Harlequin Superromance January 2014 - Bundle 1 of 2: Everywhere She Goes\A Promise for the Baby\That Summer at the Shore (68 page)

“They seem to be getting along exceptionally well,” she commented.

As Zack's lawyer, it was natural that she was concerned over the fruit stand and property issue.

“Yes, though I don't know how it will end,” Brad murmured. “Jamie is very attached to the land. She told me it's where her grandparents met.”

“No wonder it's special to her.”

“I suppose the place you meet your future love is always memorable. How about you and Zack? Where did you two meet?”

Kim didn't seem to mind the question. “At the hotel where he was working, naturally. I went for a job interview and was surprised to discover the assistant manager was another college kid, same as me.”

“Zack went up through the ranks like a speeding bullet. Did you get the job?”

“It was offered, but I got a chance to clerk for a lawyer, so I chose that instead. Zack would never have gotten involved with an employee, so if I'd gone to work for him, we would have become friends without the detour into romance.” She tilted her head back and looked at him. “Bet you don't remember where you met me.”

Brad chuckled. “I do, as a matter of fact. You were hanging around the parking lot waiting for Zack. I was in town and he asked me to pick you up so we could all have burgers together. We ate alone because someone in a drunken stag party pulled the fire alarm at the hotel, and he couldn't leave. You had a jalapeño turkey burger with chipotle-flavored sweet-potato fries.”

“I'm impressed.”

“It's not every day a jarhead meets a gorgeous woman with adventurous tastes in food.”

“Watch it, marine. I thought you said your social skills were rusty from being on active duty so long.”

Strangely, Kim was acting completely normal and didn't seem to mind the possibility that Zack and Jamie had become a couple. And more than once her manner was flirtatious, or at least that was how it appeared to him. His social skills
were
rusty, but it was pleasant to be reminded that he was more than a soldier...and particularly nice to remember he was more than a recuperating patient.

Strangely, he'd always felt Kim was special. If there wasn't anything between her and Zack, then maybe...

No.
Brad pushed the thought away. It was impossible. Who knew how long it would be until he'd recovered enough for active duty, if ever? The doctors seemed to think it was possible, but he was cautious about getting his hopes up. At the moment, he was a Marine Corp officer who wasn't physically fit to serve. What did he do in the meantime? He certainly couldn't be with Kim—she had a flourishing law practice with everything going for her. She didn't need a banged-up jarhead around.

* * *

O
VER
Z
ACK
'
S
SHOULDER
Jamie watched a large fish drift through the aquarium bordering the dance floor and wondered whether the wall-sized tank was fresh or salt water. Salt, she decided, noting the starfish hiding in the corner.

The dappled light from the aquarium provided most of the illumination on the dance floor, creating the ultimate romantic atmosphere. Or maybe it was just atmosphere, and Zack was responsible for the romance.... No. Jamie reminded herself it was an act.

After another dance, Zack looked down at her. “Should we go back to the table soon and order something?”

“Probably. I ate a snack around six, but it's wearing off.”

“A snack? Did you think I wouldn't feed you for hours?”

“You never know. There must be a few places at Mar Vista I haven't seen yet.”

He laughed and swung her around in time with the music.

It was amazing to think they were able to tease each other after having had a roaring argument earlier in the afternoon. Considering their history, they would probably be having another battle before long, but at least they'd set aside their hostilities in order to put on a good show for Kim and Brad.

Zack held her hand as they walked off the dance floor and back to the table.

“Did you notice that Brad either didn't notice us leaving, or didn't care?” he asked as they reached the table. “They're still dancing.”

“Good.”

“How about having dinner again tomorrow night, or even Sunday, since Kim has reservations through Monday? Same time, same place, but just the two of us. That should enhance the idea that we're a couple and show Brad that he's welcome to pursue a relationship with Kim.”

Jamie sighed. One thing always led to another. Maybe it was inevitable that she would have to do something to keep the charade going once she'd gone along with it. Not that she minded, exactly. Brad was a terrific guy and doing something for him seemed worthwhile. She didn't want to examine any other motives more closely.

“Tomorrow night, then,” she said. “But we'd better go to the Clam Shell.”

“Why not here?”

“Because this is the one dress I've got that's suitable for this kind of fancy restaurant. I don't mind wearing things over again, but not two days in a row.”

“That gown is gorgeous on you, but you don't need something long and fancy to eat here.”

“I'll...think about it,” she said, wondering if she'd lost her mind. It was hard to deny the appeal of coming back to the Sunfish Grotto. How many places were there like it in the world? “I'm not sure what I expected here—a lot of wood and leather and plants, I guess.”

“We have some of that, but calling it the Sunfish Grotto opened up the imagination. There's even one table where the alcove is stone and there's an aquarium along one side at the top. It's part of the dance floor's tank, which makes it easier to maintain.”

“You must have someone who does nothing except tend fish tanks.”

“Close to it. He's also responsible for the fountains and ponds in the gardens.”

“Hi, you two,” Kim said as they came back to the table. “Hope we didn't keep you waiting.”

“Go dance some more,” Zack offered. “We'll order appetizers and might even leave some for you.”

“I don't think we should go anywhere,” Brad advised Kim. “He used to eat more potato chips at family picnics than the rest of us put together.”

“Ha,” Zack rejoined. “I'll never forget the time Brad introduced me to tacos. He told me the sauce wasn't hot and squirted a whole packet on mine. I swear he did it thinking I'd end up giving it to him.”

“And did you?” Jamie asked with a grin.

“Not a chance. I ate every flaming mouthful.”

“I thought you liked spicy food,” Kim said.

“Not when I was eight.”

Jamie pictured the scene: the small kid perspiring as he stubbornly consumed the taco with his eleven-year-old brother watching. It was an insight to the determination Zack had, even as a child. No younger-brother complex for him.

The server came, bringing them menus, so there was a lull in conversation as they studied their options. They each chose a main dish, and Zack added several orders of appetizers.

“This place is a marvel,” Kim said as the menus were carried away. “I like it more every time I see it.”

“The Grotto is my favorite part of the resort,” Zack said. “At least of the parts we constructed. The whole area is fantastic. Maybe I'm biased, but this has to be one of the most beautiful sections of the California coastline.”

Jamie felt the same. Warrington had been a popular tourist town for years, which accounted for its many art galleries and quaint restaurants. The town didn't lack motels or bed-and-breakfast establishments, but Mar Vista was the only high-end option and it was unquestionably boosting the area's economy.

“I couldn't believe it when I found this land for sale,” Zack continued. “It was exactly the place I've imagined since I was ten years old.”

“Exactly?” Kim teased.

“Okay, maybe Disneyland was more what I pictured at ten. But this is what I've wanted since I was at least fifteen.”

“Most boys think of fast cars or being a famous sports figure at that age,” said Jamie. “Why a resort?”

“Our mother got sick when we were kids,” he explained. “She almost died, and after she got well, she couldn't seem to get her energy back. Dad splurged and took her on a vacation to a spa retreat, someplace where she would be pampered.”

“Did it help?”

“We could hardly believe it when she came home,” Brad said. “She was...
Mom
again.”

Zack nodded. “It took Dad a while to pay off the credit cards, but it was worth every penny. I kept imagining what kind of magical place could do so much, and it seemed a marvelous thing to design and build. Especially if I was the one who made it happen.”

“You wouldn't believe how into it he got,” Brad added. “He even made model buildings and tiny swimming pools with hot tubs. It was very eclectic, with a sky rail and everything from South Seas elements to a dash of Mad King Ludwig's castle.”

Zack laughed. “Hey, I was ten. I tried to get it passed off as a science-fair project, but my teacher didn't buy it.”

The story made sense to Jamie, and explained Zack's passionate zeal regarding Mar Vista. In a way she'd looked for a retreat to recover from her marriage. She couldn't have afforded a place that pampered her, but she'd created her own little oasis in Granddad's house.

“You never talked this way when we were in college, Zack,” Kim said curiously. “I figured the resort was simply part of your overall business plan.”

Zack raised an eyebrow. “Give me a break. I was a
guy.
A college student with an image to protect.”

“Right, and twenty-year-old guys don't talk about ideals, just success. Male pride strikes again.”

“I don't mind talking about it now.”

Kim lifted her water goblet and made a small gesture with it. “That's because you've accomplished everything you dreamed of and more. Case in point—this goblet is fine, lead crystal, right?”

“It had better be.”

Jamie hid a smile.

Zack's resort was a truly amazing place and she could see how helpful it could be for someone who was ill or traumatized, or just needed to recover their spirits for another reason. But from what Zack had said about paying off credit cards, it sounded as if his family hadn't been wealthy when he was a kid.

“Could your parents have afforded a place like Mar Vista?” she asked without thinking.

Zack seemed startled. “What do you mean?”

“It's nothing,” she said. “Forget it.”

“No, I—”

The wine steward came to the table and spoke to Brad. “Sir, I've chilled another bottle and apologize for the poor quality of the first. Would you like to sample it?”

“Sure.”

Brad tasted the wine and gave his approval. The wine was poured all around, and shortly after that, the first of Gordon Chen's fabulous appetizers made it to the table.

Jamie noticed that Zack seemed distracted, then he shook his head and rejoined the conversation.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

A
VAGUE
DISQUIET
nagged the back of Zack's mind, but he pushed it aside. At the moment it was more important to focus on the evening. The server set small fine china dishes in front of them for the appetizers. Jamie put a stuffed mushroom on her plate, cut off a piece and ate it.

He swallowed hard as she delicately licked her lips. Was she being deliberately provocative? She saw him staring and raised her eyebrows. The next time he was sure she was doing it deliberately, as she followed the bite with an inscrutable little smile.

“This is incredible,” she declared. “Can you believe what Gordon does with a mushroom and a bit of cheese?”

“Downright sinful,” Kim agreed.

Zack couldn't stand it and stood. “How about another round or two, Jamie?” he asked. “They know we're using the dance floor, so they'll slow the delivery of our food.”

“Your staff is well trained.” She stood with an enticing twist of her body. Hell, who'd have guessed a seductress was hiding at the Little Blue Fruit Stand?

The band was playing a faster piece, giving him less of a chance to put his arms around her waist. On the other hand, her supple movements were a feast for the eyes, and he wasn't the only man who thought so. One of the single men staying at the resort stood at the side of the floor, watching with appreciation. As the music switched to a slower selection, Zack twirled Jamie to the opposite side to prevent her admirer from cutting in.

“That man looked nice,” said Jamie with a saucy look. “You could have introduced us. You did with everyone else the other night.”

“That particular introduction wouldn't enhance the image of us as a couple.”

“Anything for the cause, I suppose.” She snuggled closer.

A pained humor went through Zack; she knew exactly what she was doing...and was enjoying torturing him.

“Careful,” he muttered. “Remember what happens to girls who play with fire.”

“Been there, done that,” she answered, her exuberance fading as she withdrew a few inches.

“Something wrong?”

“Hmm. Bad memory. It doesn't matter.”

He tugged her close again to distract her, wanting to lure the seductress back. “Tell me something. You've heard stories of my spicy childhood. What about you?”

“I've already told you I spent every August in Warrington with my grandfather. What else do you need to know?”

“Well, was there ever anything between you and Curt Saldano? You seem to have a history.”

“We were buddies as kids and engaged in a little heavy kissing as teenagers. He didn't dare try more than that with Granddad standing guard.”

“That must have been frustrating.”

“We were never serious. It was an experiment to see if we were friends, or something else.”

“Being friends won?”

“Don't knock it. I'm a big fan of friendship.”

“So am I, but I'm also a big fan of...that
something else.
”

“Really?” Her eyes glinted. “I would never have guessed. Of course, maybe it depends on how you define it.”

“You want to get together and compare dictionaries?”

She closed her eyes as if in ecstasy. “Gosh, an evening discussing semantics. You really know how to wow a girl.”

Laughter and desire stirred together in his gut. It was a potent combination.

The music finished and they started back to their table while he cast about for another topic as a continued distraction. “What about you and your brother...David, is it? Did the two of you get along?”

“Same as kids in a candy shop. David's a few years older than me and we squabbled because there wasn't anyone else to fight with. We're good friends now.”

“If he had a chance to tell a ‘taco' story on you, what would it be?”

Her smile peeped out again. “There was the time when he was a senior in high school. I sneaked out and tied a just-married sign to his bumper right before he went on a date. He didn't see it for a few days and his friends were congratulating him for weeks.”

“Bet that took the spice out of his dating life for a while. What did he do to deserve it?”

“He read my diary.”

“Ouch. I don't have a sister and even
I
know that's asking for trouble.”

“I must admit, the just-married sign was only the first of several calculated moves I made for vengeance, especially when I found out that he'd told my boyfriend a couple things from my diary.”

At the table, Kim and Brad were starting on a new platter of appetizers.

“We should get started,” said Zack. “They've got traction on us.”

The salads arrived as they finished nibbling their way through a plate of “tasty bits,” as Gordon called them. After the main course, they all went to the dance floor and didn't return to the table for quite a while, at which point they were presented with a tempting array of desserts.

“No, thank you,” Jamie said. “I'm full.” Kim was shaking her head, as well.

“How about sharing some of mine?” Zack asked.

Jamie cocked her head. “Maybe a bite or two.”

So of course, Brad suggested the same to Kim.

“Another dance?” Zack asked as they sipped on coffee.

Jamie made an expression of regret. “It's been wonderful, but it's getting late and this has been a long day.”

Damn. For a while he'd forgotten—she'd started her workday with the discovery of more vandalism. She had to be exhausted.

“Of course,” he said. “Let me get you home. Kim, Brad, will you excuse us?”

They started to rise and Jamie waved them down. “Don't cut your evening short on my account. It was lovely spending time with you both.”

“Good night,” they said, almost in unison.

Satisfaction settled deep in Zack, at least on his brother's behalf. Brad and Kim seemed to be getting a clue that they could be a couple.

* * *

T
HE
NEXT
MORNING
Kim stretched and rolled onto her side. As with everything at Mar Vista, the beds and linens were top-of-the-line...even more comfortable than her mattress at home. She
had
to find out where to get one like it.

She turned over again and smiled when she saw her gown from the previous night lying across a chair. Dinner as a foursome had proved to be both fun and surprising.

So, Jamie and Zack were getting cozy.

Maybe it was inevitable for two lonely people to hook up after spending several nights together in a tiny trailer. But given what Kim knew of them, they were as mismatched as lovers could get and the long-term outlook was questionable.

Too bad. Zack was a great guy who'd probably spend the rest of his life having brief affairs and being buried in ledger sheets. She'd long since realized they were never truly in love, which was a good thing since his business goals were his one true passion, even back in college. Mar Vista was undeniably a marvel, but hardly a substitute for home and family.

Of course, Zack wasn't the only Denning with a single-minded passion—Brad was pretty passionate about being a marine. For his sake, she hoped his military career hadn't ended. But even as she thought it, her stomach dropped.

Kim glanced at her watch, trying to push the sensation away. It was early. In the afternoon she was going over to see Jamie, who'd promised to close the stand early and show her the jewelry she'd been working on. Lots of time until then.

Brad was likely on his morning trek...maybe she'd sleep awhile longer, and see if she could catch up with him later.

She closed her eyes again, yet she kept remembering how good Brad had looked while they were dancing—healthy, the lines of pain on his face nearly gone...and very, very handsome. In his own way he was even more attractive than Zack, and that was saying something. They were so different, sometimes it was hard to believe they were brothers.

Kim smiled sleepily. She'd really enjoyed dancing again...and Brad was awfully good company.

* * *

J
AMIE
FIXED
BREAKFAST
and ate on the porch where she could watch the sun rise over the hills in the east and admire the ocean in the west. Her great-grandparents couldn't have chosen a better location for their home.

It had been a quiet night, and in the early-morning sunshine, any anxieties hardly seemed worth the effort. Of course, she hadn't seen the fruit stand yet, but that could wait. The glow from the evening at the Sunfish Grotto still lingered. Who would have believed she could have such an enjoyable time in Zack Denning's company? And what fun to flex her feminine power; it had been disappointing when fatigue took over despite everything.

When they'd arrived at the house, Zack had tried to initiate a kiss, but she'd shied away, knowing where it could lead. But he still insisted on checking every single window and door for security, and waited on the porch while she bolted the front locks...as if she needed to be told that it was smart to secure her own home.

When the clock ticked to 7:00 a.m., Jamie knew it was time to face whatever was waiting at the fruit stand.

And it was bad.

She surveyed the damage bleakly. Cleaning up would take a while and it was questionable how well she'd be able to function that day. The display stands were in pieces again, but this time they were broken beyond repair. The canopy was down and ripped, with Bitch scrawled beneath the Get Out message. Her eyes burned. She swallowed and clenched her jaw. No asshole would make her cry uncle. Bullies didn't deserve to win.

She took a deep breath. Nothing was going to get cleaned up and fixed by standing there and looking at it. She snapped numerous pictures to document the damage, and called to leave a message for Curt, telling him what had happened and that she hoped to have pictures to help the investigation. The dispatcher told her not to touch anything until an officer came by.

A sheriff's car pulled up ten minutes later and the young deputy she'd met weeks ago climbed out.

“Gosh, miss,” he said, studying the mess. “That's just plain
wrong.
”

An ironic humor struck her, but she knew he wouldn't understand if she laughed. “No one could have said it better,” she agreed.

He quickly took his own set of pictures, and dusted the door of the trailer for prints. Jamie removed the memory cards from the video cameras and the young deputy carefully put them in evidence bags and labeled them. “I'll get these to the sheriff,” he promised. “But maybe I could help clean up first. That is...
gosh,
I hate to leave you with it.”

“No,” she assured him. “Your job is more important. Help Curt catch the guy who's doing this. That's what I need most.”

As he pulled out of the long gravel driveway, two vehicles passed him coming in. The first was Zack's SUV, the second a Mar Vista maintenance truck with three men in the cab.

Zack climbed out, his face darkening with anger as he surveyed the message written on the canopy. The three men in Mar Vista uniforms nodded politely at Jamie.

“Okay,” Zack said. “Let's get this cleaned up as fast as we can. Ms. Conroe will have deliveries coming soon and will need new displays. Jack, you're good at things like that. Can you build something with that lumber we brought over?”

“No,” Jamie said. “Don't worry. I can do it.”

Zack exchanged a very male glance with the other men and gave her a hug. “Of course you can, but you shouldn't have to.”

“But—”

“Go ahead, fellows,” Zack said, then leaned close to her ear. “Here comes Brad,” he whispered. “This will
really
cement the belief we're a couple in his eyes.”

She didn't dare say anything or she might have let him have it, in more ways than one. He appeared genuinely upset on her behalf, but he was also using the situation for his own benefit.

Leaning down, he kissed her cheek, for all the world to see, as though he were comforting her.

“Anything I can do?” Brad asked when he arrived, looking grimly at the mess.

“I beat you to it today,” Zack told him. “It's a shame all the work the two of you did yesterday has been undone.”

Jamie jerked, seeing one of the maintenance men go inside the trailer. “No,
I
will clean up in there,” she said, but Zack held her arm and wouldn't let go.

The man came out of the trailer after a minute. “Not much mess inside,” he said. “Bet he was scared off. A curtain has been jerked down and the mattress is slashed on the bottom bunk.”

“Ah, hell,” Zack whispered in her ear. “I was rather fond of that mattress.”

She almost smiled. “That's not funny,” she murmered instead. “This is serious.”

“Believe me, honey, I was completely serious.”

“You're hopeless.”

“Not in the least. I'm
full
of hope.”

Of course he was. After a long dry drought of no sex, he'd had a drink and craved another. So did she, except that didn't make it a good idea. She needed her independence; he needed to be a superstar in the resort world. Getting together might work out if they were both into casual sex and didn't mind the glaring reasons they were incompatible. But then, casual sex didn't require anything beyond a mutual need to satisfy an itch, and she didn't need to scratch that badly.

Brad stood with the men who were working on the displays, showing them what to do and how large they should be.

“Can't
anyone
in the Denning family let me handle things on my own?” she muttered.

“That's not very gracious,” Zack answered.

“No,” she said. “I'm a bitch, and now I've got a sign to prove it.”

* * *

Z
ACK
SIGHED
AS
he watched Jamie stalk away to greet the farmers bringing deliveries. She wasn't about to surrender her determination to keep her fists raised to the world.