Always There Read online

  “But they will find something for you, won’t they? I mean you’ve paid the deposit.”

  “They’re trying to find something for me. Quite a few tenants were displaced. And there’s very little available right now as it is. You know it took me several weeks to secure this one.”

  “That doesn’t sound good.”

  “Well, there’s not a lot near the stadium, and that is where I want to be long-term.”

  “How’s the hotel?”

  Liana angled her laptop to show the presidential suite she had been staying in since her arrival in Auckland. It was far more luxurious than what she’d typically book for herself, but she’d thought she might as well start her new life in the Southern Hemisphere with a little extravagance.

  “Very posh. Are you staying there long?”

  Liana turned the laptop back to face her. “I wish. But the suite’s only available for one more night. I was going to move into the rental today. At this moment, I’m going to be homeless as of ten o’clock tomorrow morning.”

  Moira laughed. “Well, you wanted an adventure. What are you going to do?”

  Liana shook her head. “I’m not sure. Worse comes to worst, I could stay in another hotel for a while. I was planning to spend some time on the South Island next week, so maybe while I’m there, I’ll be able to sort out a few things.”

  A figure appeared next to Moira. “You’re half a world away, and you two continue to disturb my telly-time with all your talking.”

  Moira elbowed the large man. “Oh, quit. We’re not gossiping. This is quite serious, Guy. A pipe burst in the place Liana was supposed to move into. She’s homeless as of tomorrow.”

  Guy Tisdale’s blue eyes were now alert. He dragged his hand through his short, brown hair. “You’re kidding. How long will it take to fix the place?”

  “I don’t know yet,” Liana said. “But it’s unlikely to be very quick. There was a lot of water damage. It was quite a mess, from what I understand. Right now, I’m just looking for something temporary.”

  “Let me give Mitch Molloy a call. Maybe he can help,” Guy said.

  Liana frowned. “Mitch Molloy? Captain of New Zealand rugby?”

  “Yeah. I think he still has a place in Auckland. He stays there when he trains with the National Team. He offered it to us when we let him use our cottage in the Lake District last year. He wanted a weekend away with his girlfriend. What was her name? The journalist?”

  “Elaine Rawley,” Moira said quickly. “I thought they broke up.”

  “Did they? I wouldn’t know. You know those things don’t interest me,” Guy said.

  Liana smiled at Guy’s comments. For someone who made the gossip magazines as often as he did, he was surprisingly clueless about other celebrities. “What a coincidence. I met both of them last night.”

  “What was last night?” Moira asked.

  “The End of Winter Ball. I flew in early especially for it, and it was helpful to meet a lot of people from the sports community. I met Connor Dane’s wife. She’s quite lovely. You’d like her, Moira.”

  “Well, Connor’s quite nice. And Mitch seemed nice as well. I had a chance to chat with him for five minutes last year when he came by to pick up the keys to the cottage.”

  “Does Mitch actually live in Auckland?” Liana asked as she took the laptop from the desk and moved to the sofa.

  “No,” Guy said, scrolling through his phone. “His club team is on the South Island, in Christchurch. He grew up there as well. Spends most of his free time there, too, I reckon. Didn’t I introduce you to him last year? When we were at the after-Test party?”

  “Other than Connor, who was kind enough to help me stop someone from hitting you, I didn’t meet anyone. I was too busy trying to protect your honor.”

  “I didn’t start that argument,” Guy said, defensively.

  Moira stared at her husband. “Someone was trying to hit you? Again? Why is this the first I’d heard of it? I’m glad I asked Liana to keep an eye on you.”

  Liana smiled as she remembered Moira’s frantic call last year. Their babysitter had canceled, and, as an experienced wife of a rugby player, Moira knew that these post-Test celebrations were an important part of the rugby culture. But they also attracted a lot of people more interested in the celebrity than the sport. She’d begged Liana to accompany Guy, the newly appointed captain of the English rugby team. Moira didn’t trust some of the—what was the phrase she’d used?—“vampish starlets” that were always at these parties.

  Liana had reluctantly agreed. She remembered thinking how odd it was that almost twenty years after she last babysat Guy, she was doing it again. Except their ten-year age gap made little difference now that he was an adult and a rugby star.

  It had been quite the singles scene that night in London. Throw two rugby teams, football stars, actors, and actresses into one room, add free-flowing drinks and raging hormones, and the paparazzi were kept very busy. Despite all the celebrities in attendance, Mitch was the main attraction. He had played a phenomenal match and was in the mood to celebrate.

  Yes, she remembered him from that party. She didn’t remember Elaine Rawley, but if the reporter were there, her presence didn’t seem to stop many women from trying to make an impression on Mitch. He was never alone.

  “Mitch? Did I wake you?” Guy yelled into his phone.

  Moira rolled her eyes at Liana before nudging Guy off-screen. “He can be quite uncouth sometimes. Why didn’t you stop me from marrying him?”

  “You’ve been in love with him since you were both ten. I told you to wait for someone else. If you didn’t listen to me when you were a child, how was I going to stop you fifteen years later?”

  Moira sighed. “I miss you already.”

  “Oh, Moira. It’s only been a few days since I left London. And look, we’re already talking.”

  “You wouldn’t be homeless if you had stayed here,” Moira argued. “You had all those offers from the TV networks. Raj and Anusha would have loved it if you had taken one of those commentator jobs instead.”

  “I know. Granddad is particularly worried. Has he said anything?”

  “No, we haven’t spoken. Would you like me to phone them ever so often? To make sure they’re all right?”

  Liana shook her head. “I’ve been speaking to them every day. I think that has helped ease their worry that I’m half a world away! They know I need to do this. Remember there weren’t any offers to manage a team in England. Or Scotland. Or anywhere else in Europe. I took Exeter up a division and to a Cup Final, but that still wasn’t enough to prove that I can do the job.”

  “Calm down! You had coffee this morning, didn’t you? Exeter would have offered you the position eventually.”

  “Perhaps, but this job came up now.”

  “I know,” Moira said, softly. “I know, and we are proud of you. We’ve always been. Just remember not to put yourself under a lot of pressure, Liana.”

  Moira touched the screen from her side of the world. Liana responded in kind, understanding the concern in Moira’s words. It wasn’t the first time she had heard such sentiments. Everyone in Liana’s small but tight circle of friends and family questioned her decision to take the position.

  “I’m qualified, and I’m ready.”

  Her friend’s sigh was more visible than audible. Liana knew what Moira was more concerned about. And it wasn’t about the job. “Hey,” Liana said. “I’m fine.”

  “Just promise me that you’ll do more than work. Go out; meet people; have fun again!”

  But before she could answer, Guy pushed himself back into the screen. “Right—you’re not homeless anymore.”

  Liana blinked. “What do you mean?”

  “Mitch says he has a spare room you can use. I’m sending you his phone number. He’s waiting for your call.”

  “Just like that?”

  “Yeah. He says he can let you into the condo today.”

  “Today? Is he staying there
right now?”

  Moira giggled. “When have you been worried about sharing a roof with a man, Liana?”

  “You make me sound like some sort of tart, Moira.”

  “Well, you have seen more naked men than anyone else I know.”

  This time it was Guy who rolled his eyes, but Liana noticed he didn’t refute his wife’s statement. Then again, neither could she. It was part of her life, being surrounded by men all the time. And she had seen a lot of naked men, more than she would ever admit. Truth was, after all these years, she didn’t think about it anymore. After a while, one set of buttocks looked just like another set of buttocks.

  “Liana, I’m quite sure it’s all right,” Guy said. “Mitch’s a good bloke. I asked him if he had room for a friend who was stuck in Auckland. He said ‘yeah’ and to pass on his number. That’s it. We’re mates. We look out for each other. You’d do the same.”

  “Why didn’t I know you and Mitch Molloy were such good friends?” Liana asked.

  Guy shrugged. “I don’t know. He lives in New Zealand, and I live in England. We see each other a couple of times a year at best, and when we do, it’s mainly to see who tackles better. If he lived closer, I’m sure you’d have known. Unlike my dear wife, I don’t need to share everything with you.”

  * * *

  Fifteen minutes later, Liana was still staring at the number on her phone. She wasn’t quite sure why she was nervous about making the call. There weren’t many options at this point. She sighed.

  It was that last look he gave her.

  Something had made her turn, and she had seen him immediately, standing by the door, about to leave. A shiver went through her when their eyes met. It was an unexpected physical reaction to a stranger whose face was so well-known. She had tried to return her attention to her dance partner, the amiable young halfback who was surprisingly light on his feet. But it was Mitch’s eyes she remembered: deep, brown, intense. She couldn’t read him, and that unnerved her. And now she was supposed to call him? To ask if she could stay at his condo? The most famous man in New Zealand, as if he were just some regular person?

  Get over it, Murphy.

  There was no room for timidity in her line of work. Why so nervous? Pretend this is a professional call. You met him last night. He’s not a stranger. He seems nice. He knows you’re going to phone. But...

  Liana dialed the number before she could think any further.

  “Hello? Mitch? It’s Liana Murphy.”

  A slight pause. “Liana? Hello. How did you get my number?”

  Uh oh. Liana frowned. “Guy Tisdale gave it to me. He said you were expecting my call?”

  “Guy Tisdale? Wait—you’re the friend who needs a place to stay?”

  “Yes. I was going to move into my rental today, but there has been some water damage.”

  “So, Guy said.”

  “Listen, if it’s a problem...”

  “No problem. Sorry, I’m just a little surprised it’s you. He didn’t mention a name, and I had assumed it was another rugby player,” Mitch said. “I’m about to do an interview this morning, but it won’t be long. Do you remember Elaine? She’s at the condo for a couple more hours. Will you be able to meet her? Otherwise, I should be back around lunchtime. I do have a three o’clock flight to Christchurch though.”

  “That’s not a problem. I don’t have anything planned for this morning, so I can head there fairly soon. Are you sure this is all right?”

  “Yeah, of course. No one is staying at the condo right now. I’ll let Elaine know and will send you the address. I have to say it’s a very simple place.”

  “It’s a roof over my head while I sort things out. Thank you. I owe you.”

  “No worries. I’m happy to help. I’ll see you in a few hours.”

  “Yes, thanks again.”

  He has such a sexy voice.

  A knock on the door announced that room service had arrived with breakfast. Liana turned the TV on in anticipation of the local news, but it was the view from the ceiling-to-floor windows that drew her. She’d run past the waterfront for the first time that morning, but now that the sun was completely out, she could truly appreciate the beauty of the harbor. Boats were moving out to sea for what promised to be a gorgeous day.

  It’d been a week, but she still couldn’t believe she was really here, in New Zealand.

  It had all started off innocently enough. She had been playing in a charity match with Jerome Pillane, captain of the Kiwi football team. They had good on-field chemistry. The last thing she’d expected was a call from Jerome a few weeks later saying that New Zealand’s long-time football manager was retiring, and he thought she’d be great for the position.

  She ignored him.

  But Jerome was persistent. He emailed with information about his country and sent her links about the Football Association of New Zealand (FANZ). He even subscribed her to FANZ’s newsletter. Then there was the home-cooked dinner, where the only other guest was Peter Hastings, the retiring manager of the New Zealand team.

  When FANZ announced her hire, it had made headlines globally.

  But Liana wasn’t naïve. She knew behind the scenes there remained questions about her eligibility, her suitability, and her ability. Some even suggested that the primary reason FANZ had hired her was that Liana Murphy was already a household name in the football world, thanks mainly to her successful—and popular—commentator’s role during the last Cup Final in South Africa.

  She didn’t really care why FANZ had decided to offer her the job. That was all in the past; she had the position. What happened next would be based mostly on how well she played the cards handed to her.

  Liana smiled as she remembered how red her agent’s face had become when she agreed to the salary. Then she’d told him she was planning to arrive in New Zealand a month early—at her own expense. She’d thought he was going to have a heart attack.

  But she needed to do this her way. She wanted to gauge what her players thought of her and engaging on a personal level seemed the best way to do it. Every decision she made was going to be watched. She had no room for mistakes.

  Liana walked to the window, pressed her forehead against the cool glass and closed her eyes.

  She had enjoyed her first week in Auckland. Correction: she had enjoyed being alone during her first week in Auckland. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been able to shut off her phone without feeling guilty. She’d run a new route each morning, explored the city without a map, and made casual conversation with the lady at the tea shop. She’d also signed up for a walking tour with a group of Japanese students. That had been different and fun. If any of them had recognized her, no one said anything.

  The time alone also had allowed her to let go of the hurt and disappointment at not receiving a single offer after two successful years as interim manager. Moira was right. Exeter would probably have offered her the manager’s job after Charlie Rogers retired. But Liana didn’t think her mentor would be retiring anytime soon, and nothing would’ve made her force the issue. She owed him that, at the very least.

  No, it was time to move on. The week alone had been good, but she needed to start the next chapter of her life.

  Last night, she’d been back in the world she was more familiar with: lots of paparazzi, beautiful people, famous people, and titled people. Everyone seemed warm and welcoming, yet Liana was also conscious that she was the new person, that she wasn’t part of the landscape.

  Mitch’s voice suddenly entered the room. She glanced to the TV screen where his image was now on. With a mug of tea in hand, she returned to the sitting area, picked up the remote, and turned up the volume.

  Dressed in a light-blue polo T-shirt and jeans, he was a guest on a morning breakfast show. He looked relaxed and must have known the two presenters, as there was a comfortable camaraderie among the three of them.

  Liana smiled when Mitch laughed at the picture of himself with members of the New Zealand women’s field
hockey team. It was a shot that was also featured in the lifestyle section of today’s newspaper.

  “They’re all such great athletes. I was honored to be part of the picture,” he said, diplomatically.

  “But are you still single?” one of the presenters asked. “You arrived with Elaine Rawley.”

  Liana studied Mitch’s demeanor. Other than a slight tilt to his head, he didn’t look bothered by the question.

  “We’re still friends,” Mitch explained. “Why wouldn’t you want to share a great evening for a worthy cause with someone whose company you know you’d enjoy?”

  Liana brought the tea to her lips. Nicely done, Mitch. Nicely done.

  “It’s a big year for you. Are you preparing differently because of the World Championship?”

  Mitch nodded. “Of course. The rugby season is longer in a World Championship year, so we have to pace ourselves differently. Everyone who has the honor of wearing the black jersey—of representing our country—wants that title. It’s going to be tough because teams from around the world want it too. But we’re hosting the Championship, and winning it in front of our friends, our families, and our fans is our goal.”

  Liana took another sip of her tea.

  His answers would appeal to most fans, but her sharp eyes and ears recognized his cautious language, the controlled facial expressions, and the practiced responses. Mitch knew precisely what he needed to say in public—and no more.

  * * *

  An hour later, Liana arrived at the Meriton Towers. Elaine greeted her in the lobby, her voice apologetic. “I didn’t expect to see you so soon. Sorry to hear about the water damage. That’s a bit rough.”

  When Liana entered the condo, she was surprised by how nondescript it was. She instinctively knew this wasn’t the place Mitch called home. There were only a couple of things on the wall: a mirror over the credenza in the entryway and a generic modern painting near the dining area. There was an L-shaped leather sofa that faced a big-screen TV, a DVD player, and two video game consoles. There was also a dining table for four and barstools at the granite counter that enclosed a galley kitchen. Everything looked clean, simple, and utilitarian. Large sliding doors allowed in plenty of sunlight and which led to a balcony.