by Oliver, Tess
Mom held a plate on her palm. “Someone left us a box of incredibly delicious cinnamon rolls.” She took a bite and smiled.
Color and life had returned to her complexion. Yesterday when she’d arrived at the hospital, she was pale with worry and emotion. I’d waited for her in the waiting room, and she’d broken into tears the moment she saw me. She stayed at Matt’s side for the entire day, and Dad had sat on the opposite side. It was the first time I’d seen them both sit in the same room for more than fifteen minutes without fighting.
I sat up and cracked my back and neck. “That lounge was not as comfortable as I’d hoped.”
“I’m sorry, Sweetie. I won’t be in your way much longer. Once Matty comes--”
“You’re not in my way,” I said abruptly. “Damn it, why do you say stuff like that? You’re my mom and I see you three times a year, how could you possibly think you’re in my way?”
Tears filled her eyes instantly. I stood and put my arm around her shoulder. “I’m just glad you came. Matt really needed you yesterday.”
“You know how much I love you boys, don’t you?” she asked shakily.
I kissed her cheek. It was still the same smooth skin I remembered kissing good night when I was little. “I know you do, Mom.” It was strange how much one scary event could change all your perceptions. But after seeing both my parents nearly sick with horror at how close they were to losing Matt yesterday, I realized that as much as we’d all grown apart, we were all still closely attached. Even Dad had seemed like a different man yesterday.
“Are there anymore rolls?” I asked as I lead her inside.
“I think. Unless Reeve has eaten them all,” she said.
Dad and Reeve were standing at the kitchen counter, leaning over the pink bakery box as Mom and I stepped inside. Rich cinnamon fragrance filled the air, and Dad looked lost in his thoughts.
“I still remember when Matt thought he’d caught some giant fish or shark, and he pulled up his line and there was a tire hooked on it.” Dad laughed and took a bite of the roll he held.
“He was so disappointed, he cried for an hour.” Mom reached into the box and plucked out a roll. She turned and handed it to me. She’d lightened her hair some, and there were a few more lines around her eyes, but even though I rarely saw her anymore, everything about her was still so familiar it sent a pang of homesickness through me.
She placed her hand on my arm. “Thank you for looking after Matt. When I think what might have been if you hadn’t--” Her words choked off and she was tearing up again.
Dad walked over and patted her on the back. “Kate, everything is fine now.”
“Is it?” she asked angrily. “And when you build your posh resort down here, then what? The boys will be surfing all the time. I’ve always hated the sport. It’s so dangerous.”
“I’ll have more lifeguard towers built, and I’ll make sure they are manned earlier in the season. Angel Beach will look entirely different in a few years.” He took a bite of the cinnamon roll. “These sure are delicious.”
So much for thinking yesterday’s experience had humbled him or lessened his desire to chase people from their homes. “I guess you can say goodbye to that delicious roll when you chase away the owner of Rainbow’s End,” I said.
“Who?” He wiped a strand of sticky filling from his chin.
“The owner of the bakery who left those rolls on the doorstep this morning.”
Dad looked confused. “Why would that kooky, old woman have left them? She despises me.”
“Not everyone is as full of spite as you are Dad.”
Anger flashed across his face. “Look, Jay, it’s been a trying couple of days. Don’t start with me right now.”
But I wasn’t ready to back down. “I assure you the box came from the owner. People line up at dawn and wait for hours to get some of those rolls. They aren’t likely to give them up easily when they are so hard to get. Especially not for us. We aren’t exactly loved around here.”
“You’re wrong,” Dad said sharply. “I’ve made some of the neighbors around here decent offers on their properties. It looks like some will be handing over deeds very soon. Others will follow.”
“Has it ever occurred to you that the reason people come here is because Angel Beach is a cool little town?” I asked.
“It’ll be better than ever once I own it.”
“You may have convinced some of the people to leave, but most of the locals have no intentions of moving away from Angel Beach . . . including the granddaughter of the kooky, old woman who owns the bakery.”
“I know you have a crush on the granddaughter, Jamison. But I’ve already told you to forget about her. This real estate purchase is more important than some silly summer fling of yours.”
“Even if the girl saved Matt’s life?”
Dad’s eyes widened. “What are you talking about? You mean that girl who found Matthew in the water is the granddaughter?”
“Yeah, that was her.”
Mom looked at him. “John, we owe that girl so much. How can you even think of driving her away from her home?”
Dad turned a harsh gaze on her. “You keep out of this, Kate.”
She sighed loudly. “Still the same, John. For a moment, I thought you’d grown a heart.” She turned to Reeve who was busily shoving down cinnamon rolls. Apparently the conversation had held no interest for him because he looked sort of shocked at Mom as if he’d hardly noticed any of us standing there. “I’m going to change and then I’m ready for you to drive me to the hospital,” she said to Reeve.
Reeve swallowed his food and blinked at her. “I’m driving you?”
“Yes. So hurry along.”
Reeve got up to find his shoes, and Mom went in to change. Dad and I were left alone at the counter. “Dad, I know you don’t think much of me--”
“Your words not mine, Jamison,” he said quickly. “I’m proud of all my sons.”
“Then I’ve got an idea for your resort, a different beach not far from here.” He was already shaking his head but I continued. “And you could leave Angel Beach intact. Dad, this place is already popular the way it is. Why change it?”
He seemed to be mulling over my words. “Where is this beach? I had my realtor check out all the towns along this stretch of coast. Angel Beach was the best.”
“There used to be a hotel on a site overlooking Emerald Beach.”
He put up his hand to stop me. “I already know about it. The place burned down and no one has been interested in rebuilding. I figured it must have been an undesirable stretch of beach.”
“Not true. In fact, I think it’s better than Angel Beach. Smooth sand and the waves crank in nicely. I’ve been there twice. Echo came with me once.”
“Echo? That’s a strange name.”
“There’s nothing strange about her, Dad. She’s like no one I’ve ever met.”
He poured himself another cup of coffee. The creases in his forehead were more prominent than usual, and his eyes were still red from the last two days. “I guess if she hadn’t been on the beach, things could have ended much differently.”
“I guess it’s a good thing you hadn’t chased her grandmother out of her home yet.”
The gravity of that thought silenced him for a minute. “We’ll take a look at Emerald Beach before we head to the hospital. Just don’t get your hopes up, Jamison. There is little chance I will change my plans.”
Chapter 21
Echo
As I wiped down the counter, I recognized the sound of Jamison’s jeep. I heard it in the distance and glanced up as he drove past. The same woman that I’d seen the day before was in his car. She was no doubt his mother. Aside from a short text message exchange about Matt, I’d not seen or spoken to Jamison since that day on the beach. I missed seeing him.
“S
o what’s up with you and that Freely dude? You’d think his dad would have sent a thank you after you saved his kid’s life and all.” Zach pulled a stool up to the counter. “Man, I’m beat. Your grandmother is a slave driver.”
“You arrived late and only worked for two hours. How tired can you be?”
“I think they owe you big time. I would ask for some cash.”
“Yes, you would. I just want the whole incident to be pushed into the past. It still makes me shiver thinking about how close the guy was to dying. And it has put a damper on my own swimming. Mimi told me I can only swim when there are lifeguards in the towers. I’m just glad they’re starting back tomorrow.”
“That reminds me, I ran into Rick, the guy who runs the lifeguard training camp, this morning. He said we should both sign up. I guess they’re short lifeguards this year. And of course everyone in town is talking about how you rescued a guy from drowning.”
“I would love to if I had the time, but Mimi needs me.”
“Well, I’m thinking of going for it. You know how the ladies love lifeguards.”
“It’s a pretty serious job, Zach. You can’t just be out there flirting with the girls on the beach. You actually have to watch the water and save people.”
His shoulders dropped. “True. And my swimming ability is nothing to brag about. I guess I’m better suited to mixing bread dough.” He looked truly disappointed, and I could have kicked myself for smashing his idea.
“I think you should try it,” I said.
His face brightened. “Really?”
“Yeah, join the camp. If nothing else, you’ll become a better swimmer and still impress the ladies.”
A smile broke free on his face. “I’ll do it.”
The kitchen screen door snapped shut, and Gertie’s anxious tone shot down the hallway. “Where is everyone? I’ve got terrible news.”
Mimi stepped out of the mixing room, and she followed Gertie to the store front. Her face was flushed, and while Gertie always looked and sounded distraught, she looked particularly bad today.
Zach gave up his stool so she could sit. She fanned herself dramatically for a moment then sighed audibly. “Well it’s over. Angel Beach is finished.”
“What do you mean, Gert?” Mimi asked.
“The Parkers, the Nadals, and the Hathaways have all accepted offers from John Freely. They’ve sold out, and we’re next, I’m certain of it.”
Up until now, Mimi had taken the snippets of news Gertie brought us with cool confidence as if she knew there was no way anyone would convince her to sell. But today there was a sprinkling of resignation in her face as if she was slowly coming to the conclusion that leaving Angel Beach was inevitable. Only this morning, as we’d pushed the pans into the oven and her back had pained her, she’d been musing aloud about retiring from the business.
Just then my phone vibrated. It was a text message from Jamison. “can we meet?”
I didn’t respond and tucked the phone back into my pocket.
Gertie took hold of Mimi’s hand. “I don’t know what I’ll do or where I’ll go.”
“Let’s not worry about that yet, Gertie.”
“Yet?” I asked. “But you think it might happen?”
“I don’t know, Coco. I don’t know,” Mimi said grimly and walked back into her office.
My phone vibrated again but I ignored it. Ridiculously, I’d imagined that things might turn out differently, but it seemed our lives might be dramatically disrupted soon and Jamison’s family would be the cause of it. As much as I missed seeing Jamison, I didn’t feel like seeing him at the moment.
Gertie and Zach left, and I finished cleaning up. Mimi pored over her account books, and Riley napped on the back porch. I grabbed a magazine and joined my dog. The moment I sat down, Riley jumped up to fetch his ball. He sat next to me with his toy stuffed tightly in his snout and stared at me pleadingly.
I patted his head. “All right, let’s go.”
The usual number of beachgoers had tripled since the week before, and by next week, the numbers would grow exponentially. But for now, Riley and I had most of the sand to ourselves.
I hadn’t taken the time to put on sandals, and the hot sand warmed the bottom of my feet. I headed toward the water. Twice the ball bounced into the waves and I had to wade in and help Riley retrieve it. He didn’t mind getting wet, but he hated to swim. So once the water reached his belly, he would turn back to shore, and I was left fetching the ball.
The third time, I threw the ball away from the water and watched Riley chase after it. “Echo?” a deep voice came from behind me. The flutter of nerves in my stomach told me instantly it was Jamison.
I turned to face him. His dark spiky hair blew in every direction, and his intense, pale gaze nearly rendered me speechless.
“Hi.” I had not expected to see him and hi was the only word that I could mutter.
“I needed to see you,” he said.
I held out my arms. “Here I am.”
“Is something wrong?” he asked.
I shook my head and turned to walk toward Riley.
His fingers wrapped around my arm, and he spun me around to face him. “Why are you so mad?”
I pulled my arm from his grasp. “I’m not. How’s Matt?”
“He went home with my dad. Reeve and I stayed behind.” He seemed to be searching my face for some clue into my anger.
“To finish your dad’s business, I suppose.”
“Actually, that’s what I--”
“You don’t have to tell me,” I said sharply. “I’ve already heard about your dad’s conquests. My grandmother seems ready to wave the white flag.”
He stepped closer, and it wasn’t helping my resolve to stay mad beneath his heart stealing gaze. “I don’t understand.”
“You’ve won. The Freely’s will have their beach resort, and the rest of us will shuffle away looking for a new home.” I stormed off again, but he grabbed my arm once more.
“Echo, damn it, would you listen to me for a minute instead of stomping off in a tantrum.”
I swiped away the strand of hair that had flown across my mouth. “This is not a tantrum-- this is me stomping off in anger.” I pulled free again and started running. He raced after me and grabbed me around the waist. I struggled to get away, but his arm was like steel.
He lowered his mouth to my ear. “My dad liked Emerald Beach. I think he might move his resort there.”
It took me a moment to absorb his words. I stopped struggling and relaxed against his chest.
“But Gertie said our neighbors had already accepted offers.”
“Nothing has been signed yet. It’s still too early to know anything for sure, but he went back with some pictures to show his investors.”
My arms rested over his as he held me against him. We stared out at the waves, and my head rested back against his solid shoulder. “You must be a good business man after all. Maybe you should ditch the idea of working on a fishing boat.”
His mouth pressed against my ear, and I closed my eyes with the pleasure of it. “Is that an invitation to stay here at Angel Beach?” His breath caressed my neck.
“Maybe,” I said. “But I’ll be going to college in fall.”
He turned me to face him, and he focused hungrily on my lips. “There are always weekends and winter vacation . . .” He kissed me lightly. “. . . and spring break.” He pressed his mouth down hard on mine, and he pulled me into his arms. I felt frail and dizzy in his strong grasp, and I wanted him to hold me forever.
Cowboy Dark
When sixteen-year-old Sterling Mayfield learns that her dad has booked a family vacation at a dude ranch, she is less than thrilled. It is their first vacation since the tragic death of her mother two years earlier. Sterling knows her dad needs this trip, but a lack of horse experi
ence and ten full days in a cabin with her twin brother, Dylan, make the whole idea rather unappealing. The vacation takes a turn for the worst when Sterling meets another ranch guest-- pretty, perky and annoyingly talented Chloe Watson.
But when Sterling befriends Luke, a dark and dreamy ranch hand with a steely gaze and tattooed arms, things start to look up. Now if she can just keep her bottom in the saddle and her heart from being broken, she might survive the vacation after all.
Tess loves to hear from her readers. Contact her at www.tessoliver.com or reach her by email at [email protected]
Other Titles by Tess Oliver
Cowboy Dark (Summer Romance Collection, Book 1)
Camille (Camille Series, Book I)
Heart of the Huntress (Camille Series, Book II)
Bitterroot Crossing
Safe Landing
Blood Tide
A Little Less Girl
