“Excuse me?” Harlee wasn’t sure she’d heard that correctly.
Bridget laughed. “You’re getting respectable in your doting twenties, aren’t you?”
“I guess so. I would die if anyone heard us.”
“And ten years ago?”
“I would have screamed even louder just to get their attention and let everyone know that I’d do as I pleased.”
“My point exactly.”
“So I guess I’ve grown up. This seems like a good start, but we’re running out of time.”
“Time is relative. We’ll have the time we need.”
“Great, I’d like a couple more years.” Harlee rolled her eyes.
“That’s not what I meant.” Bridget sniffed, obviously insulted.
“Sorry.”
“You are somewhat testy. Did my little brother get under your skin?”
Harlee shrugged. “Things are going downhill.”
“Downhill or already hit rock bottom?”
“Well, actually, rock bottom. I don’t know what to do.”
“Do what your heart tells you to do.”
“My heart tells me to quit my job and leave town now before it’s too late.”
“I believe it’s already too late. Pain is essential for personal and spiritual growth.”
“I should be doing a lot of growing then.” Harlee looked away so Jake’s sister wouldn’t see her eyes fill with tears one more time.
* * * *
“You’re in a foul mood.” Brad helped himself to a beer in Jake’s refrigerator. “Where’s Goldie? I don’t smell Sunday dinner cooking.”
“She’s not cooking dinner. At least not for us.” Jake felt as grumpy as the bear she so often called him.
“Are you two fighting again? After that bathroom caper, I figured all was right with your world and your sex life.”
“Guess again.”
“Hmmm. Didn’t you spend the night in Dad’s suite with her?”
“Yeah. I didn’t get any sleep. She was insatiable.”
“Oh, I can understand how that’d make a guy depressed.” Brad rolled his eyes.
Jake ignored his brother’s mocking tone. “Then things turned bad.”
“Good bad or bad bad?” A broad grin spread across Brad’s face.
“Really bad. She told me she loved me.”
“Oh, shit.” Brad’s grin disappeared like pastry samples in a grocery store.
Swallowing a lump in his throat, Jake stood and walked to the window. He stared at the multimillion-dollar view and wondered if it was ethical to put a price on it.
His gaze followed the route of a ferry as it wound its lonely way through the channel to Friday Harbor. The surrounding islands glittered like jewels on the water. This time of year the tourists retreated to warmer climates, taking their small boats and yachts with them, leaving the islands to the locals, just the way he liked it. Jake shook his head. He couldn’t get drawn in by this place; bad enough to be drawn in by Harlee.
Tourist brochures claimed the islands invited visitors to step back in time to a simpler era, called to the human soul, and promised relief from modern-day pressures. All sorts of crap like that. He could use a little relief right now with some of that Orcas Island magic thrown in. Unfortunately, Jake didn’t hear the call, or feel the magic, and his soul found no relief from the emptiness that consumed it.
“Hey.” He felt Brad’s hand on his shoulder. “You don’t have to make this so difficult. There’s a simple solution to all this.”
“And that would be?”
“Save the camp. Marry the girl. Retire several tons of horseflesh. Have a couple babies. Take your place in the Reynolds dynasty and together we’ll all find a way to revive it. Make a couple million. And live happily ever after.”
“You’re delusional.”
“About the couple million? Yeah, that is aiming a low considering our legacy.”
Jake glared at him in annoyance. “Brad, I’ve poured my heart and soul into this project. I’ve lived and breathed it for almost a year. I invested every spare cent I had, and quite a bit I didn’t have. I’ve bet the future of my business on it and now ReynCorp. If it fails, it’ll break me personally and professionally, not to mention The Empire.”
Jake, the screw-up, the failure, the party boy who never made the right decisions. Everything they’d ever called him ran through his head over and over. He’d heard it so many times, he half believed it.
“Man, I didn’t know you’d spread yourself so thin.”
“Did you honestly think I had the ready cash to invest in a project of this magnitude without going into debt over it?”
“Hell if I know. I don’t keep track of your finances.”
“You’ve kept track of ReynCorp’s.”
“I know, but—”
“I don’t want to destroy this place and make it the exclusive playground of the rich and famous. That option isn’t open to me. I can’t be swayed by all these bleeding hearts. The demolition will take place as scheduled.”
“And what about Harlee? She’ll never forgive you once you demolish her beloved camp.”
“It’s over. I told her good-bye.”
“You dumped her?”
“It was mutual. Actually, I think she might have dumped me.”
“Did you fire her, too?”
“She’s only going to work a few more months. Then she’s taking a job in Malibu managing Mariah and Rico’s horse farm.” Jake grimaced and changed to a less painful subject. “How are things going with Eva?”
“There are no things with Eva. She doesn’t want anything to do with me.”
“You might want to admit defeat on that one.”
“Never. I do know a way to her heart.”
“And that is?”
“Convince you to save the camp.”
Jake shook his head.
Brad raked his fingers through his hair in frustration, shedding his happy-go-lucky persona. “Damn it, Jake. Can’t you come up with a compromise? You’re a smart guy.”
“She’s on a mission. There’s no compromising with her.”
“There isn’t with you either,” Brad stated.
“I would have helped her find another location.”
“Come on, Jake, it would never be the same. The success of this camp is tied to its location.”
“Don’t start on me about that San Juan magic crap. You been listening to Eva.”
“Don’t discount it. They do call Orcas the mystical healing island.”
“It didn’t heal me.” Hell, no. Instead, it opened a big gaping wound in his heart.
“I hate to do this, Jake, but I guess you’ll have to consider me an enemy, too. I’m joining the Save Rosehill crusade.”
“Because of Eva?”
“No, because it’s the right thing to do.”
* * * *
“You have to fire that bitch.” Warren ranted and raved. Jake waited for him to start throwing things. “We’ve got a major conflict of interest issue.” His wildly waving hands stirred the air around them. The scent of his overpowering aftershave filled every crevice of the small office. Jake leaned back before the smell asphyxiated him. Damn, Warren must have bathed in the stuff this morning.
Carson sat back in one of the plastic chairs and scowled. Perfect Carson never lost his temper, and he found it distasteful when others did. Regardless, they appeared to be the only two people on earth that were on Jake’s side right now. He needed all the friends he could get.
“Harlee won’t let her personal opinions affect her work. Besides, she’s not your employee.”
“You’re my partner, and I want her gone.”
“You’re out of line, Warren. I’m not firing her. She stays.”
“Your personal involvement with her is damaging your commitment to this project.”
“Not anymore. I don’t have a personal involvement with her. It’s over.” Jake choked on the words. He hated this weakness she br
ought out in him.
“My. My. My. You’re not as much of an idiot as I thought. So you do have some balls after all. You sent the bimbo packing out of your bed; you might as well send her packing off the island.”
If they were playing Survivor, he’d vote Warren off this island before Harlee ever set foot on that ferry.
“She is leaving as soon as her other job becomes available in a few months. That gives me time to find a replacement and for her to train her.”
“Damn it. This is going to haunt us. There are things about her that you don’t know.”
Jake’s eyes narrowed. “Like what?”
“Nothing concrete yet. I’ve just been doing a little digging.”
“You’ve had Harlee investigated?”
“Yes.”
“Warren, you’ve gone too far.” Jake clenched his fists and resisted the urge to punch the jerk out, cousin or not. Yeah, that’d really impress the rest of the family. There goes Jake again, brawling with his cousin. Carson said nothing, watching the two with a detached interest.
“Really? I’m only doing what you should have done when you rescued her from the gutter and gave her a job. You didn’t know a damn thing about her background. No wonder your father worries about you. By the way, I told Uncle Joe about sweet little Harlee.”
“It’s time for you to leave.” Jake shot to his feet and advanced on Warren.
His cousin stepped back at the bloodlust in Jake’s eyes.
“Don’t you want to know what your father knows?”
“No, I don’t. What Harlee did in her past doesn’t matter to me. Leave before I use your butt for a football and practice punting.”
“Fine. First I need to sign the papers for the demolition contract.”
“I don’t have them.”
“What?”
“Seems Parish has been too busy running all over the Caribbean to return my calls or send the paperwork.”
“Great. Just great.” Warren turned on his heel and stomped out the door. He slammed it so hard the entire trailer shook.
With a long-suffering sigh, Carson stood. “Don’t screw this up, Jake.” He turned on his heel and followed Warren from the room. “We’re all depending on you.”
Jake put his heads in his hands and stared out the window. Clouds gathered in the distance, gaining momentum with another storm.
But nothing could match the storm brewing inside him.
* * * *
Warren took the corner on two wheels and almost slid into the ditch. He accelerated on the straight stretch and wished it was as easy to gain control over his emotions as it was this sports car.
Damn that ridiculously stupid cousin of his. Of the three Reynolds brothers, he’d never guessed in a million years this particular brother would turn out to be the biggest pain in the ass. He’d always pegged Carson as the king asshole, but it appeared he didn’t have anything over his little brother in that department. Almost three years ago, he’d planned on getting his hands on this property by putting a ring on Mariah’s finger and a mortgage in her aunt’s hand. Now, he was stuck being the pawn in a coming-of-age test for Jake by his father.
If Jake backed out, he’d leave Warren with nothing but a sagging law practice and mounting bills. Maintaining his image about town as a wealthy playboy was expensive, as were his champagne tastes and penchant for gambling. They couldn’t steal his potential income from him. He’d never become a nobody. Never.
Anger rippled through him. The women responsible for this situation needed to pay. Getting past Rico’s people to Mariah was damn near impossible. Perhaps, his tactics had been faulty. Maybe he couldn’t get to Mariah in the flesh, but he could attack her where it’d hurt most, starting with Harlee. Then he’d settle the score with Bridget.
With a satisfied smile, Warren steered the car onto the ferry and planned his next move.
* * * *
Harlee closed her eyes and resolved that today she’d face the music. As soon as she arrived at work this morning, she’d give Jake the contracts and mail she’d hidden. Even if it meant losing the camp, she couldn’t continue to deceive him and live with herself.
She’d turn this into a fair fight.
She stepped into the shower. The warm water sluiced over her body. Yet, it couldn’t wash away the regret and disappointment.
And it couldn’t mend her broken heart.
She’d never met a man who made her feel like Jake did, and she’d met as many men as jellybeans had flavors. He’d treated her like a lady, yet made her feel like the most desirable woman in the world. He didn’t seem to care about her past or hold her background against her.
She’d been dishonest with him in so many ways.
Drying her hair, she put on her makeup, attempting to do it as Mariah had taught her, subtle yet effective.
Despair had rented an apartment in her heart and become her constant companion. Sometimes it made her gut twist in pain; at other times it was a dull ache. Regardless, it was always present to remind her of what she’d lost. Even without the camp between them, their breakup was inevitable. He might be the family bad boy, but he was still a Reynolds. If he’d fought it in his younger years, he didn’t fight it now. The Christmas party had been a prime example. Jake wanted to belong, to be part of the family fold. He just didn’t know how to get there. He believed developing Rosehill would be his ticket.
It probably was.
Harlee dialed Mariah to get an update. Meanwhile, Bridget was staying at a nearby resort and working on some details. Eva had united several of the island residents and called in various favors from people in her former corporate life. Things were going as planned. Poor Jake. She hated to do this to him, but she didn’t have a choice. Someday he might forgive her. More likely, he’d hate her guts the rest of his life.
She trudged to the barn to feed the horses before work. It would most likely be the last time. Two of the three horses had their heads over the half doors waiting for breakfast.
She didn’t see Ferguson’s big head, which was odd, since he took the prize as the barn pig. He didn’t whinny as usual. Harlee’s stomach did a small lurch. A feeling that something wasn’t right slid through her.
“Hey, Fergie?” she called as she neared the stall door.
Ferguson lay flat in his stall. He rolled over and groaned a most pathetic groan. Sweat covered his sleek body. Pain dulled his gentle brown eyes. His massive sides rose and fell with his labored breathing.
“Oh, no. Fergie?” Harlee grabbed the halter from its hook next to the stall door and stepped inside. She cajoled, harassed, and begged until Fergie heaved his big body to its feet.
Fergie looked at his flank and bit at his stomach in distress. Nauseous with fear, the taste of bile filled Harlee’s mouth. She bolstered her courage and led him from the stall.
This horse had all the classic signs of a serious colic, a condition which could be fatal in a horse. It was important to keep the horse walking. Harlee snatched her cell phone and called Bridget and the vet as she walked Fergie up and down the driveway in the cold December drizzle.
Chapter 20—An Unmerry Christmas
Bridget was screaming at Harlee, and Harlee was in hysterics. Jake stared from one to another and wondered why God ever created women. He couldn’t make heads nor tails of this mess. Obviously, it had to do with the horse currently being examined by the vet.
Finally, Jake had had enough. “Bridget! Shut the fuck up!”
Bridget and Harlee both gaped at him as if they’d just noticed his existence. The vet raised an eyebrow and mouthed, “Thank you.”
“Tell me what the hell is going on,” Jake ordered. He pointed at Bridget. “You first.”
“I almost lost Ferguson thanks to her carelessness.” Bridget angled a murderous look at Harlee.
Jake turned to Harlee and toned down his anger a notch. Her tear-streaked face and stricken eyes indicated her delicate emotional state. “Harlee, what happened?”
“
I don’t know.” She sobbed.
“She almost killed my horse!” Bridget screeched.
“I didn’t mean to.” Harlee wiped her eyes with her coat sleeve.
“Of all the stupid, careless…I looked in his stall, Jake. I found moldy hay and empty water buckets. Anyone with a brain knows that’s a recipe for disaster with a horse. Those two things combined can kill.”
Jake looked back at Harlee. Bridget’s accusations were hard to believe. Harlee was so meticulous when it came to the horses and her work.
“I swear I filled those buckets. The hay I fed him wasn’t moldy. I don’t know what happened.”
“You’re careless, irresponsible, and stupid.” Bridget was beyond reason.
“Bridget, I can’t believe Harlee knowingly did this. It wasn’t intentional.”
“I didn’t do it at all. Something’s going on here.”
“You’re an idiot. That’s what’s going on.” Bridget’s voice rose to an ear-splitting screech. No wonder she couldn’t keep boyfriend.
“Blaming Harlee isn’t going to help Ferguson.”
“Maybe not, but it sure makes me feel a hell of a lot better.”
A black four-door Jaguar screeched into the driveway. Now what? Jake recognized Carson’s voice and considered ignoring him. He’d reached the limits of his patience between his sister’s tirades and Harlee’s caterwauling. Did he really want to listen to his brother’s lectures? Unfortunately, he didn’t see an out. With a resigned sigh, he answered. “We’re in here, Car.”
Carson walked in the barn. His eyes darted to each of them and settled on Jake. “You and I need to talk about the camp. Now.”
“Wait for me in the farmhouse.”
“Make it fast. I don’t have all day.” Carson turned to Bridget. “And when you’re done wailing, find your irresponsible twin and join us. This involves all of us and our future.”
Bridget rolled her eyes. “Give it up, Carson. It’s not like we’re going to go broke if the resort falls through.”
Who's Been Sleeping in My Bed? Page 24