“Yes, and the fact they’re using the pay phone bothers me. You can see right into your living quarters from there.”
“Why are they doing this? Do they want my business or do they simply want me to leave?” she asked, not really expecting an answer. Pushing away from the desk, she rose from her chair and walked around to the front of the desk and stood next to Luke. As she leaned against its edge, she sought out his eyes.
“I wish I knew what they wanted, Sandra,” he replied, reaching for her hand. He held her palm with the tips of his fingers, stroking the back of her hand with his thumb. Pulses of warmth danced up her arm, calming her frazzled nerves.
She closed her eyes and kissed the side of his cheek in gratitude. As she peered up through her lashes, she saw her mariner examining her face. He wore a confused expression. She forced her thoughts together not wanting to hear him say what was easily written on his face.
“Do you think it’s Hank?” she asked, hoping to guide their discussion away from her simple act of appreciation.
“I’d like to think even MacFabish wouldn’t stoop this low. Besides, I can’t think of any good reason he’d be interested in your leaving. If anything, he’d prefer you to stay.” He gave her hand a knowing squeeze. “Our man could be an angry fisherman.”
“Does the sheriff know about Beth?” she asked.
“No. I’ll go talk to him tomorrow and tell him what’s going on.”
Sandra started to protest. She was as capable as he was to discuss the situation with the sheriff. Then she felt his thumb caress her hand sending a surge of tingles up her arm. Her mind doubled over into a tight shell as her body awakened to his touch. Perhaps, it was a good idea to have someone like Luke Caldwell looking out for your best interests, she thought. He was smart, shrewd and he knew the town and its people well.
“Luke, I do appreciate your help,” she stated and careened her face upward as she waited for the sweet taste of his lips. Hoping beyond all hope to again feel his body pressed against hers, to feel his tongue mate with hers.
Luke looked down upon her oval face. Her skin was flawless and smooth like that of a porcelain doll. He touched his cheek to her hair. It smelled of flowers and Sandra. Running his fingers along the nape of her neck up into the thick silken texture of her hair, he felt his breath catch in his lungs. Dear God, he wanted this woman. He wanted her more than anything he’d ever wanted in his life.
He felt his body nudge at the front of his khaki shorts and the decision was made. Lowering his mouth to hers, he began nibbling at her lower lip. He watched with interest as her expression changed from contentment to longing. She gazed up at him through hooded eyes.
Lifting her up onto the desk, he wedged his hips between her thighs and let the soft contours of her body meld with the sharp angles of his own. Inhaling the gentle scent of her hair and skin, he was sure he’d never known another woman who smelled and tasted as wonderful as Sandra.
As she arched her neck out and murmured his name, Luke sucked in a deep breath, studying her face. Her features were rounded and innocent but her half lidded eyes told of passion.
“Why don’t you lock the front door and we can further our activities upstairs,” he suggested in a husky voice.
“Sounds like a good idea.” Sandra slid off the desk and side stepped around him. “I’ll be right back,” she whispered.
“I’ll wait.” Luke listened as her footsteps padded into the distance. Lord help him, he was falling hard. He turned and surveyed the small office that had been Ben’s. A plant hung in the window he didn’t remember. The old gun mental gray trash can which sat in the corner had been traded for a more streamlined plastic version. Except for that, the place looked the same. Somehow he’d half expected her to put in pink floral curtains and rosebud vases everywhere. Wasn’t that what women were supposed to do when they moved into a man’s house?
Luke tried to imagine her fitting into the confining quarters at The Boat. He could easily envision her on top of his bed, nestled into his pillow, the smell of her sweet scent mingled with his in the bed covers. Taking a deep breath, Luke shifted his position on the desk. His manhood struggled against his shorts. He turned and examined her desk in the hope of finding a magazine or something, anything to distract his thoughts.
He strained to listen. How long would she take? A shuffling sound came from the far side of the Sea Breeze. She probably had to lock the side door, too.
A vanilla folder on her desk caught his attention. Drawings of sleek lined catamarans hung out the sides. Luke picked it up. This must be the regatta advertising, he thought. He shuffled through the immaculate pencil sketches. The lay outs were too extensive for a regatta. They were for an extensive advertising campaign for the Sea Breeze. Had she been serious about running him out of business? No, that’s absurd, he told himself. She and I have an understanding.
Luke heard her footsteps enter the office and he turned to her with a smile. “All locked up?”
“Yes. Why are you reading my folder?” Her eyes were stern and unyielding while her voice held an edge which cut.
Luke looked down at the papers he held in his hands. “I didn’t mean to snoop. I thought it was information on the regatta,” he stated, hating the way her accusing glare unnerved the innocence of his explanation.
“Well, it isn’t.” She strode next to him and pulled the folder from his hand. Unlocking the center compartment of her desk, she thrust the parcel into it. After she closed the drawer and twisted the key into the lock, she glared back at him. She didn’t trust him, he thought. Perhaps he was sailing in a circle without a destination after all.
“I thought I saw a regatta flier hanging out of the flap. It caught my eye.” Luke rocked back on his heels and shoved his hands into his pockets. “You are acting like you caught me in corporate espionage.”
“You had no right to go through my papers.”
“I’m sorry. I hadn’t realized you were still planning to put me out of business with your top secret plans. Next time, mark your files or leave me with a magazine to read.”
“Luke, you don’t understand. I’m not trying to put you out of business. I do have a business to run and it happens to compete with yours whether you want to admit it or not.”
“For ten plus years Ben and I ran our boating supply companies side by side, neither of us ever saw each other as the enemy. Ben, however, trusted me as a friend.”
“What does friendship have to do with it?”
“Evidently, not much between you and me. I think I’d better go, now.” Luke felt his frustration come to a boil. He shook his head in disbelief. “First you thought I was harassing you out of your property and now you think I’m spying on your business. Sandra, what kind of person do you think I am? Why on earth did you sleep with me?” He turned and strode towards the door not waiting or wanting an answer to his questions. His only desire being to put distance between them.”
“Luke?”
“He stopped in front of the shop’s entry way and turned back towards her trying to hold his temper at bay. “Yes.”
“I’ll talk to the sheriff tomorrow myself.”
“If that’s what you want,” he agreed and left.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Finally, Friday, the day of the regatta registration arrived. All the pre-regatta preparation was done. Everything seemed to be going as planned. No last minute unforeseen details to take care of popped up. Sandra had half expected the printers to lose her copy of the regatta brochure or the radio stations to forget to announce the event, something disastrous. Everything seemed to be working like clockwork.
At three o’clock, the anticipation became too much. She had to go see how Bernice and the others were getting along with setting up the registration booth. Leaving Chris to close the shop, she headed out in the jeep to the other side of the bay.
When Sandra arrived at the hotel, she noticed several catamarans had already arrived on the beach and were fast setting up th
eir rigs. Having raced in several sailboard races, she equated the difference between sailboards and catamarans to watching couples dance impromptu on a barroom dance floor versus a prima ballerina’s performance. Both were enjoyable to watch, however the tempo and grace exhibited varied considerably. The sailboards dotting across the water looking like a heard of frantic butterflies had none of the calm dignity a sailboat exhibited. Sandra’s sympathies certainly ran towards the sailboards point of view, however.
Entering the large beach side hotel, Sandra had little difficulty finding Bernice and Hank. The hotel looked like a large mall with the main desk just inside the door. Small restaurants and shops circled an open court yard. They had put the registration table up just off the main thorough fair. Both Bernice and Hand were sitting behind a table covered with a white satin cloth. A sign across the front read, “Fall First Registration.” T-shirts and entry forms were displayed over the table’s length. Everything looked perfect.
Hank rose from his chair with a start at seeing Sandra. He wore gray pleated slacks with a yellow shirt which highlighted his dark complexion and blonde hair. He looked rather handsome as he smiled, Sandra thought grudgingly, though he still made her nervous. She doubted Luke would outdo him with polite conversation, tonight, at least not in her presence, anyhow.
It had been a week since Luke had walked out her door. He’d called several times, but never suggested they see each other. She suspected the only reason he’d called then was to check to make sure the mystery prankster hadn’t made another appearance. Despite any other feelings Luke might have for her, he appeared to feel protective of her. Bernice too had called and came by much more frequently. Luke probably asked her to go by. She knew she had hurt his feeling, but she didn’t expect him to stay mad. The last time he’d called, she’d almost asked him to come over. However, she’d come to her senses in the nick of time. What little hope she’d held for her and Luke had been swept away when she caught him going through her fall advertising campaign. Sandra could still see the pain in his eyes when he had accused her of trying to put him out of business. She’d never bought all that stuff he’d told her about not competing with each other. Luke would have done the same thing if he’d thought of it first. In fact, he may already have plans. After all, when you started thinking in dollars and cents, no one in their right mind would willingly give up a single customer. It didn’t explain why she felt so guilty though, as if she were at fault.
“There you are. Bernice said you’d be here to keep us company.” Hank greeted her as she neared the table, his eyes glistening. By the expression on his face, Sandra would have bet he had a hidden agenda tucked away for the evening. Hopefully that agenda didn’t include designs on making a move on her again. After her quarrel with Luke, she was in no mood to play games, especially with Hank MacFabish.
As he stood up from behind the table, Sandra offered Hank her hand, diplomatically trying to ward him off. Hank grasped it and then put his other arm around her back in an all too familiar hug. Smiling politely, she hoped her glare bore her true feelings.
It’s so good to see you, honey.” Bernice’s voice boomed out and she too moved to extract a hug. Thankful for Bernice’s company, Sandra felt her spirits improve with the other woman’s embrace. If she could trust anyone to help her keep the wolves at bay, it was Bernice.
Releasing their embrace, Sandra looked down at Bernice’s attire. “Why, you’re wearing a Fall First Regatta T-shirt and jeans.”
“Yes, what do you think?” she asked, twirling around like a young girl displaying a party dress.
“Very becoming.”
“Really? They certainly are comfortable. You know, I might be old enough to be you all’s mother, but I don’t have to dress like it.”
Sandra smiled and took Bernice by the hand. “Of course, you don’t. They’re quiet becoming. Really.”
The older woman beamed her gratitude and looked down at the multicolored T-shirt which displayed a hot pink catamaran flying through the waves. A tattered looking cartoon character was shown hanging onto the boat by his knuckles with his feet straight out like a flag. “The shirts turned out perfect, Sandra. You and Luke did a good job arranging for the art work.”
Sandra’s smile faded with the mention of Luke’s name. She mentally propped the corners of her mouth back up again. “You don’t think the men will mind the wild colors do you?”
“I think the colors are fine,” Hank piped in. “In fact, you can come over and design my wardrobe anytime.” He grinned as his rakish stare roved over Sandra. His scrutinizing gaze reminded her of someone at an auction inspecting an object in hopes of purchasing it. He’d certainly have to rethink his motives again.”
Bernice glared an unspoken reprimand to Hank. “Come on now, here comes Frank and Jenn to register. They’ll need a sailing packet put together.”
“What can I do?” Sandra asked.
“Why don’t you start sorting those shirts into sizes. I’ll take down their registration information. Hank, you can put the packets with all the promotional materials together. They’re laid out behind us.”
The pile of pink T-shirts stood a good three feet tall on the table and there were more in the brown cardboard box sitting on the floor. Sandra placed a handful of shirts in the correct piles and looked up at the couple signing in.
“I’m glad you came,” she told them. She’d met Frank and Jenny at the sailboat fleet meetings. The group met at her shop after hours. It was a great way to get the word out that the Sea Breeze had reopened.
The couple returned her smile then continued filling out their paper work.
“Will that do it?” Jenny asked, slapping the ink pen down on the table in an exaggerated manner.
“I believe it will,” Bernice assured her.
“Sandra, are you sailing tomorrow?”
Startled, Sandra glanced up from her shirts and eyed the woman with curious suspicion. “No, I’m not.”
“I heard Luke Caldwell is searching for crew.” The petite brunette laid the news out like an enormous goose egg.
Sandra’s cheeks reddened. Turning her face down, she fumbled with the shirts. It wouldn’t take a fool to realize she had feelings for the man if she went around blushing like a school girl at the mention of his name.
“You’ve met Luke before, haven’t you?” Frank inquired as he crooked his head to the side in an obvious attempt to make eye contact.
Sandra looked up from her shirts with a breath of resolution. “I know Luke Caldwell. He runs The Emerald Boat in Pensacola. In fact, we’re sponsoring this regatta together.”
“Oh, then, you must’ve known he didn’t have crew for the race. We were just thinking . . . well, you know, you might enjoy crewing for him,” Frank mumbled.
Jenny’s eyes lit up as she pounced on the opportunity. “Oh, Sandra, he’s an expert sailor and he never loses his temper with his crew. Besides, he’d not bad looking either.”
Somehow, Sandra doubted Luke could spend the day with her without losing his temper. She knew she had been out of line before when she’d suggested he was the phantom caller.
“No, I think I’ll watch from the committee boat. I promised Bernice and Hank I’d help them keep track of the boats.”
Both Bernice and Hank turned around and stared at Sandra as if she’d lost her mind.
“I didn’t know you weren’t racing, Hank,” Frank stated.
Hank lifted a wiry eyebrow which told Sandra, she would owe him dearly for this small white lie. “I’m actually not sure yet what I’ll be doing. My Hobie 14’s rudders are at the aquarium under repair right now. If they manage to dry and I can get them sanded in time, I may sail.”
“Sandra, Eustice and I will love having you on the race committee boat, though you might still consider crewing for Luke. Honey, I know your father wouldn’t have trusted anyone else more.”
“My father doesn’t have anything to do with this,” Sandra replied in a bitter tone that left Bernice
’s plump lower jaw hanging open.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“You didn’t, honey.”
“I simply don’t want to race, tomorrow.”
Jenny and Frank glanced at one another. “We’ll see you at the skipper’s meeting in the morning then,” Jenny said and gave Sandra a snide look before turning to leave. Frank absently followed her lead.
As she returned to sorting out shirt sizes, Sandra sulked. She knew she had been rude and insensitive. Even the mention of Luke’s name got under skin. It was his fault she’d come to think of him as anything but the competition. It was him and his hot passionate kisses. She didn’t even know what she wanted anymore.
Bernice and Hank must have sensed the turmoil brewing because they only addressed her when it was necessary. At the end of a long line of registrants, Hank stood and tapped Bernice on the shoulder. “I’m going to go get something to drink. Would you like to come?”
“Sounds fantastic. Sandra can I bring you a drink?” Bernice asked.
“No, thank you,” she replied in a sorrow filled voice and put her hand to her forehead to shield the emotions she knew were written on her face. It was evident they wanted to get away from her. She didn’t blame them. Perhaps she should go on home and let them finish up the registration without her?
Staring down at the chair legs next to hers, Sandra noticed the brown leather attaché case that Hank had brought with him. She couldn’t help wondering when he used it. Being an aquarium director generally wasn’t a job which required you to carry documents around.
A think brown envelope barely stuck out from the case. Numerous postage stamps had been canceled on the front. Reaching for the document, she stopped herself as her fingertips touched the envelope. What was getting into her? she wondered as her hand remained still in indecision. Had all this prank caller stuff and Luke gotten to her to the point she was willing to spy into someone else’s private business? Wasn’t this the exact thing that she’d been so mad at Luke about? Okay, she’d just read the address label. Barely pulling the flap on the case back, she read, National Marine Wildlife Federation. What in the world was he up to?
Sea Star Legacy Page 23