by Kim Allred
AJ shook her head and smiled. “You seem to know your history. Do you have a favorite era?”
“Not really. It all fascinates me, but I’m strongest with eighteenth-century Europe.”
AJ’s tiredness vanished as the two of them fell into a comfortable discussion about history, amazed to discover their shared knowledge and interests. She grew animated when they discussed the French Revolution, and the continual political intrigue and war that shaped events impacting millions of people.
AJ found Ethan’s comments precise and clinical, but she didn’t believe he was capable of falling into the past as she so often did. There was only one way to find out. AJ steered the conversation to the folly of the French, who allowed the return of the autocracy with Bonaparte after such a bloody rebellion.
“You would think they would have remembered what perils they were allowing to happen again.” AJ understood the naivety of her statement and the complexities of those times, but she delighted in their discussion. She hadn’t shared a deep foray into history with anyone since her father. With Ethan’s keen insights, she decided to rattle him, see if any emotions lay under that haughty exterior. She smiled when she discovered his weak point.
“You don’t believe the people had a choice in this.” Ethan sparked at AJ’s whimsical statement, his words sharp and heated. “There was no right to vote. No ability for the people to make their own decisions in these matters. It was a time for one more group of power-seeking men to take over from another. Their only thoughts were to their own comfort and welfare disguised as a savior to the people.”
So there was something a little dangerous behind his wall. AJ could be fanatical about history, but her obsession didn’t hold a candle to Ethan’s. She hid her grin and sipped her cold coffee.
Ethan stopped. He sat back with a new appraising look. He laughed. “I guess your aim hit its mark.”
“I was curious to see which of us was more over-the-top than the other.” AJ laughed in return. “You win.”
“Win what?” Stella stepped up to the table, dropped her purse, and dragged an empty chair from another table. “The traffic was a bear. I was across town showing a house, and I swear, the tourists seem to arrive earlier each year.” She unwrapped her scarf and removed her sweater, making herself at home, seemingly oblivious to having interrupted anything.
AJ shot Ethan a quick glance of apology, but found him entertained by watching her friend create her own environment among them. She couldn’t decide if she should be happy or annoyed by Stella’s presence. She leaned back, tugged at a curl, and watched Stella take over. It was AJ’s own fault. She had been the one to ask Stella to stop by, afraid to be stuck babysitting Ethan. She’d had no idea how enjoyable their conversation would be and had forgotten all about Stella.
If Stella gleaned her disruptive presence, she didn’t show it. She gave Ethan a slow smile, then stared at AJ. After a short silence, she sighed. “Well, I guess I’ll introduce myself. I’m Stella, AJ’s long-time favorite friend. Sometimes I think her only friend.” Stella embraced Ethan’s hand when he reached out for a handshake, and held on a little too long. His smile charmed in return as he squeezed her hand.
AJ groaned. Ethan was either enchanted or enjoyed participating in other people’s games.
“I completely forgot I asked you to drop by if you had time.” AJ folded her arms and turned to Ethan. “I think my mother mentioned I had a friend in real estate. This is her.”
“Well, isn’t that a great testimony to my talents.” Stella pouted.
“Sorry, you’re right. Stella is one of the best Realtors in town.”
“Ah yes, I do remember Helen mentioning it. I could use the help. I’m getting tired of the hotel life.” Ethan’s manner cooled. The earlier excitement of history faded with the return of the security expert.
A barista swooped by and dropped a cup of coffee with a mound of whipped cream in front of Stella.
“Stella has everyone in Baywood pretty much working for her.” AJ didn’t bother hiding her awe at Stella’s ability to get direct table service, one of the few in town afforded the honor.
“I do favors for people, and I reap small rewards. Nothing wrong with that.” Stella blended the whipped cream into the coffee, savoring each movement.
Ethan seemed to hang on Stella’s every word. He studied her, watchful and aware. There was no doubt he must be good at his job.
“I’m sorry to have to leave after you just arrived.” Ethan stood. “But I have another appointment.”
“Really? That doesn’t seem fair.” Stella looked to AJ for help.
AJ shrugged. She gave Ethan another look, trying to see him from Stella’s perspective. Taken as a whole, he was attractive and shared her fascination with history. But the eyes gave her pause. Those gray eyes, one moment dark and scrutinizing, the next sparked with an inner light, bright and alive with animation.
Could anyone truly know or trust him? She would like to have time to learn more. But now wasn’t the time. “I thought I was supposed to guide you around town?”
“I’m quite well-versed on your town. I’ve spent hours getting familiar with it.” Ethan smiled and handed Stella a business card. “I suppose I should have mentioned that at dinner.”
AJ’s mouth dropped open. She lifted her cup to her lips. Empty. He’s a sly one.
Ethan turned to AJ and his words held a note of challenge. “We’ll need to return to our discussion of history. When you have the time.”
He moved effortlessly through the crowd, and in a moment, he was gone.
“Well, that was interesting. You never mentioned he was tall, dark, and mysterious. What do you think he’s all about?” Stella continued to watch the door after Ethan left.
AJ stared at her empty cup. “That’s a very good question.”
The view from his office stretched along the rocky coast for miles in both directions, and Ethan could watch the sea roll in or, as with this late afternoon, witness the sun’s quiet stroll to the horizon. It was a sight that captured him in a trance. The vision reminded him of home, and a yearning for those times burned deep inside him. Dangerous days, a reckless youth, brash and headstrong, fighting those around him through insolence—his way of dealing with abandonment and isolation. He understood it all now, but not then, when forced to carve his own way in an inhospitable world at such an early age.
His rage at his parents, at the life handed to him, all worked to his advantage now. He sometimes wished he’d known this at the time, but he’d traveled too far on his current path to bemoan his past. He wasn’t the first boy to face hardship before discovering his path, his journey guided him in directions he would never have chosen for himself. His days of worrying about where the next meal would come from, and whether he’d have to fight for it, fell far behind him. Fate—or was it destiny—interceded in the days he’d spent proving himself. His tale remained too far from complete to answer that question.
A soft buzz signaled someone entering the offices. He gave one last look to the setting sun, then glanced at the clock. He had no appointments scheduled this late. Ethan packed a few of his files into a small attaché and waited for the sound of footsteps. He tensed. Years of training prepared him for the unknown, even in this office, in this small town. Adam stuck his head into the open door.
“Ethan, I was hoping to catch you.” Adam moved into the room and gave it a slow once-over. “Fabulous view. I always wanted a view like this. Not sure I’d ever get anything done.”
“I admit it can be a distraction, but it’s still worth it.” Ethan finished assembling his files and closed the case. “What brings you this way?”
Adam stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows, gazing out to sea. He rocked back and forth, like a Weeble toy set in motion. “I could make something up about business before getting to the point.” Adam slipped Ethan a sheepish look. “But I’m pretty sure you’d see right through my subterfuge.”
He stared out the
window, hands fumbling at something in the pockets of his suit, his usual take-charge attitude held in check.
Ethan laughed, realizing Adam’s intent. “Do brothers still watch after their younger sisters, especially when they’re both adults?”
Adam laughed in return, although it seemed half-hearted. “See, that’s why I made sure the firm hired you. You’re a smart one, can’t pull one over on you.” He took a hesitant step toward an abstract print and studied it. He glanced at Ethan and then back at the print before taking another small step to another print.
“You’re the one who introduced us. Are you having second thoughts now?”
“No, no.” Adam stopped in front of a large wood-framed map displaying Baywood and the surrounding region. “I wanted to make sure everything was going okay. My sister can be a hard one to get to know.”
Adam moved on to an ornate bookcase, taking in the wide selection of books, some related to the security business, a few legal books, a great many books on Oregon, and several on current events. “You have a sweet variety of books here.”
“It keeps me up-to-date in my work.” Ethan studied him.
Adam perused the office, getting his swagger back, taking control of the meeting. By the way his body relaxed, seemingly unafraid of the silence, he was no doubt planning his next move. He belonged in front of a jury.
“So you two got along okay?”
“We’ve only had one coffee together.” Ethan held his smile in place. “And even then we were interrupted.”
Adam’s slow stroll around the office halted. Finding himself in front of another bookshelf, he randomly pulled out a book and flipped through it, paying no attention to the subject.
“Oh? Who was that?” Adam asked.
“A woman by the name of Stella. Apparently my new Realtor. Are you interested in history?” Ethan sat on the corner of his desk and folded his arms, waiting to see which topic Adam would land on.
“Oh, not really.” Adam sounded disappointed. “Seems you can’t get one without the other following close behind these days.”
He shoved the book back on the shelf, his gaze lingering on the title. The case held a collection of history books for the last couple hundred years, many of them on the wars of the world from Napoleon to the World Wars, Korea, and the Vietnam conflict.
“Your tastes are pretty wide-ranging.” Adam shoved his hands in his pockets. “Guess I’m jumping the gun checking up on her.”
Ethan, tired of Adam’s musings, collected his attaché and turned Adam to the door. “Let me walk you out. I can give you complete assurance I will be a perfect gentleman with AJ. But, based on our two brief meetings, your sister appears to be able to handle herself.”
“Yes, yes, no question there.” Adam allowed himself to be guided out the door. “You won’t say anything to her, about me stopping by?” His gaze appeared earnest. “I wouldn’t want her to know I was watching out for her.”
“Your secret is safe.” Ethan didn’t believe Adam’s concern for his sister’s welfare. He’d witnessed the friction between the two at their family dinner. “Do you have anything for me yet?”
“No, but soon. I haven’t forgotten.”
Ethan walked him out, all the way to the street. “I appreciate you coming over, Adam, and thank you again for inviting me to your family gathering. You didn’t need to do that.”
“No problem. Thanks for keeping it between us.”
If Adam had something to share, Ethan couldn’t see it. “Sorry to be rude, but I have an appointment. I’ll wait for your report.” He turned and walked away. He had his own agenda, and, unless Adam’s issues conflicted with his own, he didn’t care what the man was up to.
Adam waited until Ethan was a good block away before turning into an alley and, falling against the hard brick of a building, calmed his breathing. A small drizzle started to fall, and he leaned his head back to let the water wash away his troubles.
“What were you thinking?” he said aloud. He drew in a ragged breath and waited for the anxiety to pass. He hoped Ethan could be the one to help him out, but he was already too close to his sister. And now Stella was involved. He’d have to find another way.
“Mr. Moore.”
Adam spun around at the sound of his name. He paled. He hadn’t heard the man approach, surprising for the size of him. “Jeb.”
“You’re overdue on a payment.” Even in early spring, Jeb’s bare arms bulged with tanned muscles. His full beard hung well below his chin. A patch on his worn denim vest confirmed his name. A matching patch labeled him “enforcer.”
“No.” Adam’s voice squeaked, and he tried to pull away from Jeb’s hot breath, foul from afternoon drink, but the wall prevented escape. Jeb stepped back, and Adam gulped in fresh air. “I still have a couple of days.”
“Victor didn’t say anything about that.”
“It was arranged. Just yesterday. I swear.”
Jeb chuckled, a low, cold sound. “I know. I just wanted to make sure you knew how serious we were.” His filmy blue eyes pinned Adam in place for a few seconds. Then he turned and disappeared around the corner.
Adam didn’t take another breath until he heard the sound of Jeb’s chopper start and the loud engine fade into the evening traffic.
The mist turned to a light shower. Adam pushed away from the building, glanced down the street to make sure no one was there, and hurried back the way he had come.
No choice now, he had to follow through on his original plan.
6
“Are you sure? We’ve barely looked at anything.” Stella yelled above the wind, her hair whipping about her face, hands clasped around the steering wheel like an Indy driver. The forecast promised a dry spring day, so she took a chance with putting the top down.
She sneaked a quick glance at the man who filled the space next to her. Thinner than she preferred, his aquiline nose accented the sharp features of his face. His tailored suit and coiffed hair complemented the controlled intensity of his eyes. He sprawled across the front seat, legs tucked into the small space of Stella’s sports car, arms dangling, head swiveling to take in the sights. Her question seemed superfluous. She doubted Ethan had any problem making a decision.
“I don’t need much to be comfortable.” Ethan turned away, his voice barely heard above the wind. “It reminds me of my childhood.” Sitting straighter in his seat, he pulled at the cuffs of his shirt. “It meets my needs. No reason to spend time on useless pursuits.”
On no more than a whim, Stella had stopped by the old eyesore after touring three other places. Ethan had mentioned he might like something on the coast, though she envisioned him living closer to town. But she drove to the house that flanked the edge of an older neighborhood. It hovered on the point, cast off like someone’s disapproving uncle. She planned more of a drive by, and was shocked when Ethan asked her to stop. The house proved to be as dreary inside as it appeared at first glance, which explained why it still sat empty, even with its spectacular ocean view. The well-constructed house sported too many small rooms, and the dark wood paneling imbued a bleak atmosphere. Ethan didn’t seem to care.
“I wish all my clients were as easy as you. I swear, some of them look at the same house twenty times before settling on a completely different house they’ve only seen once.” Stella laughed. “It would drive me crazy if it wasn’t exactly something I’d do.”
Ethan returned a smile. “I met AJ’s family the other night.”
“I heard Adam brought you.”
“My company just signed with his firm. Being new to town, he was kind enough to invite me.”
“I thought you knew Adam.” Stella raised an eyebrow and shot him a quick glance. “You recently came to town and already signed a contract. My, you are a fast worker.”
“It was a little more involved than that. We wanted to ensure we had the business before making the move.”
“Oh, I guess that makes sense.”
“So what’s your take o
n Adam?”
Stella contemplated the question. She didn’t want to squirrel whatever deal he had with Adam, and had no desire to create a problem that could fall back on AJ. “He’s an okay guy, a good family man.”
“Oh, it’s like that, is it?”
“No,” Stella sputtered. “He’s a nice guy. Good with his family, does a lot of stuff in the community.”
“It sounds like a lot of fluff, not the true nature of the man. I’m sorry. It wasn’t meant to put you on the spot.”
“Look. I don’t want to cause any problems for Adam. He’s a nice enough guy, just not someone I’d spend a lot of time with.”
“I was curious if you thought he was trustworthy. Does he toe the line in business?”
Stella released her death grip on the wheel. “Do you think he’s doing something illegal?”
Ethan shook his head and laughed off her concern. “No. Nothing like that. I like to get a sense of a man through his friends. In this case, his family’s friends are all I know, and I don’t know anyone very well. I have my first impressions, and being in security, I’m a careful man.”
“It just threw me off. Thinking you had known Adam awhile.” Stella kept her eyes on the road as she drove through downtown, dying to sneak a peek at him. But with the warm spring day, early tourists flooded the streets, forcing her attention elsewhere.
“Why don’t we stop for lunch and you can tell me more about your town?” he said.
“I know the perfect place.” Stella pasted on a smile, but deep down, a large yellow caution flag waved. She tried to reconcile the successful, engaging businessman beside her with the man who asked uncomfortable questions. He might be trying to get acclimated, but she would bet her next commission check he wasn’t telling the whole story. She just needed time to work her charms.
While Stella drove Ethan around town, AJ found the newspaper office bustling with activity. An accident involving one of the city councilmen blocked a main intersection for more than an hour. Envious that Clara or Robert had something to write about, AJ spent another morning shifting paper from one side of her desk to another, unable to concentrate on her own article.