“What?” she cried at the ridiculous story. Mr. Holmes was practically ninety and blind in one eye. “Aunt Nellie, you don’t actually believe that do you?”
“When it comes to you and Jabarie, yes I do.”
At one time she would have thought the same but not anymore. She shook her head. “It was nothing like that, believe me.”
“What did the two of you talk about?” she asked, eyes wide with curiosity.
“Nothing really,” Brenna said trying to sound bored. “He asked how long I was going to be here. I told him then went to help a customer.”
Aunt Nellie’s brow arched. “You sure he didn’t ask you to dinner?”
“How did…” she paused and gave her aunt a long suspicious look. She was fishing and she wasn’t about to bite her hook. “No, he didn’t, and even if he had, I would have told him no. He had his chance five years ago and blew it.”
Aunt Nellie looked disappointed by her response. “I really wish the two of you would take the time to talk.”
“What’s there to talk about? He betrayed me. End of story. There is really no point in reliving that time again. Besides, I’m leaving as soon as you’re back on your feet.” With that she rose. “You need anything?”
Her aunt gave her a long hard look then finally shook her head. “No. I’m going to sit here and watch Deal or No Deal. Why don’t you sit back down and join me?”
“Maybe later,” Brenna replied with a weary sigh. “I’m going to go shower and fix myself something to eat.”
“Mabel brought by some fried chicken.”
At the mention of Ms. Butler’s famous southern fried chicken, her stomach growled. “Sounds scrumptious.” With a finger wave, she moved toward the door.
“Brenna?”
She stopped and turned. “Yes, Aunt Nellie?”
“I’m glad you’re here,” she said with a wink.
Brenna couldn’t resist a smile. “So am I.”
Showered and dressed in an oversized orange T-shirt, Brenna leaned back against the long wooden bench and propped her feet onto the porch railing. Staring out at the Atlantic Ocean, she couldn’t imagine a view that was quite as breathtaking. A distance away, high on a hill overlooking the ocean, lights glittered from the Beaumont Hotel. Guests could utilize the hotel’s lavish accommodations or stroll down onto a private beach. It was a luxurious structure with marble flooring, cathedral ceilings, sixteenth century furnishings and columns throughout the main lobby. She should know. By the age of twelve, Brenna had known every single corner of the hotel. Seeing it again after all these years brought back memories, some more painful than others. Dropping her forehead to the palm of her hand, she tried to brush the past aside but it was too late. The memories had already pushed to the surface.
Her mother Shaunda Gathers had once been the hotel’s housekeeping supervisor. She was a beautiful woman who’d always believed there was something better out there waiting for her. She despised having to clean rooms up after rich folks. She wanted to be one of the guests arriving with Louis Vuitton luggage, dressed in Donna Karan suits and staying in the presidential suite. Brenna remembered her mother often saying how life was unfair.
And then Shaunda met a rich, married politician who swept her off her feet and promised her the life she had always dreamed of as his mistress. She took it, leaving her daughter behind along with a scandal that local folks talked about for years.
Brenna tried to push away the nauseating feeling she got every time she remembered the day her mother abandoned her. Thank goodness her mother’s older sister welcomed her into her home, and smothered her with more love than she could ever imagine. During that time, Aunt Nellie was all she had in the world besides her dear friend Jabarie Beaumont.
The two of them had been friends since he had caught her running through the main lobby of the hotel. Heir to the Beaumont fortune, Jabarie was required to spend all his summers at the hotel learning everything there was to learn. When he started cleaning the guest rooms, Brenna was certain that wasn’t what his father Roger Beaumont had meant by learning the business from the ground up, but Jabarie didn’t seem to mind and neither did she. While her mother daydreamed, flirted, and tried on clothing that belonged to the hotel’s wealthy guests, the two of them would change the linen and vacuum the rooms.
Brenna pulled a leg to her chest and couldn’t help smiling. They used to have so much fun together. Then on her thirteenth birthday, Jabarie gave her a plastic ring from a Cracker Jack box, and promised that some day they would marry and run the hotel together. Although, both innocent at the time, he was her first love. However, after her mother ran off with the politician everything changed. His parents looked down on her more than ever before and Brenna was no longer allowed at the hotel. What was even worse, Jabarie was forbidden to ever see her again. She remembered crying for three days. It was bad enough her mother had abandoned her. Although as she had grown older, she realized that Shaunda Gathers had never really been much of a mother. She was too busy chasing after a dream. It was Aunt Nellie who had nurtured and cared for her since birth. No, what had hurt the most during that painful time was losing her best friend. Yes, as much as she hated to admit it, she had loved Jabarie Beaumont from as far back as she could remember.
Hours later, the shock of finding him standing outside the bookstore was still buzzing through her mind. Shifting on the bench, Brenna pushed the memory aside and focused on the boats in the distance. Moored to a pier, they bobbed. To the far left of the hotel was a long boardwalk lined with tourist shops and plenty of food, all starting to close up for the night. Her eyes shifted to the Beaumont Hotel again and with it more thoughts of Jabarie surfaced. Leaning back, she took a deep breath, trying again to wipe him from her thoughts. Seeing him today shouldn’t have been so difficult. After all, five years had passed. Five long painful years, which as far as she was concerned, was long enough to have gotten him out of her heart.
She could still see him standing outside the bookstore window staring at her. Her breath had caught in her throat, startling her so, she had dropped a handful of books. He was the only man who had ever made her feel that way. Vulnerable, weak, and so madly in love. Brenna groaned inwardly. Oh, what a fool she had been. Young and so naive to have thought she could have had it all.
Nothing about their relationship had ever been easy, first her mother, then his uppity parents, and then the wedding that never happened. Brenna closed her eyes and tipped her face into the cool breeze while her hair blew about her face. This was exactly what she needed to calm her thoughts and cool the desire blazing within, only it wasn’t working. She couldn’t stop thinking about Jabarie, and what if things had been different.
She shook her head then convinced herself that things would have never worked between them. They were from two different worlds. Although to Jabarie that never seemed to matter, or at least that was what she had thought. It still pained her to think about the hurt, the betrayal. The night before her wedding was supposed to have been the happiest time of her life. And in a matter of seconds her heart had been torn from her chest.
Brenna took a deep breath of the crisp salted air and reminded herself that was all in the past. She now had a wonderful new life in Dallas and was the owner of her own Cornerstone Bookstore. If nothing else, she had Jabarie to thank for seeing her dream come true. The check he had pawned her off with had provided her the means to start over.
One thing she could say for sure, was that she had gotten over some of her anger. Even when she saw him today, being angry was the last thing on her mind. Let bygones be bygones she’d always said. She had forgiven him years ago; her problem was forgetting. There was still a small piece of her hurting from his betrayal even after all these years. Because of him she had never had another successful relationship. Because of him, she was afraid to trust another man. Only she couldn’t keep going on like this. Not if she hoped to someday have a family of her own.
It’s time to let go.
> Opening her eyes, she stared up at the starlit sky. The salty air, the sandy shore, Sheraton Beach was home to her past. It had been easy pushing Jabarie to the corner of her mind while living in Dallas. The distance was a perfect barrier. But being back was something altogether different. Inside, a part of her was aching for him and what could have been if they had gotten married. But that time in her life was over and it was time for her to let go and move on. If nothing else, she needed to find closure so that when she left Sheraton Beach for good this time, she could finally get on with her life.
Chapter 3
The following morning Brenna walked to work, glad for the opportunity to clear her head after a night of tossing and turning. Jabarie had invaded her dreams. Somehow she was going to have to find a way to close that chapter in her life before she returned to Dallas.
She arrived at the bookstore shortly after nine to find a pretty teenager waiting on the front steps. Since long before Brenna was even tall enough to reach the cash register, Aunt Nellie had offered part-time employment to students who had proved themselves academically during the school year.
“You must me Rachel,” she greeted with a wide friendly smile.
The blonde pushed her glasses up over her nose and nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”
Brenna frowned playfully as she stuck her key in the door. “We won’t have any of that. I’m Brenna, and I’m so glad to see you. My aunt warned me we’re in for a busy day.” On Fridays the store offered buy one get one half priced and according to Aunt Nellie, the promotion was quite a hit.
Just as she promised, the bookstore was extremely busy. While Rachel handled story-time hour, and the dozen or so children that came to listen, Brenna assisted their customers and worked the register. By lunchtime she was hungry and exhausted. Where in the world did all these people come from she wondered. Not that she was complaining, but she never dreamed so many people read during their summer vacation. By two o’clock people were still coming through the door and Rachel, who had an appointment with her orthodontist, had already gone for the day. Brenna was trying to explain to a woman that half price was offered on the book of the lesser price when she spotted a tall handsome man moving toward her. Her heart raced. Jabarie was wearing an expensive navy blue suit including tie and wing-tip shoes. He had no business looking that good. No business at all, she thought as he moved closer. She released the breath she had been holding and watched as he headed in her direction. Desire rolled though her body. She hadn’t felt like this in years and hated him for that. Hated him because she still wanted him.
“Looks like you could use some help,” Jabarie said as he moved around behind the counter.
The deep sensual tone of his voice vibrated through her body and settled down low. She caught his scent. His presence pulsed around her. Suddenly, panic gripped her. She shook her head. “I’m fine, really.”
“No, you’re not,” he mumbled under his breath.
Glancing at the people standing and waiting patiently in line, she inhaled deeply and had no choice but to agree to his help. While she finished ringing up customers, she watched as Jabarie slipped out of his jacket and moved to help the next person in line.
For the next half hour she worked the counter while he assisted customers throughout the store. As soon as the last customer left through the door, Brenna moved over to the nearest chair and flopped down on the seat.
Jabarie leaned against the counter. “Looks like you’ve had a long day.”
She gave a tired laugh. “Yes, I have.” She gazed up at him towering over her and couldn’t resist a smile. “Thanks for your help.”
“No problem. Have you eaten yet?” he asked following a long pause.
Brenna pushed a wayward curl away from her face and shook her head just as the bell over the door jingled. With a groan, she slowly rose from the chair.
Pushing away from the counter, Jabarie replied, “Help your customer while I go up the street and grab you something to eat.”
She was too hungry to argue.
Jabarie walked to the end of the block to Clarence’s Chicken and Fish House. As he strolled through the door, the smell of fish floated to his nose. The lunch rush was over but there were still plenty of patrons filling the wooden tables. He moved up to the register and spotted Old Man Clarence behind the counter.
“Well, well, well, if it isn’t Master Beaumont,” he greeted with a hearty chuckle that jiggled his round belly.
“Hello, Clarence,” he returned with a scowled. Since Beaumont Manor was on top of a hill, looking down on the small town, rumor had it that his family were descendants of royalty. There was no truth to the rumors but for decades no one seemed to care. The Beaumonts were prominent and important members of the community. Although the hotel was responsible for creating an abundance of jobs and for keeping food on so many tables in Sheraton Beach, Jabarie had always felt uncomfortable by the way so many people treated him.
“What can I do for you?”
After quickly glancing at the menu on the wall, Jabarie replied, “I’ll take two of your fish specials.”
Clarence’s eyes lit up. “Two? One wouldn’t be for a particular beauty who just recently returned to our small town, would it?”
Jabarie didn’t even know why he was surprised. Word definitely had gotten around fast.
At his silence Clarence continued. “The reason I asked is because Ms. Brenna doesn’t like catfish fillets. She only eats the nuggets.”
Jabarie raked a hand across his face. How could he have forgotten? She preferred not having to deal with bones. He gave the sixty-year-old man a sheepish grin and said, “Then you better make one catfish nuggets.”
Clarence winked. “Coming right up.”
While he waited, Jabarie strolled over to the window and felt his cell phone vibrate at his hip. Glancing down at his hip, he noticed it was his brother Jace calling, probably to remind him of his five-o’clock meeting. As the hotel’s general manager, his days were usually bombarded with meetings. Not in the mood to discuss business, he ignored the call and allowed it to go into voicemail.
Staring over at the bookstore, Jabarie asked himself after several seconds, what in the world was he doing spending the afternoon helping Brenna? After everything she had done why in the world was he having anything at all to do with her? That was something he was unable to answer except to say he had done nothing but think of her since seeing her standing in the window yesterday. She dominated his thoughts, haunted his dream last night, until he couldn’t even draw a breath without smelling her feminine scent. This morning he had awakened with a hard-on and the burning need to see her. A part of him still found it hard to believe that she was back in Sheraton Beach and thought maybe it had just been a dream. He had hurried out of his twelve o’clock meeting just so he could drive down onto Main Street. As soon as he had stepped into the bookstore his heart hammered against his chest, and when he saw the look of panic on her face he had rushed to her aid just as he always had. For as long as he could remember, he’d had this strong need to protect her.
Jabarie’s gaze darted up and down the street but his eyes were zeroed in on the bookstore. Now that he’d seen her, he couldn’t stay away and that was strange considering he was supposed to hate her for having chosen money over his love. For the last five years he tried to hate her, but couldn’t. He found that a part of him had forgiven her for walking out on him with money he was certain his mother had been more than happy to give. The other part of him still loved her. He guessed everyone felt like that about their first love. However, for him, Brenna had been his only love.
Jabarie felt his body responding just thinking about her. He still wanted her. He could already taste her delicious mouth. Her thick honey-colored hair he longed to run his fingers through. He ached to touch her, to make love to her again. Desire tore through him, and Jabarie ran his hand over his face shaken by the depth of his need. It had been five years. Five long years, and in one day all the emotions and
feelings he had felt then had come rushing back. He asked himself the same question he had asked himself so many times before, of all the women he had met, why Brenna?
Damn, he needed to stop thinking about her. But I can’t, he thought as he reached up and loosened his collar. After everything they had been through, he knew it was ridiculous to still feel anything for her. Now that she was back, maybe if they spent enough time together whatever he thought he still felt for her would die. Maybe that was what they both needed to end what had started five years ago. Maybe during her visit they could both discover that it was really over between them. That there wasn’t anything left to hold on to any longer.
Jabarie sighed deeply. One thing he knew for sure was that, no matter how short her visit may be, he planned to find a way to get her out of his system once and for all.
“I got your order ready.”
He reached into his pocket for his billfold and moved toward the register. As soon as Clarence noticed the money in his hand, he shook his head. “It’s on the house. Tell Brenna I made it just the way she likes it.”
“I’ll do that, thanks.” He reached for the Styrofoam containers and headed out the door. Halfway down the street, Jabarie slowed his step when he realized he was practically running.
As soon as he returned, Brenna moved to the small office to the side of the store and dove into the food while Jabarie covered the floor. As she chewed, she made a mental note to thank Mr. Clarence for remembering she loved her catfish nuggets smothered in hot sauce. She took another bite and groaned out loud. Nobody’s catfish came close to his. It was no wonder he’d been in business for over thirty years. One of the things she had missed most about Sheraton Beach was the food.
With a heavy sigh, she reached for the orange soda and took a long swig then glanced through the glass wall at Jabarie behind the counter. He had finally loosened his tie. His wide shoulders strained against the fabric of his shirt. At six-two, he looked like a giant standing over a pair of giggling teenage girls who were obviously infatuated by his good looks. Brenna couldn’t blame them. She’d been just as mesmerized at their age. Watching his mouth as he spoke she couldn’t help wondering what it would be like to kiss him again. She remembered his lips being soft and gentle while his kisses used to have the power to make her toes curl. She blinked and dragged her eyes away from the glass. What in the world was she doing? Have you forgotten he ripped your heart in two? There was no way she was going to fall for him a second time.
The Second Time Around Page 2