What a Woman Wants (A Manley Maids Novel)

by Fennell, Judi

  Do I sound like Mr. O’Hara? There was a lot of truth to his words, and I do know you enjoy that movie.

  “Ah ha!” Sean laughed. “That explains the alpacas.”

  “Well, duh.”

  “So why not Mammy and Melanie and Ashley and the rest of the crew instead of the Beatles?”

  “The other animals were all rescues. Rhett and Scarlett were the only ones I got to name.”

  It might be a good thing Livvy didn’t want children: Sean could only imagine having a son named Ashley.

  Wait. What the hell was he doing imagining children with Livvy? He had to make sure there was a relationship, and that he’d have the means to provide for those kids before he could even think about having them. Then there was convincing Livvy to have them—

  “And here’s the bad poem.”

  Sean listened with half an ear as he tried to shove the image of Livvy carrying his child out of his head. It didn’t want to go.

  “So I guess we’re off to the lake next.” She rolled the clue up and stuck it back in the tube. “Shall we go get our bathing suits or are we going au naturel?”

  It might kill him if they did.

  TWO hours later, after the animals had been dealt with, they’d put on their suits, pulled together a picnic lunch, and headed out for the lake on the property.

  Sean had big plans for the lake. There was an island in the middle of it that would make the perfect setting for small weddings. If he could get utilities to it, he might even think about putting up a honeymoon cottage there, too. That would go before the zoning board the minute he took possession of the estate.

  “Oh, look! A bald eagle!” Livvy pointed to the right of the golf cart where the white-headed bird soared in for a landing on top of the island’s tallest tree.

  This place was a work of art. The perfect property for what he had in mind. He had to find some way to get it. Absolutely had to.

  “Livvy, I was wondering . . .”

  “Yes?” She turned toward him with a big, hopeful smile on her face, her eyes dancing, her fingers clenching his, excitement and happiness literally buzzing off her like an electric current.

  If only that explained why he was so wired.

  “Isn’t it gorgeous? I can’t believe I never came out here. I wonder if there’s fish in the lake? What a great place to just hang out and relax.”

  Or hold a wedding reception.

  For guests. Not for himself or Livvy. No. He was thinking strictly along the lines of business. That’d been his first thought when he saw the lake. The edges were perfectly manicured, every stone and patch of moss and foliage all strictly planned out and maintained. Merriweather had been meticulous like that.

  Sean jerked the golf cart to a stop two feet from the water’s edge. “So, um, where’s the next clue here?”

  “Good question.” Livvy got out and grabbed the picnic basket from the back seat. “I’ve never been here so I have no idea.” She pulled out the previous clue. “She mentions something about needing our towels, so I guess we’ll be going in the water.”

  “The island. The clue’s on the island.”

  Merriweather had been very interested in his ideas for weddings on that island, though concerned about the impact on wildlife. Sean had earmarked a hefty sum in his budget for an environmental impact report, that, luckily, he hadn’t ordered yet. He could postpone that project and use the money for Livvy’s asking price.

  It wasn’t enough, but it was a start.

  They set the picnic basket and blanket beside one of the springs that fed the lake, the cool water trickling over smooth stones in a soft serenade.

  The lake water was pristine. And cold. Merriweather had said a snow runoff reservoir filled the lake, and it was just the thing Sean needed when Livvy took off her skirt—she was back to skirts—to reveal a bikini.

  His hands itched to take it off and memorize her curves all over again.

  It only got worse when she went in the water and her nipples went on high alert.

  Sean dunked himself, praying it’d do the trick.

  It did. Until he saw her again.

  So back under he went, holding his breath for as long as possible before he had to come up for air. Luckily, the island wasn’t too far now and he walked out. He’d never been so thrilled for shrinkage in his life.

  LIVVY took her time getting to the island. Sean was standing there, looking every bit as perfect as Eros—except for the shorts, that was—and she wanted to enjoy the scenery. She still couldn’t believe he was as into her as she was in him.

  Maybe he’s seeing dollar signs.

  Well there was a thought to suck the pleasure out of everything.

  But, hey, there were no guarantees she was going to end up with the place anyway, so Sean, if he was hedging his bets, could be doing it all for nothing. But he wasn’t, because he wasn’t that kind of person. She knew that about him. She didn’t know how she knew; she just knew. Instinct had served her well all these years, kept her going all on her own, so she wasn’t going to disregard it.

  “Aren’t you cold?” he called from the water’s edge, his hands on his hips, shaping his abs into a nice V with those broad shoulders. Shoulders that she’d run her lips over last night. And this morning.

  Too bad she hadn’t brought more than two condoms out with her. Speaking of which, she needed to go to the drug store at some point.

  “Nothing like cold water to wake a person up.” And calm their nerve endings down.

  She joined him on the beach and it was the most natural thing in the world to take his hand. So she did. Or he took hers. Either way, it didn’t matter because they were touching each other as they started searching the island.

  HE shouldn’t hold her hand. He forgot things when he held her hand. Important things. Things like Bryan and Liam and a whole bunch of money. Things like the future and his plans and what he wanted to do with his life and what he had to prove to not just everyone else, but to himself.

  The thing was, he hadn’t counted on Livvy. On wanting her. And not just in the carnal sense—though there was that—but in every sense. He wanted to see her away from this place. Away from the barn and her animals. Just to take a walk somewhere new for both of them. Something they could call their own. He wanted to see her little farmhouse and the life she’d carved out for herself. He wanted to hear about her childhood and soothe her fears. He wanted to make all the loneliness go away and promise her that she’d never be alone again.

  Sean stumbled on a rock. At least, he thought it was a rock. Maybe it’d been a metaphorical one because what he was thinking . . . was heavy. Way heavier than he wanted at this point in his life, but if he thought for even a second about letting go of her hand and taking a step back—and another and another—he just couldn’t do it.

  Because this—her, him—it felt right.

  Get your head back into the real game, Manley.

  Funny, he’d swear his conscience sounded just like his accountant.

  Millions of dollars.

  Yeah, it did sound like Don.

  But Don would be looking out only for his financial interests, so Sean tried to focus on something else.

  The shrubbery was interesting. He wasn’t familiar with that particular plant. It lined the beach like a fence with walkways cut through it, but they were starting to grow over. “She pensioned off the gardener, too, didn’t she?” Yes, that was it. Focus on the grass. Guaranteed to destroy any moment.

  Livvy nodded. “Somebody’s going to be doing a lot of hiring.”

  He already had the specs in to a staffing agency.

  They walked through an orchard of fruit trees.

  “Oh, wow!” Livvy clapped her hands. “Pears and apples and peaches and cherries. And, look. Blueberry bushes as well. This is awesome.” She touched the budding fruit almost reve
rently. “Do you know how many pies I can make with these?”

  “Let’s not forget the scones.”

  She smiled at him, her amber eyes twinkling like sunshine. “Would you be willing to help?”

  “I didn’t do so badly last time, right?”

  “No. You were great. It was great.”

  And just like that, all his good intentions shifted. The flora and fauna were no longer interesting. He couldn’t care less about the island and the pristine water surrounding it, or that it’d be the perfect place for a private getaway.

  He’d like to get away with her. Just the two of them, with nothing between them: no secrets, no clues, no history or future, and definitely no clothes.

  He reached out to tuck that errant curl back again, but she cleared her throat and turned away.

  It bothered him that she did. It bothered him that it bothered him. He ought to be glad she could walk away. If she could, so could he, and then the whole issue of the inheritance wouldn’t be an issue. They could enjoy each other, then go their separate ways, doing what they needed to do.

  Except he wasn’t wired that way. Gran had instilled a strong sense of right and wrong. A sense of self-pride. Fairness.

  “I don’t think the clue is going to be here,” she said, leaving the orchard. “The last clue mentioned something about fishing.”

  Sean nodded and followed her, not trusting himself to speak—not sure what he’d say. He wanted to come clean. Tell her what was going on and ask her help in resolving it. But what would be the point? She wanted out of this place and she needed the money. Only a fool would give it up for a guy she’d in all likelihood hate when she heard the full story, so why bother?

  “Ah ha!” She pointed to yet another statue, this one on the beach.

  From the watermark on the guy’s leg, Sean would guess that at some point the statue had been in the water.

  “Merriweather did love her statues, didn’t she?” Livvy checked out the life-sized stone carving and real tackle box slung over his shoulder. “Aha again!” She held something up. “Bingo. Another clue.”

  Sean walked over as she unfolded it.

  Your great-great-grandfather, William, my beloved Henry’s father, loved to fish. Your father asked for this statue for his tenth birthday, the year his grandfather died. They would go fishing together every Sunday in the summer, and I’ve never known your father to be happier. He was never the same once his grandfather died. To cheer him up, we had this statue commissioned and Lawrence would keep it filled with lures. Behind the stand of white pines is a small shed with other fishing items for anyone to use. He lost that part of himself as he grew older, and I’m sad to say his father and I didn’t think to fix this. I did upon his death, and I hope you will continue this tribute to both men if you inherit.

  If she inherited. Merriweather still didn’t think she was capable of figuring everything out.

  Livvy stuffed the rest of the letter into the back pocket of her shorts.

  “Who’s he? What’s the next clue?”

  Sean had stood by silently while she’d read it. Thankfully, she hadn’t read it out loud. She didn’t need him to hear about her grandmother’s utter lack of faith in her.

  “He’s my great-grandfather. He loved to fish. Used to hang out here on Sundays with my dad.” She shielded her eyes from the sun and looked out across the lake. “You know what? Let’s forget about the clues for a while, okay? It seems like that’s all I’ve been thinking about since I got here and I could use some time off.”

  “First of all, it’s not the only thing you’ve been thinking of.” There he went with that eyebrow-raising thing again. “And second, you just went to the market, so you’ve had some time off, and third, isn’t your deadline looming? I’d think you’d want to find these clues as quickly as possible.”

  “You’d think.” She shrugged, putting as much nonchalance into it as she could muster. Either that or break out in tears over her grandmother’s brutal honesty. “But I don’t. I could use a nice, relaxing afternoon. Let’s go eat lunch and then maybe we’ll figure it out.”

  Sean looked a little impatient and she couldn’t blame him. His future was tied up with these clues, too. Would he have a job or wouldn’t he?

  “You know,” she said as they headed back into the water. “If you’re worried about your job, don’t be. I told you I’m going to put some money aside to help you get over the hump if the new owners don’t want to renew your contract.”

  “I don’t want your money, Livvy.”

  She liked that he was proud. Liked that he had scruples. But she’d been in the position of having nothing and it sucked. She was about to have more than she could ever use, so she could afford to help him out. But with the way his tone had changed about the clue, she should probably get some food into him before continuing with the subject. “I just didn’t want you to worry, is all.”

  “I’m not worried.”

  Uh huh. That’s why those gorgeous lips of his had tightened into a straight line and his shoulder muscles were standing at attention.

  About fifteen feet from shore, she decided to do something about it.

  “Sean!”

  He turned around and got a face full of water. “What was that for?” he asked, shaking his hair out of his eyes and spitting out lake water.

  “I thought you needed some fun.”

  “You call drowning me fun?”

  “You were never in any danger of drowning and you know it.”

  He raised an eyebrow again. “You’re playing a dangerous game, woman.”

  “Who’s playing?”

  She loved the look in his eyes now. Narrowed and focused on her, their blue color so vivid it made her catch her breath.

  And then he started swimming toward her.

  Uh oh.

  Livvy looked back at the shore. They were halfway across. She’d never outswim him and even if she could, he’d outreach her.

  “Should have thought about that before you splashed me,” he said, his voice low as he glided through the water like a deadly crocodile.

  Darn. She was in for it.

  Then he slipped below the surface.

  Jaws was up there with The Shining on her Worst Movie Ever list.

  She turned to the right and kicked as hard as she could.

  Once.

  Then his hands clamped around her ankle and he yanked her under.

  She gulped some air and went with it. Too much fighting would deplete her energy, and while she might not be able to outswim or outreach him, she was going to try to outsmart him.

  She didn’t fight him when he grabbed her around the waist, and she tried not to smile when he glared at her, the crystal- clear water making his blue eyes shimmer.

  Then she kissed him.

  It surprised him all right. He let go of her waist and his hands were drifting up toward her head, but Livvy kicked hard and got away.

  She poured on the speed, zigzagging across the lake, and managed to drag herself onto the shore before he got to her.

  “I call foul!” He stomped onto the beach.

  “All’s fair in lunch and war!” Livvy was on her feet and running toward their blanket.

  She didn’t make it.

  Sean came running up and scooped her into his arms, barely breaking stride. “I’ve got you now, my pretty!”

  He sure did. And she was going to let him have her.

  He plunked onto his knees on the blanket before setting her down. “I win.”

  “If that’s what you want to believe, go ahead.”

  “What are you talking about? The only reason you’re on this blanket with me is because I didn’t run past you. If it weren’t for me, you’d still be running.”

  She let her fingers dance up his forearm. He had really nice forearms. Str
ong and muscular with just the right amount of hair that tickled her skin in so many delicious ways. “Yup. That’s right. You’re the winner.”

  He looked at her hand. Then he looked at her, the cutest bit of confusion on his face. He’d figure it out sooner or later.

  “We both won, didn’t we?”

  Sooner. Definitely sooner.

  She nodded. And nibbled her lip just because.

  “Ah, Livvy.” He bent down to kiss her.

  She wrapped her arms around his neck and hung on for dear life, because, seriously, that’s what this felt like.

  Her senses went on high alert. Everywhere Sean touched her—from his hand stroking down her back to where her thighs rested across his to the catch in his breath and the stroke of her breast that was much too light—made Livvy utterly and completely aware of him. How his arms tightened as he lifted her to him, how his thighs bunched beneath hers as she shifted to kneel up straighter, how his tongue thrust between her lips like he’d thrusted into her last night—Livvy couldn’t stop the groan at the memory.

  Sean answered it with one of his own, tearing his lips from hers to bury them against her throat. “I want you. Here. Now.” He untied the back of her bikini one-handed.

  Talented guy. As she knew firsthand.

  “We don’t have any condoms.” She’d realized that when she’d packed the basket, but short of going off-property to the closest drug store, which was about twenty minutes away, she hadn’t had a choice. The two she’d had last night had been in her luggage. She knew for certain there weren’t any more in there.

  “We don’t need condoms for what I have in mind.”

  She could only imagine what was in his mind . . .

  “If you want to find out, that is.”

  “I want.” That was a no-brainer.

  His eyes flared and he sucked in a breath. “You can’t possibly want as much as I do.”

  “Wanna bet?”

  “No betting. Just you and me and . . .” He flicked his thumb over her nipple. “This.”

  She shivered down to her toes.

  And that’s where he started kissing her. All ten of them. One at a sweet, too-long time.