All or None

by Tara Sue Me

  Except, he reminded himself, she’d be in Florida, and he’d be here.

  With that thought he realized he needed more than an evening to win her back. He needed a plan, and there wasn't much time to come up with one. He pushed back from the table. Lillian looked up in shock as he stood up.

  “I need a rain check for this evening,” he said.

  “Are you leaving?” she asked. “I thought you wanted to talk?”

  “I do, but not like this. Not tonight.”

  “Whatever,” she said, still sitting down. “Just remember I’m out of here in two days.”

  He surprised himself when he leaned his head down and dropped a kiss on the top of her hair. “Believe me. It’d be impossible to forget that.”

  Chapter 5

  Lillian

  Lillian spent the next two days in a perpetual rush. Before she’d started packing, she’d made a list. Or rather, she made several lists, but only one of them was items for her suitcase. The other lists were things she had to do, like stop her mail and clean out her refrigerator. Maybe the multitude of lists was overkill, but it was the only way she could ensure everything that needed to be done, got done. Heaven alone knew how many lists she’d made while working for Isaac.

  The one thing she didn’t have to worry about was work. After stepping down from being Isaac’s personal assistant, she hadn’t looked for another job. She was fortunate. Her pay from working with Isaac had been much more than she needed to live comfortably. After all, the only person she had to take care of was herself. There was also the very hefty settlement Ty gave her after the divorce, but so far she’d refused to touch any of that money.

  She didn’t want to go forever without a job and had plans to find one.

  As soon as she decided what she wanted to do.

  Not that she didn’t enjoy being a personal assistant, but it wasn’t anything she was passionate about. She had never planned to be a PA. But when Ty, along with friends Isaac and Lance, went into business together, she did anything she could to help. As a newlywed, it thrilled Lillian to work at her husband’s side. As time went on and the business grew, she just sort of fell into the role of his assistant.

  It worked out beautifully, and they had relatively few issues. People warned them they'd soon dislike always being around each other, but they never did. When Isaac’s personal assistant quit, Lillian knew a new person wouldn’t be able to jump in and take over the way Isaac needed, so she volunteered. Her plan had been that since Ty was much more laid back and easy going, he could train the new PA, while Lillian ensured everything ran smoothly for Mr. Perfection, aka Isaac. Once the new hire was up to speed, and up to the task of working for Isaac, Lillian would transition back to Ty,

  Finding the newbie PA in her bed and with her husband blew that plan to bits.

  Lillian had been fine working exclusively for Isaac after that. They had been friends for several years and made an excellent team. In many ways, he was like a brother to her. And it helped Ty left to manage the office overseas. But when Lance decided he wanted to work in London, so he could be near his girlfriend, Lillian knew what would happen next.

  There was no need for two of the partners to be in London, and Ty, being Ty, didn’t care. As soon as he heard Lance mention the possibility of wanting to be in London, Ty let him know he was willing to switch. Once the decision was made for the moves to occur, Lillian submitted her notice to Isaac. She gave him six weeks, which should have been more than enough time to find and hire her replacement, and for Lillian to work with whoever it was one-on-one.

  For some unknown reason, though, Isaac never got around to looking for a new assistant. Lillian wasn’t sure if he was living in the land of denial or if he truly thought she was going to change her mind and ask for her job back. Instead of trying to convince him that, yes, she really was quitting, she created a notebook for whoever he ended up hiring. Isaac continued acting like nothing was going to change. She could still picture his expression on her last day in the office when she started packing her things.

  Very different from the packing she was doing now, she thought with a glance at the carry-on bag currently crammed to near overflowing with everything she’d need for the next two weeks. Because of the work she’d be doing and because there was a possibility she’d be sent to multiple areas, it was recommended she pack as little as possible.

  As she stared into her closet and checked it against her list, it hit her how drastically her wardrobe had changed over the last few years. She’d had to accompany Isaac to several black tie events, and she’d always considered her outfits for those times to be simple and understated. But stuffed in the back of her closet were the work suits and the gowns she’d favored before the divorce. She ran a hand across the pink fabric of one. When was the last time she wore pink? She couldn’t remember.

  Another suit caught her eye. Periwinkle blue.

  When had periwinkle turned into navy?

  In the back, a bright streak of red, visible through the gown’s clear storage bag, laughed at the idea of being simple and understated.

  Her shoes were different as well. Under the Before the Divorce clothes were heels so high they blew her mind, even knowing she’d worn them. Opposed to the boring as hell sensible pumps with square heels she wore now.

  Why had she not noticed how much she’d changed? When did she become this dark and drab shadow of her former self?

  She had no idea.

  As she stood there, one thought made its way to the forefront of her mind. She might not know when the drab started, but sure as hell knew when it ended.

  The two weeks in Florida were going to be more than escape from Ty. Even more than an opportunity to help those in need after the hurricane. It would be a time for her to come out of the shadows and to discover where the woman she was went.

  The first obstacle would be the flight. She hated flying. The only times she didn’t mind it, was when she’d fly with Ty. He knew she didn’t like to fly, but unlike everyone else, who always fell into two groups, those who tried to explain how a metal tube filled with people could soar through the sky, or those who chalked her up to being stupid, he simply took her as she was. He accepted her, and didn’t try to change her.

  * * *

  Eighteen hours, one delayed flight, one missed connection, four massive lines of irritable travelers, and a rental car the size of a turnip later, Lillian didn’t care about discovering anything other than a shower and a bed. Preferably in that order, but she wasn’t picky.

  She pulled up to the address the non-profit had given her as the headquarters for the project and parked. Odd. It looked more like a high end campground than anything else. The information they had given her stated most of the time the volunteers stayed at local hotels. That being the case, maybe the nonprofit had rented the campground.

  Instead of getting out of the car, she took the key out of the ignition and slumped back into the driver’s seat. Or as far back as she could go without sticking her head out the back window. Renting a car Maimi and driving to the Keys had seemed like such a good idea while standing at the counter at the airport. It was that or wait to see if she could get on standby for a flight leaving in six hours. A flight, the harried airline employee said, was already overbooked.

  Considering the drive to her destination would only take three hours, it seemed foolish to wait six for a flight she more than likely wouldn’t get on. Walking to the car rental hub, she decided it would probably be a good thing to have her own transportation, anyway. Since it wasn’t required and because the flights had worked out so well when she’d booked them, she’d decided not to worry with a rental.

  The only rental available now, unfortunately, was a car so small she worried her carry-on wouldn’t fit, and that even if it did, she wouldn’t. Against all odds, they both made it inside and Lillian was off to the Keys.

  “Thank about what great gas milage you’re going to get with this car,” the rental car employee said, a
s he lifted the gate to let her out of the lot.

  She said nothing because, honestly, she couldn’t believe the tiny little thing even had a gas tank. After a few miles, Lillian found she drove better if she didn’t think about how much bigger everyone was, comparatively speaking. Living and working where she did, driving wasn’t something she did frequently, and though Miami wasn’t Manhattan, it wasn’t the backwoods, either.

  Mile by frazzled mile, she made her way South. And in less time than she’d expected, because as it turned out she had somewhat of a lead foot, she arrived.

  Her eyelids were the only things that felt like lead at the moment. Driving tired wasn’t her best decision ever, but the thought of how easily another car would squash her if they were in an accident was enough to keep her wide awake and focused.

  Just a little more, she told herself. Check in and find out where she’d be sleeping for the next few days, and then she could get a shower and find a bed. Or find a bed and then shower.

  She reached to the side to get her bag when a knock on the window by her head made her yelp.

  “Sorry to frighten you,” an older gentleman said. “I saw you pull up, but you didn’t get out, and I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”

  “I’m fine, thanks,” she said. “Just a bit tired.”

  He took a step back and helped her out of the car, taking her bag over her protests. “You can get it back inside, but where I’m from, a man doesn’t let a woman carry her luggage. Not if he’s got two working hands. My name’s Tom, by the way. Thomas actually, but they call me Tom.”

  “Pleasure to meet you, Tom,” Lillian said with a grin. Tom looked to be in his eighties, but she wasn’t sure. He was on the thin side and had a headful of white hair.

  “You must be Ms. Bancroft,” Tom said.

  “Yes, I am.”

  “I figured. You’re the only one checking in today.”

  “Really?” She thought there would be more than just her. Looking around, she realized how empty everything looked. “Is there anyone else here?”

  “Oh, sure,” he said. “Right now, everyone’s off working. Where they’re at now is about fifteen miles from here. They’ll all be back in about two hours.”

  Two hours wasn’t very long. Tom must have noticed her quizzical expression because he continued. “They’re finishing up a project today. Once everyone’s back, they’ll meet and discuss the one they’re going to start tomorrow.”

  They chatted a bit as they made their way toward a large cabin with an OFFICE sign. The air felt thick and damp around her, and she regretted the jeans she’d put on. The weather made them feel as if they weighted twenty pounds.

  Tom noticed, but said nothing about it, instead pointing out where the meals were severed and meetings held. Lillian nodded, tying to remember everything, and not think about how hot she was.

  “How long have you worked with Restoration?” Lillian asked.

  He chuckled. “I don’t work for them.”

  “You don’t?” She couldn’t help ask. Before she could ask her next question, what was he doing on the property, he answered.

  “Not officially, anyway. Not since I busted my knee a few years back, but I hang out and help around when I can. When they’re down this way.”

  “I’m sure they appreciate the help.”

  “Wouldn’t matter if they didn’t, they don’t have a choice,” Tom explained with a laugh. “I own this whole joint.”

  It wasn’t the reply she’d expected at all.

  “It’s an old resort I bought back in my younger days,” Tom continued. “Never did anything with it. Finally decided the world didn’t need another useless resort, so I made the decision to let non-profits, church groups, and the like use it when they wanted. With the recent hurricane damage, everyone cancelled. Works out nice for you guys.”

  Lillian was too shocked to say anything, because, really, who could just buy a resort and do nothing with it? They walked over to an old desk. A two-way radio, a cell phone, and a computer were on top, but instead of reaching for one of them, Tom took a worn business register beside the computer. At Lillian’s raised eyebrow, he grinned.

  “’I’m not much for computers,” he explained and wrote something down.

  She waited.

  “Come on with me.” Tom moved out from behind the deck and beckoned for her to follow him back outside with a wave of his hand.

  She took the key he held out. “Thanks.”

  “The cabins aren’t very big and the air conditioning is hit-or-miss on a good day, but they all have a private bathroom and a fan,” Tom explained.

  They went out the rear door of the office/cabin. The short walk to the outside didn’t offer her much of a glimpse into what her accommodations would look like.

  The humidity was so intense, Lillian almost wondered if it’d be easier to drink the air instead of breathing. Behind the office was a long line of six identical cabins. Off to the left side was the building Tom mentioned earlier was for meals and meetings.

  “Your cabin is right this way,” Tom said. “I gave your husband an information packet when he arrived, but be sure to let me know if you have any questions after you look over it.”

  Lillian stopped in her tracks. “What was that?”

  “What part?”

  “The part about my husband.”

  “Ty Bancroft. He arrived late last night.”

  Chapter 6

  Ty

  Showing up at the headquarters for the Restoration project currently underway in Florida the night before Lillian arrived seemed like a great idea right up until the moment she opened the door to the cabin. He expected she’d be pissed, but when he looked up and saw her standing in the entrance way, he saw how wrong he’d been. She was beyond pissed. She was mad as fuck.The door slammed shut behind her.

  “You’re late,” he said with a smile, trying to lighten the mood. “I expected you hours ago.”

  “What the hell are you doing in my cabin?” she asked.

  “It hit me how little I’ve given back to my community in the last few years. You’d mentioned working here in the Keys, and after I gave it some thought, I decided it would be the perfect thing for me to do. Remember how I worked for Habitat that one summer during college? I called to see if they could use me for the next few weeks here. They said they’d love to have me, but didn’t have the space. I told them I could share a room with my wife.”

  “You told them I was your wife?”

  “They wouldn’t let me stay in your room otherwise. I told them we had some issues, but we were both determined to work them out.” He told himself to look at it not as a lie, but as a stretched truth.

  “We’ve already worked it out,” Lillian said. “It’s called a divorce.” She put her carry-on down, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. “I’m going to go get Tom.”

  “Don’t do that, Lillian.” He stood up, but hesitated to take a step toward her when she put her hand on the doorknob. She looked haggard and wary. “Come inside, take a shower, and rest for a bit. Then we’ll talk. You look exhausted.”

  For a second, he thought she would ignore him. She had a defiant gleam in her eyes. But fatigue seemed to have caught with her, she dropped in a chair by the door.

  “My flight from New York was delayed,” she said. “And because of that, I ended up missing my connection in Miami. My options were to wait for a standby seat I probably wouldn’t get or rent a car and drive.”

  “You drove from Miami?”

  “In a car the size of a turnip.”

  “You don’t drive.”

  “I don’t drive often. There’s a difference.”

  Not enough of one, in his opinion. “You should have called someone or taken a car service.”

  “Do you know what car service costs to get here from Miami?”

  “No,” he admitted. “But I know you can afford to call one.” Hell, he’d given her a ten figure settlement in the divorce. She hadn’t
gone through it in less than three years, had she?

  “You know nothing about my finances.”

  He stopped himself before asking what she meant by that. Obviously, she was trying to bait him into an argument and he wouldn't succumb. “Of course,” he said instead. “You’re right and it’s not my business. The bottom line is, it scares me you had to drive.”

  She said nothing further nor did she try to continue their argument. Maybe he should agree and tell her she was right more often.

  “But,” he said, hoping he wasn’t tempting fate. “You have to agree that you’re running on fumes, and that you’ll feel better after a nice long shower. So before you decide what you want to do or where you want to go from here, why don’t you take a minute or two to yourself?”

  She stood and unzipped her bag, taking from it a toiletry bag he recognized and a handful of clothing. “I’m locking the bathroom door.”

  “I’d never think about invading your privacy like that.”

  She raised an eyebrow. “That might be the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard you say. Especially considering the current situation. It didn’t escape my attention there’s only one bed in here.”

  He almost told her he was aware of that fact there was only one bed. After all, it wasn’t anything he could either deny or pretend he didn't see. He wisely stayed silent. She shot him a nasty glare as she walked past him and into the bathroom. The door clicked, locked.

  Fuck, he had a feeling he’d screwed this up.

  * * *

  Lillian looked about a million times more relaxed when she stepped out of the bathroom forty-five minutes later. He was glad one of them was more relaxed. After listening to the shower run for who-knows-how-long and imaging Lillian in there, naked, all wet and surrounded by steam, he was hard as a damn rock.