by Ava Miles
Her throat closed like she was being choked.
“There’s always been something more between us. I was too scared before. Still am, but I’m trying.” He sat up straight. “Jill, when you offered yourself to me after graduation, I wanted to take you and never stop. But the other part . . .” He let out his breath in one long whoosh. “After what happened with my parents, I didn’t believe anything could last. Not even us. So I pushed you away and hooked up with Kelly. I thought we’d go back to being friends.
“I knew I was leaving.” He stood up, tapping his thigh. “Jill, I had to make something of myself. Prove to my dad and everyone who’d ever made fun of me that I could become a successful chef. Training locally wasn’t good enough. I wanted the best, and I got it. When I left, I was sure you’d forgive me, but you never talked to me again.”
She’d died a little inside each time she ignored one of his calls, but it had seemed like the right thing to do at the time—the only thing to do.
He sat on the coffee table in front of her. “When I got to New York, I finally realized the enormity of what I’d done. I’d lost you. I’d lost the only family who’d ever really cared for me. You can’t know how much I regretted that. I put everything that was left of me into becoming a successful chef, but it never made up for what I’d lost.”
Her lip started to tremble as she picked up on the anguish in his voice.
“Don’t you understand what I’m saying? Jill, I never forgot about you.”
He opened his palm and extended his hand to her. As she gazed at it, something inside her opened—a shaft of hope or longing. She couldn’t be sure which. She only knew she needed to grab his hand in this moment or everything between them would be lost.
So she did.
“Jill, I was trying to swim in the shallow end and build my courage up for deep water—where I knew you wanted us to be. Then, Simca came back. I didn’t tell you about her because I knew you’d be disappointed. I know how upset you were when Meredith’s ex cheated on her. I thought everything in New York was over. I wanted it to be.”
She thought of her conversation with Simone. “But she can help restore your professional reputation.” It took all of her strength, but she met his eyes.
“Yes, she can. And I won’t lie and say it’s not everything I’d hoped for professionally.” The grooves around his mouth deepened. “But this isn’t only about my career. It’s about us, Jillie. I love you. I need you to believe that.”
His earnestness finally penetrated her psyche, but all the secrets and lies were like cement shoes, anchoring her in place.
“Everything’s tangled up right now, Bri. I don’t know what to think.”
“We’ll work out the tangles together.” He kissed her palm. “Just don’t throw everything away, not now.”
How could she explain that the girl she’d been, who’d always saw the best in him, wanted to hold his hand and never let go, but the woman in her was wary of being hurt even more? “There’s a lot to consider.”
He rocked in place. “Okay, tell me about the job offer.”
Dread trickled up her spine. “I can’t. I signed a confidentiality agreement.”
His eyes narrowed. “Can’t or won’t?”
“I can’t. Please believe me.”
His body coiled like it was ready to strike. He stood. “Okay. As a show of good faith, I won’t argue with you. Promise me you won’t rush into this other offer, though. Give us some time to…work things out personally and see if we can revisit the idea of working together.”
She bobbed her head, afraid she was held together by nothing more than a plastic spring. “Okay. I’ll…call you.”
His mouth tipped up. “That’s supposed to be my line. You know we still need to talk about what happened the other night.”
Panic clawed its way to the surface, making her want to hide. “I’m not ready yet.”
He held his hands up slowly. “I understand. I wasn’t exactly ready for how it would be between us either. Jill, it scared the hell out of me.” He turned toward the door, so she followed him. He tugged his gloves on. “But I’m more scared of being without you, so I’ll deal. Making love with you was more intense than I could ever have imagined, Jillie. I want to be with you like that again.”
Every ounce of moisture drained from her mouth. God, she wanted that too. She’d barely slept in Denver, playing it over and over in her mind. “Perhaps we should get you a life preserver,” she tried to joke.
He cocked his head.
“For the deep end,” she filled in, fiddling with the hem of her fleece.
“Ah,” he responded, so quiet it was almost an afterthought. “So…well, this is awkward. I usually know what to say to you.”
She understood. A new chasm gaped between them. Years of friendship and easy camaraderie evaporated like water on sauna rocks.
“‘Bye’ works,” she managed to say.
He stared at her for so long she wasn’t sure he was going to leave. His gaze wandered over her body. Lingered on her mouth. If a man could make love to a woman with his eyes, she’d just been ravished. Her heart beat in desperate taps.
“Bye, Jillie,” he uttered, his voice deep and thick.
He shut the door, leaving her with silence.
Chapter 20
The Western Independent’s morning local headline—Gambling and Restoration Planned for Pincari’s Folly—couldn’t have come as a bigger surprise to Jill. Arthur Hale didn’t write articles as often as he once did. These days he spent most of his time managing the paper and writing the Sunday editorial. Wasn’t it her luck he’d worked his journalism magic again by uncovering a story that involved her?
She absently waved to Margie and mumbled hello to the early birds. Despite the busy-ness of the seven o’clock hour, she closed her office door for some alone time. The smoky smell of her espresso prompted an all-over shiver.
It didn’t take long to read the story, which included all the details Mac had told her just the day before. Grandpa’s legendary journalistic sources at work again. Did nothing get by the man? She slapped a hand to her forehead. Oh, hell. Mac might think she’d told her grandfather everything. She eyed the clock and dug into her purse for her cell. Better leave a message for Mac now and tell him she had nothing to do with this.
“Good morning, Jill,” his enticing voice said after the third ring. “I imagine you’ve seen your grandfather’s article.”
“I didn’t say anything, I promise.” Her emotions were a roller coaster. She could feel the climb. “I only said I was in Denver for a meeting.”
“I believe you, Jill. Calm down.”
Her fingers uncurled from the paper, leaving them black with newsprint. “Trying.”
“Your grandfather got tipped off by someone in the Gaming Commission. I suspect I know who. He and Arthur know each other. I hoped he wouldn’t leak this, but now that he has, I’ll have his head on a platter.”
The determination in his voice made her bite her lip. “What do you want me to do?”
“I’m driving up to Dare this morning. Your grandfather moved everything up a bit, but I’ll adjust.”
“What do you mean?”
“I need to submit my development plans to Dare’s local government today. They can review them while the Gaming Commission decides on the validity of my gambling license. The law is on my side. The decision should come in tonight, tomorrow at the latest.”
Another phone rang in the background. “I was hoping to have the decision concluded before submitting my plans to Dare’s Planning and Zoning office, but I can’t afford to wait. I won’t have this drawn out. Jill, have you made a decision yet? A yes would be music to my ears right now.”
She bounced in her seat. Brian had asked her not to rush into anything. “Well, I’m feeling the pinch here. I wanted to have a little more time to think about it. Can’t I tell you once we know whether the hotel’s a go? After all, the position you offered me is for the hotel.
”
“Well, I wanted to include your role in the proposal. It cements my local approach and will make people feel more comfortable.” There was an audible pause. “All right. I won’t renege on the timeline we agreed upon, but I have another proposition. My PR person can’t add the value you can in Dare, and I could use your help with the locals. Would you be willing to work with me on a short-term contract until the city council vote? Introduce me to the key people. Be seen in public with me? You won’t believe how much that will help, and it’ll give you the time you need to see if you like working with me. You could wait until the vote to give me your decision about working together on a more permanent basis.”
She had no guilt saying yes to that. This hotel would be good for the town, and she would have helped make it happen even without a contract. “You’re confident. I like that. Okay. Sounds perfect.”
“I’ll give you a higher daily rate than I proposed in the long-term contract since it won’t include benefits. You can bill me for the hours you work. I know you have other demands on your time.”
His understanding made her heart leap; his excitement was infectious. “Great!”
“You’ve made my day,” he said with such enthusiasm, she could almost hear the grin in his voice. “I want your help with the city council members. There will be a public hearing. I’d also like your help with local groups like any women’s societies, the Rotary Club, that sort of thing. And it would be great to get your thoughts on our PR message and whether we’re making charitable donations to the right places. There’s a whole bunch of checks ready to send out. We’ve been ready for this launch for weeks.”
Her mind raced like a bicycle tire going downhill, faster and faster. He was like a tornado in action, his mental gymnastics winding her up. A hearty dose of trepidation came with her excitement. This was a whole new ballpark. Did she have what it took? She looked around her office. Let her eyes scan the Small Business of the Year Award on the wall. Two years ago, she’d been the youngest person in Dare ever to win it. Hell, yes, she could do this.
“Count me in,” she responded coolly.
“I’d like you to come with me to drop the plans off at city hall. Show your support from the start. Can you do that?”
She ran her finger down her yellow and green polka dot calendar. “Yes, I can make time.”
“Fine, I’ll pick you up. It’ll be after three o’clock. Where will you be?”
She glanced down at her jeans and sweater. “At my house. I’ll need to change.”
“How about I call you when I hit Sardine Canyon?”
“Okay,” she replied, mentally reshuffling her day.
“Can you get me an interview with your grandfather? I’d like to pitch my side of the story to the paper as soon as possible.”
She stilled in her chair. “I need to keep the paper separate from our involvement. The Hale family is strict about neutrality.”
His silence had her fiddling with her a pen.
“I see. We’ll work around it.”
“I don’t even place ads for my shop in the paper. Someone else handles it.”
“Understood. I need to run. See you soon, Jill.” He hung up before she could muster a goodbye.
Grabbing her purse, she decided to visit the paper. Grandpa and Mere had some explaining to do first about their meeting with Brian. After they’d eaten crow, she’d tell them her news about Mac. Then, she’d find Brian and clue him in.
It was going to be one hell of a morning.
Chapter 21
Coming to the family paper could be as social as the Welcome Wagon. Thankfully the earliness of the hour kept the chitchat to a minimum. She cleared a path to Meredith’s office in record time. Her sister’s hair hung in wet locks from her morning swim with Tanner.
“You,” she pointed at her sister. “With me. We’re going to find Grandpa and get a few things straight.”
She nearly bumped into Tanner, who appeared behind her. “Good morning, Jill.” His damp hair had a slicked back look only a strong-jawed man could make attractive.
“Were you part of the Hale smackdown on Brian yesterday?”
He flicked a glance at Meredith. “I thought I’d infuse a little reason into the proceedings. The wolves were hungry.”
Meredith huffed, crossing her arms over her navy jacket.
Jill’s hand swept out. “Okay, then follow me. We need to get some things straight. Plus, I have news.”
She headed to the paper’s nucleus. Arthur Hale didn’t believe in corner offices. His kingdom lay right in the thick of things. “We need to talk,” she announced without preamble.
He lifted his thinning white-haired head from the stack of newspapers on his desk. He read in order of geography, from east to west. He started with The New York Times, The Boston Globe, and The Washington Post and then headed across the country, reading the The Chicago Tribune and The San Francisco Chronicle. He added in dozens of smaller markets too, topping out at fifteen to twenty papers daily.
He lowered his rimless glasses. “What crawled up your backside?”
She stepped aside to let Tanner and Meredith into the office and closed the door behind them. “You did. You all did.”
“That’s no way to greet your grandfather.”
She crossed her arms. “Tough. Imagine my surprise when Brian told me you and Mere confronted him like some mob family. Why didn’t you talk to me first?”
Her hand pressed against her pounding heart. Damn, she hated confrontations. Facing down family was more painful than getting your tongue stuck to a flag-pole in the winter.
Meredith came over. “I’m sorry. We—”
“We knew exactly what we were doing,” Arthur interrupted, standing up, his ancient chair squeaking. “We love you. It’s our job to watch out for you. When that French tart made a scene at your shop, you’d better believe I checked up on her. Imagine our surprise when we read that her husband accused Brian—someone you’ve been talking about starting a business with—of theft.” He tapped his cane on the floor like a circus master introducing the main event. “Then you went to Denver out of the blue. We were worried.”
They’d get to that in a minute. “Why did you interfere? Brian and I need to work this out ourselves.”
Meredith rubbed her arm. “We just—”
“Meddled with a capital M,” she finished, her mouth twisting.
Tanner stood against the wall, completely still in that eerie way he had from working in warzones overseas.
“What about you? Did you think this was the best course of action?”
He scratched his jaw. “I’m taking the fifth.”
Her grandpa patted her arm with his age-spotted hand. “We’re only trying to protect you.”
“I don’t want that,” she said, exasperated, but a little moved by the thought. “It’s my life.”
“Fiddlesticks,” her grandpa said. “There are times in your life when you hear tough information and telling the person directly isn’t the best approach.” He fluffed himself up like a Thanksgiving turkey. “Listen to the voice of wisdom.”
She rolled her eyes.
Tanner cocked his head to the side. “Jill, Mere and Arthur looked Simone Moreau up because it’s what they do. When they discovered Brian’s…challenges, they faced the classic dilemma. Do you tell or ignore it? They chose a third way. They told Brian they were going to leave it up to him to tell you, or they would.”
“You hurt me,” she finally uttered.
Mere and her grandpa crowded close, making a circle. “I’m sorry,” they both said in unison, hugging her like a barrel of monkeys.
“Jill, you said you had news,” Tanner reminded her, moving the conversation along with his usual finesse.
She cocked a hip. “Don’t I get a hug?”
His mouth tipped up, but he didn’t move. “You trying to meet a quota?”
Her grandpa gave a sputtering laugh when she stuck her tongue out.
She st
epped back to get some space. “You know the article you printed this morning about Mac Maven?”
Her grandpa’s face drew in—eyes narrowing, mouth pinching. “What about it?”
She took a breath. “He was the reason I drove to Denver. He offered me a job with the hotel if it passes the city council.”
Meredith’s mouth gaped.
Her grandpa brought his cane down. “What in the hell did he offer you? A job cutting cards wearing a slutty tutu outfit?”
“No. He wants me to be the Creative Director. Part of my job would be to draw in locals and give the place a Dare Valley feel.”
“Bull pucky,” her grandpa exclaimed. “He wants your name to grease the wheels with the city council.” He yanked at his gray cardigan sweater. “Jill, you know we don’t involve ourselves with controversial issues. We have to maintain a neutral position in the community.”
She blew a raspberry. “You choose sides all the time with your editorials. Besides, I don’t work here. I’m a local businesswoman and a Dare citizen.”
Meredith pushed her red hair behind her ears. “But you’re still a Hale. Jill, what about the restaurant talks with Brian?”
“I…don’t know. He’s pursuing options. So am I.” Jill paced to the other side of the room.
“Probably for the best. What do you know about Maven?” Meredith asked, fiddling with her gold necklace. “He’s a poker player.”
And a businessman, she thought, but they hadn’t met him. “You make it sound like he’s some degenerate, Mermaid.” She turned to her grandpa and pointed. “You do your homework. What’s your impression of Mac, his profession aside?”
Her grandpa worried his lip. His cane tapped as he made his way back to his desk. He picked up a file, studied it, and then handed it to her. “He’s driven, smart, controlled. Likes to build businesses as much as he likes to play cards. He’s found a way to be successful at both. And he’s a family man, which surprised me.”
“Yes, he told me all that. I like him.” She gazed at the file. “You’re giving me your research?”
