This was sad. How had she gone from the extraordinarily dizzying heat of last night with Jake, to this? Sitting here with ol’ Doc Barnes, fearful to even step outside of her office because the hottest man on the planet might be out there and she couldn’t stand to see him look at her with disappointment on his face.
But as she thought of Jake, she remembered other things he’d said. In a way, Jake had empowered her last night, made her feel like she had good ideas and it was time to make changes to this stale Fourth of July party Barnes so desperately clung to. And if there was ever a time to say something, this was it.
Lacy looked up from the file and squared her shoulders. “Doctor Barnes,” she started with resolve in her voice. “I’ve been thinking. About the party.”
Percy Barnes’ face changed. He instantly looked unhappy and his countenance chased the courage right out of Lacy’s body.
“I think...” Lacy hesitated.
She wanted to tell him she thought his party sucked and that a lot of other people thought so too. She wanted to tell him she had all of these great ideas that she thought people would love, and that she was going to make this the best damn Fourth of July party south of the Mason Dixie line.
But when she opened her mouth, a squeak came out. “It’s great.”
Doc Barnes folded his hands on his cane. “I beg your pardon.”
Suddenly, the phone on Lacy’s desk rang. The red light flashing told her it was Jenny calling from the other side of the door and Lacy lifted it off the receiver and dropped it back down quickly. “It’s great. Your party. I think it’s just great.”
Shame swamped her from the top of her head to the soles of her feet. What a coward she’d turned out to be, folding like a cheap suit under Doc Barnes’ glare. The red light on her phone lit up again and Lacy again quieted it. A second later there was a sharp rap at her door and the knob started to turn.
Jake’s gorgeous face appeared in the doorframe a moment later. “Sorry to bother you, Ms. Allen. I’m going away for a few days and I just wanted to say goodbye to you before I left.”
Lacy’s heart leapt into her throat. “Ja—” She looked toward Doc Barnes across from her. “I mean. Mr. Knight. How nice to see you again.”
The blush started on her chest and Lacy could feel it spreading out all over her body, her neck was getting warm and her cheeks began to burn.
Not now.
Oh God, please, not now. She needed to remain professional in front of Barnes, but Jake’s sudden presence had her body tingling and her heart racing.
Jake had been expecting her to be bothered by his presence and he’d really only knocked on her door to force a showdown of sorts between them. He wanted to get away for a few days, but on his walk over to the clubhouse, he’d realized they needed to talk this out before he left or he’d spend his whole trip worrying about it.
But something else was clearly stressing her and when Jake peered around the door, he saw Doc Barnes sitting at her desk with a knowing, satisfied Cheshire grin on his wrinkled old face.
“Morning, Doctor Barnes,” Jake said politely. “I didn’t know Miss Allen had company.” Jake wrung his sweaty-brimmed hat in his hands. The unofficial club rule was no hats in the building. If you broke the rule, you had to buy a round of drinks for anyone there.
“We were just discussing my Fourth of July party,” Barnes said with pride.
Jake looked Lacy straight in the eye. “That’s great.”
Oh, please God. Don’t say anything. Lacy thought to herself as she gave Jake a nervous look.
“I’m sure she’s got some great new ideas to freshen it up and make it a night to remember,” Jake said, holding Lacy’s gaze, trying to interpret what she was telling him.
Doc Barnes perked up in his chair, turning fully to see them both. “New ideas?” He faced Lacy again, and with a voice filled with accusation, he challenged her. “I thought you said it was great the way it was!”
Lacy shuffled nervously and right away Jake could tell he’d really stepped in it. He’d come up here to hopefully find out what he’d done wrong last night and now he’d complicated her day.
“I...uhhh.” Jake was at a loss for words. “She and I...” Doc Barnes crossed his legs slowly, as if he was enjoying their discomfort. “Well, we were talking about it at dinner last night.”
Lacy cut in before Jake could make things worse. “We did, and I was saying how great it was just how it is. Right, Jake?”
It pained him to see her wilting like this. The buzz around the resort was how great the parties had been since Lacy had arrived. She brought a fresh new feel to the festivities around Willow Cove and he wished she’d take control and try to steer Barnes into a new direction for the party. He knew she had it in her to make the event great, but she was losing to Doc Barnes, like so many had before her. Including his family. The whole thing just made him furious. Well, he couldn’t just leave things the way they were, he just couldn’t.
“You did...you did say that the party was good just how it is,” Jake said in return. “But you also said you had a few ideas on how to make it better.” Now might not be the best time to push her, but he couldn’t help himself. He’d force her into at least trying to convince Barnes to try something new.
“I’m all ears, Miss Allen,” Doc Barnes said with a sarcastic hiss.
On the spot, that was an accurate way to describe how Lacy felt and it didn’t feel good. Not at all. In fact, she felt a little ill.
Why had Jake done this to her?
Was it because of what had happened last night between them? Did he hate her so much? If this was his way of exacting revenge for her perceived rejection of him last night, he was certainly getting his monies worth.
“Ummm...” Not off to a good start. Sure, she’d had ideas on how to improve the party, but right now, under this intense scrutiny, she couldn’t recall them. “We could have a dunking booth.” It wasn’t her best idea, but the first one she could remember.
“A dunking booth is a bit juvenile, isn’t it?” Doc Barnes drawled, his voice dripping with criticism.
“What about an auction?” Lacy said back quickly, suddenly remembering some of her well thought-out plans.
“An auction?” Doc Barnes asked.
“An auction?” Jake echoed.
Lacy straightened her back, gathering her grit. She knew it would be a tough sell, but she believed in her idea. “A bachelorette auction.”
Jake piped up. “They did that at my old course once. It generated a lot of excitement among the members. Especially the female members, but you have to watch the jealousy.” And the infighting. He thought to himself. He wanted to help Lacy along. It was a good idea, but she’d have to refine it.
“Well. I was thinking about having outside vendors come in.” The ideas were flowing now and Lacy’s confidence soared. Maybe Jake wasn’t so mad after all. “We’d have them set up their booths and exhibits, show their wares, sell their products or give away goodwill items that the public would enjoy and also help advertise their business. In addition to the BBQ, the dance and the fireworks, we can add family-friendly things like a ball pit, moon walk, watermelon eating contests, and something special to celebrate and promote the upcoming meat pie festival.” Lacy looked to Jake for encouragement.
“It sounds like you want to turn the party into a flea market, Miss Allen,” Doc Barnes growled with distain.
“Not a flea market, Doctor Barnes, but we could get a select list of corporate sponsors to come in. I want to involve the community more, make the public welcome for a day of fun and festivities. We could limit the number of vendors and sponsors to whatever we see fit. Oh, oh, oh.” Lacy literally jumped up and down as a brainstorm hit her. “We can get the sponsors to back a specific bachelorette. The bachelorette will bake a dessert which will be auctioned off and the winner not only gets a dessert, he also gets a date with the bachelorette. And it can be a secret auction, no one has to know which bachelorette goes wit
h which dessert. It can be a mystery!”
Her eyes were alight with excitement. Jake thought she was the prettiest thing he’d ever seen. “Yea, sounds like a plan,” Jake grinned, “that way we won’t get the jealousy among the members like I’ve seen in the past.”
“It sounds like prostitution to me,” Doc Barnes said in a huff. “And I’m not terribly pleased that you see fit to make a mockery of the club’s most anticipated event.”
Jake stepped all the way into the room and closed the door behind him. “Now hang on there, Doctor Barnes. I think it’s a good idea. It’s innocent. None of the women will have to go out with the man who bids on them if they don’t want to. Right, Miss Allen?”
Lacy placed her hand over her mouth. “Oh, good heavens, no. We wouldn’t be selling these women. It would be their choice, just a fun thing to do to raise money for the favorite charity of your choice.” She added the last part about a charity as an afterthought, but one she was proud she’d come up with. It sounded professional. Who would turn down an opportunity to do something for charity?
“And who knows,” Jake added. “Someone may just make a love connection. After all, the resort has been hosting The Right One Dating Service partners. Love is definitely in the air. I bet we can get one them to be a part of this. Plus, Willow Cove can sponsor a bachelorette also.” Okay, maybe he had just gone overboard. Lacy was looking at him like he’d lost his mind.
Jake was just full of ideas. “Those are interesting ideas, Mr. Knight. Of course, the resort would supply a bachelorette, so it doesn’t look like we’re bringing all the women in from the outside.”
“And I suppose you will be that bachelorette, Miss Allen?” Doc Barnes asked facetiously.
“Me? Heavens, no!” Lacy waved off the idea. “But I’ll find someone who will better represent the club than I could. In fact, I have someone in mind.”
“I have to say, Miss Allen,” Doc Barnes said, standing from his chair. “I don’t much care for your ideas. I find them to be cheap and tawdry and quite classless. There are two classes of people—the ‘haves’ and the ‘have nots’ and the ‘have nots’ have no business being included. Of course, neither one of you would understand how bluebloods think.”
Jake didn’t like the way Barnes was speaking to Lacy and he nearly cut his tongue in two, he was biting it so hard.
“I’m sorry, Doctor Barnes,” Lacy started and trailed off, looking at the ground like so many people who’d had run-ins with Barnes before her. She really thought he’d like the charity aspect.
“Just hang on a minute, Doctor Barnes,” Jake spoke up again. He’d give the man his due respect, even if he did despise him. But Barnes was on thin ice, no matter how old he was. No one messed with someone Jake cared about and got away scot-free. “Miss Allen is onto something here.”
“Oh,” Doc Barnes snorted. “Is she? And how would you know? It’s not like you’re from a respectable family. I know who you are.”
Jake had to grit his teeth. This was not the time or the place for a show down with a man nearly a hundred years old. So, he answered simply, “My family is above reproach, Barnes. There was never a better man in the world than Caleb Knight. I’ve reconciled myself to the lake and know it was a smart decision for the state. But it could have been handled better, especially by people like you. I came to this resort to build a course we could all be proud of. This is my home and I want Willow Cove to be a place of pride for the residents. And I’ve done a damn fine job, if I say so myself. I’ll hold my head up as high as yours any day.” When he got through, Barnes looked taken aback and Lacy was smiling.
But he wasn’t through. “Now, about the 4th. The club is doing fine right now, but who’s to say what membership will be like next year, or the year after that. It’s not the worst idea to bring in some outside vendors and maybe show the community that we can let down our hair and have some fun and do a good deed for charity while we’re at it. Lacy has a marvelous idea. This club needs to reach out a bit more to the people of the area and Miss Allen’s auction idea sounds like a great way to start.”
“It’s a disgusting idea and quite frankly, I’m not entirely surprised a Knight supports it.” Barnes turned to Lacy and looked her straight in the eye. “You should be ashamed of yourself, young lady. I’ll be going to your boss about this and I’ll be surprised if you have a job after I’m through.”
Jake’s blood was boiling. He couldn’t stand to see Lacy talked to that way and he put his hand on the door and pushed it closed when Barnes tried to open it to leave. “Listen here, you tired, mean, old codger.” There was a fire in Jake’s eyes, an edge on his words and Lacy was sure that if Barnes hadn’t been a century old, Jake would have decked him right then and there. “This smart young lady here has come up with a great new idea, an idea that will not only make your party more enjoyable, but one that will benefit the whole club in the long run. You should be thanking her for even trying to make something out of your sorry old shindig.”
Barnes fixed him with a hard glare. Jake knew the old man wasn’t above swatting someone with his cane, namely him, but Jake didn’t back away.
“Fella,” Jake said. “You best not be thinking of striking me with that cane of yours, because after the way you just talked to that pretty little lady, I might just forget how old you are. You know wisdom is supposed to come with age. What the hell happened to you?”
The fury on Barnes face was evident. God, she hoped he didn’t have a stroke. Lacy’s heart thundered in her chest. She was glad to have Jake stick up for her like he had, but this could cost both of them their jobs and that was not what she wanted.
“Gentlemen please,” she said stepping in between them. Dammit! Standing next to Jake was heady, she wanted to lean on him and beg him to wrap his arms around her and keep her safe. “Let’s just calm down. We don’t have to do the auction.”
“Like hell we don’t,” Jake said. “It’s a damn good idea and it’s going to happen. No matter what this bully says.”
“I’m going to speak with the general manager about this. Right now.” Barnes threw the words back at them as he walked out.
Jake followed behind. “Good, I’ll go with you.”
Lacy rushed to the door and snagged Jake by the arm.
Dear Lord, she’d caught him by the left bicep, but it was as hard as granite and she couldn’t get her hand around it. Jake unconsciously flexed it even further under her touch and Lacy’s heart pounded and her knees went weak as dish water.
Jake turned and looked down on her. There was a thinly veiled anger behind his gray eyes.
“Please stop,” Lacy said. “You know he’ll just cause trouble for us both.”
Jake looked away, and watched Doc Barnes as he strode with purpose toward the general manager’s office. “You have to stand up to him, Lacy,” Jake said, closing the door. “He’s nothing but a bully and your auction idea is amazing.”
“I haven’t been here long enough to start taking on longstanding members, Jake.” Neither one of them acknowledged the fact that Lacy still had her fingers wrapped around the steel of his arm. “I admire how you stood up for both of us, but I don’t want you losing your job for me. Please, just let it go.”
“I can’t, Barnes needs to realize he doesn’t run everything,” Jake said and pulled away from her and headed for their boss’ door.
Lacy fell in behind him. If Jake was going to go off half-cocked, she needed to be there, because this affected her directly. Jake walked with purpose, stalking across the office like a panther. Doc Barnes was a stubborn old man, but if he could have seen the way Jake’s chest was puffed out, he might very well have considered letting this one go.
The door to the general manager’s office was open when they got there and all eyes in the office were on Lacy and Jake. The intensity and protectiveness on Jake’s face had convinced Lacy that everything was going to be just fine, but she got cold feet when they arrived at the office. Their boss, Rick, sat at hi
s desk. He craned his head to the left and looked past Barnes as he spoke. Rick didn’t look happy and he motioned for Jake and Lacy to come on in.
Lacy balked and Jake saw the trepidation in her eyes. Hell, maybe he was pushing the issue a little too much, but there had to be a limit to anything. He stayed beside her so she could feel his support. “If you want me to stop, I will. But I believe in you, Lacy, I believe in your idea. Tell me what to do.”
Hearing that Jake believed in her made Lacy feel like she had an army behind her, like she could do anything she desired. “All right, let’s go. Let’s do it.”
Jake stepped aside and Lacy moved in ahead of him before she could talk herself out of it. Doc Barnes was furious. He fumed while he recounted the ‘atrocious’ way he’d been talked to by both Jake and Lacy.
“If you want to complain about the way you were treated,” Jake said in her defense. “Complain about me, but Miss Allen was nothing but cordial to you.” But Barnes refused to change his story, he complained that Lacy was trying to hijack his beloved party and turn Willow Cove into a laughing stock in the community.
Rick listened intently. He’d been running Willow Cove for nearly eight years and he knew of the difficulties Barnes posed. It seemed like every other week the old man was in his office complaining about this employee, or that member, who was doing something wrong or inappropriate in his eyes. What Barnes didn’t know, was that his constant pestering and complaining had gotten the attention of several other members. The only hold back was that he had friends on the board, cronies who might back him up regardless of the circumstances.
“It seems a bit late to pull off such an event.” Rick looked squarely at Lacy. “Is there even enough time to put it together, Miss Allen? There’s only a few days left.”
Timing hadn’t even occurred to Lacy. She’d only have a little over a week to contact vendors and organize the auction. Now that Rick had brought it up, she wasn’t sure there was time.
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