Page 12 of Betrayal

“You check the development plans I’ve submitted to council.”

The plans included a childcare centre and drawings for a remodelled separate floor, which looked remarkably like a doubling of Hunter’s existing office space.An elaborate ruse to throw Nick off the scent, but thwarting Nick Richardson was the main game.Targeting Casildo’s father simply because Hunter regarded the Hariris as his family was—as Cas would say—the action of pond scum.

“I will.”

“Wise woman.”Hunter nodded.Where had she learned suspicion?He knew his teachers intimately.“Get everything in writing.”

“I had everything in writing, was hours away from signing on the dotted line, and still you gazumped me.”She showed perfect white teeth, which would leave a scar if she decided to take a bite out of him.

“Old business, Anna.Prosecuting it won’t get either of us anywhere.”

“Your honesty is relevant to future business.You’re asking us to enter a partnership.”

“I didn’t know about your lease until you told me.”It took too much energy to worry about what strangers thought about him.Anna was a stranger, and his interest should be restricted to business, not uncovering the nuances of her shape and scent when she was wrapped around him.Impossible to mix business and a short fling.Impossible to consider anything else.After Gina, occasional sex between consenting adults seemed the safest option.“Take it or leave it.”

“It’ll take time to get the plans from council,” she said.“I’ll call when I have those.”

“I took the liberty of getting a certified copy for you.”He slipped an envelope from a folder he’d been carrying.“And sent an e-copy to Antonio while we were talking.”

Her eyes widened in speculation.He’d be a fool to underestimate her.

“I’ll call when I’ve studied those.”She recovered quickly.

“I’ve got back-to-back meetings for the rest of the week.”He held up his hands.Hey, I’m innocent here.

“I bet you have,” she said.His envelope might have been contaminated the way she held it away from her body between her thumb and forefinger.

“What about a business meeting over a meal tomorrow night?”

She studied him, and he knew the moment when desperation for the centre won.“I choose the suburb.”

“Fair enough.I pick the restaurant.Where?”He’d lower her resistance with fine food and wine, ferret out her secret passion for a childcare centre and, when she was distracted, engineer to take her home for a quick tumble.One of his new architects could handle the centre’s design, and he and Anna need never see each other again.

“Bondi.”

“Want me to pick you up here?”Was she inviting him to book the hatted restaurant hovering on the Bondi headland?Hunter had decided her outfit at the cocktail party was camouflage or a trap.A super fancy restaurant seemed out of character.But fancy worked as scene setting for a casual liaison.

“Text me,” she said.“I’ll meet you there.”

* * *

“How’s it going?”Herboss joined Anna in her tiny office the following afternoon.

Anna had spent the night before poring over Hunter’s plans to council and couldn’t find a flaw.

Anna had always joked there was room for her and no one else in her office.Since hosting a meeting with her tall, broad-shouldered now brother-in-law, his twin, and her sister a few years ago, she’d hung a collapsible chair on the back of her door for special occasions.

“I said I’d come up when you were free.”

“I’m free.I like coming here.”Antonio waved at her notice board with its collection of family photos, postcards, and old campaign promos.“How’s Kate?”

“My twin is nearly as large as a small elephant.But disgustingly well and happy.”Anna handed him the plastic chair.

“Good.”He flipped the chair open and took a seat.“What do you think?”

Anna opened her eyes wide.“About maternity, my current project, or your delicacy in raising the subject of our childcare centre?”

“About Hunter Thompson.”

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