Australia's Maverick Millionaire by Margaret Way

Author:Margaret Way [Way, Margaret]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2011-12-15T05:00:00+00:00

Jimmy sat as if paralysed, then nearly desperately shot to his feet as Clio, with Josh looming tall at her shoulder, walked out onto the loggia.

Josh Hart? Jimmy thought in shock. Hart had been Leo’s protégé but to his knowledge Hart had never been encouraged to call in on Clio. That old tyrant, Leo, would have actively discouraged it. Any man that courted Clio had to be a member of a family of power and influence. Most people had been baffled by Leo Templeton’s close involvement with Josh Hart.

It was easy for Josh to read Jimmy’s mind. He looked around, brushing away any thought of resentment. The loggia was the perfect setting for outdoor relaxing and entertaining. His eyes moved swiftly over the glass-topped circular dining table beautifully set for two. Candles, hibiscus flowers, a bottle of wine in a silver cooler. Quite romantic really. And Jimmy was seriously romantic about Clio. Professional lighting had been installed to bring the lush gardens and the pool area to life. Indigo blue and aqua mosaic tiles lined the swimming pool and the spa. A glorious display of bougainvillea wreathed many of the stone-arched columns that formed the colonnade. All in all as much as anyone could possibly want.

All at once Josh felt a ferocious sadness for the kid he had been. No home life at all. Nothing normal. The reverse. No loving parents to guide his way. Plenty who had wanted him restrained. He could buy all this, the Templeton mansion, but he was beginning to doubt if he could ever find his way out of the wasteland that was his past. He sometimes thought of it as a kind of stigma attached to him.

“Josh, how are you?” Jimmy, with heightened colour, thrust out his hand.

“Thank you for asking,” Josh said suavely, responding to the handshake. Jimmy had always avoided him like the plague.

“Sit down, Josh, won’t you?” Clio invited, a near plea-like note in her voice.

“Glad to.” He pulled up a chair from an adjacent setting, remaining standing while he held Clio’s chair. “So, Jimmy, what have you been up to since your shock departure from Templetons?” he asked conversationally.

“Josh!” Clio hurriedly intervened, while Jimmy looked too startled to answer.

“I had a word with one of your grandfather’s bouncers this evening,” Josh revealed conversationally.

“Really? Which one?” Jimmy asked fearfully.

“A guy called Bruiser O’Malley. You know him?” There was no threat or anger in Josh’s voice but it managed to thoroughly chill Jimmy.

Jimmy did know O’Malley. “Why should the sins of my grandfather come down on my head?” he groaned.

“Tough, I know.” Josh sounded like he understood. “You need to get a life, Jimmy. I’d say without delay. I know you worship the ground Clio walks on, but that’s not going anywhere, is it?”

Clio broke in. “Excuse me, Josh, but has it escaped your attention I’m still here?”

He turned to her. “Forgive me, Clio. It was more like my trying to help Jimmy. We both know he has to sort himself out quickly.

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