by Tara Rose
“There,” said Merrick. “You see? Only one hundred miles away and it’s completely different.”
Tom shrugged. “I like it here. I’ve accepted my fate. This is where I live. Not being able to leave is no different than growing up anywhere and never leaving it by choice. Plenty of people on the mainland live that way.”
“That’s true,” said Ivy. “We have family in Florida and some of them have never left the state.”
“But they can leave,” said Merrick, so quickly that she wasn’t sure he’d even heard what she said. “That’s the difference. They can drive into Georgia and beyond. They can get on a plane or a boat and go anywhere they want to.”
She nodded, unsure what point he was trying to make. He might have simply been attempting to argue Tom’s comment, and if that was true, it was time for her to make a graceful exit. She’d only come here to deliver the papers to Alaina, not to crash the party, or watch these two go at each other.
“But what if they don’t want to leave?” asked Tom. “What if they’re perfectly content to live in the same city all their lives?”
Ivy was saved from having to think up an excuse to walk away when Alaina came over and asked her if she’d like something to eat. “We have enough food to feed most of the employees at Phoebe’s Playthings.”
“That’s kind of you. Thank you. But I need to get home.” She glanced at Tom and Merrick in turn, who both looked as though they were searching for the right words. Her heart gave a strange lurch at the expressions on their faces. What was with these two tonight? They’d practically ignored her all through school. What the hell had changed so recently? “It was nice to see you both again.”
“I’ll walk you out,” said Alaina.
Ivy waited until they were outdoors, then she stopped walking and faced Alaina. “What is going on with those two tonight?” She summarized the bizarre conversation and the way both men were behaving.
“Has it been that long for you?”
“What?”
Alaina smiled. “They like you, to be perfectly blunt. Has it really been so long you can’t tell? I know Scott was an asshole, but he must have flirted with you at one point.”
“That was flirting? It sounded more like they were ready to start a fistfight.”
“Marking their territory. One is a Durante and the other is a Raleigh. And not just any Raleigh. A department head. And the Durante is one of those who dared not to work at Phoebe’s Playthings. You have a volatile combo there, under the best circumstances. They both have something to prove. Not only to each other but to the rest of us. They were staking their claim.”
“Well they were doing a piss-poor job of it, if that’s what it was. Thank you for reminding me why I’ve steered clear of the men in both families.” Alaina laughed, and Ivy immediately regretted what she’d just said. “Your Doms excluded, of course.”
“Don’t worry about it. I totally understand what you’re saying. I firmly believe the only thing keeping Taj and Jeff from killing each other at least once a week is the fact that they have a common goal where work is concerned.”
This time, it was Ivy’s turn to smile. “That, and the fact they adore you. It oozes out of their pores.”
“I’m very blessed. But back to your dilemma. What are you going to do about this?”
“Nothing.”
“Really?” Alaina looked and sounded so disappointed that Ivy nearly laughed. “Not even a spark of interest for either one?”
“Oh, don’t misunderstand me. They’re gorgeous. I had a huge crush on both when I was younger. But…it’s complicated.”
“It’s always complicated with these two families.”
“Yeah, but this is really complicated. Not so much with Merrick, but definitely with Tom, because of his sister.”
“Ivy, I don’t know if you’re aware of this, but Tom is really upset with Nadine for what she did. And I know that Scott shares the blame. If you ask someone to marry you, you don’t go taking up with the first big-boobed blonde that gives you the eye. It’s his fault, too. We all agree on that. But Tom doesn’t condone what she did, so if that’s what you’re thinking, you can cross it off the list.”
“That is good to know, although I wasn’t really thinking he did side with her on that point. But in the end, his loyalties are going to be with his family. The same with Merrick. If even half of what I’ve heard from my siblings is true, Scott and Nadine have already filled Merrick’s and Tom’s head with a bunch of lies about me.”
“That sounds like high school shit.”
“Yeah, doesn’t it, though? You’d think by now we’d have outgrown this behavior. But I’m at a disadvantage here. For one thing, my parents and Tom’s mother are like Jesse and Asa. Sworn enemies. You know the history there, right?”
“Jeff said something about it once. Tom’s dad got fired from Phoebe’s Playthings for drinking on the job, and your dad wouldn’t hire him, but Scott’s dad did, right?”
Ivy nodded. “Yeah. And I’m sure Tom grew up hearing what rotten people my parents were because of it. That sort of talk gets around. And he and Merrick were good friends once.”
“They still are, from what I heard. But Merrick is really embarrassed over all the trouble his father caused Asa, and of course over what Owen is now accused of.”
“Good friends see past that kind of stuff.”
Alaina nodded. “True. But you know how guys are. They have their reputations to maintain, and anything that tarnishes that mortifies them. Some of them brush it off, but others hide it away.”
“Like Merrick?”
“Like Merrick. And I’m sure Tom feels torn not only because of the history between your family and his father, but because of what his sister did to you. He probably feels like you blame him, too.”
“He had nothing to do with it.”
“Well, then maybe you need to tell him that? Make the first move?”
“I’ve never been good at that.”
“So learn to be.”
“Easy for you to say.”
“Are you kidding me? I’ve been on this island for almost nine years. I’ve worked in the same building as Jeff and Taj for that long, and it took me almost eight years to do anything about my never-ending lust for them. It wasn’t easy at all. Believe me.”
Ivy hadn’t realized that. “Thank you for sharing that with me.” She glanced back toward the house, half expecting to see Merrick and Tom watching them. But no one had followed the pair outside. “So what do I do now?”
“You can come back inside.”
“No. And not because I’m afraid to talk to them. Because I need to think about this.”
“All right. So go home and think about it. And then call one of them, or both of them, and ask them out for a drink or something.”
“You make it sound so damn easy.”
A cool breeze blew, and Alaina hugged herself. “Do you want a ride home? It’s getting colder.”
“No. I’m fine. Honestly. Thanks again, Alaina.”
“No, thank you for taking the diary to Jan, and for bringing those papers over.”
As Ivy made her way down the hill and toward the airport, where nothing awaited her at home except cable and warmed-up leftovers, she thought about everything that Tom and Merrick had said and done in the short time she’d stood there with both of them. As much as she wanted to believe that Alaina was right, when she replayed the conversation in her head it didn’t sound like they were marking any territory except their differing beliefs about the curse.
If they were interested in seeing her, each man had an odd way of showing it.
Chapter Five
Tom tried for an hour to sleep after leaving the party as soon as it felt polite to do so, but it was pointless. He couldn’t get the trepidation on Ivy’s face out of his mind. He and Merrick had acted like schoolboys in front of her. If Merrick hadn’t been there, Tom would have found a way to tell her how sorry he was for what his sister had put h
er through. Instead, he’d become embroiled in a ridiculous argument about the fucking curse.
So call her, hotshot.
Right. And say what? I’m sorry I acted like an idiot? Please go out with me?
He crawled out of bed and turned on the TV, but nothing held his interest. It was only eleven o’clock, which proved how pathetic his life had become. Even the knowledge he had to get up for work in the morning wasn’t enough to drive him back to bed. He’d done his job on a few hours of sleep plenty of times.
When he finally turned off the TV and headed back to his bedroom, his cell phone rang. Thinking it was someone from work with a computer issue, he answered it without checking the caller ID, and then nearly dropped it as Ivy’s sweet voice filled his ear.
“Hi. Tom? It’s Ivy. Um…I hope I didn’t wake you.”
“No. No, you didn’t.”
“Oh, good. Um, I was wondering if we could get together and talk sometime? Maybe over coffee or a drink?”
Holy shit. “Sure. I’d love to. After work tomorrow?” Or did she have a flight? “Unless you’re working…”
“No, I’m off tomorrow. I mean as far as flying goes. After work would be great. Should we meet downtown?”
His heart pounded. “Sure. Okay. How about that new place? Coffee In The Caribbean?” Asa had been trying unsuccessfully for years to get Starbucks to open a shop on the island, so a few enterprising individuals had taken advantage of the situation and opened a coffeehouse last month. They served sandwiches and pastries, too. Not much of a dinner, but he’d take any time he could get with Ivy.
“That sounds great. Have you been there yet?”
“No. You?”
“Yes, I have. It’s very cozy. A nice place to talk.”
“Great. See you tomorrow then.”
A nice place to talk. Did that mean she intended it to be a date, or did she want to read him the riot act for what Nadine had done? He’d better not assume too much about this until he actually heard what she had to say.
He eventually fell asleep, but not before he convinced himself that Ivy had only called to get him face-to-face so she could finally tell him off for being such an asshole.
* * * *
Merrick woke up to his cell ringing, and wasn’t thrilled to hear Asa’s voice on the other end of the call. “Can we meet for breakfast? I need to talk to you about the company.”
“Whose company? Yours?”
Asa sighed into the phone. “No. Yours. JD Construction.”
“Shouldn’t you be talking to my father and uncle, then?” Merrick sat up and shook his head. Must be nice to be so coherent before the sun came up. The old bastard was probably already in his office.
“I tried to. Since you’re the only one left there who has a brain in his head, I called you. Can you meet this morning or not?”
“Sure, Asa. Where?”
“That new coffee place will do. Do you know it?”
“Yes.” Merrick glanced at his alarm clock. “Give me half an hour.”
Asa disconnected the call and Merrick rolled out of bed, cursing his damn ancestors for whatever they’d done to earn this fucking curse on them. He’d have been off this rock years ago otherwise. As he took the fastest shower ever, he replayed the conversation at Taj’s house last evening with Tom. He couldn’t imagine what Ivy thought of them right now.
It had been his intention to call her this morning, but now that would have to wait. He should have done so last night, but he’d ended up staying at Taj’s house until nearly midnight, and hadn’t wanted to risk waking her up by calling her that late. He had no idea how early she rose for work, even on days she wasn’t flying.
The sun was just rising as he made his way downtown to Coffee In The Caribbean. Merrick thought it was a cute name, if a bit of a misnomer. The island wasn’t exactly in the Caribbean, but who was keeping track? Judging by the amount of people inside, not the customers. He saw Asa at a table against the western wall and walked over.
Almost as soon as he sat down, a perky girl who couldn’t be older than a high school student walked over and rattled off their breakfast sandwich choices so quickly, Merrick didn’t catch a word she said. “Strong coffee, no extra flavors, and anything with eggs on it is fine. No meat or cheese.”
“Sure! Coming right up.” She pointed toward Asa’s cup. “Need a refill yet?”
Asa shook his head. Once the too-perky server left, Asa leaned forward. “We have a problem.”
Merrick didn’t answer. He’d learned long ago that where Asa was concerned, it was best to listen first and ask questions when you could get a word in edgewise, which usually wasn’t often.
“I told your father and uncle I wouldn’t let the company go under and I meant it. But I need someone in there who knows how to keep books. Your father can’t handle it, and the spreadsheets he keeps sending me are a fucking mess. I can’t make heads or tails out of them. I would run them past Ian and Brett but that wouldn’t exactly be ethical. Although it has crossed my mind.”
Ian Raleigh and Brett Durante ran the accounting department at Phoebe’s Playthings. “Have you asked my father or uncle about having someone in your accounting department step in to help?”
Asa almost smiled, and if Merrick hadn’t seen it with his own eyes, he’d never have believed it was possible the man could do so. “That’s what I was hoping you’d suggest. Can you speak to them for me? I don’t mind saving your company, but I have to know what’s going on with the money.”
Merrick had to wait to speak until Miss Perky brought his coffee and a surprisingly tasty scrambled egg sandwich on a croissant. He took a second bite while he formulated his response. “I know it means the world to my father and Uncle Davis that you won’t let their company go under. It means a lot to me and Gary, too.” What Merrick didn’t want to say was that he couldn’t help but feel Asa might be taking advantage of the situation to exert some control over the company, but he had to bite the bullet and find out if the man had an ulterior motive.
“But?”
Asa was too sharp to miss the fact that Merrick sounded uncertain. “But my father and uncle won’t see this as a benevolent gesture. Surely you know that.”
“Do you think it’s hostile?”
That was one of the things Merrick admired about Asa. He didn’t dance around an issue. “I think you would love to get your hands on the company. And while I’m sure it would thrive under your care, my only concern is how vehemently, and publicly, you opposed Palace of Eris at first. Unless you’ve changed your mind about us building it, I can’t condone anything that will give you a say-so in how we spend our money, Asa.”
Asa drained his coffee and then leaned forward again. “I was wrong about the resort.”
If Merrick had taken a bite of food before that admission, he’d have choked on it.
“The resort is a worthwhile project and will bring business to both our companies. My son showed me the error of my ways. Or, I should say, a thorough marketing study he and Dallas put together showed me. The second one, actually. They tried this a few months ago but I was still too angry at all of you.”
“May I ask why? I mean aside from the personal history between you and my father. Couldn’t you see how much good the resort would do everyone on this island?”
“It wasn’t the resort. It was the fact that your father thought it up. I don’t give up grudges easily.”
“So that’s really what all your resistance was about? The affair?”
Asa’s face turned red, but not as red as Merrick had seen it in the past. He leaned closer and lowered his voice to a near-whisper. “How would you react if you found your wife fucking your cousin in your own office at work?”
Since Merrick didn’t have a wife, and at the rate he was going he never would have sex again, let alone be married one day, it was a difficult scenario for him to imagine. And since he also had no first cousins, once again he was at a loss. “I’m sorry he did that you. He’s an ass.”
“At least we agree on one thing.”
Merrick’s thoughts turned toward Ivy. Scott and Nadine had been sneaking around behind her back for six months before she found out, and it hadn’t been because Scott had been man enough to tell her. One of her siblings had spotted them making out in a public place downtown and told her about it.
“Asa, I know my father isn’t the sharpest stick on the tree, but all I need to know is why you want to get this close to our accounting methods. Is it truly to make sure we don’t lose the business? Or are you trying to run it one day?”
“I’m not interested in running it.”
“Thank you for saying so.” Merrick knew that if Asa was asked a direct question where business was concerned, he’d never lie. “That’s all I needed to know. I’ll talk to my father and Uncle Davis today. I’m sure they’ll appreciate the offer of help since neither one has a head for numbers.”
As Merrick made his way toward the offices that comprised JD Construction, he took out his cell phone and called Ivy, hoping it wasn’t too early. She answered on the second ring. “Hi there. First of all, I wanted to apologize for last evening. I can’t imagine what you must think of me by now.”
“Oh. No apology necessary. In fact, I was going to call you today. Would you like to have dinner sometime?”
Merrick tripped over a loose stone in the sidewalk and nearly fell on his face. “What? Sure. Okay. Are you busy tonight?”
“I am, actually. And I’m flying tomorrow, but how about Friday?”
“I’d love to.”
“Great. Thanks. Is Lady of The Night all right?”
“It’s perfect.”
“All right. See you then, Merrick.”
Merrick stood on the pavement and stared at his phone. What the hell just happened? He’d spent a restless night imagining all sorts of terrible scenarios. What an idiot he was. Ivy Balloux had asked him out. On a date. After all these years of watching her from afar. Had it really been that easy, all along? He was a damn fool for waiting this long.