Unlikely Love: A Hot, Romantic Suspense Series: Book 1 (The Carlisle Sisters) (6 page)

Tracy chuckled but felt guilty for doing so.  But she knew Beth was right.

“Stephon didn’t leave her much to live on.  He hid his money and hired a slick attorney to cheat her out of what she would have had coming,” Tracy said.

“So why can’t she come down to earth and help us run this resort?  She needs this place whether she wants to admit it or not,” Beth exclaimed.

“Give her some time, Beth.  She will come around; she has no other choice,” Tracy said.

“Give her time?   The more time I spend with her the more I want to ring her neck,” Beth complained.

“Leave her neck in one piece.  I’m the only invalid around here,” Tracy grinned.

Beth looked away from Tracy.  Tracy could see that something else was bothering her.

“What is it, Beth?  What’s on your mind?”  Tracy asked softly.

Beth looked at her.

“I think it would be easier for me to leave Jen intact if I moved out,” Beth began.

“Beth!  We talked—

“I know I said I would try to work on the sisterhood—and I still will; but I just can’t stay here anymore,” Beth said urgently.  “I think it would be best for all concerned, especially for Jen and I, if I moved out.”

“But where would you go, Beth?”  Tracy asked concerned.

“Well, Grey has offered his cabin to me.  He purchased Buddy Long’s place and renovated it,” Beth explained.

“But isn’t he living in it?  Isn’t that where you went to tell him that we were staying at the resort?”

“No.  I went to his apartment in Houston; that’s his actual home,” Beth answered.

“It’s still very generous of him to offer his cabin to you.  He obviously likes you,” Tracy smiled.

“You’re fantasizing, Trace,” Beth dismissed her comment.

“I don’t think so.  I noticed how he never left your side at the hospital.  And he’s even come to check on me.  But I think he used it as a chance to see you,” Tracy deduced.

“Don’t be getting any ideas, Trace.  He came to see how
you
were doing; nothing else,” Beth protested.

“I don’t agree but I’ll leave it alone,” Tracy smiled.  She set her tray aside on the bed and grasped Beth’s hands.  “If you feel that it would be for the best that you move out, then do so.  I would miss you but I understand your feelings.  The process of reconciling with Jen is hard for you.  I know.  But you will work through it.  The same way I hope you can work through your differences with me.  I’m so sorry that I left you, Beth.  I left you all alone and you were just a kid.  Please forgive me.  I am
so sorry
!”

Tears streamed down Tracy’s face.  Beth leaned forward to hug her.  It seemed such a natural thing to do.  She held Tracy tightly and realized that she had already forgiven her.  She wasn’t sure when it had happened but it had.  She loved Tracy so very much.

“I love you, Beth,” Tracy murmured.

“I love you too, Trace.  And I
have
forgiven you.  I think I forgave you the minute I saw you again,” Beth returned.  Beth pulled back and wiped tears from her cheeks.  “You’ve got me weeping like a willow tree.”

Tracy laughed.

“I hope you can find the same forgiveness in your heart for Jen.  She loves you too, Beth.  She’s just having a hard time showing it right now,” Tracy said.

“Let’s not push it,” Beth smiled wanly.

“Well, I had to try,” Tracy countered.

Beth stood.

“I’d better go.  I’ve got work to do,” Beth said.

“Go see Grey and tell him you’ll take his cabin,” Tracy suggested.

“I will.  See you later.  And remember,
stay in bed
,” Beth admonished.

Tracy frowned.

“Alright!  Alright!  I’ll stay,” Tracy sighed heavily.

Beth chuckled then left the room.  She suddenly had pep in her step and a smile on her face.  She couldn’t wait to tell Grey that she would take the cabin.

Chapter 4

J
en sat in the office and brooded.  She hadn’t heard from Jarod since they had brought Tracy home from the infirmary together.  He’d said that he would call but two days had gone by and she hadn’t heard a peep from him.  Had he decided that he didn’t want to get involved after all?  Jen sat back in her chair in a huff.

“Jennifer, would you look at this spread sheet?  I can’t get the numbers to add up,” Cissy said.

Cissy was an intern from Tulane University’s business school, working at The Sea View to fulfill her extra credit requirement.  Jennifer studied the young girl.  She was a cute, fresh-faced blonde with a slender figure and her whole life ahead of her.  The girl’s obvious optimism made Jen wish that she could turn back the clock and start over.

Jen sighed and cleared a spot on her desk.  Cissy moved to set her laptop on the table in front Jen.  Jen looked at the figures and immediately spotted the discrepancy.

“Here,” Jen pointed to a column of figures.  “The restaurant expense report does not reflect the alcohol expenditure.  And last week’s restaurant gross seems low.  That place was packed last week.”

“It was.  I tried to get a reservation for two and nothing was available the entire week,” Cissy said.  “The tally should be much higher.”

“Something is off.  Leave this with me and I will work on it,” Jen said.

“Thanks, Jennifer,” Cissy smiled.

“Isn’t it time for you to get to school?  I wouldn’t want you to be late for class,” Jen said kindly.

Cissy looked at her watch.

“My gosh!  You’re right.  I’ve got to go,” Cissy exclaimed.  She grabbed her purse from her desk and ran to the door.  “See you Wednesday!”

“Bye, Cissy.  See you then,” Jen smiled.

Cissy ran out of the door and Jen turned her attention back to the spreadsheet.  Jennifer had always been good with numbers.  Back in high school her friends had teased her and called her the human calculator.  But she hadn’t minded.  She’d liked numbers and excelled in all of her math classes.  Maybe she could find her niche in finance at The Sea View.

She was immersed in her work when someone entered the cabin.  She didn’t look up, assuming it was one of the office staff.

“Hello, Jen.”

Jennifer recognized the voice immediately.  She looked up at Jarod.

“Jarod.  Are you sure you’re in the right place?  Surely you must be lost,” she said peevishly, irked that he hadn’t contacted her sooner.

“I said I would call.  Here I am in person,” Jarod replied.

“Two days later; with not a peep from you any sooner,” Jen retorted.  “Am I supposed to twiddle my thumbs and pray to hear from you?”

“And no man should make Jennifer Carlisle wait even one single day,” he said sarcastically.  “Listen, I’m not one of your society beaus who’s going to suck up to you.  I have a life, a career and a lot more self-respect.”

He spoke calmly without the slightest agitation.  Jen was taken aback by his comment.  His description of the men she received attention from was very accurate.  And she was accustomed to receiving the kind of male devotion that they provided.

Jarod was letting her know that he would not be playing into that game.  And it made her realize that she didn’t want that kind of false gallantry anymore.  She’d been living in a fake world full of insincerity for way too long.

Here was a man who was genuine, honest and authentic.  A man who would be worth the wait for however long she needed to; and she didn’t want to lose him before she ever had him.

“I’m sorry.  I shouldn’t have laid into you that way.  You have much more important things to do than dance attendance on me,” she apologized earnestly.

He moved to the desk and sat on the corner of it.  He stared intently at her then smiled.  Jennifer could see the twinkles in his warm brown eyes.

“If I did not want to see you I would not be here.  And I hope to see you a lot more often,” he said softly.

Jennifer smiled brightly.

“I would like to see you as well.  What brings you by in the middle of the day?”  she asked.

“I hoped to take you out to lunch.  There’s a café nearby that serves the best crab salad,” he said.  “Will you come with me?”

“I would love to.  I need a break from this accounting mess, anyway,” she sighed.

“What are you working on?”  he said with interest.

“The restaurant expense report.  There are obvious discrepancies and I don’t know why,” she said with concern.  “I’ll have to speak with the restaurant manager.”

“It looks like you’ve found a place for yourself here,” Jarod remarked.

“Maybe so.  I like working with numbers and I understand finance.  Surprising, isn’t it?”  she asked.

“No.  Why would I be surprised?”

“I’m not the sister you would expect to have an accounting background.  I don’t exactly look the type,” she responded.

He grasped her hands and pulled her between his legs.

“I find that you are very much
my
type,” he smiled.

Jarod bent his head and caught her lips.  She opened her mouth to him and he wasted no time accepting the invitation.  His tongue plunged past her lips and explored her mouth slowly.  His arms tightened around her slim waist and Jen leaned into him.

He kissed her for a long time and his arousal grew.  Jarod felt the stirrings of desire wash over him as he ran his tongue gently along her tender neck.  He’d known that he wanted her the day he set eyes on her.

True, she wasn’t his usual type of woman.  At first she had appeared to be superficial and a bit indolent.  But first impressions did not always ring true.  And right now all he saw was a woman who was lost and needed direction.  He could help her with that if she was open to it.  He hoped she was because his cock was screaming to get into her.  She pulled back.

“If we keep this up, we won’t make it to that café,” she said breathlessly.

“Would that be such a bad thing?”  he murmured.

Jennifer was not shy when it came to sex.  She literally craved it all the time.  When she and Stephon had broken up she’d had several discreet affairs.  And Jarod had made his need clear when he pulled her between his legs.  She’d felt his engorged penis and knew he wanted her; and she wanted him just as much.  He was a good kisser and she could only imagine what else he was good at.

“No, it would not,” she whispered.

He stood.

“Let’s go,” he murmured.

Jennifer grabbed her purse from the desk and they hurried from the office.

*****

Beth walked along the path that led to Grey’s cabin.  She had called him earlier but he hadn’t been able to talk right then.  So he’d asked her to meet him at the cabin that evening.

She arrived at the clearing and the cabin door opened.  Grey stood in the door, masculine and handsome.  He smiled as he crossed the porch and leaned against the post with his arms crossed.  She couldn’t help but to return his smile.

“Hi,” she said as she stepped onto the porch.

“Hi, yourself.  Thanks for meeting me here,” he said amicably.

“Not a problem.  I was anxious to see the cabin again,” she said.

“Really?  Let’s go in then,” he responded.

He extended his arm to invite her into the cabin.  She practically skipped into the dwelling in her happy state.  He noticed her demeanor.

“What’s got you in such a good mood?”  he asked.

“Does your offer of letting me rent the cabin still stand?”  she asked.

“Absolutely.”

“Then I accept.  I want it, as soon as possible,” she said.

“You can move in whenever you want,”  he smiled.

“How much rent do you want for it?”  she asked.

“Nothing.”

“Nothing?  You can’t let me live here for
nothing!
”  she exclaimed.

“Why not?  It’s my cabin and I can let anyone I want stay here.  And rent free, if I please,” he said playfully.

“But I should be paying you
something
.  It’s not right that I live here for free,” Beth reasoned.

“You’re not going to let this go, are you?”  he sighed.

“No.  I will not move in if you don’t accept payment from me,” she threatened.

“Alright!  Fine!  You are the most stubborn woman I have ever met,” he muttered.

“How much?”

“One hundred dollars,” he grunted.

“Be serious, Grey,” she said.

“I am serious and I won’t argue with you.  One hundred dollars and that’s final,” he said flatly.

Beth looked at his implacable face and knew he would not change his mind.

“Alright.  One hundred dollars.  Far too little for a place like this.  Thank you, Grey,” she said happily.

She ran to him and threw her arms around his neck.  His hands gripped her trim waist before hugging her tightly.  His nose was pressed into her reddish-gold hair and he could smell jasmine.  Just like that first night. 

He breathed deeply.  He’d associated the scent with her before and this was why. She was the jasmine flower walking on two feet.

“You’re welcome, Beth,” he returned.

She pulled back and twirled about.

“I can’t wait to move in.  This place is perfect for me.  I’m surprised you don’t live here yourself.  Of course, if you did that would mean that I couldn’t live here!”  she said.

“I’ve thought about it.  Eventually I would have gotten around to living here.  Maybe I can come visit,” he suggested.

“Of course you can.  Any time you like,” she replied coyly.

“Then I will,” he said softly.

Beth suddenly felt breathless.  She realized that she was attracted to Grey and wanted to be with him but she also knew that she never could.  It was too complicated.  It was such an awkward situation.  One she wasn’t sure how to handle.

“Let’s sit down.  I want to talk to you,” he said.

He indicated the royal blue sofa and she sat.  He joined her.

“What is it?”  she asked seriously.

“The fire at the Ferris Wheel control shack was arson.  It was set deliberately,” he said soberly.

“But why?  The people on that ride could have been hurt, possible killed, if the fire had spread to the Wheel,” she exclaimed.

“I don’t have the answers yet.  But it’s obvious that someone wants to sabotage the resort,” Grey said.