Summer Heat

by Sanders, Jill

  “Have you?” Elle asked, turning slightly toward the older woman.

  Kimberly laughed. “Time will tell.” She stood up and dusted off her shorts. “Which reminds me: I’m going to be late for my next meeting.” She winked. “Don’t be too quick to judge Liam. His brothers can put their feet in their mouths sometimes, but if you give them a chance, they’ll pull it out sooner or later.”

  She winked again and then disappeared down the pathway.

  After that, Elle picked up her stuff and made her way back to her office. It wasn’t as beautiful a spot to get some work done as the beach was, but she found it easier to focus on the numbers on her screen.

  Just before noon, she was still sitting at her computer when her accounting program crashed, which then left her on hold with the company for more than an hour.

  After balancing her budget and shooting off several payments, she smiled at the positive number left over. She had enough extra that the next cabin could move into the framing phase. She picked up her phone and sent a text to Aiden and told him to order the materials.

  When Hannah walked in a few minutes later, Elle held up her hand for a high five.

  “What’s that for?” Hannah asked after slapping it.

  “We just ordered, and could pay for, the material to frame the next cabin.”

  “Seriously?” Hannah did a little booty dance.

  “I’ll join in that.” She stood and shook herself. She was stiff and realized she must have been sitting at the desk for more than an hour without moving.

  “At this rate, we’re going to run out of names for cabins soon,” Hannah joked and sat down in the chair across from her desk.

  Elle sat back down. “Not if we keep having animal interventions.”

  Hannah sighed. “We got lucky with that one. Someone could have been seriously hurt.”

  “Yes, we did.”

  “Which is kind of why I’m here to talk to you.”

  Elle shifted and closed her computer screen. “Okay, what?”

  “I was thinking. I know that with Dylan and Zoey being . . . close . . . well, our living arrangements aren’t necessarily accommodating for them.”

  Elle thought about it. “When we moved in together, men weren’t on the radar.”

  “No, they weren’t,” Hannah agreed.

  “We could always . . .” she started but then stopped. “We don’t have any extra rooms on the second floor open, do we?”

  “No,” Hannah said. “We don’t. As it is, people are doubled up already.”

  “We planned on building a larger place for worker housing eventually.” She sank back in her chair. “I don’t foresee us setting that kind of money aside for at least another year.”

  “Yeah,” Hannah sighed. “So, what do we do?”

  “Let me think about it.” She stood up. “I need to go chat with Isaac. When I come back, I’ll see about moving something around.” She bit her lip. “What? I don’t know.”

  “I didn’t mean to lay a heavier burden on you. I know you have a lot on your plate just managing the place.” Hannah stood up to go but stopped. “Have you found out anything more on the Costas?”

  “No, other than . . .” She thought about the messy web and remembered Liam’s words and how they stung. She didn’t want her friends to know what the brothers had thought about her or her mother. If they found out that the brothers had assumed that she had been their father’s mistress, it could jeopardize the happiness that Zoey and Dylan had together. “No,” she finished.

  “Let me know when you do. Owen is . . . determined.” Hannah sighed.

  “Has he made any more moves on you?” Elle asked.

  “Tons.” Hannah chuckled. “But I can handle myself. Besides, when I stop liking the moves, I’ll let him know.”

  Elle chuckled. “Does he know that you know who he is?”

  Hannah shrugged. “I’m sure the brothers talk like we do. But he hasn’t said anything so far.”

  “Has he asked you any strange questions?” Elle remembered that Liam had said he hadn’t believed she was his father’s mistress. Did that mean that his brothers did?

  “Not outright, but he does ask a lot of questions about how we got Isaac on board and how I have connections.”

  “Have you told him anything?” she asked. Not even she knew how Hannah had been able to pull that off.

  “No. He has his . . . talents.” She wiggled her eyebrows at her. “And I’ll keep my secrets.”

  Elle chuckled. “They are good at their talents.”

  “Tell me about it,” Hannah said as she opened the door.

  Elle was surprised to see Ryan standing just outside her office door. She noticed that Hannah instantly went on guard and reached for her phone. “Can I help you?”

  “Yes.” Ryan’s eyes moved over to Hannah, then back to Elle. “I was hoping to have a little chat with you, in private.”

  “I’m sorry, Ryan, but your employment has already been terminated.”

  “I feel that if you heard the facts and not the lies that were spread about me—” Ryan started.

  “I’ve reviewed what several witnesses said happened, and I stand by Zoey’s decision.” Elle moved toward the door and held it open for the woman to walk through.

  Yet Ryan grabbed her arm and tugged.

  “Hey!” Hannah stepped in front of Elle. “I’d back off if I were you.”

  Elle almost laughed at her friend. Here she was, five nine to Hannah’s five six. Elle probably had ten pounds on Hannah as well. But still Hannah jumped in to protect her.

  “Thanks.” She placed her hands on Hannah’s shoulders, feeling her friend vibrate with anger. Elle turned to Ryan. “I think it’s best for all of us if you leave. We’ve already filled your position. You’ll have better luck looking for a job elsewhere.”

  “You think I care about a job in this dump?” Ryan’s voice rose slightly. “That’s a joke.” She chuckled, and both Hannah and Elle saw her for what she was. A troublemaker. “I thought I’d share some information I have on those three brothers you hired. Do you know, really know, who you’ve hired on?”

  “Yes,” Elle said, holding her ground. “We know everything there is to know about—”

  “The Costas?” Ryan interjected.

  By the fire in her eyes, Elle could tell that Ryan was expecting them to be shocked. When they weren’t, her eyes narrowed.

  “You know who the Costas are? What kind of power, and how much money, they have?”

  “Yes,” Elle said again in the same tone.

  Ryan glanced around as if she was expecting an audience. “What are they doing working here? They have enough money to buy this place ten times over. Why would they need to work here?”

  “I’m sure they have their reasons,” Elle said. She’d asked herself the same question a dozen times since finding out who they were. But, with her past experience, she knew looks could be deceiving. If the brothers were here, they had their reasons, and Ryan had nothing to do with any of it.

  Elle was done with playing her games. “If you need help finding the door?”

  “You knew?” Ryan’s voice rose to a high-pitched squeal. “You knew. This was your plan all along?” She pointed at Elle’s chest. “They’ll find out about you.”

  Ryan drew closer—so close Elle could see the red lines in her eyes—but then was suddenly jerked away. The woman instantly started fighting off whoever held her, until she glanced around and realized it was Liam. Then she laughed.

  “You fell right into her trap,” Ryan yelled as Liam frog-marched her toward the front door. “She planned this, everything. It’s a trap.”

  “What the hell was that about?” Hannah asked, wrapping her arms around Elle.

  “I have no freaking clue.” Elle felt herself shiver. “That woman scares me.”

  “Ditto,” Hannah said. “I need a drink. Secret stash time.”

  Elle agreed and opened the cabinet door in her office.

 
; When Liam and Aiden walked in a few minutes later, Hannah and Elle each had a glass of white wine.

  “Are you two okay?” Aiden asked, worry filling his eyes. “When Julie called us, she sounded shaken.”

  “Yes.” Hannah waved him off. “Elle handled her like a pro.”

  “Did she find her way off the premises?” Elle asked, avoiding Liam’s eyes.

  “Yes, I’ve informed the staff to keep an eye out for her and let us know immediately if she shows up again,” Aiden said. “I think at this point, however, it would be a good idea to let the local police know what’s happened.”

  Elle made a note on her calendar to call Brett Jewel at the local PD and file a police report on Ryan. She had her notes from the witnesses when Ryan had attacked Dylan and Zoey earlier, and she’d make sure to copy them and send them to Brett as well.

  “Well, as long as you two are okay . . .” Aiden said and turned to go.

  “Head on up there; I need a minute alone with Elle,” Liam said, holding the office door wide. His eyes moved to Hannah.

  “Oh.” She jumped up and set her glass down, but not before swallowing the rest of the wine. “That’s my cue. See ya.” She disappeared quickly out the door with Aiden.

  “Deserter,” Elle said under her breath and swallowed the rest of her wine as Liam shut them in her office alone.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Liam took a couple of deep breaths before he spoke.

  “Are you sure you’re okay?” he asked, not moving away from the door.

  Instead of answering, Elle just nodded.

  He waited a few more beats before he moved closer. “Want to fill me in on what she meant when she said we’d find out about you?”

  Elle surprised him by laughing. “I’d love to know it myself. I’m beginning to think the woman is off.” Elle stood quickly, and he noticed her reach for the back of her chair to steady herself.

  “Drinking during business hours?” He walked over and tapped her glass.

  “Sometimes it’s necessary. I suppose I should have had more of a breakfast.” Her smile fell away as her chin rose.

  “What did she mean?” He was a breath away from her, his hazel eyes searching hers.

  “I don’t know,” she said between clenched teeth.

  “What trap? What did she mean by ‘you planned this all along’?” He knew he was pushing her, but the possibility that Ryan knew something that they didn’t stirred in his mind. Was this a trap? Had she called his father out there for a meeting to bait him and his brothers? As his mind instantly answered with a quick no, the seed of doubt Ryan had planted started to take root.

  “Get out,” Elle said, moving to get around him. But he blocked her. She surprised him by pushing on his chest. He didn’t budge.

  “Elle, this isn’t a game,” he said.

  “Do you see me laughing?” She pushed again. “You’re in my way.” He could hear the frustration in her voice.

  “I’m not moving until we have that talk,” he said, crossing his arms over his chest.

  “Fine,” she said and quickly sat down, then motioned to the chair across the room. “Sit. Let’s have that talk.”

  He knew it was her way of controlling the situation, putting space between them, but he figured he could give in to her small demands. He moved around the desk, sat on the chair, and smiled over at her.

  “When was the last time you spoke with or saw my father?” he asked.

  She glanced down at her computer screen and clicked a few times.

  “Tuesday, May tenth,” she answered as if she’d been setting a date for the dentist.

  “This year?” he asked.

  “No.”

  “Last year?” He frowned.

  “Yes.”

  “Where?”

  “Here, it was shortly after”—she took a breath—“after my grandfather’s death.”

  He thought about it and nodded. His father had still been in town and still acting somewhat normal. “Have you spoken to him since?”

  “No.” She frowned. “I did get a message, as I told you earlier, but by the time I returned and got it, it was too late to return his call. Then, well, the next day he never responded. And I never heard from him again.”

  “Did you try calling him again?” he asked, trying to place the timeline.

  “No, I was busy,” she answered, crossing her arms over her chest.

  “What did Ryan mean by ‘it’s a trap’?” he asked.

  Elle chuckled. “If you figure that one out, let me in on the secret.” She stood up. “Now, if we’re done . . .”

  He stood as well and placed his hands on her desk. “I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.” His eyes locked with hers. “If roles were reversed and it was your grandfather missing, wouldn’t you do everything you could to find out more?”

  His words seemed to rock her, and she closed her eyes. “Yes,” she finally said. “I would.” She met his gaze.

  “If you think of anything else . . .” he started.

  “All I have is the number he left for me to call him back at,” she said.

  “You mean his cell number?” he asked.

  “No.” She shook her head. “It was a different number, a Canadian area code.”

  “Canada?” He frowned. “Do you have it?”

  She nodded, then pulled up her computer screen again and wrote it down on a piece of paper and handed it to him.

  “Liam, I really do hope you find him. Uncle Leo has always been nice to me.”

  “Uncle?” he asked, taking the paper from her hands and letting his fingers brush against hers.

  She nodded slowly. “He . . . asked me to call him that a long time ago. I’ve always thought of him as such.” He could see the sadness in her eyes, and for the first time, he realized it was the love of family that he saw there. Not the love of a mistress, as his brothers and he had once believed.

  “Elle.” He took her hand in his, but just then, there was a knock on the door.

  “Come in.” Elle pulled her hand away as Aubrey and Scarlett walked in.

  “We heard . . .” Aubrey started, but she stopped when she noticed Liam standing there.

  “I was just leaving,” he said, tucking the paper into his pocket. “Still on for lunch?”

  “I have some catching up to do now,” Elle answered, sitting back down behind her desk and avoiding his eyes. He wasn’t about to argue with her in front of her friends, so he turned away.

  “Make sure she eats something,” he said to Aubrey, then left.

  Since he’d been helping Aiden out with another project when he had gotten the call from Julie, he knew he had to meet the guy back at the woodshop and finish their discussion. Aiden had been talking to him about building some bench swings with the wood from the trees they had cleared.

  He’d been pretty excited about the idea. He enjoyed seeing something beautiful and useful come from his time.

  As he walked back to the shop, he thought about how to turn Elle back around. He knew she was upset with him. He should have kept his mouth shut about what he and his brothers had assumed before he’d gotten to know her. There was, in his mind, no doubt that Elle and his father had never been anything other than family to one another. He knew that, even now, Owen still believed that Elle and their father were more than that. It was strange to hear Elle talk about his father and her mother. He itched to ask his father questions about his past that he’d never asked before. Why hadn’t he? He supposed it was because he’d been just as selfish as his old man.

  He knew the one thing he could do now was to clear Elle’s name in the eyes of his brothers, and he’d start with Owen after his meeting with Aiden.

  Liam knew that Dylan had lost part of himself in Zoey. The man was in love, and it showed clearly on his face. Especially after the bear incident. Which meant Dylan was probably in agreement with Liam that the girls had had nothing to do with their father’s disappearance or the missing money. Owen, however, proba
bly still needed some persuading.

  When he made it back to the woodshop, he found Aiden talking with a couple of guests who were waiting for him outside the shop area.

  Several people still had projects they were working on. One woman, Denise, was making her husband a vase like the ones he had done himself. She was pretty good at the lathe and didn’t need a lot of his instruction. A few of the others ate up a lot of his time, though. Seeing the crowd standing in front of the closed shop made him realize he might not get to his brother before dinner.

  “Sorry,” he said as he unlocked the shop. “Aiden, how about we meet later today to finish talking?”

  “Sure.” Aiden stepped aside as two new people walked into the shop. “I can see you’re busy.”

  “We heard you could help us make these cute little bowls?” one of the women asked him; the other held up a small decorative bowl he’d carved one day when he’d been bored.

  “Yes.” He turned to them, and for the next two hours, people came and went in the woodshop. He was beginning to really enjoy his job. When he had time to work on his own projects, he lost himself completely in working with the wood and let everything else drift away.

  He took some time to draw up the plans for the swing idea he and Aiden had briefly talked about. Then he snapped a picture and shot it off to the man in a text message.

  He sent a text to his brother as well and asked to see if he could meet him for a quick dinner somewhere. They decided to meet on the beach. He would have just enough time to swing by the cafeteria and grab a bagged sandwich and make his way there. When he stepped onto the soft sand, Owen was already sitting under a tree eating.

  “Hey.” He sat next to Owen and took a drink of the water bottle he’d grabbed.

  “How’s it going?” Owen asked, finishing off his own sandwich.

  “Busy.” He pulled out his food and dug in. With all the excitement, he hadn’t really had time to eat lunch and was starving.

  “Have you gotten into Elle’s phone yet?” Owen asked.

  “About that.” He turned to him and filled his brother in quickly on what he and Elle had talked about.