by Jill Sanders
Scarlett’s eyes moved back over to the older man and wondered if Jenny even liked her husband. They weren’t holding hands or even touching. Aubrey had told her that she’d asked around and found out that Jenny had spent the day at the pool, alone, flirting with any man that walked by.
“Good evening,” Scarlett greeted them with a smile to hide the fact that she knew who Jenny was.
Scarlett watched as Jenny’s eyes ran over her, and she could see the instant dislike that flashed behind them.
“Good evening,” the man said with a smile. “We’re the Bakers.”
“Welcome.” Scarlett’s eyes moved over to Jenny. “You’re in from…?”
“New York,” Jenny answered, her chin going up slightly as if she was proud that they came from the city.
“I hear they’re having some rain up there right now,” Scarlett said with a smile and turned her eyes towards her clipboard, even though she already knew which table they would be seated at for the duration of their stay. “I’ll show you to your table. This will be your assigned table for your entire stay with us. You know, so you don’t get lost.” She motioned for the couple to follow her.
Walking around the dance floor, she showed them the table on the side of the room, near the bar.
“I hope this will suit you,” she said, motioning to two spots with their nametags on the plates. “Chef Isaac has prepared a wonderful menu tonight for you to choose from.” She smiled and removed the place cards. “Linda is going to be your waitress tonight.” She waved Linda over. “If you need anything…” She started to walk away.
“You don’t remember me?” Jenny said, stopping her.
Scarlett’s eyes rose slightly. “Of course, I do,” she said with a smile. “Welcome back to River Camps, Jenny.”
“It’s Jen now.” She said looking down her nose at Scarlett. “I never would have thought that the five of you would be working here,” She added with a smirk.
“Working?” Scarlett chuckled. “Yes, I suppose you could say we all work here.” She sighed and, suddenly, her desire to rub her success and her wonderful life in this woman’s face dissipated. “Please, enjoy your stay.”
She turned and walked away, making her way towards the bar, where Levi was mixing a drink, watching her.
“So?” he asked, and she realized he must have watched the entire exchange.
She shrugged. “I decided I didn’t have to prove anything to anyone. Least of all her.”
He handed the drink over to its owner and then took her hand up to his lips. “Wise.” He smiled. “You’re much more magnanimous than I am.”
She laughed. “Tell me that when you saw her you spit in her face.”
He sighed. “No, I’m afraid I was so concerned that she was going to spread a rumor about our little bump-in at the beach that I…”
“Oh?” Scarlett leaned across the bar and smiled when she saw Levi’s eyes travel to her low cleavage. “What happened at the beach?” she whispered.
His eyes jerked back up to hers. “Nothing.” His voice cracked, causing her to laugh. He cleared his throat and repeated himself. “Nothing.”
She stood back up, smiling at him. “Later, Levi Grant, you’re going to owe me.”
“Yes, ma’am.” His smile turned wicked. “I am.”
She felt her knees go weak and, without saying anything, retreated back to her spot across the room.
“Wow,” Zoey said a few minutes later when she approached her. “She looks the same.”
“Who?” Scarlett asked, since her heart had yet to settle down from flirting with Levi.
“Jenny.” Zoey rolled her eyes. “Who else?”
“Oh.” Scarlett’s eyes moved across the room to where Jenny was cutting her husband’s steak dinner for him and looking annoyed while doing so. Scarlett held in a chuckle. Scarlett turned back to her sister. “Apparently it’s Jen now.” She mimicked the woman’s tone then giggled. “Seriously, why do women that young marry someone three times their age?”
“Money,” Elle said, stopping beside them. “Robert Baker is the head and heir to Stuffit’s.”
“The frozen meals?” Scarlett asked with a frown.
“No.” Elle laughed. “That’s Stouffer’s.” She chuckled again. “Stuffit’s Bakery’s in New York. It’s a chain that goes back more than a hundred years.”
“Oh.” Scarlett shrugged. “Never heard of it.”
“You’ve never been to New York.” Zoey pinched her arm.
“Ouch.” Scarlett swiped at her sister’s hand. “So?”
“So.” Elle lowered her voice. “The man is richer than… well, not quite richer than Aubrey’s old man. But close.”
“That rich?” Scarlett looked at the older man again. “I don’t care if he has more money than god. I wouldn’t marry him or anyone else for money.”
“That’s good to know,” Levi’s voice sounded from directly behind her.
It was amazing how quickly her sister and Elle disappeared once Levi appeared.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, turning towards him.
“It’s my break time and I thought…” He broke off when she took his hand.
“Yes, and yes,” she said as she pulled him towards the front door.
“Let’s actually walk this time,” he said, glancing around. “I’m not letting you stuff me in some closet dressed like this.” He motioned to his tux.
She chuckled. “A walk sounds wonderful. I could use some fresh air.”
They strolled hand in hand, winding around the lit pathways.
“So?” he said after a moment of silence. “Want to talk about it?”
“There’s nothing to tell.” She shrugged and turned to him when he came to a stop under one of the lights.
“The woman was the cause of hurt and pain you carried around for years,” he reminded her and pulled her into his arms. “Surely you want to tell me how it makes you feel seeing her again.”
“I feel…” She thought about it. “Sorry for her.” She tilted her head and looked past his shoulder to the dark starlit sky beyond. “I mean, she married a man who could easily be her grandfather, all for money.” She shivered slightly.
Suddenly, Levi pulled his jacket off and wrapped it around her shoulders. She didn’t want to tell him that she wasn’t cold. She enjoyed the smell and his warmth coming from the jacket too much. She hugged it to her body.
“Money is important to a lot of women,” he said. She could hear the sadness in his voice.
“Like Carrie?” she asked as her eyes ran over him. He was even more handsome in the shadows dressed in the tux. Like her fantasy of running into a sexy James Bond and having him sweep her off her feet.
“Yes.” His eyes met hers.
“Did she break your heart?” she asked, curious to know if he’d ever crossed into the big L. She didn’t know why it mattered to her, but she held her breath until he answered.
“No.” He shook his head. “I thought she had.”
“Then?” she asked, unsure why she was pushing him so much.
His eyes returned to hers. “You came back to Pelican Point.” His eyes locked with hers.
Once again, she felt her knees go weak, but he was there, wrapping his arms around her tightly as he pulled her close against his body.
“I’d forgotten that I’d already lost my heart years ago,” he continued. “Seeing you again reminded me that I’d given it away that last night we were together.” He bent his head and brushed his lips across hers slowly. “It’s no longer my heart to break since it’s in your hands.” He sighed and rested his forehead against hers. “I know you don’t want to hear it, but…”
“No.” She closed her eyes and shook her head slowly. “I can’t.”
“I know.” His thumb nudged her chin up until their eyes locked again. “But there it is. I’ve been in love with you since I saw you standing on that dock, wearing your cream-colored shorts and that pink top, waiting for me all those
years ago.”
Her breath hitched and she felt her chest tighten. She didn’t deserve him. He was more than she could have ever hoped for. More than she could handle.
She didn’t trust forever-afters. Even with Levi.
Taking a step back, she dropped her arms, letting his jacket fall to her feet.
“Levi, I…” Her eyes scanned around, looking for an escape route.
“No.” He reached for her, but she was already in motion, rushing back to the crowded dining hall where she could melt into the crowd and hide all the hurt that welled up inside her. All the pain that her father had caused her, all the pain that Jenny had caused with her lies.
Even if she could trust Levi with her heart, there was no way he should trust her with his.
Chapter Sixteen
“I screwed up,” Levi said to Zoey after he’d found her in the kitchen, trying to mooch a cookie from Betty.
The woman was glaring at Zoey, and he thought it a wise idea to pull Zoey out of the line of fire.
“It’s just one,” Zoey said to Betty, waving him away.
“One that our guests won’t get to enjoy,” Betty replied easily with a smile.
As he pulled Zoey aside, she grabbed up a cookie and stuck her tongue out towards Betty, who laughed as a reply.
“She has plenty. I skipped dinner.” She stuffed the entire cookie in her mouth.
He would have laughed at her, but he was too worried he’d screwed things up with her sister.
“What did you do now?” she asked after taking a drink from her water bottle.
“I told your sister…” He shut his mouth. “Well, I didn’t really say the three words, but… came damn close to it. Close enough that she dropped my jacket in a mud puddle”—he held up his ruined jacket and frowned down at it—“and ran back to the dining hall in those high heels of hers. I think she could have won a few awards with that sprint.”
Zoey smiled. “She’ll come around.” She slapped him on the shoulder. “Go see Brent about getting another jacket for tonight.” She started walking back to the baked goods, and he took her arm as Betty motioned towards Isaac, who started walking towards them.
“Are you sure?” he asked. “You didn’t see the fear in her eyes.”
Zoey sighed and took his shoulders. “My sister took everything that happened between my parents harder than even my mother did.” She snapped her fingers suddenly. “My mother. You should go talk to her. She’s back from her trip to Montana with Mr. Spy Pants.”
He chuckled. “Reed Cooper.”
“Yes.” Zoey smiled. “If they get married, I refuse to call him Daddy. It’s going to be Mr. Spy Pants.” Zoey held up her hand. “I’ve already settled on it. Anyway, she’s back home now. She would know the best approach to my sister’s heart. Moms know everything.” She tapped him on the shoulder. “Now, if you don’t mind, I have to try and swindle dinner from my employees.” She rubbed her hands together and turned to face the head chef.
Levi left Zoey begging for a plate in the kitchen and made his way back up to the bar.
When he arrived, he was thankful to see Liam Costa standing behind the bar, helping Britt out.
“You got this?” he asked the man.
“Sure.” Liam winked at him. “Heard you and Scar were…”
Levi growled and the man shut his mouth.
“Sure, I’ve got this.” Liam chuckled. “She just headed out the front.”
He thought about going after Scarlett for a second, then made his way towards the back door. The back path would take him towards her mother’s cabin.
River Cabin sat away from all the other guest cabins, which was why the Wildflowers had given it to Zoey and Scarlett’s mother within days of opening the camp up. It had also been their cabin each summer, making it special to the group.
Levi had hung out with Kimberly Rowlett more times than he could count. The woman lived on the grounds and enjoyed taking part in many of the fun activities. Reed Cooper, her new boyfriend, lived in a massive mansion across a small inlet of water that sat across from the campgrounds.
The rumor was that Reed was an ex-military spy. Only a handful of them knew it was true, since he’d helped rescue Hannah last year.
Still, the man was retired, and seeing Scarlett’s mother with him, happy, went a long way with her daughters and the rest of the Wildflowers, who had adopted her as their den mother.
He knocked on the door after making sure her light was on and he wouldn’t be waking her.
She opened the door with a smile. “Zoey called.” She motioned him inside. “She says you have something you want to talk to me about?” The woman motioned for him to sit in the small living room area.
River Cabin was one of his favorite cabins on the property. Half of it hung over the small stream that trickled under the massive porch.
Its tall two-story windows looked out over the water and, during the day, you could see the nature and beauty that surrounded the house.
Now, however, the large windows sat dark, reflecting their images back at them, thanks to the lights.
“Yeah.” He sighed as he sat down.
“Would you like something to drink?” she asked.
Kimberly Rowlett was a perfect cross between the two sisters, with the exception that she’d let her dark hair turn its natural silver years ago. The woman could easily pass for Scar and Zoey’s sister instead of their mother if she dyed her hair dark again. But the silver locks suited her much better and they set off her eyes nicely.
Thanks to all the activities on the grounds, she stayed in great shape. He’d seen her on more than one occasion enjoying the zip lines with Reed, taking yoga classes, and even playing water volleyball.
“No, thank you.” He rested his elbows on his knees and leaned forward slightly. “I think I screwed up with Scarlett.”
“Okay?” She sat across from him. “Why do you think that?”
“I…” His eyes met hers and he swallowed. “I told her how I feel about her.”
Kimberly’s smile was instant. “Good for you.”
“No.” He shook his head and frowned down at his hands. “She ran.” His eyes moved back up. “Literally ran away from me.”
Kimberly chuckled. “Scar is… has always run away from things she fears.”
“No, she’s courageous. I’ve seen her face—”
“Emotionally,” Kimberly finished. “She may come off as strong—and don’t get me wrong, she is—but when it comes to matters of the heart…” She shook her head and her eyes turned sad. “I’m afraid that’s all her father’s doing.”
“I’m not her father.”
“No, you’re not.” She nodded. “Any fool can see that. Trust me when I say this, Scarlett is no fool. She may let fear hide her heart, but if you’re persistent, and patient, you are the man who can crack that tough outer shell she’s protected her heart in.”
He thought about Kimberly’s words the entire walk back to the main building. Seeing that the party was still going on, he decided to try and find Scarlett one last time.
Kimberly was right. He’d promised Scar that he’d be patient and then, the first chance he’d had, he’d spewed his feelings all over her. Smooth.
Most of the guests had left for the night, returning to their own cabins. Still, there were half a dozen couples left dancing to the music or still eating and drinking.
Scarlett and her friends were parked at the bar, chatting. When he approached them, they all scattered like flies.
“Was it something I said?” he joked, but Scarlett’s lips didn’t even twitch.
“Hey.” He touched her shoulder. “I owe you an apology.” He ran his hand over her bare shoulder.
“No.” She shook her head as she closed her eyes. “I knew this wouldn’t work.”
“Stop right there,” he interrupted her. “I overstepped when I promised I wouldn’t. I’m sorry.”
She sighed and nodded quickly.
“How a
bout I buy you a drink?” he asked, trying to change the mood.
“I could use a glass of wine.”
Instead of asking Britt, he stepped behind the bar to pour her a glass himself. He leaned across the bar top. “Would you like that shaken or stirred?”
Her smile flashed quickly. “I can’t stay mad at you.”
“Good, because I was looking forward to us playing spy.” He wiggled his eyebrows. “I’ve got a surprise for you…somewhere on my person.” He leaned back and ran his hands over his body. “You’ll have to find it.”
He watched her eyes heat and enjoyed the way she slowly sipped her wine. When her tongue dipped out and licked her lower lip, he realized he’d lost his control of the situation. She’d taken the reins and was in charge now. He swallowed hard and leaned closer again.
“Do I get a clue?” she purred, and he knew instantly he’d successfully changed the mood.
“Real spies don’t need clues.”
Her eyes narrowed as she scanned him from head to toe.
“What do you say you show me your rooms?” he whispered.
She set her glass down and held out her hand for his.
As they walked out, they had to skirt around Jenny, who was very drunk, while her husband tried to help her out. Jenny was falling all over the place, her tall heels flopping around in her hands as she tried to flirt with anyone who would give her attention. Anyone except her husband.
“Brent, would you mind helping Mr. and Mrs. Baker get back to their cabin?” Scarlett said as they passed by the waiter. “And make sure they are left alone for the rest of the night.”
“Sure thing, boss lady.” Brent saluted them. “Night.”
“Do you know,” Scarlett said as they stepped outside, “that Brent has flirted with every single one of my friends but not me.”
“Jealous?” he asked, feeling a twinge of his own jealousy surface at the thought of Scarlett wishing Brent would flirt with her.
“No.” She chuckled. “I’m glad. I’m terrible at turning men away.”
He laughed and pulled her into his arms. “Everyone except me,” he reminded her.
