Jill flew to Jake’s side, pretty quickly, too, considering she’d forgotten her broom. She railed at him. “You bastard! You’ve just lost everything! We are through! Do you hear me? We’re through!” Jill wheeled around and disappeared after Warren.
Jake regarded her with no expression. At least one positive thing had come from all this mess.
Unable to get Jake to respond to an interview, the TV stations packed their stuff and left. In their minds, the story had ended. Disappointed, the protesters trudged away, unable to do the job they’d been psyched to do. Perhaps, they’d been better off searching for whales.
Harlee squirmed and moved her head around to relieve the kink in her neck. Jake had come through in the end. She wanted to leap to her feet and throw her arms around him. He’d done the right thing, and she loved him even more for the man he was. Unfortunately, it was too late for them. She’d deceived him. Even worse, in his eyes, she’d used and manipulated him. He’d never trust her again, not with his heart.
“Jake?” She needed to know what he was thinking.
He turned to face her. His hard brown eyes didn’t show the tiniest bit of compassion. Harlee swallowed. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me. I did it for myself, not for you.”
* * * *
Jake started walking away from this disaster of his own making, away from his family, and most of all, away from Harlee.
“Jake? Jake? Jake!” Eva screeched. “Turn us loose right now! Do you hear me?”
Jake didn’t turn around. Let them rot tied to those cedar posts. Maybe he’d have them bronzed, a pair of meddling women to flank the lodge’s front entryway. Even better, they could be carved into totem poles in the true Northwest spirit, as permanent reminders of his gullibility.
“Come back here! Right now! Unlock these handcuffs! My arms hurt,” Eva ordered.
Jake kept walking.
“You can’t leave us here!” No one paid attention to Eva’s indignant demands.
“Who has the key?” Jake asked Brad.
“I do. Do you want me to set them free?”
“What do you think?” Jake managed to laugh.
“I’m thinking I can’t find the key. I guess I left it somewhere.”
“Good plan. Let them stew for a while. They deserve it after this scheme.”
“Okay,” Brad retreated to stand with Rico near a cooler of food and beer.
“Jake, where are you going?” Harlee’s distressed voice registered in his mind, but he kept walking.
Brad would release them when the mood struck. For now, he was sipping a beer on the lodge steps and pretending not to notice anything unusual. His mother was deep in conversation on her cell phone, while Mariah, in Rico’s arms, quietly sobbed tears of relief and happiness.
Jake trudged along the bank that snaked the water’s edge. Part of him felt good about his decision and part of him felt sick to his stomach. He picked up a rock and flung it as far as he could. It sailed over the embankment and into the water a few hundred feet out. After a small splash, it disappeared into its watery grave. Jake slumped onto a nearby rock and stared at the horizon. His mind registered the natural colors and rugged textures of the islands, but he felt numb to the beauty.
He’d never reap the monetary benefits of this multimillion-dollar view. Not that he cared much about that. There were more important things than money, like self-respect. Damn this responsibility he felt to do his small part to make this world a better place. Then again, maybe he’d finally figured it out, but too late for Goldie and him.
He’d start over professionally. It’d be hard without any startup funds, but it didn’t matter. One way or another he’d rebuild his business, but he didn’t have a clue how to salvage his personal life or his family relationships.
In the distance, a seagull soared over the water. Its lonely call reflected his despair.
Footsteps crunched on the gravel path behind him. Jake’s body tensed.
Had Warren returned for round two? No, not unless he wanted to be arrested. Had someone freed Harlee, and she was looking for him? His heart applauded that possibility. His brain said to forget it and get real. Jake turned his head with deliberate slowness, not wanting to appear eager.
The last person he expected strode toward him.
“Dad? What are you doing here?”
“Picking up the pieces it would appear.” Joe Reynolds sat next to Jake on the big rock. Jake stared straight ahead, unable to face his father’s disapproval. It hurt worse now than when he’d been a teenager. He’d worked so hard for this, he’d come so close.
“Jake?”
“Yeah?” Jake braced himself for his father’s censure. He could guess the content of it. He’d heard the same criticism for years. Irresponsible. Undependable. Screw up. Holding his breath, he waited and waited and waited. Nothing. Jake stole a glance at his father. The man was smiling. At him? He seemed pleased. What the hell?
“Dad, I…”
Joe Reynolds shook his head, and Jake knew enough to shut his mouth. “Son,” he said laying a hand on Jake’s arm. An unrecognizable emotion gentled his father’s dark eyes. “I’m proud of you.”
Jake almost fell off the rock. “You are?”
“You followed your heart and did the right thing.”
“I did?”
Joe nodded. “You did.”
“Stopping the demolition was the right thing? Do you know how much money this will cost us?”
“No, but I’m sure Carson will enlighten me, right to the last penny.” Joe paused and took in the spectacular view of the water and the islands spreading before them. “Do you really think that a mere human could ever put a price on this? Do we have the right?”
“Since when did you become a humanitarian and an environmentalist?”
“Maybe I am, maybe I’m not. But I recognize a prime opportunity to use the situation to gain some great free publicity for Reynolds Corp.”
“It might have been free for you, but it wasn’t for me.”
Joe threw back his head and laughed. “Jake, I’ve always enjoyed your wry sense of humor.”
Jake didn’t appreciate the compliment. What good was a sense of humor when your life sucked?
“How’s Warren taking this?” Joe made a poor attempt at looking concerned.
“Not well.”
“I can imagine.” His father was way too amused.
Irritation surged through Jake. This might be amusing to his father, but it was Jake’s future in the tank. He didn’t find one thing amusing about it. “I guess we’ll let the attorneys decide. I want to split the property. I’ll keep the section with the camp.” Once he’d signed that long-term lease with the camp’s board of directors, it ceased to be worth a damn cent. “Not that there’ll be anything left once the attorneys finish feasting on my bones.”
“There won’t be any feasting.”
“Warren won’t let this go.”
“Warren doesn’t get a vote.” His father’s amusement vanished. “I haven’t been completely straight with you.”
Jake swung his gaze to meet his father’s. “What do you mean?”
“Where do you think Warren initially got the money he loaned to Rose Baker?”
“From you?”
“That’s right.”
“So he really doesn’t own any of Rosehill?”
Joe shook his head. “No. His remaining investment is tied up in a loan to me.”
“So, he has no power?”
“None. Except for your portion, Reynolds Corp owns the rest.” Joe’s face saddened. “Your cousin wastes money like a procrastinator wastes time. He’s not a good risk, so I made a generous offer to buy a majority interest in the property, assuming he’d take the profits and pay off the loan. He didn’t. That money appears to be gone. He still owes me for the initial loan.”
“Then why was this development so important to him?”
“I’m assuming that he felt he could get ano
ther loan once the actual construction was underway and then pay me off. Even the small portion he kept could have netted him a tidy profit in the end.”
“But Warren initially invited me to invest in Rosehill and develop the property. Why didn’t Reynolds Corporation do it instead?”
“Because of me. I wanted you. You’ve got a good head on your shoulders when you chose to use it. I wanted to see how you handled the pressure of a big development. I never bargained on the Rosehill Camp being such a hot issue. My mistake.”
“You wanted to see how I’d do? You were testing me? For what?” He didn’t know whether to be pissed or pleased at his father’s admission.
“To verify what I already thought I knew.”
Dejected, Jake sighed. He released the oxygen from his lungs and allowed them to deflate along with his bruised ego. Oh yeah, he’d screwed up big time on this one. He’d backed out on the demolition. He’d been a coward. Yet, he’d do it over again, given the chance. “So did you?”
A smile tickled the corners of Joe’s mouth. “I did.”
“I’m sorry I disappointed you, Dad. I wanted to prove to everyone that I could do it, especially to you.”
“Haven’t you been listening? I’m not disappointed in you. You made the tough decision, not the easy one.”
Whoa.
“Dad, I…I thought you came here to chew my ass.”
“No. I’m leaving your ass intact. It’s you I’m after.”
“You’re after me?”
“Reynolds Corporation needs you. I want you to join the family business.”
“You have Carson and Brad.” Jake’s mind couldn’t accept this. It blew away the status quo and nuked his bad-boy image right out of existence.
“Yes, I do. Carson is the brains, the financial wizard. Brad’s the charmer, the upfront PR guy. But you, Jake, you’re the glue that’ll hold it all together after I’m gone. I’ve suspected it for a long time. I just kept waiting for you to grow up. You’re clearheaded. You’re creative. You see the big picture, and you care about the little people affected by the big picture.”
“You’re kidding? Do Carson and Brad know about this?”
“Yes. Brad was thrilled. Carson required more persuasion.”
“I bet he did.” Jake could just imagine. Carson bled for that company. It consumed his every waking moment. Adding baby brother to the mix would make him very nervous. Actually, more like nauseous.
“Jake, I was given a chance most men don’t get. That heart attack almost killed me. I’m not much for that near-death experience garbage. Yet, afterward, I saw things as I’d never seen them before. I’d been living my life for all the wrong reasons. Now I want to live it for the right ones, the most important of which is my family.”
“But the business is in deep shit.”
Joe shrugged, showing unusual restraint. “I have a new vision for ReynCorp. I want us to become a company with a conscience. Your great-great-grandfather made something out of nothing. Then your great grandfather reinvented himself during the depression and kept the company alive. With creativity, a lot of hard work, and little luck, I think we can resurrect ReynCorp from the ashes. I have faith in my children. All of you have unique characteristics and strengths that complement each other. If the four of you would learn to work together to maximize those qualities, we’ll be back on top in no time.”
“I wish I had your optimism.”
“Son, there’s a smaller section of land on Rosehill we could develop away from the camp and the farmhouse. We could do a truly ‘green’ resort on a much smaller scale that blended in with the environment and enhanced it.” Joe’s eyes lit as he talked about it. “You could head that project.”
Jake couldn’t find the words to respond to his father.
“My seaplane is waiting. Come back to Seattle with me. We can discuss this in my office. My afternoon is free for you.”
“Now?”
“Can you think of a better time?”
“Uh, I guess not.”
“Good. I’m grabbing you before you change your mind. I need you, son.” Joe clamped a hand on Jake’s shoulder. “And not just professionally.”
* * * *
Harlee spent the afternoon on pins and needles. She ran to the window every time she heard gravel crunch on the dirt road to Eva’s house. Even more pathetic, she clutched the phone in her hand and checked caller ID whenever it rang. Jake never showed up, and he never called.
It really was over.
Finally, at five, she went to work for the last time in Eva’s bar.
Brad sauntered into the bar later than evening. Unfortunately, his brother was nowhere in sight. Sliding onto a barstool, he winked at Eva. She ignored him and busied herself with the drink orders.
Harlee hustled to Brad’s side, not caring if she looked too anxious. “Where’s Jake?”
“He flew to Seattle with Dad. He’ll be back tomorrow.”
She stared at her toes and blinked back the tears. “I’m leaving in the morning for Malibu. I wanted to talk to him. Tell him how much I appreciated what he did. It couldn’t have been an easy decision.”
“An easy decision? He committed professional suicide. I doubt that was an easy decision.” Brad’s eyes narrowed as he studied her. “So you’re leaving?”
“I’m going to work for Rico and Mariah.”
“Can’t you wait another day? I’m sure Jake wants to say good-bye.”
Good-bye? Was that all he wanted to say? How about I love you? Or I can’t live without you? Dream on, girl. This isn’t a Disney flick. It’s your life.
“I can’t wait. I have to leave tomorrow.” Because if she didn’t, she might never go. “Tell him thanks for me, Brad. I know what he sacrificed to do what he did.”
“Do you really, Harlee?”
“I think I do.” Harlee glanced around the room full of rowdy patrons. “I’d better start serving these drinks before the natives get too restless.” She walked off but without that sexy swing in her butt. She wasn’t in a sexy, butt-swinging mood.
Harlee emptied the trays and returned with several new orders. She leaned on the counter and waited for Eva to mix the drinks.
Bridget walked in and slid onto the stool next to Brad. Harlee could feel Bridget’s eyes drilling into her back. Finally she turned around and confronted her. “I didn’t hurt your horse. Even so, I’ve apologized over and over. What more do you want?”
“I need to talk to you.”
“I’m busy.” She’d said all she had to say to Bridget. A person could only do so much groveling over something that wasn’t even her fault.
“I’ll make it quick.”
“What is it?” Harlee glared at her, resting one hand on her hip.
Bridget looked down and then swirled her straw around in her glass.
“Bridget, I don’t have all day.”
“I… I…” Bridget looked up at her, briefly. “I guess I want to apologize. When I thought Ferguson might die, I lost it. I blamed you, and I’m sorry.”
Harlee stared at her. Her first instinct was to make Bridget beg for forgiveness. Instead, she took the high road and forced herself to be gracious. “That’s okay. I understand.”
“I know you would have never knowingly hurt an animal.”
“I didn’t,” Harlee gritted her teeth, so much for being gracious. “But I think I knew who did.”
“Laying blame does no one any good. Let’s drop it.”
Harlee shrugged. She didn’t want to drop it, yet she had no proof.
“Well, now that that’s settled, I feel so much better.” Brad rolled his eyes and reached over the bar to snag Eva’s tarot cards. Harlee raised her eyebrows in wonder. What was he up to now?
“What are you doing?” Bridget laughed.
“I’m going to read Eva’s fortune.”
“When did you start studying tarot?” Bridget regarded him with skepticism.
“Oh, about five minutes ago. Eva, come here
.”
Eva shook her head, wary of his intentions. “I have to make these drinks.”
“Harlee will do that for you, won’t you, Harlee?”
“Uh, yeah, sure.” Harlee took her place behind the bar and finished the drink orders. She kept one ear tuned into Brad and Eva and wondered what the professional charmer had up his sleeve. Anything to keep her mind occupied and away from thoughts of the charmer’s brother.
“See the devil card?” Brad held up the card for all of them to see then focused his full attention on Eva.
Eva nodded.
“That means you need a handsome devil in your life. Like me.”
“I see.” Eva flipped her long black hair over her shoulder. She regarded him as one would a mildly interesting museum exhibit.
Brad made a show of concentrating on the cards. “The guy on the horse brandishing the sword? That’s me. One night with me will chase away your demons.”
“I don’t have any demons.”
“Well then, it’ll chase away mine.” He held up another card. “How about the chick with the crown?”
“The Queen,” Bridget prompted.
“No hecklers.” Brad shot a poisonous look at his twin. “You can be my queen. See the blindfolded lady?”
“Uh-huh?”
“Well, that’s another thing we could try.”
Eva nodded and attempted to look serious. The corner of her mouth twitched.
“And the wizard. I’m betting I could put more magic into your life than these cards can.”
“I’m betting you can, too.”
“Are we on for later?”
Eva leaned over and kissed his cheek. “You’re persistent. I need to serve these drinks. We’re swamped.”
Brad watched her float across the room. He looked at Harlee. “Was that a yes or no?”
Harlee shrugged. She didn’t have a clue, but she’d sure as heck bet Brad stuck around to find out.
She wished her love life looked as promising.
Chapter 23—A Knight in Blue Jeans
Eva didn’t come home that night, so Igor and Harlee were left to their own devices. Harlee packed her meager belongings into Eva’s car in preparation for the ferry ride to the mainland and the drive to the airport first thing in the morning.
Who's Been Sleeping in My Bed? Page 28