Kate raised a brow. “And?”
“For the last three weeks, we’ve been tracking materials after they’ve left the warehouse. The numbers seem to match up with our jobs here in town. So we’ve been able to eliminate approximately two-thirds of our employees from suspicion.”
“I’d like to see that list of names.”
He nodded. “We haven’t been able to get a count on our materials going out of town, though. We’ve just been too busy. I’ve reassigned all the remaining employees who haven’t been crossed off the list. Over the summer, they’ll be split between our two largest jobs here in town. Hopefully, no one’s become suspicious. I’ll tag along and work with the crew at the new golf course.”
Kate nodded. “And the other?”
“Luke Arnett’s crew? I’ve assigned Luke to the campgrounds because the plans for each cabin are straightforward and easy to follow. And I’ve – conveniently – ordered the majority of his required building materials already. So it should be easier to track the materials – if they begin to disappear. I’d rather not have to look over Luke’s shoulder.”
“You’re suspicious of Luke Arnett? I can’t see him stealing from you, Dad – he’s been with you for over fifteen years! But that’s why you made it so easy for me to move into the cabin for the summer, isn’t it?” Her eyes met his. “Since the campground’s right next door?”
Her father snorted. “Easy? With your mother?”
Kate laughed. “I can only imagine. She’s been so overprotective. Thanks, Dad – I really appreciate it. It’s not that I mind living at home – our house is large enough. But I’ve really needed some breathing space.”
Her father sighed. “In some ways, Kate, out of all my kids, you’re the most like me. I know that you’ve needed a place to work where you can have some space and privacy. The twins are almost old enough, now, to take care of themselves when your mom’s at work. And since Dan’s at home for the summer...”
“I know. Even though it’s almost been four years, now, since Lucy was assaulted – mom’s just never been the same. I’m really glad that Lucy met Gabe. She’s seems to be so happy, now.”
“I couldn’t have asked for a better son-in-law. And I instantly gained an incredibly sweet granddaughter to boot,” he added, huskily.
“Well, anyway, getting back to Luke Arnett.” Kate sighed resignedly. “You probably need me to keep track of the inventory at the campgrounds?” Despite the fact that Luke obviously resented Kate’s recent promotion, probably because of her age, she really liked Luke Arnett. He was dedicated to Callahan Construction, and she just couldn’t see him stealing from the company.
“Exactly. And since our cabin is located on the edge of campgrounds, you’ll have a plausible excuse to check up on him – although it might be better if you waited until after hours or on the weekends. Are you sure you can handle Arnett?”
Kate snorted. “God’s gift to women? Of course.”
He laughed. “Him, too, huh? I hadn’t realized. Have there been any of my unattached men, who haven’t made a pass at you?”
“It’s the attached ones I get upset with,” she muttered.
Her father’s head jerked up from studying the clipboard. “Be sure to come to me with any real problems, Kate – especially since we have a lot more women working for us now.” Staring at Kate, he cleared his throat. “Did I hear it right? You broke up with Brian Lancaster?”
She nodded.
He sighed. “It’s hard to believe you’re only nineteen-years old. It seems to me you’ve broken an awful lot of hearts, Kate.”
Uncomfortably, Kate shrugged. “He was just getting too serious, too soon, Dad. I’m not really ready for that kind of a relationship, yet.”
“I understand. If you were, you’d know. I knew right away with your mom,” he added gruffly. “But, seriously, Kate – just be careful around Arnett. Whether or not he’s stealing those materials, I’m coming to dislike his attitude more and more. We’ve had several complaints about the quality of his work, too. I’m not against firing him – even if he has nothing to do with our missing materials. But I’m hesitant since he’s supporting an ex-wife and daughter.”
“He does seem rather off lately. But I think he’s been distracted, Dad. It might just be because of his divorce.”
“Well. No matter what he thinks, there’s just no way I would’ve assigned this job to Arnett. You’ve had an interest in this place since you were a kid. And this job needed some imagination. I’m one-hundred percent certain you’re ready for the responsibility. I was a good friend of Jeff’s growing up, Kate. We lost touch after his daughter was killed at Dragonfly Pointe.” Distractedly, her father stared out to the lake. “Even after almost twenty-five years, he’s still grieving. So let’s just say that I trust you with this job – more than I would anyone else.”
Thoughtfully, Kate nodded, as she sipped on her coffee. With the water calm and clear under the bright blue sky, a couple of fishermen had anchored their boat nearby, and Kate watched as they worked their lines.
For a few minutes more, Kate and her father remained quiet observing the beauty of their surroundings. She had to admit that the lakefront property was in a prime location. The overgrown brush needed to be cleared, though, to open up the view.
When her father finally spoke, Kate realized that, as usual, his thoughts had been echoing hers. “Jeff wants me to recommend a landscaper too. I told him we should wait until after we make the structural changes.”
“Yeah. You never know what kind of problems we might dig up. Not to mention the mess we’ll make while we’re doing it. I forgot to ask. Who’s coming to visit?”
“Michael Murphy.”
Momentarily, she was puzzled. “Your district attorney friend from Chicago?”
“No. You’re close, though. That’s Sean Murphy. Mike’s his oldest son. Your mom and I are actually his godparents.”
“Really?” Turning to her father, she lifted a brow. “Have I ever met him?”
He considered her question. “I don’t think so. Maybe back when you two were kids? You haven’t tagged along with us on any our family outings to Chicago for a while, have you?”
“The Murphys haven’t visited Crystal Rock?”
He hesitated. “Sean Murphy’s first wife was my cousin, Kate – so that’s how we got to be friends. He’s avoided bringing his family here because he spent a lot of time here with Anne.”
Although Kate sensed there was more to the story, it was clear that her father didn’t want to get into it. “So – tell me more about Michael Murphy.”
“He’s been a pretty good friend of Dan’s for the past five years. Even though Murphy plays football, he’s also studying engineering at Northwestern. He’s planning on going for his master’s in architecture at U of I in Chicago, so he needs to do an internship.”
“Architecture? That’s a first for us, too, isn’t it? Most of our interns come from Northwest Community College. Although, I guess we’ve had a few from Wisconsin.”
Her father nodded. “He’ll learn more about building materials by working with us. Murphy claims the actual quality positions available for interns in Chicago are limited. Supposedly, most of the companies still accepting interns are using them for their most labor intensive work - like hauling materials and shoveling concrete.” He hesitated before continuing, “But there’s a small problem.”
Kate was instantly leery.
“He has absolutely no construction experience.”
She snorted. “Uh, oh.”
“Exactly,” her father responded, wryly. “I thought I’d start him off at the campgrounds doing drywall and flooring, and then move him over to your crew when you begin installing doors and windows, along with completing your interior finish work. I’d like for you and Dan to keep an eye on him, though. After all – he’s almost a member of the family.”
Kate sighed, rolling her eyes. “Great.”
Her father smiled. “Somehow, I kne
w that you’d think so,” he admitted, dryly.
An Excerpt
From The Award-Winning
In Flight
(A Tales of The Dragonfly Novel 2)
Romantic Suspense By Tamara Ferguson
Pinnacle Book Achievement Award Winner
National Indie Excellence Awards Romance Finalist
Readers’ Favorite International Book Awards WINNER
Tales of the Dragonfly
In Tandem
AMAZON
Tales of the Dragonfly
In Flight
AMAZON
CHAPTER ONE
Saturday, June 4, 1988
The golden orb of the descending sun spun out radiant iridescent beams of light, firing the sky ablaze atop the tranquil sparkling waters of Crystal Rock Lake.
Sam Danielson and Penny Wentworth strolled leisurely under the very arbor where Jake Loughlin and Danielle Reardon had been married earlier that day. Framed by the backdrop of the picturesque Dragonfly Pointe Inn, they both stood mesmerized as they gazed at the glorious sunset from their perch above the steep rocky shore.
Under the dense shade of the towering white pines, the waterfall spilling wistfully into the lake nearby sounded peaceful and comforting, and added to the enchantment of their surroundings. Providing ambiance for wedding festivities, sparkling miniature lights shimmered overhead and around the inviting wrapped porch of the inn. With glowing radiance fading into dusk, at that moment, the atmosphere surrounding the inn exuded a mysteriously magical quality.
Still somewhat nervous, pulling her sunglasses from her purse and quickly sliding them over her eyes, Penny snuck a peek at the chiseled profile of the handsome man standing beside her. Once finished with his task of ushering guests in and out of their seats, before and after the wedding, Sam had escorted Penny through the reception line to congratulate Jake and Danielle, the new owners of the Dragonfly Pointe Inn. Despite nine months of chaos and construction on Dragonfly Pointe, they’d managed to pull off an impressive wedding ceremony and celebration.
Although Sam had remained by her side throughout the entire day, this was actually the first chance they’d had to be alone.
Penny sighed. Regrettably, she was pretty sure that’d been Danielle’s idea for Sam to keep her company today.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Turning away from the glorious sunset with his mouth tipped up into an appreciative smile, Sam was obviously focusing his eyes on her.
She nodded her agreement rather numbly.
Unreal. To be here with Sam.
The obsession of every single one of her teenage fantasies.
Amazingly, up until she’d met Sam, Penny’s heart had remained relatively intact. With her family transplanted from state to state because of her father’s calling as a minister, she’d been especially depressed when she’d been forced to relocate from Minnesota to Crystal Rock, only a few months shy of her eighth grade graduation.
“Remember the first time we met?”
His voice sent shivers down her spine. Startled to realize that Sam’s thoughts must’ve been echoing hers, she laughed softly. “You almost ran me down.”
While babysitting for a young couple the summer she’d arrived in town, Penny had been maneuvering the little girl’s stroller along the sidewalk. Sam had been driving his turquoise-blue Comet rather recklessly down the usually deserted, dead-end street. Fortunately, he’d been able to pull his car to a screeching halt before turning into his driveway.
Sam grimaced. “I loved driving that car. Every time I had a chance to crank up the speed, I would. But I was damned lucky that I was able to stop just in time that day. I could’ve killed the two of you.”
Sam had rushed from his car to apologize, most definitely stunned by his own negligence. Suddenly, his voice had cut off into a stammer when he’d glanced up from the baby at her. After a long quiet moment, Sam had finally smiled, gazing deeply into her eyes.
And time had stood still.
Along with the beat of her heart.
Just like that, she’d fallen for Sam.
Sure, he was great-looking. At eighteen, Sam was tall and beautifully built with broad shoulders and narrow hips. His job as head lifeguard at the Dragonfly Pointe Beach had left his handsome face deeply tanned; accentuating the crinkles at the corners of his eyes when he’d smiled.
And she’d melted, gazing into those eyes, the color of creamy dark chocolate.
Penny had spent the entire summer babysitting newborn, Sophia Barelli, whose home just happened to be immediately across the street from the Danielson’s.
So it was pretty hard not to be aware of Sam.
While other kids his age were either enjoying summer on the lake or cruising around the countryside, barely escaping trouble, Sam was handling the maintenance and upkeep of their home for his mother. Apparently, around five years earlier, Sam’s father had tragically passed away.
After hanging out that summer with a few new friends at the Dragonfly Pointe Beach, Penny had instantly recognized that Sam was not only well-liked, but tremendously respected. As the head lifeguard, he’d been wholly attentive to his job.
She’d had such a crush on him.
And then, that August, tragedy had struck Crystal Rock. A six-year old girl was brutally assaulted and murdered at Dragonfly Pointe. An ongoing investigation was initiated, and business at the Dragonfly Inn began to decline. It’d only been three short months since Penny and her family had arrived in town.
Penny cleared her throat. “That ended up being an awful summer.”
Sam frowned, and slanted her a side glance. “That’s for sure—in more ways than one. The Dragonfly Inn fell into a decline, and Crystal Rock practically turned into a ghost town after that little girl’s murder.”
Despite the upheaval in the community, one week later, school had still begun. Penny hadn’t been sure what to expect when she’d entered Crystal Rock High that fall as a freshman. Although, as a senior, Sam had been much older than her, building up foolish hopes, Penny had obviously misinterpreted his interest in her over the summer.
She’d been so sure he’d been hitting on her.
And in one single day, she’d suddenly realized her romantic expectations had been totally misguided. Penny had been heartbroken when she’d noticed Diane Malloy, a popular senior and cheerleader, all over Sam.
But, surprisingly, even though he’d remained slightly distant during that first week of school, Sam had continued to single Penny out. So it’d been difficult setting aside her fantasies.
Until the following weekend, that is, Sunday night at dusk. Penny and her mother were cleaning out the cabins from the previous week’s summer camp activities, at the deserted Crystal Rock Campgrounds. With a large trash bag in hand, Penny had been circling the picnic area and scoping out the beach, searching for missed debris.
They hadn’t noticed her. Obviously unaware of the vehicles belonging to the clean-up crew that were parked in the recreational center parking lot, Sam and Diane were half-naked on the tiny isolated beach, a longstanding make-out place for local teenagers.
Stupidly, the discovery of Sam’s extra-curricular activities hadn’t completely discouraged her, though. After all, Penny had found out that Sam had no steady girlfriend.
It’d taken another glimpse of Sam, in action again, with a different female at the same beach only a few weeks later.
Almost twenty-three years ago, berating herself at her own stupidity, she’d finally accepted the obvious. With every girl at school throwing herself at him, why would Sam have been interested in her, a short, skinny freshman?
Apparently more mature than his peers, in public, Sam had appeared polite, yet remained isolated.
He’d definitely hidden a dark side.
What was it about Sam that’d made her forget her strict and proper upbringing? As a teenager, she should’ve been shocked when she’d found him, twice, on the verge of having sex with two different women. But, instead, she�
�d been jealous.
As well as confused. Had she only just imagined Sam’s interest? It’d been an enormous effort attempting to subdue her disappointment and heartache.
And who had she been fooling? Even if Sam had been the type of guy her father had approved of, her father, being obsessively overprotective, would never have actually let her go out with him. Even at eighteen, when she’d eventually acquired a steady boyfriend, she’d snuck around with Jason rather than risk her father’s disapproval.
Penny shook her head, snapping back to the present. What was wrong with her? How stupid was she—to keep on dwelling on the past? How could Sam’s obvious rejection of her as a teenager still hurt so much now? She sighed, resignedly. After all, over these past several years, she’d learned the hard way that there was no such thing as happily ever after.
With these still startlingly sensitive thoughts in her mind, turning away from Sam, Penny attempted to blink back her tears. “You’ve got a lot of friends here. You don’t have to stay with me for the rest of the night, you know.”
Glancing at her face and quickly gathering her mood, Sam frowned, as his cheerfulness abruptly vanished. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize...
Studying Sam, she was somewhat surprised to observe a pained, fleeting glimpse of dejection cross over his face. Turning away stiffly, he determinedly strode back toward the inn.
Like a hurt little boy.
Suddenly panicking, Penny quickly reigned in her self-control. “Sam,” she called out. “I only meant that you don’t need to stay with me, just because Danny asked you to.”
Sam turned back, and his eyes met hers. “Asked me to?” With a brow raised, he studied her face, somehow reassured. Unhurriedly, he strolled back, confronting her face to face. “Didn’t Danny say anything?”
“About what?”
Two Hearts Christmas Wish (Two Hearts Wounded Warrior Book 4) Page 18