“Oh, there is one thing. I’d like to take the boat out for some time alone on the lake. Do you mind?”
Surprise hit Trev for a second time. Desiree didn’t like to go on the boat alone, but time on the water could offer her some privacy where she could work through emotions without anyone prying. “Yes, of course you can take the boat. You don’t have to ask, Desiree. You still live here.”
She smiled again as Trev left the room.
Thirty minutes later, Trev fished her out of Beaver Lake, the ring conspicuously absent from her finger. When Trev went into her room later that evening, he found it on the dresser. No note. No nothing.
The aroma of sizzling of fried chicken deepened, bringing Trev back to the present day, but nothing removed the anguish that still lingered over Desiree’s death. Was it accidental or suicide? Was her calm demeanor because she’d decided to take her own life, or simply because she’d agreed with Trev that it was time to break their engagement? Had she taken the boat out for some time to think, or had she intentionally gone out without a flotation device because she’d planned on ending her own life? Even now, almost a year later, these questions horrified Trev, and no amount of time eased their demand to be answered.
Old desperation filled him. What had he missed? The despair turned into familiar blame and disgrace, filling him with fresh agony. Had he been so grateful to be finished with the difficult conversation and their relationship that he’d failed to notice the depth of her heartache?
The police had ruled Desiree’s death an accident after a thorough investigation and had cleared Trev and his family of any wrongdoing. But Desiree’s parents weren’t as forgiving. They’d flown to Arkansas from Seattle, demanding to see where their daughter died and have the police explain everything. They’d left unsatisfied and hostile and with the promise of a lawsuit. Their presence had almost destroyed Trev, adding to his guilt as he’d tried to accommodate them in every possible way.
The sound of the sliding screen opening rescued Trev from his despondency. Allison came and stood beside him. “I still think about her,” she whispered.
Trev glanced at his sister. She wore a blue tank top and a long pair of white shorts with rhinestone accents around the waist and pockets. Her reddish-brown hair, the same color as Desiree’s, fell to her shoulders. She was barefoot.
“Every day,” Trev replied. “I think about her every day.”
“It wasn’t your fault, you know.”
Trev furrowed his brow. Allison never talked about Desiree or that terrible day.
Allison looked at Trev. “It was mine.”
The air was sucked out of Trev’s lungs. “How is it your fault?”
She turned away from him, as if wanting to confess to the lake instead of her brother. “I was in my room, and the window was open. I heard the boat go out, but I didn’t look. If I’d seen she was alone, I would’ve watched. I knew she didn’t like being on the water, especially by herself.” The weight of guilt hung in her words.
Shocked, Trev grabbed Allison by the upper arms and made her face him. “You think because you heard the boat go out that you should’ve somehow known Desiree was on her own and going to drown?”
Allison nodded, refusing to meet his eyes.
Trev shook his head. “Look at me, Allison.”
Allison brought her gaze to Trev’s, their deep blue color mirroring his own. He blinked. He couldn’t remember the last time he noticed his sister’s eyes, but they looked like frosted glass, flat and dull.
His misery folded in on itself. He had to convince his sister that she was not to blame. “This isn’t your fault. There’s no way you could’ve known what was going on. You weren’t Desiree’s keeper,” he said fervently. The desire to tell Allison his part in Desiree’s death pulled at him. It might help her, but the words were mired in muddy suffering and uncertainty. Neither Allison nor his parents knew he’d broken off his and Desiree’s engagement just minutes before her death. It was a secret he needed to take to his own grave.
Allison shook her head, her voice raspy. “No, but she and I were like sisters. I couldn’t wait for the two of you to get married, so she could be my real sister.” She brushed her cheeks with the back of her hand. “And all I needed to do was look out my window to save the life of my sister, but I didn’t do it.” She paused. “I wanted to say something when Desiree’s parents came. I thought it might help them to know that even though my window was open, I didn’t hear her scream or struggle. I wanted them to know how much I loved her. But they were so caustic and angry. I couldn’t bring myself to say anything.”
With relief, Trev loosened his grip on his sister. “I’m glad you stayed out of it. They were more than angry; they were enraged and bitter. They wouldn’t have understood your desire to help. They would’ve seen it as just one more sign of negligence.” A sharp blade of pain pierced Trev. He was the worst perpetrator of negligence. He’d known that Desiree planned on taking out the boat, and he hadn’t bothered to watch over her. Instead, he’d congratulated himself on becoming free from an entanglement that no longer worked for him.
The opening of the screen door broke the spell between Trev and Allison. They were joined by their mother. “Where have you been all day, Alli?” Their mother’s voice was laced with concern. Trev noticed their mother was still wearing the aqua velour lounge suit she’d had on earlier when he’d introduced her to Leah.
Leah. The elusive peace Trev chased settled close with the memory of their short time together. But the respite wouldn’t stay in the palpable tension between Allison and their mother.
Allison gave their mother a baleful look and hurried into the house.
Their mother leaned against the deck railing. “That girl,” she muttered. “What are we going to do with her? I try to be kind, but it only seems to antagonize her.”
“I don’t know, Mom.” Should he tell her about Allison’s heartache over Desiree? No. It wasn’t his story to tell, and the relationship between mother and daughter didn’t need any more complications. Allison blamed their mother for bringing the family here, and he doubted his mother would understand Allison’s affection for his fiancée, a woman she’d never cared for. He continued, “Let’s deal with one thing at a time. Leah starts tomorrow.”
“Oh, good. It’ll be nice to have some company. Don’t get me wrong, I love your father, but we both could use some stimulation that doesn’t come from the television.”
“I’m glad to hear it, Mom, because Leah wants to design a plan to get the two of you out of your room. We’ll all be meeting with her tomorrow morning.”
“Good. Like I said, a little company will go a long way.” She changed the subject. “C’mon, let’s eat. Josie’s fried chicken won’t wait.”
Suddenly, Trev was famished. Following his mother into the house, he tried to leave the memory of Desiree on the deck, but she didn’t stay there. Like a wisp of smoke, she curled around him, the whisper of Allison’s guilt mingling with his own.
Still, a new memory struggled to stand alongside the paralyzing and numbing pain of Desiree’s passing. Unbidden, the picture of Leah came to his thoughts, her deep gray eyes full of gentle concern as she asked him if he was all right. Her words, unexpected and spontaneous, seared themselves into his mind, offering him reprieve and hope that came through her simple kindness. It gave him a soft place to land, and for a few lingering seconds, the constant companion of his racking culpability became subverted to grace.
Chapter 5
The following morning, Leah dressed with care and plaited her hair in a long French braid before making the drive to The Cove. She distracted herself by listening to the radio and singing along to the songs, but jittery anxiety grew with each passing mile towards the Michaels home. Leah didn’t know the exact source of the angst. She pinned it up to starting a new job, but the thought of seeing Trev again made her nerves jump like sparks just under her skin. She censured herself. If she wanted to work for him, she needed to get
used to his presence and stunning blue eyes.
She pulled up to the security gate of The Cove and waited for the guard to come out. He sauntered her way. Leah pursed her lips as a flash of irritation ran through her. If she was driving a fancy car and lived in one of these expensive houses, this man would lose the indolence in a hurry.
When he finally appeared at her window, she squinted up at him, reading his name tag. Elton. She bit her tongue.
“Name?” Elton held a clipboard.
“Leah Thomas.”
“House?”
“Trev Michaels.”
Elton moved through a list on his clipboard. Leah wanted to give him a hard stare of impatience. He wasn’t any better than her, working for these rich people. She settled for biting her tongue.
Without another word, Elton moved to the security hut and pushed some levers that caused the large wrought-iron gate to swing open. When the gate parted just enough for her car to fit, Leah sped through, hoping to leave a breath of choking exhaust for Elton.
Slowing down, she drove through the meandering lane, taking in the beauty of the trees in full regalia of late spring, shading the drive. She slowed as she came to the Sweetheart Tree, reminding herself to ask Trev about the story behind it. Whose initials were carved in the trunk, and why did it stand in the middle of the road?
Cicadas cranked up their morning hum as the smell of the lake drifted through the open window. She would love being so close to the water and the cooler temperatures that came with being near the lake. Even in late May, the daily high temperatures were hitting the mid-eighties, and the humidity wasn’t far behind. A prickly sweat began to cling to Leah. She tugged at her clothes as the sun began its relentless climb into the blue mountain sky. She hoped to get Paul and Rebecca out for a quick walk in the garden before it got too hot. She was eager to explore and hoped they’d agree to some time in the yard.
Pulling to a stop in front of the oversized four-car garage, Leah wondered if she should take the service road that led around back. A sliver of defiance changed her mind as she recalled Justin’s mother’s cold demand that she park her VW out of sight on the night of Justin’s college graduation party.
Pursing her lips together, she put the car in first gear and pressed the parking brake. She would stay here for now.
Forgetting about Justin, she hurried up the long walk, propelled by excitement and curiosity about the family she’d be working for. Knocking loud on the front door, she was greeted by the elderly gentleman she’d met yesterday. “Welcome, Miss Leah. Mr. Trev told us to expect you. He says you’ll be coming Monday through Friday to work with Paul and Rebecca. My name is Sanders. I’m Trev’s butler.” He put out his hand.
Leah grinned at Sanders as she took his hand in her own. His skin was papery against hers, but his warm fingers held a firm grip. “Thank you. I’m happy to be here.”
“The Michaels family are wonderful employers. I hope you like it here.” He ushered her into the large room with the windows. “Can I get you anything to drink?”
“Water would be nice. Thank you.”
Sanders returned within a minute with a large glass of ice water. “The Michaels family are finishing their morning meal in the breakfast room and will be with you momentarily. Mr. Trev tells me that you’ll be eating lunch with the family, but I’ll leave it to him to show you the breakfast room when the time comes.”
“Thank you, Sanders.” Leah smiled before taking a sip of water to hide her expanding uncertainty. The Michaels family must be some kind of rich in order to have a room just for breakfast.
She turned her thoughts away from the opulence that awed her. If she wanted to avoid another disaster like the one that happened yesterday, it’d be best if she didn’t let her mind wander. Gripping her water glass, she watched for Trev.
She turned to the sound of Trev’s steps hitting the hardwood, her heart skipping into its own rhythm at the sight of him. He wore khakis with a cream raw silk shirt. Birkenstock sandals with socks rounded out his look. Without thinking, Leah broke into a large smile. Just seeing him made her happy, but his socks made her want to giggle.
He returned her smile. “Are you wearing socks today?”
Nodding, she moved the hem of her summer cotton pants to show a pair of white athletic socks. She loved having something in common with this gorgeous man. “Comfort over fashion.”
Trev nodded. “Always.” He changed the subject. “We’re in the breakfast room,” he said. “Why don’t you come with me? You can meet Allison, and we can map out a plan.”
Leah held her glass of water with both hands to keep her fingers from trembling with anticipation. Following Trev through the large professional kitchen, the masculine scent of sandalwood and fresh shampoo wafted behind him, weakening her knees as she tried to keep up. To her left, Marguerite and another woman Leah didn’t know were scraping plates into a sink the size of a small bath tub. The smell of bacon and buttered toast lingered in the air, but Leah resented its competition. All she wanted was to breathe in Trev’s male spicy clean essence.
Several paces from the kitchen, Trev led Leah into a delightful room and stepped away from her, taking with him the intoxicating trail of his personal incense. She stopped herself from sticking close to him and refocused on the other individuals seated around the table and the room itself. White wainscoting anchored the butter-yellow walls into a warm gray tiled floor that swirled like clouds. Morning light flooded the room through white-paned windows that looked over the lake and gardens. Palms stood in the corners, and they danced in the breeze of the open windows. “This is beautiful,” she gushed before collecting herself. She needed to act like a professional.
“Isn’t it, though?” Rebecca said. “It’s my favorite room in the house.”
Leah noticed that both Rebecca and Paul were in the same clothes they had worn the day before, their hair sticking up in several directions. She’d fix that soon.
Trev pulled out a chair from the whitewashed table. Leah looked up at him in pleasant surprise at his courtesy. She smiled; her neck craned to the side to keep him in her sight. All she could see was his blue eyes locked into hers as an unfamiliar giddiness came over her. Trev held her gaze until she straightened up to find the rest of the family staring at her, a knowing smile twitching upward on Rebecca’s face and the young woman sitting across from her wearing a smirk. That must be Allison.
Trev sat next to his sister. His face gave no hint of chagrin, helping alleviate her embarrassment. Still, she needed to act like a competent caregiver, not some silly schoolgirl with her first crush.
“I think introductions are in order,” Trev began. “Leah, you’ve met my parents, but you haven’t met my sister, Allison.”
Leah smiled across the table. “Nice to meet you, Allison.”
Allison gave her a deadpan look. “Likewise, I’m sure.” She turned her gaze toward the open window.
Leah sucked on her bottom lip, unease rippling through her. Was Allison’s attitude over what had just transpired between her and Trev? From Rebecca’s knowing smile and Allison’s smug sneer, it was obvious everyone at the table noticed her attraction for Trev. She reprimanded herself. Trev’s good manners didn’t have anything to do with her. It was how he’d been raised, and she needed to tuck her embarrassing attraction back inside right this minute or this job would dissipate into thin air.
Now that introductions were finished, everyone looked at her with expectation. She cleared her throat. No more distractions. Pulling a manilla file from her bag, she opened it and began handing papers to Trev, who took one and passed the remainder to his sister. “I’ve got a plan that I’d like to show all of you,” she started. “I thought we’d spend a few minutes looking this over and then talk about it.”
Allison didn’t pick any papers from the pile or pass them along to her mother. Sparking irritation flamed up in Leah. What was this girl’s problem? She said nothing, choosing instead to leave it to the family to figure out
what needed to come next.
“Alli?” Rebecca’s voice held a soft note.
Allison took the stapled sheets and passed the remaining to her mother, who then handed the last one to Paul.
Leah did her best to ignore Allison’s snobbish attitude and conceited sneer. Focusing on the paper, she found her confidence. “As you can see, I’ve mapped this out into four phases.” For the next several minutes, Leah outlined her thoughts and ideas around each phase, but through all of her words, Trev’s presence encroached on her thoughts. His exhilarative fresh scent drifted by on the sweet morning breeze that floated through the open windows, grazing her skin like a caress. She tried not to stare at the man seated so close or his manly hands as they held the papers, his gaze intent on what she’d typed out.
Instead, she knitted her brows as if it would help her read her own words before turning her attention to Paul and Rebecca. “I’m hoping that by the end of the summer, both of you will be more active and finding more joy in your day. We’ll pull in other therapists if they’re needed, but there’s no way for us to make that determination just yet.”
“I’m not seeing a shrink.” Allison’s voice shot out from the other end of the table.
Leah turned to Allison, keeping her voice deliberate and calm. “I’m thinking more along the line of physical or occupational therapy for your folks. That sort of thing.”
Allison’s face colored. “Oh. Right.” She sank back into her chair.
Leah moved on. “One last thing. I need to draw your attention to the back page.”
Everyone flipped their papers over.
“Here it states that I’m a mandated reporter.”
“What’s that?” Paul asked.
Leah carefully made the explanation. “It means that if I see anything that looks like abuse of any kind, including exploitation, I’ll need to report that event to the state. I’m going to ask each of you to read this contract thoroughly and sign it. Take your time.”
The Billionaire's Family Secret (Billionaire Bachelor Mountain Cove Book 15) Page 4
