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  An Outback Affair

  Iris Leach,

  author of Looking for Prince Charming

  and A Taste of Honey

  Avon, Massachusetts

  This edition published by

  Crimson Romance

  an imprint of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

  57 Littlefield Street

  Avon, MA 02322

  www.crimsonromance.com

  Copyright © 2013 by Iris Leach

  ISBN 10: 1-4405-6439-6

  ISBN 13: 978-1-4405-6439-0

  eISBN 10: 1-4405-6440-X

  eISBN 13: 978-1-4405-6440-6

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, corporations, institutions, organizations, events, or locales in this novel are either the product of the author’s imagination or, if real, used fictitiously. The resemblance of any character to actual persons (living or dead) is entirely coincidental.

  Cover art © 123rf.com

  For Cheryl

  My very special girl.

  AI

  Contents

  Dedication

  PROLOGUE

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  Berta’s Famous Lamington Recipe

  More From This Author

  Also Available

  PROLOGUE

  The shock of seeing her name displayed in the shop window brought Joel Caine to an abrupt stop. Photographic studies by C. Trenhaile. Squinting, he read the shop sign — Paradox Photos. No way, couldn’t be her, and with a nonchalant shrug, he continued on his way down the street. But her name repeated in his brain like a mantra … Ms C. Trenhaile. Could the C stand for Claudia — Claudia Trenhaile?

  What if it is her?

  Nah, couldn’t be.

  But what if it is?

  A coincidence, but then he didn’t believe in coincidences. Two women sporting the name Claudia Trenhaile, and both of them crossing his path was too much of a coincidence. So, logically thinking, it was her.

  There had never been closure. Not for his brother, their mother, or for him either. At the time they had been too grief-stricken over Luke’s death to follow through and call on Claudia Trenhaile. The years passed and then it was too late.

  Drop it, Caine, let sleeping dogs lie. Let it ride, and all the other clichés that really said, coward, face the past, kill it off, and give it a decent burial.

  Damn. He backtracked and studied the photograph of the young boy. The blond curls, the dark blue eyes, the stubborn tilt of his chin. He jerked back; his heart slammed against his chest wall. My God, it couldn’t be. Could it? This boy was the image of his brother, Luke.

  Bending forward, he pressed his face close to the glass. A tall woman was working at the rear of the shop, but he couldn’t make out her features or her hair color.

  Forget it and keep on walking.

  What the hell, I have to know.

  Joel straightened and set his mouth in what he hoped was an I’m-not-afraid-to-face-the-past line, rolled his shoulders, and walked into the shop.

  CHAPTER ONE

  Cassie Trenhaile glanced over at the window. In the park across the road from her apartment, the sulphur-crested cockatoos fed on the grass seeds. The beauty of the wattle trees paraded their sun-bright yellow blossoms under the clear blue sky with its broad glow of soft, mellow sunshine. Yet this was Melbourne, and the beautiful day could quickly turn into icy cold winds or wild storms and rain.

  Noises of a child playing brought her mind back to the moment. “Sam, are you getting dressed or are you playing?”

  The noise stopped. She heard the soft shuffle of bare feet. “I’m getting dressed.”

  She gave a tiny laugh. “Good boy. Breakfast is ready.”

  “I’m coming, Aunty C.”

  She smiled as he entered the kitchen. Maybe she viewed him through rose-colored glasses, but to her he was a most beautiful child, and not only in his looks but in his gentle and giving nature. In all of their time together, she’d received only love and happiness, and she thanked God for him. Her heart melted with love.

  He gave a perplexed look. “I can’t find my sneakers.”

  Her gaze travelled to his feet. “You’re wearing two different socks.”

  He pouted his bottom lip and stared rather objectively at his feet, his toes curling up to meet his gaze. He looked up at her, his blue eyes wide and innocent. “They’re both blue,” he concluded.

  Laughing softly, she swept him into her arms and kissed his rosy cheek. Oh, how she loved the feel of him, the smell of him. He was her very life’s reason. He wrapped his arms around her neck and squeezed as hard as he could. She kissed him again, and lowered him to the floor. “Did you look under the bed for your sneakers?”

  “Yep.”

  “Yes, Sam, not yep,” she corrected automatically. “Did you look under the dresser?”

  “Yep, I mean yes.”

  “Couch?” His eyes brightened and he scampered into the lounge-room, returning with his sneakers held above his head like a gold cup after winning a race. “Well done, Sam.”

  Cassie poured cold milk over his cereal and sprinkled the top with slices of banana. She placed the bowl in front of him, as well as a small koala-shaped tumbler with orange juice. He took a thirsty swallow and wiped his mouth with the back of his arm. “Hey, why use your hand when you’ve got a sleeve?” Cassie scolded gently.

  He giggled, picked up a napkin, and wiped his mouth, waiting for her approval. “Good boy,” she said, not disappointing him.

  Cassie placed the dirty dishes into hot, soapy water and her mind roved back to the day Claudia had sobbed that she was pregnant, that she hadn’t known until it was too late for a medical abortion, that she had spotting and linked it with an unusual menstrual cycle. Cassie had breathed a sigh of relief. Although deeply believing that every woman had the right to choose, abortion would never have been her own choice.

  The toast popped and Cassie buttered and spread raspberry jam over the crispy slices. She placed the plate in front of Sam and turned back to the sink.

  Claudia had told her the name of the father, saying he didn’t love her and that he’d broken off their relationship months ago when she’d learned the awful truth — he was married and refused to leave his wife. Claudia became hysterical when Cassie had said he had a right to know about the baby, until eventually she’d agreed that he’d lost his rights when he had lied and cheated two innocent women.


  Six weeks after Sam had been born Claudia was killed in an automobile accident.

  “I’ve finished, Aunty.”

  She spun around. “Want more toast?”

  He shook his head and, placing his hand under his chin, said, “I’m full up to here.”

  “That’s pretty full,” she said, shepherding Sam into the bathroom and watching over him as he cleaned his teeth.

  She knelt down and kissed the tip of his nose. “Do you know how much I love you?”

  “Yep.” He held his arms outstretched. “This much.”

  “Just checking.”

  “And I’ll love you more when my arms get bigger. Won’t I, Aunty C?”

  “Sure thing, Sam.” She took him by the hand. “Okay, let’s go to the park.”

  CHAPTER TWO

  Cassie curled up on the sofa to read a mystery novel she’d started the night before.

  At the sound of her doorbell, she glanced up, tossed her book aside, and walked to the front door.

  A man filled her doorway. “Yes?” She ran her eyes up and down his muscular body — tall and good-looking with his blond cowlick and blue-eyed stare and sexier than any man had a right to be. “May I help you?”

  “I’m looking for Claudia Trenhaile.”

  Pain speared Cassie’s heart. After all these years it still hurt. “I’m afraid Claudia died over three years ago.”

  He blanched. “I didn’t know — didn’t realize.” He stared down at her. “And you are?”

  “Her sister, Cassie.” This man was making her nervous. Why?

  He held out a hand. “The name’s Joel Caine. Does that ring a bell?”

  Joel Caine! Dear God, he was Sam’s uncle. Of all the people in the world, he was the last person she’d expected to knock on her door. What did he want? Why had he sought out Claudia after all these years?

  She made to close the door, but he prevented her by placing his hands on the wood frame. “We need to talk.”

  His face was bleak, and she experienced a tiny flash of empathy.

  I can handle this.

  But Joel Caine? The brother of the man who had destroyed her sister’s life.

  Pull yourself together.

  She didn’t want any part of this — whatever this may be, and she knew she wasn’t handling the situation well. She resisted the impulse to slam the door in his face.

  Her eyes filled with tears, but she gained composure quickly and said, “Why are you here, Mr. Caine? Why you and not your brother?”

  “Luke — my brother died.” His voice broke. “A plane crash.”

  Shock rattled through her. “I’m sorry. It seems they were a star-crossed couple, your brother and my sister.”

  “Fate wasn’t kind to them, that’s for sure.”

  Emotions twisted and split. She looked at him, knowing if he’d knocked on her door selling vacuum cleaners, she’d have trusted him. Would have found those eyes of his frank and honest — compelling. “I can’t understand why you’d come to my home, Mr. Caine. What you want from me.”

  “I had business in Melbourne. I passed an art studio displaying some of your work. Trenhaile is such an unusual name that it immediately caught my attention.”

  “And — ?”

  “And I asked the owner about you — I mean, Claudia. I assumed the C stood for Claudia. They assumed I was interested in hiring your photographic services so they gave me your business card with your address.”

  “I see. Well, I’m sorry you’ve had a wasted trip.” She made to close the door, and again his big hand prevented her.

  “May I come in for a moment?”

  She hesitated, knowing this wasn’t just a friendly visit. That Joel Caine had a more dire reason for his visit. “Of course.”

  He moved quickly inside the room. Cassie followed him into the lounge room.

  “It’s complicated and extremely difficult for me.” He smiled without amusement.

  “I don’t understand, Mr. Caine.”

  She studied his imposing figure sensing a masculine strength, an unwitting natural dominance about him that other men lacked. It showed in his physical power, the flash of his perceptive blue eyes and the set of his mouth. Big and strong, his size alone gave a picture of command simmering just below the surface. He was undeniably sensual. Another time, another place, and she’d like to take her interest in him further.

  He shrugged, turned his head to one side as if something had suddenly caught his interest, then back to connect with her. “In the window of the shop there was a study of a small boy.”

  Her world tilted and nausea burned her throat as if she’d swallowed acid. He knows about Sam. She was unsure what to do now. How to handle this situation.

  “I asked the owner and she said he’s your son,” he said quietly, firmly, as if daring her to deny that Sam existed. “Is he your son, Miss Trenhaile?”

  Her skin heated. She had such an overwhelming response to the man, her mouth went dry, her heart raced, and she was afraid. Joel Caine could turn her world upside-down. Threaten the very existence she’d worked so hard to obtain. The life she’d made with Sam — the contentment in knowing she could support them and give him all that he needed. “He’s my nephew.”

  His head jerked, face pale. “He is Luke’s son. The resemblance … I knew instinctively.”

  She drew in a sharp breath, her fingers playing nervously with the collar of her shirt. “Yes, he’s Luke’s son.”

  He lowered his eyes. “We need to talk.”

  “Talk?” She searched his face looking for God knows what — sympathy, empathy, regret maybe. “What could we possibly talk about?” Her head tugged back. “Hmm, maybe the way your brother treated my sister shamelessly, do you think?” Her voice held not a trace of sarcasm or accusation — just the facts, ma’am. “The way he dumped her pregnant and alone. Is this what you want to talk about, Mr. Caine?”

  Surprise registered on his face. “I’m sure he didn’t know about the baby.” His voice was shaky, croaky.

  She tapped her forehead with the heel of her hand. “Of course he didn’t, stupid me. He’d long gone.”

  “Bad things happen,” he said gently. “It’s part and parcel of life.” His forehead furrowed and his blue eyes flashed.

  She was shocked at his abrupt dismissal of the sordid affair between Claudia and Luke. “You don’t seem to think your brother has done anything wrong.” She drew a ragged breath through her nostrils. “That it doesn’t matter that he lied and cheated on his wife and a girl who thought he loved her.”

  Joel reached out and she drew back from him. “I know this must be difficult for you.”

  Trepidation pirouetted around her brain. Why was she so wary of this man?

  I don’t want him here in my home. He scares me.

  Hear him out and get rid of him.

  He wants something.

  A presentiment, strong, scary, and totally real filled her chest.

  She took another step backwards. He moved a little closer, and a whiff of his spicy cologne circled her. With a shaky hand, she brushed back a fallen lock of her hair. “It’s not that it’s difficult. You’ve come at a bad time.”

  He glanced casually around. “Entertaining?”

  She bristled. Arrogant twerp. “I’m unprepared for visitors.”

  He refrained from answering. What could he say, her answer so inane.

  “I’d like to see my nephew.”

  Was the emphasis on the word “my,” as if somehow she had deliberately deceived him? Kept Sam hidden from him? “That’s not possible.”

  “Why?”

  “Sam’s asleep.”

  “I’d simply look at him.”

>   “I don’t want him disturbed.”

  He grinned, her heart constricted, her head swirled. She closed her eyes.

  “I’d put a church mouse to shame.”

  She shrugged her consent and showed him into Sam’s bedroom. Leaning against the doorjamb, she watched him approach Sam’s bed.

  He didn’t move for such a long time as he stared down at the sleeping child. Her heart practiced back flips as his big hand lowered and gently touched the shining curls of his nephew’s head.

  They remained silent until they were back in the lounge room. His voice was husky when he said, “He’s a fine looking boy.”

  “Yes, he is.”

  He glanced cursively around the room. “May I sit?”

  “Of course.

  He spread out on the opposite end of the sofa to where she was standing, dangling one long arm over the arm of the sofa, the other slung carelessly along the top. She turned her face away from him. He was so relaxed while she was as tight as a miser’s purse. Feeling him watching her, she turned and locked eyes with him.

  “We have a lot to talk about.”

  “So you keep telling me.” She shrugged. “You have something in mind, Mr. Caine? And of course it’s to do with Sam.”

  “Yes, it’s to do with Sam.”

  She was unable to hold back her question. “What is it you want?”

  “Sam to come home with me.”

  Cassie’s world titled on its axis.

  Bile rose in her throat. Was the man insane? “Come home with you?” she repeated, trying to make sense of the words.

  A small tight smile. “I want to get to know him and him me.”

  She rubbed her upper arms absently as though she were cold. The chill wasn’t in the air; it was in her heart. “You can’t have him.”

  For a long moment he remained silent, just stared at her. “You can’t deny me access to Sam.”

  She struggled to keep her voice normal. “Yes, yes I can. I have full custody of him.” That wasn’t altogether true, as she’d never bothered to obtain legal custody. At the time it hadn’t seemed important; there was no one else interested in his welfare.