“Man, this would have been so cool if it happened next month instead of today. Then we could have let Mother Nature take its course. Let’s see the great and powerful Jordan Hamilton dig through snow, ice and frozen ground,” Genie joked.
The thought made Sheri smile. “Fortunately for him the weather’s usually not that bad here. It gets cold and we sometimes have snow, but not a lot and not often. Even when Washington gets hit hard, we barely get a dusting. That’s probably why they chose this site.”
“You know it’s a shame he had to be so mean about this. He could have been a terrific patron to the museum.”
“What?” Sheri said, paying attention again.
“He has money and power.”
“I guess,” Sheri said.
“No, really. He’s professional, intelligent and he looks like he can get things done. Besides that, the brother is fine.”
“What do his looks have to do with anything?”
“Nothing, I just like looking at him,” Genie said, and giggled.
“I’ll chalk that up to youth.”
“Oh, come on. You know he’s gorgeous.”
“He’s all right,” Sheri said nonchalantly.
“I saw his picture in the newspaper a couple of times, so I kinda knew who he was when he stood up and started talking. But I seriously didn’t think he was going to be that gorgeous in person. He’s like a walking wet dream. Dark, sultry bedroom eyes and a strong, muscular build. He’s the perfect male specimen. And I really liked that rugged, half-shaven look on him. What do you think?”
“I wasn’t paying much attention,” Sheri said dismissively.
Genie looked over at her. “Oh, please, who are you trying to fool? Tall, dark, handsome, a great physique and he’s rich. That’s like the Mega Millions of single guys these days. How in the world were you not paying attention? When a man looks like that, everybody pays attention. And you were right up in the man’s face.”
“Yes, and if you remember correctly we weren’t exactly chatting. We were right in the middle of a heated argument.”
“Heated is the operative word. And if the look in his eyes was any indication, you two had some serious heat going on. As a matter of fact, when that backhoe was turned on and you were right up there in his face, I would have sworn you two were about to do something other than argue.”
“What do you mean, do something other than argue?”
“Do I have to spell it out?” Genie asked rhetorically. Sheri’s expression didn’t change. “Fine, it looked like you two were about to jump each other’s bones and get busy right there.”
“What? Oh, no, you did not just say that,” Sheri countered. “Uh-uh, no way.”
“I don’t know. Passion works in strange ways. And you two had some serious heat going on up there.”
“Passion is not that strange, and the heat was certainly not mine,” Sheri assured her.
“Still, I guess if all else fails you’ll at least get close to him.”
“And then what?”
“Duh, Sheri, has it been that long? Use your feminine wiles. Seduce the man. Do a little give-and-take.”
Sheri laughed out loud. “No, I don’t think so,” she said.
“Why not?” Genie asked.
“Because it would be demeaning and degrading, and besides, trust me, I am most definitely not that man’s type.”
“How do you know you’re not his type?” Genie asked as she parked the Jeep in her spot behind the museum. They got out and walked around to the front of the building.
“It’s obvious. He’s got an ego the size of North America.”
“Actually that might bode well for other parts of his anatomy,” Genie joked.
“Would you stop with the sex talk, please? Anyway, as you say, he’s a rich, single and used to getting what he wants. That means his type of woman is everything I’m not—specifically, an airhead. His ideal woman probably caters to him twenty-four hours a day. I’m not the submissive type. I have a brain and know how to use it.”
“He could surprise you.”
“Trust me, he wouldn’t have a clue as to what to do with a woman like me,” she said, walking up the steps to the front entrance.
Genie followed close. “He’s a man, I think he would. The question is would you know what to do with a man like him?”
Sheri turned, opened her mouth then quickly closed it and stumbled, catching herself before she fell. “Okay, why are we even speculating about this? It’s a nonissue. It’s not gonna happen. Trust me. The only thing I want from Jordan Hamilton is sitting in the bottom of a hole on his property.”
They walked through the employee area of the museum as they headed toward the stairs. “So, what are you going to do now?” Genie asked.
“First, I’ll call Jack McDonald at the Smithsonian and let him know what’s going on. There’s nothing we can really do until I speak with him. I have a few more things to take care of here at the office. The running of this museum still goes on. My main concerns are the revised budget report and the funding we need to secure. I have to get next year’s budget together as soon as possible,” she said as they went into her office.
“Yeah, but what about the site? What do we do about it?”
“Nothing right now,” she said.
Genie’s eyes widened in shock. “Nothing? But there are valuable artifacts there.”
“That’s why we have to tread lightly and do everything by the book.”
Genie folded her arms over her chest. It was obvious she wasn’t buying the wait-and-see answer. “I don’t get it. Why even have a museum if people are just going to bulldoze over everything anyway? It’s like we don’t have a say on our own island. How can this even happen?”
Sheri shook her head. “Unfortunately this happens a lot. Development companies purchase land and begin construction only to find a cemetery or a piece of history long forgotten buried on that land. Regrettably, it’s usually covered up and all the artifacts and finds are discarded without the proper authorities ever knowing about it.”
“But we do know and we need to move quickly.”
“It isn’t that easy, Genie.”
“I don’t see why not,” she insisted.
Sheri smiled. She remembered Genie’s exuberance and impatience well. She was about the same age as her assistant when the Mabella Louisa was discovered off the coast of Crescent Island and the small, almost insignificant museum was added to the Smithsonian Institution because of the find. Maybe, just maybe it would stay whatever change she knew was coming.
Sheri sat down, put her elbows on the desk and covered her face. A lot of what Genie said was right. She also felt the same outrage and anger Genie did. But she couldn’t lose sight of what was important. Right now Jordan Hamilton held all the cards. She needed to be calm and get this worked out. She also knew she had to do something now.
Sheri grabbed the cell phone and made her first call, Jack McDonald at the Smithsonian. Although Jack was not a curator or historian, his position as registrar meant he was the supervisor for a number of smaller off-site museums. His voice mail picked up and she left a message. “Jack, hi. It’s Sheri. Please give me a call back as soon as you can. It’s very important. Thank you.”
As soon as she hung up there was a knock at her door. She smiled when she saw her grandmother’s best friend standing in the doorway. “Mamma Lou, hi.”
“Hello, dear, I hope I’m not disturbing you,” Louise said.
“No, not at all. Come in, have a seat,” she said, standing and walking around to the front of her desk. She gave the spry octogenarian a hug and pulled a chair out for her. Sheri looked back to the office door as Louise sat down. “Where’s Colonel Wheeler?”
“He’ll be here in a few minutes. He’s downstairs talking with an old friend. I declare, no matter where we go Otis always runs into someone he knows. It’s absolutely amazing. It never fails. But actually today it’s a good thing, I told him to take his time, so we can have a few minute
s for girl talk.”
After Louise sat down Sheri went back to her desk. “It’s good to see you, Mamma Lou.”
“You, too. Camille and I were chatting this morning and since I told her I’d be in town today she suggested I stop by and peek in on you this afternoon.”
Sheri shook her head. Her grandmother always knew when she needed something. “I’m glad you did. It’s good to see you, Mamma Lou. I think I can use a friendly face right about now.” Her voice trailed off softly. Louise noticed instantly.
“It looks like Camille was right. You look troubled.”
“I am. I just got back from Crescent Point and meeting with Jordan Hamilton,” Sheri began. Louise smiled. “No, Mamma Lou, it’s not what you think, trust me. I know you hoped at one time that he and I were a match, but believe me we’re not. You’re completely off on this one. We couldn’t be further apart. He’s the absolute last man on earth for me.”
“Are you sure about that?” Louise asked as she remembered seeing the sparks of attraction in their eyes as soon as she introduced them at the party she gave months ago. It was unmistakable. She knew instinctively they were the perfect match. Unfortunately sometimes people fought so hard to stay apart that they nearly missed what was right in front of them. She had no intention of letting that happen to Sheri and Jordan.
“I’m completely sure. The man’s impossible. Talking to him is like banging your head against a brick wall. He’s stubborn and arrogant, and as far as I’m concerned he has no values, no ethics. I don’t know how anybody can actually work for him. He must be a tyrant.”
“That doesn’t sound like the Jordan Hamilton I know.”
“Trust me, it is.”
“Has something happened that I don’t know about?”
Sheri spent the next ten minutes telling Louise exactly what happened at the construction site earlier. Louise asked a few questions and Sheri answered, trying her best to sound as unbiased as possible.
“My goodness,” Louise said. “The possibility of discovering the Crescent would be absolutely extraordinary. A find of this enormity couldn’t go unrecognized. It’s our collective responsibility to do something, at least to make sure one way or the other.”
“I agree. But right now I’m at a loss. Jordan Hamilton is impossible.”
“That’s so unlike him. He and his brothers are wonderful, very caring and charitable men.”
“Not in this case, not him. I have a phone call in to Jack in D.C. and I’m going to speak with Nolan later today and see what he can do to help. I’m also going to speak with Uncle Hal. My last resort is to get an injunction or something like that.”
“An injunction is pretty severe, don’t you think?”
“No, not at all. Jordan Hamilton was very emphatic about his position. He’s not going to allow us back on his property.”
“I see. Well, speaking with your uncle is certainly an idea. I’m sure he’ll be able to mediate a resolution. But before you turn to such drastic measures, perhaps you’d allow me to possibly mediate a solution. Have you spoken to Jordan since this happened?”
“No, not really,” she said.
“Sometimes a nice quiet conversation is all that’s needed in situations like this. I’ll call and speak with him.”
“I doubt you’ll get very far, Mamma Lou. Jordan Hamilton is the most, annoying, stubborn, insolent man I’ve ever met. He’s a total jerk.”
“Is that so?” Louise said with added interest, trying her best not to appear as pleased as she was. To some without an ear for what was really going on, the conversation sounded hopeless. But she knew better. Her plan was working out even better than she’d hoped.
“Well, aside from all that, I’ll call and see what I can do. I’d like to also suggest that you contact him,” she added. Sheri began shaking her head. “Just one phone call, Sheri. It’s asking so little to gain so much.”
Sheri finally nodded in agreement. “Okay, I’ll do it. Thank you, Mamma Lou. Still, I wouldn’t get your hopes up. But of course I appreciate whatever you can do.”
“Well, I’d better get out of here and get busy. We both have a lot of work to do. And if we could have some kind of solution by the sesquicentennial celebration, that would be wonderful.” She stood. Sheri walked her to the door. “Please keep me posted on your progress.”
“I will. Thanks again, Mamma Lou. I’ll talk to you soon.”
Louise turned in the doorway. “Remember, we aren’t always who we seem to others. Look below the surface and see the man I know is there. Call him. Talk to him. You’ll work this out.”
Sheri nodded but knew there was no way she and Jordan Hamilton would ever be able to come to an understanding.
Jordan finally caught up with his brother Julian. He needed to vent and Julian was the perfect person to listen. He picked up on the first ring. “Hey, what’s up?” Julian said.
“It’s been one of those days. How are Dena and Dillon?”
“Fine, Dillon’s getting bigger and bigger every minute. I swear he’s amazing. He begs to go to work with me every day and his eyes light up as soon as we pull into the lot. You know he wants his own desk at the office.”
Jordan laughed. It was the best thing he’d heard all day. “Yeah, now that’s what I’m talking ’bout. Sounds like we already have the next generation of Hamilton Development ready to go.”
“Yeah, well, I’m doing my part.”
“All right, don’t get all Mamma Lou on me.”
It was Julian’s turn to laugh. “Well, it took her long enough.”
“What do you mean?” Jordan asked.
“You know she’s had her sights on you and Darius ever since she found out I had two single brothers.”
“Nah, I’ve been blocking her for the past five months.”
“She’s good, man. Trust me. If it wasn’t for Mamma Lou I would have never met Dena. She changed my life and I realized that everything I thought I wanted wasn’t what I needed. I’ve never been happier.”
“And I’m happy for you, man, but that’s not me. I’m not the family kind of guy, you know that.”
“Yeah, but I remember saying the exact same thing. So, how’s everything going there?” Julian asked.
“The deadline is going to be tight, but we’ll meet it.”
“Excellent.”
“Now if I can just get rid of the distractions,” he added.
“What kind of distractions?” Julian asked. “Now you know that’s never going to happen.”
“I can dream. It seems every other day I get a phone call from a member of the board of supervisors. Today I spent all morning and most of the afternoon listening to a couple of whiny politicians trying to alter my plans and then asking for handouts. Seriously, to hear them talk, you’d think it was their project.”
Julian laughed. “Come on, it couldn’t have been that bad.”
“Trust me, it was worse. You know the drill, supervisors, board of directors, city hall politicians. They all want something for nothing. Today it was concessions and payoffs in exchange for smoothing the way with utilities, regulators and inspectors.”
“Yep, that sounds about right,” Julian said, chuckling. “So, what did these guys want?”
“You name it, they wanted it. Personal suites in the resort, lifetime spa memberships, preferential treatment on-site, the works. Oh, wait, and my personal favorite, I’ve been asked if a few of my workers could stop by one of their homes and renovate their kitchen.”
Julian laughed again. “Free of charge, I assume.”
“Oh, you know that,” Jordan said, joining his brother’s laughter.
“You know it’s pretty much expected. We get these requests all the time. There are always one or two politicians in every city we’ve done business who want to make a side deal or get some kind of kickback. It’s the nature of the business. I hope you were polite when you turned them down.”
“Actually, no, I wasn’t in the mood to play nice.”
> “Okay, what exactly did you do?” he asked.
“I told them what I thought. Perhaps I was a bit abrupt.”
“What does ‘a bit abrupt’ mean?”
“I excused myself and walked out to take care of an urgent situation on-site. It’s an old dodge, but it always works.”
“You know you have to do something about that. We need these people to get the job finished. You’ve played the game long enough to know that.”
“Yeah, yeah, I know. I’ll take care of it later,” he said drily. “That reminds me, a woman came by the site this afternoon…” Jordan began.
Julian started chuckling immediately. He knew his brother too well. When it came to women he was the ultimate player.
“Believe me, it’s not one of those stories. To tell you the truth, I’m really not sure what to make of her. My gut feeling tells me she’s trouble.”
“What do you mean?”
“Her name is Sheri Summers. She’s from the local museum and she seems to think there might be some historical artifacts in a hole on the secondary site.”
“How does she know that?”
“That’s what I was wondering. Apparently someone on-site told her.”
“So you dug them up?” Julian asked.
“No, we cleared debris and overgrown foliage last week then it rained a few days and eroded one of the holes at the secondary site. I had it drained and it looks like planks of wood began showing up, along with an old medicine bottle.”
“It doesn’t sound like much.”
“I agree. It could be anything. But just in case, I’m gonna put a call into Kenneth and stop by an antique shop in town. The last thing we need is more legal delays.”
“Good idea.”
“So, how’s it going in D.C.? Any word yet?”
“No word yet. But it’s looking really good. We made it through to the final two cut. I think we have a really good shot at getting this bid. It’s a major contract and along with the Crescent Island project, it could very well set us up nicely for the future. The bid and proposal were right on target and the architectural renderings you did were exactly what they were looking for. I think we just might have this one.”
Love's Paradise Page 6
