The Wells Brothers: Luke

Luke

(The Wells Brothers bk 1)

By

Angela Verdenius

(BBW Romance)

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2016 Angela Verdenius

All Rights Reserved

Cover image courtesy of © Kiuikson/istockphoto.com

Cover by Angela Verdenius

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Table of Contents

Glossary

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Epilogue

Bio

Other Books by this Author

Glossary

*

I found that some overseas readers were having difficulty with the Australian slang, so I thought a list of the slang I’ve used will help while reading the following story. Also, you’ll find some of our Aussie words have different spelling to the US. Interestingly enough, as I’ve grown (gracefully) older, I find a lot of our slang is bypassing the younger generation, so if a young Aussie says they’ve never heard a certain word, don’t be surprised! But trust me, I’ve used these words all my life growing up, and so have a lot of my family and friends. Does that make me an older Aussie? Heck yes! LOL

Cheers,

Angela

Australian Names/Terms/Slang

AFP - Australian Federal Police

Ambos - ambulance officers

Arvo - afternoon

Barbie - BBQ

Beaut - beautiful, awesome, great, wonderful

Berko - berserk

Bewdy - as in ‘awesome, great’

Biccies - biscuits. The same as cookies

Bikie - biker, person who rides motorcycles.

Bloke/s - man/men

Bloody - a swear word ‘no bloody good’, in place of ‘no damned good’

Boofhead - idiot, simpleton, etc. It’s an insult, though sometimes we use it as a term of affection. It depends on how it is said and meant.

Boot (of a car) - trunk

Brown nose - currying favour, sucking up. Has a cruder description, but let’s not go into that here. Means the same thing!

Budgie smugglers - men’s bathers, small, brief and tight-fitting

Buggered - many Aussie use it as a slang word for ‘broken’ (it’s buggered), ‘tired (I’m buggered), and ‘no way’ (I’m buggered if I’m going to do that). Just some examples

Bung/Bunging - as in ‘bunging onto something’, putting on something (bung veggies on a plate, putting veggies on a plate), usually in a careless or ‘easy’ manner.

Bush rangers - outlaws/thieves/robbers.

Caramel Crowns - one of Arnott’s totally awesome chocolate and caramel biscuit. Gooey yumminess!

Cark/carked - die, died.

Chips - in Australia we have cold crunchy chips from a packet, or hot chips known in some countries as French Fries

Chippie - carpenter

Crash cart - resuscitation trolley in a hospital or medical setting - used for life threatening situations such as cardiac arrest

Dander – temper

Dial - face

Dill - silly, idiot

Dogs - (as in attached to a truck) - trailers, enclosed or not, that carry goods or are empty.

Doona - like a padded quilt that fits inside a cover and lies on the bed. Can have the warmth of two, three or four blankets, etc.

Donger - penis. Also another meaning is a place people sometimes sleep in, such as ‘dongers’ on mine sites.

Dunny - toilet. When used in the terms ‘built like a brick dunny’, it refers to something built solid, unmoveable.

Fire bug - arsonist

Firies - fire fighters

Garbo/s - the person/s who drive and/or load garbage onto the garbage truck.

Gee-gees - horses

Giggle-box - TV, television

Gob - mouth

Got his/her/their goat – annoyed him/her/them

Hoon/s - person/people who indulge in antisocial behaviour. Great explanation in Wikipedia

Iced Coffee/chocolate - a milk drink flavoured with chocolate or coffee

Jumper - sweater

Kick up a stink - make a fuss, get angry

Local rag - local newspaper

Lolly - sweetie, candy

Loo - toilet

Lug - face

Milo - chocolate malt drink. Can have it hot or cold. Yummy!

Moosh - slang for face/mouth

Mobile phone - cell phone

Mozzie - mosquito

NAD - No Abnormalities Detected

Nong - idiot

Nooky - sex

Paddy wagon - four wheel drive police vehicle carries four police in the double cab and has a filled-in imprisonment section in the back to place prisoners.

Panadol - paracetamol, similar to Tylenol in the US

Pav/s - Pavlova/Pavlovas - best dessert ever!

PCYC - Police and Citizens Youth Club

Pedal Pushers - three quarter pants/knickerbockers

Porking - having sex

Primapore - sticky patch with a pad in it, a medical dressing

Pub – hotel

Quack – derogatory term for a doctor

RAC - Royal Automobile Club of Western Australia. Covers insurance, holidays, loans, etc

Red backs - poisonous spider, black in colour with a red stripe on its back.

Root - sex

Rotty – Rottweiler breed of dog.

Rubbers – condoms

Sack - bed - as ‘in the sack’ meaning ‘in bed’

Servo - service station

Shag - sex

Sheila – female

Slab – carton of beer.

Smoko - morning tea and afternoon tea break

Snaggers - sausages

Soft drink - soda, fizzy drink

Sparkie - electrician

Spider (drink) - soft drink of choice with a scoop of ice cream in it

Stiffy - erection, boner

Subbies - sub contractors

Tea - some people call the evening meal dinner. In my family, we’ve always called it tea, as in breaky, dinner and tea, or breaky, lunch and tea.

Thongs - worn on the feet, same as ‘flip flops’

Tickled pink - delighted

Tim Tams - a brand of Arnott’s Biscuits. Yummy!

TLC - Tender Loving Care

Togs - bathers, swim suit

Torch - flashlight

Toot - toilet

Tradies - tradesmen

Tucker – food

Twistie – a brand of cheese-flavoured snack food. Yummy!

Ute - small truck

Vegemite - most Aussies find this spread yummy, many non-Aussies find it too salty. Here’s the hint - if you ever have Vegemite, use it spread thinly, never thickly!

Vollie - volunteers

Wacky baccy - marijuana

Wanger - penis

Waterworks - crying

Whopper - a lie

Yamaha & Suzuki - ‘brands’ of motorcycles.

You wally - silly

Chapter 1

*

The road leading to the old mansion was in poor repair, the ute bouncing along the rutted surface, Luke’s head almost hitting the roof. Gripping the vibrating steering wheel, he stared out through the windscreen at the huge, old behemoth that towered ahead.

Hells bells, Dog, would you look at that?

Dog was having a hard time just staying in the passenger seat, his jowls shaking along with every bone-rattling jar from the road. If he’d been a cat, he’d have sunk his claws into the seat for traction. As it was, all he could do was sit and vibrate.

Hitting a particularly interesting corrugated part of the road, Luke felt the flesh on his arms judder as the ute rumbled over it.

It didn’t, however, detract from the sight before him as he finally passed over the corrugated road and into the less rough area of what still held the last remnants of a large, circular driveway. Pulling up in front of the mansion, Luke turned off the engine and got out to gaze up at the monstrosity.

Really. Monstrosity. It was old, decrepit, and downright spooky. Dying. A decaying house, the brickwork needing a lot of work, several broken windows boarded up, and shit, look at that - an open window at the top of the house where a ragged curtain billowed out.

Friggin’ haunted house material or what?

Dog jumped out of the ute and sniffed, looking around eagerly.

Pushing his sunglasses up onto the top of his head, Luke braced both hands on his hips and studied the mansion.

An honest-to-goodness mansion four hours drive from the city, a half hour from the nearest town. It was massive, two story with a smaller third story up top and a tower. A real tower. Tilting his head back, Luke looked up at it. He’d go up there first chance he had to get a good view of the grounds.

He wouldn’t have gone up there if his father hadn’t come out here with Jason and one of the crew three weeks ago to do a full assessment on the place. Fortunately for the new owner the building was stable, but it needed a shit-load of repairs and reworking. Considering the plans Elspeth Arkwell had for the place, it was going to take a lot of work. A hell of a lot of work. It would be a long time before it was ready to become a working hotel with all the charm of the Victorian era in which it was built, and with all the workings and comforts of twenty first century amenities.

Meanwhile, it was a hulking, towering mansion of decaying proportions.

Taking a deep breath, he rubbed one hand through his hair. Okay, first impressions aside, he eyed it more critically. Two stories, smaller third story. Tower. Big, wide, four stepped staircase leading up to the veranda which swept away each side of the frontage. Rusted, wrought iron rails. Big windows covered with dirt and grime, two big wooden doors firmly shut. It was majestic, really, but old, worn and undeniably decrepit.

This mansion needed a major facelift.

His father, Harris, had gotten that contract, and Well’s Handyman and Building Services was due to start renovating and repairing in a month’s time. That was a huge contract. Counting the fact that the workers when they came out would have to stay in the nearby town during the week nights, the equipment had to be brought out, the research into the materials and historical details, the sparkies, tradies, chippies, plumbers, plasterers, brickies and consultants - everything combined was going to cost a fortune.

Mrs Arkwell hadn’t blinked an eye when Harris had handed her the final quote. Luke doubted he’d ever see that much money in his whole lifetime, but she’d simply looked at it, smiled, and said, Done.

Contract drawn up, signed, sealed, and delivered. Work would start in a month’s time, giving Harris time to finish the last house his company was working on. Meanwhile orders had been put in for materials needed. He’d bet his boots it was the biggest damned order that had ever been put in by Well’s Handyman and Building Services.

Never dreamed, Dog, that I’d get the contract to do the grounds. Grinning, he looked across to where the big, ugly, brindle mutt was cocking its leg against a stump. Guess dreams do come true.

If anyone else had been around, he’d never have admitted such a girly thing, but Dog was the only witness and he couldn’t speak human, so all was good. And it was a dream come true. Shit, what landscaper wouldn’t give his eye-teeth to be the one to restore the grounds to their former beauty? To research the style and type of plants, bring life back to the place?

The only stipulation Elspeth Arkwell had given was that Luke had to come and stay for a week, live in the liveable part of the mansion and get a feel for the place, for the exterior. The woman was eccentric, not doubt about it, but she was paying well for it and he had no qualms. At the end of a week she expected some rudimentary plans for her to check out, and then once the plans were finalised she wanted the quote for the materials needed. The weirdest thing was she’d actually signed the contract with him before he gave her the quote. In all fairness, he’d wanted her to wait for the quote and plans but she’d insisted it was him or no-one. He wasn’t about to argue. His business was doing well but landing a contract this big would cement his reputation, no doubt about it.

Besides, it suited his artistic nature - as far as landscaping and plants, anyway. He knew shit about the art world.

With a sigh of satisfaction, Luke turned and surveyed the view. A lot of wilderness had taken over the once grand gardens, paths choked out with weeds, broken pieces sticking up and even some scattered around. But the bare bones were there, his practiced eye could make them out, and if he heard correctly there was supposed to be ponds as well. Dried up now, obviously, but the prospects were amazing.

Clapping his hands together, he rubbed them briskly. Dog, a week of living in this place, soaking up the atmosphere, checking out the local library and online, exploring the grounds and drawing up plans is bloody awesome. Dropping his sunglasses back onto his nose, he grinned widely. Being paid to do this is icing on the cake.

Retrieving the mobile from the handless holder on the dashboard, he slid it into his pocket before slamming the door shut and reaching into the tray of the ute for the small bag and duffle bag. The duffle bag contained clothes, the small bag his laptop, several sketch books and a couple of books on landscaping ideas. Anything else he needed he could buy in town.

Hey, Dog! Fall in line. He started crossing the ground towards the steps.

Dog looked at him.

Yeah. You.

Dog’s tail stopped wagging.

Now.

The tail drooped.

Heel, Luke said sternly, going up the steps.

Moping, Dog wandered up behind Luke to drop into a sulking squat at his feet.

Don’t be such a wuss. You’re embarrassing me. Pulling a big, old fashioned key from his pocket, Luke started to fit it into the rusty the lock only to frown as the door swung creakily open under his hand.

Placing the small bag and duffle bag down, he glanced around but nothing stirred on the veranda except for some material ripped half off a rotting cushion on a mouldering chair.

Hello? One hand on the door, he pushed it further open, listening intently.

No answer.

He looked down at Dog. This would be where you go in first.

Dog looked from him to the door and back up at him.

Now is not the time to hold a grudge. Move your arse, we’re going in.

Tail wagging, Dog ambled past Luke to disappear into the gloom beyond.

Following, Luke stepped into a wide entry, only to blink in amazement as he saw through the opening to the big room beyond. Slowly, he took off his sunglasses.

Holy cow. Eyes wide, he walked through into the room and looked around.

Man, at first glance the place might be crappy with the wall paper peeling off the walls and the bits of furniture shabby and falling apart, but there was still a faded majesticness in the soaring ceiling and the wide staircase that went up the middle to the second floor to branch out either side. He caught glimpses of open doors on the second floor, old furniture on the landing, his gaze dropping as he walked into the centre of the massive room and turned around slowly, just taking it all in.

Several huge old paintings on the walls, what appeared to be red velvet curtains now faded and rotting against the windows, some old wooden furniture that had to be worth a small fortune if they were as old as they looked.

He was no antique expert, but some of this had to be authentic. He just hoped Mrs Arkwell had the brains to get it all checked out by a bonafide antique dealer. Maybe he’d mention it to her. If she wanted this place to regain its former glory and attract clients, then she should restore as much of the original furnishings as possible.

Dog was happily sniffing everything, tail wagging, going from one item to another, sneezing several times.

As much as he wanted to check out the grounds, Luke also wanted to check out the rooms. So much history, so much to see. Not that he knew anything much about historical houses, but it was intriguing nevertheless. When would he ever again get the chance to roam around an old mansion? Probably never.

Glancing around, he debated where to start. On either side of the huge room were several doors leading further into the house. Dog decided the direction for him when he suddenly lifted his head and trotted to one of the doors on the left.

Following him, Luke noted that oddly enough there wasn’t a huge amount of dust in the air. He’d expected cobwebs hanging from the ceiling and dust layering everything, but there were only a few cobwebs in a corner, and the dust… Frowning, he stopped to run a finger over an old table. A light dusting, not the heavy coverage one would expect of a derelict house.

Suddenly alert, he glanced around. Nothing seemed to be disturbed but now he had a sudden gut feeling he wasn’t alone, only to give himself a mental slap. Geez, his father had been here, and Mrs Arkwell had several times, she’d probably had someone come in and do a quick clean before he arrived. Obviously he was her guest in this place regardless of the fact it needed extensive work. The door lock was a prime example of deterioration.

Frown disappearing, he walked slowly along behind Dog while looking around. From the majestic hall he’d come out into a wide corridor that went for a fair distance into the depths of the house. The runner under his boots was falling apart, he’d have to roll it up and stow it safely away before he tripped on it one night and broke his neck. Having a modern ghost in a hundred and forty year old mansion just wouldn’t fit the atmosphere.

Grinning, he gave the old paintings on the wall and the figurines on the side tables a cursory glance, knowing he’d come back later for a more thorough look if the interest kept prodding at him. He wasn’t a historian, had no interest in antique values. It was plain old curiosity.

Another side door led to a surprisingly bleak hallway. The walls were a faded, dull cream, the floor plain wood. No paintings on the walls, it was as bland as sand. Speaking of walls, it didn’t have the nice finish of the main house, indeed, nothing had been done to make it nice. Serviceable, yes, and at that thought Luke realised he must be in the servants’ work areas, so the kitchen must be near. It seemed like servants back in the day weren’t considered to need comforts or nice work places.

Yay for modernisation. That, in turn, had him wondering just when the last owner had actually lived here, which gave him another pause.

Shit, the kitchen didn’t have just a wood burning stove, did it? Apart from BBQs, he didn’t do well with fire. Having to cook on a wood burner would result in no dinner or the mansion burned down.

A little perturbed, he caught sight of what appeared to be a kitchen and turned through the doorway to walk into the room.

It was large, a big table with chairs around it in the middle, cupboards and sink along one wall, an old ‘fridge, and a big stove he didn’t bother to check out - mainly because his mouth fell open as his attention was snagged by the figure leaning against the far wall sipping at a mug she held in her hands.

Dark red hair was pulled back in a ponytail, wild red curls spilling over her shoulders, dark green eyes surveying him a touch sardonically, one dark brow arched. The small, slightly tip-tilted nose had a sprinkling of freckles dusted across it, and the lush lips curved in a half smile.

There was no mistaking that generously curved figure poured into jeans. There was no mistaking the generous bosoms that pressed against the pale pink checked shirt with the sleeves rolled up shapely arms to below the elbows. There was no mistaking the bright pink sneakers on her feet which were crossed at the ankles. There was no mistaking the identity of the woman who shouldn’t have been leaning against the kitchen wall.

"Mikki?" What the hell…? Luke stared.

Lifting one finger off the mug, she gave him a little finger wave. Luke.

What are you doing here?

Recruited by Aunt Elspeth.

Recruited? For what?

She glanced around the room then back at him. To help out here.

"To help me? Horror shot through him. Are you kidding? What do you know about-"

Settle down before you stroke out. Mikki gestured to the room, mug still in hand, managing not to spill the drink. I’m here to help her with the house.

Dog, the traitor, bounded over to sit at her feet with his tongue lolling out and an eager look on his hairy face. When Mikki gave him a pat on the head, he almost dissolved into a puddle.

Still perplexed, Luke asked, What do you know about old mansions?

I’m not here to fix it up, I’m here to help her check everything out and get things packed up.

Packed up? Luke moved further into the kitchen. What do you know about packing antiques?

Mikki eyed him for several seconds.

Luke eyed her right back. Sheesh, he’d thought he’d have the mansion to himself for the week, now he had this irritating redhead coming and going.

At least, he hoped she’d be coming and going. Unease trickled down his spine. You’re staying in town?

Nope. A small smile played around her lips.

That unease just spread further. You’re heading back to the city every day?

The smile widened. Nope.

Oh, surely not. Then…?

Roomie! She practically beamed, those green eyes dancing.

Ah Jesus, it was worse than he’d thought. "You’re staying here?"

Yep.

In the mansion?

No, in a tent.

Really?

No. Amused, Mikki took a sip from the mug. Why, Luke, you don’t look happy to be sharing this house with me.

That was putting it mildly. Especially when another suspicion reared its head, making his eyes narrow. You’re not here to sabotage me, are you?

Her amusement vanished. What?

Luke! Sweetie!

Luke looked down as a thin, sprightly woman in her fifties came up beside him from the hallway, her hand patting his back. Mrs Arkwell.

Call me Elspeth, dear, everyone does. Now, isn’t this just simply wonderful? She beamed up at him.

Luke wouldn’t have called it that.

All three of us here for the week!

Shit. His worse fears.

Ah…Mrs Arkwell. At her raised eyebrow, he cleared his throat. Elspeth. He sought for the politest way to put it. What a surprise.

Isn’t it? She beamed. I knew you’d be pleased.

Definitely not the way he’d put it. Luke glanced across at Mikki to find her smiling widely.

We’ll be company for each other, Elspeth continued blithely. Not that we’ll get in each other’s ways, of course.

Uh huh.

You’ll be outside doing your thing, and we’ll be inside with the packers and dealers and valuers doing our thing. Moving past him, Elspeth crossed to the ‘fridge. Drink?

No thanks. I had a flask in the ute. Sliding his hands into the pockets of his jeans, Luke’s gaze travelled between Elspeth and Mikki.

Elspeth might not be aware of his less-than-eager response, but Mikki had caught on quickly. She was now watching him with a slightly puzzled air. Even as he studied her, he saw her angle her head, those lush lips purse, her eyes widen and then her eyebrows arch up. Wondering what on earth she was thinking, he observed the amazement cross her face, then understanding, and could only arch his own eyebrows in turn as Mikki slowly shook her head at him.

What the hell was she thinking?

Now, Luke. Elspeth dragged his attention back to her as she poured a glass of some kind of juice. I know you probably expected to be alone out here, but I need things to get done. Your Dad is starting in a month and there’s a lot I have to do. We have to do, she amended, shooting Mikki a smile. I want this place empty when your Dad starts renovating. But I need things to be sorted, and for that sorting to happen I want to check things out, get the paintings down, the furniture looked at and taken away for repairs. I need expert people to come in and do what they need to do. But first of all, Mikki and I are going to properly explore this mansion and take stock of what we have.

Uh huh. Luke gave a small, mental sigh. At least he’d be mostly outside.

We can have our meals together, catch up and discuss the garden plans. Elspeth nodded enthusiastically. Any problems we can discuss straight away. That’ll save time.

Oh boy. Luke rubbed his brow, caught Mikki’s amused expression and slid his hand into his hair to give it a quick rub. Yes, it will.

"Excellent. You’ll have as much free reign here as though