“Oh, when did you plan this?”
“Some time ago. I just didn’t know when I’d do it. I’m guessing Grandfather will want me to take some time to show me the ropes of the business. Then I want a month to go sailing.”
“Sweetie, are you going by yourself?”
I nod. “Makes sense.”
“Well, I guess you must be in a better place if you plan to scatter her ashes.”
I’m not sure about that whole feeling better thing on my part but I nod to make her feel more at ease. I don’t like my mother worrying about me, and not for something I should be over.
Amelia was my girl. The girl who changed me. Her father, Jim Gardner, was the cop who grew tired of arresting my ass, and he kicked said ass from here to kingdom come when he found out I was dating his daughter.
I met Amelia when I was in my senior year of high school. She’d previously lived with her mother after her parents divorced. When her mother died, she moved to Wilmington to finish her schooling. We got stuck together when we had to work on a project. That’s how we began.
How we ended was another story few people know.
It was her wish for me and her father to scatter her ashes together at Cape Cod. It was somewhere we both wanted to visit but never got to.
She’s been gone now for twelve years and her father has been waiting for me to be ready to let her go. This summer is the first I’ve thought of taking that trip and in the same breath parting with her.
Mom taps my shoulder and I look back at her.
“I think you are better,” She states. “More healed than you think. You must be if you’re planning on taking the trip. It’s a good thing. It means something’s healed in you.”
“Yeah, sure. And thanks.”
Mom smiles proudly and I return to my focus to open road ahead and to my thoughts.
She’s right in a way. I must have healed somewhat. I don’t know what’s sparked the healing process after so long but maybe time is finally doing the trick.
To be honest, however, I feel like I’ve been wandering around on a desert island for the last decade. Maybe before that too. I spent the years before Amelia trying to work out my anger issues toward my father and the years after her death trying to find myself.
The only time in my life when I had some reprieve was when I was with her.
I can’t explain it because she was also another good girl who shouldn’t have been with a guy like me.
After she died, I finished college and then I became a cop, like her father. By then he’d retired and moved to Florida to start over. A little similar to what my grandfather is about to do. For Amelia’s father, though, it was more about starting over after losing everything.
My grandfather is retiring to head to Italy, where he’s purchased a vineyard and decided he wants to spend the rest of his days there.
Good for him.
We turn down the road leading to his manor home, and I think of how this meeting will go.
At least it can’t be anything like my meeting with Bree the other night.
Everything Logan and I hoped for in getting that bastard happened. We got the names of the people we needed to close the case on our end and the feds can take over. There’s a just a few legal matters that I need to talk to my other friend Bryce about. He’s a lawyer I work with when I have these types of cases.
I thought of going to see Bree yesterday but stopped myself when I realized it would freak her out and I’d just dig a deeper hole for myself.
I don’t know what it is with me and her, but she fascinates me.
It’s an unhealthy fascination I have to sort out before it gets me in trouble.
I gaze down the road and the house comes into view. There are large wrought iron gates that open for us when we approach.
I drive straight in and moments later I pull up on the drive right in front of a home that looks like it was plucked from somewhere in Europe.
Diane, my grandfather’s new wife comes out to greet us in her usual heartwarming way when we step out of the car.
She’s been married to my grandfather for the last five years. At fifty-eight, she’s twenty years younger than my grandfather and eight years older than my mother, but they’re happy.
When my grandmother died, my grandfather was by himself for twenty years so I’m glad they’re doing this.
“I’m so glad you’re both here,” Diane beams hugging Mom then me.
“We’re glad too,” Mom beams.
“Wait until you see the flowers that came in this morning. I got you some and some stuff from that shop you loved last time you were here.”
Diane has a way of being a mother to everyone including my mother.
“Thanks so much.”
“Come let’s go in. Mac’s inside in one of his moods.”
Which means he’s fully in his no-bullshit business mode.
“I better be on my best behavior then.” I smirk.
“Don’t worry. He just wants this done properly. It’s been difficult trying to manage the wine business in Italy from here. I think he’s eager to go.”
“Understandable.” I dip my head and we proceed into the house.
My family have always owned the Crystal Resort on the Beach dating back a hundred years when my great, great grandfather moved over from Tennessee and set it up. It’s the most prestigious resort in Wilmington that’s right there on the seafront. He set up over fifty years ago and people from all over the world visit the place. He was already doing well but became the billionaire he is year before last when his friend and business partner died and left him the beach next to the resort, another hotel which expanded the resort, the country club, yacht club, and fifteen sail boats.
That’s when everything changed. I thought he’s be happy to carry on business and relish in his new found wealth. However, he shocked me when he called me last month and spoke about retiring.
We walk into the grand hall where I find him standing by the entrance of the floor to ceiling glass doors puffing on a Cuban cigar.
He looks deep in thought, and I notice he’s had a haircut and the only dark patch of hair he had on his white head has decreased. He didn’t shave his beard. That’s still down to his chest.
And Grandpa Mackenzie still looks like the badass navy man I loved to listen to when my father would allow me to see him. The muscle he still sports makes him look more like he’s in his late fifties as opposed to his late seventies.
When he sees me, he puts out his cigar and smiles, but the smile doesn’t quite reach his eyes.
It makes me wonder if something is up. My detective senses are telling me something could be.
“Hello son,” he says. He has a deeper southern accent.
“Hey.”
He shakes my hand like usual but gives me a hug too before looking at Mom and Diane and sighing.
“I guess now that we’re all here we can just get right into it. Do either of you want a drink before we begin?”
“I’m fine,” I say.
“Me too.” Mom smiles.
“All right, let’s sit down then.”
We sit in the soft leather sofas and Grandfather takes the armchair with Diane in the one opposite him.
“Well, I won’t lie I barely slept last night.” Grandfather begins and stares at me. “That’s not because I worried about you taking over the business.”
“You have nothing to worry about. Rest assured everything will be in good hands.”
“I don’t doubt that. But what worried me is the stipulations I have in giving you the business.”
Mom and I glance at each other then I look back to him.
“What sort of stipulations?” He never mentioned anything of the sort before.
“Well, that’s what worried me because I know you’re going to disagree with the lot of them.”
“What is it?”
“Well. Traditionally Crystal Resort has always been owned by a married couple. It was somethin
g our forefathers were really keen on. While they would have loved where we’ve taken business and the exponential wealth, they liked the idea of it being family run.”
I don’t like what I sense he might be saying to me.
“It will be family run and I don’t plan to sell it,” I assure him.
“I know you wouldn’t. That was never my worry because I know you respect the value of the place in the Dawson family as much as I ever did. That being said, I can’t move on without honoring my own father’s request when I passed on the business.”
“What is that Grandfather?”
“That I whoever I hand it to in the family is married with a view to starting his own family.”
“What!” I sit straighter because he can’t seriously mean that. “Grandfather that is ridiculous.”
“It might be ridiculous to you because you’re young and marriage these days doesn’t have the same significance amongst you, young ones not like old folk like me.”
I glance at Mom who’s gone pale as she shuffles next to me.
“Mac, this is a bit much don’t you think? You can’t force Ethan to get married. Seriously?”
“I have no intention of doing so.”
“So, what are you going to do?” I cut in.
“This. I am going to transfer the business to you, but it won’t go to you until you’re married. Until then, I’ve set up a trust and I’d like to appoint your mother as the executor of the trust. Once you get married, it’s all yours.”
My fucking mouth falls open.
“You’re serious?”
He nods.
Damn it. I was hoping for that money to tie me over for six months or more while I was away.
“Grandfather I don’t plan to get married.”
His face hardens. “Don’t tell me such a thing son. I’m sure that girl you’ve been with for the last five years gets on her knees and prays to the Good Lord every night for marriage. Boy, what’s stopping you from asking her?”
Oh shit? He’s talking about Miranda, the air hostess girlfriend I made up to stop him from trying to set me up and riding my ass about marriage.
Jesus the fucking idea has come right back to bite me.
I feel Mom’s eyes burning a hole into me. She doesn’t know about this girlfriend plan of mine, but she knows me. That why she won’t say anything.
“You know she travels a lot,” I say as if that’s a good answer.
“Since when did that stop anybody from getting married? I served in Vietnam and I married your grandma. We were just fine.”
Of course, they were.
“It’s just that we’re not at that place yet where we’re talking about such a thing.” How the hell do I get myself into things like this?
This is karma, isn’t it?
It’s being a bitch because of what I did to Bree.
Jesus. The one fucking thing I had to look forward to has gone to shit.
“That makes no sense Ethan.”
“This makes no sense.”
“Yes it does. To be quite honest it might give you the nudge you need in the right direction. Five years is a long time to be with a woman. It’s time to think of settling down.”
Oh my God. I’m dying here. What am I actually going to do?
“Grandfather, why does this have to be about marriage? You know I’m more than capable of running this business. Marriage shouldn’t even be a discussion here.”
“Well, unfortunately for you it is and that’s final. You get married, you get the business. It’s simple and I don’t mean one of these get married quickly schemes to satisfy a means to an end. So don’t even think about it.”
“I wasn’t.”
“Good. What I do want you to think about is your girl back home. Maybe now’s the time to change things up. I’m signing the papers tomorrow. Diane and I plan to fly out to Italy in three weeks. It would be real good to meet Miranda before we go, even better to see you tie the knot son.”
Just fucking fantastic.
To get his billion-dollar business, I don’t just need to find a girlfriend and name her Miranda, I also need a wife.
Chapter 7
Bree
Eyes cast my way as Quinn and I walk into the function hall of the Great Beyond, a manor home Lucille’s prince hired for tonight’s event.
There are over two hundred guests here. The people looking are family—my cousins who are married with kids and love a bit of gossip.
The moment Cindy-Lou clocks on to us and dips her head to Daisy’s ear and they both look toward us I know tonight’s going to be fun, fun, fun. Not.
They know Quinn, and they knew I was dating Liev. His absence will not go unnoticed. I can just imagine what they’re saying, and I’ve barely arrived.
Deciding to ignore the wave of gossip that’s about to spread I smile and wave to them. They wave back but start talking again as soon as I walk by.
“Take no notice Bree,” Quinn says. “People used to gossip about me for a long time then they stopped. Thank God, you don’t have the type of stories I had to follow you.”
I do thank God. All I’ve been hit with is a breakup and no one knows the details. I could still lie and tell people Liev was sick or something like that so he couldn’t make it.
But Quinn used to be Quinn Cambray, daughter of one of our former states attorneys and Governor of California. When Quinn was eighteen he and the whole family left Wilmington never to return. Then two years ago the scandal hit that he’s been stealing public money and doing all sorts of shit. He also killed himself because he didn’t want to face his crimes and all hell broke loose after.
That’s what she’s talking about, and it’s taken her all this time to live it all down.
“I guess I made a wise choice in bringing you tonight.” I try to laugh and look like I’m fine, but I just want to go home.
“You did. We both look fabulous and this place is beautiful.” She looks around and does a little twirl like she’s dancing.
“It is beautiful,” I agree.
Crystal chandeliers hang from the ceiling and the marble floors add even more class to the décor. There are yellow roses—Lucille’s favorite everywhere.
They’re in neat little arrangements on the tables, on the columns and in loops around the other ornaments in the room. I feel like I’m in a palace.
I’d say this place is more suited to a wedding than a simple engagement party, but this is not a simple engagement. There’s never been anything simple about Lucille.
And there she is.
Lucille is in the center of the room dressed in a long flowing blue gown. Her long blond hair is styled in loose waves and because it’s so long it looks even prettier.
She looks absolutely stunning. Just like her mother, Aunt Denise, who is next to her.
Mama has three sisters. Denise and Shelby are the divas, but Shelby isn’t a snob. She’s also the youngest sister, Mama is the second youngest and the do-gooder, while Evangeline is the eldest. She’s like an old school marm. Cindy-Lou and Daisy are her daughters.
Mama isn’t that far from Lucille. Next to her are my other aunts.
Shelby sees me first and waves which causes the others to look my way.
Lucille smiles at me with that gloating smile she uses when she knows she has one over on me.
But when a tall man who could be James Bond approaches her, she focuses on him. When he leans in to kiss her, I guess he must the prince. He certainly looks like one. Well done Lucille.
Quinn glances at me and I know exactly what she’s thinking.
“I suppose that’s him?” she whispers.
“That’s her type.” Yup it sure is and I shouldn’t have expected anything less for the princess.
“Bree,” Mama’s voice catches me off guard.
She clips in her little heels meeting us halfway. Shelby is right behind her with her big Dolly Parton curls.
“Hey Mama,” I say. “Hi Shelby.” She prefers I don’
t call her aunt. She says it makes her feel old, so we all call her by her first name. I guess that makes sense since she’s only in her late forties.
“Hi girls,” Shelby says looking from me to Quinn.
Quinn gives a little wave.
“Where’s Liev?” Mama asks looking over Quinn’s shoulder. “Will he be joining us later?”
I glance at Shelby. I haven’t spoken to anybody yet and I hoped I wouldn’t have to tonight.
The look she gives me tells me she already knows I’m not with Liev anymore.
“He’s not coming,” I tell my very eager mother whose face falls at the declaration.
“Why’s that honey? Is he sick? He was excited about joining us.”
I’m sure that was all fake. I look back at her and I want to lie to make things easier if only for tonight, but I’m so tired of doing things like that to make life easier.
Anyone else would have called their mother and told them the truth. I couldn’t because I know Mama would find some way of blaming me. Even if I told her the whole truth with all the colorful parts. Lord help me if I did, and the others found out.
“Mama we’re not together anymore,” I say and Mama’s eyes bulge.
Shelby on the other hand looks cool and composed.
“What did you do?”
This is exactly what I mean. Questions like that.
“I didn’t do anything. We just decided to end things.” I can embellish that part.
Mama places her hand to her heart. “I don’t believe this. You don’t just decide to end a six-moth relationship.”
“Sally, maybe you and Bree should talk about this some other time,” Shelby suggests taking Mama’s arm. “Now’s not the place.”
“Oh please, trust you to be on her side,” Mama snaps. “This is why she’s not married yet, because you keep filling her head with nonsense to make her pickier.”
“On the contrary, my dear sister. It’s my duty to tell my niece she shouldn’t settle for any less than a man who can give her hot sex. If he’s not great in bed kick him out.” Shelby smiles knowing exactly how to annoy my mother.
While Quinn laughs and Mama’s skin turns the same hue as her dress Shelby looks back to me.
Out of Bounds: An Enemies to Lovers Romance (Sinful Bachelors Book 2) Page 4