Deep Waters (33 page)

“We weren't ready to run the company until about a year ago,” Meredith said simply. “We needed experience. You bought us the time to finish college and learn our jobs. But looking back, do you know what I appreciate the most?”

“About what?”

“You.”

Charity was startled. “Me?”

“Yes, you.” Meredith smiled. “You never once made Davis or me feel that we had a duty or an obligation to take over the reins of Truitt. You gave us the freedom to choose. We both realize now that you felt you never had that choice.”

Charity blushed, embarrassed by the admiration she saw in her stepsister's eyes. “Forget it. It's not like I sacrificed my whole life or anything. I just turned thirty, remember? Lots of time left.”

“I know.” Meredith's eyes narrowed. “Are you really happy living in that little burg, though?”

“Yes.”

“Charity, it's been a year. You've had a chance to get yourself back together. Don't you miss good restaurants? The theater? Shopping? And that bookstore of yours is so small. What sort of challenge could it be after Truitt? How can you stand it? Aren't you bored to tears?”

“It's amazing how much can happen in a little place like Whispering Waters Cove. And I never did like the corporate world. I was born for small business. As I told Elias, it's a calling.”

Meredith's gaze sharpened. “Elias?”

“Elias Winters.”

“Of Far Seas, Incorporated?”

“Yes.”

Meredith frowned. “Davis mentioned that Winters had a deal going with the pier.”

“Not really. He runs one of the shops on it, but other than that, there's nothing special happening.”

“Davis implied that Far Seas had something cooking up there in the cove.”

Charity smiled. “How did you know that Elias likes to cook?”

“I'm serious.”

“It may interest you to know that Elias Winters and Far Seas have recently gone through a few changes, too. Elias has decided to settle in Whispering Waters Cove.”

“Charity, let's get real here. You may have opted to leave the corporate world, but it's unlikely that Winters has done the same thing. He's brokered some very big deals.”

“Yes, I know. But he's not going to sell Crazy Otis Landing to any of his clients.”

Meredith leaned forward. “Davis tells me that he's a little, uh, different.”

“He is.”

“It sounds as if you and Winters have become well acquainted.”

“Actually, we're having a torrid affair.”

Meredith stared at her. “Is that supposed to be a joke?”

“Nope.”

“An affair with Winters? You can't be serious.”

“Why not?”

“Because he's Elias Winters.” Meredith was clearly both exasperated and appalled. “Far Seas, Incorporated. If he's started an affair with you, it can only be because he's planning to use you somehow in whatever plans he's got for a deal in Whispering Waters Cove.”

“Thanks a lot.” Charity grimaced. “Why is it everyone assumes that Elias is using me as a pawn in some nefarious scheme?”

“Because everyone who knows anything about Winters knows what he's like. Davis did some investigating when you first mentioned him. He says the guy is sort of—”

“Strange? I know.”

“How about some specifics?” Meredith broke off abruptly as a large shadow fell over the table. “Oh, hello, Brett.”

“Thought I'd join you for coffee.” Brett slid onto the banquette beside Meredith. He gave Charity a rueful smile. “To be honest, the suspense was killing me. Everything okay here?”

“Just fine,” Charity said. “We're almost finished.”

“Meredith wasn't sure how to tell you about us. I advised her to just lay it out, but she was concerned that you might be hurt.”

Charity smiled. “I'm glad for both of you. You're a perfect couple.”

Brett grinned. “I agree.”

Meredith frowned. “Charity tells me that her relationship with Elias Winters has become personal.”

Brett whistled silently and leaned back in his seat. “Winters, huh? I don't know a whole lot about him. Don't think anyone does. But that alone is a good reason to be careful. He swims in some very deep waters, Charity.”

“Funny you should put it that way.” Charity smiled. “But for the record, he's changed career paths recently. He's become a small business proprietor.”

Brett made a face. “Like hell.”

“It's all right, I know what I'm doing,” Charity said quietly.

Brett lifted a hand. “I get the point. I'll back off. But speaking as a future member of the family, be careful, okay?”

“Don't worry.”

Meredith looked far from reassured. “I don't like this, Charity.”

Brett's gaze went to the front door of the dining room. “Speak of the devil.”

Charity turned halfway around in her seat and saw
Elias walking toward them. In his faded jeans and black pullover, he should have looked completely out of place in a room full of suits. Instead he subtly dominated the setting. Every eye in the place went to him and then slid away.

Elias seemed oblivious of the discreet, assessing glances. He held Charity's gaze as he came toward her. A pang of disappointment went through her when she saw his shuttered, enigmatic expression. She knew at once that things had not gone well in the interview with Garrick Keyworth. She wondered if she had been wrong to urge him to pay the visit to his old nemesis.

“Is that Winters?” Meredith asked in a low voice.

“Yes.” Brett slowly, politely got to his feet as Elias approached. “Someone pointed him out to me once at a business luncheon.”

“He looks as if he's been in a fight,” Meredith said, in a low, shocked voice.

“Usually he wins,” Charity assured her.

“Winters.” Brett stuck out his hand when Elias arrived at the table. “Brett Loftus.”

Elias shook hands briefly.

Charity summoned up a bright smile. “Elias, I'd like you to meet my sister, Meredith.”

“How do you do,” Meredith said very coolly.

Elias took her elegantly manicured hand. “Your secretary told me where to find you and Charity.”

“We were just finishing lunch,” Charity said quickly. “Do you want something to eat?”

Elias looked at her. “I went to the Pike Place Market before I came looking for you. Had something to eat there. I also did some shopping.”

“I hope you stocked up on soba noodles and balsamic vinegar.”

“Among other things.” Elias remained on his feet.

“Join us for coffee?' Brett asked blandly.

“No, thanks.”

No question about it, Elias wanted to leave, Charity thought. “We'd better be on our way.” She grabbed her purse and got to her feet. “Long drive ahead, you know. Good-bye, Meredith. Brett. And congratulations.”

“Drive carefully,” Brett said casually.

“Good-bye, Charity.” Meredith smiled, but her eyes rested thoughtfully on Elias. “Maybe Brett and I will get a chance to drive up to Whispering Waters Cove in a couple of weeks.”

“That would be wonderful.” Charity leaned down to give her a quick hug. Then she straightened and looked at Elias. “I'm ready.”

He took her arm and led her away from the table.

Charity was almost through the French doors at the far end of the dining room when she caught the low-voiced comments from a nearby table.

“That's Winters, all right. Wonder what he's up to these days.”

“Heard he had a major deal going down somewhere up north.”

“Must be something involving Charity Truitt.”

“Can't imagine what it would be. She flamed out a year ago. Stressed to the max, they said. Walked away from everything.”

Charity knew Elias had overheard the remarks, but he said nothing. She waited until they were alone in the elevator.

“You see?” she murmured. “Big city or little town. The gossip factor remains the same.”

“Yes.” He said nothing more as the elevator cab started to descend.

“Well? How did it go with Garrick Keyworth?”

“We didn't exactly get closure, if that's what you mean.”

“No need to be sarcastic. I just asked.”

Elias exhaled slowly. “Sorry. It was my decision to see him. I shouldn't have snapped at you just because it didn't go well.”

“It may take a while to see the results of your visit. How do you feel about it?”

He looked at her, his eyes intense. “I don't know.”

She took his arm. “It's okay, Elias. You did what you could. Now you have to let it go.”

The elevator fell another five floors.

“Cozy little family scene back there in the dining room,” Elias said.

“Mmm.”

“Was it hard?”

“Was what hard?”

“Seeing Loftus and your sister together? Looks like they're a couple.”

“Yes, they are now.” She was surprised by his insight. “And, no, it wasn't hard to see them together. I think they belong together.”

“Did Loftus mean a lot to you?”

“I walked out on our engagement party, remember?”

“Yes, but the two of you were lovers, and knowing you, that had to mean something.”

“Oh, for heaven's sake, Brett and I were never lovers. Whatever gave you that idea?”

Elias blinked the way Otis often did, an enigmatic gesture that betrayed no hint of emotion. “You were almost engaged.”

“I told you, he was too big. You saw him. He's six and a half feet tall if he's an inch and at least a yard wide across the shoulders. He's a mountain. I got a severe attack of claustrophobia every time he kissed me.”

“Claustrophobia?”

She shuddered delicately. “I couldn't imagine getting into bed with him. Poor Brett. I think he assumed I was just too stressed out to be interested in sex. I could hardly tell him that I felt smothered every time he put his arm around me.”

“That's what you meant when you said he was too big? That he was too tall?”

“Too tall, too wide, too heavy. What did you think I meant?” Charity widened her eyes as understanding dawned. “Oh, my God, you didn't think I meant that he was, uh, too well endowed?” She broke off as a fit of giggles overtook her.

“It seemed a reasonable conclusion under the circumstances,” Elias said dryly.

“Reasonable?” More laughter swept through her. She put her hand over her mouth in a vain effort to choke it back. “This is incredible. Reminds me of an old joke.”

“What joke?”

“You know, the one about the guy who's six feet, six inches,” Charity gasped. She was laughing so hard now, she could barely stand. “The lady says, forget about the six feet, tell me about the six inches.”

“Very funny.”

“Sorry. I never could tell a joke.”

Very deliberately Elias moved to cage her against the wall of the elevator. He planted both hands beside her head and leaned over her. “I'm glad you're finding this amusing.”

“Are you kidding? This is hilarious. I can't believe you thought I meant that Brett's … that his … that his—”

“Family jewels?” Elias offered helpfully. “Manly root? Cock?”

Charity gasped for breath. “Thingy? I can't believe
you thought that was what was so big about him. Good grief, I've never even seen it.”

“Don't worry, you can look at mine any time. On one condition.”

She fluttered her lashes outrageously. “What condition?”

“That you never, ever call it a thingy.”

15
 
 

A woman's love is a relentless flood that threatens any dam in its path.

—“On the Way of Water,” from the journal of Hayden Stone

The journey down to the lobby in the elevator had been a trip through the looking glass. Elias considered the magic of it all as he drove north with Charity. No doubt about it. He had stepped into the cab on the thirtieth floor feeling grim and morose. By the time he had reached the lobby, his mood had undergone a sea change. Charity's laughter had had a reviving effect on his spirits. And other parts of his anatomy as well.

None of his problems had disappeared during the thirty-floor trip, he reminded himself. If anything he actually had a few more of them now than he'd had earlier in the day.

The newest one on the horizon was the obvious
fact that Meredith Truitt did not approve of Charity's relationship with him. He had seen the deep suspicion in her eyes. Her sentiments were undoubtedly echoed by her brother, Davis. Elias wondered how much Charity would be influenced by her step-siblings' attitude. She had not seemed worried about the opinion of the movers and shakers of Whispering Waters Cove, but family was a different matter.

It had also made him uneasy to witness Brett Loftus's comfortable relationship with the Truitt women. It was not sexual jealousy that bothered him. He was satisfied that Charity felt no lingering attraction there. But the intimacy of a long-term friendship was evident. Elias was not certain how to compete with that kind of familiarity. He had spent a good portion of his life learning to keep others at a distance.