Absolute Love: A Hot, Romantic Suspense Series, Book 3 (The Carlisle Sisters)
Read Absolute Love: A Hot, Romantic Suspense Series, Book 3 (The Carlisle Sisters) Online
Authors: Kay Brody
THE CARLISLE SISTERS: BOOK 3
Absolute Love
By Kay Brody
This is entirely a work of fiction. All people, places and events contained have been completely fabricated by the author. Any similarities to real people, places, or events are completely coincidental.
Absolute Love Copyright © 2015 Kay Brody
All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced in any manner or used in any way without advanced written permission by the author.
Chapter 1
Jennifer walked into the resort's main office to find Tracy and Blaze locked in each other's arms, oblivious to anyone having entered the room.
She was so angry and jealous that their bliss was offensive to her.
Seeing them so happy together actually made her sick to her stomach.
Her foiled attempts to take Blaze from Tracy were still eating at her from the inside out.
Her overinflated ego was not used to such rejection.
Jennifer considered her acumen of securing any man she wanted as far superior to that of her sisters.
For a man to choose either of them over her was insane.
She was the beautiful one.
The smart one.
The sexy, alluring one.
How could any man look at her Bethany or Tracy when
she
was in the room?
The thought was ludicrous.
Yet here she was watching Tracy and Blaze practically dry-humping in the front office.
She scowled at them as she threw her purse onto the sofa.
"Get a room," she sneered.
Tracy and Blaze pulled apart and looked at her sheepishly.
"Jen!
We didn't hear you come in," Tracy panted, straightening her blouse.
"Obviously," Jennifer snapped, bile rising in her throat as she plopped into an armchair.
"Do you intend to do
any
work today?
Or will you be lip-locked for hours on end?"
That comment pissed Tracy off.
Was Jen, who never lifted a finger to do any work of any kind, actually scolding
her
for slacking off?
It was preposterous.
Tracy stiffened.
Blaze saw the tension consume her body and glided his hand down her back.
Jennifer was antagonizing because she was envious of Tracy.
And Tracy was ready to pounce because she'd tolerated about as much of Jennifer as she was going to.
It was quickly becoming a volatile situation that he needed to stifle.
"We're about to go over to the construction site to check on the progress of the new building.
Would you like to accompany us, Jennifer?"
Blaze asked pleasantly.
"Or maybe we'll just continue kissing for the rest of the day," Tracy said, overriding Blaze's attempts at brokering peace.
"You shouldn't have a problem with that since you consider work to be a menial chore; something far below your level."
"So much for reconciliation.
This is going downhill fast," Blaze thought grimly.
Jennifer jumped out of her chair and ran toward Tracy.
"How
dare
you accuse me of being lazy!"
Jennifer shouted.
Tracy shrugged casually, well aware that feigning indifference would bother Jennifer far more than shouting back at her.
"You
are
lazy.
Ask anyone around here.
You're a lazy, indolent snob who thinks earning a living is beneath her," Tracy said.
"You seem to have forgotten that you don't have a rich husband to take care of you anymore."
Jennifer's face was red with rage.
She moved forward and raised her hand to slap Tracy.
Blaze quickly moved to catch Jen's wrist.
"Not going to happen, Jen," he said quietly.
"Let go of me!"
Jennifer screeched.
"As soon as your intention of hitting someone has left the building," Blaze said sharply.
Jennifer stared at Blaze with loathing for several moments.
"Fine!"
she snarled.
Blaze felt the tension seep from Jennifer's arm.
Just as he released her wrist, Grey and Beth entered the office.
"What's going on here?"
Beth asked anxiously.
"Great!
Two more nauseating lovebirds," Jen muttered scornfully, ignoring Beth's question.
"Jennifer?
Tracy?"
Grey inquired.
No one answered.
"
Well
?"
Beth insisted.
"Jen was about to slap me.
Blaze stopped her," Tracy finally explained.
"And you're lucky he did!"
Jennifer hissed.
"Jen!
Why?"
Beth asked.
"Because she's a bitch!"
Jennifer explained.
"What else is new?"
"I'm a bitch for kissing my boyfriend?"
Tracy asked incredulously.
"That
is
what set you off, isn't it?
Your jealousy?"
Jennifer's hand itched to smack the smug look off of Tracy's face.
"No," Jennifer clarified.
"That just disgusted me."
"Then why?"
Beth asked.
"Why did you try to hit her?"
"Why should I try to explain anything to you people?
No one here is on my side.
You've already made up your minds that this is entirely my fault.
So why should I even bother?"
Jennifer said dramatically.
Tracy rolled her eyes at her older sister's theatrics.
Leave it to Jen to go over the top to avoid being accountable.
"No one is against you, Jennifer," Grey said neutrally.
"But you believe Tracy," Jennifer retorted.
"Why wouldn't you?
She's the golden child who can do no wrong.
Everyone just
loves
Tracy."
Tracy frowned.
"What are you talking about?"
Tracy asked in confusion.
"Oh, why don't you go back to New York or France to be with your adoring fans and spare the rest of us ordinary mortals the necessity of having to look at your face," Jennifer snapped.
"I've worked
hard
for my success, Jen.
It's wasn't handed to me on a silver platter, you know," Tracy said calmly.
"Oh, no?
A young, thirty-one year old painter is invited to show at the Art de Magnifigance Exhibit in Saint-Tropez and you don't call that a
silver platter
?"
Jen scoffed.
"It takes artists a lifetime to be invited to show at such a distinguished exhibit.
But you get an invite after a few years of painting?
What would
you
call such good fortune?"
"I've been painting a hell of a lot longer than '
a few
' years and you know it!
I picked up a paint brush when I was four years old and I've been painting ever since," Tracy countered, trying to keep her cool.
"As for showing at the Annonciade Museum, sure, there was some luck involved.
But it also took a lot of hard work to get that invite!"
"Well, aren't you the auspicious one.
I should be so lucky," Jen sneered.
"Maybe you could be if you changed your attitude," Beth muttered softly.
Jennifer turned on Beth.
"How dare you!
You self-righteous, pious, sanctimonious bitch!"
Jennifer screeched.
"You think you've got it going on, don't you, Beth?
You have your precious resort.
The man.
The cooking career.
You've got it
all
so you think you can turn your nose up to those less fortunate.
Well, you may be flying high now but eventually you will come crashing down.
Everything you have will burn to ashes; and I can't
wait
to see it!"
Beth hadn't meant for Jen to hear her comment.
She knew it was a bit snarly but Jen had a knack for bringing out the worst in people, especially those who knew her best.
"I'm sorry, Jen.
But your attitude has been so abrasive lately.
It would make a world of difference to everyone if you could just tone it down a little," Beth explained.
"Tone
what
down?"
Jennifer asked sharply.
"Your tongue!"
Tracy blurted.
"It's wicked.
And nobody deserves to be on the receiving end of it!"
Beth closed her eyes and groaned.
They would never get anywhere with Jen if they came at her like that.
Blaze stood behind Tracy and put his hands on her shoulders.
"I will say whatever--"
"Perhaps we should take a break from this conversation," Blaze said, effectively cutting off Jennifer's irate response.
"Tracy, let's go check out the new building like we had planned."
Tracy looked up at Blaze.
He could see the anger in her livid, hazel eyes.
He bent his head and tenderly kissed her forehead, aware that it would anger Jennifer but giving Tracy's feelings priority.
He felt the tension seep from her shoulders as she exhaled.
"Alright," Tracy said quietly.
"Beth, I'll see you later."
Without acknowledging Jennifer, Tracy allowed Blaze to lead her out of the office.
Similarly, Grey put his arm around Beth's waist and they walked into his office and closed the door.
Jennifer just stood there silently for a moment, acutely aware of how alone she felt.
Then she pushed those emotions down deep and stormed out of the office.
Jennifer considered her situation as she walked along the pier.
For the first time she didn't have a man in her life.
She was stuck living in a place where she didn't want to be.
And, to say the least, she wasn't getting along with her sisters.
She couldn't stand seeing the two of them so lovey-dovey with their men when she had no one.
It was so unfair and intolerable.
And as she stood next to the wood railing looking out at the crystal blue water, she realized that she had reached her limit.
She wanted out.
Out of The Sea View, out of Texas, out of life as she knew it.
To go somewhere tropical and exotic that would rejuvenate her and restore her spirit.
Somewhere far away from everything that was making her miserable.
And maybe, just maybe, she'd even find a special man there who could understand and appreciate her.
*****
Jennifer's bare feet pushed into the warm, white sand as she looked out at the breathtaking scene before her.
She drew in the salty, tangy scent of the sea and longed to feel its gentle waves cascading over her body.
Placing a hand on her floppy-brimmed straw hat to keep it from blowing off in the breeze, she picked up her multi-colored beach bag and started running toward the welcoming shore.