Sandpiper Shore

by Debbie Mason

  As she wiped her fingers to take it, she caught sight of her text to Lorenzo on the screen and her eyes shot to Logan.

  He held her gaze and continued. “Her fiancé broke their engagement a week before their wedding. He’s involved with her stepmother. It sounds like her stepmother may have forged Jenna’s stepfather’s will, taken her company from her, and her fiancé stole her car and cleaned out her savings account.”

  “She needs a cop or a hit man, not a lawyer. Who is she?”

  “Jenna Bell.”

  “Is she related to Arianna Bell? She was Arianna Summers for a while, owns a bridal shop on Main Street.”

  He found it interesting that his brother seemed to know exactly what his ex-girlfriend had been up to all these years and filed the fact away for another conversation. “I know who Arianna is, Connor. Jenna’s her stepsister.”

  “All right. I have to be back in Boston by four. Any chance I can talk to Jenna between now and then? I can meet her at Tie the Knot if that’d be easier.”

  He almost laughed at how easily his brother had acquiesced, but instead said to Jenna, “My brother Connor’s going to take your case. He wants to meet with you. How does Tie the Knot in an hour work for you?”

  Her eyes went big, and she shook her head.

  “Jenna, I’m not taking no for an answer. Trust me, you need Connor. You couldn’t ask for a better lawyer to—”

  “I know. It’s just—” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “Arianna doesn’t…” She made a pained face before finally admitting, “She hates him. I think he broke her heart. But Serena says he’s a shark, and Gwyneth and Lorenzo are piranhas, so I need him. But it’s Sunday, and your family has had a difficult morning. If it’s okay with Connor, I’ll call his office tomorrow and set up an appointment.”

  “I heard,” his brother said, and he didn’t sound happy about it, which led Logan to believe Connor heard more than he was meant to. “Tell Jenna to call in the morning. I’m out of the office all afternoon.”

  “Golf game?”

  “Yeah, with one of the top oncologists in the city, smartass.”

  He smiled. “You shouldn’t try so hard to make people believe you’re a douche, bro. You might have an easier time keeping your assistants.”

  “They don’t leave me because I’m an asshat, buddy. They leave me because they fall in love with me.”

  “Hanging up now.” They’d had this conversation before.

  Logan pocketed his phone and crouched beside Jenna. She wouldn’t look at him. She had a streak of mud on her cheek. He gently grasped her chin with one hand while raising the other to rub away the mud. “Why didn’t you tell me he stole your car and money, Jenna?”

  “Why wouldn’t I want you to know that not only was he having an affair with my stepmother under my nose, but he also stole my keys and wallet because I left my sister’s business unlocked while I was pole dancing at the Salty Dog? I don’t know, Logan. Maybe—” She glared at him when he couldn’t hold back a laugh. “It’s not funny.”

  “Trust me, I wasn’t laughing about Lorenzo. It’s just that I wouldn’t call what you were doing at the Salty Dog pole dancing. It was cute, but definitely not—”

  She made a blech face. “Cute. Just what every woman wants to be called by the man they had…” She bowed her head, her hair falling forward.

  He tucked it behind her ear, taking note of the red and gold streaks. “You have pretty hair.”

  She tried to hold back a smile but failed. “Yours is lovely too.”

  He laughed. “Thanks, I think.” He gestured to the bird. “How’s she doing?”

  “Great. She nibbled on a fly and drank a little water. At least I think she did. It’s hard to tell.” She looked up at him. “You don’t think she did, do you?”

  “Like you say, it’s hard to tell. I wouldn’t get too attached, honey.” The last thing she needed was to lose something else. After what she’d lost in the last twenty-four hours, he honestly didn’t know how she was still standing, not to mention trying to take care of him and a baby bird. He had a feeling he’d misjudged Jenna Bell and the woman was a lot stronger than she looked.

  “I’ll give you a ride back to your sister’s place once you think Pippa’s had her fill.”

  “You go ahead. I’m good, thanks.”

  “You haven’t been home yet, have you?”

  She shook her head. “Poppy lent me some clothes. After we finished up at the vet’s, we went to the Gazette. That’s how I found out I had no money. I went to pay Poppy for the deposit. I would’ve found out at the vet’s, but they don’t have Apple Pay. I signed an IOU.”

  He made a note to drop by the veterinarian hospital and pay her bill. Connor could tell her he was taking her case pro bono as a favor to him. Still… “Don’t get offended, Jenna. But I can loan you some money until everything gets settled.”

  “That’s very kind of you, but I’ll be fine. I’m pretty sure Arianna will let me stay with her…” She flexed her fingers and looked at the ring. “Maybe I can pawn this.”

  “No. Keep it. The ring obviously has value in Lorenzo’s eyes. It might work to your advantage.” He surreptitiously nudged the baby bird. As far as he could tell, she hadn’t moved. The peep lifted its head and fixed her eyes on him. Well, that settled that question. She was clearly still alive. He scooped her up. “Let’s bring her closer to the water’s edge. See if she’ll stand.”

  They didn’t get her to stand, but she seemed to have some life in her at least, and she definitely took some water and poked at a dead minnow. Jury was out if she ate any of it. And he’d gotten Jenna to agree to let him take her home, which to him felt like a win. She might be afraid to face her sisters, but she needed them. “Have you given any thought to setting up your matchmaking business at Tie the Knot?” he asked as he gently splashed water at the bird with his finger.

  “If I’d suggested it a few days ago, Arianna might’ve gone for it. Not now though.”

  “It must be a busy time for them. Maybe they can hire you.”

  “I need a job if I’m going to pay room and board and cover the deposits for the wedding.”

  “I could ask Grams if they’re hiring at the manor.”

  “No. You’ve done enough for me. And while Arianna might not want me to work with them right now, she’d worry what people would say if I was working at the manor and not for her.”

  “If it doesn’t pan out, just let me know.”

  “I will. Thanks—”

  He held up a finger at the distinctive ringtone coming from his phone. “Sorry.” It was his boss. “Today? Yes, sir. I’ll be back in Washington by twenty-one hundred hours. Thank you, sir.”

  “You got your job back,” she said as soon as he disconnected. “I’m so relieved. You must be too.”

  “It’s a temporary assignment. But it doesn’t matter. In the end, it’ll play in my favor. The princess of Merradien is coming on a state visit, and they requested that I head up the security detail for her.”

  “That’s the princess you saved from the kidnapping attempt, isn’t it?”

  He nodded. “Yeah, and they’re scheduled to arrive midweek. I don’t have a lot of time to prepare.”

  “What are you waiting for? Go.” She shooed him off. “I’ll be fine.”

  “You’re sure?”

  “Positive.”

  “Okay. You’ve got my number. Call anytime.”

  “I will. Honestly, you don’t have to worry about me,” she said when he hesitated.

  He had enough to worry about, enough people depending on him, that he didn’t want to add someone else to his list of people to take care of. But whether he liked it or not, Jenna was on it now. And somehow she’d managed to land at almost the top. “Take care of yourself, and Pippa too.”

  “You take care of yourself, and the princess. If you’d like, I can stop by the manor for high tea and check on your mom.”

  He had a big family, who had no doubt bande
d around his mother now, but he was touched by her offer. “I appreciate that. Thanks, Jenna.” He didn’t know what made him do it— maybe it was her smile and the happy glow she’d gotten on her face when she thought he’d gotten his job back—but whatever the reason, he leaned in and softly brushed his lips across hers.

  It was far from a passionate kiss, but he knew as soon as he pulled back that he shouldn’t have done it. She’d gotten that look on her face. The same one from this morning. The one that said she wanted more than what he was willing or able to give. Especially now. But he didn’t have the heart to tell her that today of all days.

  Chapter Eleven

  Jenna blamed Logan and his kiss for putting unrealistic expectations in her head. Like the ones that started forming the moment his lips touched hers. It was like the sun had exploded inside her, leaving her with a warm, fuzzy afterglow that somehow gave her the misguided idea that everything would be right with the world.

  She had a shark for a lawyer, Logan was going back to Washington to do the job that he loved, and Jenna was going home to tell her stepsisters that she was basically homeless and penniless and they were going to be just as kind and as considerate as Logan had been.

  The fantasy had been nice while it lasted.

  “Arianna, stop yelling,” Serena said. “It’s not helping. Jenna feels bad enough as it is. It’s not like she intentionally left the store unlocked. How did she know Lorenzo would—”

  “Left the store unlocked? She might as well have handed him the keys to the kingdom. Signed on the dotted line and given him equal rights to everything she owned. Which means your business, Jenna. Even if we can get the will overturned, Gwyneth and Lorenzo now hold more shares in Southern Belle than you do. He’ll be entitled to half of everything Daddy would’ve left to you. Bet you didn’t think about that when you set up a joint account, did you?”

  “No, because I thought we’d—” She sank deeper into the leather couch when her stepsister advanced on her, stabbing the chilly air with a mocking finger. The apartment above Tie the Knot was freezing, but Jenna knew the air conditioner wasn’t responsible for the shiver that ran through her.

  “What? Live happily ever after? Grow up. There’s no such thing as happily-ever-after. Until you can get that in your head, self-serving narcissists like Lorenzo will keep using and abusing you.” Shoulders bowed, Arianna wrapped her arms around her waist and walked to the window that overlooked Main Street.

  “Everything you said is true, Arianna. I should’ve realized that I was being played. Looking back, I can see there were small signs Lorenzo wasn’t who he said he was. I just…I didn’t have a lot of experience with men like him. You and Serena are used to having guys complimenting you all the time and making you feel like you’re amazing and can do anything you set your mind to. Other than Daddy, no one made me feel”—she lifted a shoulder, knowing Arianna would hate what she was about to say, but it was the truth—“special, like a princess. Up until yesterday, Lorenzo did.”

  “Don’t kid yourself. We’ve been played too, haven’t we, Arianna?” Serena gave her sister a pointed stare, but since she had her back to them, it wasn’t clear whether Arianna agreed with her or not.

  Jenna eyed Arianna as she adjusted the scarf around Pippa, bringing her closer to her heart. She didn’t want the baby bird to catch a chill, but she also didn’t want to alert her stepsister to her presence. Arianna didn’t like animals or children. Something Jenna had recently discovered. Growing up, she didn’t remember her stepsister feeling that way, but what did she know? Until recently, they hadn’t been close. And it was beginning to look like she should’ve enjoyed their improved relationship while it lasted. She had enjoyed it, and her stepfather would have been over the moon at how close they’d become.

  If he’d had a dying wish, this would’ve been it. Not Arianna yelling at her, of course. Or Serena thinking Jenna was an idiot but not coming out and saying it. No, his fondest wish would’ve been them living and working together, being the loving, supportive sisters he’d always hoped they would be. They were all she had left now. Lorenzo had stolen too much. She wouldn’t let him take her family from her too.

  “I know I’ve put you in a bad position, and at the moment I can’t pay back the deposits like I promised, but I will. I’m setting up an appointment with a lawyer tomorrow. He’s…” Unless she wanted to be out on the street, she had to keep her lawyer’s identity a secret. “Supposed to be the best. And since the will and Gwyneth are all kind of tied up in it too, I thought he could maybe take on both cases. I’m going to ask if he’d agree to take his fee from the settlement.”

  Arianna turned. “I’m glad you’ve obviously given this some thought and taken steps to address the situation.”

  Jenna refused to be offended by Arianna’s condescending tone. She’d prove to both her stepsisters that she was as savvy as they were. Sure, she’d made a big mistake, a ginormous one, really. She’d put her trust in someone who didn’t deserve it. But as of this moment, she was turning over a new leaf. She was going to reinvent herself. She no longer wanted to be the princess in the story; she wanted to be the kick-butt heroine.

  Right, she was done with fairy tales and happily-ever-afters. She’d focus on proving to her stepsisters that she was worthy of a second chance. That was all she really wanted. A second chance to prove to them that they were better together than they were apart.

  “Thank you,” she said, choosing to take Arianna’s remark as a compliment, even though, if anyone deserved to take it as a compliment, it was Logan. He’d figuratively taken Jenna by the hand and put her on the road to recovery. “I thought maybe I could work for you, free of charge, of course, until I’ve paid off the money you put out for the deposits, and the dress.” She murmured the last because not only was the bottom of her dress in Logan’s truck, but so was the top, as well as the crinoline. He’d rolled them up in the blanket and taken them with him when he’d headed to the manor first thing that morning. She’d been too panicked about the missing ring to say anything.

  “It won’t be a problem to reattach the bottom of the dress. I’m sure we can sell it as gently used and cover the cost of material if not the labor,” Arianna said with a look that left little doubt she knew about Jenna’s performance at the Salty Dog. Still, she had no idea how well used the dress had been. Reattaching the bottom to the top would be easy compared to getting the stains out and repairing the hem.

  Which meant Jenna had to figure a way out of this. “Wouldn’t that be bad for business though? You wouldn’t want to undersell yourself or your brand. And really, I adore the dress.” It was true, she did. But even more than the dress, she loved that her sisters had worked so hard to make both her day and her wedding gown special.

  “All right. If that’s how you feel, you can keep it.”

  Whew, crisis averted. And since that went so well, Jenna felt emboldened to broach the idea of the three of them going into business together. “I have a way that I might be able to pay you back sooner.” At the look of interest in their eyes, she continued. “Whether the will is overturned or not, I’m not going back to Charleston. It’s not the same without Daddy there, and now it feels like I was living a lie. So I thought maybe I could rent space from you. Our businesses are compatible. I match them, and you marry them.” She laughed, a sudden case of nerves making it come out more like hee-haw than ha-ha. With some effort, she got her laughter under control.

  As the moments dragged on without a response from either Arianna or Serena, the smile Jenna had pasted on her face grew strained and almost painful. “Or I can just work for you and get a feel for the business. We can always revisit the idea of partnering up at a later date.” She heard a small peep and glanced at her scarf to see it moving. She covered the peep with a cough and the movement by waving the top of her scarf as though she were sweating and not freezing.

  “I hope I’m not coming down with something. Maybe I’ll get an early night,” she said, and came
to her feet.

  “You and Lorenzo were supposed to be heading home today so Serena moved back into her bedroom.” Her sisters had shared the king-size bed in Arianna’s room while Jenna and Lorenzo shared Serena’s. “I guess you can stay in my sewing room. It’s a little crowded, but there’s a daybed. We can discuss what you’ll be doing at Tie the Knot in the morning.”

  Jenna gave her a grateful smile. “Thank you. Have a good night.”

  “You too,” Arianna and Serena said at almost the same time, their half smiles as genuine as a three-dollar bill.

  It was like she was starting back at square one with them. She reminded herself how much worse it had been at square one, and the thought cheered her a bit. Despite the setback, they had made progress. Huge progress, really. After all, they’d invited her to live with them.

  However, the small blip of excitement became a distant memory the moment she opened the bedroom door at the end of the hall. Two sewing machines, a steamer, and three mannequins were crammed into the small space. Somewhere under the reams of fabric, she imagined, was a daybed. It was like she was starring in her own special version of Cinderella. She had a bird. All she needed were mice and a fat cat. And a fairy godmother. There was one positive though. The sewing room felt like a tropical paradise compared to the front room.

  But by the time Jenna organized the space so it wasn’t as claustrophobic and cleared the fabric off the daybed, she was sort of wishing the air conditioner cooled the back of the apartment as well as the front. Only she didn’t have the energy to hunt down a fan. With the scarf, she made a nest by her pillow and tucked both her and Pippa into bed. She clapped her hands to turn off the lights—an interesting discovery: Arianna was addicted to the Home Shopping Network—and then clapped again to turn them on. She set the alarm on her phone for low tide. She needed to be at the beach by one in the morning. Lucky for her, her sisters were sound sleepers.

  Just as she decided on the Jaws theme for her alarm’s ringtone, her cell phone rang. How apropos, she thought, because it was Lorenzo. She contemplated letting him go to voice mail, thought of all the reasons she didn’t want to ever speak to him again, and then reminded herself about her new leaf. It was time she called him on his crap.