Barefoot Bay: The Billionaire's Convenient Secret (Kindle Worlds Novella) (8 page)

“I have your groceries, Mrs. Yoder,” he announced, then waited while a tiny, white-haired woman unlatched the screened door.

“Why, Josh. You’re a sight for these tired, old eyes.” Reversing her steps, Mrs. Yoder led the way through a living room where glass figurines crowded every imaginable surface. “I heard you were in town. Charity’s still on her cruise, I guess.”

“Yes, ma’am. She’ll be back Sunday. Until then, I’m filling in for her.” Delivering food and household products to the island’s shut-ins was one of several tasks his aunt had insisted he complete himself. “Where would you like these?”

“On the kitchen counter, if you don’t mind.” Mrs. Yoder frowned. “I’m sorry things didn’t work out between you and that young woman you were seeing. Betty—no, Bessy.”

As Josh slowed his pace to match his elderly host’s, he wondered how a woman who rarely left her house knew about his love life. He didn’t have to wait long for an answer.

“Your aunt Charity said she was a piece o’ work. You just wait.” Mrs. Yoder stopped rambling long enough to nod firmly. “Someone right’ll come along soon.”

Wondering if she already had, he headed for the narrow shotgun kitchen off the living room. There, he carefully avoided the collection of miniature bottles that lined the backsplash while he eased the bags onto an otherwise pristine counter. “Let me put these things away for you,” he suggested. He didn’t wait for a response, but began pulling out cans of soup and tuna. “In the pantry, right?”

“Oh, you needn’t bother.” Mrs. Yoder waved a hand toward the closet at the far end of the kitchen. Slowly, she lowered herself into a kitchen chair. “Hear anything from your aunt? Has she figured out it was you who paid for the trip?”

Josh shot a stunned look over his shoulder. “How did you know?”

“Oh, Josh.” Mrs. Yoder slapped her knee. “I wish you could see your face. That expression—it’s priceless.” Mirth doubled the senior citizen’s wrinkles. “How did I know? I’ll never tell.”

“I should have known better than to think I could pull one over on you, Mrs. Yoder.

He turned, propping one hip against the counter to face her. “I’d sure appreciate it if you kept this between you and me, though. It’d make things…awkward…if Aunt Charity ever learned the truth.”

With a palsied movement, Mrs. Yoder zipped her lips. “Don’t worry. How you spend your money is your business. Your secret’s safe with me.”

That settled, Josh pulled open a bifold door and whistled. The neatly arranged canned goods and boxed staples already on the shelves would feed a small army. As he added to her supply, he mulled the possibility that the spry octogenarian who apparently kept her gnarled fingers on Mimosa Key’s pulse might have just the information he needed.

“We had the strangest thing happen the other day,” he began. “A customer came into the store claiming Charity had put the Super Min on the market. You haven’t heard anything about that, have you?” His pulse hammered in his ears as he waited for an answer.

“Aw, pshhh. You ought not believe everything you hear, Josh. Your aunt Charity would no more sell that store than she’d take up rock climbing.”

He chortled at the idea of his frizzy-haired aunt in mountaineering attire. “That’s what I thought.” The hard knot in his stomach loosened the tiniest bit. It didn’t matter who he asked, no one had heard one word of gossip about the sale of the Super Min. And in Mimosa Key, nothing of import happened without sending shock waves down the grapevine. He stacked the last of the canned goods, placed a quart of milk on the top shelf in the refrigerator and slipped a loaf of fresh bread into an empty bin near Mrs. Yoder’s toaster. When he turned, the life-long resident of Mimosa Key was on her feet, ready to escort him to the door.

“Who’s that young woman?” Her rheumy eyes tightening, Mrs. Yoder squinted through the screened door. “I don’t believe I know her.”

“Her name’s Charlotte Oak. She’s from Orlando.” Unwilling to feed Mrs. Yoder’s appetite for gossip, he refused to say more.

“Is she your new girlfriend, young man?” Brightening like someone who had a secret she was bursting to share, Mrs. Yoder swung toward him. “Does your aunt know about her?”

“Now, Mrs. Yoder, don’t you go twisting your knickers.” Smiling, he patted an age-spotted arm. “I only met her yesterday. It’s too early to tell.”

“I don’t know,” came a mumbled reply as Charlie emerged from the car. “She looks like a keeper to me.”

“Only time will tell.” And it was far too soon for deep feelings to develop between him and Charlie, wasn’t it? He lifted two fingers to his forehead, saluting Mrs. Yoder on his way to the willowy blonde who stood with her head tilted to catch the sun’s rays.

He had to admit, part of him urged throwing caution to the wind and letting himself fall in love. And who better to fall in love with than Charlie? With her dreamy green eyes, sweet curves and kissable lips, it was pointless to deny how fast she got his motor running. But it was her bright intelligence and drive that really set her apart from the supermodels and celebrities he normally squired about town. He couldn’t imagine the young socialites from Atlanta’s in-crowd being content to run errands or deliver groceries with him. Yet, Charlie seemed as happy tackling those tasks as she’d been last night at Junonia. For the first time in a long time, he thought he’d found a girl who honestly liked him, just him. And not the size of his investment portfolio.

But he wasn’t sure where their relationship was headed, if it was headed anywhere. For one thing, he hadn’t exactly been forthcoming about his true identity. Plus, there was still the little matter of her determination to buy the Super Min. Until they resolved those issues, it wouldn’t matter how hard or fast he fell for Charlie.

* * *

“What do you think?”

Charlie caught the proprietary gleam in Josh’s dark eyes before she scanned the grass-covered fields that stretched to the highest spot on Mimosa Key. It seemed to her that, after striking out at the other two properties, Josh had hit one out of the park. If not literally, then close enough. In the distance, the setting sun glinted off the Barefoot Bay Bucks stadium.

“I think if grapes can grow on Mimosa Key, this would be the spot,” she answered honestly. “The important thing is, do you like it?”

What she liked was the way his arm anchored her to his waist as if he’d never let go. She threaded her fingers through Josh’s. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d enjoyed a man’s company as much as she enjoyed his. Laughing and talking, they’d driven from one end of the island to the other in their search for the right piece of property. From time to time, he’d stopped to make a delivery before they had lunch at a picnic table overlooking the bay. There, they’d lingered, watching the boats bob in the harbor while she’d entertained him by dredging up stories of her childhood. She’d been amazed, later, to see that hours had flown by while she told Josh things she’d never told another soul about her past.

And, all the while, he hadn’t once resorted to the impress-the-girl tricks others had used to get a second date or a third. Rather than renting a limo for the day, he’d shown up in a car so ancient duct tape held the worn seats together. She had a hunch the wine they’d sipped at lunch had come straight off the shelf at the Super Min. She’d had a few qualms over the promised surprise, but that, too, had turned out better than okay. Now, waiting for his answer, she licked her lips, remembering the yummy goodness of the best boiled peanuts she’d ever tasted.

“I’d say it looks just about perfect to me.”

The deep rumble in Josh’s voice caught her attention, and she glanced up, surprised to find he’d lost interest in the acreage and was staring down at her instead. She pushed lightly on his chest. “The land, Josh. Do you like the land?”

His grin sheepish, he followed the gently slopping rise. “There’s water.” He pointed to a gurgling stream.

“The bluff will protect the vines from salt spray,” she offered. “It’ll also provide some shelter from the high winds when it storms.” An important detail, considering the hurricane season that stretched from midsummer through fall.

“There’s good access, too.” Josh pointed to the road that led from Casa Blanca to the baseball stadium. “In case I decide to sell a few grapes.”

Picturing him behind the counter of a roadside stand, surrounded by baskets filled with the fruit he’d raised and handpicked, she smiled. “I really think you could make this work.”

“I was hoping you’d say that.” He pulled her closer. Leaning down, he angled for a kiss.

The first brush of his lips across hers fanned the flames of the fire she’d carefully banked when he’d left her last night. His steady grip tightened around her waist. A move she was ever-so-grateful for when his touch sent so much heat scorching through her midsection that she melted against him.

She leaned into the hand he slid along her jaw, and he cupped her face in his palm, drawing her closer until there was nothing between them except his earthy, woodsy scent. The salty taste of the peanuts they’d shared lingered on his lips. When he pressed them fully against hers, she opened to him. Gently, he ran his tongue over her bottom lip, his touch eliciting a soft moan. It was all the permission he needed to claim her fully.

Waves of exquisite pleasure rolled through her center while their tongues parried and danced. She sent her hands skimming up from his waist until they found the smooth planes of his back. She ran her fingers over soft fabric, kneading and clenching, wishing she dared slip them beneath his shirt. Trembling with the need to touch and be touched, she pressed against him.

She sucked in a sharp breath when he edged his hand from her waist to explore the curve of one breast. His touch drove her mad with longing, and her breasts grew tight at the low groan that rose from his chest. Knowing that soon only kissing wouldn’t be enough, she withdrew slightly. Trailing her fingertips over the rough sandpaper of his cheek, she traced the outline of his jaw. “Josh,” she whispered against his perfect lips. “I think—”

“Yeah.” He sighed hugely. His hand settled around her waist. She nestled against him, listening to the beat of their hearts while the last of the sun’s rays dipped below the hill.

Wishing she could hold on to the moment forever, she tipped her face to his. “Stay with me tonight?” she whispered.

Her heart sank when Josh winced. “You don’t know how much I want to do exactly that,” he murmured, resting his chin on the top of her head. “But I need to collect some soil samples before it gets too dark to see. And then I need to get back to the store. I’m on duty tonight.”

Squaring her shoulders, she brushed aside her disappointment. She wouldn’t be
that
woman—the clingy whiner, the demanding complainer. “Another time, then,” she said brightly.

“How ’bout tomorrow? I’m off all day.” He leaned down to nuzzle her neck. “All night, too,” he added. “We’ll hit the beach, catch some sun. And then…”

His breath against her sensitive skin sent chill bumps racing across her body. The finger he traced along her spine sent shivers of pleasure rippling through her.

“Yeah,” she breathed. “I’d like that.”

At the door to her villa, she settled for another of Josh’s amazing kisses—or three—before he turned and walked away, his hands in his pockets. Closing the door after his tuneless whistle faded into the distance, she leaned against it. She traced her lips where the touch and taste of Josh still lingered, and sighed.

She was a goner. The sooner she admitted it, the better off she’d be. She’d enjoyed spending the day with Josh far more than she had a right to do, and she wasn’t quite sure she understood why. It wasn’t like they’d done anything special. They hadn’t soaked up the rays at the beach or played in the gulf’s gentle surf. Hadn’t gone for a ride in an air balloon despite the two-for-one coupon she’d picked up in the lobby. As much as the idea of a couple’s massage turned her on, neither she nor Josh had expressed any interest in spending the day at the Casa Blanca Spa.

Still, she wouldn’t trade a moment of the time they’d spent together. Not for tickets to a Broadway play. Not for dinner and dancing in a swanky club. Not unless it was with the handsome, dark-haired man whose life was headed in a different direction from hers.

Yeah, about that…

Her cell phone chimed. Hoping against hope that Josh had changed his mind and was headed back to Casa Blanca, Charlie glanced at the screen. She straightened at David’s image. There was nothing quite like an unexpected call from the boss to put an end to romantic fantasies. She drew in a bracing breath and hit the accept button.

“Charlie, how’s it going in Mimosa Key? Have you gotten Charity Grambling’s signature yet?”

“No, but I’m having dinner with her Sunday evening. Her nephew, Josh, set it up.” Frowning, she pulled the band from her ponytail. She’d long admired David’s ability to remember every detail of a deal and didn’t believe for a second that he’d forgotten Charity wasn’t unavailable. So why had he called?

“I guess that’ll work, but I was expecting better from you.”

Sweat slicked her palm, making it difficult to hold on to the phone. How exactly was she to blame for a client who’d chosen family over business?

“I’m sorry about the delay,” she offered. “But it really is beyond my control. Charity’s on a cruise ship in the middle of the Caribbean. She doesn’t exactly have cell phone service.”