Page 66 of Reluctant Chemistry

“It’s rumored you never sleep with the same woman twice.”

WTF?“What? Come on,” Luka scoffed as she handed him a mug. “Who said that? You know that’s not true.”

CeCe shrugged, but her blush was evident. He’d almost forgotten what a flirt she could be when she put her mind to it. “I’m only repeating what I heard.”

He took a sip. “So, gossip is alive and well in your Clifton Falls circle?”

“Gossip’s alive and well in all walks of life. Sometimes the perception is different, that’s all. And besides”—she sat in the chair opposite and placed her tea on the side table—“we humans find handsome men and women intriguing. It’s in our nature.”

Luka let that comment slide. Women often called him handsome, but he’d never given it much thought. Just like the rest of the world’s population, he couldn’t help the way he looked.

“Anyway, what can I do for you?” she asked.

“I’ve been thinking about your text. I know someone who might be able to help you.”

She frowned, picked up her mug, and sipped her tea.

“His name’s Jay Blakely. He was one of my students when I taught at Clifton Falls High, and he’s looking for work until he returns to university next year to finish his masters.”

“Thanks, but I can’t afford staff.”

“He’s registered with a government scheme, so they’d pay eighty percent of his wages. It’s a reintegration assistance program.”

“Reintegration?”

Luka got straight to the point. “Jay’s just come out of prison. Served eighteen months of a three-year sentence for manufacturing a Class B drug, so he’d need constant supervision.”

“Seriously? He’s got a record for cooking up drugs, and you want me to employ him? I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night. Is he in a gang?”

“No, he’s not in a gang. His mother had stage four breast cancer. When it spread to her other organs, she couldn’t tolerate the chemo and had a huge distrust of drug companies. So when Jay came home from uni and saw her in pain, he decided to put his chemistry degree to good use. Word got around, and before long, people attached ‘supplier’ to his name. He dropped out of uni to nurse her and sold any surplus hash oil to fund an experimental drug and to pay the mortgage.”

“That’s so sad, but…”

“Look, he’s a good guy. Sure, he did something stupid, but don’t we all at some point in our lives?”

CeCe picked up her tea again and studied him through the steam wafting from the mug. She took a sip. “So how did you get involved?”

“Through a friend. Jay’s name came up in conversation and I remembered him from school.”

“Did his mum pull through?”

“No. She died a month before they sentenced him. Jay was on electronic bail, so he nursed her at home with the help of an aunt.”

CeCe nodded. “That’s tough.”

“Yeah. But he’s committed to moving on.”

“I don’t know.” She tucked her feet up and fiddled with the zipper of her hoodie, absently moving it up and down a couple of inches each way while considering his suggestion. “Guess he’d be helpful to bounce ideas off.”

“Okay, I’ll leave it with you.” Luka shifted in his seat. Every time they were together, he felt a little more uncomfortable, and the tease of her pink crop top under the hoodie wasn’t helping.

She nodded. “Give me a couple of days.”

“So what’s next on the agenda for your adventure group?” he asked, changing the subject.

“A chopper ride. The one from Station Winery for the local hospice.”

Luka nodded. “That’s a great trip.”

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