Jewell (A Second Chance Novel Book 2)

by Tina DeSalvo

  “You smell so damn good, chère,” he whispered for only her to hear, his breath raising goose bumps on her flesh. “You cannot possibly smell like flippin’ bug spray.”

  “Uncle Beau, your phone is dinging.”

  Beau reached into his pants to grab the phone, but remained standing solid and close to Jewell. Joey moved out of the group hug first. Jewell wanted to scoop Joey back into the fold, but Ben and Elli were already moving on, his arm still around his wife’s waist. Elli waved good-bye to Jewell and called Joey to come along with them.

  Joey picked up the puppy after Beau put her down, and handed her to Jewell before he rushed off, moving as children do, much like the dogs, in quick, awkward movements. He tripped over an oyster shell, laughed, and regained his balance by grabbing hold of the tall brown bloodhound. Then, without missing a step in what looked like an orchestrated dance, he shouted over his shoulder. “Bye, Nancy. Bye, Dr. Jewell. Bye, Uncle Beau.”

  Jewell waved good-bye.

  She watched until Ben drove away. The dogs, with their tongues hanging out of the sides of their mouths, sat contentedly in the bed of the truck. Jewell looked down at her hand and smiled. What a silly person she was. She’d been waving to the dogs. Nancy licked her hand.

  Beau took a step back, texting on his phone. Jewell turned to face him. When he hit send, he glanced at her and exhaled. He reached over and scratched Nancy behind the ears. “Sorry. Had to answer a persistent client.” He lightly touched her bruised cheek. “You should ice that.”

  “I left the icepack the ER nurse gave me in Izzy’s truck.” She reached for her cheek to see if it felt like it had swollen more; he looked so concerned. He reached for her cheek at the same time and their hands touched. Electricity jolted through Jewell straight to her heart, making it race as if she’d been hit with defibrillator paddles. She dared to look at him. Had he felt the same fast, unexpected current race through his body?

  “I really don’t know what the hell is going on between us,” he said, his voice deeper than she’d ever heard it before. His light eyes had darkened to a very sexy jade.

  So he had felt it too.

  “I’ve been attracted to women before, but, damn, there is something preternatural between us.” He lifted her chin, stared into her eyes. “What kind of voodoo is this, Jewell? It’s like I have no say in this. Another force seems to control my body when I’m near you.” He leaned in closer to her. Nancy rested her head on his chest but remained in Jewell’s arms. “It seems to be getting stronger the more time I spend with you. I think there’s only one way to stop it.”

  “Spend less time together,” she whispered, because speaking was too hard with the way she was struggling to breathe.

  “No, Boots, just the opposite. In fact...” He kissed her.

  Where she felt an electric bolt before, she now felt bone-melting heat. She had to grab hold of his shoulder to keep from slipping into a hot puddle at his feet. She could only use one hand because she held a now sleeping puppy with the other. Beau was right. There was something preternatural between them. This wasn’t normal. Never had she been kissed so deeply, passionately, completely that she couldn’t stand on her own two feet.

  “Damn it,” he said, lifting his mouth from hers. She heard his phone signal a text as it had earlier. “I’ve got a client who’s determined to meet. I’m sure it’s him again.”

  He shook his head, but when she thought he was going to turn away, he took Nancy from her, leaned over, and kissed her again. She kissed him back, sliding her hands around his neck, pulling him more firmly against her mouth. She knew somewhere in the part of her brain that was still functioning that she should resist him, push him away, but her pull to him felt like a moth to flame. His soft, smooth lips felt so good on hers. His tongue was so intoxicating, moving in a slow rhythm against hers. His scent was carnal and masculine and potent. Then he ended the kiss and cursed again. Jewell was both grateful and disappointed.

  He yanked his phone from his pocket and looked at the text. “Sometimes I hate my job.” He read the text. “I wish I had different work ethics. I’d ignore him, shut my phone off, and finish what we started.” He looked at Jewell. “I do intend to finish what we started.”

  She shook her head. “We can’t. It would be a mistake.”

  “Damn right it will.” He grabbed her arm. “But it will be so mind-blowingly incredible.” He blew out a breath. “Right now, I’ve got to deal with this anxious client who thinks he can break the law and not have to face the same consequences as the rest of civilization.”

  He gave her a quick peck on the lips. “Remember, rest tomorrow while I’m in court. No working in the barn or attic.” He kissed her to silence her when she started to protest. “I’ll come over later. I’ll pick you up at seven tomorrow night. Dinner and dancing.” He walked away, climbed into Tante Izzy’s truck with the puppy and closed the door. He started the engine and leaned out of the open window of the bright pink truck in all of his sexy masculinity. It was a picture that made Jewell smile. “And Boots, wear something nice…like you actually like the guy who’s taking you out.

  “But I don’t,” she shouted back, knowing that was a lie. “If I go at all, I’ll wear my mourning weeds. That would be appropriate.”

  Oh, geez. She did like him…most of the time, when he wasn’t harassing her or accusing her of misconduct. She liked the way he cared about his family. She liked the way he showed tenderness to Mimi and Tante Izzy. She even liked how committed and loyal he was to his clients and work. But none of that really mattered. There was something more elemental between them that transcended like, hate or indifference. There was a physical pull that was unreasonable and unexplainable.

  She walked toward the barn, feeling emotionally drained and a little sore from getting slammed with the airbag. It had been an awful day. It had also been a good day—she’d been given the family bible and she’d discovered that Beau wasn’t just being a bully with her under the guise of trying to protect his family.

  Finding out he kept all of the birthdates and anniversaries of his family members told her he really did care about them deeply. It made no logical sense, and it certainly wasn’t tied to her guilt over the car accident or the bone-melting kiss they’d just shared, but Jewell knew that she’d make sure his life was linked with the Bienvenu family that he cared so much about. The first name she’d inscribe in the bible when she updated it would be that of her adversary, Beauregard James Bienvenu.

  Jewell’s chest muscles had ached most of the morning from where the airbag had struck her and the seatbelt had locked across her body in the crash the day before. It was probably why she had slept so fitfully the night before and risen before the sun did. Then, again, her mind was such a jumble of thoughts and worries that it probably had more to do with that than her aches. Work always helped focus her mind and settle her anxiety.

  While Mimi slept, Jewell worked on her computer, taking care of the research necessary to price Elli’s furniture and incidentals. Mimi had slept later than usual, to almost ten-thirty. She had been exhausted from the activities of the day before. But, she woke up happy and chatty, talking in fragmented sentences about the two girls who she played with at the church the day before. She never mentioned the accident. She didn’t seem to remember it.

  Ruby had picked up Mimi after lunch to go the movies with her and Tante Izzy, so Jewell had taken advantage of the break and went for a walk in the sugarcane fields. On her way back, she decided to go into the barn to check on some details she needed for her inventory sheet. She knew Beau wouldn’t be happy about that, but time was tight and she had no choice if she was going to meet the deadline.

  Jewell had only been in the attic for fifteen minutes when she heard Elli call her name from downstairs.

  “I’m up here,” she answered and Elli immediately climbed the narrow, ladder-rung stairs to meet her.

  “Hello, there,” Elli said, stepping fully into the attic. She was such a striking b
eauty, the kind of woman other women noticed and wanted to look like, even while wearing simple gray yoga pants, a soft pink long-sleeve exercise top, and running shoes. She took four long strides and hugged Jewell. “We had to delay our departure. Ben had to make a morning house call for a desperate client threatening to bring his dog to the shelter.” She shivered. “He still hasn’t gotten back yet. ” She shrugged. “Joey’s in the house getting a favorite book he wanted to bring to the beach. I figured I’d come by to see how you’re feeling.” She looked down. “Cute boots. I love all of your boots.”

  Jewell laughed and looked down. “Thanks. Part of my work uniform. And, I am working.” She waved her hand behind her. “I’m feeling fine.”

  Elli walked further into the attic and smiled. “You certainly are making progress.” She ran her hand over the top of a dresser, then picked up a heavy metal candelabra on top of it. “This is pretty.”

  “It’s an eighteenth century French gilded bronze.” Jewell pointed to the base of the candelabra. “This foliage motif is very desirable. With this good condition, which is unusual for its age, more than two hundred years old, you should get a couple of thousand for it. If we had the pair, you’d get much more.”

  “Wow. We had a two-thousand-dollar candelabra hidden away in this musty old barn. It seems like a crime.” Elli smiled. “I’m so glad you’re here to not only clean out the barn, but to give all of these things another life. I love knowing that someone will enjoy having them as part of their lives.”

  “Yes,” Jewell said, clapping her hands. “I feel that way too.”

  “I understand the family has been standing in line for you to take a look at their stored treasures.” She laughed when Jewell nodded repeatedly. “They can be very intimidating and persistent, but their intentions are honest and true.”

  “I sensed that.” She took her iPad from her mailbag. “They’re just so competitive about who will get their treasures looked at first.”

  “Ha. I understand Tante Izzy has earned that honor.”

  Jewell laughed. “No. You have.”

  “For that I am very grateful.” She picked up a small crystal ashtray.

  “That’s worth about twenty dollars.”

  “I think I might keep it. I can put it in my bathroom to hold my jewelry when I wash my hands.”

  “That brings up something I wanted to talk about.” Jewell turned on her iPad. “We don’t have much time to move this inventory from the barn before the deadline. We need to determine what you want to do with it.”

  “I hate having to move it twice.” Jewell nodded in agreement. “What do you suggest?”

  Jewell lifted her iPad for her to see. “This is the list. Most of the items have prices assigned to them. I have to verify it, of course, and give values to about six pieces I’m not familiar with.”

  Elli pointed to the bottom line. “That’s a nice total value.”

  “I assume you’ll want to keep some of the pieces and sell others.”

  “Yes. Can you e-mail this to me? Ben and I will discuss it on the drive to the Beach. I want to execute the option in your contract for you to be hired as the sales agent to sell the rest of the items.”

  Heck yeah! Jewell wanted to shout, but she remained poised, professional. She needed the money she’d earn from sales commissions for a number of things including fixing Beau’s car and her upcoming trial. She hadn’t heard from her attorney who said he’d call her this week to confirm if the trial was still set to begin next Tuesday. Whether it was next week or next month, she had to pay her legal bills. She hadn’t been able to hire the most desired attorney in New Orleans, but she hired the best one she could find for what she could afford. And she really couldn’t afford him anymore. He’d been paid with her savings. His billable hours must already be adding up again as be prepared for trial.

  While she wouldn’t earn nearly enough from this job to pay both her business and personal expenses, she at least had a back-up plan to take care of what was most important—make sure Mimi was set up in an excellent facility if she went to jail. She would sell their house, the warehouse and all of their assets to accomplish that. It was so freaking overwhelming.

  “I’d love to continue to work for you,” Jewell said. “Once you and Ben decide which items you want to keep, we need to move the rest somewhere buyers can access them—or where we can ship the pieces to buyers.”

  “You can call T-Bob for the moving part.”

  “Great.” Jewell looked around the room. She had another income-generating place where the furniture could be stored. “I can rent you space to store the inventory in my New Orleans warehouse. It’s a nontraditional-looking warehouse, but it serves its purpose.” She smiled, thinking of the old building that was abandoned and left in dire condition for years after Katrina. “I bought an old fire station four years ago and rehabbed it to suit my needs. It’s adjacent to Mimi’s house, so I can be close to her or easily bring her over while I work.”

  “A fire station. That’s so cool. I love repurposed buildings. I’d love to see it one day.”

  “I’d be happy to show it to you.” She really loved the old three-story building that had once held two fire engines, offices, and the firemen’s living quarters. “It hasn’t been used as a fire station for twenty years but the city had used it as a community center before it was flooded by Katrina and abandoned. It’s not fancy, but totally functional.”

  “That’s wonderful. I love having our business so close to our home,” she confided. “It makes it nice for Joey to pop in after school and for me to drop in and see my husband when I’m missing him.” She smiled. “Which I do the second he walks out the door in the morning.” She laughed. “I had no idea I’d be so crazy in love with somebody that I’d want to spend all of my day, every day, with him.”

  “That’s really lovely, Elli.” Jewell meant it. She couldn’t imagine that kind of relationship for herself. Her time was so centered on Mimi and work. No man would be interested in entering that world, especially now that she had the added legal threat of being locked up in jail. She was definitely not a desirable partner. “You’re blessed to have that.”

  “I hear the subtext in your voice.” She patted her back. “I’m blessed to have it, but you never will…I don’t believe that. You’re a very special, loving person. I see how you care for and respect your grandmother. Someone who does that, especially when it isn’t easy to do so, is definitely a person that a good man could be loyal to and love unconditionally.”

  “You’re kind.” She turned off her iPad, uncomfortable with the conversation and not wanting to get into all of the reasons she didn’t really believe that was enough to form a lasting relationship. “So…” she began, ready to change the subject.

  “So…” Elli replied, and smiled in a way that told Jewell without words that she understood the conversation of her personal love life was over. “So I had a lightbulb moment I wanted to run by you. The other reason for this impromptu visit.” She picked up the crystal ashtray and turned it in her hand. “I was writing my to-do list, you know, bring sand shovels for the beach, bring sunscreen, do this, do that, tell Jewell to sell the items we don’t want, et cetera, et cetera.” She laughed. “Then I thought about Tante Izzy’s stuff that she’ll be wanting to sell…and the other family members. They’ll need a plan to facilitate that as well.”

  Jewell nodded. “I probably have room for all of their stuff.”

  “Yes, that’s good, but I was just talking to my friend Abby in LA. That’s Los Angeles L-A, not Louisiana L-A. Anyway, we were discussing a fundraiser idea for the GENE ID Foundation we’re involved in to help people trying to get genetic testing for the BRCA breast cancer gene.” Elli smiled, clearly proud of her involvement. “In fact, it has reached to other areas besides California now—Texas, Montana, and I heard that Tante Izzy just sent something in to the genetic testing center to be tested from right here in Cane.”

  She waved her hand with the ashtray i
n it.

  “Sorry, I’m rambling,” Elli laughed. “It’s just exciting to have family working with me for the foundation. More than just working. Tante Izzy is on the board of directors.”

  Jewell wasn’t sure what all of that had to do with the inventory. She nodded for Elli to continue.

  “Well, the Abby conversation led to another about helping women here in Cane and the surrounding areas with additional issues they’re struggling with. Unemployment, abuse, anything that can help lift women up.” She waved her hands in a movement to indicate that one thing flowed into another. “We discussed providing quality secondhand clothes to help dress these women for job interviews, for work…or selling the clothes and using the money for their other needs.”

  “That’s a wonderful idea,” Jewell said. “Churches do it all the time in varying degrees. I’ve seen private groups hold flea markets or events for charities, too.”

  “Exactly.” Elli’s eyes were sparkling. Her enthusiasm was palpable. “We could open a consignment store here in Cane to sell clothes we procure from LA celebrities and others.”

  “I see where you’re going with this. You can include furniture and home décor too.”

  “Exactly.” She pointed to Jewell, then herself. “Like minds. What do you think?”

  “Love the idea!” Jewell knew she was smiling. She felt her insides smiling too. She thought of all the items in her warehouse that hadn’t sold for one reason or another. Many were solid, good pieces that weren’t antique, but finds that she’d loved and restored. Much more affordable. “It has legs. People love to shop for bargains and interesting items. Having high-end clothes, vintage clothes, jewelry, furniture and home décor items all in one location would be wonderful, Elli.”