Summer Vows (Arabesque)

by Alers, Rochelle

  “What’s the matter?” he asked.

  She blew out her breath. “Nothing?”

  He closed the distance between them, folding his body down on the bed beside her. “Why do you look as if you’ve just seen a ghost?”

  Ana’s eyelids fluttered wildly. “I heard a car and I decided to hide out—”

  Jacob splayed his hand on her back. “No one’s coming here unless they’re invited.”

  Tilting her chin, she gave him a wide-eyed stare. “What about your neighbors?”

  “They never visit because they believe I’m a grouch.”

  She smiled for the first time, bringing his gaze to linger on her mouth. “Are you?”

  Jacob returned her smile with one of his own. “Yes. I go out of my way to perpetuate that because I don’t want them in my business.” He rested his chin on the top of her head. “I didn’t want to leave you alone but I also didn’t want my friend to know you were here. Even though I trust him I couldn’t take the risk he’d inadvertently mention he’d met you. Now with the shooting you’ve become even more of a celebrity.”

  “I’m not a celebrity.”

  “You’re a public figure, Princess.”

  “Unfortunately that has become a curse.”

  He massaged her back in a comforting gesture. “Don’t let this get you down. The maggot that shot Tyler will be apprehended.”

  Ana relished the comforting warmth and strength in Jacob’s body when he wrapped his arms around her body. “I hope you’re right.”

  “Look at me, baby,” he crooned. Waiting until she raised her chin, Jacob pressed a kiss to Ana’s forehead. Angling his head, he brushed his mouth over hers. “I’m not trying to minimize what you’re going through, but I believe the police are going to catch this creep because he’s going to make a mistake. Either he’ll try it again or the police will discover something they’ve overlooked.” Easing back, Jacob felt as if he were drowning in pools of gold. However, he hadn’t missed the puffiness around Ana’s eyes or the faint dark circles that hadn’t been there before.

  “Do you trust me to keep you safe?”

  A sweep of lashes brushed the tops of Ana’s cheekbones when she lowered her gaze. “I think so.”

  “You can’t think, Ana. You have to believe it.”

  She looked up at him and the sweep hand on his watch made a full revolution before she said, “I believe you.”

  “Good. Now, I want you to come downstairs with me to see what I bought you.”

  Ana followed Jacob, secretly wanting to trust and believe him. If she’d had a choice she would’ve remained cloistered in her parents’ home. Her father could’ve hired a small army to protect the property, monitoring everyone coming and going. At least she would be with her loved ones. She even would’ve been able to conduct business from what had been her father’s home/office.

  The men in her family had gotten together to dictate her future for however long it would take to catch the shooter. Had they not realized that at thirty-three years of age she was more than capable of deciding her fate, and if she’d known what they were up to she would’ve fled Florida for Virginia. Living on a horse farm with Nicholas was preferable to living with a stranger—a stranger whose presence was a constant reminder of what she’d denied—that she was a normal woman with normal urges. She was no different than Jacob who’d admitted to her that he was a normal man with normal urges.

  Jacob handed her a decorative shopping bag, watching her reaction when she recognized the contents. “Wigs! And sunblock.”

  “I bought three of them because I didn’t know which one you’d want to wear.”

  Ana held up an auburn wig with gold highlights. “I’ve always wanted to be a redhead.” She walked toward the half bath off the kitchen. “Come with me and let me know which one you like best.” She put on the stocking cap, then the wig, staring at her reflection in the mirror over the vanity. Her eyes met Jacob’s in the mirror. “What do you think?”

  Moving closer, he rested his hands on her shoulders. The wig overpowered her small face. “The bangs are too long.”

  She took off the wig, handing it to him, then shook out another. This one was platinum blond. “I’ve never wanted to be a blonde.”

  Jacob winked at her. “What’s the expression that blondes have more fun?”

  “I wouldn’t know. I’ve never been one.” Ana slipped it on and stared at her reflection, somewhat stunned how much it’d changed her appearance. “I look like Tinker Bell.” The pixie style was similar to her haircut.

  “You look cute.”

  Turning, Ana met Jacob’s eyes. “You really like it?”

  He nodded. “It brings out the gold in your complexion.”

  “Let me try on the last one, then we’ll make a decision.” The final wig was sandy-brown, curly and framed her face as if it were her natural hair. “This is more like it. It doesn’t even weigh as much as the other two.”

  Jacob turned Ana around to face him. She was right. The wig was the perfect fit for her tiny face. The corkscrew curls moved whenever she turned her head, as if they’d taken on a life of their own. Anchoring his hands under her shoulders he picked her up, swinging her around in the confined space.

  “Please put me down, Jacob.”

  He lifted her higher. “Not yet.” Eyes narrowing, he examined her face more closely than before. “Have you been crying?”

  Ana tightened her hold around his neck. “No. Why?”

  “Your eyes look puffy.”

  She wanted to ask Jacob if there was anything he didn’t notice. “I didn’t sleep well last night.”

  He set her on her feet, eyebrows lifting questioningly. “Is there something wrong with the bed?”

  “No, the bed is fine.” Ana decided it was better to tell him the truth because she’d discovered he had a mind like a steel trap. One lie would have to be covered by another and then another. “I did a lot of dreaming.”

  “Were they dreams or nightmares, Princess?”

  Reaching up, she pulled off the wig and cap in one motion. “Both.”

  Jacob took her free hand and led her out of the bath and into the kitchen. “I’m not going to profess that I know what you’re going through. And I don’t want to minimize your situation, but I don’t want you to beat up on yourself about something over which you have no control. You’re safe and Tyler is getting better. I spoke to Diego and he said there’s no word on the shooter, but he’s optimistic they’ll come up with something.”

  Ana’s eyelids fluttered wildly. “What about Jason?”

  “What about him?”

  “Why wouldn’t someone go after him? After all, he’s also Serenity Records.”

  Cradling her face between his hands, Jacob pressed a light kiss on her soft, parted lips. “Jason has decided to close down the office for a month. He gave everyone four weeks’ paid vacation.”

  Ana went completely still. “That’s crazy! How can he shut down the company?”

  “Easy, Princess,” Jacob crooned. “All decision-making personnel are using video conferencing to connect with one another. Jason is using the studio at your parents’ home to work with performers, so there’s no lag time in getting their albums completed.”

  “But...why close the offices?” she stammered.

  Pulling her closer, Jacob buried his face between her neck and shoulder. “Jason has contacted a real estate agent to look for a free-standing building closer to a residential neighborhood.”

  “Will it be in Boca?”

  “I don’t know. He also plans to wire it with a highly sophisticated security system. It’s easier to monitor a single structure than a high-rise office building. All employees will have to swipe in and out, and all visitors—and that includes deliveries from shipping companies—wi
ll be on surveillance tape.”

  Ana exhaled an audible sigh. “It seems as if I’ve underestimated my brother.”

  “What makes you think he wouldn’t be able to step up to the plate, Ana?”

  Her smile faltered, she pulled back, staring up at Jacob. “Jason has always been about music. This is not to say he’s totally ignorant when it comes to business, but he always seems so bored whenever we talk business. But he was quick to remind me that he does have an MBA.”

  Jacob wanted to tell Ana that her twin was a Cole, and that meant he’d grown up listening to his father, uncles and cousins discussing deals. If there was a gene for business acumen, if not all, then most of the Coles had inherited it.

  “Jason will do all right without you there to hold his hand.”

  A flush darkened Ana’s face. “It’s not like that, Jacob.”

  “Isn’t it? Who has the final decision when it comes to Serenity?”

  A beat passed. “I do, but that’s not to say I don’t involve Jason.”

  “You involve him because you’re partners. Have you ever thought that maybe he doesn’t want to be involved? That he’s content being the creative and artistic end of the business?”

  Ana chewed her lower lip as she shook her head. She recalled the times when she had to ask Jason something twice during an executive staff meeting. It was as if he’d been daydreaming. The first time she noticed it and called him out on it his excuse was that he’d been out late the night before and was practically falling asleep. The next time she knew he couldn’t use the same excuse because they’d had dinner with their parents and she’d slept over.

  Her eyes narrowed as she gave Jacob a penetrating stare. “What are you saying?”

  “What do you want me to tell you?” He’d answered her question with a question.

  “Are you saying I shouldn’t involve Jason in the business component?”

  “That has to be your decision, sweetheart.”

  Ana ignored the endearment. “Maybe you’re right. My aunt Josephine’s grandson interned with us one summer, and he would be the perfect replacement for Jason.” Her expression brightened. “As soon as this madness is over I’ll talk to Jason about inviting Graham to join us.”

  “Where is he now?”

  “He’s working for ColeDiz.”

  Jacob grimaced. “Won’t that cause a rift with Diego?”

  “Not really. Diego knows Graham’s not happy working for ColeDiz. He constantly tells Diego he’s a composite of his twin cousins—equally comfortable with music and business.”

  “You’re lucky, Ana, because you don’t have to go too far to look for a competent executive.”

  She angled her head, appearing to be deep in thought. “I suppose you’re right. All I have to do is raid ColeDiz and endure Diego’s wrath for taking his people. His style is very different from his father’s. He hires only the best and pays them well to ensure their loyalty. I’ve heard he’s not easy to work with or for, but there’s one thing I can give him credit for.”

  “What’s that?”

  “He’s a risk-taker. He’s diversified ColeDiz, and he’s now a cotton broker. Diego paid cash on delivery to a Ugandan cotton grower, making it the biggest family-owned agribusiness in the States. Joseph is now involved in setting up a tea plantation in the South Carolina Lowcountry.”

  “Where do you stand in all these business machinations?” Jacob asked Ana.

  Her smooth brow furrowed. “I don’t follow you.”

  “Have you thought about what’s going to happen if you decide to marry and start a family? Will you still be involved with Serenity, or will you take time off to raise your child or children?”

  “Why shouldn’t I be able to balance marriage and motherhood?”

  Jacob shook his head. “That’s not what I asked you. Do you intend to push out a baby, hand it over to a nanny, then put on your power suit and go into the office?”

  Ana’s jaw dropped as she struggled to form her words, while not losing her temper. Closing her eyes, she counted slowly to five. “I wasn’t raised by a nanny and I’d never let someone else raise my children. My mother was a stay-at-home mom. She didn’t go back to work until all of us were in school, and that was part-time. When I woke up I saw my mother and when I went to bed her face was the last one I saw. So, please don’t imply that I’d neglect my babies.”

  “Good for you. Unfortunately, that’s not the case with mothers who have to work.”

  Her expression changed, a smile ruffling the corners of her mouth. Ana didn’t know what it was but whenever Jacob challenged her it got her to thinking. “You just gave me an idea.” His smile matched hers, her gaze fixed on his sexy mouth.

  “What’s that?”

  “If the building Jason’s buying is large enough, then we can set up an on-site child care center. It would save employees the cost of sending their children to daycare or sitters.”

  “There you go,” Jacob said, smiling.

  Going to tiptoe, Ana brushed her mouth over his. “Hanging out with you is good for me.”

  Cradling her waist, he pulled her close. “Why?”

  “You challenge me to think outside the box.”

  Staring down at her through lowered lids, Jacob’s eyes caressed her face. “Is that good, Princess?”

  Her lush lips parted in a smile. “Very good.”

  “What you don’t realize is that you already think outside the box. It’s just that you need someone to bounce your ideas off of, and right now I happen to be that person.”

  Ana sobered, wondering why Jacob was being so self-deprecating. “You’re wrong, Jacob. You are good for me.”

  Jacob didn’t have a comeback. He may have been good for Ana, but he was struggling with the notion of her being good for him. She’d lived under his roof for twenty-four hours and during that time there was never a moment when she wasn’t in his thoughts. Even if he closed his eyes he could recall everything about her. He knew the exact timbre of her voice when annoyed. Then there was her smile: warm, inviting and incredibly sexy with a matched set of dimples.

  Diego had mentioned about her being difficult. Jacob knew she was used to giving orders, not taking them, and it had taken Herculean self-control for her not to get in his face whenever he told her what to do. And he was more than aware that Ana had tempered her attitude because she was still traumatized. He respected her strength when he’d recalled some men who’d cracked completely, becoming babbling idiots when they saw someone shot down in front of them. Jacob wasn’t certain whether she was still in shock or in denial. Whatever it was she’d handled the situation better than he would’ve thought she would.

  She claimed to have had a nightmare and that meant she had internalized everything. What he had to do was make life as normal and stress-free as possible. Jacob had called his aunt and uncle to let them know he was coming down and bringing a friend. His aunt told him she’d already rented the guesthouse, and that he would have to stay in a room in the main house. She’d also mentioned that if he was coming with a woman, then they would have to share the bedroom. It was the second high season in the Keys, so with the influx of Europeans, bargain-seekers and lobster divers rooms were scarce.

  “You may change your mind when I tell you that we’re going to have to share a bed tomorrow. My aunt’s place is booked up with the exception of one bedroom suite.”

  “Did you tell her you were bringing someone?”

  “I told I was bringing a woman with me.”

  “And what did she say?”

  “She said she’s giving us the suite because then we won’t have to share a bathroom with the other guests.”

  Ana wondered how many times he’d brought a woman with him while visiting his Key West relatives. “I guess it’s okay,” she said glibly. “I d
oubt if we’re going to spend that much time in bed, so let’s not sweat it.”

  Either she was a consummate actress or Ana was truly indifferent whether they would sleep together or not. Jacob wanted to believe it was the latter, because he definitely wasn’t indifferent. There was something about her face and luscious petite body that had him harboring impure thoughts—thoughts that translated into making love to her.

  He glanced at the clock on the microwave. “It’s time I start dinner.”

  Ana affected a sexy moue. “I made a side dish of apple and fennel slaw.”

  Grinning, he ruffled her hair. “Well, look at you. As soon as you learn to do laundry, then you’ll be ready to become the perfect housewife.”

  She stuck her tongue out at him, while scrunching up her pert nose. “I still don’t do housework.”

  “You don’t have to, sweetheart. That’s what cleaning services are for.”

  “Are you saying if I learn to do laundry, then you’ll consider me marriage material?”

  “No, I’m not. Even if you couldn’t boil water, wash dishes or pick up a sock you’d still make some man a wonderful wife.”

  Resting her hands at her waist, Ana angled her head and stared up at him. “Thank you, Jacob. That’s quite a compliment coming from a confirmed bachelor.”

  “I’ve never professed to be a confirmed bachelor. I haven’t married because I haven’t met the woman I’d want to spend the rest of my life with.”

  “I have four single girlfriends I could introduce you to.”

  Jacob wanted to shake Ana for being so obtuse. “No, thank you.” He wanted to tell her he didn’t have a problem meeting women. It was just that most of the women he’d been involved with bored the hell out of him and he could only take them in very small doses.

  Ana lifted her shoulders. “Well, if you change your mind then let me know and I’ll hook you up.”

  “Which part of ‘no, thank you’ don’t you understand, Ana? I don’t want or need your help in finding a woman.”

  She glared at him. “Your neighbors are right. You are a grouch.”