Page 11 of Prognosis Irreconcilable Differences

‘You owe me, Jacqueline.’

Even over the gush of the tap, the drum of the rain and the gallop of her heart his quiet but unflinching statement snaked towards her, pregnant with purpose. She squeezed eco-friendly detergent into the water and stared at the frothy bubbles in the sink for a moment, before slowly reaching for the taps and shutting them off.

‘You said you wouldn’t collect.’

Six years ago Jacqui had stumbled across this, her beloved vet practice, nestled right near the ocean smack in the middle of a series of small communities that shared her life philosophy. It had been serendipitous indeed —she’d fallen in love, and it had been for sale. And she’d wanted it.

Wanted it with an intensity that had surprised her. Wanted it more than she’d wanted anything in the preceding four years. She’d been functioning on autopilot since her split with Nathan, and the practice had been the first spark of life — true grab-you-by-the-guts life — she’d experienced.

But she’d been skint.

After every bank in Australia had turned her down, she’d swallowed her pride and rung Nathan. Nathan her ex. Nathan whom she’d walked away from when it had finally dawned on her that he was never going to change. Nathan who’d never wanted the babies and white picket fence that meant so much to her.

Much to her surprise, he hadn’t batted an eyelid. He hadn’t questioned her or lorded it over her, just deposited the sum of money into her stipulated bank account. Almost as if he’d been doing a favour to a distant relative. Maybe a crazy old aunt he was slightly embarrassed to have as a branch in his family tree.

As if by doing so he could finally wipe his hands of her — discharge his duty.

And that had hurt. It shouldn’t have. It had already been four years and she was over him. But it had. To be dismissed so resoundingly. Like a bug on his windscreen or a piece of lint on his expensively cut jacket. A mild annoyance.

So she had worked like a demon to pay him back. And she had — in two years. But deep down, even though he’d assured her in their one and only phone conversation there wouldn’t be any strings, she’d always felt she still owed him. And now he was calling in his debt.

His stringless debt.

Looking at his face, the rigid set to his jaw, the steely determination flinting his gaze, she marvelled that Abigail would even dare pull such a stunt on such a ruthless man. She shivered. Where was the Nathan she’d fallen in love with? Surely he was there somewhere?

He shrugged. ‘You’re forcing my hand.’

Nathan felt about as low as he’d ever felt. But he wasn’t going to let Abigail ruin things for him. Owning a publicly listed company on the stock exchange was the pinnacle, his father’s ultimate dream realised, and he hadn’t come this far to stall so close to the top. So what if he had to play on her sense of obligation? This was business, and if Jacqui was collateral damage then so be it.

‘You could be less superior about it,’ she snapped.

‘Hey. I did ask nicely.’

Jacqui shook her head at his calmly neutral delivery. This was just business to him. ‘Not this, Nate. You can’t ask me for this.’

Nathan moved forward into the kitchen. He stopped in front of her, excruciatingly aware that some errant part of him wanted to move closer.

‘It won’t be for long. I promise. Just do this one little thing for me. Then you can come back here and get on with your life.’

Jacqui could feel herself wavering. This close, his charisma was suffocating. Compelling. Which was precisely what she was worried about.

It wasn’t just uprooting her life and the hundreds of inconveniences that would cause. Having him back in her world for two days — even semi-comatose — had been curiously fulfilling. Living with him? For weeks?

Now he’d given her a teaser, the temptation was intoxicating.

But she had to remember that they were still two different people, living two completely different lifestyles. He was still chasing success and she still wanted to settle down with a tribe of kids, that white picket fence and a dog or two.

But she did owe him. She knew it. Her conscience knew it. Her highly developed sense of fairness knew it. He’d help make her dream possible. Who was she to stand in the way of his? Just because she didn’t approve and it wasn’t her dream didn’t negate it for him.

Nathan could see the indecision in her toffee gaze. He raised his hand and placed it on her bare shoulder. ‘Please, Jacq. I need you.’

Her pelvic floor muscles shivered as his pet name for her rolled off his tongue as if they’d never parted. The years fell away. He was again the boy-man she’d fallen in love with.

She shut her eyes to block out the appeal in his earnest green gaze. She only wished she could also shut out the memories and the warmth of his breath against her face. Tendrils of desire, real and remembered, wrapped her in their addictive embrace.

Jacqui took a mental machete and hacked them back. She opened her eyes and looked him straight in the eye. ‘With one proviso.’

Nathan nodded, prepared for bargaining. ‘Name it.’

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