by Pamela Stone
The sky was ominous with rain peppering down and painting the deserted dock ten shades darker. Not many people ventured out on rainy days. The tourists shopped or took advantage of indoor resort activities while the men who normally kept the dock buzzing took a deserved day off.
He secured the boat and then looked at Charlie. Her color had returned. “You okay?”
She stood by the wheel watching him with the strangest expression. He couldn’t read her. Walking toward him, she wrapped both arms around his waist and pressed her body against his wet T-shirt. “I didn’t realize what you were doing. I forgot to be scared.”
He leaned down and gave her a gentle kiss. God, how long had it been since anyone had looked at him with such trust?
EDWARD HAD A HEART PROBLEM. Charlotte dropped the towel and pulled her slip over her head, but she couldn’t concentrate on dressing for work. Men like her grandfather didn’t get sick. Edward was her rock. It had never crossed her mind that he wouldn’t always be there.
She sat on the edge of the bed and buried her face in her hands. “How could he not tell me something like this? Does he have to keep everything inside?”
“Pride.” Aaron squatted down in front of her offering a steaming cup of coffee.
So absorbed in her worries, she hadn’t realized she’d spoken aloud. “Too proud to share his fears with his closest relative?”
He set the coffee on the nightstand and took her hand. “Too proud to admit weakness.”
Charlotte winced. She could relate to that, but it seemed so sad from this side of the relationship. “He obviously told Perry.”
“I doubt it. Not sure how Thurman found out, but I’d take bets Edward didn’t tell him.”
That realization offered some comfort. She sniffed. “This changes everything. It all makes sense now.” Her rock was crumbling.
“What? Edward wanting you at head office learning the business?”
“And married to Perry. He doesn’t think women have the makeup to run his empire.” She’d just have to prove him wrong. How could she not move back to Boston now? Someone had to step up and learn the ropes. And that person was not going to be Perry Thurman.
“Charlie, are you okay?”
She swiped at the tears running down her cheeks. “It’s over. Whatever hope I had for independence is history.” She shoved her wet hair back. “I have to protect Harrington’s. My brother sure isn’t going to do it. I think Don would get some perverted thrill watching Edward’s empire crumble.”
There’d never been a doubt in Charlotte’s mind that eventually she would step up and run the family business. She’d been preparing to run Harrington’s her entire life.
But for just a moment, being with Aaron, she’d seen a glimpse of freedom from the daunting responsibility she’d been groomed for.
Aaron wound a strong, comforting arm around her waist, making her wish with every feminine instinct she had that this pretend marriage was real.
“Okay, so tell your granddad whatever it is you know about Thurman. Give him facts.”
She stared up at the ceiling. “If it were only that simple. He’d discount anything I said at this point. The only way he’ll get rid of Perry is if I present an undisputable case or he sees with his own eyes how unscrupulous the man is.”
“That shouldn’t be too hard to arrange,” Aaron said with a cocky grin.
Chapter Eleven
Charlotte rubbed the back of her neck and flipped to the next report. Reviewing the monthly financials had never seemed so arduous. Or so important. There was no way in hell she’d allow Perry to take over Harrington’s. Harrington’s was her legacy, her identity. It was who she was.
Until Aaron.
Over the past week she’d become a different woman, sultry and sexy. Nights blazed with passion in Aaron’s arms. But during the day, she still fought for her place in the family business.
“If the grocer can’t fill your orders correctly, change suppliers,” Perry said.
She ground her back teeth. “What do you suggest? I have them FedExed from Miami?”
“Water usage is up,” he stated, moving on to the next item.
“So are occupancy and income,” Charlotte countered.
The sunlight filtering into her office window faded steadily. She frowned at the clock. Seven-thirty already? She pictured Aaron waiting at the bungalow and longed for the sanctuary of home.
Perry scrawled red ink on another page of his yellow tablet. The reports already resembled the scene of a brutal massacre. If Edward put him in charge, every Harrington resort manager would race for the door within a month.
“Perry, we’ll continue this tomorrow. I’m beat. With the exception of groceries, everything is in line.”
“Really?” Leaning back in his chair, Perry tapped the red pen on the edge of the desk. Tappity-tap. “Then maybe you’d like to explain this.” He tossed a copy of the loan document on the desk.
Her heart plummeted. Before she could respond the office door opened and Aaron walked in. “It’s late. You two still working?”
She took a deep breath and unclenched her fists. “Just finishing up.”
Aaron frowned as he walked toward her. “Charlie?”
Perry gathered the reports and loan document and tapped them on the desk, then placed them neatly in his briefcase. “Nice to see you, Brody. By the way, the boat looks great.” As Perry passed, he caressed Charlotte’s shoulder. She flinched. “We’ll continue this tomorrow. Have a nice evening.”
Aaron waited until the door closed behind Perry. “What the hell was that all about?”
If Edward got wind of the loan, he’d realize this marriage was a farce and ruin Aaron. She didn’t know how, but Edward was ruthless. When someone spit in his face, he took great enjoyment in finding their weakness and destroying them.
She couldn’t stop trembling. Did Perry know about the prenuptial, too? She had to stop him from telling her grandfather.
“Perry’s playing mind games, as usual.”
He kneaded her shoulders. “Do you always tremble like that when he upsets you?”
Shaking her head, she reached for her purse. “Can this wait? I’ve got a pounding headache.” The last thing she needed was to get into this here and have Perry overhear.
WHEN THEY ARRIVED AT the bungalow, Aaron seated her at the kitchen table and opened the fridge. He took out a bowl of fresh strawberries, followed by an identical bowl of pineapple chunks. He retrieved a plate and set it in front of her, then a fork and a glass of white wine. Speechless, she watched him slice cheese and pull a box of crackers from the cabinet.
She popped a bite of pineapple into her mouth and tried not to sigh. “You had groceries delivered?”
He flashed her an odd look. “I walked down to the store. Figured it’d be nice to have food in the house.”
He’d gone grocery shopping. Men really did that? When was the last time she’d shopped? Charlotte bit into a plump strawberry, then grabbed a napkin and swiped at the juice running down her hand.
Twisting the top off a beer, he watched her eat. “Obviously Thurman was his typical asshole self tonight.”
“He knows about the loan. Maybe not what it’s for, but it’s only a matter of time. We have to find something concrete on him soon or it’s going to be too late. Edward’s considering making him CFO.”
Aaron took a swig of beer. “It’s got to be more than a few mishandled reservations for the old man to fire him.”
She swallowed one more bite of pineapple and snapped the lid back on the bowl. “You’re right, but what?” There had to be a way to stop Perry before she found herself working for him.
“Want me to take Thurman for a one-way cruise? I could pick one of the Keys that sinks at high tide and drop him off with a bottle of suntan lotion and a picnic basket, then forget to go back.”
Watching him sip his beer, she smiled. A couple curls had fallen across his forehead and his eyes were so gorgeous. He was a good guy
. He didn’t deserve to lose his business. If she lost her resort, she’d survive somehow. There was always another hotel, but the charter boat was all Aaron had. How would he earn a living if Edward destroyed his business?
There wasn’t any choice. She had to tell Edward about the money before Perry did.
WHEN EDWARD ANSWERED HIS CELL, she heard restaurant commotion. “Good morning, Grandfather. Just wanted to let you know I’m e-mailing you some pictures of the Free Wind.” She held her breath.
“Aaron’s boat?”
“It looks wonderful. New engine. New paint. You won’t recognize it. His business is already picking up.”
“So now you’re taking out loans and funding Brody’s business.”
She’d known Perry wouldn’t waste any time. “He’s my husband and we want his charters to be an asset to Harrington’s. The boat has to meet our standards, you know.”
“We need to talk about that. From what Perry said on our morning call, Harrington standards aren’t being met in a lot of ways at Marathon.”
What morning call? The rat was further in than she’d even thought. “I’ve been running Marathon without fault for almost five years. Why do you think I need Perry looking over my shoulder?”
“I don’t trust Brody. And from the way Perry described the books, it’s a good thing he’s there.”
With Perry around, it was Aaron Edward chose not to trust? “You’ve never had issues with my numbers before. Now that Perry’s here, you do? Don’t you think it’s overkill to waste the skill of two managers down here? I know you’re short since Harvey Lattimer retired,” Charlotte pointed out.
Edward hesitated. “Are you asking to be transferred? Is everything all right with Aaron?”
“I wasn’t talking about me. Seems like Perry’s needed more in Chicago where you don’t have a manager.”
“Perry is staying in Marathon. I have my reasons.”
“Because you don’t trust Aaron? Or is it me you don’t trust?”
“Are you questioning my judgment?” His tone became clipped.
“You’re questioning mine.”
“If you have an issue working with Perry, then I can easily find somewhere else to utilize your skills.”
“I manage this resort.”
Edward snapped. “Well, then you should have enough foresight to realize Perry is helping straighten out some serious problems. I’ve had two formal complaints in the last month.”
“The month that Perry’s been in place, I might add.”
“Perry ran the Monte Carlo resort without a single complaint the entire six years he was there. You could learn a lot from his experience, his professionalism.”
Charlotte cringed.
“I’m late for a meeting. Is there anything else?” he challenged in a chilling, professional tone.
“No.” Charlotte dropped the phone in the cradle and stared at it in disbelief. If Edward had one more reason to question her ability, Perry would end up running Harrington’s, not just Marathon.
She dialed the Monte Carlo resort, but the manager was on holiday. She had to find out why Perry had really left.
AARON DOCKED THE FREE WIND and handed out T-shirts to the eight college kids who’d booked today’s charter. It had been an exceptional dive. One of the guys had actually proposed to his girlfriend in the cove and the entire afternoon had become one big celebration.
He turned on the hose and squinted into the bright blue sky as he sprayed down the deck. The newly engaged couple’s love couldn’t have been clearer if it’d blazed in neon. That was what Edward Harrington was looking for between him and Charlotte. Aaron grinned. The old man had left town too soon.
Love. Since he’d first made love to Charlie, Aaron had almost forgotten that this marriage was all a farce. But he needed to keep reminding himself that in a few months, she’d no longer be his wife.
“Hi.”
Aaron spun, almost spraying Charlie instead of the deck. “Sorry,” he said, turning off the hose and dropping it on the deck.
Her hair was twisted up off her neck and she was dressed in a suit, but she’d undergone a soft, subtle change since they’d become lovers. Was he the only one who saw that sweet sexiness about her?
“What are you doing down this way?”
“It’s been a fantastic day.” She shoved a newspaper into his hand and pointed to an article. “Look. Read it aloud. I want to hear the words.”
Aaron stared at the headline and slowly read. “‘Harrington Resort Tops the A-list of Favored Florida Keys Escapes.’”
“Keep reading.”
“I’ll get it wet and something tells me you can already recite it word for word.” He handed her the paper. “How about the Reader’s Digest version?”
She took the paper and held it up like a trophy. “It says that I top the list. Food. Accommodations. Entertainment. Says we’re pricey, but if that’s the only negative, I’m in heaven. Edward’s going to be impressed.”
He grinned and gave her a hug. “Congrats. That’s quite an accomplishment given the competition moving in down here.” He picked up the day’s receipts off the desk and stuffed them into the folder for Rosa.
She hesitated. “I keep meaning to ask. Why don’t you have a computer? It’d make keeping track of the business so much easier. In today’s world, it’s ridiculous to keep books by hand.”
He swallowed. “Look, Charlie. No offense, but I don’t tell you how to run your hotel.”
“But it would be easier with a computer.”
Aaron leaned forward so their faces were close enough to kiss, but that wasn’t his mood. “I’m not as inept as you think. I know what’s coming in and what’s going out. As long as the first is bigger than the second and the bank says I have close to what the difference is, I don’t give it much thought.”
He reached for a cigarette and then put it down. He was trying to quit. He couldn’t tell her he’d never touched a computer. He paid Rosa to help him keep things in balance, but no way he wanted Charlie to know what a moron he was. Damned if he’d give her any more reason to look down on him.
“It was just a suggestion,” she said.
“It’s my freaking business. I don’t answer to Edward Harrington and I damn sure don’t have to answer to his granddaughter.” He picked up the hose and twisted it on, ending the conversation, but he could feel the claws of a trap closing around him.
Charlie stood and stared at him a minute then stormed off toward the bungalow.
The boat was immaculate by the time Aaron calmed down enough to realize he’d already been over the same section three times. What was he upset about? He wasn’t stupid. Uneducated maybe, but he didn’t have to stand by and let Charlie chip away at him. He might not have had much going into this relationship, but he’d had his self-respect. And that was one thing he intended to keep, even if it meant Charlie hated him.
He rolled up the hose and glared at the bright red Harrington logo on the side of Charlie’s hotel. All of a sudden spending an evening with her sounded like torture. He changed into dry clothes and headed for the Gecko.
Straddling his regular stool, he asked Raul to draw him a beer. He reached behind the bar and picked up the phone. Hopefully Zelda was still at her desk and he could leave a message for his prying wife.
Charlie answered. “Harrington’s. May I help you?”
This was not his day. “I’m grabbing dinner at the Gecko. Don’t wait up.” Without waiting for her response, he clicked the phone off.
Raul returned from serving another customer and drummed his fingers on the bar. “Una problema in paradise?”
“Paradise is full of Venus flytraps.”
Raul shot him that stupid know-it-all bartender grin. “Venus and trap being the key words here.”
Aaron ignored him and took a swig of beer, feeling very much like the fly.
Chapter Twelve
The Budweiser clock behind the bar read midnight as Aaron made his way out of the Gecko,
still undecided whether to go home or crash on the boat. Home? When had he started thinking of Charlie’s bungalow as home? This whole bogus marriage wasn’t turning out like he’d planned. Things would have been simpler if Charlie were actually the uptight snob he’d expected. Then what she thought of him wouldn’t matter.
As he passed the dock, he glanced toward the Free Wind and stopped dead. A dark figure crept across the deck.
Careful to keep in the shadows of the other boats, Aaron eased toward the gangplank. The intruder jiggled the office doorknob.
Aaron clenched his right fist and stole up behind him. He grabbed the guy’s arm, spun him, and slammed him against the door. “Thurman!”
Perry flattened himself against the wood, staring at Aaron’s fist.
Aaron fought the temptation to lay him out on the deck. “What the hell are you doing on my boat?” Never taking his eyes off him, he slowly released his hold.
Shrinking away from Aaron’s fist, Perry straightened his suit jacket. “I thought it was about time you and I became friends. I mean, we both care for Charlotte and we really should get along.”
“At midnight?” He willed his fingers to unclench. “You board my boat uninvited again and I’ll have you arrested for trespassing.”
Thurman moved to the gangplank. He stood there a second, then turned and left the boat without responding.
Aaron checked to make sure the boat was secure. The cabin door was still locked and the office seemed untouched. What had Thurman been looking for? He let out a breath, thankful he’d had the foresight to store his copy of the prenuptial agreement in Raul’s safe at the Gecko.
Pacing around the boat, he debated whether to call the cops. But what could they do? No doubt Thurman was watching and waiting for him to leave the boat unattended again. He wouldn’t put it past him to try and sabotage the boat. That answered one question. Tonight he’d sleep here.