“So, how come a handsome, eligible bachelor like you never married?”
He shrugged. “Hawk’s Lake doesn’t exactly have a wild singles’ scene.”
He walked her to the door, and she stood on the bottom step. She hated moments like these. To kiss or not to kiss?
She was just about to lean over when he gave her a quick peck on the cheek, turned around and jogged to his car, waving as he drove off.
That’s it?
She rolled her eyes, disappointed in herself for wanting more. Yet she was relieved that nothing more had happened.
Wasn’t she?
Chapter Six
Mari woke up at ten o’clock, unable to remember the last time she’d slept so late.
She hopped in the shower, dressed in sweats and walked over to the patio with her coffee. Sipping the warm brew, she spotted a heron standing on its long, thin legs at the edge of the lake, surrounded by mist. Its pointed beak stabbed at something in the water.
She watched in fascination, wondering if she had the skill to paint it onto one of her pieces.
Quietly, she walked onto the porch, found some paper and sketched the bird, getting the result she wanted with her fifth attempt.
Excited, she decided to make a couple of dishes on the wheel. She’d paint the heron on a flat surface first.
Just as she picked up a bag of clay, she heard a car coming down the road.
It had to be Brian coming to fix the window.
Her heart raced. Then she felt torn. She had to admit that she liked his company, yet it was a perfect day to be alone, to lose herself in her art.
But he’d said that he wouldn’t be long. She went to the porch door and waited for him.
Wearing a perfectly tailored suit, he went into the boathouse and came out carrying a ladder. Wasn’t he going to change?
“Good morning,” she said, opening the porch door.
He grinned. “Foggy morning, you mean. Too bad you’re not getting some sun today.”
“I love it.” She took a deep breath. “Doesn’t it smell good?”
He imitated her intake of breath. “It smells like fish.”
“There you go again.” She shook her head. “It does not smell like fish. It smells like…the lake.”
“And where do fish live?” He raised an eyebrow. “I rest my case.”
“You are impossible.” In spite of his comments, she had to grin. “Are you going to fix the shutter looking like you’re going to ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange?”
“I didn’t bring extra clothes, and I have some calls to make at the garage today. Later, I’m closing a deal for Jack in Lake George, where I’m going to wrap up another deal on a rare 1908 Tulip Cadillac for Melanie this afternoon in Glens Falls.”
“What are Melanie and Jack doing this fabulous misty morning, that you have to pinch hit?”
“Jack is flying to Talladega to hang out with some racing friends. Melanie is speaking to Kyle’s class this afternoon about what she does as an antique car restorer. Apparently, it’s Career Day for second-graders. That leaves me to pick up the slack.” He shrugged.
“Do you always pick up the slack?”
“Of course. They’re my family.”
It seemed like they stared at each other for minutes, hours. Then Brian turned away.
“Well,” he said. “I’d better fix the shutter and get out of your hair.”
“Would you like some coffee?”
“I’d love some if it wouldn’t be any trouble.”
“No trouble. It’s all ready.” She looked down at his perfectly polished dress shoes. “I hate to be a mother hen, but those don’t look like the best shoes for walking on a roof. Won’t you slip? It’s pretty damp up there.”
“I’ll be careful.” He took off his suit coat and handed it to her.
Men. Could they be any more hardheaded?
He began to climb the ladder in business attire—burgundy tie, pressed white shirt with a “BH” monogram on the pocket. Only Brian would have a monogrammed shirt.
Mari went inside and poured him a cup of coffee and refilled her own. She put milk in a creamer, refilled the sugar bowl and put it all on a tray she’d found in a cupboard. Then she put some cookies she’d bought at Clancy’s on another plate.
She heard footsteps on the roof. Brian must be okay still.
Grabbing a roll of paper towels, she carried the tray to the patio and wiped down the furniture so his expensive suit wouldn’t get wet.
Brian walked toward her, ladder in hand.
“All set.” He set the ladder down and took a seat next to her.
She set down a mug of steaming coffee in front of him and pushed the tray toward him so he could fix it the way he wanted.
They sat in uneasy silence for a while, then Mari turned toward him. “Can I ask you something?”
“Fire away.”
“Why did you choose to go into your family’s business?”
“The garage?” He shrugged. “I just grew up there. Whenever I was around, I gravitated to keeping the books, ordering supplies, running the business end. Melanie’s creative, so she found her niche with the antique cars. And Jack has the need for speed and glamour, so it was natural that he fell into all things racing.”
“But you weren’t expected to go into the business?”
He shook his head. “Dad never pushed the garage on any of us. He was happy that I went for my MBA. And when I was doing really well at my brokerage firm, he knew I didn’t plan on returning to Hawk’s Lake.” He took a sip of coffee. “What about you? Did you feel like you had a duty to go into Sherwood Enterprises?”
She thought for a while. “Not exactly. Ever since I was a kid, I couldn’t wait to work there. It was a way to be near my parents. They were always so focused on the business, I felt like if I was part of that they’d have to focus on me, too.”
What on earth was she doing? She’d never admitted that to anyone, and here she was baring her soul.
“And now?”
His beautiful eyes were completely focused on her. He seemed truly interested and tuned in, so she continued.
“And now…I don’t know what to do. I just know I need a break from the place.”
Brian whistled. “I don’t think I wanted or needed a vacation in the five years I worked on Wall Street. I loved the hustle. It was a rush.”
“So why didn’t you go back? I mean, you said that your family needed you, but why are you still here?”
“First, there was an IRS audit. Then there were two additions to the garage that I wanted to supervise—Dad’s not good at that kind of thing. In between everything, Melanie became pregnant, and, as you know, her husband died and I helped out with her son, Kyle. And on it went.”
“Whoa…did you say that you wanted to supervise the two additions to the garage?”
“Did I say that?” he asked, eyes wide. “I should have said that I had to supervise.”
“Maybe you like being the go-to guy.”
Brian looked at her with eyebrows raised.
“Or maybe it’s just family responsibility,” Mari said, giving him a way out, but remembering to table this topic for later. “I told my parents that I needed a two-month vacation, but there’s more to it than that.”
“I’m listening.”
“We’re going to divide the company. My parents are going to be joint CEOs of new acquisitions and licensing. I’d get all the rest and become CEO. But I need to figure out if I want the job or not.”
“It’s a wonderful opportunity for you.”
“I’m not sure that I want to do it. It’s a ton of work. I take work home. I work on the weekends. I never have time for a personal life. Even the men that I’ve dated were those that worked at Sherwood. Our dates were more like meetings than dates.”
She tried to laugh at her joke, but it came out more like a grunt.
“Do you like the work?”
“I used to. I still
should. I guess it’s just too much now, too big.” She sighed. “But I have to work there. It’s my family’s company.”
“That doesn’t really answer my question.”
“I guess not.” She met his gaze and saw concern in his eyes and in the lines creasing his forehead. “To be honest, at this point, Brian, I don’t really know if I like it anymore.”
What he wouldn’t give for a job like the one being offered to her, thought Brian. CEO of Sherwood Enterprises.
Right now things were calm, and he could go for it if he really wanted. Melanie was deliriously happy with her new husband, busy with her children and the restoration business. Jack had cut back on his races and was spending more time at the garage developing faster race cars. Ed was retired, but at the garage more than ever. And Brian had no problem leaving his real-estate office in the hands of his agents and Mrs. Newley.
Maybe he could keep the books long-distance. Or hire a full-time office manager who would at least enter things on the computer. He could keep up with the other stuff he did for the garage in his spare time.
Deep down, Brian was afraid that if he didn’t leave Hawk’s Lake now he never would. So, what was he waiting for?
As one professional to another, maybe he should ask Mari to help him.
Though his credentials weren’t quite as broad as they probably ought to be, he still figured he had a really good shot at getting the CEO job when—if—Mari decided for sure that she didn’t want to take it. Plus, her parents already knew him and had always liked him, and so did Mari for that matter. With a recommendation from her, he’d be a strong candidate.
He was just about to ask Mari, but she was looking off in the distance, as if she were a million miles away.
He took a sip of coffee. “Would you like to row out on the lake with me and look at the stars?” He laughed. “Sorry, that sounds like a bad pick-up line.”
She looked at him in surprise. “I—I don’t think—”
“Come on, Mari. Get the most out of your Hawk’s Lake experience.”
“Okay. I’d like that.”
“Great.” He downed most of his coffee, helped himself to a cookie and waved goodbye. “I’ve got to hit the road. Busy day today.”
“Oh. Your jacket.” Hurrying into the cottage, she retrieved it and handed it to him. She gave him a slight smile, but her shoulders slumped as if she’d gone back to carrying a heavy weight on them.
Damn. He thought he might have helped her by letting her talk things out and by answering her questions. Instead, he’d made things worse.
“I’ll see you in a couple of days,” he said. Then he added, “And if you need to talk some more, I’ll listen.”
She looked at him. “Really?”
“Of course,” Brian answered, holding her gaze. “That’s what friends are for.”
Brian had spent the last forty-eight hours looking forward to seeing Mari again. And every second of the wait had been worth it. Hawk’s Lake glimmered in the moonlight as the crickets chirped around them. The stars shone brilliantly in the dark sky, and Mari seemed relaxed and happy.
“Bri, I want to row. Change places with me,” she said.
They stood and the rowboat rocked precariously. He reached out to steady her, his hands on her waist. She slammed into him and clamped on to his T-shirt with her hands.
Their gazes held for a while, and Brian was just about to bend his head and taste her lips when Mari cleared her throat.
“I shouldn’t have stood up that fast,” she said, her voice a little husky.
He couldn’t think of a clever reply—he was still concentrating on her lips.
She slid onto the wooden seat and he took the one opposite, sitting so he faced her. Mari began to row, heading for the middle of the lake. After a few misses with the oars, she made some adjustments and soon they were gliding across the water with barely a ripple.
“Now this is heaven,” he joked, stretching his legs out and crossing them at the ankles. “A beautiful woman rowing me around.”
She skimmed an oar on the water and tried to splash him. On the third try, she got it right.
“Yeow! That water is cold.”
She laughed. “You know you had that coming.”
“I suppose so.” Her laughter—and her glowing smile—suddenly reminded him of the summer he’d fondly referred to as the year of her pink bikini, when he’d realized that Mari was turning into a woman.
Then there was the year of the kiss, when she was sixteen and he was heading to NYU. The year he didn’t—couldn’t—say goodbye to her.
“Mari, there’s something I want to clear up between us.” He took a deep breath. “I’ve thought about you a lot since that last summer at Hawk’s Lake.”
The way she bit down on her bottom lip told him that she didn’t believe him. “Then why didn’t you ever call?”
“I don’t know.” He ran a hand through his hair. “I guess the more time that went by, the harder it became.”
“I was so mad at you.” She met his gaze. “Actually, I was mad at everyone and everything. Sixteen wasn’t a fun age for me. My whole world was changing, and way too fast. And my best friend never said goodbye.”
“Dammit, Mari. You were only sixteen. I was eighteen. If you want the truth, I was…scared.”
“Scared? Why?”
He tried to find the words. “I was scared of my feelings for you. And you were younger than I was. You were sixteen and I was eighteen. That was a big gap back then.” He shook his head. “You were going back to Boston—for good. What did I have to offer you? I had a scholarship waiting for me. You had your world—your society events, your family business.”
“But you were my best friend, Brian.”
He could hear the hurt in her voice.
“And you were mine. That’s why I had to let you go—to live your life.”
She turned away, and he could see her wiping at her eyes.
“I can’t believe how this still hurts me after twelve long years.” She turned and looked at him for what seemed like an eternity. “But I guess I do understand. You meant well.”
“Thanks, Mari.”
Everything was quiet. He could only hear the swishing sound of the oars pushing through the water. He couldn’t take his eyes off Mari. Illuminated by the moonlight, she seemed ethereal, angelic. She was finally back in Hawk’s Lake. This time, he didn’t want to stay away from her. “Look at all the stars.”
She was silent for a while. “You’re right, Brian,” she whispered. “It seems as though I can reach out and touch them.”
Her head was bent back, and he wanted to touch his lips to the curve of her neck.
“I brought some wine,” he said. “Are you in?”
“Definitely.”
He pulled out a corkscrew from his pocket and, by the glow of a flashlight, he uncorked the wine and poured it into two plastic cups.
“A toast?” he said, holding up his cup.
Mari held up hers, too. “To Hawk’s Lake,” she said. “The best place in the world.”
He had the urge to sit beside her, put his arm around her and let her rest her head on his shoulder, but he didn’t want her to move away.
“I know you don’t think so, Brian. But that’s because you’ve always lived here. You take things for granted.”
She was quiet for a minute. “I’d like to stay here forever.”
“Forever is a long time in a place like this. What would you do?”
“Honestly?” She raised an eyebrow, and he nodded. “I would really like to make pottery and sell it in the little gift shops here, and then—” She stopped abruptly. “Well, there’s no sense carrying on. I’ll probably have to go back.”
“So you’ve thought about it?”
“I never really stop thinking about it, but I don’t want to talk about Sherwood. Not on such a beautiful night. But thanks for asking.”
She reached over and took his hand, and he took that opportunity t
o move next to her.
He put his arm around her and hugged her to his side, just like an old friend.
But when he smelled the hint of strawberries on her hair and caught the floral scent of her skin, it was hard to remember that they were just old friends. Or that he’d thrown away any chance for something more.
To distract himself from the ache of wanting her, he pointed out a couple of constellations, and they sat quietly for a long time, swaying with the motion of the boat and sipping their wine.
When she looked up at him with her sweet smile, he couldn’t keep himself from lifting her chin and kissing her. Giving her enough time to protest, he kissed her forehead. When her smile deepened, he touched his lips to hers.
Her arms went around his neck, and she kissed him back. He heard a slight sound of pleasure and he traced her lips with his tongue.
“Mmm…Brian?”
He couldn’t get enough of her. She was the one woman he could never get out of his mind.
He realized now he’d been subconsciously comparing all the other women he’d dated to Mari. And they’d never measured up. Never given him that feeling of finding “home” in their arms, as she had—and as she did now.
He felt a push on his arms, and a greater rocking of the boat. He broke the kiss.
“Mari?”
“Brian, what are we doing?” Her eyes were wide with shock.
“Kissing.” He grinned.
“We can’t be kissing.”
“I’m pretty sure that’s what we were doing.”
She seemed a little tense and gave a nervous laugh, but she cupped her hand over the water, ready to splash him again.
“Okay…okay…maybe I do deserve that,” he said. “But you have to admit that you kissed me back.”
She let the water drain between her fingers. “It’s not you. It’s me. I want us to stay friends and not complicate things. And I’ve made some poor decisions where men are concerned.”
He sat straighter. “You think I’m a poor decision?”
“You know what I mean, Bri.”
“Okay.” He moved back to his seat and picked up the oars. “Do you want to limit our relationship to strictly business?”
The Tycoon's Perfect Match Page 6