Her hand briefly touched the phone receiver. She could call and give him her new telephone number. Oh Sandra, you’re thinking like an idiot. If he’s going to go on with this charade, let him try to call you. Besides, why should she give him her unlisted number? She still wasn’t certain that he wasn’t the one calling her. If he needed to contact her, he could simply do it during the day at the shop.
Dropping the papers back onto her desk, Sandra looked over at the clock on the wall. Eleven o’clock, she was starving. She mentally went over the contents of her refrigerator upstairs. Nothing wetted her appetite. What was it Hank had said? She didn’t get around to the right places in town. Perhaps he was right. Today she would eat at the Trader’s Cove. A little friendly conversation would help pick up her spirits, anyhow.
Walking across the stretch of white sand leading to the restaurant, the afternoon sun warmed her face. It felt good to get away from the shop and even better to know she had left the business temporarily in Chris’ capable hands.
She hesitated as she touched the metal handle to the glass door of the Trader’s Cove. What if those same men were here? The ones who had been talking about her? Nonsense, Sandra, she scolded herself. You aren’t going to let two gossiping old farts keep you from going where you want to.
Looking into the clear glass pane, Bernice’s image startled Sandra. The older woman moved toward the door. Her well rounded figure was clothed in a pair of polyester pants and a large tunic styled shirt. The entire outfit consisted of about ten different shades of blue. Sandra pulled back the door and entered.
“Bernice, how are you?” she asked, donning her brightest expression.
“I’m fine, honey. How about you?” Not waiting for a response, Bernice grabbed Sandra and hugged her tightly. Then relaxing her grip, she continued. “I haven’t heard from you since you were in here with your mother. Is everything all right? She seemed rather upset.”
“Yes, everything is fine. My mother has it in her head that I should be back at home living with her and my dear old stepdad.”
“I take it that isn’t what you want?” Bernice placed a hand around her shoulders and guided her towards the counter.
“No, it isn’t. I love it here,” she replied as she lifted herself onto a bar stool. “I understand now, why my father claimed this little stretch of paradise as his own.”
“You’d have made him happy, Sandra. He was so proud of you.”
“I’m glad. He never knew it, but I did love him.” Sandra felt her eyes sting with relief and joy. She had denied her feelings for her father to everyone including herself for so many years. Deep in her heart, however, she had always wanted him in her life; she had always wanted to make him proud of her and love her.
“He knew, honey. He knew.”
“Were my dad and Luke pretty good friends?” Sandra asked, changing the subject while she dabbed back her tears.
“The best of friends.” Bernice picked up a mug from a discolored rack and placed it in front of Sandra. “Coffee?”
“Yes, thanks,” Sandra replied, thankful that Bernice had chosen to ignore her brief emotional outburst. “Speaking of which, have you seen Luke lately?”
“Luke? No. Haven’t you?”
“No. I talked to him Saturday morning and he said, he’d call me, but I haven’t heard from him.”
“Did he get to meet your mother while she was here?”
“Yes, I’m afraid so. She wasn’t too taken with him under the circumstances.”
“Oh?” Her older friend pressed her lips together, blending shades of thick red lipstick on her lips. “I know it’s not my place to ask, but are you and Luke seeing one another?”
Sandra felt her cheeks flush. “Why do you want to know that?” she asked, trying not to sound defensive.
Bernice smiled knowingly. “Just wishful thinking. Though, I’ve seen the way he looks at you.”
“Bernice, you’re not starting a rumor are you?”
“Who me? No dear, I stay out of the lip flapping around here. However, I do have eyes and ears and I do use them.”
“Well, this time your eyes and ears are wrong. As far as I know, Luke and I are only friends,” Sandra stated, keeping her gaze riveted on the coffee cup clasped between her hands. It wasn’t an out and out lie, she told herself, hating to mislead her friend. She and Luke didn’t have a commitment to each other. She had assumed that is what they were going to discuss when her mother showed up.
Bernice poured herself a cup of black steaming brew and stared into her cup before speaking. “That’s a shame that you two aren’t . . . Well, you know . . . attached. Luke needs a good woman. If you ask me, he’s been a loner too long. He’s such a nice man.”
“I don’t know, sometimes I think he’s alright and then others, I wonder about his motives.”
“His motives?” Bernice’s face dropped into a frown as she lowered her mug onto the counter. “Good Lord, why?”
“Well,” Sandra started cautiously and then let the words blurt out. “He’s my competition after all and he would stand to gain if he got ahold of the Sea Breeze.”
“Sweetie, I don’t know about that.” Bernice shook her short dark locks from side to side in an exaggerated show of dismay. “You could be right. However, Luke is one of the most decent people I’ve ever known next to your father. I can’t imagine either one of them doing anything to hurt you.”
“Well, someone is.”
“You mean the phone calls and the note?”
“Yes, how did you know?”
“Luke told me. He called the sheriff from over here,” Bernice pointed a short finger at the phone hanging next to the cash register.
“Oh. Then, I guess he’s told everyone in town by now because Hank knew about it, too.”
“Perhaps it was Rachel, the dispatcher, who has the loose lip flaps. We don’t get much excitement around here, you know.” A scowl ran along the top of Bernice’s forehead as she clicked her nails on the table. “I don’t think it was Luke, honey. And it sure wasn’t me. Do you really believe he could do something like that?”
“I hope not. However, does anyone ever know anyone else that well?” Sandra asked and lifted her palm upward and shrugged.
“Sometimes, Sandra honey, you simply gotta trust your gut feelin’ about people.”
“I suppose you’re right. Luke doesn’t seem to be loose mouthed. If anything, he’s rather secretive, especially about himself.”
“Luke had his share of heartaches early in his life. That sort of thing makes a man careful about a lot of things.”
“What happened?”
“I can’t say or I wouldn’t be much of a friend myself, now would I?” Bernice replied, her mouth forming a mischievous smile. She clearly enjoyed leaving Sandra in midair.
“Next time you see him, ask him about it yourself. Friends should be able to talk to each other.” Tipping the cup to her lips, Bernice drank the last of her coffee, and then eyed Sandra with an appraising stare.
“Now, I best be getting back in the kitchen. You sit there and enjoy your coffee. I’ll see if I can’t find one of the girls to come up here and tell you what’s on special for lunch. Ernie’s been on a binge ever since the barbecue party and I can’t get him to stick to the menu. For all I know, the special of the day may be shrimp linguini. Last week, he put together a mystery fruit cobbler. It was tasty enough, but no one could get him to tell what he’d mixed together. I can’t imagine what’s next.”
Sandra chuckled softly and smiled. “I’m sure whatever it is, it’ll be great.”
“Damn sure better be she stated with a wink and a nod. Then she turned and walked off towards the kitchen.
* * *
Luke navigated the Outlander, into the recently rented slip. The docking space wasn’t as wide as he’d liked and the location was remote, but it would have to do for now. Eyeing his watch, he sighed. It was ten in the morning. After spending almost three days at sea, he was ready to get ho
me and rest. Normally, he enjoyed overnight charters. Not this time, however, Sandra had managed to invade his every thought whether he was asleep or awake.
During his waking hours, he’d worried about where their relationship was heading and whether or not she was safe at the Sea Breeze. He didn’t trust the spineless son-of-a-bitch who was trying to scare her out of town. The phone calls were bad enough, but their entering her house and writing the note signaled that someone was getting desperate to run her off. First thing, he’d get a shower and a nap then he’d give her a call. He certainly could use a nap.
Trying to sleep had proven more aggravating than worrying about Sandra all day. Every time he shut his eyes, his dreams would be filled with the woman. He’d dreamed of her slender legs wrapped around his own, their bodies undulating to the rhythm of the open sea. Then the sound of the young bride’s laughter from the cabin below would awaken him to the cold, hard berth. Having to listen and watch his newlywed clients had brought a stab of longing to his heart. He envied the couple’s bliss as the pain of past failures tore at him. Seeing his relationship through with Sandra would take courage. Luke wasn’t afraid of much. He could stand a gale force wind with the best of them. However, when he thought of Sandra, his stomach flopped to the side like a green gilled landlubber.
He hadn’t intended to get involved with the emerald eyed beauty. But, he couldn’t control the way she made him feel. Time had healed a lot of his wounds. He still wasn’t sure he wanted to be responsible for someone else in his life again.
Turning the motor off, Luke stepped off the vessel and positioned the boat guards against the sparkling new hull. As he secured the moorings to the pier, he heard the couple approaching.
“I hope you both enjoyed your cruise?” Luke asked already certain he knew the answer. He suspected the two would have had a splendid time no matter where they had been as long as they were together, he thought with longing.
“The cruise was wonderful. Thank you.” The young woman’s face radiated the contentment of first love as she gazed down on Luke with an appreciative smile.
“Perhaps you can make it back next year for your anniversary?” Luke suggested with his typical entrepreneur spirit while he silently wondered how long he could survive their state of bliss.
“Yes, we would love to,” the husband replied too enthusiastically for Luke’s current disposition.
“Give me a call when you know a date you will be coming. I’ll be happy to book the Outlander especially for you again.”
“We’ll do it,” they both agreed in unison, causing Luke to frown. The way he felt today, he’d just as soon it be against the law to be so damn happy around him.
Honeymooners generally didn’t bother him, but Sandy had his emotions twisting in the wind. He watched the two lovers leave in each other’s arms and he forced himself to wave goodbye. Trying to hide his contempt for their obvious joy, he smiled so wide his face hurt. It wasn’t like him to pout. If only he had made the time to talk to Sandra before pulling out to sea.
After ten years, did he dare risk becoming emotionally involved? Luke raised his hand to the scar below his jaw and felt the small whelp in his skin. The cut inflicted by Alex’s lover had healed much faster than the pain left in his soul. If he had lost Alex and not Joey, maybe he’d recovered. He knew he had no rights to the child, but that hadn’t kept Luke from loving him. He could still see the little boy’s innocent face as Alexandra held him on her hip with one hand and her suitcase in the other. She hadn’t even intended on letting him know they were leaving. He’d simply stumbled upon them by chance, having taken off work early that day.
Thoughts of Sandra intertwined with his past failure continued to haunt Luke as he unloaded the leftover provisions into his truck and drove the two miles down to The Emerald Boat. There were several cars in the parking lot when he parked his truck.
Striding up the ramp to his private quarters, he could barely see Elizabeth’s outline through the window. She appeared to be busy with customers. When he’d found the young girl on his porch steps crying a year ago, he’d thought he was being charitable by giving her a job and a place to live. The truth was, however, Beth soon came to play a vital role in his business. Not even 20 years old yet, she held down all of the routine management responsibilities.
Luke passed by the lower level windows and caught her attention. She continued to talk to a client while her eyes questioned Luke. He pointed up to his private residence, letting her know he was going upstairs. He would be back later to help. A warm shower and a couple hours shuteye would get him back to his old self. Then he could think. Then he’d know what to do.
Once in the shower, the cascade of gushing water did little though to lessen his pondering. His mind continued to relive the night he’d spent with Sandra. How she had looked the next morning, her head lying against his arm with her shoulder length hair draped over the pillow, each silken strand picking up the warm golden rays of the sun through the window.
Gritting his teeth in anticipation, he reached for the faucet and turned the water temperature down to cold. It was becoming increasing evident; he couldn’t put her from his life without making himself miserable. She had his heart captured in a steel cage impervious to his intentions to pry himself free.
Stepping from the shower, he tied a towel around his waist and headed towards the phone. His heart beat out a heavy rhythm as he punched out the Sandra’s shop’s number with his index finger. In near desperation, he waited to hear the soft timbre of her voice.
“Sea Breeze, may I help you?” a man’s coarse voice answered. Luke’s stomach tightened as the pounding in his chest increased, yet more. “Yes. May I . . . talk to Ms. Harris.”
“She isn’t able to come to the phone right now. Can I give her a message?”
“No, thank you.” A still greater fear gripped him as he pictured the man on the other end of the phone boastfully smiling. “I’ll give her my message in person,” he replied abruptly.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Opening the door to the Sea Breeze, Luke Caldwell wasn’t sure what he would find. The only thing he felt certain of was that he loved Ben Harris’ daughter and he would have her regardless of the consequences. Love, like a business venture, never came with a guarantee, only endless possibilities. This time he would make the relationship work. He had to talk to her.
A tall, slender man emerged from the storeroom and ambled towards Luke. He felt his blood run hot with fury. Had Sandra been in the back with him? He knew he was being silly. It didn’t matter, though. A primitive chord had been struck in him that he had never known before. He couldn’t control his jealous reaction any more than he could control his feelings for the woman. His hands balled into fist. Then, he caught sight of the man’s face. “Chris, good heavens, it’s you.”
The young man extended his hand toward him. “Luke, it’s good to see you.”
“What’ve you been up to?” Luke asked, attempting to sound casual while he scanned the store for another man.
“As of today, I’m working here at the Sea Breeze for Ms. Harris.”
“That’s great news.” Relief flowed through Luke like a cool mist on hot coals. It all made since now. Sure, he remembered Eustice talking to Sandra Saturday night about setting up a job for him. Chris had been the one who answered the phone. Suddenly, Luke felt like an idiot. Not only had he acted out of line by rushing over to the Sea Breeze when he had no legitimate claim on the woman, but he’d assumed she was seeing someone. It wasn’t that Chris wasn’t a good looking young man. What made it illogical was that they’d only just met him and Sandra was a good seven years older than him.
“Yeah, I came over this morning to apply for a job. She put me right to work. It sure beats the fish trawler.”
“I’m sure she’s relieved to have you here to help. It is hard to run a business without good help,” Luke stated, doing a little fishing for information.
“Is everything all right?” Concern furro
wed the young man’s brow as he studied the expression on Luke’s face. “Were you the one who called a minute ago?”
“Yes, I am,” he replied not trying to hide the irritation in his voice. Like it or not, Sandra Harris had him jumpier than a swordfish on a fishing line. “Where is she?” he asked trying to use a calm even voice.
“Back in her office,” the younger man replied tilting his head to one side and rolling his eyes in that direction. “She’s on the phone. She said, she was going to make a few calls to insure everything is set up for the regatta Friday.”
“It’s okay. She’ll see me.” He waved Chris off and headed towards Sandra’s closed office door.
Not bothering to knock or shut the door behind him, Luke marched in and stood in front of Sandra’s desk. His feet were spread wide with his hands resting upon his hips. As she continued to talk on the phone as though nothing had changed, her green eyes bore smoldering holes through Luke.
“We need to talk,” he stated in a soft voice.
Sandra nodded and gave him another cold stare. Who did he think he was bursting into her office after not calling her for three days? This was her business and she wasn’t about to let him push her around.
“Yes,” she murmured into the phone. “It sounds like the article will be outstanding. It should run on Thursday? Great. Yes, thanks a lot, Bert. Hope to see you there. Bye.”
“Was that Bert Jacobs on the phone? Luke asked, his curiosity peeked.
“Sure was. He has agreed to fund a full-page spread featuring the many outstanding qualities of sailing on the Miracle Strip of Florida and an entire half-page spread on the regatta,” she replied with a cocky grin.
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