Jami stiffened and fought the urge to look behind her. Surely, her father’s anger was directed at someone other than her. She inhaled a stuttering breath, and in one ear she listened to Fiona lament the lack of red roses at her fifth wedding because her groom of the day had been allergic to roses.
Jami nodded and murmured sympathetically, but the air closed in around her. The breeze had shriveled to nothing. A seagull screeched, and Jami twitched.
With a quick excuse, Jami weaseled her way out of her tête-a-tête with Fiona, set her glass on a table, and eased toward the edge of the gathering. She gave a quick wave to Anna and hoped the bride assumed she was making a run for the little girl’s room. Then, Jami marched down the boardwalk back toward the beach and the hotel.
As she passed the piano bar, she considered stopping to powder her nose and gather her wits. No. She needed the peace of her own room.
The air was still, and all she could hear was the crunching of the gravel under her feet and the cooing of a lone dove from somewhere high above her.
She rounded the final curve in the path to her cottage.
Beck leaned against the stairwell railing. His golden shirt was still immaculately pressed despite the heat. He pushed off the railing and his muscles tensed under his shirt. Need ripped through her core. Dammit.
Perhaps she could sprint past him and dart up the stairs?
A grim laugh rumbled out of Beck. “Don’t even try it. You’ll never make it past me.”
CHAPTER 18
J ami closed her eyes and crossed her arms. Boy, it was just downhill all the way today, wasn’t it? Lost the deal. Her father was furious. And now Beck. She was overflowing with her bad decisions. Her shoulders threatened to sag, but she stood taller and held her head high.
“Go away, Beck.” She looked him straight in those dark gray eyes. Her pulse pounded in her ears. “I don’t have time for you.”
“I’m here, so you have to deal with me.”
Damn. This island was much too small.
“Fine. Congratulations on winning the Anderton deal. Welcome to the family. Welcome to Barrett Ridge. We’re delighted to have you.”
“Was that so difficult?” His tone was cajoling. “I thought you were a better sport than that?”
That stung. Of course there was always tomorrow, but right now, that seemed about a million miles away. “I’m disappointed, but unfortunately, this wasn’t destined to be my deal. I hope the best for BK Industries.”
“Come on, Jami. This is Beck you’re talking to. Losing sucks, but it was only business.”
Tell that to her father. She was probably disinherited, and definitely off the Christmas card list.
Jami’s nostrils flared. “You cheated.”
“I played fair and square.”
“Liar. The commission says you have a federal grant that will bring extra benefits to Barrett Ridge. This is the first I’ve heard of it.”
“We didn’t have it when we presented to the commission.”
“How could I defend our application if I didn’t know all the pertinent facts?”
“If I’d told the board that a grant was pending, you would have blown me out of the water.”
“You’ve got that right.”
“We found out last week and amended our offer.”
All of Jami’s anger drained out. She leaned into the wall. Her legs didn’t want to support her anymore. “You outfoxed me. You win. Good for you.”
She pivoted and flew down the path, toward who only knew what. She wanted distance between her and Beck. Why couldn’t she be smooth and accept this like any other negotiation? Why had she needed to win this one?
Within a few steps, Beck caught her and matched her stride for stride. He let the silence reign. They emerged onto the upper private pool area. It was deserted, although the sounds of children laughing echoed up from the lower pool area that was available to all the resort goers. Jami focused on the path at the far end of the pool deck. If she could just make it past the hot tub, she might be able to ditch Beck.
She stretched her legs and her stride, but Beck met her measure for measure. She stopped and propped her hand on her hip.
“I know this is a small island, and there aren’t too many folks to talk to, but seriously, I’m done with our small talk.”
“We’re not finished yet.”
“What is it that you want from me?”
“Last night was spectacular. I don’t want business to come between us.” His voice was coaxing, and his smile was gentle.
“I’m sorry. I’m not good at segmenting my life into little compartments. So forgive me if I’m not thinking about our little fling in the sheets. I’m pretty sure that’s over with.” Jami dusted her hands together with a dismissive smacking noise.
Beck took her hand, and despite the fury rolling around in her belly, she let him. She stared at her shiny, lavender-painted toenails peeping out of her sandals.
“Stop it.” Beck squeezed her hand. “I think I understand some of your family dynamic. I saw how your father looked at you. He’s playing head games with you.”
Jami looked up at him through her lashes. “That’s how it rolls with the head Barrett. Get used to it. I’ve had to.”
“You deserve better than that.”
“Do I?”
“That’s pretty messed up if he only loves his daughter if she wins deals for his business.”
“It’s his rules.” Jami held her breath.
“You don’t have to play by them.”
“You don’t, but I do. I don’t know any other way.” Jami glanced down. Her father was cruel, but what could she do? He was family.
“Why does he treat you like that?”
“I suppose he’s a zero-sum kind of guy. If someone else wins, that means there’s less for him. He doesn’t tolerate losers or those who screw things up for him.”
“That’s a messed-up way to see things.”
Jami shrugged.
“Your deal was solid, but mine was better.” Beck’s voice was quiet. “Teddy can’t blame you for that. No one wins every time.”
“I shouldn’t have lost.” Jami dropped her gaze as it blurred with unbidden tears. Dammit. She didn’t cry. It was only real estate. Her family would still be able to put dinner on the table. They weren’t getting evicted or anything.
“It happens.” Beck’s expression was gentle. “Someone had to win. This time it was BK Industries.”
Was he being condescending? She swallowed hard. Dammit, he was looking at her just like Eric had. Like she was a child who needed things explained to her with words of one syllable. She pinched her lips together.
She’d lost face with her father, and she’d bungled a multimillion-dollar deal. She’d been overconfident. She must not have done her homework thoroughly. She should have played hardball and brought up the sexual harassment lawsuit.
Jami shied away from that. She didn’t play low ball. It hadn’t been Beck’s fault. In fact, he’d cleaned up the mess and settled generously. Jami looked away. Eric would have swept that kind of issue under the rug and ignored the whole thing. No. Beck was nothing like Eric.
Bile rose in her throat. Perfect. Beck was better than she was at negotiating. He was nicer than she was. Even her brothers liked him better than her. She was an outcast in her own family.
“You are angry right now. I get it.” Beck sounded sympathetic, but he gave a small laugh. “Come on. Your dad’s an idiot. Don’t let him get to you.”
How dare he tell her how to feel! Jami yanked her hand away and narrowly missed his chin with her flying fist. “You self-righteous jackass!”
Beck lurched back, and his understanding expression dissolved.
“Temper temper.” Beck’s eyebrows shot up, and his mouth twisted into a sarcastic half-smile. “Let’s not spoil the wedding.” His tone was like arctic ice cracking.
“You’re right.” Jami’s nails dug into the flesh of her palms and pressure built i
n her chest. “I need to behave like a demure lady, don’t I?”
Jami took a full breath as she studied the bubbling, frothing water of the hot tub. Her brain churned. She needed to wipe that smug look right off Beck’s face.
She stepped back and then plunged forward with her shoulder, and sideswiped him. Those dark gray eyes of his flashed surprise and dismay.
Beck grunted, swung one arm out for balance, and then he shrugged and plunged into the steaming pool. A plume of water shot into the air and then sloshed onto the deck. Beck surfaced with water streaming down his face, his hair in devilish disarray, and his golden shirt, sodden and dark, and clinging to his corded muscles.
“Have a lovely evening.” Jami saluted him and turned to leave.
“I’ll see you at Sunday supper next week.” Beck smirked as he lifted that square chin of his and ran his fingers through his hair and wiped the excess water from his eyes.
“I won’t—” Jami stopped. What would she do? Skip family dinners for the rest of her life? Dammit. She’d think of something.
“A girl can always hope your plane crashes.” Jami turned on her heel and flew across the patio and darted down the first path she encountered.
Her tears shriveled at the corner of her eyes, and the delicate frangipani blossoms in front of her became a blur of orangey-red.
It was like déjà vu. She’d thrown herself at a complete jerk of a man, and now she had to deal with the fallout. Her heart pounded in her chest, but she marveled that it wasn’t strewn on the ground in tattered shreds.
Jami slipped her high heeled sandals off, clutched them in one hand, and in one fluid movement, pelted at full speed down to the far side of the bay, with the tiny pea gravel cutting into the tender flesh of her feet.
As she passed the snug hammock of her tryst with Beck, she stared straight ahead. She refused to think of him.
Beck’s tender mouth and his gentle, sure touch that had lifted her to dizzying heights. No. She’d lost the race. She’d singled out another dud of a guy.
Jami reached a small spit of land at the tip of the island with barely enough sand for two chairs. She sank into one and let the high tide slip and roll over her bare feet. The hem of her dress drooped into the surf, but she didn’t care.
It was simple. She’d failed at everything. Family. Business. And now, once again, at men.
CHAPTER 19
Beck folded the newspaper and tucked it into the seatback in front of him. It was two-day-old news, and it failed to distract him. As passengers tromped past him in the aisleway, Beck kept his fingers crossed that he’d have his row all to himself, at least for the short hop from St. Lucia to Bridgetown. It was a long flight back to Los Angeles, and he’d take any extra elbow room that he could.
He stared out the window as the bags loaded into the cargo bay, but all he could see was the stricken look on Jami’s face last night. Why had he pushed her? Jami’s expression had gone from sorrow to fury in about a picosecond. At her first sharp word, he’d been stung, and just had to go and rub it in. She’d been beaten, and he’d been an ass and made her swim in the muck.
It was clear that the deal had meant securing Teddy’s approval, but Beck doubted that would ever happen. Teddy was a cold customer. He’d dangle the carrot of his affection in front of Jami and then hit her over the head whenever he didn’t get what he wanted.
He wished he could take back his harsh words. She’d been hurt and furious. Hell, she’d tackled him and dumped him into the hot tub. A grin split across his face, and a passing traveler shot him a half-smile with a confused look.
Beck pulled his phone out of the front pocket of his shirt, regarded it, and shoved it back in his pocket. He shifted restlessly. He was going to have to apologize, but then what?
They’d had an island fling, and now it was a thing of the past. She’d been vulnerable and wounded, and he’d been a douche-canoe.
It was just more proof that he wasn’t good at relationships. Somehow he’d gotten both of his parents’ bad marital genes. His dad had plain given up on marriage after Fiona had epically cheated on him. And Fiona might be a serial marriage junkie, but she sure didn’t have a clue how to maintain a long and healthy relationship. Hell, her children barely tolerated her.
The deck was stacked against him. He’d be better off forgetting about Jami. He sure didn’t need a wife to make him feel complete. He was fine solo. It was substantially less complicated.
Beck closed his eyes and laid his head on the seatback. He was ready to be home, and get moving forward on relocating his business. Damn. That meant more of Jami.
“Is this seat taken?” a laughing voice asked.
Beck turned from the window. Kyle Barrett stowed a backpack in the luggage compartment and slipped into the seat next to Beck.
“I didn’t know you were on this early flight, too.” Beck pulled his earbuds out with a grin.
“First chance possible.” Kyle rolled his eyes. “I snagged the earliest water taxi from Santa Tarita to St. Lucia and wandered the town for an hour. I needed a change of scenery.”
“Weddings aren’t my thing either.”
“That’s funny since I’m guessing you’ve been to a fair number of them.”
Beck groaned. “You can only mean Fiona.”
“Did I hear right that she’s had seven husbands?”
“I lost track.”
“You’re the smart one to stay out of it.”
“Why do you say that?”
“I don’t think either one of us thinks marriage is worth a damn. Just look at our parents.”
“We’ve had a week of them, haven’t we?”
“I’ve been avoiding my dad the whole time. I’ve got news he’s not going to like, especially since he’s grumpier than shit about losing the Anderton property to you.”
“What’s your news?”
“I got accepted as a late entry engineer student at Berkeley. I’m the number one mechanic at the moment, and Dad is going to flip his lid that I’m leaving at the end of the summer.”
“Why would he be angry? You’re building a whole new career with lots of potential.”
“You’ve got a lot to learn about Teddy Barrett. He only thinks in terms of what’s good for the business. He won’t want to lose a mechanic and one that he thinks he can manipulate. He seems to think I want to run the company one day, so he tries to play me and Austin off each other.”
“Austin is a corporate attorney for a tech firm, right?”
“Exactly. But Dad can’t see that Austin is happy.”
Beck chewed over Teddy’s behaviors. He tried to control people, but they kept running from his selfishness. Poor Jami. She was entangled in his web, too. “Is there anything wrong with Barrett Logistics?”
“Trucking is fine, if challenging, but we all have other interests. Besides, I don’t think any of us want to work too closely with Dad for fear of losing our heads and our dignity. You probably didn’t notice it, but he was ruthless with Jami last night.”
“I thought he’d ignored her.”
“You must have missed the fireworks.” Kyle whistled under his breath and mimicked an explosion with his fingers. “It was pretty late, and he ran into her outside of the piano bar. He laid into her, and practically disowned her. Man, the bartender even came out to see if she was getting physically threatened.”
Beck’s blood boiled. “It wasn’t her fault that BKI won the deal. With a special federal grant on our side and the promise of bringing four times as many jobs into the area, of course the commissioners ruled in our favor.”
“It makes total sense to me, but Jami and Dad were so blinded by winning for the company. Jami looked really shaken by Dad’s fury. He’d better watch out, or none of his kids will be talking to him.”
Beck kept his mouth shut. It was not his place to interfere or comment. The plane accelerated down the runway, the wheels left the ground, and Beck left the islands behind him.
It was complica
ted, no matter how he tried to spin it. There wouldn’t be any chummy family dinners with the Barretts. He’d be lucky if Teddy didn’t have him blackballed in the tight-knit community. Barrett Ridge was a far cry from a booming metropolis like Los Angeles. There’d be no avoiding the Barretts.
A sinking sensation of a shot dropping into a beer stein hit his gut. He was going to have to smooth things over with Jami. But what was his end game? Jami wasn’t a woman to trifle with. He was either all in or nothing.
Beck glanced at Kyle who had plugged in his headphones and was watching a movie on his phone now that the plane had reached cruising altitude. Beck stared out the small, oval window at the turquoise seas below.
Teddy Barrett might not see his own daughter’s worth, but Beck sure did. Jami was worth twenty of Teddy. She was a prize. Someone would be lucky to have her in his life. Beck’s pulse accelerated. Maybe he knew exactly who.
Beck fiddled with the shade and pulled it low so that no glare hit Kyle’s screen, and then he closed his eyes. It was a long ride back to LAX, and he had a lot of plans to formulate...between relocation, and perhaps laying the foundation for a fresh start with a sexy real estate agent.
CHAPTER 20
J ami snagged a pint-sized bag of chips and an iced tea and ducked up the back stairs to her second-floor patio. With a floppy hat and a pair of sunglasses to hide behind, she nestled into the cushioned rattan chair and ottoman. She nibbled a chip and eyed the thick romance novel on the side table.
She wrinkled her nose. Romance was the problem, not the solution.
“Is that you up there?” Sam called up to her from her lanai below.
“Come join me.”
“Let’s go swim.”
“No. I’m noshing on junk food.”
“Are you still smarting from last night?” Sam paused.
Jami stuffed a chip in her mouth. “I’m fine.” Yeah, she was still licking her wounds. Between Beck and her dad, she was surprised she hadn’t bled out last night.
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