Fancy Free Read online

  An Ellora’s Cave Romantica Publication

  www.ellorascave.com

  Fancy Free

  ISBN 9781419913341

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

  Fancy Free Copyright © 2008 Shelley Munro

  Edited by Mary Moran

  Photography and cover art by Les Byerley

  Electronic book Publication March 2008

  With the exception of quotes used in reviews, thisbook may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the publisher, Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.® 1056 Home Avenue, Akron OH 44310-3502.

  Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. (http://www.fbi.gov/ipr/)

  This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the authors’ imagination and used fictitiously.

  Fancy Free

  Shelley Munro

  Acknowledgement

  Thanks always to my family for their belief in my dreams, and to Paul for his unstinting encouragement. You’re my hero for producing wonderful meals when my muse is hard at work. I love you.

  To my wonderful editor Mary, thank you. This book is much better because of your careful eye for detail and grammar fixes. I appreciate you more than I can say.

  Trademarks Acknowledgement

  The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

  All Blacks: New Zealand Rugby Football Union

  Bozo the Clown: Larry Harmon Pictures Corporation

  Speights: Lion Nathan Brands Company Limited Corporation

  Technicolor: Technicolor Videocassette B.V. Corporation

  The Munsters: Universal City Studios, Inc.

  Chapter One

  They were in the wrong place.

  Alice Beasley stared around the crowded town hall feeling a little like her namesake Alice in Wonderland—lost and confused in a strange, foreign world. This bedlam reminded her of a storybook rabbit hole, not a small New Zealand country town called Sloan. She gaped at a woman dressed in a bright orange turban and a long, voluminous, hunter green gown. Another woman in a smart black suit teetered her way to the front of the hall, a small grubby boy in tow. His red, tear-stained face confirmed coercion and he looked just as uncomfortable as Alice felt. The fish-out-of-water sensation persisted while she perused the many colorful characters assembled in the town hall. Oh no! This certainly couldn’t be the reading of her godmother Alicia’s will.

  Alice leaned over to rifle through the black leather handbag at her feet and pulled out the sheet of paper on which she’d written the date, time and address the lawyer had rattled off at the termination of a hurried phone call the previous evening. She scanned the details. Frowning, she stuffed the paper back inside her bag and straightened, her hands tucked demurely in her lap.

  It was the right place.

  A prickle of awareness jerked her upright. Alice glanced up from her folded hands, peeking through lowered lashes. A man. She hunched forward again so she didn’t appear so obvious but continued to spy on him. A gorgeous man surrounded by flirtatious females of all ages. Tall. A rangy build. Dark shaggy hair and bright blue eyes that focused on her and bore distinct interest. Alice wondered what it would be like to have a man like that at her side, touching her like a lover, then guilt assailed her and she glanced away.

  Definitely not her sort.

  He appeared too dashing, and his wicked grin indicated a man too daring for her. No, despite this man’s obvious attractions—her fascinated gaze darted back to scan his broad chest, his overlong hair and his…

  Awareness pulled at Alice, her skin suddenly overly warm and her mind uneasy with her wayward thoughts. She squirmed on her wooden chair and tugged furtively at her white cotton cardigan. A quick jerk of her wrist pulled it away from her breasts but did little to cool the swelter of her body. She barely resisted fanning her face, smoothing the wayward strands of her hair away from her forehead instead. Oh my goodness. She’d stared right at his…

  Aghast at the way she’d ogled the man’s crotch when practically engaged to another man, she turned to Steven for distraction. His PDA held his attention. Alice knew better than to interrupt especially since he hadn’t wanted to attend the reading of the will. An ambitious man, Steven intended to advance to partner with his law firm. She admired his will to succeed so could hardly fault him when he thought of their future with each carefully planned decision. With a sigh, she scanned the room, making sure her gaze stayed well clear of Mr. Dashing. Alice had read magazine articles about men like him, and they weren’t good material for a girl who desired security and a relationship to rival the happy-ever-after end of a fairy tale.

  Over to the side of the room, a group of elderly women operated a trestle table. They had a steady stream of customers for cups of tea and huge slices of chocolate cake and worked together like a well-oiled machine. The steady clink of gold coins added to the general racket in the hall. Alice noticed a small podium on the stage at the front of the hall. Nearby, a sound system sat, ready for the arrival of a speaker. Behind Alice, and in front of her, locals occupied rows and rows of wooden chairs, or at least they appeared to know one another. Surely, they weren’t all beneficiaries in her godmother Alicia’s will?

  “Are you sure we’re in the right place?” Steven asked in an undertone once three people in full white robes had safely squeezed past them to take possession of a row of empty seats on their left. Polite and circumspect, no matter what the aggravation, this strange town seemed to have him rattled, which probably accounted for his attempts to bury himself in the security of work while they waited for the lawyer to arrive.

  Alice could hardly blame him. She had to admit the people she’d met in the small town of Sloan so far were pure provocation. Ask a question and they gave a roundabout answer. No one, from the local police to the young woman walking the brown dog near the post office or the robed men and women who loitered outside the hall, had wanted to discuss her godmother’s company Fancy Free Limited. Her request for directions and polite questions had led to smirks or icy silence, followed by mutters when she’d walked away. She’d tried to ask questions while they purchased petrol and learned zilch. Their reticence reeked of a conspiracy of sorts. Alice huffed out an exasperated breath. It would be lovely to learn a few details about her inheritance. It was all so mysterious.

  “Yes, we’re in the right place.” Alice supposed she should have jumped on the Internet and done some research after the lawyer’s bombshell call, but there hadn’t been time since they’d both worked late and then had to rush to attend a work function.

  Steven bent toward her and spoke softly, his warm breath puffing against her cheek. “Are you sure the lawyer didn’t give you a hint about your inheritance?”

  Great minds thought alike. Alice smiled with pleased self-congratulation even as she pulled away, out of range. If she grew any hotter, she’d self-combust. Her mother might consider Steven stuffy, but she was wrong. A pompous windbag, her father had stated the first time she’d taken the young lawyer home. Alice knew better. Despite her parents’ opinions, Steven’s thought patterns and ideals aligned completely with her own. They were perfect for each other.

  And she’d finally have security, both financial and emotional.

  Steven cleared his throat in a non-verbal reminder that he awaited details. Alice reconstructed the hurried phone call she’d had with her godmother’s lawyer in h
er mind before shaking her head. “No. I asked Mr. Bellbooth when he rang me last night but he said in accordance with the will, I had to come to Sloan to learn more details. He told me the date and time and hung up to take another call.”

  “Mighty peculiar.” Steven spoke in a well-modulated voice. “I told you to let me handle it.”

  Alice felt a niggle of irritation grab hold and immediately guilt surfaced. Although not officially engaged, they had an understanding, so she supposed his attitude spoke of concern. Really. They were perfect for each other.

  A tubby man dressed in an old-fashioned pinstriped suit limped onto the podium and the locals immediately ceased their loud chatter. The clamor diminished to a low hum. Most of the inhabitants in the drafty hall resonated with excitement. Alice stared in fascination. The man looked as if he’d stepped straight from a Munster’s movie. Actually, after the show so far, she wouldn’t be surprised to see a few bats flitting through the air or body parts start to somersault across the floor. It had been that kind of day.

  “If everyone is ready, I’ll start to read the will.” Despite his benign appearance, the man exuded confidence and took control. The lawyer, Mr. Glen Bellbooth she presumed, cleared his throat and silent expectation ensued. He pulled a pair of spectacles from his inside jacket pocket, put them on and surveyed them all before he started to read. “Alicia asked me to read the will in its entirety.”

  Alice groaned silently. This torture would continue? The lawyer obviously didn’t realize the size of her student loan. The notion that she’d be able to pay off the loan and start saving seriously for the small house she’d always dreamed of refused to go away. Steven and she could have a family sooner rather than later. The idea of a home, a family and financial security was almost too much for her to comprehend. Oh please, she prayed silently. Please let my dreams come true.

  She wanted an average life in the suburbs with an average two point four children.

  Alice craved normal so much. And after her topsy-turvy upbringing and the way her parents had dragged their children around the world from one good cause to another, she hungered for ordinary.

  At first, she listened attentively to every word, thinking she’d learn of her inheritance soon. The lawyer droned on and Alice drifted into dreams of the future while various persons around the hall let out excited squeaks and jumped up and down. Financially independent and debt free. The idea, the potential benefits filled her with exhilaration. Steven knew about the student loans she’d taken out to pay for her university tuition. She’d confided in him about the house and how badly she wanted her own home. Something that would always be hers and nobody could take away. Steven wanted to rent a property so she hadn’t brought up the subject again. It didn’t mean she agreed with him. He was a good man. He’d see the sense in compromise and realize the importance of future security.

  “What?” Steven gasped, his backbone hitting the back of his chair.

  Alice’s head snapped up, her eyes wide with panic. Had she missed something important?

  “To my goddaughter Alice Beasley, I leave my company Fancy Free,” Mr. Bellbooth, the lawyer, repeated. He paused to study Steven over the top of his glasses before continuing to read. “I am confident that you, along with my manager James Bates, can work together to grab a larger portion of the condom market share.”

  “A condom company?” Steven didn’t bother to hide his horror or keep his voice down. “Not bloody likely.”

  Heads turned to stare and several of the robed strangers whispered to each other, but shock held Alice in its grip. A condom company? Her breath hitched while her palms moistened suddenly. She could scarcely wait to hear what the lawyer would say next.

  One thing remained certain—it was definitely weird in this rabbit hole called Sloan.

  Mr. Bellbooth eyed them over the dark frames of his glasses, his brows an arch of silent inquiry, but when neither of them said anything else, he continued. “I hope you will take an active part in the management of the company, but I understand if you wish to pursue your career in accountancy. To that end, I have added a stipulation to my will in the form of a codicil. If you undertake to help run Fancy Free with the help of my manager for the term of six months, I will give you the sum of three hundred thousand dollars plus a share of the company profits. Should you find yourself unable to meet these terms, the money will go to the AIDS Foundation and you will receive ten thousand dollars.”

  Alice sat in stupefied shock. Her parents should have warned her. They must have known, but when she’d rung them this morning to ask if they had any idea about Alicia’s will, they’d changed the topic of conversation and said they had to hurry or they’d arrive late for the church fundraiser. They didn’t stress about money and lived from paycheck to paycheck. Alice suspected they’d wanted to surprise her with the news, and since her parents were big churchgoers, she suspected they’d kept the news about a relation who owned a condom company quiet on purpose. Some of the people in her parents’ church held conservative views and opposed any method of contraception. Alice shuddered at the thought of their stern views. Oh yes, given the beliefs of her parents’ friends plus her mother and father’s discomfort in discussing anything connected to sex, their reticence on the matter didn’t surprise her in the slightest. She glanced to her left and felt her face blanch at Steven’s obvious distaste.

  Of course, she had no alternative. Steven would want her to return to the Auckland suburb of Remuera and their jobs. They were almost engaged after all.

  Alice let the rest of the lawyer’s words wash over her while her mind drifted back to her childhood and the horrid years after her father had been made bankrupt. As a result, she’d grown up being very careful with her money. Her stomach cramped each time she thought of her student loan and the exorbitant interest charges, but there had been no other way to gain the education she’d required. She needed to train for a profession if she wanted precious security.

  The lawyer concluded and straightened his pile of papers. He switched off the sound system and a burst of chatter filled the hall.

  Steven made a gurgle of disgust deep in his throat and puffed out a hard breath that shifted the fringe off his forehead. “They have got to be joking. If any of the partners at my law firm get wind of a condom company connected to you, they’ll shunt me sideways. I’ll never make partner. We are a conservative law firm steeped in years of tradition.” Distraught at the idea, he wheezed, each breath dragged from his lungs with a harsh gasp. Alice fumbled in her bag for Steven’s inhaler and handed it to him with a worried frown.

  “I don’t need my inhaler,” Steven snapped. Each hoarse breath mocked his rejection of the medicine, and she arched her brows in silent exasperation. “Oh all right. Maybe I do,” he conceded. “It’s this hick town. It’s full of pollen and dust.” An explosive sneeze punctuated his statement.

  The lawyer stopped beside them and cleared his throat. The man who’d tried to flirt with her earlier stood at his side, a tiny smile playing on his sensual lips. When she stood, Alice noticed he had a dimple at the left-hand side of his mouth. The man was her fantasy come to life—the man she’d dreamed about as a teenager. But not safe. Definitely not safe. She’d stick with a steady, predictable man. Predictable felt good. Her stomach lurched uneasily when she realized she’d stared at him for a fraction too long. She jerked her gaze away but still had time to notice his eyes darken and the corners of his mouth turn up in amusement. He knew. He knew she found him attractive and sexy. Humiliation rushed heat to her cheeks. Chagrin filled her when she recognized her disloyalty to Steven. He was her boyfriend after all. They were almost engaged.

  But still her gaze drifted to Mr. Dashing. Irritated, she straightened abruptly and attempted to concentrate on the lawyer. What was wrong with her? The time to step into bad-girl shoes had been before she’d become involved with Steven. True, she hadn’t exactly planned to don a good-girl persona either—it had just happened—but she did believe in commitment
and loyalty. Steven was a good, steady man and careful with money. They would have a perfect marriage.

  “It’s quite impossible. Alice can’t stick around and run a company that makes money from sex.” Steven’s emphasis on the word sex made it sound like something dirty and despicable. “What will our employers think?”

  Alice touched him on the forearm. “They don’t have to know.” She attempted to placate even though his attitude peeved her. They might have an unspoken agreement but they weren’t married yet. This was her inheritance. Alicia had left it to her for a reason. Besides, an opportunity to pay off her debt and grab her dream with both hands didn’t occur every day. Condoms might prove a noteworthy enterprise with the constant cry for safe sex, and at least she’d gain knowledge of a topic she knew nothing about.

  Steven glared at her, his dark brows drawn together in a flat, bushy line. “As a lawyer and an accountant, our reputations must be spotless.” The image of a caterpillar jumped into her mind and she had to bite her lip to keep from laughing at her fanciful thoughts. “You must walk away. Distance yourself.”

  The need to laugh dropped away, replaced by irritation. Now he’d started to treat her like one of the newly graduated lawyers at his law firm. “I have a spotless reputation.” So spotless she wouldn’t know a condom if it bit her in the butt. Steven and she hadn’t done anything more amorous than kiss—a mere brush of lips—and it had become a sore point with her. Sometimes a girl just wanted to express herself, sometimes sex came to mind. Every time she tried to take things a bit further, Steven backed away. If they were committed, then surely they could make love without it being the crime of the century. “A condom is responsible these days. I doubt any employer would condemn the use of a condom and safe sex.”