She seemed relieved.
“You okay?” He wiped a lipstick smudge from her cheek and his index finger lingered a second longer than necessary. Staying away from her beautiful pout wasn’t going to be easy.
• • •
The minute she saw herself in the mirror, Leigh was mortified. She’d managed to get to the bathroom without running into anyone, but she didn’t know how she’d clean up without washing her face and starting over from scratch. The eyes looking back at her were rimmed with dark smudges no doubt caused by her recent tears. Her lips had that freshly kissed bruised look, her lipstick was all but gone, and her fancy updo hung off to one side. She made a mental note to use waterproof mascara and wear her hair down next time. Her heart sank. There wouldn’t be a next time. David had made very clear what he was interested in, and she’d completely shut him down.
Someone pushed in the door of the ladies room and brought in the cool evening breeze and the echoes of the party on the upper deck. Her glance met Andrea’s in the mirror.
“Somebody’s been naughty.” Andrea grinned.
Ugh. Leigh lowered her gaze and turned away from their reflections. “Andrea, I’m not in the mood — ” She turned to find her stepmother pulling a make-up bag from her purse.
“Let me help.” Andrea held up a tissue and a little vial of moisturizer as peace offerings.
Leigh smiled and shook her head, resigned.
Needing no more encouragement, Andrea reached up and carefully wiped the smudges with gentle strokes. “He still looks at you the way he did when you were teenagers.”
“He looks at me the way he looks at all women. I’m no more special than anyone else.” Hot tears prickled her eyes. Leigh glanced away, hurt knotting her throat.
“Baby doll. Those other girls don’t stand a chance against you. Now hold still.” Andrea fussed around her, trying to pin her hair back up.
“Why are you being so nice to me?”
“Because I care about you. Look up.” Andrea applied a coat of mascara to Leigh’s bottom lashes, “Now, down,” then to the top ones.
“You’ve sure had a funny way of showing it.” Leigh gazed at her transformation. “Thanks, that’s better.”
“I know. I was young and insecure then, and now I’m old and vulnerable.”
“You were my age when you and Dad started dating. Or did you start dating even sooner than I remember?”
“Lipstick?”
“Please. I can do this.” Leigh took the tube from Andrea. Hot Pink Surprise. Not exactly the color she would have chosen for herself, but she dabbed a bit of the frosty gloss on her lips anyway.
“I might have been close to your age when I met your father, but I didn’t have half your talent or courage.” Andrea smiled. “Hell, you knew more about the world than me, even back when we first met.”
“C’mon. You’re exaggerating.” She put Andrea’s make-up back into its case. “Thanks.”
Andrea put it away and pressed her hands in Leigh’s. “If anyone can tame David, you can. You’re the woman for him, he just doesn’t know it yet. And, you’re welcome.”
Leigh looked deep into her stepmother’s eyes and saw nothing but concern. Could she have misjudged her?
They went back to the party, and Leigh did her best to mingle and smile at everyone. But inside, she was tormented. And every time she glimpsed or thought she saw David, her heart jumped into her throat. Whether the rest of The Sun’s staffers had noticed their disappearance or not, everyone was at least polite enough not to say anything. Even Geoffrey, who made it his business to know her business, didn’t comment. Thank God. She wasn’t in the mood for his witty quips.
• • •
What would Ben think of all this? He’d entrusted David with his two most prized possessions — his paper and his daughter. David’s stomach twisted into a knot.
“Okay, spill it.” Geoffrey barged into his office and flopped into the chair across from his desk.
“Have a seat.” David motioned to the already occupied chair and grinned.
“So, what gives? Where’d you two disappear to the other night?”
Of course. Geoffrey noticed their disappearance from the party. Hoping no one had was ridiculous. “It’s not what you think. I needed to discuss some paperwork with her, and we went for a walk on the lower deck. It took a little longer than expected. That’s all.”
“Okay. Redo. I’m going to ask you again, and this time you’re going to tell me the truth. What happened between you two at the Moonlight Cruise?”
Leigh walked by David’s office, her tall silhouette casting a brief shadow on the wall. David’s glance followed her. For a split second, their eyes met, and a pulse of electricity danced up his spine. He tore his gaze away from the sway of her hips and feline stride. Geoffrey stared, his mouth pulled into a silly grin.
“What are you smiling about?”
“My God! You’re positively distracted. I knew it. She wouldn’t tell me anything, but I knew something was up. So, what are you going to do now?”
“I’m not going to do anything. I don’t know what you think is going on here Geoff, but there is nothing between us. We went for a walk. We talked. That’s it. End of story.”
“Whatever.” Geoffrey stood up from the chair. “I know there’s something going on between you two.” On that note he turned and left the office like a man who’d just scooped the week’s biggest story.
Geoff had put his finger on it. David did like Leigh, and he didn’t know what to do about it. It wasn’t supposed to be this way. Could lust make you imagine things?
He walked over to her office, but a phone conversation had all her attention. He stopped dead in his tracks ready to turn around. The interview had her so involved she didn’t see him there. He watched her, unable to pull his gaze away. She’d kicked her shoes off and was tapping her right foot with impatience. Light pink nail polish covered her toenails, and a small gold chain decorated her right ankle — a tiny heart dangling from one side. He’d never thought he could be so turned on by a woman’s ankles. Then again, he never would have guessed a few stolen kisses could turn him upside down.
“Only a few more weeks to go … I’ll be back in New York before you know it … Any news about the job? … I know … all right, Jack … I’ll talk to you then. Bye.”
His heart sank. Only a few more weeks to go. He’d known she’d be leaving as soon as the paper was hers. So, why did hearing her say it bother him so much?
She looked up and saw him standing there. “David. Hi. Have a seat.”
“Old friend?” He asked, trying to sound nonchalant.
“Jack? Yes. Well, he’s — he’s my boss actually.” She looked uncomfortable. David’s stomach lurched. Could he be jealous? This was a new feeling for him.
“And you’re leaving.” It was more of a statement than a question. She’d leave. Of course she would. A small town like Watford couldn’t keep a beautiful and urbane woman like her happy.
“Yes.” That protective wall she’d hidden behind when they first met sprang up. “As soon as my three months are up, I’ll be going back to New York. We’ve already been over this.”
He clenched his jaw. He knew he had no right to be irritated with her, but he just couldn’t believe she’d decided to walk away from everything so soon after her arrival. “What about the paper?”
“I’m going to sell.”
“I should have known.”
“Excuse me?”
“Nothing. Never mind.” He should have kept walking and never walked in there.
“Never mind? You come in here, eavesdrop on a personal conversation, and now you’re brushing me off. What did you think would happen? That I’d stay? Here?” She looked around with disdain. “And do what? Work myself to death trying
to keep this paper alive?” She scoffed. “Oh, wait. Wait! I know. I should stay and compete with every girl in town for your attention.”
He loved Watford and its slow coastal pace. And what was wrong with enjoying the company of women? “You’re right. I don’t know what I was thinking. I knew you’d end up selling out and turning your back on us, on your father. I just didn’t think it would happen so soon.” Immediately after saying it, he wanted to take it back. Too late. The damage was done.
She blanched, and her knuckles turned white. “I will run this paper as I see fit. And if that means selling out by selling to the highest bidder, then so be it.”
“Leigh, I shouldn’t have — ”
“But you did. Now get out.”
Chapter Five
Leigh watched David leave with a mixture of regret and relief. His words ate at her, scolding and pestering. How could he accuse her of turning her back on them and her father? This week alone, she’d put in well over sixty hours at the paper.
She walked over to her father’s old office and sat in the big burgundy leather chair behind the hefty mahogany desk. She breathed in the smell of old books and expensive leather as she sat down. “Hi, Dad,” she whispered. She leaned back and looked out the bay window onto the harbor. The low afternoon sun shone on the cresting waves, and a few small fishing boats struggled against the choppy waves despite the impending storm.
“You knew this would happen, didn’t you?” Leigh crossed her arms like a cranky child. Anyone eavesdropping would think she’d lost her mind. She spoke to her father more often now than she had when he was alive. “What am I going to do? Stay here, work at the paper, and forego the biggest promotion of my career?”
The writer’s photo stared back from the far wall.
“I can’t spend the rest of my life in a town where everybody knows my business and judges my every move.”
“You’re right. We can’t have that.”
Leigh jumped at the sound of Geoffrey’s voice.
“Talking to yourself, dear?”
“Not anymore.” She smiled and waved him in.
“What’s on your mind?” Geoffrey set his camera down on the table and walked over to the coffee maker. The pot was empty.
“I had another run-in with David. I don’t know what his problem is.”
Geoffrey took out a filter and a canister of ground coffee. “What happened?”
“He overheard me talking to Jack about going back to New York.”
He rinsed out the coffee pot and filled it with cold water. “And you’re surprised he’s upset?”
“Upset hardly describes it. He was downright angry about it.”
“It’s not just the job, and you know it.”
“You still on about that? David is not interested in me. He’s already given me his ‘live in the moment’ spiel.”
Geoffrey raised his eyebrows and shook his head. “Wow, he’s got it even worse than I thought.” He stuck a new filter and fresh grounds into the percolator.
“He accused me of turning my back on the paper and on my dad.”
“Well, aren’t you?”
“Hey. That’s not fair.”
He poured the water in. “You’re right. There’s nothing fair about any of this. Try to see it from David’s point of view.” The comforting aroma of fresh coffee filled the room as the grounds and hot water melded.
“Pa-lease. You don’t honestly believe anyone in their right mind would stay here if they were given the chance to work at one of the biggest papers in New York.”
Geoffrey’s smile faded. “David did.”
“What do you mean?”
“With his grade point average, he could have gone to Stanford or Columbia. But he decided to stay here and help your dad with the paper, so he went to Northeastern because of their co-op program. It took him six years to get his degree. He worked here day in and day out, then drove to Boston every night of the week for classes I never heard him complain about it.”
“He did that? For Dad? Why didn’t I know about this?”
“Would it have made a difference?”
A familiar stab of sadness assailed her as she thought of her father and the way they’d drifted apart. “Probably not.”
Geoffrey poured himself a cup of coffee and turned to face her. “I know it hasn’t always been easy, but you’ve got a chance to make things right. Don’t blow it.”
Then, before she could get another word in, he delivered the final jab.
“Oh, and one last thing, honey — some of us like it here.” On that note, he took his cup of coffee and walked out.
• • •
David decided to take the rest of the day off. He didn’t think he could stand another sparring match with Leigh. He couldn’t understand why he was so upset. Other women had come and gone, and this one wanted to leave. It was the perfect scenario. So why did he want to make her stay? He watched from behind his monitor until she was deep in conversation with someone and made his exit. Avoiding her was becoming second nature.
As soon as he set foot on the street his troubles melted away. The hot summer breeze caressed his face, beckoning him to his boat. He strolled down Princess Street to the marina, glad The Sun’s founders had chosen to build the paper’s presses so close to the water. Families, tourists, and locals alike, walked hand in hand, taking in the town’s charm. Here and there, in the sidewalks’ nooks and crannies, little piles of red, white, and blue confetti remained, colorful reminders of Watford’s Independence Day festivities.
“Sneaking off early?” He turned to see Old Bruce coming out of O’Malley’s Bakery.
“You bet. The wind’s been calling me all morning.”
“Me, too.”
“Here, let me carry your gear.” He took one of Bruce’s bags and followed him down the cobblestone street.
“That was an excellent party the other night.”
“I’m glad you had a good time. We weren’t sure we’d have one this year, on account of — you know.” David’s voice trailed off.
“I know.” Bruce gave his arm an awkward pat. They walked in silence for a while. Here and there, people came in and out of shops, their arms laden with expensive-looking bags and parcels. A recent increase in tourism had really given the town’s businesses a boost. Now if he could just get them all to buy newspapers.
A stray Frisbee landed at David’s feet. He picked it up and tossed it to a couple of kids in the park across the way. They waved in thanks.
“I was glad to see Leigh there,” Bruce said, taking his attention away from them. “I wasn’t sure she’d show.”
David nodded. Talking about Leigh, hell just thinking about her was bound to get him into hot water.
“She looks just like her mother,” Bruce continued. “Really, it’s quite striking.”
“What was she like?”
“Vivian? She was the sweetest thing. Warm, giving, and down to earth — not pretentious one bit.”
“Gee, sounds just like Leigh.”
Bruce stopped and gave him an amused look. “You didn’t seem to mind her company so much the other night.”
“Yeah, well, that was then. I don’t know what it is about her, but we just can’t seem to get along for more than a few hours at a time.”
“Sounds like you like each other.”
“Excuse me? Didn’t I just say we don’t get along?”
“You did. But it seems to me you wish you could.”
“It does, doesn’t it?” He laughed. “Maybe I do, but it’s pointless. I’m a small town guy, and she — she can’t wait to get the hell out of here and back to New York.”
“I remember a time when all you could talk about was going to New York.”
“That was a long time a
go, Bruce. I made my choice, and I’ve never regretted it.”
“You don’t sound like a guy with no regrets.”
“All right,” he said, giving Bruce a mock glare. “That’s enough psychoanalysis. I’ve got people lining up to give me grief, I don’t need you getting on the bandwagon.”
Bruce had a point. For a guy who never wanted to settle down, he sure did spend a lot of time thinking about Leigh.
When they got to the water, a long line of cars had already formed at the foot of the city. Old Watford’s waterfront teamed with people, and the marina buzzed with excitement. The hot July weather and warm gusting wind had drawn sailors, vacationers, and just about everyone else to the water. David pulled out his key and led Bruce through the entrance reserved to members.
As soon as they got onto the pier, David spotted Destiny, Bruce’s catamaran.
“Want to join me for lunch and a sail?” Bruce asked.
“Thanks, but I’m going to pass. I really need some alone time.”
They crossed the wooden dock to their respective slips. David watched as Bruce hopped onto his Hobie Cat’s raised platform. “You’re pretty limber for an old guy,” he called out, then grinned.
Bruce shook his head and laughed. “Instead of giving an old man a hard time why don’t you tell your girlfriend how you feel about her,” he yelled back.
David shook his head and turned to his boat, Serendipity. After he’d bought the catamaran, Bruce had sold him his old sloop for a song. She wasn’t a beautiful boat, but she was solid and seaworthy. He hadn’t taken Ben’s yacht, Ocean Breeze, out yet. He couldn’t bring himself to. Not yet. Besides, he wasn’t sure he could sail her alone.
As he hoisted the sails up to half-mast, David’s thoughts crept back to Leigh’s office, where she sat, barefoot. He loved the way she dangled a shoe from her toes, when she talked on the phone. Bruce’s words nagged at him.
How could he tell her how he felt when he didn’t know himself?
Heart to Heart Page 11
