by Danni Rose
He sat back. "I told you, I want to show these people it's wrong to call others worthless because of where they live or who their parents are. Even you didn't believe in me."
"That's not true." Beth shook her head. "I always knew you could conquer any goal you set for yourself."
"If that's true, why did you change your mind? You said I was a fling. Did you mean it?"
The question hung between them. Beth sighed. "Please, let it go. We both made mistakes and rehashing it won't change the past."
He rubbed his chin. "I need answers first. The past and present are tied together. But I can be patient. I won't push—yet."
She knew he'd keep prodding until he got what he wanted. When he was sixteen, he'd wanted a job. He applied at every business in town. No matter how many rejections he got, he kept applying until he got the job at Santos Auto Repair.
She asked, "Did you enjoy the reception?"
"Enjoy isn't the word I'd use. I found the people interesting."
"What do you mean?"
"Two groups of people attended the reception. Those who remember the worthless Fischer boy's past, his father the town drunk, and whose mother ran away with another man. The rest of them wanted to meet famous J.D. Richards."
"You sound cynical."
"I guess I am."
"You had a lot of friends in town. They must be proud of everything you've achieved."
"True, but they weren't at the press conference or reception."
Beth wanted to disagree, but couldn't. The elite of Serenity Bay's society attended, not people who'd been Jason's friends. She laid her napkin on the table. "I need to get home. Will you take me to the shop to get my car?"
Jason lifted his coffee to his lips and drank. He set his cup down and said, "It would be easier to take you home. I'll pick you up in the morning and take you to work."
"That would be inconvenient for you. I have to open the shop tomorrow so I need to be in early."
"Earlier than five o'clock?"
"Good grief. No."
"Great. I wake early with nothing scheduled until after lunch. We can have the breakfast we missed."
Excitement sent her stomach into a somersault. She wanted to see him again. Then she reminded herself, he would push until he got what he wanted. "All right."
When he helped her out of her chair, his fingers brushed over her back. She gasped and inhaled a woodsy scent mixed with a hint of citrus. Perhaps there was more danger in spending time with him than she'd anticipated.
Jason looked into her eyes, and his lips parted. She watched him. More than she wanted her next breath, she wanted his mouth pressed to hers. Behind her, someone laughed, and she remembered they were in the middle of the restaurant. She cleared her throat. "We should go."
They walked out to the limousine. "Marco spends a lot of time waiting for you. Doesn't he get bored?"
"He uses the time to study." Jason laughed. "This week he's learning Swedish."
"Swedish? Is he planning a trip?"
"No, but when I travel, Marco goes with me and likes to talk with the people we meet in their native tongue. He has an ear for languages and is fluent in six. He grew up in Mexico, so listening to him speak German or Japanese can be quite entertaining."
She laughed as Jason helped her into the car. Needing to make conversation to settle her nerves, Beth asked, "What countries have you visited?"
Jason said, "The same ones you have."
"But there must be others, more exotic places?"
"Yes, we've been to, Japan, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Austria. I don't know that they are exotic, but they're not on everyone's travel itinerary."
The car pulled up to her house. Jason held her hand as she stepped from the car and held it as he walked her to the door. Will he kiss me? Her stomach fluttered. "I enjoyed our evening."
With a finger under her chin, he lifted her face and kissed her cheek. "Good night."
The touch of his lips had her heart racing. She mumbled, "Good night." Then, as he drove away, she stroked her cheek.
The next morning, Beth sang and danced to the rock tune that blared from her radio. She was seeing Jason again. While she braided her hair, her heart pounded in time to the music. When she was dressed, she winked at her reflection and left the bedroom.
Jason said he'd pick her up at six-thirty. At five-forty-five, she went to sit in the parlor to wait. Her right foot swung back and forth. She checked the time again. Five-fifty-four. Nine minutes since the last time she looked. She jumped to her feet and paced.
Beth took a deep breath and inhaled the lemon scented polish on the mahogany furniture. She loved the charm of this parlor with its Victorian furniture and Tiffany lamps. When her grandmother was alive, they had tea and finger sandwiches in this room every Sunday. For dessert, cook always made a special treat. That was the start of her love affair with white chocolate.
During one of their teas, eight-years-old Beth told her grandmother she planned to be an acrobat in the circus. Nana smiled and hugged her. "You will look beautiful swinging on a trapeze."
The next summer, Beth told Nana she wanted to take care of sick kittens and puppies. Nana had again hugged her and said, "You will be a wonderful veterinarian." She missed Nana and the way she'd given her unconditional love.
The roar of a motor pulled Beth from her memories. She peeked out the window and watched Jason climbed out of a sleek, silver car. Was it his or leased? She'd bet he owned it. He loved cars. When he'd gotten the job at Santos' garage, it had let him do what he loved—play with cars.
She didn't want him to catch her gawking and let the curtain fall into place. When the doorbell rang, she jumped even though she expected it. She controlled the urge to run to the door, but she couldn't hide her grin.
Beth pulled the door open and stared. He wore the smile that had stolen her heart twelve years ago. She felt the flush of anticipation on her cheeks. "Good morning."
"I'm early, but there's no rush. I'll wait until you're ready to leave."
"But I'm ready." She cringed at the eagerness in her voice.
His smile grew wider. "Great."
She ignored his cheeky grin. "Are you this cheerful every morning?"
"It's a magnificent day, and I'm escorting a beautiful woman to breakfast. What could be better?"
"Oh. Thanks." Beth bent to pick up her bag, but he took it and grabbed the handle of her grocery trolley before she protested. He took them to the car while she locked the house. At the car, he waited for her with the door open.
When they pulled onto the road, the car jerked forward and raced by the trees. Riding with him made her feel like she was flying. She laughed.
Jason glanced at her and asked, "What's the joke?"
She grinned. "You still like to drive fast."
He gave her a sheepish smile, and the car slowed—a little.
Jason parked behind Delectable Delights, and they went in the back door. As they walked to her office, Beth flipped the switches on the coffeemakers and ovens. They set her bags behind the desk, and he followed her back to the kitchen.
While she prepared breakfast, he sat on a stool and watched. "I don't recall you learning to cook."
"No, it wasn’t a skill I was forced to master."
"What changed?"
"I opened the shop and had one pastry chef. He needed help, and I became his gofer. Erik said he'd never be able to show his face in public if the owner of the bakery couldn't even bake a muffin. That was the day he began my education. Now I love to bake and cook, but managing the business takes all my time." She laughed. "I miss being a gofer."
When breakfast was ready, he carried the tray with their food and coffee. He held her chair until she was seated and then sat across from her.
Jason took a bite. "The omelet tastes as good as it smells."
"Thank you. It's truffle and parmesan, one of my favorites."
"What are your plans for the day?"
"Some very exciting tasks. Update the
accounts and do an inventory. Thank goodness I got that college degree, or I wouldn't have any idea why it's important to do an inventory."
"So, you went to college?"
"Yes. I got a degree in business administration and management."
"I'm surprised Archer wanted you to study business."
"He didn't." Beth chuckled. "Father doesn't believe women belong in the business world. Do you remember my grandmother?"
"The two of you were close."
"Nana encouraged me to study business, and Archer didn't dare disagree. He didn't want to risk angering Nana. He was waiting for her to die so he could take control of her estate."
"Why study business?" Jason frowned.
"Like you, I enjoy a challenge, and I wanted to show my father I was more than the Kingsley princess."
"Did you already have plans to open the shop once you had your degree?"
"No." She shrugged. "I was twenty-three, a college graduate, and a widow with no idea what to do with my life."
"Shouldn't you have finished college when you were twenty-one or twenty-two?"
"I didn't go to college right after high school."
"Why not?"
Beth stared at her plate. "Mother took me to Europe."
"Where did you go?"
She repeated the lie she'd practiced since she'd return to town nine years ago. "The usual places—London, Paris, Madrid."
"Did you enjoy traveling with your mother?"
Why is he asking about the year I traveled? "I had more fun turning my idea for a coffee shop into reality. I wanted to get away from Archer's temper and obsessive control of my life. Opening Delectable Delights was my way of celebrating my freedom, my independence."
"You've done well. You have every right to be proud."
"Getting a degree in business management was one of the best decisions I ever made. It also helps that I have a great team working with me. Erik is so talented, and no one manages better than Abbey."
"If you own a bakery, a talented baker is key to your success. The scones we ate were delicious. Did Erik make them?"
She nodded. "We call him the Picasso of Pastry."
He laughed then said, "I'll help clear the dishes."
"I can do this."
"All right. Well, thank you for breakfast. You're an exceptional cook." He stood. "Will you have lunch with me tomorrow?"
She'd enjoyed breakfast, and he hadn't tried to interrogate her. If he would let go of the past, maybe they could be friends. "I'd like that."
They walked to the back door, and Jason said, "Great. I'll pick you up at two o'clock."
"I am off work tomorrow. Would you pick me up at home?" She opened the door.
"Okay. You will be there, right?" He leaned in and kissed her cheek.
"Yes." She closed her eyes and delighted in the touch of his lips. "I'll be there."
After she shut the door, Beth slid her fingers over the spot he'd kissed. She turned to return to her office only to find sappy smiles on the faces of the kitchen staff. She laughed. "Show's done. Back to work."
What started as a great day, turned into a disaster. The large coffeemaker blew a rubber gasket. The manufacturer express shipped a replacement, but it wouldn't arrive until the next day. A coil in an oven wouldn't heat. They continued to serve the customers, but when a tour bus pulled in, Abbey said, "Maybe we should close the shop and hide."
By the time her day ended, Beth agreed.
That evening, when Beth got home, she dropped her bags in the kitchen and dragged herself to the bedroom. She kicked off her shoes and flopped onto the bed to rest for a minute.
When Beth woke the next morning, she looked at her wrinkled blouse and laughed. Even though she'd slept in her work clothes, she felt great. She would see Jason again. After she took a shower, she had another clothes crisis trying to decide what to wear. Her room looked like a tornado roared through her closet by the time she settled on a white, strapless sundress with a flared skirt.
Five minutes after she dressed, Jason arrived. The heat in his eyes made the struggle to decide what to wear worthwhile.
He helped her into the limousine, then she watched his shirt stretch over the muscles of his arms and shoulders when he closed the door. He had a body most men would envy, and women would do anything to possess. She curled her fingers to keep from running her hand over his chest.
When the car pulled out, she asked, "Isn't the limousine a bit formal for lunch?"
"I'm waiting for a call from my office. Lupita, my housekeeper, has errands to run, and Marco agreed to answer the calls. With the limo, Marco can practice his Swedish and take messages." He held her hand, "How is your day off?"
She huffed. "I needed this time to recuperate from yesterday."
"Rough day?"
"The worst." She told him about the craziness that had plagued her day. "They say adversity builds character. Well, I don't need more character."
They were still laughing when the car pulled into the drive of the River Inn. The owner of the inn, Mason Reed, was a friend of Beth's. The huge Victorian home had been owned by his family for over a century. He'd converted it into an elegant bed-and-breakfast and restaurant.
There were only ten tables in the dining room and they offered one seating at lunch and one at dinner. The menu was whatever Mason prepared that day. Food critics wrote that no one who appreciated fine cuisine could claim to have eaten in the best restaurants in the country until they'd dined at Raison D'etre.
The hostess seated them in front of a picture window. The view would have made a beautiful postcard. The house sat on a cliff which overlooked a slow flowing river surrounded by a forest of pine, spruce, and cedar. It was a romantic's dream come true.
After the waiter described the day's lunch, Jason ordered wine. "I'm impressed with the restaurants in town."
"We get vacationers in summer for swimming and hiking, and in the winter for skiing and snowmobiling so there's plenty of business to support them." Beth sat back and crossed her arms. "In fact, I know anyone who wants to eat at Raison D'etre has to make reservations a year in advance. How much was the bribe for this reservation?"
He shrugged and grinned.
She tilted her head. "How did you become the CEO of Ziron Corporation?"
His face turned a light pink. "The construction job I got was with Stone Building. Down the street from the job site was a diner where I ate lunch. One day, a guy asked to share my table. We talked about everything and, after that, we ate lunch together every day." He scratched the back of his neck. "It was a couple of months before I found out he owned the company."
The waiter brought a bottle of wine that Jason tasted. After he filled their glasses, Jason said, "Matt took me home to meet his wife, Helen, and his daughter, Callie. I spent so much time at their house, it seemed natural to move into the apartment over the garage. They treated me like a member of their family." Jason stared into his wine glass for a moment. "Matt and Helen weren't blood, but they became the family I always wanted. They made me part of their family and wanted what was best for me. Unlike my birth parents who made my life hell."
The waiter returned with their salad, and Beth waited for Jason to continue his story.
Jason said, "I was forever asking questions about the business. One day Matt announced he was sending me to college. As much as I wanted to go to school, I couldn't accept his gift. But the family pushed and prodded until I agreed. During the day I worked construction and in the evenings attended college. The day I received my master's degree, Matt promoted me to vice president of operations for the parent company, Richards Construction."
"What about Callie? Did she resent you?"
"Callie has never been interested in running the business, but she wanted someone they trusted to work with Matt. Her interest is marketing. She's a vice president in charge of the Marketing Department." He grimaced. "Three years after my promotion, Matt had a second heart attack. The doctors warned him to slow down o
r risk an attack he might not survive. The family asked me to accept the presidency."
"They must trust you."
Jason said, "I would never hurt them."
"So you learned to swim with the sharks and changed your name to J.D. Richards?"
One side of his mouth curled into a soft smile. "Richards Construction was a family-owned business, and the family wanted to keep it that way. Over dinner one night, Matt asked if I'd consider becoming a Richards. I was stunned. I worried that Helen and Callie would resent Matt's suggestion, but they thought it was a great idea. Callie said it would take the pressure off her if her parents had someone else to harass."
Is he in love with Callie? Beth took a drink of her water and then said, "They sound like good people. I'm glad you had them."
"Yeah, me too. It wasn't easy to move to Chicago, but their love and support made it easier to keep putting one foot in front of the other."
Beth took a shaky breath. "So, you became president and revamped the company's operations? I read that Ziron is one of the top corporations in the country and the success is due to your management and the innovations you've implemented."
"With the boom or bust cycle in the construction business, I wanted to lessen the risk of having all our assets tied up in one industry. I diversified the company and streamlined operations. When we took the construction company public and sold stock, the results were better than expected."
"You can be proud of your accomplishments, and now you have the family you wanted."
"Not really."
"But the Richardses love you."
"I wanted a wife and children of my own." He frowned. "When I was twenty-eight, I married Eleanor. She's intelligent, has a great sense of humor, and can navigate the shark-infested waters of my world. I thought she'd be a great wife and mother."
Jason's eyes swirled with contempt. "But what I knew about her was nothing but lies. The real Eleanor was self-indulgent and self-centered. She claimed to be eager to have children, but what she wanted was a life of privilege without responsibilities, especially a family. I found out she'd taken steps to make sure we never had children. The following week, I filed for a divorce."
A deep sadness cut into Beth's heart. He would have been a good father. "I'm sorry."