Chapter 1

Chapter 1

They escaped the bustling cityscape at midnight, leaving behind uncertainty and angst.

In about an hour, the urban panorama faded into untouched wilderness.

Pushing through darkness, they caught fleeting glimpses of road trains and massive movers that blasted past in the opposite direction.

After a few stopovers in dim-lit service stations, dawn unfurled in delightful streaks of pink and lustrous pale yellows.

Cece gasped, glimpsing the meeting of land and sea on the horizon, sensing the irresistible pull of wanderlust.

Her eyes drank the sun rising over the Pacific Ocean. Winding down her window, she breathed in the purity of nature as her compact SUV passed by spectacular cliffs and lush rainforests.

She made out a few pristine beaches and charming small towns, each adding a unique verse to the visual symphony.

For the first time in weeks, her heart soared. This journey was more than just an escape from her past.

She banked on it being the change she needed for her and her precious and trusty sidekick.

‘You OK, buddy?’

Silence.

Cece glanced in the rearview mirror at the boyish form with curly hair and hazel eyes. He was slumped against the back seat, gaze fixed on the landscape rushing past.

‘What’s up?’

‘Nothing, mum. Just taking in the view. I’m doing awesome if you are.’

‘I am, honey. Still no sleep?’

‘Not until you do.’

‘Ever my superhero, hey, my love?’

‘Always.’

She caught the flash of a sweet smirk, which made her melt.

Mason was her joy. He’d been through so much, yet he always had a smile, a kind word for others.

Best of all, he was a love bug. He shared hugs all day long, which made him even more adorable.

He’d taught her so much these past few years, from resilience to strength, joy and perseverance.

All this from an eight-year-old. Who would have thought?

Maybe she was killing it at parenting after all.

Because she wasn’t winning at much more at the moment.

Weeks earlier, Cece had left her job as an events manager at a hotel in Sydney that was downsizing. She’d had no choice, given her bosses had no more cash reserves to pay their staff.

Being a single mum with a mortgage, she didn’t have the luxury of no income. Panicked, Cece made a few calls looking for work opportunities.

The search had proven stressful as few openings in her industry were on the market.

Later that week, she’d made a rare lapse of mentioning her challenge at a family dinner.

To her annoyance, her stepdad had pounced on her slip-up and taken it upon himself to find her a job.

He’d come up with the goods in no time and passed her name to one of his contacts at one of the most prestigious hotels on the East Coast.

Who happened to be in the market for a new executive on their team.

Giving in to the harsh reality that beggars were not choosers, Cece interviewed for the events director role. She was shocked to get a job offer within the week.

The caveat, though, was an immediate start.

With no time to waste, she’d placed her semi-detached house on the rental market. She packed up an entire house, changed schools for Mason and took a major leap of faith.

Now, here they were, heading to a new life - which was scary AF, yet thrilling with the excitement of the unknown.

At least, that’s what Cece hoped. But as they wound further north, her nervousness grew.

She’d had no time to research her new bosses in-depth.

So far, she’d only relied on the anecdotal titbits she’d gleaned from the recruiter and the woman who’d interviewed her.

She was hoping to figure it - and them - all out when she settled in.

It’ll be OK,she told herself. She’d survive just as she’d always done when life got dicey in the past.

Cece had risen like a phoenix from ashes that many times, she’d ink on her rib cage to prove it.

If things didn’t pan out, she’d pivot to waiting tables at a local restaurant or bartending, which she’d done over the years to supplement her income.

4 p.m. rolled around as they cruised into Byron Bay. Mason had dozed off, so he missed the entry to the pretty coastal town.

No matter, Cece thought. He’d plenty of time to explore it in the coming months.

She entered the heart of the charming borough, where vibrant streets greeted her with a warm welcome.

She drove past avenues lined with eclectic shops, boutiques, and art galleries, each offering a glimpse into the creative soul of the community.

Where one could find themselves rubbing shoulders with the glitterati who swarmed Byron Bay to indulge at its uber-exclusive resorts.

However enticing the town, they needed to settle in before nightfall. With a reluctant sigh, she followed her sat nav directions to Falcon House.

According to the map, she was to head south of Cape Byron Lighthouse towards Tallow Beach.

Cece left the town and headed down leafy avenues until she saw a filigree roadside sign.

Her sat nav cooed at her. ‘Arrived.’

Pulling up into the gravel-lined driveway, she parked at a two-bay EV charging station, raising an impressed brow at the thoughtfulness of the eco-friendly hotel.

Easing out of the car, Cece tipped her head up at the sprawling building.

She inhaled. It was more beautiful than she’d imagined.

From what she’d read on their website, Falcon House was a luxurious, private five-star hotel that boasted impressive cottages, a pool, two bars, a spa, a restaurant, and a cafe. Surrounded by picturesque bushland that led down to a sensational private beach packed with powdery white gold sand.

She glanced at the well-designed, established gardens and rainforest trees thick with foliage and breathed out as a weight lifted off her shoulders.

For some reason, this place felt like coming home. Cece couldn’t explain it, but tears pricked her eyes as she took in the trilling birds and the scent of clean spray from the sea beyond.

Sheer beauty.

Cece shook her head to reorient herself, then glimpsed a sign pointing to reception.

She checked on Mason. He was still asleep in the back seat, so she roused him.

‘We’re here, handsome.’

He sat up, rubbing his eyes. ‘Already?’

‘Yup. Please take a moment to wake up. We’ll need to go inside and nab our keys real quick. I’m shattered from the drive. Thankfully, we have the weekend to rest and unpack.’

Minutes later, they ambled up the steps to the shiny midnight blue doors, pulling at the golden knob to let themselves in.

The curved stone entrance led into a plush hall in shades of navy and white with brass, driftwood and sand accents. Echoing a ‘Hamptons elegance meets low-key Aussie beach’ style.

No one stood behind the opulent front desk, so she called out. ‘Hello.’

‘Maybe they’ve left for the day,’ Mason said.

Behind the French doors separating the spaces, Cece saw people bustling in what seemed to be the bar and dining zone. But not another soul was in the welcome area.

‘Don’t think so. The kitchen crew are prepping the dinner service, so someone must be around.’

She called out once more. ‘Hello?’

They heard the sound of scuffling, running feet rushing towards them.

Whipping their heads around, they caught sight of a body at the end of the corridor, coming to a screeching halt.

‘Sorry. Left my post for a second to nab a snack.’

It was a boy, about a year older than Mason, with long, floppy dark hair and gold-tanned skin.

‘Jake.’ He made the declaration with a toothy grin.

He was so good-looking and charming for his age that Cece couldn’t help but smile.

‘Hi Jake, I’m Cece, and this is Mason. Are you our front-of-house man?’

‘Sure am,’ he declared as he puffed out his chest in pride. ‘How can I help you?’

He eased himself behind the desk as he and Mason eyed each other. From the top of their tousled hair to the monograms on their sporty trainers. As only boys of similar age did when they encountered another of their own in the wild.

Cece used a wave to get his attention. ‘Not sure if you’re expecting me. I’m meant to meet your general manager. I’m Cece. The new weddings and events director.’

The boy’s face fell. ‘Oof! Denise had to leave for the day. Family emergency. Dad and I are filling in for her.’

A bellowed roar sounded from the corridor beyond, drowning the boy’s last words. ‘Jake!’

Cece and Mason jolted as the boy’s eyes widened comically. ‘Sir?’ he ripped back.

‘Need my faucet wrench. The large 280. From my truck. Stat. Before she blows, and we get a flood all over this floor.’

The voice, although vexed, was delicious, resonant and with a growl that had Cece’s hairs rose on the back of her neck.

Wtf.

Before she could indulge in the bass notes further, Jake whipped his head to Cece. ‘Can you wait? I’ll take you and the wrench to him when I get back.’

‘Sure, we’ll wait.’

Jake grinned. ‘Coming, Dad. Give me five.’

‘Three,’ came the exasperated shout.

‘Four!’

‘Buddy!’

Cece and Mason exchanged glances as Jake burst out in laughter and dashed outside to the massive truck parked alongside their SUV.

He rummaged inside for a moment, then emerged, brandishing a tool with triumph.

He loped back inside with a broad smile. ‘Sweet! Follow me.’

Cece and Mason exchanged amused glances and trailed behind the swaggering boy who oozed confidence and delightful cheek. Down a corridor with blue and white striped wallpaper, elegant chandeliers, fixtures, and paintings that captured beguiling beach scenes.

Jake paused at a navy doorway that was half ajar.

‘The staff loo,’ he explained. ‘We’ve had a massive leak, and Dad’s had to fix it.’

‘Jake, please chill with the chatter and give me the wrench.’

The same delicious voice now sounded a tad strained.

When Jake walked in, Cece peered around the corner to see him hand over the tool and place it in a lean, muscled hand.

She felt her insides lurch as she stared at the shirt riding up to reveal the washboard abs on display. Her eyes watered at the sight of a delicious-looking belly button dusted with dark hair that whirled lower and disappeared into the waistband of the cargo shorts.

They left nothing to the imagination as the man inside them shifted. He flexed his muscled thighs covered in honey gold skin and more manly hair that tapered down into well-defined calves and feet thrust into a pair of well-worn, high-end barefoot sneakers.

However, his face and upper body were hidden as he worked under the sink and behind the cupboard doors.

The clink of tools matched his breathing and occasional grunts. Cece felt her insides clench at the guttural rumbles.

She’d never reacted to a man like this in years, convinced that her lady parts had taken an early retirement. Until now.

Jake knelt beside the man. ‘Dad, someone’s here to see Denise. Says she’s the new wedding person.’

There was a long pause as the unseen man stilled his hands. After a beat, they started up again, arm muscles straining as the man worked his wrench.

Damn. Cece struggled to control her wild reaction.

‘Tell her to wait at reception.’

The tone was clipped and allowed no room for dissent. At that moment, Cece knew most obeyed this man with no question.

She gave Jake a few quick nods acknowledging the command, then backed off, nabbing Mason’s arm and heading back to the front of the establishment.

‘That was awkward.’

‘It was something,’ Cece agreed with the astute whippersnapper.

She found a long couch opposite the grand front door. She pulled her son to it, and they sat gingerly on the luxurious velvet.

Soon, Mason spied a few magazines on a coffee table nearby, so he grabbed two, handed her one and launched into the pages.

Cece crossed a leg and flicked through the glossy spreads, not seeing the words or images. She was anxious, and after a long night and a full day of driving, her mind and body were ragged and raw.

‘She’s at the front?’

The same husky, gravelled voice cut through her thoughts.

‘Think so.’

Cece jolted at the words, and half rose to her feet just as a figure rounded the corner and stalked into the waiting area. Followed by Jake’s smaller silhouette.

Her eyes met a jade and hazel gaze as an unexpected essence slammed into her soul.

What. In. The. Actual.

She felt a bolt spike between her and the man before her as their eyes clashed. His lean nostrils flared, drawing in his breath in a hiss of air.

He jerked his chin at her, turning the full extent of his frigid gaze on her.

Despite the coolness, his life force hit her like a gut punch to her centre while her pussy clenched in traitorous need.

She gawked at him wordlessly.

As she’d already witnessed, his body was beautiful, his hips low above ropey thighs. He was lean, tall, striking, and ripped in a white tee that contrasted his thick, dark, mid-length hair and stretched across broad shoulders.

It was his face that almost had her gasping.

The man’s chiselled visage was a masterpiece, with sculpted cheekbones, a neat moustache and a beard. He was either in his late thirties or early to mid-forties. She couldn’t tell, given how fit and healthy he looked.

His nose was the only imperfection on his face, the victim of a past misfortune or accident. It was misshapen and broken, but it intensified his ruggedness instead of taking away from his appeal.

Step aside, Chris Hemsworth. This man’s physicality out-shredded most muscled men she knew of.

He oozed confidence and strength. Raw, sheer, untapped.

She suppressed a shiver as his piercing eyes raked over her long, dark, wavy curls, shiny coffee-coloured eyes, and now flushing face. Dropping lower to her casual tee, torn jeans and open sandals.

Assessing, scrutinising. Breaking. Her. Down.

His perusal was scalding, almost incandescent.

She sensed a thread of disdain and wondered what he’d expected.

What he was certainly not seeing was a bombshell with beachy waves and dewy skin, who gave off a hot girl summer vibe. Not her, not ever.

‘Who are you?’

His face was emotionless and hardened, his jade eyes cold, unyielding.

His voice was a resonant growl that sent chills through her. But it had an inflection she couldn’t pick out. Like he was testing her. As if he already had the answer.

‘Cece Mirren. Reporting for the weddings and events director role.’

For some wild reason, she felt the need to salute him, like he’d demanded it somehow. Without saying a word.

She also fought off the strange urge to call him ‘sir’.

Wtf?

His eyes flashed, and his nose flared like her name meant something—an insight he didn’t share.

Instead, he scanned her again, and she sensed an intense emotion behind his eyes. Anger? Wariness? She wasn’t sure.

At that moment, her reaction to him shifted from attraction to annoyance at being judged with such open disdain.

When his cold gaze winged back to meet her own, she cocked her head in a challenge, bristling inside.

His brow rose as he acknowledged her silent defiance, and his lip pursed, twisting in barely held-back derision.

What had she done to piss him off?

She’d never met the man, so his reaction to her was unwarranted.

Hers to him was unprecedented.

Meanwhile, his eyes flamed over her, hot as coal. Yet there was a coolness in the air that gave her goosebumps.

She tried to ease the tension. ‘Maybe you’re the plumber and don’t know who I am or where I need to be?’

Jake clapped a hand over his face to hide a chortle.

At the same time, a tic developed in his father’s jaw, like she’d hit a nerve.

Mortified, she tried again. ‘Or is it the handyman?’

The man’s eyes narrowed, and then he turned around, marched to the desk behind him, and reached for a small package, which he nabbed and strode back towards her.

He extended it to her without a word.

He came close enough that she got a waft of his aftershave and the musk of his skin, masculine and intense.

It set off another tornado of flames in her, and she fought the urge to fan herself.

‘What’s this?’ she said as she took the parcel, her eyes drawn to his calloused hands and the long, lean fingers.

‘Your key card entry to your cottage. Denise set aside Number 5 for you and -’ he flicked his eyes around and found Mason looking up at him wide-eyed, and his face softened somewhat, ‘your son, I believe.’

‘Yes, he’s mine,’ Cece confirmed.

‘Hi,’ Mason said, sticking his hand out.

The man took it, crouching down from his height to look the younger boy in the eye. ‘Hey. You being a good guy for your mum?’

Mason bristled with pride. ‘Always, sir.’

The man’s jade eyes warmed. At that moment, Cece saw past his rough, cold exterior, catching a glimpse of the tenderness hidden beneath.

‘Keep up the good job.’ He straightened and patted Mason on the shoulder with a smile. One that transformed his chiselled face into heart-stopping irresistibility.

It disappeared when he turned back to Cece. ‘Follow the gravel path to the left, punch in your key code at the security gate, and the cottage is two avenues to the left. The signs are clear.’

With that, he swivelled on his feet and strode away.

Leaving Jake behind, who shrugged, lifted two hands to indicate his confusion before charging away.

Stunned, Cece followed their departure as father and son vanished into the kitchen and dining area.

Mason, too, was nonplussed. ‘That was even more awkward, Mum. Not how the dad talked to me. I didn’t mind that. Just the way he was staring at you.’

She shook her head. ‘That man doesn’t like me, and I have no idea why.’

Her son wrapped his hands around her waist. ‘Dude’s a fool because you’re the sweetest person ever.’

She melted, pulling him close. ‘Thank you, gorgeous. You always say the loveliest things.’

Cece walked back to the car with Mason’s hand in hers, mulling the man’s attitude towards her. She wondered what had set him off.

She’d probably have little to do with him if he were the hotel’s handyman. Even though he had a body and face that would stop traffic, he had the manners of a drop bear.

Long done with toxic men, Cece shrugged him off and his stanky attitude.

Having soothed her raw nerves, Cece and Mason set off towards their new home for the conceivable future.

‘Dad, she called you the plumber, then the handyman. What a laugh!’

‘I heard her.’

‘She’s got no clue. Why didn’t you tell her?’

‘She should have done her homework.’

That said, Ash’s covert work meant his image was scrubbed from most websites and never shown on social media. Only his Defence-related photos came up in a search, and that’s when one was digging hard for them.

Still, she could have tried, Ash thought as he pushed through a pair of swinging doors. ‘Not a good sign if she’s come here not well prepped.’

Jake bobbed his head. ‘True. At school, Mrs Mulholland said that by failing to prep, you are prepping to fail -’

Ash Falconer half muted his son’s voice and his sage nine-year-old opinions.

Deep in thought, he brooded as he swung through the kitchens to check the water situation at the back of the property.

Stalking along, he nodded at his team.

Many of them were loyal workers who’d been at Falcon House for years. He didn’t spot Rich, the Falcon Eatery’s head chef. But he imagined the man was in the gardens, gathering fresh produce to whip up a sensational dish for the night’s sold-out service.

He turned his head to the back window and caught sight of a silver-grey SUV.

His eyes narrowed as it made its way down the driveway and a now familiar silhouette in the driving seat.

Cece Mirren.

Finally, she was where he wanted her to be.

She was the break he’d been waiting for.

What he hadn’t expected was how freakin’ hot she was. She’d thrown him for her loop when he’d set eyes on her. He’d half expected to see the same sharp, acid-hard features as her father’s.

Instead, she had freckles.

Fuck. Why did she have to have freckles?

She also had the softest, honey-gold skin and long dark curls with flecks of amber, which hinted at a mixed heritage.

Her luminous hazel eyes were lined with long lashes and light brown brows that made her eyes stand out even more in her oval face.

She was a knockout. Sultry AF.

Yet she had a soft expression in her eyes that served him with a yearning he’d not expected.

Her voice was melodic, but she wasn’t a young girl with little life experience. She was all woman, in her mid-thirties, and a mother at that.

Damn, her body was lush and rounded, her breasts high, and he imagined they’d be heavy and full in his hands. Her hips were voluptuous, yet they fit in those jeans in a way that’d make most men sigh.

Even from across reception, her scent had wafted spiced citrus and verbena notes over him. He longed to sink his hands into her hair, pull her tight against his length, and bend down to own those lush lips.

‘Cease and desist, Falconer,’ he whispered to himself, using his well-practised mental discipline to rip his thoughts away from her.

After he completed the water check, he was waylaid for a brief moment in the dining area by the restaurant manager. He listened as she detailed a few issues that had to be resolved.

‘All good,’ he promised her. ‘I’ll get onto those ASAP. Just send me a quick email.’

‘Sweet.’

Nadine was one of his new hires, and she smiled up at him, flicking aside her light brown ponytail while playing with the knives in her hands.

Her expression was soft and inviting, but he shut it down with a non-committal gaze, used to women coming on to him all the time.

Her eyes dropped with disappointment, but he ignored her, keeping the conversation professional before prowling past his son, who was teaching himself the restaurant’s booking software.

‘Jake, hang with Nadine for a moment, help with the table settings, then find me in my office.’

Child dispatched, Ash headed to his office, where he threw himself in the leather seat at his desk and pulled out his phone, making a quick call, which he placed on speaker.

The line was picked almost at once.

‘Saint.’

‘Brother. What gives?’

The rumbling voice on the other line was inflected with a New Zealand drawl.

Ash took a breath. ‘She’s here. Just met her and handed the house keys over.’

The man on the other side of the line gave a soft whistle. ‘The bird has flown into the nest.’

‘It has. Check the sound feed.’

The call fell into a short silence that soon filled with the tapping of keys.

Saint grunted. ‘Streaming well.’

‘I’ll get her the laptop on Monday.’

‘What we need access to is her phone.’

‘I’ll get admin to ask her to upload our app onto it.’ Ash paused for a moment. ‘We’re sure this is all legal? Not some unmitigated interventionism of surveillance tactics that reek of totalitarianism?’

The man on the line served Ash with a short, amused huff. ‘Brother, we have the green light from Defence and a warrant from Judge Sampson. We’re not monitoring any private conversations, just the ones between her and the general. We’re mostly listening in. As soon as the team determines a call is not between her and our target, we’ll discard it at once and won’t hold onto any recordings, bar the most relevant. Even though we’ve location tracking capabilities, we’re not using them - only in emergencies. It all checks out.’

Ash breathed out his frustration.

Saint caught onto it. ‘You got some doubts now that you’ve met her?’

He winced. ‘She’s not him.’

‘Course not. She’s his stepdaughter.’

After a beat, Ash rasped, ‘Damn, I thought they were biological daughter and father.’

‘Nope. You read the file I sent you?’

‘Time, brother. Try raising a son, running two businesses and keeping on top of a covert op. One thing though, I’m not sure we’ve got her pegged right.’

‘We won’t know til we’ve tested the waters. It’s the only way. We’ve looked at every other avenue possible.’

‘Think she knows? About him?’

‘His actions have enriched the Mirren family beyond anyone’s wildest dreams at the expense of many. She’d be a fool not to have taken note and, at the very least, asked herself a few questions.’

‘Which makes her complicit.’

‘Deliberate ignorance perhaps?’

Ash took a breath. ‘Fuck. I have to work with her.’

‘Why? Aren’t you at the farm?’

‘Nope. Denise, my GM at Falcon House, had a health scare with her husband. So, I gave her a few days off. Meantime, I’m holding down the fort here while Diesel oversees the distillery.’

‘Tough luck, brother.’

‘I’m tougher than that,’ Ash smirked. ‘Hey, I’ll update you next week. Keep me posted if the Sydney crew find or hear anything new.’

‘Got you.’

Ash rang off and reached for his laptop. He pulled up Saint’s email to him with Cece’s file. Opening it, he read through it, paying more attention to the details.

Once he’d absorbed most of them, he leaned back into his chair, lost in thought.

Cece Mirren was a wildcard.

He had no idea what to make of her.

It had been pure luck that she’d needed a job, and he’d spotted the email from Joseph Mirren, his ex-CO. He’d flagged the request upstairs and got the approval to proceed.

Creating a job description for her had been easy. Heck, Falcon House received so many requests for wedding venue bookings that this was the perfect marriage of opportunity and chance.

Before today, filled with rage at the injustice and wreckage her father had wrought, he’d had no care for the impact of unfolding events on her.

Now that he’d met her, his hard stance on the situation was shifting into murky waters. He knew he was in trouble. In the form of one beautiful woman and her son.

First, he had to find out how involved she was with the suspect before he could make a final assessment of her character. It didn’t matter how sweet-natured or sexy she was.

If she was innocent, he had to guarantee a soft landing for them. At the very least, he owed that to her smiling boy, Mason. The kid seemed decent and well-behaved, just like his Jake, whom he’d go to hell and back to protect.

However, he was ready and willing to drag her through purgatory if she was guilty or complicit in her stepfather’s crimes. Whatever it took to get to the truth and redeem the lives of the men ex-Major General Joseph Mirren had destroyed.

Until he knew otherwise, Ash would need to keep Cece at arm’s length and get the op completed without dropping the ball. He had to power on, regardless.

His jaw clenched as he focused on the mission, just like he’d done so many times before, on and off the battlefield. He gazed unseeing at the view outside, reminding himself why he was doing this, why he wanted to wreck the Mirren family.

One reason only.

Justice.

For the lives destroyed, for futures ruined and for the unwitting victims of one family’s greed.

The dignity of many good men and women depended on him to get the job done.