Vendetta

by Ruth Ryan Langan

  Sleep, she knew, would be impossible for what remained of this night.

  Chapter 10

  Courtney sat at her desk and opened a folder. After a long, perfumed bath to soothe her nerves, she’d slipped into a silk kimono, determined to use this last hour or so before dawn doing something constructive. Nothing like writing checks to take her mind off this latest trouble.

  Her hand paused in midair. It wasn’t the attempted break-in at Blair’s cottage that kept distracting her. It was Blair.

  She thought she’d had enough experience with men to be able to tell the difference between truth and lies. Between a simple statement and a smooth line. She didn’t want to believe this man. But when he’d told her that unvarnished truth about his family and their lack of commitment, she’d seen something in his eyes. Pain. Very real and very deep. And it had spoken to the unresolved pain in her own heart.

  She tapped the pen on her desktop. Why was she letting this man get to her? What did it matter if he was a good liar or an honest man? Her life was going just fine, thank you very much. A man would only complicate things. Especially one with baggage. Didn’t she have enough of her own?

  She forced herself back to the task at hand, paying bills and meticulously recording each check in a ledger for her accountant. The business was showing a profit, and by the end of the season she hoped to have enough saved to begin the remodeling projects she had in mind.

  The ringing of her phone jarred the silence. She snatched it up on the second ring. “Yes?”

  “I see by your lights that you’re still up.”

  “Blair.” She let out a long slow breath. “I thought you’d be asleep by now. Where are you?”

  “Downstairs. Just below your balcony.”

  “Down…? Why didn’t you just knock? Why are you calling my phone at a time like this?”

  “I didn’t want to frighten you. I figured this would give you advance warning that I’m on my way up.”

  She stared at the neat stack of bills. “Go home. I don’t want any visitors.”

  “I made coffee.”

  She stepped out onto the balcony and stared down through the mist swirling in off the lake to see him holding up a coffeepot. Even from this distance she thought she could smell the wonderful aroma of freshly ground beans.

  “Hazelnut.” His voice, rich and deep, floated up in the night air.

  She let out a breath before calling out, “Come around to the back door.”

  By the time she’d descended the stairs, he was leaning against the doorway, wearing a silly grin.

  “Think you’re clever, don’t you?” She stood aside to allow him to precede her up the stairs to her apartment. “Tempting me with coffee.”

  As he brushed past her, he paused and breathed her in. “Speaking of tempting… Bubble bath?”

  She tried to ignore the little curl of pleasure along her spine. “Yeah.”

  “You smell like sin. Nobody should be allowed to smell that good.” He sauntered past her and up the stairs, where he proceeded to retrieve two cups from her kitchen cupboard before filling them. He handed her one, and she took a moment to breathe in the wonderful aroma before lifting it to her lips.

  She was aware of the look of pure male appreciation in his eyes as he studied the flow of the silk kimono over the curves and planes of her body. Though she cursed the fact that she hadn’t pulled on a pair of old sweats, she would never give him the satisfaction of knowing she was uncomfortable under his scrutiny.

  He ran a finger down her arm and felt the way she trembled slightly. “If I’d known this was how you look when you’re lounging around, I’d have been here an hour ago.”

  “This old thing?” She flicked a glance down at herself before looking over at him. “If I’d known I was going to have company, I’d have put on something really sexy.”

  “Any sexier and I’d probably lose the last thread of my sanity.”

  “Really?” She gave a quick little cat smile. “That might be…interesting to watch.”

  His eyes narrowed. “Careful. This sounds suspiciously like flirting.”

  She chuckled, low in her throat. “Maybe it is.”

  “Courtney Brennan, man hater? What happens if I turn the tables and try my hand at seduction?”

  “I have my reputation to uphold.” She lifted the cup to her mouth. “It takes two to play that game.”

  Before she could drink he caught her hand, stilling its movement. “I think you’re lying. I think you’re interested in joining in the game.”

  She looked at his hand, then up into his eyes. “Sorry. As I told you on the boat…”

  Before she could finish, he took the cup from her hand and set it beside his on a side table.

  “Blair, I…”

  “Shh.” His hands closed over her upper arms, and he dragged her close. Before she could offer any resistance he lowered his mouth to hers for a long, slow kiss that had the room spinning.

  He took such care with her lips. As though they were the first he’d ever tasted. As though she were rich red wine, and he intended to drink his fill. The mere act had the desired effect of leaving her weak.

  She was vaguely aware of her hands clutching his waist. Of her heartbeat speeding up until it throbbed at her temples. Of a long, deep sigh that rose up from somewhere inside her chest.

  He ran soft, butterfly kisses over her upturned face before returning once more to her lips, where he drank from them again and again, unable to get enough of her.

  Though his own breath was none too steady, he managed at last to lift his head and hold her a little away. “You can open your eyes now, Courtney.”

  Her lids snapped open and she found herself reflected in his eyes. The look on his face spoke more than any words. He’d been as affected by this as she.

  “See. Flirting can lead to all kinds of…interesting games.” He handed her back her cup before taking his own and settling himself into a chair

  She chose the chair at her desk across the room to put some distance between them. “Why aren’t you asleep? The police have been gone for hours.”

  “Why aren’t you?”

  She shrugged. “Too keyed up.”

  “Yeah.” He stared down into his cup. “I feel really bad about this, Courtney. I’m responsible for disrupting a lot of lives.”

  “I told you before, Blair. You didn’t ask for this.”

  “Maybe not. But I certainly caused it.”

  “People have choices.” She avoided his eyes, thinking about some of the disastrous choices she’d made, and the price she’d paid. “Nobody put a gun to their heads and told them to break into someone else’s house. There are just some selfish, self-absorbed people in this world who don’t give a single thought to what their careless, hurtful actions might do to someone else.”

  “So much temper.” He picked up the coffeepot and topped off her cup and then his own.

  Courtney flushed. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to climb up on my soapbox.”

  “Don’t apologize. It’s just that you’re usually so controlled. I’d hate to have all that righteous anger directed toward me.”

  His remark had the desired effect, and she dissolved into laughter. “You don’t ever want to see me use my left hook. I learned it from an amateur boxer at summer camp when I was twelve, and it’s served me very well ever since.”

  “I’ll take your word for it.” He nodded toward the neat stack of envelopes. “Doing your books?”

  “Yeah. I thought I’d put the time to good use.”

  She glanced at the clock. “I figured I might even get in a sail before I have to open the shop.”

  “Then I’ll leave you to it.” He drained his cup before getting to his feet. “I’ve got to be at the site earlier than usual this morning, since I’m meeting with the contractor.”

  When she started to get up, he lifted a hand. “You don’t have to see me out. I know the way.”

  “All right. I’ll just sit here and en
joy the last of your excellent coffee.”

  “I’m glad you approve.” As he started toward the stairs he paused and turned back. “Look, maybe I’m out of line, but I have to ask you something.”

  “Ask me what?”

  “We’ve been concentrating on my aunt and who might want something of hers. But what if these break-ins were directed at you?” Seeing the way her hand bobbled the cup of coffee, he studied her in that cool, steady, under-the-microscope manner she’d come to recognize. “Made any enemies lately?”

  “Of course not.” But even to her own ears the words lacked conviction.

  He shrugged. “Okay. Just cg. After all, you’ve lived in this town a lot longer than I have. I guess you’d know if there was someone out to get you.”

  “Of course I would.”

  She sat perfectly still as his footsteps echoed down the stairs. Hearing the door close, she got to her feet and watched from the balcony as he crossed the lawn that separated his place from hers.

  Her coffee was forgotten, as was her plan for an early-morning sail. She headed toward her bedroom and dressed hurriedly before snatching up her car keys.

  At The Willows, Courtney was relieved to find her grandfather puttering about in his garden. It would be easier to talk to him here, away from her grandmother and their housekeeper.

  “’Morning, Poppie.”

  He looked up, and the pleasure in his eyes wrapped itself around her heart and tugged. “Courtney. What a nice surprise. Can you stay for breakfast?”

  “I don’t think so, Poppie.”

  “Trudy’s making sourdough toast and crisp bacon. And I’m bringing in these tomatoes from the garden to go with it.” He showed her the perfect tomatoes he’d already placed in a basket.

  “Poppie, I need to talk to you.” She took in a breath. “About Pietro.”

  The old man’s tone softened. “You’re wondering whether he could be behind these break-ins at Blair’s place.”

  “Yes. I don’t know why I never thought of it before. But it’s become such a habit to never permit myself to think of him. Of that time. But Blair…asked me if I had any enemies, and that made me realize that I need to find out if Pietro could be behind this.”

  “He isn’t.” Her grandfather took her hands in his. Cold, he realized. In the middle of summer, they were cold as ice. He mechanically began rubbing them between his big old leathery palms. “I wondered when you’d get around to thinking of him. As soon as I was aware of what was happening here, I made a phone call and learned that Pietro is still in jail in Milan. He has another six months to serve.”

  “Could he have contacted someone else to do this, to get even with me for prosecuting him?”

  “He could. But I see no reason why he would.

  I think, from what his jailors told me, that he’s as eager to put this behind him as you are, Courtney.

  They’re calling him a reformed man and a model prisoner.”

  She let out a long, slow breath. “As long as you’re satisfied that he isn’t part of this, I am too, Poppie.” And then another thought struck, and her eyes went wide. “I lied to Blair. When he asked me if I knew of any enemies, I told him no.”

  The old man drew her into the circle of his arms. “A little white lie, my darling. It’s done sometimes, among friends, to save face. I’m sure you’ll find a way to make it up to him, or possibly a time to come clean with the truth.”

  Against his chest she muttered, “Oh, Poppie, why does everything seem so much better when I’m with you?”

  “Because I’m that rare and wonderful bird known as a grandfather.” He held her away a little. “Now that we’ve solved the major problems of the world, why don’t you come inside and join your grandmother and me for breakfast?”

  “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” She picked up the basket of tomatoes. “Especially if I get to pick which one of these I want with my sourdough toast.”

  “The choice is yours.” He pressed a kiss to her cheek.

  “I don’t have a very good record in the choices department.”

  He dropped an arm around her shoulders. “That’s how we learn, sweetheart. If all we ever made was right choices, how would we know how to survive the wrong ones?”

  She wrapped an arm around his waist and moved along by his side, feeling such a glow of tenderness. This was why she loved him so. He had a way of turning the most negative event into a positive.

  She had a feeling this was going to be a special day. Especially since it was beginning with her two favorite people in the whole world.

  Chapter 11

  Tourist season was in full swing. Crowds of people clogged the sidewalks, licking ice-cream cones and nibbling the town’s famous fudge. Teens in their teeny-tiny shorts and tanks flirted shamelessly with boys in baggy cargos and muscle shirts. Women in flowing skirts and colorful wide-brimmed hats stopped at every store, sighing over hand-painted silk sweaters, coveting the one-of-a-kind ceramics and novelties. The men, walking several paces behind, paused to admire the latest fishing gear in the window of the Good Sports man, or sat gratefully on the stone benches that Courtney had cleverly spaced around the outer perimeter of Treasures.

  In the past year better than half of all the sales of those benches had been made by long-suffering husbands, patiently sitting there while their wives shopped. Courtney made a mental note to order half a dozen more.

  While Kendra was busy assisting several customers, Courtney glanced out the window at the workmen busy installing an alarm system at Blair’s cottage. They’d already completed alarming her apartment, and had installed trouble lights around the building, guaranteed to go on whenever anyone got too close after dark.

  It made her sad to realize how much the little town of Devil’s Cove had grown into a big city. Just a few years ago it would have been unthinkable for anyone in town to lock a door or worry about vandals.

  Still, it had to be done. She’d alarmed her shop as soon as she’d moved in and opened Treasures. Now it was a natural progression to do the same for her home. She and Blair couldn’t go on worrying about these troublesome break-ins.

  She and Blair. When had she begun to think of them as a team? It went against everything she’d worked so hard to build here. After Pietro, she’d been determined to make it alone. Bo business and in her personal life. It was true that a part of her was flattered by Blair’s attentions. It would be so easy to give in to what he offered. Wasn’t that what they both wanted? But when his job here was over and he went back to Greece or wherever his next job called him, what then? She knew only too well the price to be paid for a casual affair. One mistake may be acceptable. As Poppie had said, she’d learned from it. But twice? Shame on her.

  “I’ve been in here three times in the past week.” The woman in the designer jeans and denim shirt picked up a stunning glass sculpture and set it on the counter. “I’ve debated. I’ve argued. And every time I’ve talked myself out of this. But now I have to surrender. I simply must have this.”

  Courtney accepted the woman’s credit card. “It’s one of my favorite pieces.”

  “Mine, too.” The woman sighed. “I have just the spot for this back home. I know if I don’t buy it, I’ll hate myself forever.”

  “We can’t have that,” Courtney said with a smile. “Will you take it with you, or have it shipped?”

  “I’ll take it with me. I want to admire it for the next couple of days before we head home to Chicago.”

  Courtney waited while the credit was approved, then began carefully swathing the sculpture in bubble wrap.

  “Oh, I’m so glad nobody bought it before I could make up my mind.”

  Courtney handed over the heavy, handled bag.

  “I think that means you were meant to have it.”

  “I agree.” The woman started toward the door and handed it to her husband before turning back.

  “By the way, I just love your shop.”

  “Thank you. You can’t imagine h
ow much I love hearing that.”

  Courtney was still smiling as she hurried over to assist yet another shopper. That piece had been one of the priciest in her store. The day was already showing a very good profit.

  “Courtney.”

  She turned from the cash register to see the police chief standing at the counter. “Chief Thompson. Have you learned something?”

  He peered out the window, where Kendra walked among the garden art, assisting customers.

  “Your little clerk and her boyfriend were spotted in a boat the night you scared off the vandals at Colby’s cottage.”

  Courtney felt a quick hitch around her heart.

  “There’s no law against being in a boat at night.”

  “Pretty late for a couple of teens to be out. And it was just around the cove from here. They could have easily anchored it there, vandalized the cottage and disappeared without a trace.”

  “For what reason, Boyd?”

  He shook his head. “That’s the million-dollarDo they have a grudge against you or Colby?”

  Courtney shook her head. “Despite the strange hair and clothes, Kendra’s a sweet girl. She’s never missed a day of work since she started, right after graduation. I trust her with my shop and my cash register. I just can’t believe she or her boy friend would do anything like this.”

  The police chief leaned close, keeping his voice soft. “I just thought you ought to know. Right now, it doesn’t seem wise to trust anybody.”

  She nodded. “All right. Thanks for the warning, Boyd.”

  When he was gone, Courtney stood a moment watching Kendra charm a couple into buying an expensive garden statue of a little Dutch boy and girl. As she led them into the shop, she winked at Courtney.

  What would have been a delightful moment between them just minutes ago, now seemed sly and contrived, as Courtney found herself wondering if this sweet young girl could be hiding a darker side.

  After turning the sign on her door, Courtney hurried up the stairs to change into a bikini. There were still several hours of evening sunlight left, and she intended to savor every minute. She and Kendra had been on their feet without a break for most of the day.