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  “I want to pay you for what you do around this place.”

  Marcia had been appearing at the door before breakfast each morning and not leaving until after the dinner dishes where finished at night. He’d tried to suggest she must have things to do at her own place, but she’d never shirked.

  Luke smiled as her feathers ruffled.

  “I’m not doing it for money,” she snapped.

  “I know you’re not, but I’d feel better if you got some benefit out of giving up your life for us.”

  Although he’d heard Marcia’s arguments when the subject had been broached before, she obviously decided he should hear them all again.

  However now was different. He caught hold of Marcia’s agitated hands waving about. “Look, will you just stop arguing, and listen for a minute?”

  The glance he shared with an amused Rod suggested his uncle wished him good luck with this. “Up until now, I’ve been around, too. You could duck off if you needed to, or I could watch the kids if you got busy—”

  “I have plenty of time for myself on Amy’s kindy days,” Marcia’s indignant voice interrupted.

  “That’s only three mornings a week. And if anything came up at other times, I was here, ready to step up. But if I’m involved with planning and building this park”—his pulse raced just thinking of the work involved—“I’ll be busy.”

  He held up a hand as her mouth opened again. “I’m not arguing.” He shook his head at her tight stubborn expression. “I’m going to find someone to help watch them, just for the few odd hours, maybe after kindergarten. That would give you back some of your life as well as leave you plenty of time with them.”

  He sank onto his haunches beside her. “C’mon, Marcia, be honest. They’re wearing you out. I need you here for them, but not twenty-four/seven. That’s not fair to you, or Rod, or realistically, to the kids either.”

  Before his eyes, Marcia’s body crumpled on her chair. His chest tightened painfully as her tears welled.

  “I’m sorry.” She sniffed and turned her head aside.

  Luke’s arm snaked around the bent shoulders. “I can’t begin to imagine how hard these last few months must have been for you. And yet you’ve been here for us, every day, day in and day out. It’s time to start thinking of yourself.” He nudged her a little. “After you’ve helped me find someone suitable, that is.”

  Chapter Three

  Luke grinned, confidence oozing from every pore. He tapped the rolled-up tube against his leg as he strolled into Riversleigh Resort. He’d arrived to show Jase exactly what he envisioned. His drawings were more sketch than a precise working plan, but Jase would be able to appreciate the extent of his dream.

  Instead of being shown into Jase’s office, the receptionist guided him to a conference room. “I’ll tell Mr. McEwan you’re here.”

  This should have warned him the meeting might be different from the last visit to his old school friend, but it didn’t.

  When the door swung open and two women preceded Jase into the room, a surprised Luke leapt to his feet.

  “You haven’t met Debra, have you?” Jase closed the door behind him before indicating the second woman. “And this is her mother, Karin Laurie. Karin and I run Riversleigh.”

  The older woman immediately held a hand in Luke’s direction. She gave him a friendly smile as they shook hands.

  Luke’s gaze darted from the women to Jase and back to the woman who had settled at the top of the table. What are they doing here?

  He’d heard Jase had married the head of some international conglomerate, to which the resort belonged, but he’d never given a thought to who she might be. Something he now regretted, as within a few seconds, it became obvious this woman was taking control of whatever was about to be discussed.

  Luke’s stomach clenched. His mouth dried. His gaze flicked around. There was a water cooler in the corner. Can I pour myself a drink without appearing some nervous kid summoned before the headmaster? Or in this case, the head mistress?

  Giving up on this idea and sinking into a chair he glared at Jase. At least he could have given me some warning. I came for a casual chat with an old mate, not interrogation 101.

  He focused on the dark-haired woman eyeing him as if he was something unmentionable she’d found on the bottom of her shoe. His back stiffened. How did Jase ever get in tow with this woman? She might look pretty hot and carry herself like some high-class model, but her eyes…

  He hoped he’d managed to hide the shiver her icy stare had evoked.

  “I understand you have a proposition to discuss, Mr. Prescott.”

  His fingers toyed with the tube in his hand. He shot Jase an indignant glare, not bothering to answer. I may as well get out of here. She’s not interested in anything I might have to say.

  “I mentioned your ideas to Debra, Luke. She and Karin want to hear about them firsthand.”

  Birds started fluttering inside Luke’s stomach. He frowned, his mind racing, but no words formulated to come out of his mouth.

  As if he understood his dilemma, Jase touched the tube. “Have you got some more specific plans in there?”

  “Are you actually interested?” he demanded of the woman in charge, his voice croaky with stress.

  Leaning closer to Luke, the older woman answered, “Anything increasing the appeal of Riversleigh is of great interest to us, Luke.”

  “I’m not wasting my time here?”

  “You can be assured, Mr. Prescott, I never waste my time,” Jase’s wife returned. “The fact I’m sitting here, ready to listen, should be encouragement enough.” Her eyebrows rose as the silence lengthened.

  “Let’s see those plans, Luke.” Jase stretched across the table but Luke plucked the tube away from his fingers.

  A smile played around Jase’s lips. “She doesn’t bite, you know.” He shot an amused glance toward his wife which she caught with a little smile of her own. “Pretend she’s not here and tell me about your ideas.”

  Luke shifted uneasily in his seat. The little interplay eased some tension, but with three sets of eyes focused on him so intently sweat broke out across his back. He cleared his throat, and took a deep breath.

  He didn’t need approval from this crowd. Soliciting support from the resort had only been an idea. If they don’t care for my plans, that doesn’t mean I have to change anything. His back stiffened. I can still go ahead.

  Luke slipped the drawings from the cardboard tube and spread them across the table. Excitement mounted as he explained his ideas. His voice climbed as he gained confidence.

  “It’s obviously something I need to develop over time. I can’t achieve it all straight away but motor-cross, BMX, go-carting are popular pursuits, so I’d start with those tracks. The farm terrain lends itself to such a variety of activities, I’ll develop all these”—he waved a hand across one particular page—“within the next year or so.”

  He took their attention to his drawings as interest and flipped over another page. “Colac Bay is an ideal site for water sports. Land yachts, sand kiting, kitesurfing, paddle boarding, I’d have a few kayaks available for anyone interested, too.”

  He drew their attention to another page. “We have a large stand of native bush with prolific birdlife. I plan to cut some proper tracks and turn that into an ecological area where people can learn about our native environment. Maybe down track I’ll think of putting in a cabin or two and have overnight hiking options. I also want a few mountain biking tracks. I thought a couple of zip lines and a treetop walkway might be of interest, too, but that would come much later.”

  “What’s this?” Debra had dragged out another page from his pile of drawings.

  Luke had started with the more sedate pursuits, ones he’d concluded were more likely to curry favor. He sucked in a deep breath as he began describing his real dream. “Young people want adrenaline rushes when they play.” Luke’s fingers pointed to various sketches. “They want outside their own comfort zones. Some of t
hese activities will get their blood pumping.”

  He’d designed a confidence course ranging from simple obstacles to the most difficult he’d personally encountered. Opening a couple of mud slides during the summer months might add to peoples’ enjoyment.

  Luke sat back after they’d surveyed his drawings. “I’ve decided which area of the farm I’m going to use. The contours there give me so many options. There’s even a gully with quite a sizeable stream which I could use for gorge walking. I figure I’ll plan three or four stages, start with what’s the quickest and easiest to develop”—he shrugged—“and see what happens.”

  A frowning Debra flicked through the pages of drawings again, shoving the papers toward her mother as she finished with them.

  The silence lengthened, closing in on Luke. He tried to ignore the tingling sensations in his fingers and toes by taking deep, calming breaths but found they weren’t helping much. Catching a wink from Jase was no help. Is he encouraging or discouraging me? He put a hand under the table to still his bouncing knee and took some more deep breaths.

  Finally Debra spoke. “This is a majorly adventurous scheme, Mr. Prescott, involving a large financial investment. Yet, I agree it could have some merit.”

  Luke’s body lost its will to support him for a second. He slumped in the chair, the breath whooshing from his mouth.

  “I’m interested in seeing your business plan.” Her expression now appeared less intimidating.

  It took a few moments for her words to sink in. “Business plan?”

  Damn. Her frown was back. Luke glanced at her mother and then at Jase. Double damn. They were frowning, too. He swallowed an impatient snort.

  “You do have a business plan?”

  He shook his head. He’d been involved with scouting the land and preparing his drawings, not worrying about any business plan.

  Debra’s eyebrows almost met her hairline. “You have discussed the idea with your accountant?”

  He squirmed. He hadn’t given any thought to the commercial aspects of his venture. Something this businesswoman obviously found unbelievable.

  “You must realize if you expect our involvement you have―”

  Luke stiffened. “Now hold on a minute.” He glared across the table at Debra. “Who said anything about you getting involved?” He swung his gaze to Jase. “I only brought it to Jase for feedback from someone in the tourism industry.”

  He eyeballed Debra again. “I don’t need your involvement. I’m not here for money or anything else. I only wondered if the resort and I could help each other, work together somehow once it’s up and running. That’s all.”

  “You intend to fund this venture by yourself, without any outside investment?” Debra’s voice rose. “I understood—”

  “I can’t abide anyone telling me what I can and can’t do.”

  He thought there might be a slight smile twitching at Debra’s lips, but he couldn’t be sure.

  “You’ll still need resource consent, and the council will expect you to jump through hoops to win it.”

  Luke shrugged. He’d strike some difficulties—especially for his more extreme designs—but he’d figure a way around that when it became necessary. “I’ll deal with that when I have to.”

  Debra tapped her lips with her fingers. “I see. Forgive me. I misunderstood the rationale behind this meeting.” She glanced at Jase then back to Luke. “I incorrectly assumed you were looking for investment capital.”

  “It’s family land I’m using and I have a bit of money stashed away. I’ll be doing a lot of the work myself so I’m sure it can be done.” He managed to summon up a smile. “I needed some affirmation from Jase I wasn’t losing my marbles.”

  “Far from it, Luke.” Karin eased back her seat and rose.

  Luke leapt to his feet beside her.

  “I don’t see any reason why we shouldn’t have an adventure park near Riversleigh. The larger and more diverse it turns out, well, all the better,” she said. “Central Otago and Queenstown don’t need to be the only places down south having such activities. We’ll show them a thing or two.”

  Her grip was firm when she shook his hand. “You build your park, Luke, and the resort will do its utmost to feed people through your gates.” Karin’s smile swept around the room. “This will be great for the area.”

  They all caught Debra’s rolling eyes. “Mother’s always more concerned about building up western Southland than getting guests into the hotel,” she explained to Luke with a gentle smile toward her mother.

  Karin exited the room with a haughty “phoof” over her shoulder which did nothing to her unrepentant daughter.

  Jase laughed.

  Debra rose and held out her hand. “It’s a huge undertaking you’re proposing. I wish you the best of luck. I know Jase and my mother will support you in any way they can.”

  She ran her hand across Jase’s shoulders as she passed behind him. Her smile transformed her face as her husband glanced up over his shoulder. “I’ll leave you to talk anything else through with Jase. I’m sure he’ll convince you your marbles are still intact.”

  She paused, glanced hesitantly at Jase, before looking directly at Luke. “Would you be offended if I offered you a word of advice?”

  Luke shook his head, surprised at the diffidence in her voice.

  “You are talking about a business enterprise here, Luke. You really do need to discuss this with an accountant. And more importantly, you need a detailed business plan. Otherwise the wonderful ideas you’ve shown us this morning will become a family playground.”

  Jase broke in. “Did you catch up with Shannon Turner yet, Luke? She’d be the one to help you there. As I told you, she had an impressive CV.”

  “Ah no, not yet. I wanted to see if this sounded feasible before I raised anyone’s hopes about employment.” That sounds plausible, doesn’t it? He wasn’t going to let on what state Shannon had been in when he’d called on her. “I didn’t mention it to your parents either when I popped in to see them the other day.”

  “Fair enough. If you’re interested, though, I’d see how she’s placed soon. With her credentials she might have already been grabbed up by someone in Invercargill.”

  Luke nodded. He didn’t have a clue where to even start on a business plan. If Debra considered it vital—and he guessed she probably knew—he’d have to find someone with more nous than him to help.

  His accountant would be his first stop, although Emma could only help him so much from afar. He’d video chat with her later today.

  Jase was right, he would need someone on the ground beside him.

  “It’s nice to meet another of Jase’s friends.” The businesswoman had disappeared. Debra’s expression was now warm and friendly. “I hope we can see more of you. I’ll be interested to hear how everything is progressing.”

  As she sailed out the door, Luke was still gaping at the change in the woman. He turned to his friend and sank back into his seat. “She has to be a Gemini. That was two different women I just met.”

  Jase laughed. “Her business side can be a little reserved.”

  Reserved? Make that scary.

  Jase stopped Luke gathering up his drawings by spreading them out over the large table again.

  “What do you plan to do first?”

  As Jase appeared in no hurry to end the meeting, the two men pored over the papers. Luke welcomed his input and made scratchy notes of comments and ideas Jase put forth. He noted tradesmen Jase recommended and a possible volunteer labor force.

  When Luke finally rolled up his drawings, his confidence was soaring. He was going to do this, build his own adventure park.

  “Can you do me another favor? Could you ring this Shannon and introduce us. I need to talk to her and she might feel uncomfortable inviting a strange man into her home.”

  Jase gave him a weird look, but shrugged and took out his phone. “Why don’t I invite her up here? You can use this room for as long as you need.”
r />   He spoke into his phone with the woman who agreed to come to the resort straight away.

  “I’d better get back to my office. We’re diligent when the boss is in town.” Jase winked.

  Luke grinned as they shook hands. Jase had once been a good friend and it appeared he would be so again.

  Luke prowled the meeting room while he waited for Shannon Turner. Now, if she could fulfill the business role of this undertaking, maybe it might come together.

  Excitement pulsed through him. Maybe I can survive on the family farm. Life didn’t appear quite as narrow and restrictive any more.

  Chapter Four

  Shannon tossed her phone on the bench and ran into the bedroom. Dragging open the ill-fitting wardrobe door inch by inch she shuffled through her clothes, grabbed a suit appropriate for a job interview and threw it on her bed. She stopped, looking about blankly. There wasn’t time to shower, or do anything with her errant hair. She had to hurry. A man was waiting at Jase’s resort willing to interview her for a job. She couldn’t risk him leaving if she didn’t arrive quickly.

  She was puffing by the time she slammed out the front door. Her stomach churned faster than a cake mixer on high speed. At her car before she realized she’d left her CV on the bedside table, she ran back inside, skinning her knuckles on the door frame as she whizzed past.

  With the folder clasped in her left hand—least blood from her graze got onto the cover—she rushed back to the car and jumped in. She forced herself to take some calming breaths as she wrapped a clean handkerchief around her smarting knuckles. Hopefully the bleeding would stop before she arrived at the resort.

  A couple more breaths and I’ll be okay. She clutched her arms across her stomach and tried to relax. Relax, just relax. I’ve been on job interviews before. She shivered. Yeah but nothing as vital as this one.

  She’d checked out the resort, the library, the museum, and the bank hoping for work. She’d gone to the paua factory and all the shops in Riversleigh. Nothing. There had been no jobs.

  Commuting to Invercargill wasn’t ideal. She doubted Thomas would agree to any care arrangements she might need for him before or after school.