Prelude of Lies

by Victoria Smith

  Daisy let Sydney do the talking. She listened as her sister explained the various inspections and results, interjecting where necessary and taking over when they were asked how Tucker and his crew were hired. Hopefully, she hid her disgust with him. And the violent thoughts.

  After Sydney explained the estimates and inspections due the coming week, Violet’s attorney left, still shaking his head. Uncle Al laughed as the man drove out of the parking lot.

  “That guy’s a walking corpse. I’ve known him for forty years and I’ve yet to see him smile. Even at his daughter’s wedding.” He stopped and reached into his pocket. “So, I have good news.”

  Daisy hoped he wasn’t going to breech her privacy. She didn’t want Sydney to know she’d asked him to help locate her father. She still didn’t know why she’d done that, but it’d been six months and nothing had turned up yet. Squashing the thread of hope, she waited.

  “Violet might have set the terms for these inspections, but Gramps had enough life in him to counteract her underhanded scheme. Think of it as a reward system for putting up with all the bullshit.” He handed the envelope to her, then got into his car.

  “Ten thousand dollars?” Daisy passed the check to Sydney.

  “Del wanted to make sure you had some financial backing. He knew Violet would make things difficult for you, and she has. These terms were set without her knowledge. Once her time runs out, you’ll get the rest of the money that was supposed to come with the place, even if you have to sell. Until then, every time you pass inspection, you’ll get a check similar to this.” Al leaned out of the car for them to kiss his cheek, then waved goodbye.

  Daisy turned to Sydney, both breaking out into a squeal as soon as Al turned his car around.

  They returned to the campground, recharged, beautiful and toting several bottles of wine. Not wanting to use Gramps’ money for personal indulgences, Daisy sprang for lunch and manicures and Sydney paid for haircuts and wine.

  Daisy didn’t remember when she’d had so much fun. Their day had been perfect. The gems she’d had glued to the top of her fingernails wouldn’t last through their planned campfire, but they were gorgeous now. She didn’t care. They’d fought Vile Violet for so long both sisters had neglected to take care of themselves.

  They’d told Marshal they wouldn’t accompany the crews tonight, much to his disappointment. Daisy looked forward to the evening plans. Sick of cooking over the fire, they’d grabbed take out from Sydney’s favorite chain restaurant.

  “I’ll start the fire. You get the wine.” Daisy tossed her purchases onto her bed and changed into jeans and a sweatshirt.

  “You got it. Which should we start with?” Sydney unloaded the various bottles of wine.

  “You pick. I’ll drink anything.” She stepped out the door, nearly crashing into Tucker.

  “Sure. Make the uneducated wine drinker pick. No complaints if it sucks,” Sydney yelled.

  “Hey. Heard you had a good inspection.” Tucker smiled, and Daisy resisted his charm. Kind of.

  “Yep. We’re celebrating. Sister night.” Hopefully that was enough to let him know he wasn’t welcome to hang out and share their campfire. What was he still doing here anyway?

  “Nice. Good for you guys. I waited around because I wanted to update you on our status. Sydney said you’re in charge of all the landscaping work.”

  Daisy would kill her. Sydney had done that on purpose, probably hoping to force them together enough to hook up again. Of course, Daisy knew when Sydney told him that, she hadn’t known what had happened between them.

  “What’s up?” She tried to hide her irritation. Tucker didn’t need to know how much he’d hurt her.

  “We’ll probably be another week or two on top of my original estimate. Does that screw you up?”

  She got stuck on the word “screw” and took a second longer than she should have to answer him. “Oh. No. That’s fine. You’re working in the middle section of sites now, right?”

  “Yeah. Except we broke one of the mowers. The part’s on backorder. Let me know if there’s a problem with us taking longer and I’ll do my best to get out of your hair sooner. I could probably borrow the equipment.” He glanced at the big green tractor parked in one of the bigger RV sites.

  “No. You’re fine. You won’t be in our way.” As mad as she was at him, she didn’t want him to finish and vanish from her life again.

  How stupid was that?

  “Great. Listen, call me if anything weird happens. I heard that guy Marshal talking about your granddad’s widow. Why didn’t you tell me?”

  The words were on the tip of her tongue. Why didn’t you tell me you weren’t going to be a father? Why didn’t you come back to me?

  She swallowed her feelings and shook her head a little too hard. “We’re handling things okay. And she’s not going to get her way.”

  Not wanting to explain further, especially when Sydney hovered by the door to give her time to talk to him, she moved to the fire pit and laid her kindling. Sydney finally burst through the screen door with two glasses and a bucket containing ice and two bottles of wine.

  “Hi, Tucker. The place looks fantastic. I can’t tell you how much we appreciate the hard work your crew is doing.” Her words were sincere and Daisy echoed them.

  “I’ll let you ladies get on with your girl’s only evening. Enjoy. We’ll be here early again. I make no promises about the noise.” His gaze lingered on the wine, the point he made pissing her off.

  For an answer, she took her glass from Sydney and downed the whole thing in three swallows. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and held the glass out to Sydney. Tucker shook his head and waved as he left, his smile making her want to follow him and demand those answers.

  She didn’t care. Tucker could think what he wanted. She was nothing to him. His silence these past few months proved that. She watched him as Sydney came to stand beside her.

  “To hell with him,” Sydney said, handing her a full glass of wine.

  “Hell, yes. To hell with him.” She drank half before giving it back and bending to light the fire. As the tinder caught, she plopped down in a camp chair and watched the tiny flames dance.

  “He’s an ass.” She didn’t look at Sydney.

  “You’re right. They’re all asses.” Sydney downed her wine, her attention on the parking area.

  Daisy turned to follow her sister’s line of vision.

  Marshal made his way through the parking area toward the crew’s cabin, apparently oblivious to them.

  “His is a damn fine ass though.” Sydney grinned and reached for the bottle.

  “You need to catch up. I’m already one up on you.” Daisy lifted her now-empty glass, the little bit of alcohol in her bloodstream relaxing her.

  “Okay, but you’ll need to get another bottle then. That’s the last.” Sydney filled her glass to the rim and topped off Daisy’s before tossing the bottle in the grass beside them. “One down and it’s not even dark yet. Awesome.”

  When another empty lay in the grass beside the first, Marshal appeared. He gently kicked at the bottles before turning his attention to Sydney and Daisy. Sydney couldn’t stop giggling, and Daisy was in the same condition, only a little surlier.

  “You guys are drunk.” He didn’t exactly sound like their mother.

  “Damn straight.” Sydney finally stood after a failed attempt. “What’s it to you?”

  “I wanted to talk to you, but I can see this isn’t the time.” Marshal leaned over, and Sydney grabbed his collar.

  “It’s sister night. No boys allowed.” She tried to push him but failed, knocking herself backward. The only things that stopped her from falling in the fire were Marshal’s quick arms.

  Damn, but being up against him felt good.

 
She lost her train of thought and stared up at him, her brain not engaging until Daisy hollered at her.

  “We’re out of wine. Again. Dammit.” The third bottle landed with the others.

  “Your turn,” she said. Why was she still in Marshal’s arms? Did she want him to let her go?

  “Fine. Remember, Marshal, no boys allowed. You’d better be gone when I get back.” Daisy’s threat came out with a slur and a giggle.

  “She’s drunk.” Sydney stared up at him, wondering when they’d had time to drink three bottles of wine. Had they eaten yet?

  “And what are you?” Marshal’s face was too close and he smelled way too good.

  “Stupid.” She was not going to kiss him. Not after her and Daisy’s conversation of the past who knew how long. “I’m not kissing you. I’m not sleeping with you, ever, no matter how much I want to.”

  Oh, but she was going to regret that in the morning.

  “You’re not?” He smiled as if she’d just told him what he was getting for Christmas.

  “Nope. And don’t you forget it.” She swayed a little and he pulled her against him.

  “I won’t, but you might. Sounds like you’re denying what you really want.” He grinned and she smacked him lightly.

  “You’d better go. Daisy is coming and she’ll kick your ass.” The last part almost came out backward, as Marshal lowered her into the chair.

  “In the morning, I’m going to pretend you never told me that.” His warm breath in her ear did incredible things. The only reason she didn’t pull his head back down was the thunder on Daisy’s face.

  “What did you say?” Daisy passed a full glass of wine to her when Marshal finally left.

  “Um. I don’t know. Oh. I told him I wouldn’t sleep with him no matter how much I wanted to. You know what, sis? I don’t hate men as much as I thought I did.” She leaned back in her chair, content.

  “Neither do I.” Daisy let out a defeated-sounding sigh. “Neither do I.”

  Sunlight spilled in the window, and Sydney squinted against the pain in her head. Why was she sleeping in her clothes and why were her hands so dirty? The night came back in fragments, starting where they started and ending with the last bottle of wine. Laughter and the great time she and Daisy had, which was good since she didn’t remember the later part of the night.

  Still, if you couldn’t get drunk and stupid with your sister, who could you do it with?

  Except for the headache, better now that her eyes had adjusted to the light, she felt damn good.

  Until she remembered Marshal’s visit and what she’d said to him. He told her he was going to act like it never happened in the morning. Great. She’d basically challenged him and he was going to ignore it. She didn’t know how she felt about that.

  Yelling from outside forced her to the window. Daisy and Tucker stood in the middle of a campsite not far from the cabin. Daisy’s hands flew wildly, but Sydney couldn’t see her face. What was Daisy freaking out about, and should she get involved?

  The next thing Sydney knew, Marshal rushed into her bedroom. Last visitor she needed. She hadn’t brushed her teeth or her hair yet, and still wore the dirty-kneed jeans from tending the fire last night. Great impression.

  “Daisy is reading Tucker the riot act about something.”

  “Do I need to go?” Sydney tried to see around Marshal’s bulk, but failed.

  “Not yet. Maybe soon.” Marshal stayed at the window. “Stop worrying about your hair. You’re beautiful. You were beautiful drunk, you’re beautiful now, and you’ll be even more beautiful waking up beside me.”

  “Wha-What?” Did he really say that?

  “Sorry. I know I said I wouldn’t mention what you said to me last night. I couldn’t resist. I feel like you’ve offered me some sort of challenge and I want to take you up on it.”

  Oh. My. God.

  “What challenge?” Maybe pretending she didn’t remember would work.

  “Nope. You know exactly what you said to me. What you don’t know is what holding you from falling in the fire did to me. Maybe if we take care of this attraction we’ll all be able to get some work done.”

  “I’m not that kind of woman.” She wasn’t sure what to think.

  “I know. You want to be. Just once. Think about it.” He moved away from the window. “Daisy’s coming. Tucker’s following. I’m getting out of here.”

  “Shit. Me, too.” She locked herself in the bathroom as the front door banged shut.

  By the time she emerged, Tucker would either be gone, or in Daisy’s bed.

  Which did she want for her sister? Sydney had no idea even though she thought about it the entire time she showered. Thinking about Daisy’s love life was far easier than replaying Marshal’s seductive comment. She still wanted him, despite her sober status this morning.

  What did that mean?

  Daisy wasn’t anywhere to be found in their cabin when Sydney returned from the bathroom. Sydney wondered if they’d gone somewhere private, until she saw Daisy at Marshal’s cabin. A black truck took up the space behind her car and Sydney rushed outside to find out who had arrived. They were expecting three different contractors for estimates on the bathhouses, but they weren’t due to arrive until noon.

  Daisy raised her hands in a symbol of frustration as Sydney rounded the corner. “I’m telling you she’s not here.”

  Uh-oh. She should have stayed away.

  “Then who is that?” The man gave Daisy a superior glance and turned toward Sydney.

  “Good morning. I wanted to talk to you face-to-face since our phone conversations usually end with you swearing and hanging up on me.”

  Oh. Shit.

  He held his hand out. Sydney refused to take it.

  “Jace? You have a lot of nerve showing up here. Especially after your nasty little tricks the other night? Did your grandmother put you up to them, or are you trying to stay in her good graces so you get more money when she dies?” Maybe a tad too nasty, but it was better than slapping him.

  Confusion crossed his face. “What? Grandmother has nothing to do with my visit. What are you talking about?”

  He could not be that stupid. “Duh. What does your Grandmother not have to do with this? Go away, Jace. We have nothing to talk about.”

  Why did he have to be so handsome with his dark hair and blue eyes? And well-dressed? And why did he have a smile that melted her toe nail polish? He was the enemy and she had a headache.

  “You always say that and, yet, here I am with unfinished business to discuss with you.” The man practically oozed charm. Sydney had to remind herself he worked for Vile Violet or else she would have smiled back.

  “See? That’s the part you don’t get. We have no business with you. This was my grandfather’s land. Your grandmother conned my grandfather and now she wants his hard earned heritage to go to her family so it can be turned into a casino. Trust me, that’s never going to happen.”

  “What the hell are you talking about?”

  CHAPTER 6

  “What? You cannot be that stupid.” Sydney quelled the urge to punch him square in his solid chest.

  “Grandmother tells me she’s made you a fair offer for Brookside and that you verbally accepted her terms. Now you’ve changed your mind? My grandmother is a powerful woman, Miss Brooks. I don’t think you want to make an enemy of her.” Jace folded his arms over his chest, though his words were calm and lawyer-like.

  Why did this man always make her think violent thoughts? “Your facts are seriously wrong. I suggest you check them. Your grandmother is lying to you. Surely you’re a better lawyer than that? I have nothing else to say to you.”

  The shock on his face almost made her laugh. She might have, if her insides hadn’t already incinerated because of her fury.
Damn Violet. And damn Jace.

  Yeah. That was it.

  “Why didn’t you tell me?” Daisy faced Tucker. His stunned expression almost made her wish she had approached him a little differently.

  Except with his crew constantly around, she hadn’t had any choice but to wait until he came out of the bathroom. She’d snagged his arm as he exited, still buckling his belt and whistling.

  “What are you talking about?” His irritation rose to the occasion pretty darn quick.

  “The baby. Why didn’t you tell me there was no baby? Was what we had so bad?” She wrestled the hurt into anger, wanting answers more than his comfort.

  “What? You knew. Jackie told me she told you.” He did seem confused. As if that would save him.

  “And Jackie never lied? Give me a freaking break, Tucker. She wanted you back bad enough that she faked being pregnant and you believed her? I didn’t know until Sydney told me.” He could not be that stupid. Could he?

  “Okay. So that was stupid. It was no secret though. I can’t believe you didn’t know.” Tucker gave her an accusing stare.

  “Why would I care? Obviously you didn’t. Obviously I didn’t mean enough to you for you to come and tell me yourself. Why are you here, Tucker? To hurt me more?” Daisy almost lost her careful control over the tears.

  “I was embarrassed. I felt like a jerk for being so irresponsible, even if the baby was a lie. I’m here for some closure. I can’t seem to forget you.” His volume lowered and cut Daisy to raw bone.

  “Why didn’t you just call me? This is stupid, Tucker. A simple phone call. ‘Hi, it’s Tucker. She’s not pregnant. Can we talk? I still want to be with you.’ It’s as easy as that.” Daisy acknowledged the stab of guilt low in her stomach and it didn’t feel right. Maybe it wasn’t quite that simple.