“Are you sure that’s all it is?” Melissa asked.
“I’m positive.” If Jules was coming across as blue, she was simply going to readjust her attitude. She wasn’t truly blue, and there was nothing messing with her enthusiasm for the Crab Shack, not Caleb or anything else.
“Because we have options, you know.”
Unease rose in Jules. She slowed to a stop, turning to face Melissa. “What do you mean we have options?”
Had Caleb somehow gotten to Melissa? If he had, there was going to be trouble, Jules vowed.
Melissa kept walking as if they were having a perfectly ordinary conversation, and Jules had no choice but to move with her.
“Noah said something interesting today. I was talking to him. Okay, I was flirting with him. But I think I’m losing my touch. I’m acting like a schoolgirl, and it’s like he’s completely oblivious.”
“You really have a thing for him, don’t you?” Jules’s heart went out to her sister, and she relaxed a bit, far more comfortable with the topic of Noah than with any talk of options for the Crab Shack.
“Who wouldn’t? He’s so, I don’t know, solid, laid-back. Nothing rattles that guy. You’ve seen that, right?”
Noah was always there, lifting, carrying, power tools reverberating through the building. He’d become background noise.
“I can’t say that I’ve paid all that much attention.” Jules was usually focused on what she was doing herself.
“He’s so efficient,” Melissa continued. “He makes it look easy, but he gets a ton of work done.”
Jules agreed with that. “We’re lucky we hired him.”
“And his hands. I have a thing for his hands. They’re so capable. You know, scarred, callused, big, über-sexy.”
Jules couldn’t help but smile at her sister’s confession.
“But he won’t notice me.” Melissa sounded both earnest and sorry for herself. “Why won’t he notice me?”
“Maybe you’re trying too hard. Guys usually want what they can’t have.” Jules shrugged. “Maybe don’t be so obvious. Let him chase you for a while.”
“And if he doesn’t?”
“You’re no further behind.”
“Hmm. I could try that. I have to say, he did come up with a good idea.”
“Tell me.” Jules felt like a better big sister than she had a few minutes ago.
“Noah thinks we should consider selling to Caleb.”
Jules stopped dead on the pathway. “Sell Caleb the Crab Shack? Why would we do that? Why would he even want it? We’re not in the market to sell. We’re in the market to succeed. What’s Noah even talking about?”
“He figures Caleb would easily give us jobs at Neo. You could be a chef. I could go into management. We could make it part of the deal that he had to give us careers.”
Jules couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “We’d bribe Caleb to employ us? We’d help the Watfords make Neo even more successful and give up the Crab Shack?” She tried to imagine her grandfather’s reaction. “You know Caleb would bulldoze the place.”
Had Melissa lost her mind?
“We need to be realistic.” Melissa’s voice was small.
“We are being realistic.”
“Are we? We didn’t count on court costs.”
Jules swallowed. “We’ll manage.”
“Noah says—”
“What’s with Noah? He’s a carpenter. What does he know about running a restaurant? I know you’re attracted to him, but you’re the one with the business degree.”
The hurt expression on Melissa’s face was clear. “This has nothing to do with me being attracted to him.”
Jules immediately felt terrible. “I’m sorry. I’m just trying to figure out why Noah would...” And then it hit her. This wasn’t Noah’s idea.
This idea had Caleb written all over it. It played right into his hand. Caleb had to be using Noah as an unwitting conduit to Melissa, and Melissa as a conduit to Jules.
Jules closed her eyes and gave her head a shake.
“I’m sorry,” she told Melissa, re-centering herself and opening her eyes. There was no point in addressing this with anyone but Caleb. Everyone else was perfectly innocent. “It’s an interesting suggestion,” she continued. “And I shouldn’t have gotten upset like that. But I don’t think we need to give up. Not yet. The easement case may go more smoothly than we’re anticipating. Caleb could even be bluffing.”
Melissa looked decidedly hesitant. “You think?”
“It’s a possibility. Let’s not make any rash decisions.” They were in front of their house, but Jules was too restless to go inside. “You know, I’m going to walk awhile longer.”
“You’re mad at me.”
Jules shook her head. “I’m not mad. I’m sorry if I sounded mad. This is your decision as much as it is mine.”
“It was only an idea.”
“And I only need to clear my head. I’ll just walk.”
“If you’re sure.”
“I’m sure. I’ll see you in a while.”
Jules wasn’t angry with Melissa. She wasn’t even angry with Noah. There was only one person to blame for this, and he had a lot of explaining to do.
* * *
Caleb didn’t often drink brandy. Beer was his bar beverage of choice. Wine was nice with an elegant dinner, and he enjoyed the occasional single malt.
Brandy was soothing. He supposed it wasn’t often that he needed to be soothed.
He’d signed the paperwork tonight. Tomorrow Bernard would take the documents to the land office and rescind the easement for the Crab Shack. Then, it would be up to Jules to take him to court. She’d need a lawyer. And it would cost her money she didn’t have. And she would probably never forgive him.
Slumped on the sofa in his living room, he stared out at the ocean. Rather, he stared in the direction of the ocean. The clouds were thick tonight, rain splattering on his windows, splashing on the dimly lit deck. Jazz floated from his speakers. The volume was low. Again, it was soothing.
He took another drink of the brandy, hoping it wouldn’t turn to acid in his stomach.
Someone banged on his door. The sound was jarring and annoying.
He glanced at his watch, wondering who would stop by. Matt and TJ wouldn’t knock, and other people would phone or text first.
The sharp, rapid knock came again.
He set down the snifter and rolled to his feet. He supposed an interruption wasn’t the worst thing in the world. Whatever it was might take his mind off his guilt for a moment.
He followed the hall to the foyer and swung open the door.
It was Jules.
She was wet from the rain that was now streaming down hard, and she looked angry. Her glare was punctuated by a rumble of thunder behind her.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
He knew she couldn’t possibly know about the easement. Only he and Bernard were aware that he’d signed the documents.
“I need you to be honest with me.”
“Honest about what?” He wouldn’t let himself believe it was the easement.
“About using Noah to push your agenda.”
Caleb was baffled by the statement. “Come in,” he said instead of responding.
She walked stiffly through the doorway, her hair wet, her T-shirt clinging to her body.
“We had a deal,” she said. “You promised.”
“Jules, you’re soaking wet. Come in and dry off.”
“Who cares if I’m wet? Being wet is nothing.”
He ducked into the guest bathroom and retrieved a towel, holding it out to her.
She didn’t take it. “How could you?”
“What do you think I did?” He r
esisted an urge to dry her hair.
“Don’t play dumb, Caleb.”
“I’m not playing anything.” He looped the towel around her shoulders.
She grasped the ends and backed away from him. “I’m talking about Noah, about how you manipulated him. He’s now told Melissa that selling you the Crab Shack is our best move.”
Caleb rolled the idea around in his head. It was quite brilliant, but it wasn’t his idea. Why hadn’t he thought of it? He could buy the place outright, and solve every one of his problems. Jules and Melissa would have the money to start any business they liked.
“I didn’t suggest that to Noah,” he said.
“Come on, Caleb. I knew you offering free labor to fix the roof was too good to be true. You had two full days up there, you and Matt, to co-opt Noah to your cause.”
“I didn’t. We didn’t.” Caleb wouldn’t have done it covertly. “If I wanted to buy your property, I’d have come out and asked you.”
The words seemed to give her pause. “I wish I could believe that.”
“You can.”
She looked miserable.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“No.” She stiffened. “I’m not okay. You’re trying to destroy my dream.”
He couldn’t argue with that. He was trying to destroy her business, and along with it her dream. But Noah had nothing to do with it.
“I’ve been up-front with you,” he said. “All along, I’ve been honest about my desires and my intentions. Why would I go behind your back now? Why would I use Noah—who I barely know, by the way. Why?”
“Because you thought it would work.”
“Rescinding the easement will work.”
“It won’t get you out of the noncompete.”
“But it’ll trap you in a corner.” He gave in to his impulse, removed the towel from her shoulders and pressed it to her wet hair. “You’ll give in. You’ll have no choice.”
Surprisingly, she didn’t seem to notice what he was doing. “I could win in court.”
“You’re not going to win, Jules. You’ll be bankrupt before the first hearing. I have a simple path forward—why would I use Noah?”
She seemed to hesitate again. “Speed?”
“I hadn’t thought of that. It might be faster. But I didn’t do it. Whatever your sister said, whatever Noah told her, it had nothing to do with me. I worked on your roof to keep you from potentially killing yourself. Period. That’s it. That’s all I did.”
Her shoulders drooped. “So Noah’s against me, too?”
Caleb stopped rubbing her hair, and draped the towel around her shoulders again.
“Noah’s trying to help you. He sees the impossibility of your situation.”
“It’s not impossible.” She pressed her lips together. “It can’t be impossible.”
Caleb told himself to take his gaze off her lips.
She raised her blue eyes to look at him. They were glimmering. “And Melissa?” she asked. “How does she feel? She brought me the idea.”
Caleb wasn’t sure how to answer that. He tried to be gentle. “It sounds like she wants to sell. She may not be as committed as you.”
He couldn’t help but hope they would take Noah’s suggestion and consider selling. Then he wouldn’t have to be the bad guy. He wouldn’t have to cancel the easement. He could call Bernard and tell him to stand down. His heart lifted at the possibility. He couldn’t help it.
“How do I fight?” Jules asked, her voice breaking. “I’m fighting you. I’m fighting my dad. How do I fight Melissa, too?”
Caleb gave in and pulled her into his arms.
To his surprise, she came willingly, burrowing her head against his shoulder.
* * *
Jules couldn’t believe she was crying. But stubborn tears seeped silently out of the corners of her eyes, soaking into Caleb’s shirtfront. She accepted that he wasn’t lying. She was under siege by everyone around her. For the first time, she considered that she might be wrong, she might completely fail. Her heart hurt for her grandfather.
She desperately tried to control her emotions, to slow the deluge of tears. Falling apart in front of Caleb was the worst thing she could do. But she couldn’t seem to stop, and she couldn’t seem to give up the comfort of his embrace.
It was as if he was two different men. When she was close to him, he seemed rock solid and compassionate. All she wanted to do was lean on him. She couldn’t even picture the alter ego that was undermining everything she did. Then when she walked away, she couldn’t see his kindness. From a distance he was nothing but an enemy.
She needed to walk away now. She needed some distance. But he was hugging her tight, and she needed another minute, just another few minutes while she gathered her strength.
“It’s okay,” he whispered, kissing her hair.
“It’s not.” She hated the quaver in her voice. “It’s not okay.”
“You can take a break from fighting.”
“I can’t.”
“Just for a minute. Relax.” His hands rubbed over her back.
She felt her body soften. Her limbs grew suddenly heavy, and the flutter in her stomach turned to a dull ache.
He must have sensed her weakness because he scooped her into his arms.
She didn’t have the strength to protest. She kept her eyes shut and focused on the security of his arms. There would be plenty of time to fight with him later.
He moved to the sofa and sat down, settling her on his lap.
The storm was full-blown now, rain clattering against the big windows, nearly drowning out the soft music in the background.
She sat still, feeling the beat of his heart, letting the thunder and the rhythm of the rain roll over her. He didn’t say a word. His chest rose and fell, and the heat of him seeped into her damp clothes.
After a long time, she tipped her head back to look at him. He gazed directly into her eyes. His expression was compassionate, and his gray eyes were opaque.
He brushed his thumb across her cheek.
Then he smoothed back her hair.
He dipped his lips forward, slowly and steadily moving toward hers.
Her heart rate increased, deepening, steadying. She could taste his lips before they even touched hers. They were amazing, fantastic, breathtaking.
Then he kissed her, and the world seemed to convulse around her heart. Her body strained against him. Her arms went around him. And she opened to his kiss as sound roared in her ears.
He eased slightly back. “Is this okay?”
“No. It’s not. It can’t be.” She felt his arm tighten around her. “But don’t stop,” she whispered.
“We’ll work it out.”
“We won’t. But that’s someplace else. It’s something else. This is just this.”
He kissed her again.
It suddenly felt as if her damp clothes were cloying. She impatiently clawed at the laces of her work boots, until he took over and stripped them off. He broke their kiss to peel off her T-shirt. Then he stripped off his own shirt and drew her close, skin to skin, heat to heat.
Now that she’d made up her mind, she simply let it happen. The last time had been hurried, but this was to be savored. She kissed Caleb deeply, letting her hands and lips wander over his body.
He seemed to sense her mood, and he worked his way slowly from her neck to her navel, bringing gasps from her lips, and ramping up the passion that heated her to her very core. He slowly removed her clothes, and he removed his own, laying her gently back on the sofa, where he made leisurely love to her.
The rain pounded harder, the room heated up, her damp hair all but steamed in reaction to his lovemaking. The leather was smooth against her skin, and his hands were firm then gentle
then firm again.
Their bodies joined, and his scent surrounded her. The taste and feel of him filled her senses. His breathing was a rasp in her ear, deeper, louder, faster. Her body kept up with the pace, until she was floating from the earth, hovering in pure bliss for thrust after thrust before imploding in a cascade of pleasure that had her crying his name.
The room slowly righted itself, and she could tell which way was up.
Neither of them spoke. He turned, balanced her gently on top of him, covering her with his shirt. She wasn’t cold. But she liked the cocoon. For the first time in days, she felt at peace.
* * *
Caleb would have happily held Jules sleeping on top of him forever. But sooner or later, somebody would come looking. Even as the thought crossed his mind, her phone buzzed. The ring was soft, and it didn’t disturb her sleep.
He smiled, smoothing her hair and giving her a kiss on the temple. When he eased out from under her, she simply settled into the heat of the soft cushions. His smile widened. She was serenely beautiful, and his shoulders felt lighter.
He retrieved a blanket from the linen closet and tucked it over her, feathering her mussed hair off her face. Then he took a few more sips from his brandy snifter. Brandy had never tasted so good.
He guessed it was probably Melissa trying to call Jules. He took his own phone and scrolled through the history to find the call Jules had made from it in San Francisco. He put Melissa’s saved number in his contacts and called her.
“Hello?” Melissa answered.
“Hi, Melissa. It’s Caleb.”
“Caleb?” Melissa sounded surprised and a little distracted.
“I wanted to let you know that Jules is here.”
There was a pause. “Where’s here?”
“My place. She came by.”
There was another moment of silence on the line before Melissa spoke. “I don’t understand. She said she was going to walk. Caleb, what’s going on?”
“She was angry.”
Distress came into Melissa’s tone. “At me?”
The response surprised Caleb. With a last look at Jules, he moved down the hall to the kitchen to continue the conversation. “Me,” he said as he walked. “She was mad at me.”
From Temptation to Twins Page 14