Her absolute conviction in what she was saying riveted him to the spot. She infatuated him. That combination of strength and tenderness and understanding.
Breakfast interrupted anything he might have said and while he signed for it and the staff set it up on a wrought-iron table in a corner overlooking the marina, Olivia grabbed her clothes and the handbag she’d left on the table and slipped from the room to shower.
Jett shrugged into his wrinkled shirt, poured coffee for them both and watched a few New Year stragglers down on the docks looking much the worse for wear while he waited for her.
He should be relieved. She wasn’t some clingy female who demanded more than he wanted to give. He shook his head. Didn’t mean he couldn’t still ask her to accompany him to the mountains for a few days. He could talk her round. He could change her mind.
When Olivia didn’t show after five minutes, he drank his coffee and broke open a croissant. He’d heard the shower switch off, but the women he knew spent an inordinate time in front of the mirror.
A few minutes later he heard her muffled voice through the closed bedroom door and got up and went to investigate. She sounded agitated but he wasn’t about to eavesdrop on a private conversation. He tapped on the door. ‘Everything okay in there?’
Instant silence, followed by a muffled ‘I’ll be there soon.’
Frowning, he returned to the table, poured himself another coffee, then dialled Room Service for a fresh pot.
She entered the room, dressed in last night’s clothes, her bag slung over her shoulder, scrolling over the screen on her phone as she hurried to where she’d left her shoes and slipped them on. She didn’t even glance his way. ‘I can’t stay for breakfast. I have to leave.’
He’d said the same often enough when he’d been the one rushing out after a night of casual sex. He raised his china cup towards her. ‘Not even for coffee? I ordered another pot.’
She didn’t answer; perhaps she hadn’t heard him because she was busy digging around in her bag. ‘Crap!’
He flicked her a look. ‘Problem?’
She shook her head, still preoccupied with finding whatever she was searching for. ‘Nothing for you to worry about.’ She finally pulled out a set of keys, then put them back for no reason he could work out other than she was checking she had them. ‘I hope you enjoy Freycinet Lodge.’
‘Cradle Mountain. And I was thinking, if you—’
Eyes narrowed, he stepped closer and got his first good look since she’d come into the room. Her face was the colour of porridge. ‘You said you were fine.’
She saw him looking at her trembling hands and clenched her fingers around her bag strap. ‘I have to go.’
‘Something’s wrong.’
She waved him off and headed to the door. ‘It’s none of your concern.’
He slammed his mug down and walked towards her. ‘I’m making it my concern.’
She kept her back towards him. ‘I’ve got a cab waiting downstairs. I have to get home.’
Grabbing her arm, he swung her around. ‘I’m not letting you out of here until you tell me.’ Beneath his hand he could feel tremors running like quicksilver through muscle.
Her shoulders sagged, she closed her eyes briefly then stared up at him. They were dry and alarmingly devastated. ‘My home’s been broken into. The police tried to contact me last night and I didn’t answer my mobile because I’d switched it off so they tried my room but I wasn’t there because I was here. I’ve been making arrangements.’
He swore under his breath. ‘Slow down. Take a breather.’
She thumped a fist against her thigh. ‘Yeah? Your house hasn’t just been burgled.’
He firmed his hold, said, ‘What can I do?’
She shook her head. ‘I’ll contact you...some time.’
He didn’t let go. ‘What’s the damage?’
‘A security guy’s meeting me there in forty-five minutes.’
‘Did you have deadlocks?’
She glared at him. ‘What do you think? And yes, the alarm was on.’
‘Have you spoken with Breanna? I’ll call her for you.’
‘No, you will not. I don’t want to spoil her holiday. And phone coverage is hit and miss up there. There’s nothing she can do—’
‘But I can.’ Panicked eyes blinked at him. ‘We can stand here wasting time or you can give in now, because I’m coming with you. End. Of. Discussion.’
ELEVEN
Olivia acceded with a nod and Jett eased up a bit and released his hold. ‘I’ve got a car waiting, I’ll have it brought round.’