by Helen Conrad
She’d never known wanting a man was like this—a delicious agony. She felt full, hard, yet vulnerable as she’d never been before. Things were moving inside her, shifting, searching. The woman she’d kept under lock and key for so long was waking up.
She rose and turned, ready to throw herself down on the bed, but she stopped short. The bed was already full—covered with boxes. Big boxes, small boxes, flat boxes, fat boxes. Some from dress shops. Some from department stores. Some from hotel shops.
Janet stared for a long minute, then gingerly opened the first box. Inside lay a soft blue cashmere sweater with a cowl neck. She opened another and found a silver silk blouse and a taffeta skirt. A hooded pullover and running pants. A black silk jumpsuit. A white mohair coat with big brass buttons. A turquoise cotton knit. A silk satin teddy in oyster and rose.
She’d never seen so many lovely things in one place at one time before. Running to the door, she threw it open just in time to catch Gloria walking by with a load of towels.
“Where did all this come from?” she cried, gesturing back toward the treasure trove on the bed. “Whose are they?”
“Yours.” Gloria smiled. “Mrs. Cadbury ordered them sent over by a shopping service she uses. Try them all on, decide what you want to keep. We’ll send back the rest.”
Janet was speechless. She wasn’t used to getting presents. “They’re all wonderful,” she managed to say awkwardly at last as Gloria walked off. “Wonderful.”
Turning back into the room, she began trying things on, one after another, and once she let herself enjoy it, she floated on a cloud.
All her life she’d lived with logical, science-minded people who had no interest in anything as frivolous as clothes. She’d spent most of her time in jeans and sweaters. And now—this! She loved it.
She finally settled on a lace cotton sundress. Brushing her hair until it curled softly about her shoulders, she left the bedroom behind and ran downstairs to find Mavis and thank her. She’d heard the elevator whirr almost a half hour before, so she was pretty sure Mavis had come down from her quiet time in her bedroom.
No one seemed to be about. She went to the kitchen and found Gloria cutting up salad greens.
“Mr. Jessup is in the library,” Gloria told her. “Mrs. Cadbury is in the sitting room off the atrium.”
“Thank you.” She wanted to avoid Matt at all costs, but she knew she would have to pass the library in order to get to the sitting room. Walking very quietly, she tried to sneak past.
The door was ajar. Matt was there all right, talking on the telephone. A snatch of conversation she overheard made her pause, and, before she knew what she was doing, she was eavesdropping, standing outside the door to the library, leaning against the wall and listening intently.
“Yeah . . . okay . . .” Matt’s voice was businesslike. “Her real name is Ginger Pinion. At least that’s the name she gave me.”
There was a pause.
“How the hell do I know what the address of the Polar City jail is? I don’t think you’ll have too much trouble finding it once you get there. Ask anybody on the street, for Pete’s sake.”
Another pause.
“No, I don’t think there are any flights from LA. There’s no airport there that I know of. You’ll have to make the drive.”
And a third pause, and then his voice became more harsh with annoyance.
“I know it’s a hell of a drive through the Mojave Desert, Fred, but I pay you good money to take care of things for me, and I think you can handle it under the circumstances. Okay? Get out there right now and take care of this. I want her out of jail and back in Hollywood by morning. You got it? Good.”
The receiver was slammed down with a bang and Janet retreated quickly down the hall and around the corner.
But before she slipped into the sitting room to see Mavis she heard Matt call out, “Gloria? I’m going out for awhile. Maybe I’ll even go sailing. Be back in a couple of hours.” And then his footsteps receded in the opposite direction.
Janet stood very still, digesting what she’d heard. He was taking care of Vanessa number two. That was good. At least he wasn’t quite the heartless wretch she’d supposed. Or was he merely making sure she didn’t show up in a rage and ruin everything for him? She frowned at that cynical thought and shook it away.
And he was going sailing. Where? Who did he know with a boat? Why didn’t he ask her along? Then she had to laugh at herself. After all, that was what she wanted, wasn’t it? To be left alone by Matt Jessup?
Matt pulled his shiny red sports car up in front of his parents’ house in La Bahia. There was a For Sale sign in the yard and the house had an empty look. He sat and stared for a long moment, unable to process the fact that this place was no longer going to be a part of his life. What the hell? They couldn’t just sell it, like it was nothing!
But they could and he knew it. He also knew that the chances of finding his parents here had been slim in the first place. They spent most of their time in Florida now. Trying to avoid bad memories he supposed. There was plenty of that going around.
But his brother Reid should be here. There was no way Reid would let this place go. He was the one who valued the good life, the country club scene, the prestige and comfort an address like this signaled. Where was Reid?
He fingered his cell phone. There were a lot of people he could call, but very few he actually wanted to talk to. It was impossible to explain why he was back in town.
Still, there was Mickey’s On the Bay. Hopefully, Mickey was still around. She always knew what was going on. She’d fill him in and would be a pleasure to talk to as well. Starting his engine, he turned the car and headed for Mickey’s.
Same old place, same old delicious smell of deep fried seafood. Mickey’s On the Bay had been there for years and now the tourist area had spread to surround it and given it new life. It’s wide windows opened onto the marina. You could sit and sip a cup of morning coffee while watching the fishing boats go out, the sea otters gather, the seals begin to pull themselves up on the buoy platforms. Meanwhile, platoons of pelicans cruised by, looking cool and ancient at the same time.
“Hey, looking good,” he said, waving at the freshly upgraded décor as Mickey turned to see who was coming into her place.
She gasped. “Matt Carrington? Is that really you?” Ignoring the other customers, she launched herself into his arms and cried out in delight.
He laughed and swung her around. “Light as a feather,” he commented as he set her down. “And pretty as ever.”
“You charmer.” She pushed back her thick red hair and grinned at him, her green eyes sparkling. “Reid was just in here an hour ago. He didn’t tell me you were in town.”
Matt shook his head. “He doesn’t know.”
“What?”
“Listen Mickey, I just went by the old homestead and…” To his horror, emotions almost choked him and he had to cough to get past it. “There’s a for sale sign out front. What the hell’s going on? Do you know?”
She gave him a significant look and led him to a booth in the corner where they could have the hope of some privacy. Matt glanced at the other patrons, quickly noting that he didn’t recognize any of them. But why should he? He’d only been gone for over ten years, except for a visit or two just over three years ago. Time enough for a whole generation to die off, no doubt. And for most other people he’d known to move away.
“You haven’t talked to either one of your brothers lately, have you?” she asked, almost as if it were something he ought to be embarrassed about.
“No. Actually it’s been years.”
She nodded sadly. “You guys. You’re all so stubborn. You know that Grant is a big race car driving star these days, don’t you?”
“Oh yeah. You can’t avoid it. It’s all over the news, all the time.” He knew his voice sounded sarcastic. He only hoped he didn’t sound jealous. Because he wasn’t jealous. It had always been obvious Grant loved speed. And he was
damn good at it. Actually, he was proud of the kid. His baby brother had made good.
“But what about Reid?”
“He moved. He’s got a little place down by the jetty.”
Matt sat back and stared at her. “You’re kidding. What happened? Did he lose all his money in the market or something?”
“No.” She gave him a cat-with-the-cream look. “What happened was a good thing, not bad at all.”
“Okay. Lay it on me. I can take it.”
She looked like she was about to launch another hug his way, but she restrained herself. Her excitement, however, shone in her eyes. “He’s getting married.”
“Okay.” Matt frowned. “So he’s probably renting out the Taj Majal or something, right?”
“Wrong again.” She grinned and leaned across the table to get closer. “The wedding is on the beach. At sunset.”
Matt gaped at her. This didn’t sound like his brother at all. The guy who had taken to wearing three piece suits, even working in a beach town? “No way.”
She nodded. “You’ll never guess who he’s marrying.”
He frowned. “It can’t be Astrid. She would never put up with a beach wedding. I can just see her face with sand between her toes. Eeeow!”
“You’re right. It’s not Astrid. It’s Jenny. Jennifer Thornton.”
Matt stared at her, thunderstruck. “Sweet little Jenny?” He slammed the table with the flat of his hand. “No. I call a foul on that one. He can’t have her until we all get a vote.”
She laughed. “You snooze, you lose!”
He shook his head, half laughing, half sentimental. “All three of us were in love with Jenny Thornton at one time or another. What gives Reid the right to snatch her up?”
Mickey laughed, then she sobered. “Honestly Matt, she’s changed Reid. You know how she was always a free spirit? He wanted her and he decided he had to loosen up to get her. He gave up his law practice…”
“No!”
“Yes. He’s doing community work and helping people with more basic problems, real-life legal issues.” She shrugged, looking pleased as punch. “He helped me with a problem I had. For free. I just love him to death.”
Matt’s attention was suddenly diverted. A booth away a small face was staring around the seat edge at him. The cute little face was winsome, but the hair was a mass of wild blond curls and the blue eyes were huge. When he caught sight of her, she quickly pulled back into the booth and he couldn’t see her anymore. But something about her and the look on her face made him smile.
“Who’s the little girl?” he asked, nodding toward where he’d seen her.
Mickey swung around. “Meggie,” she called. “Is that you?”
The little face came out again, looked at Mickey, then Matt. The eyes were shining with a special light. Then she ducked away again.
“That’s my baby,” Mickey said. “You know what? She’s acting like that because she thinks you look just like your cousin Tag and it’s probably confusing her. She adores Tag.”
“Tag? Is he around?”
She shook her head. “Not right now. He’s off to Hawaii. Typical Tag. Have boat, will travel. You can’t keep him in one place for long.”
He noted the wistful look in her eyes. How interesting. Mickey was mooning over his cousin Tag Carrington. Who’d a thunk it?
“Didn’t you marry Kevin what’s-his-name?”
She nodded. “Adams. Yeah. I did.”
He didn’t like the look on her face. “How’d that go?”
She laughed at his careful way of getting into this. “About as well as you warned me it would.”
“Did I warn you? Anybody could have warned you.”
She shook her head. “Sure. But you know what they say about fools and rushing in and all.”
He grabbed her hand. “You’re no fool, Mickey.”
“Really? You don’t know the half of it.” She sighed. “We’re divorced, of course. And actually, your brother fixed it so that I don’t have to let him have Meggie on weekends. He was trying to use visitation rights as leverage. He wanted half ownership of this café. Reid convinced him to give that up. There are some things about Kevin that he didn’t want the police to know. Reid reminded him of that. And got him a job in Las Vegas, so that he’s nice and far away.”
“Reid did all that?” She was right. His brother had changed.
“So I hear you’re a big hotel mogul these days.”
He shrugged. “I’ve got three hotels in Hawaii. The mogul part is all lies and fabrications.”
“You ought to look around here. We’ve got a few hotels for sale right now.”
“Really?” It was a new thought to him, but not unpleasant.
“Sure. And there are people I know with plenty of money for investing, who are just waiting on the sidelines for the economy to turn around. I could introduce you to a couple of them.” She shrugged. “My friend Robert Harding, for instance. Want to talk to him? I’ll set you up with a meeting.”
He had to laugh. Destiny Bay was still the same, only different. He had to admit he missed the old place. After all, he’d grown up here. He’d lived like these people were living. Something deep inside had wanted to reconnect, and when he’d seen his family home up for sale, a hole had opened in his heart.
“Matt, where are you staying? What are you doing here? How long are you going to be here?”
“Too many questions.” He gave her a grin. “I’m on a secret mission.”
“Undercover work?” Her face grew conspiratorial. “That’s right. You used to do that.”
“You got it.”
She shook her head and laughed as he looked at his watch and said, “I’ve got to get going.”
“You haven’t had anything yet.”
“Next time.”
She sighed. “You want me to let Reid know you were looking for him?”
“Sure. Why not. Just tell him I’ll try to get in touch.”
“No phone number?”
He shook his head and leaned down to kiss her cheek. “It’s been good seeing you, Mickey.” He started to go, then turned back. “Say, do you know anyone with a nice little sail boat at the marina? Someone who might want to loan it out to a half way decent sailor for an hour or so? I’ve got a yen to replay some old times on my own.”
“Sure. Try Bogart Payne, slip 959. He can’t really take his sweet little boat out himself anymore. He’s always looking for someone to put her through her paces.”
He gave her a crisp salute and headed for the marina. The sale of his parental home still bothered him, but he was feeling better about being here in Destiny Bay.
“Where the sun is always shining,” he muttered to himself. “And the sea is always blue.”
Lies. But what did that matter? It was still a great place to be.
Mavis had her wheelchair pulled up to the huge picture window and was busy looking through binoculars when Janet came into the room late in the afternoon, watching the birds come in to forage at the bird feeders she’d set up all along the edge of the woods.
“Come take a look at this,” she urged excitedly as Janet came toward her. “A black-billed magpie.”
Janet took the glasses and looked, adjusting the settings to get a clearer picture. There were birds everywhere and she wouldn’t know a black-billed magpie if it came up and spoke to her personally, but she made appropriate noises of appreciation.
“Oh, dear,” said Mavis, looking down at her hands. “Those binoculars are awfully dirty. Where in the world have they been?”
Remembering where she’d last noticed them, Janet flushed, but she hid it by making a production of finding a place to sit down.
“I came to thank you,” she said earnestly. “The clothes are wonderful. It was so thoughtful of you to have them sent over. I’m sure Matt will give you the money to cover them.”
Mavis laughed aloud. “I’m so glad you like them. When I heard your luggage had been lost I took it as an opportun
ity to do something for you. And don’t worry about the money. Don’t you know I have all that I need?”
Janet demurred, but Mavis raced on, talking happily, as though she didn’t often have a chance to chat and was going to take advantage of this one.
“But you know the old adage that money isn’t everything. How true! Money does make life easier, of course. But it doesn’t buy happiness. I guess I’m proof of that.”
Janet smiled politely. “You should be very happy, though. You have just about everything that you could want.”
Mavis shook her silvery head. “My dear, I am very rich, and I’m quite thankful for that. Not that it was easy. I had to work hard for my money.”
“Oh, I understood . . .” Janet’s voice trailed off as she realized she’d spoken out of turn.
“Understood what?”
Janet flushed. “Well, that your husbands had left you well provided for.”
“Well, of course.” Mavis laughed. “That’s it. How could I forget?”
Janet blinked, but before she had time to think over this strange reaction, Mavis went on. “Well, whatever, I am rich and that certainly makes many things easier. But you cannot imagine how dull my life has been lately. Now that I’ve moved up here to Destiny Bay, my son comes to visit me once a year, at Christmas, and for the rest, I sit here and vegetate.”
“I . . . Matt didn’t tell me you have a son.”
“Oh, yes. He’s married and lives in Santa Barbara.”
“That’s not all that far away.”
“No, it isn’t, is it?” Mavis smiled. “But to hear Gregory tell it, you’d think we were separated by the Continental Divide. One duty call a year is all he can muster.” She shook her head as though to rid herself of sad thoughts. “Other than that it’s just me, my cat, and my hummingbirds.”
When she put it like that, Janet began to understand. “I see.”
“No, you don’t see.” She laughed to lighten her words. “It’s deadly around here. But things have really spiced up since Matt arrived. And now to have you here too—the icing on the cake!”
