After Scarlett went to Tampa and saw Rigby in the arms of another woman, she came slinking back to town lower than low. Because of their friendship in high school and how he’d looked after her grandma during her illness, Scarlett turned to him. Vernon led her along carefully, making sure not to put too much pressure on her. And he’d almost won her over … until Rigby stepped back in the picture. In less than a week, Rigby managed to win Scarlett back … or at least turn her away from him. How could she not see Rigby for the shallow, conceited man he was? He’d use her up, then dump her again when some glitzy girl came along.
When the last of the dishes were loaded, Vernon grabbed a dishcloth and methodically wiped down the table as his mind ran through his options. He’d come too far to give up now. He loved Scarlett, and knew she’d eventually learn to love him. It had been a piece of cake to get Douglas Foster in his corner. The old man detested Rocket Breeland almost as much as Vernon. It had been easy enough to drop slanderous hints about Rocket which fanned that hatred, and he followed it up by showing Douglas photos of Rocket with Sadonna Roberts.
Scarlett was stubborn, and if he pushed too hard she’d go the other direction. He let out a long breath. The need to patch things up with Scarlett was so strong he could almost taste it, but he had to be patient and bide his time. He was tempted to drive by her house, see if he could catch sight of her in the window; but if anyone saw him, he’d be labeled as a stalker. It was one thing to watch Scarlett when he was a teenager, but as an adult it was unacceptable.
At this point his options were somewhat limited. He’d have to let this thing with Rocket and Scarlett play out. Hopefully, Rocket would slip up and reveal his true colors. Vernon would expose him for the vain, selfish, phony he was, and Scarlett would see things clearly. Then they could finally be together. On the other hand, there were a number of things Vernon could do to speed up the process. He’d have to call in a few favors, and there would be a little unpleasantness, but he’d get Scarlett in the end. And that’s all that mattered.
He smiled, his spirits lifting as a plan began to take shape. Yes, it could work. Maybe he’d drive by Scarlett’s house after all. The need to be close to her was all-consuming.
12
Rigby braced himself when Douglas Foster opened the door, scowling. “Good morning, Mr. Foster,” he said pleasantly, “I’m here to pick up Scarlett.” He thrust the plate of cookies at Douglas. “My grandmother asked that I give these to you.”
Douglas grunted in surprise, then took the cookies as he stepped back.
Well, at least Rigby could always count on Douglas to be irritable and rude. But even the old man couldn’t put a damper on his spirits today. He was spending the entire day with Scarlett on their date, and his feet had hardly touched the ground all morning. Douglas turned to go back into the house, leaving Rigby standing there. “Would you like for me to come in or wait outside?”
“You’d might as well come in,” Douglas huffed, not bothering to turn back around. “Shut the door behind you. Scarlett’ll be out directly,” he mumbled, walking out of the room, leaving Rigby alone. He didn’t know whether to be amused or frustrated. It was silly how Mr. Foster held on so tightly to his grudge. He walked over and sat down on the sofa. The front room or company room as Scarlett used to call it was so formal it was stuffy. The room looked the same as he remembered with the gold and beige striped couch, matching chairs, and shiny mahogany coffee table. Rigby felt like he’d stepped back in time. His eye caught on a photo with a young Scarlett and her grandparents. Scarlett was a beauty, even back then, with her thick brown hair and almond-shaped eyes. She had more freckles then and braces. He remembered how self-conscious she was about eating lunch in the cafeteria, fearing food would get trapped in her braces.
“Hey.” Scarlett smiled broadly as she came in.
Rigby did a double take as he stood. “Wow, you look fantastic.” His gaze took in her denim, button-up shirt tied at the bottom and floral skirt that hit just above her knees. He recognized the red sandals from the concert. They’d caught his eye because he appreciated how they showed off her shapely legs.
“Thanks,” she responded. “I wasn’t sure how to dress, so I picked something in-between dressy and casual.” She held up a bag. “As instructed, I have a towel, swimsuit, and sunblock.”
“Did you pack a jacket?”
She held up a finger. “Oops, forgot that.”
“You may not need it, but it doesn’t hurt to be safe. The nights get colder here in the fall.”
“Okay, I’ll be right back,” she said, running to fetch it.
He frowned, another picture catching his attention. He stepped over to the wall to get a closer look. This one was more recent. It was of Scarlett and Vernie at what looked to be a summer picnic. Vernie had his arm draped around Scarlett, and the two were smiling for the camera. A dart of jealousy pinged Rigby, and he wondered for the umpteenth time how Vernie had managed to turn Scarlett’s head. He did look better than he used to and more confident, but he wasn’t anywhere near Scarlett’s league. Then again, there probably wasn’t a guy on the planet that measured up to Scarlett, including him.
“That was taken at the Clementine 4 of July celebration last year.”
Rigby jumped guiltily as he turned to face Mr. Foster. Of all the pictures to be caught looking at.
Douglas raised to his full height, glaring at him. “Scarlett was happy with Vernon until you came to town.”
The comment took him off guard for a second, then his eyes narrowed. “She seems happy now, too.”
Douglas’s thick eyebrows darted together. “I don’t know what game you’re playing at here, but I don’t wanna see her get hurt.”
Rigby tensed, his first impulse to say something hateful back, but he was trying hard to control his temper. He fought to keep his voice even as he spoke. “Look, Mr. Foster, you’ve got me all wrong. I have no intention of hurting Scarlett, I love her … just as I always have. I’ve never wavered in that. If you’ll just give me a chance, you’ll see—”
“Save it,” he barked, eyes smoldering.
Rigby rocked back, not sure how to react to the outburst. He was starting to wonder if Mr. Foster was all there. His behavior seemed a little extreme, even for him.
Scarlett came back into the room. She stopped in her tracks, looking back and forth between the two men. “Everything okay?”
Rigby forced a smile. “Yeah, your grandpa and I were just getting reacquainted.”
Mr. Foster muttered something unintelligible under his breath as he stalked out of the room.
“What was that all about?” Scarlett said.
Rigby threw up his hands. “I haven’t the foggiest. For some reason, your grandpa hates me now more than ever.”
“I’m sorry.” She shook her head. “He took it pretty hard when I broke up with Vernon.”
Rigby felt the same burst of exhilaration as he’d felt when the Titan’s won the Championship, a smile stretched over his lips. “Really? When did this happen?”
“A couple of days ago.” She chuckled dryly. “You don’t have to look so pleased about it.”
He stepped up to her, brushing back a strand of hair that had fallen over her eye. “I am pleased … very pleased.” If Mr. Foster hadn’t been nearby, he would’ve pulled her in his arms right then and there and given her a long, breathless kiss that would’ve proven just how pleased he was about the situation. “You ready?”
Her brown eyes sparkled. “I am. What’s on the agenda today?”
He pumped his eyebrows. “Oh, don’t you wish you knew.”
She laughed, shaking her head. “You,” she said affectionately, “… always like keeping me in the dark.”
“Hmm,” he drawled, “you and me … alone in the dark … now that’s an interesting prospect.” He loved watching pink tinge her cheeks as she lowered her eyes demurely, her thick lashes fluttering against her cheeks. “Let’s do it.”
Scarlett couldn’t h
elp but smile when they stepped outside. “So, we’re going in the Porsche, huh?”
“It’s the only car I have,” he countered, his lips tipping in a smile as he darted around to open her door.
“Thanks,” she said, getting in. The interior was a smoky gray leather that matched the outside. Scarlett’s heart was beating so fast, she felt like it was trying to claw out of her chest. She took a deep breath, willing herself to calm down. She could hardly believe she was actually going on a date with Rigby. A part of her kept expecting to wake up and realize all of this was just a blissful dream, but then, it wasn’t a dream. She still felt terrible about Vernon. The guilt of it ate away at her. She had to keep reminding herself it wasn’t fair to her or Vernon to be with him simply because she felt obligated. She would always be grateful to him for everything he’d done for her and hoped he could find someone who truly loved him. She brushed aside the negative thoughts and willed herself to concentrate on the present. Rigby seemed to be an extension of the sleek car as he put it into drive and pulled away from the curb. Ever since they were kids, Rigby talked about how he was getting a Porsche when he grew up. Lots of kids dreamed big but few actually accomplished what they said they would.
He felt her gaze, a smile tugging at his lips. “What?”
“You always wanted a Porsche.”
“Yes.”
“Is it everything you’d hoped?”
His smile got larger as he punched the accelerator. “Everything I’d hoped and then some.”
The exuberance in Rigby’s voice reminded her of a kid. She laughed, feeling a burst of exhilaration as they sped out of the neighborhood. A few minutes later, she frowned when they pulled up in front of The Magnolia. “Why’re we here?”
He flashed a mysterious smile. “You’ll see.”
Surely he wasn’t taking her here to eat lunch. That would be super awkward—the two of them eating in her restaurant with curious onlookers watching their every move.
“Do you mind staying here for a minute?” he said. “I’ll be right back.”
“Sure,” she breathed in relief.
He returned, holding a basket. He lifted the lever of his seat and placed it in the back, then sat down in the driver’s seat, fastened his seatbelt, and started the engine.
She arched an eyebrow. “A picnic basket?”
“Yep.” He grinned. “You can thank Harper for that. She packed us a deluxe lunch with lobster salad, potato salad, fruit salad …” He wrinkled his nose. “And a bunch of other stuff I can’t remember.”
“It sounds like we’re gonna have lots of salads,” she teased.
He shrugged. “Well, I figured if I was ordering a picnic basket lunch for the two of us, I’d might as well get it from the best restaurant in town.”
His comment was immensely gratifying. “You always were a charmer.”
“I figure I’ve got one shot to impress you. I’ve gotta do things right.” He winked. “So, sit back and relax. We have a bit of a drive ahead of us, but not too bad.” Rigby turned up the radio and they began singing along to the tunes, laughing and reminiscing about old friends from high school. Scarlett’s heart felt lighter than it had in a long time. It was nice to just enjoy being together.
An hour later, they pulled up to a marina off the coast of Fairhope. A tingle of excitement ran through Scarlett as she turned to Rigby. “We’re going out on a boat?”
He pumped his eyebrows, a sparkle in his light eyes. “You know how we used to love coming to the beach together.”
“Yes.”
“What was the one thing we always wished we could do?”
“Take a boat out on the water.” She giggled, bringing her hands together. “I can’t believe you got us a boat.”
He leaned in, his eyes locking with hers. “You said I had one shot or what I like to call the Hail Mary pass.”
A smile tugged at her lips as her breath caught. The prospect of being alone with Rigby on a boat was thrilling. Her thoughts went back to their kiss as she looked at his lips. Heaven help her for even thinking this, but she hoped there would be more kissing.
“Let’s go. I’ll get your door.”
Rigby had always been a stickler for getting her door, saying it was the true mark of a gentleman. Scarlett had always found that kind of neat, especially considering Rigby was such a rebel in other aspects of his life.
“Let’s get changed into our suits.”
The sun felt good on Rigby’s face as he leaned back in his seat. The water shimmered like glass and a nice breeze was blowing. Aside from having Scarlett all to himself, the biggest payout had been seeing the look of excitement on her face when she realized they were going on a boat. The weather tended to stay moderate during the fall, and Rigby had thought about taking them swimming, but feared it might be too cold. This was perfect. He turned to face Scarlett who was stretched out sunbathing in a red two-piece that showcased her curvaceous body. When he was a kid, he loved the movie Who Framed Roger Rabbit and had a huge crush on Jessica Rabbit, the voluptuous redhead. A phrase jumped out at him as he looked at Scarlett. “‘I’m not bad,’” Jessica Rabbit purred in her sexy voice, “‘I’m just drawn that way.’” The same could’ve been said about Scarlett, olive skin glowing golden in the sun, her magnificent mane of hair falling over her delicate shoulder. Desire simmered inside him as he remembered their kiss from the other night. Scarlett looked up and smiled, melting his insides. “Come and join me?”
He didn’t have to be asked twice, he left the wheel and sat down beside her, stretching out his legs.
She closed her eyes, lifting her face to the sun. “This is glorious. As good as I ever imagined.”
“Yes.” He scooted closer, catching a whiff of her coconut suntan lotion. He trailed his fingers down the side of her cheek, which felt silky under his touch. Her breath jerked as she opened her eyes and turned to him.
“Thanks for coming with me today. So,” he drawled, peering into her deep brown eyes, getting lost in the depth of them. He couldn’t stop a large smile from spreading over his face.
“What?” she chuckled softly.
“You broke up with Vernie.” He still couldn’t get over the thrill of it, like scoring a dozen touchdowns at the same time.
“Yeah.” Her breath was a tender whisper on the light breeze. A hint of a smile touched her lips. “I couldn’t exactly continue things with him when I was having feelings for someone else, now could I?”
The words flowed between them like warm sunshine as he closed the remaining gap between them and hungrily covered his lips with hers. Scarlett was rose-petal soft and yet as all-consuming as the endless water around them. She let out a tiny moan as he deepened the kiss, sending sparks licking through him as he ran his hands across her back, pulling her closer. Everything they’d ever been to one another and everything they still were rolled together in an intoxicating sensation more satisfying than words could express. When the kiss was over, he leaned his forehead against hers. “I’ve missed you so much,” he uttered.
“I’ve missed you too,” she admitted.
His gaze trailed down the line of her graceful neck to the hollow of her throat pulsing wildly. Rigby felt that no matter how many times he kissed Scarlett, he’d never get enough of her. “Please, never leave me again,” he uttered, his lips taking hers.
Scarlett looked up at Rigby, his chiseled jaw backlit against the fiery oranges and pinks of the setting sun. The steady crawl of the waves into the shore was therapeutic as they walked along the beach, hand-in-hand.
He turned to her, a crooked smile slipping over his lips. “What?”
“Let’s go sit on the sand and watch the sunset from there. We need to talk.” She felt him tense ever so slightly.
“Okay.”
They’d spent most of the day living in the moment, simply enjoying being together. While Scarlett had loved every minute, she needed more assurance that her path was correct. After all, she’d just ended things with Ver
non and thrown herself into a world of uncertainty. They chose a spot on the sand and shifted to get comfortable. Rigby put an arm around her, reaching for her hand and linking his fingers through hers. He cast her a sidelong glance. “Do I need to be worried?”
She gave him a reassuring smile. “I don’t think so.”
He jerked. “Uh, oh.”
She laughed. “No, I just need a few things cleared up, that’s all.”
“Okay.”
She took a breath, trying to decide where to begin. “First of all, what was that thing with Pepper McClain at the concert?” Ever since Vernon had thrown that in her face, it had been rolling around in her mind raising doubts in her weakest moments.
A smile played over his lips. “Oh, so you were jealous.”
Her eyes rounded. “No.”
“You were.”
“Yeah, a little, I suppose.”
He laughed. “Good, because that was the intent.”
“W—what?”
“It was. I had to find some way to get your attention.”
She wrinkled her nose in disgust. “But Pepper McClain? She’s been on the make since high school.”
“Tell me about it.” He shuddered. “The woman’s an octopus, tentacles for hands. As soon as you left the concert, I promptly took Pepper home … and declined her invitation to come inside, I might add. Then a few hours later, I came over to your window and we went on the roof.” He turned toward her so he could look her in the eye. “Now it’s my turn.”
“Okay,” she said warily. “And, no, I’m not going to tell you how much I weigh.” She couldn’t help but laugh when she said it. When they were in junior high, Rigby realized she was sensitive about her weight, as most girls were at that age, and continually pestered her about it.
“Don’t worry. I’ve since realized the error of my ways. And whatever that magic number is, it looks amazing on you.”
The Perfect Catch (Last Play Romance (A Bachelor Billionaire Companion) Book 9) Page 12
