Two Reckless Hearts (Barrett Ridge Book 1)

by Holly Cortelyou

Sam and Jo fluffed Anna’s veil while Mandy and Elaine lined up on each side of Anna and planted kisses on each cheek, and then sashayed down the wooden pier to join the rest of the family.

  Jami’s father and brothers were gathered at the entrance to the gazebo. She caught her father’s eye, and he raised an eyebrow and shook his head. Heat rose in Jami’s cheeks. He knew. She mouthed the words, I’m sorry. Her father pursed his lips and flicked his gaze away from her. Caitlynne briefly smirked before turning to straighten the boutonniere in her husband’s pocket.

  Bile rose in Jami’s throat, and then she spotted Beck. He stood next to the groom under the curling, white wrought iron gazebo roof. He was dressed in snug black slacks with a crisp, deep golden shirt. Sunlight sparked off the crystal of his silver cuff links. She’d last seen him in the luminous glow of moonlight with a rumpled white sheet half sprawled across his nakedness. Her pulse skipped. He was too damn sexy.

  Beck’s expression was questioning. Jami stood taller and inclined her head ever so slightly toward him. There was no point in revealing her devastation. Besides, this was Anna and Rob’s moment, and no one needed to see she was a sore loser. Pathetic wreck was more like it.

  Jami blinked once and pulled her emotions close, like a strangling noose around her neck. The wedding processional music started, and with a little prodding from Sam, the twins marched the length of the pier while artfully pausing every two steps to chuck a handful of flower petals from the straw baskets on their arms.

  Emma and Carl went next, arm in arm. Carl was all seriousness as Emma smiled like a beauty queen, and Jami almost expected her to start the parade float wave. Ryan poked his elbow out at Clara who daintily rested her fingertips on his arm, and they marched along the wooden boardwalk at full speed with pink spots flaring on their cheeks.

  One by one, Jami and her sisters strolled to the gazebo and turned to wait for the bride. The music picked up tempo, and a calypso version of the wedding march danced through the air.

  Anna burst into a joyous smile, shimmied her shoulders, and shook her hips and danced toward the gazebo. Rob let out a whoop and joined her in their dance. As they reached the gazebo steps, Anna performed one last twirl and fell into Rob’s arms. They kissed and stepped up to the altar.

  As the couple exchanged vows, the strong morning sun burned on the back of her bare neck, and a bead of sweat hovered on her upper lip. A seagull squawked, and Jami glared at the miscreant avian. Of course, Beck was cool as a cucumber. His weight was shifted to one hip, and one hand rested on Ryan’s shoulder as the boy fidgeted.

  Beck smiled at her, but Jami blinked once and turned her attention to Anna and Rob as they lit the unity candle. Not a single gust of wind marred the moment, as two flames joined into one. Lucky Anna. Rob was a wonderful guy, and they were beginning their happily ever after.

  A tiny puff of a breeze cooled Jami’s damp skin. She peeked at Beck, and he was standing straight, and his hands had fallen to his sides. The back of his neck was red, but it might have only been from the sun, and not anger. His mouth was pressed into a thin line.

  As Rob and Anna shared their first kiss as husband and wife, Daphne let out a cheer, and both families broke out in applause and laughter. The crystal clear aqua waters glistened in the sunshine, and the sheer white tulle bunting lining the pier and encircling the gazebo bounced with each freshening, warm breeze.

  Jami smiled and clapped with everyone. As the happy couple kissed again, Jami scanned the faces of her family until she caught her father’s eye. His grin faded and his expression hardened. He deliberately looked away.

  A lead weight lodged on her chest, and an ache burned at the back of Jami’s throat.

  ****

  Amidst the toasting and feasting during the plated luncheon, Anna glowed, and Rob smiled from ear to ear as if he was the luckiest man on the planet. Jami made sure she squeezed in her toast to the blessed couple and made double sure she avoided any contact with Beck.

  The first time Beck had approached, Jami had lowered her gaze and darted off to check on the twins at the kid’s table. But the second time had been harder.

  She stood chatting with Dillon, Jo, Elaine and sturdy, young Carl who seemed very grown up with his starched shirt and tie. Her constant Beck-radar spotted him on a low angle approach from the south. His expression was careful, guarded, but his smile was genuine. Beck offered her a glass of champagne.

  “No, thank you.” Jami made sure her tone was distant but polite. “I’ve had enough.”

  “My mistake.” Beck’s gaze narrowed and his nostrils flared for the briefest of moments before he offered the unwanted bubbly to Jo.

  She accepted it and sipped it with a merry sigh. Beck moved to the other side of the circle where Dillon was helping Carl loosen the sporty tie from around his neck. Carl made a face as he dangled the offending tie from one hand before he stuffed it in his pocket. Dillon and Beck roared with laughter. The knot in her belly tightened.

  After the cake cutting, the bridal couple slow danced, and Jami spotted her father and Beck shaking hands. Their heads were bent close, and then her father patted Beck on the back and joined Caitlynne who was sitting by herself. Her father glanced in her direction but skimmed right past her. Perhaps he was looking for something else. Or he was deliberately ignoring her. Jami’s stomach roiled, and a sour taste stuck in her throat.

  The afternoon wore on, and a breeze mercifully kicked up to relieve the midday heat and blow away the threatening storm clouds on the horizon. Jami’s lavender dress clung to her damp, bare legs.

  With a constant eye on Beck’s brown cowlick at the back of his head, she dodged him as if he was carrying the black plague, which was no small feat with only eighteen other people to hide behind. She knew she was being childish, but she couldn’t face him. She was exposed and wounded. Her father couldn’t bear to look at her, and Beck had beaten her.

  She finally sidled up to Fiona on the bet that Beck would rather avoid his mother. Beck stood by the bar with a beer bottle poised at his lips. He shot an inquisitive glance at Jami, but she tossed back a prim smile and turned her attention back to Fiona.

  As the woman droned on about her fourth wedding that had also been at a tropical resort, but in the much superior Maldives, Beck pushed off the railing and made his way to the bar. Jami chewed on her lip as Beck approached Austin and Dillon with three bottles of brew in his hand. He set them on the table, and the three guys shook hands and slapped each other on the back. Beck leaned close to Austin. Jami strained to catch what was being said, but the live band drowned it out.

  Jami wrinkled her nose and tried to pick up the thread as Fiona discussed the merits of prenuptial agreements. Every few seconds, her gaze wandered back to Beck and her brothers. Austin shook his head, shrugged his shoulders, and then clinked bottles with Beck. The men spread around the table with legs stretched out as if they didn’t have a care in the world. The fist in her stomach eased a fraction. At least the whole family didn’t hate her for losing the deal.

  She glanced toward her father, and he met her gaze. He scowled and his mouth screwed up into a tight pucker. He blinked once and then turned his back on her.

  Jami stiffened and fought the urge to look behind her. Surely, her father’s anger was directed at someone other than her. She inhaled a stuttering breath, and in one ear she listened to Fiona lament the lack of red roses at her fifth wedding because her groom of the day had been allergic to roses.

  Jami nodded and murmured sympathetically, but the air closed in around her. The breeze had shriveled to nothing. A seagull screeched, and Jami twitched.

  With a quick excuse, Jami weaseled her way out of her tête-a-tête with Fiona, set her glass on a table, and eased toward the edge of the gathering. She gave a quick wave to Anna and hoped the bride assumed she was making a run for the little girl’s room. Then, Jami marched down the boardwalk back toward the beach and the hotel.

  As she passed the piano bar, she considered stopping to
powder her nose and gather her wits. No. She needed the peace of her own room.

  The air was still, and all she could hear was the crunching of the gravel under her feet and the cooing of a lone dove from somewhere high above her.

  She rounded the final curve in the path to her cottage.

  Beck leaned against the stairwell railing. His golden shirt was still immaculately pressed despite the heat. He pushed off the railing and his muscles tensed under his shirt. Need ripped through her core. Dammit.

  Perhaps she could sprint past him and dart up the stairs?

  A grim laugh rumbled out of Beck. “Don’t even try it. You’ll never make it past me.”

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  JAMI CLOSED HER eyes and crossed her arms. Boy, it was just downhill all the way today, wasn’t it? Lost the deal. Her father was furious. And now Beck. She was overflowing with her bad decisions. Her shoulders threatened to sag, but she stood taller and held her head high.

  “Go away, Beck.” She looked him straight in those dark gray eyes. Her pulse pounded in her ears. “I don’t have time for you.”

  “I’m here, so you have to deal with me.”

  Damn. This island was much too small.

  “Fine. Congratulations on winning the Anderton deal. Welcome to the family. Welcome to Barrett Ridge. We’re delighted to have you.”

  “Was that so difficult?” His tone was cajoling. “I thought you were a better sport than that?”

  That stung. Of course there was always tomorrow, but right now, that seemed about a million miles away. “I’m disappointed, but unfortunately, this wasn’t destined to be my deal. I hope the best for BK Industries.”

  “Come on, Jami. This is Beck you’re talking to. Losing sucks, but it was only business.”

  Tell that to her father. She was probably disinherited, and definitely off the Christmas card list.

  Jami’s nostrils flared. “You cheated.”

  “I played fair and square.”

  “Liar. The commission says you have a federal grant that will bring extra benefits to Barrett Ridge. This is the first I’ve heard of it.”

  “We didn’t have it when we presented to the commission.”

  “How could I defend our application if I didn’t know all the pertinent facts?”

  “If I’d told the board that a grant was pending, you would have blown me out of the water.”

  “You’ve got that right.”

  “We found out last week and amended our offer.”

  All of Jami’s anger drained out. She leaned into the wall. Her legs didn’t want to support her anymore. “You outfoxed me. You win. Good for you.”

  She pivoted and flew down the path, toward who only knew what. She wanted distance between her and Beck. Why couldn’t she be smooth and accept this like any other negotiation? Why had she needed to win this one?

  Within a few steps, Beck caught her and matched her stride for stride. He let the silence reign. They emerged onto the upper private pool area. It was deserted, although the sounds of children laughing echoed up from the lower pool area that was available to all the resort goers. Jami focused on the path at the far end of the pool deck. If she could just make it past the hot tub, she might be able to ditch Beck.

  She stretched her legs and her stride, but Beck met her measure for measure. She stopped and propped her hand on her hip.

  “I know this is a small island, and there aren’t too many folks to talk to, but seriously, I’m done with our small talk.”

  “We’re not finished yet.”

  “What is it that you want from me?”

  “Last night was spectacular. I don’t want business to come between us.” His voice was coaxing, and his smile was gentle.

  “I’m sorry. I’m not good at segmenting my life into little compartments. So forgive me if I’m not thinking about our little fling in the sheets. I’m pretty sure that’s over with.” Jami dusted her hands together with a dismissive smacking noise.

  Beck took her hand, and despite the fury rolling around in her belly, she let him. She stared at her shiny, lavender-painted toenails peeping out of her sandals.

  “Stop it.” Beck squeezed her hand. “I think I understand some of your family dynamic. I saw how your father looked at you. He’s playing head games with you.”

  Jami looked up at him through her lashes. “That’s how it rolls with the head Barrett. Get used to it. I’ve had to.”

  “You deserve better than that.”

  “Do I?”

  “That’s pretty messed up if he only loves his daughter if she wins deals for his business.”

  “It’s his rules.” Jami held her breath.

  “You don’t have to play by them.”

  “You don’t, but I do. I don’t know any other way.” Jami glanced down. Her father was cruel, but what could she do? He was family.

  “Why does he treat you like that?”

  “I suppose he’s a zero-sum kind of guy. If someone else wins, that means there’s less for him. He doesn’t tolerate losers or those who screw things up for him.”

  “That’s a messed-up way to see things.”

  Jami shrugged.

  “Your deal was solid, but mine was better.” Beck’s voice was quiet. “Teddy can’t blame you for that. No one wins every time.”

  “I shouldn’t have lost.” Jami dropped her gaze as it blurred with unbidden tears. Dammit. She didn’t cry. It was only real estate. Her family would still be able to put dinner on the table. They weren’t getting evicted or anything.

  “It happens.” Beck’s expression was gentle. “Someone had to win. This time it was BK Industries.”

  Was he being condescending? She swallowed hard. Dammit, he was looking at her just like Eric had. Like she was a child who needed things explained to her with words of one syllable. She pinched her lips together.

  She’d lost face with her father, and she’d bungled a multimillion-dollar deal. She’d been overconfident. She must not have done her homework thoroughly. She should have played hardball and brought up the sexual harassment lawsuit.

  Jami shied away from that. She didn’t play low ball. It hadn’t been Beck’s fault. In fact, he’d cleaned up the mess and settled generously. Jami looked away. Eric would have swept that kind of issue under the rug and ignored the whole thing. No. Beck was nothing like Eric.

  Bile rose in her throat. Perfect. Beck was better than she was at negotiating. He was nicer than she was. Even her brothers liked him better than her. She was an outcast in her own family.

  “You are angry right now. I get it.” Beck sounded sympathetic, but he gave a small laugh. “Come on. Your dad’s an idiot. Don’t let him get to you.”

  How dare he tell her how to feel! Jami yanked her hand away and narrowly missed his chin with her flying fist. “You self-righteous jackass!”

  Beck lurched back, and his understanding expression dissolved.

  “Temper temper.” Beck’s eyebrows shot up, and his mouth twisted into a sarcastic half-smile. “Let’s not spoil the wedding.” His tone was like arctic ice cracking.

  “You’re right.” Jami’s nails dug into the flesh of her palms and pressure built in her chest. “I need to behave like a demure lady, don’t I?”

  Jami took a full breath as she studied the bubbling, frothing water of the hot tub. Her brain churned. She needed to wipe that smug look right off Beck’s face.

  She stepped back and then plunged forward with her shoulder, and sideswiped him. Those dark gray eyes of his flashed surprise and dismay.

  Beck grunted, swung one arm out for balance, and then he shrugged and plunged into the steaming pool. A plume of water shot into the air and then sloshed onto the deck. Beck surfaced with water streaming down his face, his hair in devilish disarray, and his golden shirt, sodden and dark, and clinging to his corded muscles.

  “Have a lovely evening.” Jami saluted him and turned to leave.

  “I’ll see you at Sunday supper next week.” Beck smirked
as he lifted that square chin of his and ran his fingers through his hair and wiped the excess water from his eyes.

  “I won’t—” Jami stopped. What would she do? Skip family dinners for the rest of her life? Dammit. She’d think of something.

  “A girl can always hope your plane crashes.” Jami turned on her heel and flew across the patio and darted down the first path she encountered.

  Her tears shriveled at the corner of her eyes, and the delicate frangipani blossoms in front of her became a blur of orangey-red.

  It was like déjà vu. She’d thrown herself at a complete jerk of a man, and now she had to deal with the fallout. Her heart pounded in her chest, but she marveled that it wasn’t strewn on the ground in tattered shreds.

  Jami slipped her high heeled sandals off, clutched them in one hand, and in one fluid movement, pelted at full speed down to the far side of the bay, with the tiny pea gravel cutting into the tender flesh of her feet.

  As she passed the snug hammock of her tryst with Beck, she stared straight ahead. She refused to think of him.

  Beck’s tender mouth and his gentle, sure touch that had lifted her to dizzying heights. No. She’d lost the race. She’d singled out another dud of a guy.

  Jami reached a small spit of land at the tip of the island with barely enough sand for two chairs. She sank into one and let the high tide slip and roll over her bare feet. The hem of her dress drooped into the surf, but she didn’t care.

  It was simple. She’d failed at everything. Family. Business. And now, once again, at men.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  BECK FOLDED THE newspaper and tucked it into the seatback in front of him. It was two-day-old news, and it failed to distract him. As passengers tromped past him in the aisleway, Beck kept his fingers crossed that he’d have his row all to himself, at least for the short hop from St. Lucia to Bridgetown. It was a long flight back to Los Angeles, and he’d take any extra elbow room that he could.

  He stared out the window as the bags loaded into the cargo bay, but all he could see was the stricken look on Jami’s face last night. Why had he pushed her? Jami’s expression had gone from sorrow to fury in about a picosecond. At her first sharp word, he’d been stung, and just had to go and rub it in. She’d been beaten, and he’d been an ass and made her swim in the muck.