Who you trying to kid?’

  ‘Oh for God’s sake, Lara, I’ve—’

  ‘Carissa, can I have a word?’ Teal called from the hallway.

  Puzzled by the tone of Teal’s voice, Carissa spoke in a hushed whisper to Lara. ‘Do not leave this room.’

  Lara rolled her eyes. ‘Whatever.’

  Carissa ignored the hostility in her voice and went in search of Teal. She found her at the end of the hallway wringing her hands together. If Carissa hadn’t known better, her first thought would have been that Teal was more upset about Lara’s appearance than she’d let on. That was until she noticed Teal’s wan complexion and she realised that Lara was probably the last thing on Teal’s mind.

  ‘What’s happened?’ Carissa said, rushing towards her.

  ‘I don’t know yet. I’ve been trying to get hold of Nicole.’

  ‘And?’

  ‘And her phone’s been disconnected.’

  ‘So she’s changed her number? What’s wrong with that?’ Carissa couldn’t understand why Teal was making such a big deal of it. People changed their mobile number all the time, especially if they grabbed a better deal. She herself had lost count of the numerous numbers she’d had over the years.

  ‘It’s not just her mobile that’s been disconnected. It’s her office line as well. I wouldn’t be that worried except I gave her the next five grand instalment a few days ago.’

  There had to be a reasonable explanation for this mix up. ‘Don’t you have another number for her? Maybe the friend that recommended her knows how to contact her.’

  Teal shook her head. ‘I’ve called her. She’s as much in the dark as I am.’

  ‘What about her employees? They’re coming to finish the house off, aren’t they?’

  Carissa told herself not to panic. To breathe. But neither command stopped the bile clawing its way up into her throat. Her head spun as she tried to take in what this meant for Teal.

  ‘If they were, they’d have been here by now, it’s nearly ten o’clock,’ Teal said.

  Carissa thought hard. Then she had a light bulb moment. ‘The flats she’s building.’

  Teal frowned. ‘What about them?’

  ‘Don’t you get it. She’ll have to be there. I’m sure there’s an innocent explanation for all this.’

  ‘You’re right,’ Teal said combing her fingers through her hair. ‘Do you know the address?’

  ‘Yes, I do,’ Carissa said almost giddy. ‘I googled it after she showed me the plans.’

  ‘So what are we waiting for?’ Teal started towards the front door. ‘Let’s go.’

  ‘I’d better let Lara know where we’re going first.’

  ‘Make it quick. I’ll meet you in the car,’ Teal called over her shoulder before disappearing from view.

  It took ten minutes for Carissa to talk Lara out of trying to go to the site with them. There was enough tension between Teal and herself as it was and the last thing she wanted was to add Lara to the mix. When Carissa finally made it outside and walked up to the car, she was dismayed to see Channing sitting in the passenger seat next to Teal.

  Carissa had hoped for a little privacy so she could speak with Teal about the way forward. Whether or not they were going to be able to spend the next few weeks under the same roof amicably. Instead she found herself relegated to the back seat, having to endure the half an hour journey listening to Channing bleat on about her and Teal’s past.

  Carissa couldn’t help but notice Teal’s jaw tense at several intervals and her eyes blazed in the rear-view mirror. She had to wonder why Teal didn’t just ask Channing to be quiet if she was annoying her that much.

  As they neared their destination, Carissa prayed that Nicole would be on site and all of the running around was for nothing. Ten minutes later, Teal drove past the entrance to the construction site and parked. Carissa opened the door before Teal even had the chance to pull up the hand break. She jumped out of the car and ran up the road. She was in mid-conversation with the foreman when Teal and Channing joined her.

  ‘Yeah, I know the woman you’re talking about but she was never in charge of anything here.’ The foreman was a big muscular man, with multi-coloured tattoos covering both arms. ‘She told me she had a potential buyer for one of the apartments. That’s why I gave her a copy of the plans.’

  ‘Let me get this straight.’ Teal gnawed on her bottom lip. ‘Nicole isn’t your boss?’

  The foreman laughed and shook his head.

  ‘And she had nothing to do with this site at all?’ Carissa said, as if asking the same question in a different manner would lead to a different answer.

  ‘Absolutely nothing. Look, I ain’t got nothing else to tell you and I’ve got to get back to work.’

  Teal reached out to Carissa’s shoulder to steady herself. Five grand down the drain, just like that. Carissa could feel Teal’s pain. She dreaded to think how she would have coped if her mum had given her the money to invest. Carissa had made a lucky escape, unfortunately Teal hadn’t.

  ‘If I ever lay eyes on that woman again I’m going to—’ Carissa said.

  ‘Worse things could happen,’ Channing interrupted, looking totally bored in her surroundings.

  ‘Why don’t you go back to the car—’ Teal said.

  ‘I’m fine here.’

  ‘It wasn’t a request,’ Teal said firmly, handing over her car keys.

  Channing snatched them out of her hand, spun around and stormed towards the entrance.

  ‘I take it she’s not the sensitive type?’ Carissa said when Channing was out of ear shot. ‘I’m really sorry Nicole did this to you.’

  ‘It’s hardly your fault. I’m the one who hired her.’

  Carissa squeezed her arm sympathetically and was shocked when Teal’s arm stiffened at her touch. This is so different from how it was just one day ago.

  ‘So what now? Where do we go from here?’

  Teal shrugged. ‘I’ll find someone else and just carry on.’

  A burst of heat spread across Carissa’s chest. ‘And us?’

  ‘I think it’s best we just keep things as they are. You said all you needed to say.’

  Why are words spoken in anger never forgotten? ‘Would you prefer it if I moved out?’

  ‘Don’t be silly. Where would you go?’

  ‘I could stay at the B&B with Lara.’ Before Carissa could add, ‘In separate rooms.’

  Teal broke in, her voice curt. ‘If that’s what you want, do it. I’m not going to stop you.’

  Pride held Carissa back from asking for a second chance. To pretend she hadn’t said the one word she never thought would slip from her lips. But it had, and Carissa could tell from the faraway look in Teal’s eyes there would be no turning back. She had already retreated to the safe place where she couldn’t be hurt. The place Carissa had gently coaxed her away from. In the blink of an eye, Carissa was the one who’d sent her back there.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Teal stood by the window in the newly decorated living room, gazing absently towards the two retreating figures making their way down the garden path. Carissa was dragging her suitcase behind her and from Lara’s profile, Teal could see a huge smile etched on her face, probably feeling like the cat who got the cream. Teal’s stomach churned. Not because she felt sick but because of how quickly things had headed south. One minute they had a good thing going and then the next, Carissa was going to stay in a B&B with her ex. Teal begrudgingly admitted to herself that she may have pushed Carissa into leaving, but if Carissa hadn’t wanted to, she wouldn’t have.

  Sensing Channing standing behind her, Teal knew she was watching the same scene. When Teal glanced back at her, she wasn’t surprised to see that Channing’s expression mirrored Lara’s. An expression that shouted, ‘I’ve won’.