by Lacey Baker
Joe had graduated first in his class at Harvard, undergrad and law school, and while he’d been born and raised in Boston, the gritty streets of Baltimore had called to him. That and the six-foot blonde with double-D-sized breasts whom he’d met in the Bahamas the weekend he’d passed the bar and followed back to the city with the misguided hope of marrying. Years later he turned out to be the best partner Preston could have ever hoped for.
“They all seem to be doing just fine,” Preston said, thinking about his family. Michelle and the girls had pulled off a very successful crab feast while he and Quinn had visited The Marina Resort and the owners, the Redling brothers. Yates Passage, which was located about ten miles from Main Street and the center of Sweetland, was the roadway to acres and acres of unchartered land. Since the revitalization of the town under the guidance of Mayor Liza Fitzgerald and his very own grandmother, tourism had increased significantly in a short span of time. Which meant the town was making money, which of course would attract all types of vultures just like a dead carcass usually did. So he and Quinn had gone to check out what might very well become their biggest competition.
“Then why do you sound like you’ve just stepped on your Twinkie?” Joe inquired.
“Because a new resort has just opened on the other side of town. It’s big and pretty and has golf,” he said sourly. The golf course at The Marina was boss, he had to admit that himself. For any city-living golfer looking for a place to relax, visit a picturesque little town and all its quirky inhabitants, eat cultural food, and play a few holes, The Marina in Sweetland was the place to be.
“Really. Well, a little competition is good for the morale. It’ll keep your family on their toes, especially since none of your siblings is really experienced in running a bed-and-breakfast. If they feel like it can all be taken away at any moment, maybe they’ll try harder to keep it going.”
Right, maybe they would. Without him?
“Quinn and I are going to meet with them tomorrow just to give everyone a heads-up about what we saw.”
“How do you think they’ll take it?”
Preston let out a wry laugh. “Michelle’s going to flip. Raine will sulk quietly. Savannah will squawk, then pack her bags and head back overseas. Parker’s not really vested even though he’s taken an extended leave from the force to recover from his injury.”
“And what about you?”
“What about me?”
“How are you reacting to the boss competition? You feeling a little heat?” Joe asked seriously.
Man, was that a loaded question. Preston had definitely been feeling heat in the last three days. But that heat wasn’t coming from The Marina or any golf courses for that matter. It was from the slender beauty who had answered his online ad. The one who was here to take his puppy.
“I’m handling things. You know how I am.”
“Uh-huh,” Joe said. “I know when you’re quietly contemplating a big move. So why don’t you give me a heads-up about what exactly you’re thinking of doing?”
Preston couldn’t possibly do that because he had no idea.
“It’s not totally my call. We’re all equal owners of the B and B, whatever we decide has to be unanimous. And then there’re the dogs.”
“Right, the Labs. I told you my sister would love a puppy. Her twins just turned five and they’re taking turns begging for a dog to be added to their family. They live in the mountains of western Maryland, more land than they can even use. They’d be perfect owners.”
“They sound like it, and I’ll let the others know about the possibility. But my pup has already been adopted.”
Joe crunched on ice cubes. He did that a lot, especially in the summer when the heat in their city office was excruciating, despite running their air-conditioning at full capacity.
“You gave your dog away already? To who?”
“Jamie told me about this online agency. I signed her up and this lady showed up to adopt her.”
“A lady, huh? An old lady?”
There was nothing old about Heaven Montgomery. “Nah, maybe in her late twenties.”
“Really?” Joe asked. “Cute?”
“She’s nice looking.” It was a drastic understatement, but Joe was miles away and would most likely never set eyes on Heaven anyway.
“Single?”
“I believe so,” he answered but wasn’t 100 percent certain since he hadn’t bothered to ask her. Hadn’t really had a reason to ask.
“Body? Curvy? Manly? Boyish? Or centerfoldish?”
“What are you, fifteen?” Preston asked with a chuckle. “She’s a nice-looking woman who was looking for a puppy. I met a need.”
That had Joe laughing loudly. “I’ll just bet you did.”
“Mind out of the gutter, Baskerville. I simply signed the adoption papers this morning. Actually, she should be on her way back home.”
“Home? She’s not from Sweetland?”
“No. Actually, she’s from your hometown of Boston.”
“Really? Maybe I know her, what’s her name?”
The last thing Preston wanted was for Joe to know Heaven. If he were totally truthful, he’d admit he didn’t want any man knowing Heaven. But that was foolish. She wasn’t his to be protective of, and that was, of course, by choice. His choice.
“Don’t worry about her name. You don’t know her. Now, are you taking over my cases this week or not?”
Joe laughed again. “While you stay in your little beachfront town and look at pretty, curvy women from Boston who want to own a puppy? Sure, I guess I can do that for a friend.”
Preston shook his head and smiled at the ease of their relationship. He could depend on Joe and vice versa; that’s what made their firm such a huge success. That’s what made it so difficult to even entertain the thought of not practicing criminal law again.
“I didn’t say she was curvy,” was his final reply to Joe. He hung up before Joe could reply, smiling all the while as he knew his friend would now be racking his brain to try to figure out what female in her late twenties he remembered from Boston. A futile task, but one that would keep Joe occupied for a while.
It was a good thing Heaven was on her way back home. His resolve to stay away from her and to keep out the personal business she obviously did not want him to know wavered each time he stared into her very sad eyes. Now that she was gone, he could focus on the resort and what it meant for The Silver Spoon. He could focus on something other than touching her, tasting her, starting to need her like he needed air.
“Damn,” he whispered to himself. “I’m glad she’s gone.”
* * *
“I was wondering if it would be okay if I stayed awhile longer?” Preston heard Heaven asking Michelle, who was standing at the inn’s front desk.
“Of course it’s okay. The Sunshine Room is still available, and we could sure use your help getting ready for Bay Day.”
“What’s that?” Heaven inquired.
“It’s our yearly celebration of all things relating to the Chesapeake Bay and Sweetland. We have a great time with tons of food and vendors and parties. It’s a blast. Maybe you could stay for the event as well. I mean, if you don’t have to rush back to work.”
She shook her head. “No. I’m sort of on leave from work.”
Michelle nodded. “Oh, I see. Well, that’s all the more reason for you to stay in Sweetland awhile longer. If it’s relaxation you need, we’ve got it here by the handful.”
“I’ll pay,” Heaven said, reaching into her purse. “Just swipe my credit card. And I’d be happy to help. You and your sisters have been so kind.”
“Nonsense,” Michelle said, taking the card Heaven extended to her and punching the keys of the computer register. “We love having you here. You kept all the dogs busy yesterday while we set up. I see you and Coco have really bonded.”
“We have. I’m actually on my way into town now to sign the final paperwork. I hope Preston keeps up his end of the bargain.”
“That’s a good way to be,” Heaven said quietly then smiled as she accepted her card from Michelle. “I think I’ll take Coco with me. And when I return I’ll find you to see what I can do to help.”
Michelle nodded. “You take your time. See some of the town while you’re at it. I’m sure they’ve already begun putting up the sunflower decorations on Main Street.”
“Really? I love sunflowers.”
“Then you should definitely stop by Blossoms. It’s our local florist. Drew Sidney owns it and she is absolutely amazing with flowers and stuff. She makes all the floats for the Bay Day parade, too. She’d love to sell you some sunflowers to put up in your room.”
“Oh, that sounds lovely,” Heaven replied.
Yeah, just lovely, Preston thought. Heaven Montgomery was staying in Sweetland.
* * *
His shoulders were broad, his back sculpted like those she’d seen only on fitness magazines. He wore basketball shorts again, tennis shoes, and ankle socks. Nothing else. Back and forth he ran, throwing the ball to Coco, waiting for her to retrieve and return. Running farther away, he repeated the cycle. Coco enthusiastically followed.
And so did Heaven’s gaze.
It was early evening. She’d been to town, picked up the signed adoption papers, stopped at Blossoms to buy flowers, and returned to the inn to help a very reluctant and somewhat moody Savannah build crepe paper balls. The silver-and-white decorations would adorn the booth The Silver Spoon would have at the parade and along Main Street to introduce townsfolk and tourists to their business. All of the businesses in town would have a booth to showcase everything they had to offer. And she’d been happy to help.
After that she had no plans and she’d come outside to spend time with Coco, except Coco was already being entertained.
His chest was hairless, smooth like fresh honey and sculpted, from perfect pectorals to scaled abs. Her mouth watered, and even though it was really humid outside, Heaven shivered.
Good ol’ Geoffrey never made her feel like this.
The bright yellow ball tumbled about six inches away from where she stood, startling Heaven out of her thoughts. Just as she bent down to touch the ball, Coco intervened, happily scooping it between her teeth, long floppy ears flapping as she turned and bolted back toward where Preston stood.
He stared at her, even when he knelt down to accept the ball from Coco and rubbed adoringly behind the puppy’s ears. His gaze never left hers. Heaven stood and so did he. Standing about seven feet from each other, it seemed like they were having some type of stand-off.
“Hi,” she offered weakly with a tentative wave.
Preston nodded. “Hi, yourself.”
“Ah, thanks for signing the papers. Everything looks good except for the final visit to the vet. I’ve scheduled that for Wednesday morning.” It felt like she was babbling so she stopped abruptly.
“You’re staying in Sweetland, then?”
It was a simple enough question, an obvious one since she’d planned to leave this morning and here it was after six in the evening and she was still here. Not to mention the appointment for the day after tomorrow.
“Yes.” She cleared her throat. “I like it here and I have some time off work so I figured I’d make a vacation of it.”
“An impromptu vacation. You must be self-employed to have that type of freedom.”
“No. I’m not self-employed. I’m on leave from my job,” she said, purposely being as vague as possible
Preston, however, didn’t waver. “For how long?”
She shrugged. “For as long as I want.” Because Larengetics probably didn’t want her back considering how much money she’d cost them. They hadn’t officially fired her, but Heaven figured that was just a formality. She’d already been locked out of her company email; her identification to get her into the building had been suspended, and her office was still blocked off by the police department’s investigation tape. Yes, it had happened six months ago, but apparently there were more questions. And absolutely no answers, not that she could offer anyway.
“Are you in danger?” he asked.
Heaven didn’t reply immediately, because again she wasn’t sure of the answer. She was in danger of losing her control and possibly strangling her mother or Geoffrey Billingsley, or both of them if she had to see them right at this moment. But she didn’t think that was what Preston meant.
“I’m on vacation, like I said,” was her eventual reply. “How about you? When are you leaving?”
Savannah did not have a problem talking about her siblings, so this afternoon Heaven had learned that Parker was on sick leave pending his recovery from his motorcycle accident. Raine was on summer break from her teaching job, after taking vacation time for the first few weeks following their grandmother’s death. Quinn had left his job in Seattle to manage the inn and marry Nikki—a cuter couple Heaven didn’t think she’d ever seen. And Michelle had never left Sweetland for longer than it took to obtain her culinary degree.
Preston, whom she’d tried valiantly not to ask too many questions about, was a successful criminal attorney with a thriving practice in Baltimore City. He didn’t live in Sweetland and had no real reason to stay here, especially since his inheritance had now been taken care of.
“I’m my own boss,” was his tart reply.
Coco ran in circles between Preston’s legs, jumping up as if to ask when he’d give the pup the ball once more. Probably catching the hint, Preston tossed the ball away and Coco took off.
“It’s hot. I’m going for a swim. You’re welcome to join me,” he said, then walked away from her toward the river.
She was not joining him, of course. She had on shorts and one of those flimsy tops Savannah had thrown onto the counter for her to purchase. Reluctantly, Heaven had admitted the frothy soft pink off-the-shoulder blouse was cute. It made her feel relaxed and sexy at the same time. So no, she was not going for a swim with Preston, but she could certainly watch.
* * *
He needed the coolness of the river. Actually, he needed a freezing-cold shower to soften the edge of desire he felt whenever he was close to Heaven.
When Preston had learned she would be staying in town earlier today, he’d immediately gone back to his room. To work, he told himself, but actually it was to regroup. Was he going to stay? He should leave, especially since she was staying. But they had business to take care of, business regarding the inn and its viability in the town. He wouldn’t turn his back on his family, not ever again. He’d sworn that to himself and to his gramma as he’d stood over her closed casket letting warm tears fall freely down his cheeks.
He wouldn’t go to the city and never look back. He’d keep his eye on his sisters and the inn and make sure they all kept in touch and stayed together. He’d visit more frequently and help preserve their heritage. He owed his grandmother that much. So no, he couldn’t leave just yet.
But he also couldn’t stay around Heaven without wanting to touch her.
This evening only proved his point. She’d stood there watching him, those shorts barely skimming her upper thigh and that shirt … who the hell designed shirts like that? Ones that showed one shoulder and teasingly hid the other. It melded against her breasts and was sheer enough that he could have probably seen the delectable mounds if not for the darker, formfitting piece of material beneath. It was the sickest kind of tease, the one that gave a man a headache and a hard-on at the same time, severely diminishing his mental capacity.
The minute he’d submerged himself in the coolness of the water, the pressure at his temples had slowly receded. He was still painfully aroused, but figured half relief was better than none.
“You should really invest in some swimming trunks,” she called from her perch on t
he rocks.
He knew she was sitting there without even turning around to see her. In the same spot she’d been sitting the other night when he’d come to see her. Looking as pretty as a picture, as she did each time he saw her.
“I’m doing just fine. Don’t complain if you’re not planning to join me,” he yelled back.
Oh, how he wished she would join him. Dipping his hands beneath the water, he allowed a brief touch of his erection to his palm and quietly moaned. Submerging himself once more was a cool relief, but he only resurfaced again to see her sitting in the same spot, Coco coming up to join her.
She played with the puppy, rubbing her ears and stomach as she rolled over. And Coco absorbed all the affection just as she did food, and socks, and whatever else might by lying around. She was a fun puppy, with loads of energy and a compassion she was readily willing to share with Preston or anybody else for that matter. He really had considered taking her back to the city with him, but in the end he’d decided his emotional state couldn’t take any more upheaval. His grandmother was gone; keeping this piece of her with him on a daily basis wasn’t a good idea.
Besides, the way Heaven’s eyes lit up each time she saw Coco, and the smile she could never seem to hold at bay when the puppy was near her, was enough to assure him he’d made the right decision.
He continued to swim until he heard Coco’s increased barking. Looking back to the shore, he saw that Heaven had now stood and was talking on her cell phone. He was too far away to hear what she was saying, but the way Coco was reacting said there was some tension. The puppy was amazingly cognizant of emotions and made no secret of how she felt about them. Right now, Preston sensed Coco’s uneasiness and moved toward the shore without taking his eyes off Heaven.
By the time he’d reached her she’d disconnected the call, but the hand holding the phone shook and she looked as if she needed a good stiff drink.
“Hey, everything okay?” he asked, reaching to grab the wrist that was shaking so hard he thought the phone might eventually hit the ground.
She licked her lips, an act that still managed to make his body tighten even though he was really more concerned with who she’d been talking to than with getting laid.