Love in Catalina Cove

by Brenda Jackson

  She wrote down his order on the pad and then glanced at him. He was looking at her and for a minute she didn’t say anything. Then she forced her gaze away when she put the pad into her pocket. “I appreciate your coming by last night.”

  He nodded. “Just doing my job.”

  “Yes. Of course. And I’ve taken care of the things you suggested. I’ve already talked with my electrician and I paid my security expert a visit this morning.”

  “It’s not even ten o’clock yet. You’ve been busy.”

  “I figured I didn’t have time to waste. I headed Mr. Connolly off at the bait shop and called Summersville Electrics to check the outside lights.”

  “You don’t mess around do you?” She smiled and he felt his stomach tighten. Nothing new there.

  “I try not to. I’ll be back with your coffee.”

  She walked away and he watched her. He couldn’t force himself not to.

  Vashti returned with his coffee at the same time Kaegan showed up. Sawyer watched as they hugged liked the good friends they were, but still he couldn’t help the tinge of jealousy he felt.

  “Hey, man, you okay?” Kaegan asked, sliding into the seat across from him.

  He took a sip of his coffee. “Yeah, I’m okay.” Residing in the same town as Vashti was testing restraint and control.

  “I’m going out on the boat today. Cruising over to New Orleans to check out a commercial boat I’m thinking about buying. You want to come along?”

  “What time?”

  “Within an hour.”

  Sawyer glanced over at Vashti and as if she felt his gaze on her, she looked over at him. It seemed a blaze of desire had their eyes transfixed. When Kaegan touched his arm he looked at him. “What?”

  Kaegan smiled. “I was talking to you but it seems your attention was drawn elsewhere.”

  Yes, it definitely had been. “What were you saying?”

  “You never did say whether you wanted to go to New Orleans with me on the boat.”

  He had planned to go into the office for a little while today, but going with Kaegan away from the cove for a spell sounded like a good idea. “Sure, I’ll go,” Sawyer said, taking another sip of his coffee.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  VASHTI GOT UP from behind her desk, stretched her muscles a few times before walking over to the window to look out at the gulf. Doing so always relaxed her and today had been a hectic day. She’d gone through over twenty résumés for a chef.

  So far everything was moving forward with the inn. The painters had finished, and the woodwork and floors had been repaired and replaced. The new bedcoverings she’d ordered had arrived and the drapes would be hung next week. She had hired a gardener, maintenance staff and a housekeeping crew. Altogether there would be a total of twenty-five people employed by her. That included the kitchen staff which she was yet to find.

  Two weeks had passed since that day Ms. Gertie had recognized her. So far she hadn’t again, but that hadn’t stopped Vashti from thinking about what she’d said. Vashti had put it off as long as she could but this week she had called and asked her parents about it.

  Her mother had denied everything and said she couldn’t believe Vashti would believe such foolishness. Vashti might be wrong, but she could swear she heard desperation in her mother’s voice. Her father, as usual, had pretty much refused to talk to her, so nothing had changed there.

  Then there was the issue of the sheriff she had to deal with. She’d run into him today when his patrol car had come to a stop at a traffic light next to her. She had glanced over at him and the minute their gazes connected intense heat had surged through her. She hadn’t looked away. Neither had he, until the car behind her had honked their horn to let her know the light had changed. At the next intersection she had turned right and he’d turned left. However, for one sinful minute she had wanted him to turn right and follow her. To where, she wasn’t sure. All she knew was it was getting harder and harder to keep him out of her nightly dreams. Nearly impossible not to think of him every waking moment. And then there were the memories of their one night together. How it felt to rub her hands across his naked chest. How she’d clung to his shoulders while they’d made love. The way he would grip her hips just seconds before thrusting inside of her and how she would lift her thighs for him to penetrate even deeper.

  Drawing in a deep sigh, she was about to go back and sit down at her desk when the doorbell sounded. She didn’t have any more interviews today so she wondered who would be visiting her. She had talked to Bryce earlier and knew her friend was pretty much in for the evening, studying for a real estate test she would be taking next week.

  Going to the door she glanced out the peephole to see a teenaged girl standing there. She wondered if she was part of a group of teens who were going around getting a petition signed for the city council to consider bringing a McDonald’s to town. Although she admired their desire to implement change, she knew they had a gigantic struggle on their hands. She opened the door.

  “Hi,” the girl said in a bubbly tone with a huge smile on her face.

  Vashti smiled back. “Hi. I’ve already signed the petition.”

  “The petition?”

  “Yes, the one to bring a McDonald’s to town.”

  “Oh that. Thanks for signing it, but that’s not why I’m here.”

  “I see. Then what are you selling?”

  The girl shrugged, which made a wave of dark brown curly hair fall past her shoulders before another smile touched her lips. “I guess you can say I’m selling myself because I need a job.”

  Vashti leaned in the doorway finding the teenager’s approach amusing. “You need a job?”

  “Yes.”

  “And what job are you applying for?”

  “Miscellaneous duties for the summer. I figured you would need someone who can do most of anything.”

  “And you can?”

  “Yes. I’m a wiz on a computer and familiar with a number of software applications.”

  The one thing Vashti did know was that when it came to being computer experts, these teens had it in the bag. “You have piqued my interest and I would love to interview you. I’m Vashti Alcindor, the owner of the inn. What’s your name?”

  The girl’s smile widened even more and she knew enough about protocol to extend out her hand to Vashti. “Thanks for the interview, Ms. Alcindor, and my name is Jade. Jade Grisham.”

  * * *

  SO THIS WAS Sawyer’s daughter, Vashti thought as she studied the girl sitting across from her at the kitchen table. Instead of using her office, she suggested they go into the kitchen where she served lemonade and cookies...but only after Jade had assured her she’d eaten dinner already. Vashti certainly didn’t want to ruin the girl’s appetite.

  She recalled Sawyer telling her that his daughter wanted a summer job. At the time he hadn’t seemed thrilled with the idea. Evidently he’d changed his mind. However, just to be on the safe side she would make sure. “So, Jade, are your parents okay with your working this summer?”

  Jade nodded as she bit into a cookie. “Yes, but it’s just my dad and me. Mom died a few years ago.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that.” She saw no reason to let Jade know that she knew her father, especially not the depth of their friendship.

  “Thanks. And yes, he knows. He wasn’t happy about it but I kept pressing him and he finally gave in since it’s just for the summer. I want a car by my seventeenth birthday and I want to feel like I’ve contributed toward it.”

  Vashti recalled Sawyer wasn’t crazy about her getting a car either. Would hiring her cause a family conflict? She would only do an informal interview as a courtesy. “So tell me why you think you would be a good fit here over the summer.”

  “Well...”

  As she talked Vashti listened. She also found herself studyin
g the young woman and remembering herself when she was that age. She had worked here at the inn with her aunt, doing basically the same things Jade was saying she could do. Simple things like answering the phones, taking reservations, keeping her calendar and other miscellaneous duties. Vashti was also impressed with how articulate Jade was. How poised and self-assured. Jade had yet to mention her father was the sheriff. Some young people would have used that to their advantage. But so far Jade was selling herself on her own merits and not on her father’s occupation.

  “I promise if you hire me you won’t regret it, Ms. Alcindor.”

  Vashti cringed. Every time Jade called her that she felt old. “It’s okay for you to call me Vashti.”

  “You sure? My dad says it’s important to always be respectful.”

  “I’m sure and you have. I have no problem with your calling me Vashti.”

  “Would it be okay to call you Ms. Vashti?”

  Vashti smiled, nodding. “Yes, that’s fine.” She bit into her cookie and took a sip of her lemonade and then said casually, “Your last name is Grisham. Our sheriff’s last name is Grisham. Are the two of you related?”

  A huge smile touched Jade’s lips. “Yes, he’s my dad and he’s the greatest.”

  It suddenly occurred to Vashti that at no point had she ever thought her dad was the greatest. Vashti asked Jade a few more questions and then said, “I admit I am impressed with you, Jade. Give me a few days to get back with you if I determine you would be good fit for the inn.”

  Jade’s smile grew even larger. “Thank you, Ms. Alcindor...I mean Ms. Vashti.”

  * * *

  SAWYER LOOKED UP when his cell phone went off and lifted a brow in surprise when he saw it was Vashti. Tossing the papers he’d been reading aside, he quickly answered, wondering why Vashti would be calling him. He’d seen her that morning on the way in to work. It had been the first time in almost two weeks. He’d kept busy all that day, not wanting to remember his reaction. And now she was calling. Why? “Yes, Vashti? What can I do for you?”

  He swallowed after asking her that, especially when he heard how the sound of her breathing had changed. It was crazy, but even through the phone sexual energy was consuming them. He felt it and knew chances were she felt it as well.

  “I met Jade today.”

  He lifted a brow. “You did?”

  “Yes. She came here looking for a summer job and I interviewed her.”

  Sawyer nodded. He knew Jade had gone to several places to apply for work, but he hadn’t known the inn would be one of them. “How did she do?”

  “Great. You should be proud of her. It’s obvious she’s a smart kid who’s been well raised. She’s very respectful.”

  The smile of a proud father touched his lips. “Thanks. I do my best.”

  “And it shows.”

  Vashti paused again and then she said, “I want to hire her, Sawyer. I can think of a number of things she can help me with over the summer. But I don’t want to hire her if it will cause friction in your home.”

  He shifted in his chair. “Why would it cause friction in my home?”

  “I recall you once hinted that you prefer she not have a job.”

  He released a deep sigh. For a minute he thought she would say because of their past affair, refusing to think of it as a one-night stand. “I gave up that fight when she returned from visiting her godmother in Waco for spring break. I gave her permission to get a job for the summer but only for the summer. I have no issue with your hiring Jade if that’s what you want to do, Vashti. I think she can learn a lot from you. I can tell you have a strong work ethic and you’re a professional.”

  “Thank you.”

  “And I appreciate your caring enough to check with me first. You didn’t have to and I want to thank you for doing so.”

  “You don’t have to thank me, Sawyer.” She paused again before saying. “Well, I’ll let you get back to work.”

  If only she knew. He would rather sit here and talk to her, listen to the sound of her voice. “Okay. Goodbye, Vashti.”

  “Goodbye, Sawyer.”

  He sat there and held the phone in his hand for a minute after she’d clicked off the line.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  VASHTI HEARD THE click of her heels on the tiled floor as she made her way to Ms. Gertie’s room. It was a beautiful Tuesday morning and it wasn’t ten o’clock yet, but already it promised to be a scorcher of a day.

  Jade’s first couple of weeks at the inn had gotten off to a good start. She had taken inventory of all the linens and bedcoverings so additional sets could be ordered. Not only had she finished the task in a couple of days but had put the results in a spreadsheet in the categories of single, queen and king beds. Then she’d proactively researched several linen outlets for Vashti’s consideration. She’d also worked closely with the housekeeping staff to take inventory of what household items needed to be ordered to keep the inn running on a daily basis.

  She discovered Jade wasn’t as chatty as some teens and you only had to explain things once. And her mastery of technology was amazing. Usually they ate lunch together and it was during those times when they would talk about Jade’s plans beyond high school. Jade had told her of her desire to return to Reno to attend the university there.

  Jade’s work hours were from ten to five and she rode her bike to work every day. Like most sixteen-year-old girls she was into hair, nails and clothes and looked forward to going on her first date. Vashti wondered how Sawyer would feel about that.

  Vashti had stopped by the café to grab some blueberry muffins, which were Ms. Gertie’s favorites. She would enjoy one with her and then leave to get to the inn before Jade arrived. She saw Mavis Green was coming out Ms. Gertie’s room when she rounded the corner. “Hi, Mavis, is everything okay?”

  “Yes, everything is fine. Today is one of those rare days Ms. Gertie might remember you. She definitely remembered me,” Mavis said, laughing. “Right down to that mole on my backside. After delivering all those babies in town how on earth can she remember my birthmark is beyond me.”

  Vashti’s lips curved into a smile. “That’s great that she’s herself today.”

  Still haunted by what Ms. Gertie had said about her baby, Vashti had done research on dementia patients and discovered that although their recognition might return, facts regarding certain things might still be rather clouded. Vashti figured that day had been one of Ms. Gertie’s clouded moments.

  After saying goodbye to Mavis she entered Ms. Gertie’s room to find her sitting in a chair and looking out the window like she usually did. She was wearing a lovely blue dress and her hair had been combed with a cute blue bow keeping it back from her face. Vashti thought she looked extra pretty today. She turned when she heard Vashti and smiled at her.

  “Vashti, it’s good to see you today, dear.”

  Vashti smiled back. “Hi, Ms. Gertie, and how are you?” Something else she discovered from her research was that on those days when a dementia patient recognized you, to not make a huge deal of it because most never knew they slipped from one state to the other. And when you told them, they either wouldn’t believe you or became overwhelmed by your accusation.

  “I’m fine and what about you?”

  “I’m doing okay. I brought you some blueberry muffins. I know how much you like them.”

  “Thank you. You were always a thoughtful child. Now come and sit a spell. You never did tell me what I asked you about before.”

  Vashti wondered if Ms. Gertie remembered their last conversation. There was only one way to find out. “I can’t remember what you asked me the last time.”

  The older woman shook her head. “I swear you young people are so forgetful. The last time you were here I asked you if you found out the truth about your baby.”

  Vashti wondered if she should lie and say yes,
she had found out the truth and quickly change the subject. But for some reason she couldn’t. It was like the game you played as a child when you were compelled to tell the truth. “We ended our conversation before you could tell me everything about that.”

  “Wasn’t much more to tell,” the older woman said as if she’d recalled every bit of that conversation. “I probably told you too much anyway.”

  Vashti thought about what she said and asked, “Did you ever tell my Aunt Shelby?”

  “No. I had no actual proof that your parents carried out their plan, although deep down I always had a gut feeling they had.”

  Vashti recalled running into Ms. Gertie several times after she’d returned to town after losing her baby. “In that case why didn’t you tell me what you suspected since I’d been your patient for a short while?”

  A regretful expression appeared on the older woman’s face. “I didn’t tell you for the same reason I didn’t tell Shelby anything. I had no proof since I wasn’t in that delivery room. But I think you have a right to know just in case my suspicions are true.”

  Once again Vashti knew she should end this conversation, but for the life of her she couldn’t. Instead she asked, “And they wanted you to do it first, to go along with their plan? Before sending me away?”

  “Yes, and like I told you, I wouldn’t do it because it would have been illegal.”

  “But how do you know someone at the place in Arkansas really did it and that my baby really didn’t die but was adopted out? That would have made what they did illegal as well.”

  “Yes, however, I had no proof but since it was the same plan to the letter, I questioned them about it.”

  “And they admitted it?”

  “No, but they had guilt written all over their faces.”

  Vashti didn’t say anything as she told herself the key word was plan. Her parents might have planned to do something devious but in the end, they hadn’t. Even Ms. Gertie admitted she had no proof that they had. But still, just the thought they had planned to do it didn’t sit well with Vashti. Drawing in a deep breath, another thought flowed through her mind. What if everything Ms. Gertie was telling her was a figment of her imagination and not true? But what if it was true? Just the thought was sending all kinds of emotions through her. Emptions she didn’t want to get worked up about if they were false. Just the thought that she could have a child somewhere out there was too much to think about. Deep down she’d known about the loneliness Reid Lacroix had talked about because she’d endured some herself. Maybe not to the same degree but she knew how it felt to be a loner. She’d always wanted another child, and had hoped her marriage to Scott would lead to making a family. But it hadn’t. So for her, her marriage had failed on many levels. Here she was at thirty-two and chances were she would not marry again and be a mother. However, right now, more than anything, she needed to know if what Ms. Gertie was saying had any legitimacy. There had to be a way to be certain.