Jake tumbled to the grass, reaching behind to catch his nephew to his chest. He hugged the little boy, and the two of them laughed as they rolled around on the lawn. That was the sound Claire had heard before. It was light and irresistible and made her stomach flip.
She took the glass of lemonade Harmony handed her and traced her fingers over the condensation dripping down the sides. She watched Jake and Nick. This guy was a thrill seeker? A risk taker? Right now he looked like a stable family man, but that couldn’t be right. She eyed his perfect profile and model hair. Maybe an advertiser’s idea of a stable family man, then.
She took a long sip of the tart, sweet drink as her mind worked around the puzzle of Jake Chapman. She was a smart girl. There wasn’t a puzzle she couldn’t decipher.
She hid a real smile behind her glass.
Chapter 2
Jake watched Claire out of the corner of his eye. Harmony hadn’t been exaggerating. The girl was very pretty. He noticed she did everything with precision too, down to the even stripe of mustard down the center of her hotdog. He piled chopped onions and poured ketchup onto the big fat burger Rick grilled him, then smashed a bun onto the juicy mess. He took a bite. Mmm, he could still taste the charcoal. He loved his brother’s cooking.
Nick had finally given him a rest, and now played quietly on the grass as he digested the hotdog he’d wolfed down. Emotion came over him like a wave. God, he loved that kid. Rick was damn lucky he’d come here to Cypress four years ago. He found the love and family he never got from Bill and got the hell away from Chapman Financial.
The afternoon waned, and their pool beckoned. He flicked his eyes over at Claire, taking her in with a sideways glance. Had the CPA brought her bikini? Jake doubted it. She didn’t seem like the bikini type. It was a damn shame, too. She really had a nice body. With full, round breasts under that cute pineapple shirt. Smoothly-muscled legs leading up to a sweet butt wrapped in khaki shorts.
She wasn’t much taller than Harmony, maybe five four if he had to guess. She’d pulled all that luscious hair up into a ponytail at some point, leaving little ringlets teasing her cheeks and the nape of her neck.
Her face was heart-shaped, and her crystal blue eyes were something else. And God, she had freckles. Yeah, she had freckles to go with that strawberry hair. He had no choice but to face it. Claire Callahan was cute. He looked at her legs as she shifted on the bench. Yeah, she was cute. And more than a little hot.
Jake rested his arms on the picnic table and leaned in toward where Claire sat across from him.
“So how long have you worked at Cypress, Claire?”
She faced him fully then, her eyes wide, and he felt it straight to his gut.
“Seven months,” she said.
He nodded vaguely. That would explain why he’d never seen her before. He would have noticed if she’d been around the last time he was here right after the New Year.
“Coffee?” Harmony asked him.
Jake nodded again and took the mug she gave him and watched as she snapped open the tray of cupcakes he’d bought, her lip curled. Suddenly Nick appeared to snatch the biggest, gooiest one and took a bite. The kid grinned, bright blue frosting smeared on his nose and chin, and Jake chuckled.
Harmony rolled her eyes at Jake. “If he stays up all night he’s going in your room.”
Jake laughed louder and dipped his finger into the neon green icing on another cupcake. He licked off the icing and noticed Claire watching him. Her lips parted and he could see her little pink tongue. Damn. The jolt to his midsection began to spiral downward.
He nudged the tray toward her. “Cupcake?”
She blinked, then shook her head. “No, I don’t really like that type of frosting.”
“You have to try the cookies Claire brought, Jake,” Harmony said.
Jake looked at the plastic box Harmony set in front of him. Dark, rich chocolate chips dotted a couple dozen cookies just a shade lighter. The cookies were perfectly round, and each one was identical to the one beside it. Beneath it. On top of it. He breathed in, detecting a hint of cinnamon.
“Wow, these look great.” He looked at Claire. “Did you get these at the bakery in the village?”
“No,” Claire said. “I made them.”
“You made them?” He picked up two of the cookies and held them side by side. “But they’re all exactly the same.”
Claire’s cheeks turned pink and she fiddled with the stack of napkins in front of her. “So?”
He looked at the cookies lined up in the box and winked at her. “Is there the same number of chips in each one?”
She shrugged. “Nearly.”
He hid his grin. Man, she was pretty when she blushed. He took a bite of one of the cookies. Who cared what they looked like? They were the sweetest, crunchiest cookies he’d ever tasted.
“Mmm.” He licked a crumb from his lip. “Unbelievable.”
A smile broke across her face and the blow to his gut moved lower still.
“Thanks,” she said.
He grabbed another cookie. Claire took one for herself, nibbling around the perimeter until all that was left was a bite-sized piece she popped into her mouth. She’d eaten her hotdog in even bites, too. Did she eat like that when she was really hungry? Or would she give in to the urge and indulge her appetite if the mood struck?
Twenty minutes later Jake watched her as she stood and walked over to Harmony. The setting sun turned her hair to fire and her skin all rosy. She moved with grace as she said her good-byes and leaned down to ruffle Nick’s hair. Jake grabbed another cookie and took a bite.
Claire Callahan. He savored the rich chocolate taste. These cookies were incredible. And so was the baker. And with a body like hers, it would be a shame if she restrained all her appetites.
***
Claire let herself into her house and placed the foil-covered dish on the counter. It held one of Nick’s cupcakes, which Harmony had insisted she take. It didn’t appeal to her. It had too many sprinkles and too much frosting. Mmm, frosting. After Jake had licked the frosting off his finger a drop had lingered on the corner of his well-formed mouth. She’d had the urge to lick it off. The thought sent a tingle through her now.
“Stop it, Claire,” she muttered. “He probably thinks you’re nuts.”
He’d been obviously unimpressed with her work at Cypress. He was bored in the very least. He’d remarked about her cookies, too. Yes, she made certain every single one was perfect. She’d been teased about that before. That was for sure. He’d watched her eat, though. Very closely. His expression told her he thought she was doing something strange with the methodical way she ate. So she wasn’t comfortable just diving into everything like he seemed to be. She never was and she never would be.
She thought of that dab of icing on Jake’s lips and felt another tingle in her belly. Reaching out a finger, she touched the pink cream dotting the cupcake. She pulled back but not before a drop decorated the tip of her finger. Unable to resist, she licked it and shuddered.
She turned away from the cupcake and the naughty thoughts it provoked and wiped her fingers on the folded dishtowel set near her sink. Glancing at the phone on the counter, she checked for messages. She kept the landline because she believed in having backups. What if her cell battery was down? What if she lost her phone, which even she admitted was highly unlikely? She was relieved to find no light flashing. There was no call from Cally, then. Thank God. Yesterday had been trying enough.
Her father, Joseph “Cally” Callahan, had been fidgety when she’d paid her weekly visit yesterday. The mobile home she’d secured for him in a snug fifty-five plus community in nearby St. Cloud six months ago was comfortably furnished, and just big enough for a single man with no responsibilities. No responsibilities. That was Cally to a T. He suffered from macular degeneration in his right eye, but his happy-go-lucky personality never seemed to falter. He held court there more often than not, in the recreational room or outside on the shuffleboard a
nd bocce courts. Charm was his gift and he had it in abundance. It was what made him a successful car salesman back in the day and what made her mother believe every empty promise he made them. He’d told her time and again that you had to believe what you said to make the sale, and she knew he believed every puff of smoke he’d blown in her mother’s eyes.
Yes, yesterday he’d seemed restless during her visit. Oh, he was full of the usual stories. She’d had to listen for the hundredth time to the tale of the big win fifteen years ago, that time at the track when his pick had rushed over the finish line first against the odds. Claire shuddered as the memory struck her now, her hands clenched at her sides. The odds weren’t usually a friend to her father.
They’d lived high on the money he’d won that time, Cally, Claire and her mother. For nearly a month they’d been able to afford new clothes and dinners out. Toys and books for Claire. Jewelry for her mother. And then the money had disappeared. Like it always did. His commissions on the cars he sold and his bonuses for being salesman of the month time and again. It all disappeared.
Claire’s stomach churned and she pushed the memory aside as she turned to the fridge. She opened it and grabbed a diet soda. No lime, no lemon. Just store-brand diet cola in a plain red can.
She opened the soda and took a sip as she settled onto the couch. The furniture in her place was bought at a bargain, too. From a big box, close-out store not far from Cypress Corners. Her couch was covered in linen that was easily washable. It was very practical. It was also soft and comfy and hers. Her TV wasn’t as large as some they sold now, but it was a Black Friday steal last year. She had no use for the HD channels, though. She wouldn’t pay for more than the basic channels right now. But it was a Sunday night in October, and the networks had some good first-run episodes on tonight.
Tomorrow her work week began again. She took another sip of her soda. Maybe having limited free time wasn’t such a bad thing. She wouldn’t have the luxury of worrying much about Cally during the coming week. Not about his odd mood this weekend, anyway. Her gaze strayed to the cupcake. And she wouldn’t be tempted to day dream about Jake Chapman, either. She closed her eyes and leaned her head against the back of the couch.
But wouldn’t it be nice to have a few day dreams for once in her life?
***
The next morning Claire sat at her desk. She was one of the first to arrive at Cypress as usual. She hadn’t slept well, but at least her commute was short. And her workspace was ready and waiting for her.
Her pens stood neatly in their holder on her desk and she grabbed one out of habit. Her inbox was empty. Her outbox was filled from the work she’d finished Friday night. She booted up her computer and waited for the programs to load, tapping the pen against the desktop as she did so.
She picked up her double-shot latte to go, her one and only indulgence. The coffee shop in the village made the strongest brew, and she brought the cup to her lips. The steam tickled her nose and just the thought of caffeine sent her nerves springing to life. She parted her lips and tipped the cup. And burned her top lip.
“Hot!” She put the cup down and held a napkin against her lip. “Darn.” She sucked in a breath. “Every darn morning.”
Much more slowly this time, she drank some of her latte. It was creamy and rich, and just what she needed.
“Morning!” Tammy called as she stopped in Claire’s doorway. “What a weekend.” She leaned into the office. “What did you do?”
“Nothing special.” Claire put the cup down again and turned to face Tammy. “Did you have a nice time at the beach?”
Tammy grinned. “Very. You should come with me next time.”
Claire shook her head. “I couldn’t. I have— I couldn’t.”
Tammy shrugged. “The offer stands, Claire. Any weekend you’re free we can head out to Melbourne and have some fun. Oh!” She spun on her heels and looked down the hall. “Is that…? Oh my God, it is.” She hurried in that direction, leaving Claire gaping after her.
Curious, Claire stood and crossed to the doorway. She heard a voice then, the rough rumbling she’d come to recognize as one of the developers of Cypress. It was accompanied by another deep voice. Oh, Claire knew that voice, too. That tingle went through her again. Darn.
Turning, she started to close her door.
“Claire?” her boss’s voice called.
She closed her eyes. Darn, again. “Yes, Mr. Forbes?”
“Come out here for a minute, Claire. There’s someone I’d like you to meet.”
Straightening her shoulders, she pulled the door open again and walked down the short hallway to the sales lobby. She was right. Jake Chapman stood with his back toward her, dressed in well-fitting chinos and a dark blue polo. He turned when Mr. Forbes gestured toward her.
“Jake, I want you to meet Claire Callahan.” The developer’s smile flashed from beneath his neat salt-and-pepper moustache. “She’s the one who keeps our books in order.”
Jake ran his gaze over her and her tasteful sage-green suit from last season. She tried not to fidget but she couldn’t help feeling a little dowdy next to Tammy’s up-to-the-minute polish. And why was Tammy standing so close to Jake anyway?
“We’ve met,” Jake said. His eyes sparkled. “We had dinner together yesterday.”
Tammy’s eyebrows arched in surprise, then she turned toward Claire. “Nothing special, Claire?” she teased.
Claire waved Tammy’s question aside as her cheeks heated. “It’s nice to see you again, Jake.”
It was really nice to see him, if she were being honest with herself. The softly-tailored clothes looked as good on him as his shorts and T-shirt had yesterday. His hair was smoother today, but a few loose strands of it fell forward against one cheek. And that stubble was still evident on his chiseled cheeks, as was his fresh hot smell.
“Jake here is going to bring more money into Cypress, Claire,” Mr. Forbes said. “So be prepared to balance a lot more numbers.”
Pulling her gaze from Jake’s twinkling pirate’s eyes, Claire focused on her boss. “It’s what I do, Mr. Forbes.”
Mr. Forbes smiled. “I know I can count on you.”
The corny joke wasn’t one of his newest but Claire gave a soft laugh anyway.
Tammy grabbed on to Jake’s arm. “Tell me all about this new venture, Jake. I’ll need to add it to my sales pitch.”
Claire watched as Tammy’s fingers stroked his bare arm. She wasn’t jealous. She had no reason to be. But still.
“I was just going to show Mr. Forbes the plans for the courses and trails.”
Jake caught Claire’s eye and grinned, obviously pretty pleased with himself. She couldn’t help smiling in response.
“Why don’t you two join us?” Jake asked.
Tammy let out a little squeak. “Definitely. If it’s anything like you told me the last time you were here, it should be incredible.”
Tammy’s words struck Claire. The last time he was here?
“Join us, Claire?” Jake asked again.
Jake’s enthusiasm was contagious, and she didn’t doubt his presentation would be captivating. She looked at Tammy again, at the way she leaned toward Jake. Tammy needed to hear Jake’s proposal now, not her. Tammy was the one who had to sell clients and potential buyers on the development and the upcoming amenities. Claire had no true reason to sit in on the meeting. She had no excuse to watch his eyes sparkle as he laid out his plans, either.
She shook her head. “I’m sorry, but I can’t.”
Was that disappointment on Jake’s face for a split second? Not likely. As for Mr. Forbes, he just nodded.
“Go to those numbers then, Claire,” he said.
The developer turned away, already escorting Jake and Tammy to his office. He’d come to expect Claire to spend her day stuck in her chair, glued to her computer. And whose fault was that?
Ignoring the sound of Tammy’s chatter, she went back into her office and closed the door.
Chapter 3
Jake looked at Claire over his shoulder as he walked away. She was still standing in the hallway, her hands clasped in front of her. He’d seen the interest in her eyes when he’d invited her to come along. But now her mouth was set, her luscious lips thinned to a line.
“Tell me about the endurance run, Jake.” Tammy still had her hand on his arm. She gave him a squeeze. “How long can you last?”
Jake rolled his eyes. God. Did Forbes get what she was clearly talking about? Jake had been tempted to take Tammy up on her offer the first time he’d come to Cypress. But there was something frightening about her. Sure the sex would have been mind-blowing but he had the feeling she’d have his balls in a vice the next morning. No thanks. Now she probably thought he was a challenge. That was just great.
“I’ll show you,” he said, making sure to include Forbes in the statement.
He pulled away from her and stepped to the other side of Forbes’ office where the secretary had put his plans. He went through the printed renderings as he began an abbreviated version of his vision. He’d scheduled a meeting with the key investors for the next week, during which he would get into the details including the proposed rates and fees for participants. As for today, he was simply laying out the plans for the ambitious courses.
“The courses will take the best and most challenging aspects of Old Florida—deep lakes, rolling terrain, thick brush—and shape it into fitness trails that will be both safe and demanding,” Jake began. “The rock walls we’ll construct on the natural sandy trails will challenge our clients to push themselves to the limit, as will the rope bridges high over the lake.”
Forbes and Tammy leaned forward in their chairs as he continued. By the time Jake was finished describing the first trails to be constructed, Tammy no longer had candlelight and satin sheets in her eyes. No. Dollar signs were there now. That was precisely the response he wanted from everyone connected to the property. That way they’d leave him to make his vision a reality with as little interference as possible.
Cypress Corners Boxed Set (Books 1-3) Page 18