Sugar Rush

by McIntyre, Anna J.

  Sugar Rush

  By Anna J. McIntyre

  SUGAR RUSH

  When Lexi Beaumont refuses to marry the man of her grandfather’s choosing, she is banished from her home and stripped of all her belongings. Being abandoned by the manipulative and selfish man who raised her is not especially traumatic—she’s been looking for a way to leave her grandfather’s home, and was grateful for the college education he provided.

  What she wasn’t prepared for was her grandfather’s attempt to sabotage her efforts at finding a job, nor did she realize he’d hired a man to spy on her.

  Needing to regroup, Lexi and her best friend flee to Lake Havasu City, Arizona, believing it would be one place her grandfather would not look.

  She discovers a sweet path to financial security with the help of the supportive and handsome neighbor, who is also new to Havasu. What she doesn’t know is that he’s been hired by her grandfather.

  SENSUAL ROMANCE SERIES

  By Anna J. McIntyre

  After Sundown

  While Snowbound

  Sugar Rush

  SUGAR RUSH

  By Anna J. McIntyre

  Cover Design: Elizabeth Mackey

  Editor: Suzie O'Connell

  SENSUAL ROMANCE SERIES

  PUBLISHED BY:

  Robeth Publishing, LLC

  Copyright © 2013 Anna J. McIntyre, B. Holmes

  Robeth Publishing, LLC, All Rights Reserved

  Robeth.com

  To my dad, Walt.

  Your special hot fudge recipe has always been a favorite with family and friends. I hope you don’t mind me stealing the recipe for this book! I know you never cooked yours in the microwave, but I really did figure out a way to make Walt’s Hot Fudge on Demand Mix. I loaned that recipe to my character, Lexi. And I loaned your name to Lexi’s dad. Love you.

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Epilogue

  Walt’s Hot Fudge on Demand Recipe

  Excerpt from After Sundown

  Chapter One

  “I WANT YOU TO MARRY JEROME PETERS.”

  Her grandfather’s decree was not what she expected to hear. When summoned to his study to discuss her future, Lexi had naturally assumed the topic would focus on career plans, now that she was finished with college.

  “Are you serious?” The phrasing of her question was all wrong. Lexi realized that immediately. No one would describe Ethan Beaumont as a jokester.

  The elderly man sat rigid in the leather wingback chair, and did not respond to her outburst. As was his habit, he rested his elbows on the chair’s arms, the fingers of his hands laced together, absently tapping the knuckles against his narrow chin. Silently, he studied his granddaughter’s expression.

  Another man might look overdressed in the three-piece grey silk business suit, considering the home setting, but not her grandfather. The fact he wasn’t wearing the jacket didn’t make him look any less dignified and formal. The years had been kind to Beaumont, who—at age 81—still had a full head of gray hair. If he’d lost height due to the passing of time, it proved insignificant, for he still stood over six feet. There was a slight slouch to his posture, yet his overall physical appearance was sturdy and solid.

  “I discussed it with him when we were in Europe, and he agreed you’d make a suitable partner, especially now that you’ve finished college. Your marriage would secure the future of the company.”

  “Grandfather, I barely know Jerome Peters. Not to mention the fact he’s old enough to be my father.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous, Lexi. You’ve known Jerome all your life. Plus, a girl your age needs an older man to guide her.”

  “Umm, Grandfather, you do know we live in the 21st century, don’t you?”

  “Don’t be impudent, girl,” he snapped.

  “I’m sorry, Grandfather, but I’m not marrying Jerome Peters. I wouldn’t even go out on a date with the man, much less marry him.”

  “Don’t be hasty, Lexi. That’s a trait you inherited from your father. Hasty decisions never served him well.”

  “You mean because he married my mother?” Silently, Lexi reminded herself, Maintain composure.

  “Precisely. I’m pleased to see you understand.”

  “My father loved my mother.”

  “Perhaps, but no good came of it.”

  I suppose that includes me. I must be a constant disappointment to you, Grandfather.

  “Lexi, I didn’t call you here to discuss your parent’s misfortunes. We’re here to discuss your future, and I don’t want you to make the same mistakes as your father. It’s obvious you’re too young and immature to make the right choices. We all have duties, Lexi. You have one to this family.”

  “I’m sorry, Grandfather.” That wasn’t entirely true. Lexi was not a bit sorry. “I really don’t understand how marrying a man I barely know—and don’t particularly like—has anything to do with duty toward family. Perhaps it will in some way help your business, but I’m afraid I’m not willing to throw away my life for your company.”

  “You have two choices. You behave as a Beaumont should, and marry Jerome and work very hard to be a good wife, or you leave this house and don’t ask me for anything, ever again.”

  “You’re kicking me out?”

  As threats go, Lexi didn’t find this one especially intimidating. Her grandfather always expected things to be on his terms, and everything came with a price. Since she wanted a degree in graphic design, she had followed his rules without complaint. During the school term, she had lived in the dorms, and spent the summer and holidays at her grandfather’s estate, typically alone with the servants.

  Her final term had ended days before Christmas. There hadn’t been a ceremony to commemorate the fact she had graduated with honors, earning a Bachelor of Science in Graphic Design. Even if there had been, it was doubtful her grandfather would have attended. As it was, he wasn’t home for Christmas. He was in Europe on business, and had just returned home this morning.

  Lexi had had no idea he was coming home that day, and had been on her way to help her best friend, Angie with a photo shoot, when her grandfather’s housekeeper stopped her at the front door.

  “Your grandfather got home early this morning,” the housekeeper had told her. “He wants to see you immediately.”

  Lexi had given Angie a quick call on the cell phone, before going to her grandfather’s study. It was just an informal photo shoot, and they were planning to have some breakfast first, anyhow, so neither girl was particularly upset about the delay. Lexi hadn’t intended to tell her grandfather about her plans until she landed a job and was assured of a regular paycheck. Then she would sit down with the elderly man and let him know she would no longer be living under his roof—or under his control. Of course, she hadn’t intended to point out the latter part.

  Lexi expected her grandfather to object to the move. But now, here she was, sitting across from him in the study, and he was threatening to kick her out, something she was more than willin
g to do on her own.

  “Okay Grandfather,” Lexi said calmly, standing up and clutching her large handbag. “If that’s what you want, I’ll move out.”

  An unpleasant smile played on Ethan Beaumont’s thin lips. Narrowing his eyes, he studied his granddaughter. “I don’t believe you understand fully the consequences,” he said in a low menacing tone.

  “You want me to move out or marry your business partner. Yes, I understand. I’ll go pack my things now, and I’ll move out today.”

  “No, Lexi. You will not pack your things. I paid for your things. I paid for your car; it’s in my name. If you make this choice, you’ll walk out that front door now, and don’t come back. Be grateful I gave you an education. That is certainly more than what you arrived with.”

  “Are you saying I can’t go get my clothes? My personal belongings?” Knowing her grandfather, she wasn’t especially surprised about the car. She’d already discussed it with Angie.

  “If I move out, Angie, Grandfather won’t let me keep the car. I need to be prepared to take public transportation or walk to work, until I can afford to buy one. Maybe I’ll get a scooter,” she had told her friend.

  “But the car was a high school graduation gift!” Angie had countered.

  “I know my grandfather. If he decides he doesn’t want me to move out, he’ll dangle the car in front of me as a possible punishment. I’d be surprised if he didn’t.”

  What had surprised Lexi was the business with Jerome Peters, and the fact her grandfather intended to hold her clothes and other personal belongings hostage. With surprising calm, Lexi walked from the study, leaving her grandfather sitting on his leather perch like a predatory hawk. Refusing to look back, she walked to the front door and out of her grandfather’s house.

  Terrified he might snatch her handbag from her grasp, she picked up her pace, and walked as fast as she could without actually running from her grandfather’s estate. Of all her worldly possessions, those that mattered the most to Lexi Beaumont were the items in her oversized purse.

  There was her digital camera, which was more than just a camera—it was a source of income. Unbeknownst to her grandfather, she had been submitting photographs and vector images to stock photos sites for the last three years. Each month her income grew, and she was now earning over $500 a month. It was hardly enough to live on, but it was an income stream.

  Also stuffed in the oversized purse was her laptop computer. While in art school she’d purchased a number of graphic software programs at the student rate—a necessary educational expense. Had her grandfather thought to confiscate the computer, it would cost her thousands of dollars to replace the programs alone. She was fairly certain he assumed her computer and camera were upstairs in her room with the rest of her personal belongings.

  He had no idea she’d opened her own bank account when she turned eighteen, and had been stashing money away each month. As far as he knew, the only cell phone she owned was the one on his cell plan. She was fairly certain he would have her phone disconnected by the time she reached the end of his driveway. It didn’t matter. She’d purchased her own cell phone, with a separate number, several years earlier. Ethan Beaumont had taught his granddaughter one invaluable lesson in the last eleven years—whatever Ethan Beaumont gives, he does so with conditions.

  She just had no idea, until now, how extreme those conditions could be. When she reached the sidewalk, she pulled the cell phone from her purse and called Angie.

  “Can you pick me up?” Lexi asked her friend when Angie answered the phone.

  “Is there something wrong with your car?”

  “I don’t have a car, remember? It belongs to my grandfather.”

  “Oh, you told him!”

  “Well, not exactly. But he’s kicked me out of his house.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “I’ll explain it all when you pick me up. I’m walking in the direction of your apartment, so if you could just come get me, I’d really appreciate it.”

  * * *

  “Would you like breakfast now, sir?” the housekeeper asked Ethan Beaumont as he strode out of his study, making his way to the staircase.

  “No. But call J.B. Tell him to get over here immediately,” he snapped.

  Ethan climbed the staircase and went straight to Lexi’s room. He found her bed carelessly made, as if she’d rushed out that morning in a hurry. Glancing around the room, he took visual inventory of her belongings. It seemed to be mostly clothes, shoes and a few books. Jerking open drawers in her dresser, he rummaged through each one before going to the next. Opening the closet doors, he found her clothes neatly on hangers, and several boxes tucked on the top shelf.

  In the adjoining bathroom, he found her robe hanging on the back of the bathroom door, and a toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, and conditioner sitting on the counter. The only sign of makeup was a mascara smudge on the sink. Going back into the bedroom, he walked to the window and looked outside. Her car was still parked in the driveway; she’d obviously not tried to challenge him on that point.

  There was a soft knock on the door.

  “Yes?” he called out. The housekeeper opened the door slightly, and timidly peeked in.

  “Mr. Barnett said he’ll be right over.”

  “Helen, do you know where my granddaughter keeps her computer, her camera?”

  “If it isn’t in her room, I imagine she has it with her.” Helen opened the door wider and stood in the doorway.

  “Damn. Helen, I want you to box up all my granddaughter’s belongings. Store them in the carriage house for the next week. If she doesn’t return, put them out with the trash. And you’re not to give her any of the boxes unless you check with me first. Do you understand?”

  “Yes, sir.” Helen didn’t understand.

  Chapter Two

  Jeff Barnett sat patiently in his car, waiting for the light to change. His fingers absently tapped on the edge of his steering wheel, in rhythm to the song playing on the car’s radio. The windows were down, letting in the cool breeze. It was a sunny January morning, and the few white clouds in the sky were quickly dissolving into the blue canvas. If the weather reports were to be believed, by mid-noon the temperatures would reach the seventies.

  He watched as a young woman hastily traversed the crosswalk, impatient to reach her destination. An oversized leather handbag was draped from her right shoulder, and she held it tightly to her side as if it contained something of great value. He noticed she kept looking behind her, as if she was being followed. He found himself glancing in the direction she kept looking, but saw nothing suspicious.

  The oversized bag looked awkward on her small frame; he doubted she was even five-feet, five-inches tall. Forgetting for a moment the local high school was out for winter break, he first assumed she was a high school student late for class and the bag held her books.

  When she reached the middle of the crosswalk and glanced his way, he realized he guessed wrong. He knew that face. While he’d never seen it in person, he’d spent enough time admiring her portrait in his employer’s office. She was Ethan Beaumont’s granddaughter, Lexi Beaumont.

  Jeff wondered where she was going in such a hurry and why she was walking. He and Ethan had just arrived home from Europe early that morning, and he was under the impression Beaumont was anxious to see his granddaughter, so he was surprised that his employer had summoned him to the estate. Jeff would have appreciated some down time, but as Ethan Beaumont’s executive assistant, that was rarely possible.

  Jeff wasn’t too annoyed at the summons, because he assumed this would be his opportunity to finally meet Lexi Beaumont. He’d been working for his current employer for almost two years, and in all that time he had never met the young heiress. Either she was off at school or—when she was home for the holidays or summer break—he was typically at one of the company’s European offices, handling some situation for his employer.

  While observing Lexi, he heard a horn honk, and both he and
Lexi glanced toward the sound. A red Volkswagen bug had pulled up along the curb in the cross street. He looked back to Lexi and noticed she was now smiling and waving at whomever was in the car. It was obviously her ride. That somewhat explained why she didn’t have her car, but he wondered briefly why her friend hadn’t picked Lexi up at the estate.

  Perhaps she simply enjoyed a morning walk. He did. Of course, that didn’t exactly fit the picture he had of Lexi Beaumont, as described by her grandfather. Some girls enjoyed a vigorous hike in the fresh air, while others enjoyed a comfortable ride in a limousine. According to Ethan Beaumont, his granddaughter was the second type of girl.

  She was dressed casually in denims, a hoody, and jogging shoes. He wasn’t sure what she wore under the hoody. He would never have expected her to be out in public dressed like this. The Lexi Beaumont he’d heard about was a high maintenance ball of fluff—sexy and cute, but more an accessory on some man’s arm than a standalone woman. From what Jeff knew, this girl would be more comfortable wearing trendy designer clothes and stylish but uncomfortable high heels, and certainly not carrying that enormous handbag.

  When discussing his granddaughter, Beaumont insisted he loved her, and only wanted what was in her best interests, yet explained he knew her limitations and purpose. While Jeff was never attracted to empty-headed nymphs, he liked to look, and even in the casual garb, Lexi Beaumont was nice to look at.

  The light turned green seconds before Lexi reached the Volkswagen. Jeff was just driving through the intersection when she got into the car. A few moments later, he glanced up into his rearview mirror and watched the Volkswagen drive off in the opposite direction.

  The massive wrought iron gate guarding the front entrance to the Beaumont estate was open when Jeff arrived a few minutes later. He turned into the private lane, driving his car over the red-paver driveway that led up to the main house.