“I don’t think my feelings on these matters are any of your concern,” she told him, putting on her most business like voice, all the while ignoring the sorrow squeezing at her chest. She’d found the starfish pin. She wanted to yell at him; tell him that her father hadn’t abandoned her. Whether or not he had loved her, she would never know, but he hadn’t forgotten about her. No amount of torture would loosen her tongue, however. She wasn’t about to reveal her vulnerability, especially not to a man in Luke’s position. The least Luke knew about her, the better off she and the Sea Breeze would be. Most likely, he knew far too much all ready.
“Maybe I am sticking my nose where it doesn’t belong, but like it or not, I do care about you, Sandra and my feelings have nothing to do with The Emerald Boat.”
“If not the business, then what?” she asked defensively, not waiting for an answer. “Why should you care about me? After all, the best thing that could happen for your business would be for me to close down the Sea Breeze.”
Luke walked over and stood next to Sandra. Leaning over, he rested his arms on the balcony rail. Though his posture from a distance would seem casual, Sandra could see his pulse throbbing in his neck as his jaw muscles flexed. “Is that what you think of me? I’m nothing more than some kind of money grubbing leach that wants to exploit your situation?”
“It doesn’t matter what I think.” Sandra tried to swallow the dry lump which had formed in her throat. “What matters is that I’m not selling the Sea Breeze. I’m going to manage her myself. And, you can bet, she’ll be up and making a profit before you can blink an eye.”
Turning towards her, Luke pulled Sandra into his arms.
“Let go of me,” she told him, holding her body rigid while she used her hands to push lightly against his chest.
“I’m not letting you go until you hear me out.”
“You better hurry because I’m losing my patience quickly,” she warned, trying to decide whether stomping on his foot or a well delivered knee to the groin would be her best means of escape.
“Sandra, Ben loved you.”
“How could you know that?” she asked incredulously.
“Ben Harris was a good friend. I know if he could have been with you, he would have,” he said in a soft comforting voice as he released his grip on her shoulders.
Luke lifted Sandra’s chin up with the tips of his fingers, forcing her to meet the dark somber blue of his eyes. The gentle inspection of his gaze caressed her. Sandra’s face flushed as her stomach fluttered in anticipation. Now was her chance; she should turn and leave, but she couldn’t. Some part of her held her there next to Luke. Perhaps if she looked away, thought about something else? Who was she kidding? The minute his lips touched hers she’d be overcome with temptation of the man. She wanted him to kiss her, to feel his lips against hers, to melt into his arms. Yet at the same time, she didn’t know if she could trust him.
After several seconds, Luke dropped his hand and Sandra exhaled a heavy breath. Had her expression given her emotions away, she wondered, turning from him to stare out at the blackened sea. Streaks of lightening raced one another across the sky, dappling the dark water with light. Clearing her throat, she attempted a nervous laugh. How much had her father known about her and how much had he revealed to Luke?
“My father talked to you about me?” she inquired, hesitantly.
“Are you joking? He was always calling and getting the latest scoop on what was going on in your life. When he did, I’d hear about it for the next week.”
“Who on earth did he call?” she asked, finding it difficult to believe her mother would have given her father the time of day.
“It seems like, he said he talked with your grandmother.” A nervous edge clung to Luke’s voice. Frowning, Sandra shook her head. It just didn’t make any sense. Her grandmother hated her father almost, as much as her mother did. Who else could it have been though? There had to be more to the story than that, she thought, glaring at Luke over her shoulder.
“I a . . . ,” Luke began than stopped, seemingly thinking twice about what he was going to say.
“Yes?” Sandra prodded him to continue with a hard stare as she clenched her teeth in impatience.
“It’s nothing really. I simply thought it strange he didn’t call himself. It wasn’t my place to be telling Ben how to take care of his business, though. Thinking about it now, however, I’m pretty sure it was your grandmother he talked to.”
“He’d have to have meant my Grandma Meredith. My father’s mom and dad died when I was little.” Sandra bit down on her lower lip. Of all the people in her family, Sandra’s grandmother would have been the last person she’d ever guessed her father as having contacted. However, Luke didn’t have any reason to be lying to her. Why, she could remember her grandmother had been nothing short of elated when her mom had announced she had filed for divorce. Grandma Meredith had actually had the nerve to suggest throwing a party to celebrate.
“You’re certain he talked to my grandmother?” She couldn’t help but ask again.
“Not a hundred percent sure, no. I didn’t pay a lot of attention to it at the time. Is it important?”
“No,” she lied, letting out a deep sigh. “It’s just that my grandma and my father didn’t get along very well. It’s strange she never mentioned having heard from him.”
“I must be mistaken then,” Luke told her in a soothing tone. Sandra felt certain, however, he knew exactly what he was talking about. He was simply willing to let her believe what she wanted to if it upset her. How like a man to try to protect her frail female psyche, she thought.
“Tell me then, what did you and Ben talk about when you discussed me?”
“Sandra, I don’t know.” Luke stuffed his hands back into his pockets. “I suppose we talked about the typical special events type stuff.”
“For instance?”
“I can remember Ben telling me when you graduated from high school and from college. I remember asking him if he intended to go up for your college graduation. He shrugged and mumbled something about not being invited.”
“Did he ever mention . . . my sixteenth birthday?” Sandra asked, thinking about the beautiful sea star pin he’d tried to mail to her.
“No, not that I remember.”
“That’s okay. I was just curious.” She feigned her indifference all the while she felt her throat tightening into a knot of emotion.
“Ben loved you, Sandra.” Luke squeezed her arm in reassurance. They both needed to come to terms with loosing Ben Harris. He’d help her if he could. He owed that much to Ben.
“Oh, Luke. . . All of these years, I’ve convinced myself I didn’t care, but I do.” Sandra bit her lower lip and willed herself not to cry. “I wish I’d known him.”
“He would have been with you, if he could have.”
“Mom was wrong about him. She told me he left us without a word. She said he never wrote to me, that he didn’t care about me.” Sandra felt a swell of sorrow waling up. She had been fighting off thinking about her father’s linen chest ever since she’d found it. Now all of her pent up emotions pushed to get out. “None of it was true. He didn’t abandon me,” she blurted out. Hot tears seared her flushed cheeks. “He wrote my mother but . . . the letters were returned. I found them in his footlocker. They’d never been read.”
“Luke, I think my mother returned all those letters. She didn’t want me to be with my father.”
Luke pulled her into his chest and held her close. Her tears fell moist on his shirt. An insufferable humidity clung in the air. Her delicate shoulders shook with each breath. Not knowing what to say, he caressed Sandra’s hair in an attempt to comfort her.
At last, her tears subsided and she pulled away from his embrace. “I guess I’ve been under too much stress. This place is so different from back home. At least back home, I knew my neighbors and all the social taboos,” she told him, swiping at the tears which clung to her cheeks. “I didn’t even realize Bern
ice had been living with Ben. Now, I’m living in her home.” Sandra looked up at Luke speculatively. “I don’t even know why my father left the Sea Breeze to me. Do you?”
Luke took a deep breath and hesitated as he gazed into her trusting face. Her cheeks were flushed and her green eyes shown from unspent tears. Ben would have wanted her to know the truth, he thought, fighting with his conscience. On the other hand, Luke wanted to spare her anymore pain.
“It only makes sense that your father would want you to have the Sea Breeze. . . You were his only child.” Luke stopped there, waiting for her response. A streak of lightening flashed across the sky followed by the slow growl of thunder. Would she accept his explanation or would he be forced to tell her everything?
Sandra shook her head in confusion and he felt his heart sink. “Luke, he hadn’t seen me in years. And, what about Bernice? She has essentially been kicked out of her their house.”
“Ben knew more about you than you realize. Besides, Bernice has her business and plenty of money saved. He probably figured you’d sell the place to Bernice or me anyway.” There it was said. A bit watered down, but he was sure she would understand what he was saying. Luke leaned back and waited for the information to sink in.
Sandra’s eyes grew wide and dark, like the imposing clouds which approached still closer. Small claps of thunder released their venom as if anticipating Sandra’s reply.
“It’s true then. That’s why I’m here tonight. You want to buy the shop from me,” she stated, disgust rang in the tone of her voice.
“Yes, but I haven’t come up with a figure yet. However, you can be sure it’ll be generous. Ben and I talked about going in together a million times. A second store in Fort Walton would be great. I could sell catamaran and sailboard parts there and run strictly charters out of Pensacola.”
“As I told you earlier, the Sea Breeze is not for sale for any price,” she stated firmly with a set jaw. Luke couldn’t help admire her determination even if he didn’t understand it.
“Sandra, be reasonable. You can’t possibly run the Sea Breeze. What do you know about sailing?” Seeing the hurt expression on her face, he immediately regretted his words. Why hadn’t he left it along? he chided himself, walking away from her towards the bar. Purchasing the company didn’t make that much difference to him. If he did buy the Sea Breeze, Bernice would most likely never forgive him.
Sandra watched Luke reach into the refrigerator and pull out shish kebabs for the grill. Her suspicions had been right all along. He only wanted the Sea Breeze, not her.
“Just because I’m not an old salty dog,” she stated, anger and indignation fueling her words, “doesn’t mean I can’t run a business. I didn’t spend four years of my life at Oklahoma University studying business management to sell retail clothes to overindulgent women. I’m going to run my own company. Luke Caldwell, I’d watch my step if I were you. You could find yourself selling out to me in a few years.”
Luke crossed the deck to Sandra. The look on his face told her that he thought she’d lost her mind. Damn it, she hated his egocentric attitude. Those blue eyes of his didn’t make matters any easier, either. She couldn’t believe he could stand there staring at her with those accusing labyrinths of sapphire when he had every intention of robbing her of her only chance to make a place for herself.
“I better go now,” she blurted out, not wanting to ever see Luke Caldwell again. However, no sooner had the words left her lips than fear clutched her throat. They couldn’t sail back the way they had come. Not only was the storm continuing to build, but there would be no chance of getting through the bay current at this time of night.
“You don’t even want to stay and sample my cuisine?” Luke asked sarcastically. The sardonic smile formed on his lips did little to calm Sandra’s apprehension. She questioned her judgement for agreeing to go out with Luke in the first place.
“No, thanks, I’d rather opt for peanut butter and jelly on toast. It’s safer.”
Raising his eyebrows in mock surprise, Luke laughed and shook his head. “Well, I’m going to eat. You can stay and eat with me, walk or wait until I’m finished. The choice is yours.” As though that were the end of the discussion, Luke shrugged his shoulders and walked over to the grill.
“If you’ll point me to the nearest phone, I’ll get a cab, thank you,” Sandra called after him.
“The cab company isn’t running this time of year,” he told her, bending down, reaching into the cupboard below the smoker’s stand, he pulled out a white platter. “Joe Washburn is the only taxi driver in this area. He’s taken off for the winter. Won’t be back until the sun shines warm and we have more tourists under foot than we know what to do with.”
Sandra gritted her teeth in irritation. There had to be a way out of this impossible situation. She couldn’t be trapped with him. Was her only other course of action to hitchhike in the rain? Granted, it hadn’t started to pour yet, however, it was only a matter of time, she thought, looking out at the streaks of lightening flailing the sky.
The smell of spiced cooked meat permeated her thoughts. Now she knew how he could act so nonchalant. He had all the aces in his corner, she realized as she watched him take a fork from the cabinet and place the long skewers of shrimp and vegetables on the plate. A loud burst of thunder rattled the windows, startling Sandra. She could feel Luke’s heavy gaze upon her. Glaring back at him, she tried to mold her face into that of a determined woman who would not be pushed. Although, she suspected her discomfort shone through the cracks.
“Let’s go in before we get drenched.” Luke motioned with the platter for Sandra to move in front of him.
“I said, I want to go home, now.” Sandra did her best to make her voice sound forceful despite the fact her knees were growing weaker by the second and she knew she sounded foolish.
Luke ignored her demand and headed toward the front of the boat. As he disappeared around the corner, she felt her fury ignite into full force. He had seen right through her façade. Driven by embarrassment rather than a plan of action she stormed after him.
Locating the door he entered, Sandra burst in. Crossing the threshold to the cabin, she scanned the dimly lit room. Two chairs sat around a table in the center of the living area. The table was covered with a blue linen cloth. Ivory candles created a center piece, casting off a golden glow. Place settings were sat side by side. The only other light in the room was a table lamp on the far side which rendered shadows on the walls.
Sandra looked up at Luke in dismay. His eyes seemed to plead his unspoken request. Surely, he didn’t expect her to believe he had feelings for her after trying to take her business from her only minutes earlier? He must think her to be an idiot.
“Will you or will you not take me home? I’ll hitchhike if I have to,” she told him, doing her best to maintain her anger despite the sincere expression on Luke’s face.
“Please, sit down and eat. It’s not like it sounds, Sandra. Tonight is between you and me. It isn’t about the business. If you want to make a stab at managing that old white elephant of Ben’s, I’ll even help you.”
“I don’t need your help. I’m quite capable of running a business myself.”
“Be reasonable. Everyone needs help doing something at some time.”
“Yeah, so I hear. No man’s an island, right? Well, you can pay an awful lot of islanders to make sure you’re not alone.”
“But you can’t pay them to be your friend.”
Luke’s words tore at her. She fought to keep her face expressionless, the vision of professionalism. How would she ever run her father’s company if she couldn’t hold her own against her competition?
Staring at the formal place setting on the candle lit table, she wondered if she hadn’t been too abrupt. He had gone to a lot of trouble to fix dinner, regardless of his rational. The least she could do was sit through it. However, the thought of spending the remainder of the evening fighting to not disclose any more information about herse
lf or the company wasn’t one she relished. Not only was he a temptation to her senses, he wanted the Sea Breeze, the one possession she cherished over everything else.
Sandra ran her fingers through her bangs in indecision. Had her father meant for her to sell the shop? Bernice said he would have been proud of her for wanting to keep it. The wall light in the adjoining hall flickered, interrupting her thoughts. She could hear the rain pounding out its rhythm on the ceiling. If she didn’t stay to eat with Luke, she’d certainly be soaked to the bone. She’d even forgotten the small bag she’d put together with her comb and a change of clothes at the shop.
“I really would like for you to stay and eat with me,” he said, fixing his hand on his hips and shifting his weight into a wide stance. The shadows created by the candles made his features appear rigid. His eyes wore a somber glaze.
Sandra looked past him again towards the table. It had already been set with salads and a covered platter. She bit at her lower lip. “From the looks of the table, I’d say you’ve already made up my mind for me.”
“I confess,” he told her, cocking his head to the side and raising his dark eyebrows to the ceiling. “I figured, I stood a better chance of convincing you to stay if your appetite was on my side.”
As Luke moved to stand over her, silently waiting for an answer, a rock lodged in Sandra’s throat. He had certainly whetted her appetite, she thought to herself. That’s what worried her the most.
“It wouldn’t be fair for me to stay. It would be misleading,” she blurted out.
“Fair or misleading?” he questioned and broke into a chuckle.
“Yes. I mean both.” She tried to make her voice sound firm and opposing. “We can’t possibly become . . . involved. For God’s sake Luke, you’re my competition.”
“I don’t see why we can’t be friends. Your father and I were friends for years,” he told her with a scowl. “Frankly, I don’t think he’d approve of our being cutthroat enemies. Besides, I don’t do business that way. If a customer comes to my store and not yours, I’m doing something right that you’re not. A little competition is healthy. Wouldn’t you agree?”
Sea Star Legacy Page 9