Who's Been Sleeping in My Bed?

by Jami Davenport

  “And that is?”

  “Mariah called. She and Rico are building a horse facility in Malibu.”

  “That’s nice.” Feeling the worst was over, Jake dropped to the couch in front of the TV and picked up the remote and flipped through the other games to check the scores.

  “Jake…” She hovered near the couch and ignored him when he patted the spot next to him.

  “Hmmm?” Warning bells clanged in his head at her troubled expression.

  “Mariah offered me the job of barn manager.”

  The remote dropped to the floor, unnoticed. Jake’s stomach did a cannonball off the high dive board. “Are…are you going to take it?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “I see. You really love working with horses, don’t you?”

  “Yes. That’s all I’ve ever wanted to do.”

  “You could keep one here, you know.” Now why did he open his big mouth and make an offer like that? Sure, she burned up the sheets with him, but for her sake, why encourage her to stay? They both knew this wasn’t a long-term relationship. Doomed to disaster from the beginning, it wouldn’t survive the death of Rosehill. It couldn’t. She’d never forgive him once the demolition began.

  Unfortunately, he was short on options. He’d done his research. He couldn’t deny the sad truth. ReynCorp was in deep financial shit. If the resort failed, he’d single-handedly destroy what generations of Reynolds men had built over the past century. His family would never forgive him. On the other hand, if he went ahead with it, could he forgive himself?

  Damn. Now he was starting to doubt his intentions. Not good. He should send her on her way with a big bonus and his blessing. Get her out of Dodge before either of them faced the inevitable and everyone suffered the backlash. But he didn’t want her to leave.

  “Harlee, that’s a wonderful opportunity for you.” Liar. Liar. Liar. Was his nose growing? Nope, but something else sure was from thinking about her. “When will you be giving notice?”

  “I…I haven’t decided. I can stay until the end of the year. That’ll give you a little time to replace me.”

  Replace her? She was irreplaceable. “Sounds great. I’m excited for you.” His lifeless reply rang in his ears.

  “Thanks. It’ll be fun.” She turned to leave, but he stood and wrapped his fingers around her arm and pulled her against his chest. “Is there something more?” she inquired.

  “Yeah. Don’t make me sleep alone tonight.”

  “Okay.” Her sad smile stabbed deep into his soul, past all those things he pretended were important to the things that really were important.

  There had to be a compromise, a way out.

  Letting her go, Jake watched her disappear into the kitchen. Sinking into the rocking chair, he put his head in his hands and contemplated the mess he’d sown and was now reaping.

  * * * *

  The next morning, Harlee sat in the office and paid bills and went over the books.

  The phone rang, and she picked it up. “Mr. Parish. So nice to hear from you.” Harlee turned her back to the door and lowered her voice, as the man ranted on the other end of the phone. No one was in the office, but the trailer walls weren’t exactly well insulated.

  “Where the hell is that contract? I can’t hold a spot in my schedule based on a promise.” Parish sounded pissed.

  “Jake realizes time is short. He’ll return it to you as soon as he goes over a few points with his attorney. I’m sorry he hasn’t called you back. He’s a very busy man.”

  “He can’t be that busy. Tell him to call me.”

  “I’d be glad to field any questions you might have and get back to you. Perhaps, you might want to schedule other demolitions. We don’t mind waiting.”

  “You tell him if I don’t see that signed contract soon, he’ll be waiting till Puget Sound freezes over.”

  “Certainly, I’ll tell him. Thank you for calling.” Harlee placed the phone in its cradle. Someone cleared their throat behind her.

  Slowly, Harlee swiveled her chair to face her guest. “Uh, Bridget, I didn’t hear you come in.”

  “Obviously not.” Bridget’s face was unreadable.

  Harlee’s stomach lurched. This was it. Bridget knew she was up to something. She’d be fired by the end of the day. Even worse, she’d be alone tonight with her broken heart.

  Much to her surprise, Bridget didn’t make any further comment. She slid into the empty chair across from Harlee. She whipped out her tarot cards and an instruction book. After laying them out on the table and consulting her book, she looked up. “You’re at a crossroads in your life.”

  Harlee ignored her comment. “Are you going to tell Jake what you heard?”

  “My spiritual advisor says that we make our own choices. There’s no right or wrong. It’s what we choose to do with our choices that makes a difference.” Bridget picked up a card then flipped some pages in her book. “You’re falling in love with someone.”

  “So does that mean you will or won’t tell him?”

  “It’s my brother. You’re in love with Jake.” Bridget nodded sagely, attempting to look old and wise. She failed, and Harlee pursed her lips to stop a smile from spreading.

  “Are you going to tell Jake?” Why did Harlee get the feeling they were carrying on two separate conversations?

  “Deceit is rarely the right choice.”

  “Is that you talking or the cards?” Harlee liked Bridget better when she was being a rich snob.

  Bridget looked down her nose. “Then again, where my family and money are involved deceit might be the only choice.”

  “You’d know that better than me.” Harlee checked her e-mail, hoping Bridget would take a hint and take a hike.

  “You’re trying to stop the demolition, aren’t you?” Bridget turned over another card.

  “You can’t be seeing that in the cards.” Harlee abandoned her e-mail. No use lying about it when she’d been caught red-handed.

  “You doubt my powers?” Bridget feigned shock.

  “Oh, yeah. I definitely do.”

  With a sigh, Bridget gathered up the cards, and dropped them in her purse. “You’re messing with my aura.”

  Harlee shrugged. “Sorry. Are you going to tell Jake?”

  “No. It appears we have more in common than a love of horses. I want Rosehill saved, too.” Bridget looked up at her with a slow smile spreading across her face.

  “You do?” Harlee couldn’t conceal her shock. “Why?” she blurted out.

  Bridget sniffed, as if insulted. “Why wouldn’t I? I have strong moral convictions.” She leaned forward. “As odd as it seems, we’re on the same side. This’ll be hard on your relationship.”

  “What do you know about that?”

  “Brad is my twin, and he does have a big mouth.”

  “That figures.”

  Bridget checked her watch. “Lock this place up for the night. We have plans to make.”

  Several hours later and a couple bottles of wine, Bridget and Harlee were sprawled on the couch in Bridget’s rented waterfront condo.

  They schemed, plotted, and planned and ended back at square one. Bridget had an unnerving talent for spinning in circles without getting anywhere leaving Harlee to wonder if she was a detriment or an asset.

  “You and I are going to be working the crowd at Mother’s Christmas Charity Ball.”

  “Working the crowd?”

  “Anyone who’s anyone in Seattle will be there. They wouldn’t dare stand up my mother. We are going to garner support for Rosehill.”

  “Isn’t that going to be difficult since it’s your family who’s destroying it?”

  Bridget gave a wave of her hand. “A minor inconvenience. First, we need to get Jake to invite you. Second, and the hardest part, we need to work on you.”

  “Work on me. What do you mean?”

  Bridget raised one eyebrow in a manner that reminded Harlee of Mariah. “I’m going to do a makeover on you. Mental and physica
l. Let’s start with the mental. Until you change your thinking, your subconscious will strive to find ways uphold your negative self-image.” Bridget leaned forward, and Harlee leaned back. She hadn’t asked for this cheap counseling.

  “I’m not negative. I’m a very positive person,” Harlee bristled.

  Bridget dug in her purse and removed a mirror. She handed it to Harlee.

  “What am I supposed to do with this?”

  “Who do you see?”

  “I…I…”

  “Be honest. Who do you see?”

  “I see me.”

  Bridget snorted. “Fine, then I’ll tell you what I see. I see a twenty-seven-year-old woman who hides behind an image she’s created that’s in direct conflict with who she is inside.”

  “I’ve toned it down.” Harlee’s eyes opened wide. She couldn’t believe Bridget was that perceptive. She’d have accused her of reading her diary, if she kept one.

  “A little. Look again. Who do you want to see?”

  Harlee hesitated. Talk about a tough question to answer. She stared in the mirror and pictured the person she wanted to be. “I see—I see a well-dressed woman with classy clothes, perfect makeup, and styled hair. A confident woman who excels in her job. She excels at home, too. Not just in bed but in life.”

  “Do you see a man in this home?”

  “Uh, yes.” Harlee put down the mirror and picked at her fingernail polish.

  “What’s he doing?”

  “He’s loving me. He’s being there when I need him. We’re laughing, talking, sharing dreams. We’re working together to reach a common goal.”

  “Does he look like Jake?”

  “This is stupid.”

  “Does he?”

  The vision swam into view as clear as a high-definition TV screen. “I don’t know,” she lied.

  “Of course you know. Who is it?”

  “It might be him.”

  Bridget smiled one of her smug smiles. “Of course it is. This is fate.”

  “No, it’s a disaster waiting to happen. Rosehill stands between us. If he doesn’t demolish it, he loses. If he does demolish it, I lose. One of us can’t win in this situation. There’s no way out.”

  “There’s always a way out.”

  Harlee shook her head. Bridget didn’t understand where Jake was coming from; even Harlee didn’t fully understand the depth of his convictions. She understood the strength of them, though.

  “The way out is simple. Find a compromise.”

  “What compromise?”

  “Use your imagination. And know that I’m with you.”

  “You are?”

  “Certainly. The camp will continue.”

  “What do you know about the camp?”

  “I’ve researched it extensively. Saving it is one of the most productive uses of my time at this moment. It’s my mission.” Bridget smirked. “Besides, I delight in shaking this family up once in a while.”

  That made more sense than anything Bridget had said all night.

  Chapter 15—In Too Deep Without a Life Preserver

  Bolstered by her alliance with Bridget, Harlee attacked the morning mail with a vengeance. An angry letter from the demolition company demanded that the contract be returned by the end of the week. The original deadline had already expired. Business must be slow if they were giving Jake a second chance.

  Another letter contained a bid for clear-cutting Rosehill and requested confirmation of acceptance. No way was that happening on her watch. Some of those trees were over a century old, but since when did that matter to a Reynolds?

  With a flourish, Harlee added both letters to the growing pile in her bottom drawer and kicked it shut with her foot.

  She regretted the shambles her actions would make of their new relationship, but it couldn’t be helped. She had a mission to accomplish and nothing could stand in her way. Not even a man she’d fallen in love with. Even better, she had Mariah, Rico, and Bridget in her court.

  As much as she cared for Jake, her promise to Rose came first. If the man wanted a fight, he’d get it.

  So much for Plans A and C, it was time to initiate Plan B.

  * * * *

  “Dad, we have a problem. It’s Jake.”

  Joe Reynolds put down the book he’d been reading, a luxury he’d rarely afforded himself until recently.

  “I see. What now?”

  “I understand he’s having a relationship with his assistant.”

  Joe sighed. “I saw that coming at Thanksgiving. Tell me something I don’t know.”

  “Warren, your wayward nephew, is back in town. He paid me a visit. It appears he’s allied himself with Jill. She’s bent his ear about Harlee.”

  Joe shrugged. “Not my concern.”

  “Dad, aren’t you listening to me?”

  “I’m not interfering. This time Jake sinks or swims on his own.”

  “He’s taking us all down with him. Jake is compromising this project by having an affair with an employee, especially one with ties to that camp.”

  “What ties?” Joe sat up straighter.

  “You should have let me investigate her background like I wanted. Unfortunately, Jill’s done that for us. Not only did Harlee attend the camp as teenager, she was also a foster daughter of Rose’s. I understand she’s been making calls, trying to garner support to save Rosehill.”

  Joe frowned. This was not good news. “Do you think she’s using Jake?”

  “Without a doubt.”

  “Damn. When will that boy ever learn?”

  “There’s more.”

  “Go ahead.”

  “Bob Parish, the subcontractor for the camp demolition called. Jake won’t return his phone calls and hasn’t signed the contract.”

  “Harlee?”

  “I’d bet the farm on it. What are we going to do about it?”

  “Nothing. For now.” Joe was a man of action. He wanted to shake some sense into the pigheaded youngest son of his, but he wouldn’t. Jake needed to be given the opportunity to figure things out for himself—to a point.

  “But, Dad…”

  “No, Carson. Nothing. Not a word to anyone about Bob Parish.” Joe rubbed his eyes, feeling old and weary. He needed to retire. No matter the consequences to all of them, he wouldn’t interfere. He’d done it too many times with every one of his children.

  “But…”

  “This is Jake’s mess. I am not bailing him out this time.” He just prayed Jake didn’t ruin them all.

  * * * *

  Jake stood at the window of his small office. He watched the rain pelt the window pane and run down it in rivulets. He glanced at the doorway as his brother walked in.

  “Weren’t you just on the island a few days ago?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I sure am seeing a lot of you, and I doubt it’s because you miss my company.”

  “I had some unfinished business to attend to so I came back.”

  Brad might be a smooth liar, but Jake wasn’t fooled. “It’s Eva, isn’t it?”

  “Might be, and how’s Harlee?”

  “Uh, fine.”

  Brad narrowed his eyes. “How deep are you in this relationship with her?”

  Jake stiffened at the U-turn in the conversation. “That’s none of your business.”

  “Ah-ha. I’ll consider that an answer in itself.”

  “Consider it whatever you want.”

  “Then consider this. The possible ramifications of what you’re doing with her.”

  Jake knew exactly what he was doing with Harlee. Right or wrong, he didn’t have the strength to stop it. He needed her like a house needed nails. Without her, his framing would collapse in the first weak breeze. “I enjoy her company.”

  “Oh, shit.” Brad threw up his hands.

  “What?”

  “You’re more than sleeping with her.”

  “I don’t know what you mean.”

  “You probably don’t, you dumb bastard. But I kno
w that look. We are brothers, after all. Damn. Damn. Damn. Jake, this is not good.”

  “What the fuck are you talking about?”

  “You’re not just sleeping with her, you’re in love with her.”

  “Bullshit. I’m fond of her. I like her. I want to see her make the best of her life. But that’s it. I’m not abandoning my plans for Rosehill. And…I’m not making a future with her either.”

  Brad rolled his eyes. “You’re so full of bullshit.”

  “Go to hell.”

  “Little brother, I would, but you need me. And as much as you like to pretend that you belong there, you have too many scruples to ever end up in a place like that.”

  “God, I hate it when you give me credit for being a decent person.”

  “Well, you are. Too much sometimes.”

  “Next thing you know, you’ll tell me I’m going to save that camp.”

  Brad raised his eyebrows.

  “I’m not,” Jake growled and pounded his first on the desk.

  “Testy, aren’t we?”

  “I don’t need this. Not from you.”

  “Well, brace yourself because you’re going to get it from more than me.”

  “Huh?”

  “Warren’s back in town. Rumor is that he’s been hanging out with Jill. He’s paid Carson a visit. Jill’s had Harlee’s background checked. She found out about her former involvement with the camp.”

  “And so now Carson knows?”

  “Oh, yeah, and what Carson knows, Dad knows. You’re sinking in deeper, little brother. I’d throw you a life preserver, but I’m fresh out.” Brad checked his watch. “Oops. I’m late. Gotta go. I’ll check in with you later.”

  Jake stared at the door long after Brad peeled out of the driveway. Warren was back in town and allied with Jill. His Dad and Carson aware of his assistant’s conflict of interest. What a crappy twist of fate.

  Brad’s accusations that Jake might be in love came as the biggest twist of all. He hadn’t been in love since Tammy. Not that he’d even been in love then. He’d thought he was. He’d been a randy nineteen-year-old taken to the Promised Land by a nympho. Tammy’s fake boobs were about the biggest things he’d ever seen at the time. Then his parents cut him off, and she burned rubber right out of his bedroom and his life.