She didn’t move from in front of him, and he wondered if the attraction was mutual. Maybe the reason she wouldn’t look at him was because she liked him. He had to resist the urge to brush her hair out of her eyes. Would she shiver at his touch? He clenched his fists and tried to tell himself that his interest in this woman was only platonic, but he was never one to lie to himself. She was beautiful, but he knew he couldn’t pursue that. He came to Charleston for one reason and one reason only.
To get back his son.
Hexa nudged at Bethany’s hand, and Jamie smiled. Getting this woman to trust him would have everything to do with his dog.
“Does she like to play fetch?” Bethany asked.
Jamie nodded.
“Do you mind if I take her down to the beach while you get settled in?”
Jamie pondered that for a minute. He wanted to join her on the beach, but he thought it would be best to give her some space. Let her attach to Hexa first.
“Sure. I’m going to unpack and order a new bed.”
Bethany headed into the kitchen with Hexa on her heels. She moved gracefully, with every step deliberate. For someone so insecure with people, or maybe just men, she moved confidently. He waited until the door shut and then went into his room. He sat on the bed and sighed. There was no way he could sleep on that thing.
He pulled out his phone and sized up the room.
Room is maybe 20x15. Pay whatever it takes to get a bed here by 8.
Two beats later Claudia responded.
Ceiling height? Also, that’s only two hours.
Approx 12 feet. I know you can work your magic. You once furnished an entire set in thirty min. Two hours is nothing.
It is when you’re 800 miles away. When are you coming back to NY?
Dunno. A few months maybe. Settling in for the long haul so make it a good bed.
Got it, boss. Getting on it now. Send me a few more pics of the room. Make them good.
He chuckled. Make them good. Of course he would.
He snapped a few, making sure the colors stood out. Jamie knew he wouldn’t hear from her again. Once she got to work, she got to work. She was brilliant at what she did, with a fantastic eye for design. He’d never been disappointed when she’d designed sets. Her eye was almost as good as his.
He plopped one of his suitcases on his bed and hung up his shirts. The closet was empty. Maybe Bethany had cleaned it out for him. Or maybe it’d been that way for a while.
He wasn’t sure how long he’d be there. He had paid for six months, but the actual visit could be over in as little as two months, or stretch on for years.
His son, Garrett, had been born six years ago, not far from here. He found that out from his P.I., who he’d tasked with getting any information he could on the boy. Which wasn’t much. A few photos. A birthdate. A mother who wouldn’t return his calls.
Jamie had been surprised as hell when he got a call from his buddy Blake, who told him he’d run into Zoe at a park in South Carolina, and she was sporting a towheaded little boy with his eyes.
Once he had a picture from the PI and a birthdate, the truth slammed into him. Garrett was definitely his son unless Zoe was sleeping around on him when they dated, but she didn’t seem the type. Plus, like Blake said, Garrett looked like him.
He couldn’t figure out why Zoe never said anything. She knew he had money, and she could’ve easily milked him for it. Which would’ve sucked, but it would’ve been better than what she actually did.
For six years, he had a son and didn’t even know it. He’d missed crucial bonding years and milestones with his boy. He’d stay here as long as it took to make sure Garrett knew he was his father and they had a relationship. Even if he didn’t stay in Charleston permanently, he’d come and visit at least once a month.
Though, after seeing the conditions they were living in, he might need to push for more than visitation. Joint or even full custody. He could give Garrett a better life than Zoe for sure. He’d have to talk to his attorney about his options.
He finished putting up his clothes and headed out to join Bethany and Hexa down on the beach. He grabbed his phone because his big camera was too bulky.
He didn’t even bother with shoes. The view from the veranda was incredible. The ocean went on forever, and the white beach below was empty except for Bethany and Hexa.
The stairs down to the beach were sandy and worn. If he ever got to the point where he bought a house here, he wanted one like this.
Bethany was staring out into the sea when he plopped down next to her. She looked up at him in surprise. Then immediately focused on Hexa.
“She likes the water.”
Jamie snapped a few pictures of Hexa. “That she does. Your home is perfect for the beach. It’s got a lot of character. I like it. The colors you chose are nice. Do you have a background in design?”
She stood up and dusted off her hands. “My mother did. I’m heading inside. There’s an outdoor shower and hose you can use to clean Hexa off before you come inside.”
She didn’t even wait for a response before she made a beeline for the house. Jamie shook his head. He supposed he didn’t have be friends with her. The whole point was Garrett. If Bethany insisted on being cold, it shouldn’t matter to him. It would be easier if they were friends, but maybe it was better this way, then she wouldn’t take the focus off Garrett.
Bethany rinsed off her feet, plucked a towel out of the cupboard, and dried off. She raced upstairs to change her clothes because in spite of her best efforts, she was all sandy. Which was all part of living at the beach, but she still didn’t like sandy shorts.
She hopped in the shower so she wouldn’t have to in the morning. Plus, maybe if she stayed upstairs long enough, Jamie would be in his room by the time she went downstairs.
The decision to let him stay bugged her. She’d given in too easily. But the money. If she kicked him out, she’d have to give back that six months, and then she’d be right where she was this afternoon. Homeless in less than a week. She trusted that Vivian did a decent background check, and he didn’t seem all that dangerous. He was still a man though, and that meant she’d be uncomfortable in her home for the next six to twelve months. If that was what it took to keep her house, it’d be worth it.
She took her time and put on a pair of sweats and a hoodie and then grabbed her book. She cautiously made her way downstairs, and when she was sure the coast was clear, she curled up on the couch in the family room.
She was hungry, but she was only two chapters away from the end of her book, and she figured she could have dinner after that. It didn’t take long to make a sandwich and tomato soup. Hopefully, Jamie ate before he came.
Five pages from the end of the book, both Jamie and Hexa came tromping into the house. She was used to it being quiet. She sighed. She should be more grateful for Jamie. His money allowed her to keep the house. But the noise. And the intrusion. She liked her peace and quiet. Not to mention that Mr. Sexypants made her nervous. It was worse than all the pretty boys at work because she had to be around him a lot more.
Hexa ran up to her and looked longingly at the couch.
“Oh, no. No wet dogs on the couch.”
Hexa whimpered, and Bethany nearly gave in. Jamie laughed from the kitchen.
“Hexa, come here.” He shook what sounded like a dog cookie box, and she went running.
Bethany went into the kitchen. In spite of being uncomfortable, her mother had raised her to be a good host. She tried very hard to meet his eyes, but failed. She’d often wished her parents had been a little more helpful when it came to her social life. She was always socially incompetent, and instead of pushing her to get outside of her comfort zone, they encouraged her to stay in with a book. Then, suddenly, when she got to high school, they couldn’t figure out why she never went out. By then it was too little too late.
“Do you have food and stuff for her? I can give you directions to the grocery store.” Anything to get him out of t
he house for a little bit.
“I brought her enough to get through the next couple of days. I don’t feel like going out tonight. If you let me steal some of your food, you’re welcome to any of the food I buy while I live here. I don’t want to do that roommate thing where we get mad for eating each other’s Corn Flakes.”
She shrugged. “I guess. As long as I don’t see my own grocery bill balloon, it’s fine.”
He gave her a crooked grin. “I promise to provide. I love food. Your pantry will probably be more stocked than it has been in years.”
She tried not to think too hard about that. Her pantry was the way she wanted it. He’d better not make a mess of things.
She relaxed her fists. “I’m making tuna sandwiches and tomato soup for dinner. Is that okay?”
“Sounds great. I’m gonna go shower.”
She waited until he was out of the room and picked up her book again because she shouldn’t think about him in the shower. Jamie without a shirt—that was a sight she wanted to see. Her face reddened, and she took a couple of deep breaths. Her mind shouldn’t go there. He was her roommate. Even if she wanted to do something about it, he’d never go for a girl like her. She was the exact opposite of women who landed men like Jamie. That should make it easier for her to be around him, but somehow that made him all the more intimidating. She wasn’t doing anything until she finished her book. Three pages later a knock sounded on the door.
What now?
She opened the door and found a grumpy guy with a clipboard.
“I’ve got a delivery for Jamie Green.”
“He’s in the shower, but I could sign for it.”
“You his wife?”
Yeah, right. In her dreams. She pursed her lips. Where did that thought come from? Jamie was her roommate, not some guy she should be lusting over. If she ever had a prayer of being able to make eye contact with him, she had to stop thinking that way.
She shook her head. “But I’ll make sure he gets it.”
“Ma’am, it’s a large bed. We’ve been paid to remove the old bed and install this one.”
Jamie worked fast. How on earth did he order a bed and have it delivered within a few hours?
She knocked on the bedroom door. Nothing. Heaven help her if he was naked.
She cracked the door open, but kept her eyes squeezed shut. “Jamie!” she called.
Nothing. Dammit. She’d have to go in. She steeled herself. She could do this. Sure.
She slipped into the room and was relieved that the bathroom door was shut.
She knocked. “Jamie,” she called again.
He poked his head out, and she took a couple of steps back. His eyes widened when he saw her, and he paused for a second. Then a wicked grin crept across his mouth. “Can I help you?”
Her face flushed. She refused to look at him, and her thoughts went to her earlier imagination of him in the shower. He smelled of man soap. He must’ve brought his own. It smelled amazing. Oh, this was going to be impossible. She pointed to the front door. “Your bed is here.”
His face fell. “Oh. Have them move your bed, and by the time they come back, I’ll be dressed.” He shut the door, and she relaxed once again.
She showed the men where to put her bed. She was a little sad to see it go into storage. She slept in that bed her entire childhood and putting it away was one more step to the house becoming hers and not her parents. That wasn’t what she wanted either. She wasn’t sure if this was natural or not. Most of her friends had moved around a lot and didn’t have an attachment to a house, but she was also the only one who had lost both parents. How did one do life without parents?
If they were still alive, she’d be calling her mom and asking for advice. Her mom would laugh and say something about wanting grandkids. Either that or she’d tell her to forget it and come home. Home. She was already home, and if her parents were still alive, she wouldn’t be in this predicament.
She left the men to do their job and escaped to the kitchen, finished her book, and started the soup.
Cooking relaxed her. It seemed to be the universal equalizer. She never felt quite as off-kilter with people when she was cooking. Or eating.
She finished up the soup just as Jamie walked into the room. His hair was still wet, but he was fully dressed, thank goodness. She dropped her gaze to the stove before he caught her eye. She was afraid he could see her thoughts, which were still in the shower.
“You want to see the new bed?” He didn’t wait for a response, and she had no choice but to follow him into his room. It was odd. He didn’t seem the least bit uncomfortable. She envied people like that.
She didn’t know what she was expecting, but this certainly wasn’t it. An enormous rice bed, stained a deep cherry, sat in the center of the room, framed by the two front windows. A dark blue comforter covered the bed along with about a thousand pillows. It matched the room perfectly.
“How on earth did you pull this off?”
He grinned, and she blushed.
“I know people.”
She walked around the bed, admiring the attention to detail. The posts were carved like the beds in the old southern homes. “The bed is perfect. Seriously, how’d you do it?”
“I texted a picture of the room to my designer and told her I needed a new bed ASAP. She called up a few furniture stores in the area and voilà. The perfect bed.”
“Wow. You must be loaded.” She covered her mouth. That was rude. She normally didn’t say things like that out loud.
She glanced at him for his reaction, but he simply shrugged. “You could say that.”
“What do you do?” she asked, fingering one of the soft and silky pillows.
“I’m a photographer.”
She snorted. He was lying. “Really. You make this kind of cash from taking pictures.” She met his eye for the first time since he crossed her threshold. His green eyes were mesmerizing.
“Google me sometime. Now to be fair, I have a trust fund from my grandfather, but my pictures do make me quite a bit. Is dinner ready? I’m starving.”
She turned and escaped back to the kitchen and Jamie followed. There was no way a photographer made that much cash. She had friends who were art majors, and none of them made anything. Jamie didn’t look like a photographer. She couldn’t picture him out in the wild with a camera. In a studio maybe, but those weren’t the kind of shots that made big cash. She’d definitely google him, now insanely curious about this man who had moved into her home.
“So tell me why you need a roommate for this amazing house.”
Bethany sighed. “My parents left it to me when they died three years ago, and I can’t afford the taxes. Your six months covered me for two years. Thanks.”
She didn’t want to see his pity, so she focused on the food. He didn’t respond, for which Bethany was grateful. She set his food in front of him and took a seat across the table. Hexa got up from her spot next to the counter and laid her head in Jamie’s lap when he sat down.
Bethany shook her head with a small smile. “You must feed her table scraps.”
Jamie grinned. “Guilty. She gets the last bite. She likes to remind me that she’s there.”
Bethany tucked her hair behind her ear and tried to think of how to make dinner less awkward. The dog was a safe topic. “Her name is rather unusual. How did you come up with it?”
“Have you heard of the Omega Mu Alpha fraternity?”
“I went to an all-girls school, so no.” She took a bite of her sandwich and waited for him to answer.
“We had a Doberman in our frat. She died, and the ten of us who were seniors vowed to get Dobermans together.”
Beth nodded. “Hexa means seven, right? How did you decide who got what name?”
“Hexa means six, actually. The numbers specify the order in which we made our first million.”
Bethany’s hand froze with her sandwich halfway to her mouth, but she recovered quickly. “Must be some group.” She looked at h
is dog that unknowingly represented his wealth. Here she was trying to save her house, and he was talking about his first million.
Jamie patted Hexa’s head. “It is. Those guys are my best friends. We all get together over the Fourth of July every year. This year we’re going to Barbados. The dogs all come with.”
“Sounds loud.”
He chuckled. “It is.”
Bethany finished up the first half of her sandwich just as the doorbell rang. Again.
“Ah, that will be Bunny. She wanted to come over and meet you. She’ll be just as surprised as I was that you’re a man. Also, she’s married. Just so you know.” She gave him a firm look. Bunny was exactly the type of girl Jamie would go for, and she was naïve enough to fall for him.
That was weird. Bethany had said “she’s married,” like she expected him to chase after the woman. Bethany was up and out of her seat and halfway to the front door before he could swallow. He was a little irked by the intruder. Until the topic of his money had come up, Bethany was finally starting to relax. Hexa looked at him with those doe eyes of hers. She didn’t even move her head when the doorbell rang, too focused on that sandwich in his hands.
He heard Bethany open the door and then a wail. What the hell? He stood, gave Hexa the last bite of his sandwich, and headed to see what all the ruckus was about.
Standing in front of Bethany on the front porch was a stunning woman, tall and blonde with the biggest boobs he’d ever seen in his life. And he’d seen his fair share. Now he understood Bethany’s warning. It bothered him that she thought he’d go for a woman like Bunny. In his womanizer days, he absolutely would’ve. That was until he found out she was married, but now he didn’t have time for women.
Tear streaks lined her face, and she sniffled. In her hands she held a squirming baby alligator.
“Danny found Sweet Pickles and said I wasn’t allowed in the house until I came back without him.”
Folly and Forever (Omega Mu Alpha Brothers Book 3) Page 3