Gram arrived at nine the morning after the ball, took one look at Lucy’s face and bustled into the kitchen.

  She didn’t offer any words of advice or any platitudes, heading straight for the coffee plunger and the pantry instead.

  Lucy had been through this before and was eternally grateful Gram would stay in the background, bake up a storm and be here when she was ready to talk.

  Which wasn’t now.

  Six hours later, Lucy had aerated her front and back lawns, had re-mulched the veggie patch, replanted three borders, trimmed hedges and tidied the compost heap.

  When she finally stopped and sank onto the front step, Gram bustled out, freshly squeezed lemonade in one hand, a plate of double-choc-chip cookies in the other.

  ‘Thanks.’ Lucy sculled two glasses of lemonade and scoffed five cookies before some of her energy returned.

  ‘You’re welcome.’ Gram sat next to her and nibbled on a cookie.

  Lucy had no idea how long they sat there like that, but as she hugged her knees to her chest and rested her chin on top she was eternally grateful for Gram’s silent support.

  Lucy wanted to talk. She wanted to tell Gram all about her horrid night but the hurt was too fresh, too raw. And without any sleep, followed by a day of relentless physical labour, Lucy knew she’d bawl if she started talking about Cash now.

  ‘I’ll be heading off soon, love, but I’ve left a fruitcake and banana bread cooling on the stove, and there are lamingtons and brownies stored in the pantry.’

  For the first time all day, Lucy felt like smiling. Sounded like Gram had worked off her concern by baking.

  ‘Thanks, Gram, you’re the best.’ Lucy laid her head on Gram’s shoulder and fought the urge to cry again when Gram slipped an arm around her waist.

  ‘Whatever you need, whenever you need it, I’m here for you.’ Gram kissed the top of her head.

  Lucy closed her eyes, catapulted back in time to the two of them doing this very thing: Pops making himself scarce when Lucy had turned up at their house in tears, proclaiming her marriage was over.

  Gram had sat her down, wrapped her arms around her, and just let her be.

  Lucy had shut down for a week back then, not coming out of her old room, barely touching food. Until she’d told her grandparents everything and had set about rebuilding a new life.

  The events of the last week weren’t so life changing but Cash had hurt her just the same. She’d opened her heart to him and he’d broken it without a backward glance.

  Not by anything he did, but by what he didn’t do. Somehow, that made it all the harder to accept.

  Lucy heard a car pull up and an engine idling, followed by a door slam.

  She opened her eyes to see Cash striding up her path, determination lengthening his strides.

  Gram eased away, stood and patted her shoulder. ‘I’ll be inside if you need me.’

  Lucy wanted to say ‘stay’ but she couldn’t unglue her tongue from the roof of her mouth.

  When she’d envisaged her next meeting with Cash, it was to be on her terms: at his house, with her brusque and businesslike commencing work on his garden. She hadn’t imagined he’d be looking incredibly poised in a signature pinstriped suit with a sky-blue shirt that accentuated his eyes, and her in grungy khaki shorts, tank top and steel-capped work boots.

  Swiping her hands on the side of her shorts, she stood, every muscle protesting after being pushed too hard. ‘What are you doing here?’

  ‘Picking you up for our dream date.’ He stopped at the bottom step and looked up at her. ‘And I’m not taking no for an answer.’

  She barked out a laugh. ‘You’re crazy. Look at me.’ She pointed at her grimy clothes. ‘Even if I wanted to go with you, which I don’t, do I look like I’m dressed for a fancy date?’

  He looked her straight in the eye and said, ‘I like you just the way you are.’

  Of all the possible things he could’ve said, of all the apologies, it was the one that held the most weight with her.

  She felt she didn’t belong in his world. Yet he wanted to take her out looking like this?

  ‘The limo driver won’t be impressed.’

  He raised an eyebrow. ‘Since when do you care what other people think?’

  ‘You do,’ she said, the accusation slipping out before she could censor it.

  Weariness accentuated the lines at the corners of his mouth as his shoulders slumped slightly. ‘Yeah, but after listening to a wise woman last night I’m starting to re-evaluate my priorities.’

  Wow, another admission that went a long way to swaying Lucy.

  She hovered on the top step, torn between wanting to take one last chance on hearing what Cash had to say and staying safe, protecting her heart.

  The screen door creaked open and Gram stepped up behind her. Gram leaned closer to whisper in her ear, ‘Go. Don’t let the demons of the past stop you from taking a risk on a wonderful future.’

  It was the final push Lucy needed and she spun around, giving Gram an impulsive hug, before turning back to Cash and nodding.

  ‘Okay. Let’s go.’

  Cash beamed. ‘Thanks. You must be Lucy’s infamous Gram? Pleased to meet you.’ He shook Gram’s hand as Gram practically simpered.

  ‘And you must be the dashing young charmer who has swept my granddaughter off her feet.’

  ‘Guilty as charged, though you flatter me,’ he said, laughing. ‘I’ll make sure she gets home safe and sound before curfew.’

  Lucy rolled her eyes at his tongue-in-cheek declaration.

  ‘Why not stay out all night?’ Gram said, with a wink, and Lucy blushed.

  Cash held out his hand to her and after the slightest hesitation she took it, the familiar tingle whenever he touched her making her want to fling herself into his arms and never let go.

  He raised it to his lips and kissed the back of her hand. ‘Promise you’ll never leave me standing alone again.’

  Lucy almost melted all over the garden path. ‘Sorry, I don’t make promises I can’t keep.’

  ‘Well then, guess that gives me something to work on during this date.’ He waved the driver back into the limo and opened the back door for her. ‘Because, Luce? I intend to make this a date you’ll never forget.’

  Lucy slid into the back of the limo, her goal to emotionally extricate herself from Cash under threat by his ability to say the right thing.

  It was part of his practised charm; she understood that. What she didn’t understand was her irrational urge to give in to him again, despite hardening her heart after their fall-out last night.

  ‘You know I’m not feeling the love after last night, right?’

  ‘Yeah, I kinda got that impression when you ditched me at the ball.’ He slid in behind her, closed the door, angled his body towards her and draped his arm across the headrest, appearing way too relaxed while she churned inside. ‘And I’m glad you deigned to go on this date with me, considering you think I’m shallow and narcissistic.’

  ‘Ouch.’ She winced. ‘I was kinda mad. But you’re no saint. You accused me of leading a life of nothing.’

  He puffed out a breath. ‘I think we both said things we didn’t mean.’

  He held up his hands, palm up, no tricks up those sleeves. ‘How about we clear the air so we can enjoy this date?’

  Lucy wanted to agree. She wanted to wipe the slate clean and pretend last night hadn’t happened. She wanted to allow this incredible guy to charm his way into her good graces again.

  But her hard-learned self-preservation over the years had kicked in in a big way when Cash had virtually ignored her last night.

  She wouldn’t play this game with him. Not now, not ever.

  ‘Were you jealous?’

  She shot him a death glare. ‘Of?’

  Suitably sheepish, he shrugged. ‘When you arrived and saw me talking to Ivenka, you looked seriously pissed.’

  ‘Talking? Is that what you call it when a woman’s draped all over you?’ Lucy hadn’t meant to sound shrewish but that was exactly how her judgemental observation came out.

  Like any guy with half an ego, Cash grinned, and she wanted to whack him. ‘Ivenka is a client, that’s it.’ He paused, adding almost as an afterthought, ‘The women I socialise with are used to...ah, how shall I put this? Using their feminine wiles to get whatever they want.’

  ‘Meaning they sleep their way to obtaining their goal, whatever that may be,’ Lucy said drily, feeling like yesterday’s rubbish in her grubby clothes when remembering Ivenka’s designer dress.

  ‘Basically? Yeah. Doesn’t mean I’ll ever fall for it.’

  She cocked her head to one side, assessing his sincerity. ‘So you’re telling me you’ve never been involved with one of those stunning stars you advise?’

  He had the grace to blush. ‘I’m not a saint, Luce. I’ve never had a committed relationship and if a beautiful woman wants to extend the evening past dinner, I haven’t always declined.’

  Lucy fixed on the one thing he’d said that should send her running for the hills. ‘Never had a committed relationship?’

  He nodded. ‘Let’s just say my faith in the fairer sex isn’t the best.’

  Curious in spite of herself, she said, ‘Why?’

  ‘Probably all very Freudian. You know about my mum.’

  ‘Yeah, but not every woman is like your mother.’

  ‘Just like not every guy is like your jerk ex.’

  ‘Touché.’

  He glanced out of the window, lost in his thoughts for a moment. ‘Guess I’ve never met a woman worth taking a risk for.’

  ‘Relationships are risky, I’ll give you that.’

  ‘Until now,’ he added, with a pointed stare in her direction.

  Lucy’s heart gave a traitorous leap. ‘What?’

  ‘I’ve never met a woman worth taking a risk for ’til now.’

  He leaned forward and she shrank back into the furthest corner of the limo. ‘Surely you know I’m crazy about you, Luce?’

  Lucy had wished for this scenario several times over the last week but now the moment had arrived, the gloss had been taken off by her fears.

  Fear of the future. Fear of taking a risk. Fear of being hurt again.

  ‘Can we take a step back before last night? Before we both went a little crazy?’

  She shook her head. ‘If I’ve learned anything it’s to not look back.’

  He allowed her to wallow a little before changing tack.

  ‘Tell me about your marriage.’

  Her relationship with Adrian was the last thing she felt like discussing but she knew where he was going with this. He hoped to get insight into her past and use that to influence her decision now. It wouldn’t work, but he’d told her about his family, the least she could do was reciprocate, considering she’d be seeing him daily for a while yet while landscaping his garden.

  ‘I married young. Twenty-one. He swept me off my feet.’

  He waited for her to continue, as if he had all the time in the world.

  ‘My folks died in a car crash when I was a toddler. My grandparents raised me. I had a great life but money wasn’t plentiful.’

  He nodded. ‘Know what you mean.’

  She liked that about him, the fact he was willing to acknowledge his poor past, and how hard he’d worked to become a self-made millionaire.

  ‘Then I met Adrian and my world changed. He was wealthy, old family money, and he swept me into his world.’

  Cash’s eyes narrowed, but not before she’d glimpsed a spark of jealousy.

  ‘The classic whirlwind courtship. We married after six months.’ She huffed out a breath. ‘A year later I found out he’d been screwing around on me for most of my marriage. So I left.’

  ‘Bastard,’ he muttered, his hands fisted as if he wanted to punch something. ‘Hope you took him for everything he was worth.’

  Lucy shook her head. ‘Not my style. I didn’t want anything to remind me of my foolishness in falling for him, so I left it all behind.’

  She couldn’t contain a wistful sigh. ‘Have to admit, I loved the finer things. The designer fashion, the expensive make-up, regular spa treatments. It was all divine...’ Her resolve hardened. ‘But not worth the price to put up with his infidelities.’

  ‘Good for you.’ He searched her face, as if unsure of her reaction to what he’d say next. ‘Are you scared I’ll treat you like Adrian did? Is that why you’re holding out on me?’

  ‘You’re nothing like him,’ she said, her vehemence startling both of them. ‘Though last night, when you were busy schmoozing, it felt like I was having a flashback... Adrian used to treat me like a possession, something to trot out at functions but pay little attention to. Guess I felt like that with you last night.’

  Cash swore. ‘I never meant to ignore you—’

  ‘I know, but that’s exactly my point.’ She gestured between them. ‘You and I? We’re worlds apart. I like dirt under my fingernails, you probably get a male mani every fortnight.’

  She’d scored a direct hit by the tightening around his mouth.

  ‘I like quiet nights at home on the sofa watching classic movies, you like attending premieres and clubs and partying for a living.’

  ‘That’s what I do, it’s not who I am,’ he said, so softly she had to lean closer to hear it.

  ‘How would I know, when that’s the only side of you I see?’ Though that wasn’t entirely true. She’d seen many facets to this intriguing man over the last week and she’d be doing him a disservice to dismiss him as one-dimensional.

  ‘I’m not used to letting anyone see the real me,’ he said, his steady gaze imploring her to listen. ‘But I’m willing to take that risk with you. All I’m asking is that you do the same.’

  Lucy wanted to say yes. She wanted to fling herself into his arms and kiss him silly. She wanted to be swept off her feet in style and be part of his world, just as she wanted him to be a part of hers.

  But her doubts held her back.

  ‘Can I have some time to think about it?’

  Disappointment flashed across his face before he quickly masked it. ‘Sure. Though I expect an answer by the time we reach our destination.’

  She rolled her eyes. ‘Where are we going anyway? I thought the prize said a posh dinner in a fancy restaurant at a winery on the peninsula?’

  ‘You’ll see,’ he said, his grin infuriatingly smug. ‘You’ll also see that we’re right for each other, despite your doubts.’

  Lucy remained silent on that particular point, and as the limo left the city behind and headed towards the nearby hills fatigue overtook her.

  Lucy finally slept for the first time in over twenty-four hours.

  While Cash watched her, willing to wait for the woman he loved to come to her senses.

  FOURTEEN

  Lucy had the most marvellous dream.

  She’d been whisked away from her garden by a gorgeous guy who accepted her for who she was and wanted to be with her.

  She woke to find the dream guy shaking her gently, his face temptingly close, his spicy aftershave enveloping her in warmth and excitement.

  ‘We’re here, Sleeping Beauty.’ He slanted a soft kiss across her lips, the barest of touches over before it had begun.

  She stretched. ‘How long was I out for?’

  ‘Fifty minutes.’ His fingertip traced the skin under her eyes. ‘No sleep last night, huh?’

  ‘What gave it away? The puffy dark circles under my eyes making me look like a panda?’

  ‘You always look beautiful to me,’ he said, kissing her again, a little more forceful this time, leaving her gasping for air and certainly awake. ‘I didn’t sleep a wink. I figured you would’ve been the same.’

  She nodded, grateful when the driver opened the back door and broke the intimacy. So what if Cash was astute enough to be clued in to her feelings? He wasn’t so clued in last night at the ball when he’d left her alone while he mingled with his crowd.

  ‘Uh-oh, you’ve got that look again.’

  ‘What look?’

  ‘The look you had before you fell asleep.’ He touched between her brows. ‘Like you weren’t sure whether you wanted to slap me or castrate me.’

  She smiled. ‘You’re safe. For now.’

  He crossed his legs and grimaced.

  ‘Where are we?’ She stepped from the limo and glanced around, captivated by the surroundings.

  They were in a private garden that resembled an urban forest. Beautifully manicured lawn bisected by curving sandstone paths, with some of her favourite plants strategically placed. Her landscaper’s eye noticed how the designer had used Japanese blood grass, Maidenhair fern, black Mondo, Sansevieria and Liriope. It was her type of place and a much better venue than any fancy restaurant.

  ‘There’s more.’ He took her hand without asking this time and led her down a narrow paved path that wound on the garden outskirts, before it stopped at a dead-end hedge. ‘Through here.’

  He touched an invisible door in the hedge that swung open, to reveal paradise.

  As dusk fell over Melbourne the city’s lights flickered to life, glittering like fairy dust against an ermine cape, many miles away.

  It felt as if they were on top of the world, the spectacular view rivalled only by the expectant expression of the man beside her.

  ‘We’re on top of Mount Dandenong?’

  He nodded. ‘And your dinner awaits.’

  He led her to a towering eucalypt in the far corner of the garden, where she spied a red and white checked picnic blanket spread under the tree, covered with a staggering amount of food.

  He pointed to it. ‘Salmon rosti, chicken and avocado crustless sandwiches, curried egg vol-au-vents, pâté, blue-vein cheese, raspberry and white chocolate muffins and the finest French champagne.’